Now here it was Saturday afternoon, and she was waiting on yet another contractor to stop by and give her an estimate. The first two didn’t seem like they knew the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver. They were more interested in seeing just how gullible she was and if she would fall for their bullshit. The insurance company required that she get a minimum of three before submitting the paperwork. She already knew which one she would use, Cara’s. He was good, dependable, honest, and most of all reasonable with pricing.
The chiming of the bell over the door alerted her that her next appointment was here. Calling out that she was back in the kitchen, she dried her hands on the towel and pushed through the door, bumping into him.
“Oops, sorry. Hiya, I’m Ariana Moretti.” She extended her hand.
“No probs. I’m Luc. Nice to meet you.” A larger, firm, calloused hand gripped hers.
“Come, let me show you where the fire started and you can look around.”
Flipping open the black leather portfolio he had in his hand, he pulled a pen from behind his ear and followed her into the kitchen. They spent the next twenty minutes surveying the damage. Ariana had done this so many times she could recite the speech in her sleep. When they finished up back in the bar, they settled near the bar. With one hand pressed firmly against the dusty wood, Luc busily worked on some figures, talking to himself now and then.
Ariana waited and watched, it’s no wonder Cara liked him so much, she probably bedded him before the sheetrock, or her panties were dry. Clad in a dirty white tee-shirt, jeans and work boots. His muscles twitched with the flow of his pen, and he filled out his jeans nicely.
Tossing the pen onto the bar, he tore the page from his pad and handed it to. “There you go. How do these numbers look?”
Ariana read over his estimate. It was very impressive. Not only was he a third less than the other two, he estimated it should take about four weeks to finish, which meant they could reopen by the first of the year. Folding the yellow paper in half, Ari extended her hand.
“You’re hired. When can you start?”
“How’s now sound. I can have my crew come over and at least clear the room and pull down some of the walls.”
“Wow, that works for me. Let me grab you a set of keys. I’ll be in and out all day. You have my cell if you need me.”
“Sounds great.”
“Before I forget, my manager Max will be around as well. Let me give you his number just in case you can’t get a hold of me.”
Ariana jotted Max’s number down on the empty page of his pad along with Cara’s, which he no doubt had already. They walked out together and he waited as she locked up. She was just about to thank him again when the buzzing of her phone interrupted them.
“Hey, hold on a sec....” she spoke into the phone, "Thanks again Luc, I will see you in a little bit.”
“No probs.” He shouted as he got into his truck.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Luc, eh? Whaddya thanking him for?" His teased.
“Oh, nothing. He was just here checking my pipes.”
“Really? Is it time for them to be cleaned? I might be able to help with that, ya know.”
“They were cleaned last night, so I’m good.”
“Last night.... you two timin’ on me, Ms. Moretti.”
“Nevah! They were self-serviced, ya know what I’m takin ‘bout.” She said in her best Jersey accent she could muster up.
“Baby, don’t tease like that. I’m jonesin for you so bad, I’ve never seen this shade of blue balls before.”
Before she could stop herself, she burst into a fit of giggles, melting his heart and making him horny at the same time.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. But you know what you gotta do.”
“Yeah, I gotta get my ass on the plane and soon.”
“Jon, you can’t. You need to be there; besides you will be here next week for my appointment. You’re still coming for that?”
“Won’t miss it for the world. So where were you off to when I called?”
“Heading back to Cara’s for lunch. Why?”
“Why don’t you go into your room and we can have a little phone sex? Whaddya say, please, baby?”
Ariana pushed open the door to Cara’s studio. “Well, look at that lunch is ready. Honey, why don’t you go to that bank, you know the one I mean, I’m sure there is something there that will help you. I gotta run, Cara’s giving me one of your stink eyes. Love you.”
“Don’t...” he called, but it was too late. She had hung up already.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Jon tossed the phone onto his desk. He had spent the day in the office of Bon Jovi Management. Sitting around the house was driving him crazy, he could only run or try to write so much. Tony had agreed to meet with him before he caught his flight back to California, to go over some of the video productions he and his crew had put together. The tour was shaping up nicely, and he was looking forward to going out on the road and seeing the fans' reactions to the gigantic video screens they would be using.
Elbows planted on his desk, he placed his face in the palms of his hands. He rubbed, then combing his fingers through his hair, he let out a frustrated growl.
“Something I could help you with, boss.” Jeanie stood in the doorway looking at him.
“Jeanie, what are you doing here on a Saturday?” He asked.
“I could ask you the same thing. I left a contract on my desk I needed to send to you. Now that you are here, you can sign it.”
“Shouldn’t you be out with Kennedy? It’s a holiday weekend. No working, remember.”
“She’s out front, waiting in the car. Why are you here?” She rolled her eyes jokingly at him.
“Tony needed to show me something before heading back. I was just leaving.”
“Okay, let me get that contract, be right back.”
Jeanie scampered down the hall to her office, giving Jon a moment to adjust his little problem before she came back. He didn’t know if he would make it to next week, let alone the drive home. A trip to the bank sounded like a good idea. Maybe he will call Ari back and see if she wanted to come with him.
“I don’t even wanna know what has you smiling like that.” She startled him from his thought when she returned.
“It was...”
“Eh... Just sign here.” Jeanie pointed to the pink posted tab. “and here, she flipped the page, and last one” she flipped once more.
“Anything else?” Jon asked her.
“Nope. We are good to go.” She pulled the tabs off and stuffed the contract into the addressed envelope.
“Hey Jeanie, you have any plans for Christmas?” Jon asked her.
“Nah. We are just staying put this year. Why, do you need me for something?”
“Absolutely not. I may be an arrogant, demanding prick sometimes, but I’m not that cruel. Why don’t you and Kennedy talk it over, pick someplace, anyplace you really want to go and book it. On me.”
“Boss, that’s not necessary.”
“Yes, it is. You have done way more than you need to do. Book one or I will book one for you. You know I will do it too.” He wagged his finger at her.
“Fine. I will let you know what we decide. Now, pack it up. I’m not leaving you here on a Saturday. Go spend some time with your kids, take them to the park, its beautiful day out for it.” Jeanie pointed to the door and waited for him to gather his things and walk out in front of her.
“That sounds like an excellent idea. See, you did it again. Book it or I will.”
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