Chapter 12

Ever since Jalen completed the wine cellar construction project at the Westward mansion, he has largely been doing smaller projects at various clients’ homes since then, however, now he is about to land his next potential big fish. A prominent Georgia politician from Bartow County, named Tim Horner, has been looking to have one of his old large sheds transformed into a prominent guest house detached from his home in the back of his property. Tim serves in the Georgia House of Representatives and is also a very wealthy businessman stemming from owning multiple successful car dealerships in Bartow County. Tim is very good friends with Jim Harbor, the Executive Director at Georgia Wellness, where Jalen did the storage room project a couple of months prior. When Tim asked Jim about a contractor, Jim quickly recommended Jalen, citing the work he did on their storage room and assuring Tim that he was the best he would find.

On Monday, a little over a week after his weekend with Karla, Jalen pulled up to the long, winding driveway leading to the Horner estate, a sprawling property in Bartow County. The sheer size of the land was ridiculous. Several acres of pristine grass, perfectly spaced trees, and a massive brick colonial-style mansion sitting at the highest point of the property. The American flag and the Georgia state flag waved proudly on poles near the front entrance. A detached six-car garage stood to the side, likely filled with expensive vehicles. As he eased his truck to a stop near the main house, Jalen adjusted his fitted polo shirt and took a steady breath. He had been in plenty of spaces like this before. Places where people like him, unfortunately, weren’t always welcomed with open arms. But money was money, and if Tim Horner could cut a fat check, Jalen would take it. He stepped out of the truck just as the front door swung open. A tall, stocky white man in his late 40s with greyish brown hair and a thick mustache came walking down the steps. His gait was confident, the kind of confidence that came from knowing he owned everything around him.

Tim Horner.

Jalen noticed immediately how Tim’s expression shifted the second he laid eyes on him. His face didn’t outright frown, but the flicker of unpleasant surprise was clear as day.

“Yeah, you weren’t expecting me to be Black, huh?” Jalen thought but kept his face perfectly neutral.

“Jalen Moss?” Tim asked, stopping a few feet away.

“Yes, sir. Good to meet you, Mr. Horner.” Jalen extended his hand, keeping his posture firm and professional.

Tim hesitated. It was a fraction of a second, but Jalen caught it.

Then, Tim clasped his hand, giving him a strong, business-like shake.

“Likewise,” Tim said, though his tone lacked the warmth he probably would have had if Jalen were a white contractor. “Jim Harbor speaks highly of you.”

“I appreciate that. I make sure my work speaks for itself.” Jalen responded.

Tim nodded, studying Jalen for a moment before turning. “Come on, let’s take a walk.”

Jalen followed as Tim led him around the property, giving him a rundown of what he wanted.

“So, this old shed here,” Tim said, motioning toward a massive weathered wooden structure, “I want it completely gutted and turned into a luxury guest house. Full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living space. Basically a little high-end retreat out here.”

Jalen took a few steps around, inspecting the structure. It was doable, but it wasn’t gonna be cheap.

“You have a budget in mind?” Jalen asked.

Tim scoffed. “I don’t do ‘budgets,’ son. I want the best. You just tell me what that costs.”

Jalen kept himself from smirking. Big money talk. That was fine. Jalen could work with that. “Understood.”

Tim watched Jalen as he started making notes on his tablet. “How long you been in the business?” He asked.

“Been running my own company for two years, but I’ve been in contracting a lot longer than that.” Jalen responded while continuing to write in his tablet.

Tim nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You do a lot of jobs like this?”

Jalen knew exactly what he was asking. “I do a lot of high-end renovations. I’ve worked on custom home builds, commercial projects, and full remodels. I just finished a wine cellar project at the Westward mansion in Buckhead.”

Tim’s eyebrows lifted slightly at that. “Chris Westward? No shit.”

“Yes, sir.”

Tim let out a dry chuckle. “That son of a bitch is the most arrogant lawyer I’ve ever met.”

Jalen grinned slightly. “Yeah, he’s got a lot of ... personality.”

Tim snorted. “That’s a polite way to put it.”

Before the conversation could continue, a voice called out from behind them. “Daddy, where did you—oh.”

Jalen turned and saw a young woman standing a few feet away. She was stunning. Long, wavy auburn-red hair that framed a face so strikingly symmetrical that she could easily have been a model. Her green eyes were piercing, filled with a mix of curiosity and something else Jalen couldn’t quite place. Her lips were full and painted a soft shade of pink, and her figure, toned, curvy, and completely effortless, was impossible to ignore. She was wearing a light-yellow sleeveless sundress that stopped just above her knees. The dress had a V-neck with thin spaghetti straps, a slightly cinched or elasticized waist, a flowy tiered skirt that stopped just above her knees. She paired it with white flip flops. Her nails were manicured with acrylic and painted a light pink and her toenails were painted pink as well. Jalen noticed immediately the way her eyes locked onto him, not in the way her father had, but with genuine intrigue.

Tim gestured toward Jalen. “Heidi, this is Jalen Moss. He’s the contractor I’m looking at for the guest house. Jalen, this is my oldest daughter Heidi.”

Heidi’s lips parted slightly, like she was about to say something, but stopped herself. Instead, she extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Jalen.”

Jalen took her hand, and the moment he did ... The warmth. The pull. Oh, shit. “No. NO. NOT HERE.” Jalen thought.

Jalen kept his expression neutral, but internally, his stomach dropped. Because now he knew ... Heidi Horner ... was one of the eight.

His grip was firm but brief as he released Heidi’s hand. Internally, though, his mind was spinning. He had barely processed Karla, and now this? The daughter of a wealthy, influential politician? This was the last thing he needed. Heidi was still looking at him, like she had just felt something too, but she quickly masked it. She was sharp, Jalen could tell. Observant.

“Nice to meet you too,” Jalen said, his voice steady, despite the chaos in his head.

Tim barely noticed the brief moment between them. “Heidi’s in law school,” he said, almost like a brag. “Third-year at Emory.”

Jalen nodded. “That’s impressive.”

Heidi shrugged. “It keeps me busy.”

Tim clapped his hands together. “Alright, well, Jalen, I’ll be expecting a full proposal in my inbox by next week. Make it good.”

“Absolutely,” Jalen said.

Tim nodded, but before turning to head back toward the house, he glanced at Jalen again. “And keep me updated, alright? I don’t like waiting around for answers.”

“Yeah, I bet you don’t.” Jalen thought.

“Understood.” Jalen then said aloud.

Tim walked off, but Heidi stayed behind for a second longer. She tilted her head slightly, her green eyes studying Jalen again, like she was trying to figure something out.

“I’ll see you around, Jalen.”

With that, she turned and followed her father back toward the house.

Jalen exhaled slowly once they were out of sight. Jalen finished taking pictures, taking measurements, and taking notes on the shed before leaving the residence to go back home and write up his proposal. Jalen drove back toward Atlanta, gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual. His mind wouldn’t shut up. Heidi Horner. It didn’t make sense. This situation was already insane, but this? This felt impossible. A politician’s daughter? A woman raised in a family that likely wouldn’t even want to shake his hand, let alone accept him as anything more than a vendor working on their property? How the hell was this supposed to happen?

He pulled up to his apartment, grabbed his notebook, and went inside. He sat at his desk, opening his laptop to start working on his proposal, but his mind refused to focus. Every time he tried to map out costs and labor estimates, his thoughts drifted back to Heidi. Her sharp green eyes. The way she studied him. The slight hesitation in her voice, like she had felt something but didn’t want to acknowledge it. Jalen sighed, leaning back in his chair, rubbing his hands down his face. He couldn’t do this again. Not right now. He had Rachel, Megan, Kristen, and Sydney, all pregnant, and after their weekend together, Karla could be as well. That was already an overwhelming reality to process. And now the Beyonder wanted him to figure out how to navigate a situation with Heidi Horner of all people?

Jalen exhaled sharply. “Beyonder! We need to talk. Now.”

Silence.

Jalen scowled. “Nah, don’t pull that disappearing act now! I need answers! How the hell is this supposed to happen?”

Still nothing.

Jalen clenched his jaw and turned back to his laptop. Fine. If the Beyonder wasn’t going to explain, he wasn’t going to stress over it tonight. For now, he had a proposal to finish. For now, Heidi was just a client’s daughter. At least, that’s what he told himself.

Later that same night, Heidi Horner sat in her bedroom, perched at her desk with a thick law textbook open in front of her. But she hadn’t turned the page in over ten minutes. Her mind wasn’t on the material. It was on the contractor, Jalen Moss. That name kept echoing in her head, like a song she couldn’t shake. She tapped her highlighter against the edge of the book absently, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the lines of text that weren’t registering at all. He was handsome. That was the first thing she noticed. Not just physically, though he absolutely was. Tall, strong build, and light chocolate skin that seemed to gleam in the afternoon sun. But it was something else. The way he looked at her when they shook hands. Like he saw her. And then there was that feeling. An inexplicable warm, magnetic pull that moved through her the moment their skin touched. It unsettled her. Nothing about it made sense. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms and biting lightly at the tip of her thumb. Why was she thinking about him like this? Nevermind the fact that her parents as well as her church pastor would scold her for having lustful thoughts like this. Jalen wasn’t just a stranger, he was a contractor. A Black contractor at that. And worse, someone who didn’t appear to align with her family’s way of life. She had picked up on it immediately. It was in the way he carried himself. Confident. Composed. Like he had nothing to prove to anyone. Like he’d been through things. Real things. The kind of things no one in her gated, pristine world ever talked about. He hadn’t been rude. Far from it. In fact, he was professional, respectful ... but that energy. That undeniable energy between them. Heidi pushed her chair back and stood up abruptly, pacing her room like she was trying to shake the thoughts loose. This was ridiculous. She was a Christian. She had values. She had discipline. And she sure as hell didn’t entertain thoughts about men who weren’t aligned with what she believed. But then again ... she wasn’t a virgin anymore either, was she? She swallowed hard, that familiar guilt bubbling to the surface. Her parents didn’t know. No one knew. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. So why was Jalen making all of those feelings stir up again? He wasn’t even trying to flirt with her, and yet, somehow, it felt like he was already in her head. And that was the problem. Because she liked it. The way he stood toe to toe with her father without flinching. The way he didn’t get flustered when Tim gave him that look. The way his voice sounded, deep, calm, grounded. It made her wonder what else he was grounded in. Heidi wasn’t the kind of girl who got tempted. Except ... apparently, she was. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest and glanced at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed. Her heart was racing. And she knew damn well it had nothing to do with her law reading.

“I need to focus,” she muttered to herself. “This is just a project. He’s just a contractor. This doesn’t mean anything.”

But she knew she was lying to herself. Something had started. And no matter how hard she tried to deny it, she could already feel that it was going to be impossible to ignore. Heidi turned off her lamp, climbed into bed, and pulled the covers up high. But sleep didn’t come easy that night. Not with Jalen Moss’s face lingering behind her eyelids, and that inexplicable, maddening, exhilarating pull she couldn’t explain.

Jalen submits the most ambitious proposal he could come up with. If Tim Horner accepts it and Jalen completes the project, it would yield a payday three times the amount of Chris Westward’s project, which is saying something because Chris Westwood’s project yielded Jalen’s highest payday ever.

Jalen sits at his desk, sipping his coffee, staring at his laptop screen. His mouse hovers over the “Sent” folder, confirming that his ambitious proposal has been officially sent to Tim Horner.

His gut tells him that this is either going to be the biggest payday of his career or a complete waste of time. He doesn’t expect a quick response.

Then ... DING. An email notification pops up.

From: Tim Horner Subject: Re: Guest House Renovation Proposal

Jalen exhales sharply, steeling himself as he clicks on the message.

Jalen, Thanks for sending this over. I took a quick look through the numbers, and I’ll be honest with you—it’s more than I was anticipating. However, I appreciate the level of detail you included and the craftsmanship you’re proposing.

I’d like to discuss a few things before making a decision. Can you come back out to the property this Friday at 11:00 AM to go over the details in person?

Let me know if that works for you.

Best, Tim Horner

Jalen leans back in his chair, rubbing his chin. Shit. This wasn’t a rejection. It wasn’t an acceptance either. It was an opening.

Tim Horner wasn’t the kind of guy to waste time. If he was inviting Jalen back out, it meant he was genuinely considering hiring him. But that also meant Jalen would be spending more time around the Horner family ... including Heidi. He closes his eyes for a moment, mentally preparing himself. This job is way too big to pass up. He has to go through with it. Jalen grabs his phone and types his response.

Tim, Thanks for the quick response. I’d be happy to meet this Friday at 11:00 AM to go over everything. Looking forward to discussing the details in person.

See you then, Jalen Moss

That Friday, Jalen pulls into the long driveway of the Horner estate at exactly 10:58 AM. He spots Tim’s truck parked near the main house. Jalen takes a deep breath before stepping out of his truck. He’s dressed in a fitted polo and work boots, keeping things professional but sharp. He grabs his work tablet and heads toward the house.

Tim is waiting for him on the porch, arms crossed. “Mornin’, Jalen.”

“Morning, Tim. Appreciate you having me back.”

“Let’s get to it. Follow me.”

Tim doesn’t waste time on pleasantries. He turns and leads Jalen toward the shed that would become the guest house. As they walk, Jalen keeps his focus strictly on the job, not the fact that somewhere inside this house, Heidi is here too.

Tim runs his hand along the wooden support beams, nodding to himself before turning to Jalen.

“Alright, here’s where I’m at. I like your vision, but some of these finishes you’re suggesting, high-end tile, luxury fixtures, imported wood flooring, might be overkill for what I need. You willing to make some adjustments?”

Jalen expected this. Tim wasn’t balking at the price entirely, just looking to negotiate, which is funny considering yesterday, he had said he doesn’t do budgets. Still, negotiation was a good sign.

Jalen nods. “I can definitely adjust some materials without compromising the quality. How much are you looking to cut?”

Tim strokes his chin. “Just the stuff that I mentioned that feels unnecessary.”

Jalen quickly does the mental math. It would still make this project the largest payday of his career by a long shot.

“I can make that happen. I’ll send over a revised proposal this afternoon.”

Tim nods in approval.

“Good. I’ll have my lawyer look it over, and if everything looks right, we can sign by Monday.”

Jalen extends his hand. “Looking forward to it.”

Tim shakes his hand firmly. “Me too.”

As Jalen turns to leave ... The door to the back porch swings open. Jalen doesn’t need to look up to know who it is. Heidi.

Her long, auburn waves catch the light as she steps onto the porch, wearing a casual but flattering fitted sweater and jeans. She pauses when she sees Jalen standing there. Their eyes meet. And just like before, Jalen feels it. The pull. The warm, unmistakable sensation that he knows all too well by now. Tim doesn’t notice. He’s already looking back at his truck. But Heidi notices. Her green eyes linger on Jalen for a second too long before she looks away, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Jalen quickly looks away and heads toward his truck.

The next day, Jalen sends over the revised proposal and Tim Horner approves. They both sign via DocuSign and Jalen tells Tim that he’ll be ready to begin the following Monday. So, that following Monday morning, Jalen pulls into the Horner estate at 7:45 AM sharp, ready to begin work on the most ambitious project of his career. His truck is loaded with supplies, preliminary materials for the foundation, framing tools, and everything needed to begin the first phase of construction. As he parks near the shed, he takes a deep breath. This job isn’t just about the payday anymore. It’s about navigating the complicated, dangerous waters of the Horner family. Tim was straightforward. But Heidi was going to be the real problem. Jalen grabs his hard hat and steps out, determined to keep things strictly professional. At least, that’s the plan.

At 8 AM, Jalen’s crew arrives with four guys he trusts from previous projects. They unload tools, begin clearing the interior of the shed, and start mapping out the foundation adjustments. Everything is going smoothly. He finally looks up, and sure enough, she’s standing at a distance, maybe twenty feet away, arms folded, wearing a fitted long-sleeve top and high-waisted jeans with white sneakers. Simple, casual. But on her? Effortlessly stunning. Her red hair is pulled back today, revealing more of her face. Her expression was curious. Hesitant. Guarded. She doesn’t say anything. Neither does he. After a few seconds, she turns and walks back toward the house without a word. Jalen exhales through his nose and shakes his head.

By lunch, the team had finished gutting the entire shed and removed all the debris to the dumpster parked in the driveway. The framing supplies have arrived, and Jalen is finalizing plans with the plumber when his phone buzzes.

A text from Tim: “Heidi made lunch. Come inside when you and the boys get a break.”

Jalen frowns. The fuck?

Jalen texts back: “Appreciate it, but we’re good. We usually eat on site.”

Tim replies instantly: “Don’t be stubborn. She made extra. Come in.”

Jalen sighs, staring at the screen. He doesn’t want this. But turning it down might cause more friction with Tim. And right now, that’s not a risk he can afford.

He walks over to his crew. “Hey, take your lunch now. You can eat out here or head to the truck. I’ll be back in twenty.”

They nod, already grabbing their coolers and Gatorades. Jalen wipes the sweat from his brow, dusts off his boots, and heads toward the main house. Heidi’s waiting in the kitchen. And she looks nervous.

“Hey,” she says, not making eye contact right away.

“Hey,” Jalen replies flatly, keeping his tone neutral.

“I made sandwiches and salad,” she says, motioning toward the kitchen island, where a spread of food is laid out. “Figured your crew could use something fresh.”

Jalen studies her. “Appreciate it. They’re eating outside. Tim said to come in.”

She nods, brushing her hands down her jeans. She pauses before saying, “You’re not what I expected,” she blurts out.

Jalen arches an eyebrow. “Is that right?”

“Not in a bad way,” she quickly adds. “Just ... different. I thought you’d be...” She trails off, clearly unsure how to finish that sentence without sounding like an asshole.

Jalen smirks dryly. “Yeah. I know what you thought.”

Heidi’s face flushes. “No! No! I meant...,” she exhales, “Look, I’m not trying to be rude. I just, this is new for me, okay?”

Jalen smirks, amused by how flustered she is. “Your family ever work with a Black contractor before?” He asks bluntly.

She hesitates. “No.”

Jalen nods slowly but says nothing.

They lock eyes. For the first time since they met, neither one looks away.

She breaks eye contact first, biting her lip, visibly trying to regain control of herself. “You should eat.”

“Yeah,” Jalen says, stepping forward. “I should.”

He grabs a plate and starts making a sandwich while she watches him, arms still folded, like she’s trying not to let her hands do something reckless.

“My dad keeps talking about how he’s been told you’re the best contractor around,” Heidi says casually, though her voice is tight. “He’s really curious to see if it’s true.”

Jalen exhales through his nose, setting his sandwich down. His eyes don’t leave hers. “He’s not the only one curious,” he says flatly.

That hits. She shifts slightly where she stands. Doesn’t say anything at first. Then, quieter, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jalen steps a little closer, not threatening, but unapologetically direct. “It means I’ve seen that look before,” he says. “You’ve been watching me all morning.”

Heidi crosses her arms tighter. “You’re working in my backyard.”

“I was working in Buckhead last month. Same amount of square footage. Nobody stared like you.”

That flush creeps up her neck again. Heidi opens her mouth, but nothing comes out right away.

Jalen leans in slightly, voice lower. “You felt it something, didn’t you? The other day when we met.”

Her jaw tenses. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, you do.”

A long beat passes. She finally swallows, glancing away. “Even if I did ... it doesn’t mean anything.”

Jalen grabs his plate again. “Sure it doesn’t.”

Heidi watches him for a second, then turns and starts cleaning up the salad bowl, her hands a little more forceful than necessary. Jalen knows the signs. The denial. The rationalizing. The tug-of-war between curiosity and caution. She’s not ready to admit anything yet. But she’s already cracked.

That night in her bedroom, Heidi sat cross-legged on her perfectly made bed, her MacBook open beside her but untouched. The textbook on constitutional law lay closed, her highlighter resting on top like a lie she was telling herself. She had no intention of studying tonight. Her phone was in her hand. The screen dimly lit her face in the otherwise quiet room. After resisting for hours, after convincing herself all afternoon that he was just a contractor, a professional hired to do a job, she finally caved.

She opened Instagram and typed in: “Jalen Moss”. It only took a few seconds to find him. His profile wasn’t private.

His page was a mix of business and personal. Finished renovations. Custom kitchen installs. Before-and-afters of luxury home remodels. And then there were the personal shots, less frequent, but undeniably ... captivating.

One of him in a gray fitted T-shirt, holding a baby boy, captioned: “My friend’s king, not mine. Calm down, y’all.”

Another of him standing on a rooftop at sunset, drink in hand, grinning at the camera, the skyline behind him.

And then a video of Jalen doing pushups on a job site while one of his crew jokingly filmed him with the caption: “Boss says this is how you reduce stress on-site.”

Heidi didn’t mean to stare. But she did. His arms. His jawline. That easy smile. She scrolled. Slowly. Her thumb dragging like she wasn’t really trying to get anywhere fast. And before she even realized what she was doing, she clicked on a post from months ago, a picture of him sitting on the back of his truck, covered in sawdust, drinking from a water bottle, sweat darkening his shirt. 47 weeks ago.

Oh God. She was deep in the scroll. She clicked back to the main page quickly, heat rushing to her cheeks even though she was alone. She tossed the phone beside her like it had caught her in the act. Heidi leaned back against her pillows, her heart racing. What was it about him? It wasn’t just the way he looked, though that didn’t hurt. It was the way he carried himself. The calm confidence. The way he looked at her like he wasn’t afraid of her or intimidated by her name or her father. Like he saw her. And worse, she did feel something. That strange pull when their hands touched. She sat there in the dark, the glow of her phone still casting shadows across her sheets. She told herself this was just curiosity. She was just trying to understand the man working in her backyard. She repeated it over and over like a prayer. But deep down, she already knew that this wasn’t curiosity anymore. This was temptation. A minute later, Heidi had picked up her phone and was mid-scroll again, Jalen in a black hoodie, sleeves pushed up, standing in front of a half-built deck with that effortless grin on his face. She hadn’t realized how far she’d gone this time. She was definitely in stalker territory.

Then ... KNOCK—SLAM.

The door flew open.

“Heidi!” Leslie burst in without hesitation. “Have you seen my—”

Heidi damn near jumped out of her skin, thumb slamming the lock button on her phone as she fumbled to toss it under the throw pillow beside her.

Leslie paused mid-step, brows raised. “The hell are you doing? You look like I caught you watching porn.”

“I wasn’t!” Heidi snapped a little too quickly, eyes wide. “God, Leslie, knock first.”

Leslie smirked. “Okay, so it wasn’t porn. But it was something.”

Heidi’s face was flushed, her chest still rising and falling from the adrenaline spike. “What do you want?”

Leslie crossed her arms, stepping further into the room. “Have you seen my Emory sweatshirt? The gray one. You took it like two weeks ago.”

“It’s in the laundry. I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

Leslie didn’t move. Her eyes darted to the pillow, the one Heidi had all but thrown her phone under. Slowly, Leslie raised an eyebrow.

Heidi folded her arms, forcing calm into her voice. “Don’t even.”

Leslie grinned, then dropped onto the edge of the bed and snatched the pillow up before Heidi could stop her.

“Don’t you—Leslie!”

Too late. The phone was in her sister’s hand. Leslie hit the lock button, the screen lighting up. It was still on Instagram. Jalen’s face in full frame. The silence was loud. Leslie looked at the screen. Then at Heidi. Then back at the screen.

“Oh. Oooooohhh.”

Heidi yanked the phone back, clutching it like it was radioactive. “Shut up.”

Leslie stared at her like she’d just confessed to sleeping with a devil-worshiper. “Heidi. That’s the contractor.”

“I know who he is,” Heidi snapped.

“You’ve been thirst-scrolling his page?”

Heidi groaned, falling back on the bed and covering her face with both hands. “It’s not like that.”

“You were deep. Like, months back. That’s intentional scrolling.”

“Leslie, I swear to God...”

Leslie flopped back beside her on the bed, laughing. “Damn. Wait ‘til Mom finds out her favorite princess has a thing for the hot black guy with tattoos and calluses.”

Heidi pulled the blanket over her head. “She’s not finding out. And I don’t have a thing for him. Also, I am NOT a princess.”

“Uh-huh.”

Heidi peeked out from the blanket, glaring. “He’s just ... interesting. Okay? He’s different.”

Leslie tilted her head. “Yeah. And you’ve never experienced ‘different’ before. That’s what’s messing with you.”

Heidi didn’t answer. Because Leslie was right.

Throughout the week, Jalen forces himself to focus only on the project. From Monday to Friday, he keeps things strictly business, avoiding Heidi whenever possible, however, she still lingers.

She “coincidentally” walks past the worksite at least twice a day. Sometimes she watches from the porch, sometimes she takes calls in the backyard a little too close to where he’s working. On Friday, the sun beat down on the Horner estate as Jalen worked shirtless behind the guest house structure, his upper body glistening with sweat as he framed out the new support beams. His crew was off grabbing extra supplies, which meant, for once, he was alone, focused, and moving with his usual quiet precision. Heidi stood by the upstairs window, holding her third cup of coffee but not drinking a drop. She watched Jalen from behind the curtain like she was studying a wild animal in its natural habitat. Her eyes lingered on the way his back flexed when he lifted a beam onto the sawhorses.