Killian (Hope City #8) - Kris Michaels Page 0,11

your schedule.”

“Starting tomorrow morning, my schedule will be from sunup until I drop into bed at night. I couldn’t manage time away from the build site for a couple of months minimum.” His eyes ran up and down her in a way that made her back go ramrod straight. “No offense, but dressed like that, you’d not last ten minutes on a build site, so I’m going to decline, regretfully.”

Bekki lifted an eyebrow. Oh, no, he didn’t just dismiss her, did he? “I assure you I can dress appropriately for a build site. I’m asking for information, not a job.”

Killian’s eyes widened just a bit and he lifted his chin. “Monday, ten o’clock. Do you know where the Pinnacle is being built?”

“I can find it.” She returned his chin tilt, although if she were wearing her four-inch heels she’d have felt a bit more intimidating.

“I’ll see you then. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to say my goodbyes.” Killian stepped around her, once again dismissing her.

She turned her back to the crowd and mumbled to the wall, “Wow, rude much?”

“He’s not, usually,” Xander spoke from behind her.

Bekki jumped and spun around. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you.”

“I was coming out from the house. Killian is usually more civilized. We’ve had an issue with this build that we haven’t experienced before, so he’s a bit overprotective of our project.”

“Our project? I thought it was Ganas Construction’s project. Do you own part of his company?”

Xander shook his head and took her by the elbow, escorting her over to a couple chairs that were free. They sat down and he continued. “Champion Land Development Corporation is our company. My brother Dimitri and I put up the capital, Killian is the construction arm. What exactly are you looking for from Killian?”

Bekki shrugged. “A story. I know there is a huge revitalization of the Harbor area in the works. I don’t want a fluff piece; I want to do a series on how much work is being put into bringing Hope City back to life.”

“And you need to follow my brother around a construction site to do this?” Xander stared at her, his eyes almost too knowledgeable for her liking. Perhaps it wasn’t Killian who was connected to City Hall.

She sighed. “Do I have to? No, but I like to know what I’m reporting. How hard could it be to tell me the process? I mean, when you start, how do you go about getting approval? Did you buy the land? Are you developing it for investors? If so, are they from Hope City? What’s the incentive for your company to do a development like the Pinnacle rather than a bunch of houses or a strip mall? What are the economics involved? Is there a chance you could lose your shirt on the development? How do you hedge against those losses?”

Xander chuckled and shook his head. “Killian has no idea what is coming his way.”

Bekki frowned in confusion. “What does that mean?”

“It means that you should wear jeans on Monday. Something you can get dirty. I’d suggest tennis shoes, too.”

“Why?” She was going to wear slacks and flat shoes.

“Believe me, it will go a long way toward getting you that information.” Xander stood up and glanced at his gold Rolex. “I must be going. I have a call with a client in China that I need to prep for.”

“China? What is it that you do, Xander?”

“I’m an entertainment lawyer.” He smiled. “Good evening.”

Bekki watched him walk away and huffed out a frustrated chuff of air. “What is it with everyone dismissing me tonight?”

Blay, her brother, walked by and chuckled. “Poor Bekki, did the pretty men not want to play with you?”

She reached up and whacked him on the shoulder. “Mom! Bekki’s hitting again!” Blay yelled the words, turning every head.

“Bekki, please stop irritating your brother,” Hannah spoke from where she and Sharon were sitting with Colm and her dad.

She gaped at her mother and pointed at Blay. “He started it.”

Chapter 4

Killian walked the fencing that had been installed over the weekend. There were still acres yet to develop, but the fencing being constructed was to keep his equipment and supplies inside and the people who ripped off the expensive components of his trade out. Well, the fence and Duke. The dog trotted along beside him, smelling everything they passed. Duke had been with him on two smaller builds. The animal had caught someone who had cut through the chain-link fence on the last site.