The Other Side - J. D. Robb [117]
“I’d know a thing or two about that.” With a smile Jake returned to his work.
Christina stood quietly watching Tyler for several minutes. When she realized that neither he nor the carpenter even noticed her there, she turned on her heel and went in search of Bonnie.
“I hope you don’t mind that I left Tyler there with your handyman for a couple of minutes.” Bonnie looked up from the journal in which she kept meticulous notes about Tyler’s improvements, no matter how minor. “I wanted to record this while it was fresh in my mind.” She set aside the pen and clasped her hands in her lap. “We were passing by when he just stopped dead in his tracks. Then, before I knew what was happening, he walked over, picked up a piece of wood, and became fascinated by the shape and texture of it. He’s done that before, of course. But then, instead of remaining fixated on the wood, he actually discarded it and picked up a hammer, imitating the man. I believe this is the most animated I’ve ever seen Tyler.”
“Oh, Bonnie.” Christina crossed the room and grabbed the woman’s hands. “I wonder what it was that attracted him?”
“Maybe the carpenter reminds him of someone. Maybe it’s because the man never talks, and that suits Tyler so perfectly. Or it may be something as simple as the tools he uses or the smell of wood. Whatever the attraction, there’s a light in Tyler’s eyes that I’ve rarely glimpsed. And if your carpenter doesn’t mind, I’d like to encourage Tyler to spend as much time in there as he’s willing to spend, under my watchful eye, of course.”
Christina nodded, too overcome to speak.
On her way to the kitchen, she circled back to her office for another look. Tyler was exactly where she’d left him, happily hammering nails into a piece of wood. When Bonnie entered and took a seat across the room, Tyler took no notice of her.
Jake Ridgeway was across the room, standing on a stepladder, screwing a strip of wood to the wall. For a moment Christina merely watched, her attention caught by the corded muscles of his arms as he worked. Her gaze moved to the plaid shirt stretched tightly across those wide shoulders, then moved lower to his narrow waist and muscled legs encased in faded denims. When he reached for something in the tool belt at his waist, she quickly looked away. What in the world was she thinking? Until now she’d been so caught up in her own work and in the overwhelming task of this remodel, she hadn’t even noticed the man doing the work.
But he was so easy on the eye.
She chanced one more look. At that very moment he glanced over, and she felt the pull of that dark, haunted gaze.
Jake paused in his work. “Did you want something?”
She felt the heat stain her cheeks. “Nothing. Just . . . checking out how the work was progressing. Would you care for some lunch?”
He pointed toward a cooler in the corner. “I brought my own.”
“All right.” She watched as he returned to his work.
Tyler hadn’t even acknowledged her presence. Bonnie was busy recording in her journal.
Feeling slightly foolish, Christina turned away.
Mrs. Mellon paused in the doorway of the office. “I’ve brought you some tea.”
Christina looked up from her computer. “Thank you.” She pressed a hand to the back of her neck and stretched cramped muscles.
“You’re working too hard.” The housekeeper set a silver tray on a sideboard and filled a steaming cup.
“It helps to be busy. And everyone at the office has thrown themselves into this latest ad campaign.”
“Of course they have. They all love you. But it’s all right to let them do some of the work without you, Miss Christina.”
Chris smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
Mrs. Mellon glanced at the figures silhouetted behind the plastic sheet. “In the past week Bonnie and I have been delighted at the way the lad has taken to Mr. Ridgeway.”
“Mr. Ridgeway? Oh, Jake. Yes. Isn’t it amazing?”
“Indeed.” She lowered her voice. “Would you mind if I invited him to stay for supper tonight?”
Before Christina could respond, she said softly, “It was Bonnie’s idea. She thinks he might be able