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eBook Category: Romance
eBook Description: Della Fletcher knows she is a take-charge kind of woman. After experiencing two broken romances and a mugging in Philadelphia she moves to the small town of Fair Morning, Pennsylvania. She bought an old house and has her heart set on doing this project. As her business involves organization, the restoration work on her dream house will be a piece of cake. Her real estate agent recommends Tom Luniack as the best contractor in town. Everything would be ready by Thanksgiving, Christmas at the very latest. Tom Luniack couldn't believe some easy mark bought the old Hendrickson homestead. Did the real estate agent, kiss the buyer before she signed the contract? If the woman hires him he will make enough money to live comfortably for a couple of years. He is surprised that she agrees to his suggestion of "sweat equity" which means she will be working with him. Despite having reservations, Tom takes the job. What could possibly go wrong?

eBook Publisher: Treble Heart Books, Published: 2009
Fictionwise Release Date: May 2009

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His worst fear was confirmed. Turning around he found her standing directly behind him.

"It only needs a couple of posts replaced, there, behind the swing, some scraping, sanding, a couple of coats of paint. The stringers on the steps are firm. The treads may have to be replaced, but the risers look okay," she said. "In fact, given a good sanding, the treads may not have to be replaced.

Where did she learn about stringers? Did she have previous building experience? Most of his customers didn't have any idea what stair treads were nailed to. If he took this job, he'd have to be careful dealing with this woman.

"Is that all?"

"Of course," she replied.

"I think it's going to need more than that, Miss Fletcher. There's a lot of wood rot, maybe some termite damage. No amount of scraping is going to take care of that." She'd only have toothpicks left if the job was done to her specifications.

"I had to have a termite inspection done before the sale could be completed. There's no damage, at least not according to the report I received."

That was a miracle, if it was true. He'd have to check out who did the inspection. If it was someone local it would be okay, but sometimes Leona went to an out of town company for the inspection in order to get it done more quickly and that was not always a good thing. The big question right now was did he want to get involved with something he'd be sorry for later on down the road? He went over to the railing, took note of the rust around the nails, the way they were working their way out of the wood and how easy it would be for it to be pulled away from the main post.

He took hold of the railing and gently pushed. It was unstable and it wouldn't take much for it to give way. "My advice would be to take the whole thing down and start over."

"Oh, I don't think that will be necessary." She grabbed hold of the railing, leaning all of her weight on it. "A little effort with a paint scraper and," she yelped, arms flailing as she started to fall forward.

Tom grabbed her around the waist and hauled her back. Women! He wasn't being sexist, but her idea of what was needed here and the reality of the condition of the structure were miles apart.