Free Husband for Hire by Susan Crosby Page B

call to Landon Kincaid, a licensed contractor and real-estate developer Gavin had known since high school. Kincaid and Shana had a somewhat touchy relationship. Gavin didn’t know the source of the conflict, because they hadn’t known each other very long, but maybe he could use it to his advantage.
    â€œKincaid? Hey, it’s Gavin Callahan.”
    â€œHow’s it going, Gavin?”
    â€œI seem to have gotten myself into a bit of a jam.
    I just made a bet with Shana that I know I can’t win on my own. It’s your area of expertise, however. Care to help?” He explained the situation to Kincaid, who didn’t answer right away.
    â€œI can’t be part of a plan to cheat her, Gavin.”
    â€œI’m not asking you to. I’m going to tell her she was right, that I was completely incompetent and so I asked you to help. She’ll win the bet, no matter what.”
    â€œWhy go to that extreme?”
    â€œBecause I want to give her something she wants. She only asked for a tune-up for her car. This way she’ll win the bet, but it won’t seem like charity, which we both know she wouldn’t accept, even from me.”
    â€œI’m in.”
    When Becca arrived home a couple hours later, Gavin had marinated chicken breasts to grill, put together a green salad and had asparagus ready toroast in the oven. It was a simple meal, not much of a stretch, even for him.
    â€œSmells good,” Becca said as she made her way to the bar counter. “Chocolate-chip cookies.”
    â€œSeriously?”
    â€œDon’t be too impressed,” he said. “It’s slice and bake.”
    â€œIt’s more than I’ve done. Thanks.” She accepted a glass of Merlot. “Careful, Gavin. I could get used to this.” Hesitancy marked her words and actions, as if she had no idea what to expect from him and didn’t know how to behave.
    â€œHow was your day?” he asked, urging her toward the couch.
    â€œStrange. Everyone asked questions without using actual words. I got a lot of raised eyebrows, followed by pauses, as if I would fill in the blanks. And Chip’s not speaking to me unless absolutely necessary. And then two potentially huge clients contacted us out of the blue, which is wonderful, and which is also why I’m late. So, how did you and Shana do?”
    â€œShe’s a human tornado. I never knew that about her. I could barely keep up. It means your place will be ready to go by Friday night—unless something doesn’t get delivered. But I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of a call or visit from Shana, should that happen.” He smiled at the image. “I remember her as this kind of loner kid who said little and stayed in her room a lot. She’s become a mature, competentwoman. Becoming a mother probably had a lot to do with that.”
    He angled toward Becca. “It got me looking at you through your brothers’ eyes. Until they see you in action in some way, as I did with Shana, they’ll always think of you as their kid sister. A girl, not a woman.”
    â€œMaybe we could have a take-your-brothers-to-work day at the office,” she said, seeming to relax finally.
    â€œMy guess is they’d be as surprised as I was about Shana. I’d just never given it any thought. She’s been frozen in time for me, I see that now.” The timer went off. He got up to take the cookies out of the oven. “Maybe it’s not a matter of your brothers seeing you in action at work but the fact you’ll have your house in order that’ll make them realize that you’re grown up. It should help, anyway.”
    â€œI sure hope so. What did you tell Shana about us?”
    â€œAs little as possible.” He moved the cookies to wire racks to cool. “She knows we’re pretending to be married. Plus, I forgot to take off the ring. You, too, I see.”
    â€œAt work they think I am