Mark of Damon by Eva Chase Page 0,16
that old place up to date?”
“Not the house—not yet, anyway. This is going to be a surprise for her. A little addition on the grounds past the garden.” I dug out the sketch I’d done. “Between the two of us, we should be able to manage a gazebo like this, don’t you think?”
My breath locked in my lungs for a few seconds as he looked it over. I couldn’t help scanning his expression for interest and approval.
To my relief, his mouth slowly curved upward. The energy I was used to seeing when he was picturing getting down to work on a project lit up his face.
“You’ve done a nice job with this,” he said. “It’d take some work doing the construction without her catching on before it’s done, but I think I have all the materials we’d need already on hand.”
I found myself grinning back at him. “Perfect. And no need to worry about the surprise. We can put it together during the times when she’s out of town. The other guys can keep a secret.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” Dad clapped my shoulder again, with a crinkling at the corners of his eyes that turned his smile even more fond. “Thank you for coming to me with this. I’m looking forward to getting down to work with you again.”
An answering eager energy lit in me, melting the uneasiness I’d been trying to shake all morning. “Me too.”
Chapter Seven
Damon
The morning before Rose was due back from her latest venture, the buzz of a power drill brought me into the woods beyond the garden. I had the day off, and I’d slept late after dreams I couldn’t remember had left me waking repeatedly in a cold sweat that had fractured my night. No one else had been in the dining room when I’d grabbed breakfast. What the hell was going on out here?
I had to pick my way between the trees for several minutes before I spotted the source of the sound. In a small clearing up ahead, the sunlight streaming in caught on pale wooden beams. As I strode closer, the mass of them took shape: a raised, circular structure with a conical roof. Seth was perched on a ladder at the edge of that roof, just fixing another board in place. An older man I recognized as his dad steadied the base of the ladder. And Jin was out there too, leaning against a nearby oak with a sketchbook balanced on one arm while he drew.
I still didn’t know what this was all about.
Seth was just finishing with his current task. He eased his way down the ladder and caught sight of me the moment I emerged into the clearing. I folded my arms over my chest, looking up at the structure, which loomed about twice my height though still lower than the trees.
Seth came over looking friendly enough. Since my outburst last week, which admittedly I felt a little ridiculous remembering, the guys hadn’t treated me any differently, as if they’d all decided to pretend it hadn’t happened. I had to wonder whether that generosity was because they’d taken it as a typical Damon fit of temper… or because they knew I was right and didn’t want to admit it.
“Hey,” he said as he reached me. “Sorry if the noise got loud enough to wake you up.”
He said it casually, but a jab of annoyance at the reminder that I’d slept in prodded my gut. I’d been sleeping while he’d been out here constructing entire small buildings.
“I didn’t hear anything until I was already outside.” I jerked my chin toward the structure. “What’s this all about? I don’t remember Rose saying anything about adding to the estate.”
Seth gave me a conspiratorial grin that might have been welcome if I’d actually been in on the secret to begin with. “She doesn’t know about it. I wanted to surprise her. It’s a gazebo, big enough for us all to sit out here if we want to relax well away from the staff.”
“I can see that it’s a gazebo,” I muttered. “Are you sure she’s going to be okay with this?”
He shrugged. “If she isn’t, I can always take it back down again. But I think she’ll appreciate it. We need more parts of this place that feel like ours rather than ancient Hallowell history. We’re taking things in a new direction now.”
Jin ambled over, his sketchbook tucked under his arm. “When our resident architect has work complete,