“My schedule is the same,” I reply.

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow evening around seven?”

I pause, the words come over now hovering on my tongue, but I suppose I can wait until tomorrow to see him.

I’ve waited for ten freaking years.

“Mer?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Great. I’ll see you then.”

“Wait, I need to give you my address.”

“You’re not at your mom’s?”

“No, I sold the house. I’m in Seattle. Jax and I share an apartment not far from the studio. It’s easier.”

“You share an apartment with Jax?” His voice is suddenly harder and I can’t help but smile in satisfaction.

I’m not the only one who’s jealous.

“Yes, we do. Different bedrooms, M.”

“Okay. Text me your address and I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Are you sure about this?” My voice is quiet.

“Never been more sure.”

“Okay.” I nod once. “It’s a date.”

Chapter Three

~Mark~

Twelve hours. I only have to get through the next twelve hours and I’ll have Meredith all to myself.

Jesus, I’m so fucking nervous it’s ridiculous. I’ve been with my share of women over the past decade, and not one of them made my palms clammy or my stomach clench.

Because they didn’t matter.

And Mer matters.

I pull up to the construction site and park. I’m early, as usual. I want to check the site, progress and quality of work being done before the rest of the crew arrives.

I’ve worked as a site foreman for Isaac Montgomery since I moved back home almost two years ago. I love my job. I’m fucking good at my job. I have an excellent crew, but I don’t put up with bullshit, and they know it.

It works well for us.

Just as I make a full circle around the outside of the multi-million dollar home we’re building just north of Seattle on the coast, Isaac pulls up in his truck.

“Not in your office today?” I ask and cross to him. He’s holding two Starbucks cups and passes one to me.

“On site today. Brynna has the office covered.” He shakes my hand and glances up to the house. “This is coming along nicely.”

“Thanks. I was just about to go inside. Want the grand tour?”

“Let’s do it,” he agrees and follows me through the front entrance. The door hasn’t been hung yet, and when I glance around the inside of the great room, my eyes narrow menacingly.

“Fuck,” Isaac whispers.

Someone snuck in during the night and spray painted one of the walls with gang graffiti. Thankfully, the drywall hasn’t been hung yet either, and we can easily cover this up.

“Fucking kids,” I growl and shake my head.

“I’ll call Matt and have him arrange to have this neighborhood patrolled more regularly,” he says grimly, referring to his younger brother, one of Seattle’s best detectives.

“I’ll make sure the doors and windows are installed today so it’ll be locked up from now on,” I reply.

Isaac nods and follows me as I walk through the eight thousand square foot home.

“This is going to be impressive,” Isaac says.

“I agree. It’s one of the biggest I’ve ever built, that’s for sure.” When we walk back out through the front entrance, we both sit on the temporary concrete steps and sip our coffee. “How are the other sites coming along?”

“No complaints today,” he replies and then shakes his head. “Except that remodel at Alki. The owner has changed her mind on the master shower four motherfucking times.”

“Seriously?” I laugh and sip my coffee. “That sucks.”

“It’s her money.” Isaac shrugs as if he just can’t figure her out. “I’d like to wrap that one up so we can move on to the next.”

“How are Stacy and the kids?”

“Perfect,” he replies easily with a satisfied grin. For the first time in my life, I’m jealous of Isaac and our brothers and their families. “Stacy is beautiful and busy with Soph and Liam.”

I nod and watch as some of the crew begins to pull in, gathering their tool belts and other gear from the beds of their trucks.

“You coming to Will’s on Sunday?” Isaac asks.

“What’s happening on Sunday?”

“Last minute family cookout.” He shrugs and then chuckles. “The weather is heating up, so I think everyone wants to take advantage of being outside.”

“Sounds cool.” I pause and then decide fuck it. “Think it’s cool if I bring someone?”

Isaac’s head whips around and his eyes are surprised when he asks, “Who?”

“An old friend,” I reply softly and then swear under my breath, uncomfortable as fuck at the way he’s watching me. “Meredith.”

“Since when do you bring women to family functions?” he asks incredulously then laughs. “I so want to bust your balls about this, but I’ll be the mature one and simply say, yeah. It’s fine. Will and the others will not let you off the hook so easily, my friend.”

“I don’t care.”

And it’s true. I don’t. I just want her with me.

Jesus, I’m getting way ahead of myself here. We haven’t been out on a date yet.