“I’m looking for you.”

She touched her forehead, as if trying to rub away pain. “I can’t imagine why.”

“Sure you can.”

Despite the dark circles and her pallor, she was still appealing. He liked Nevada in jeans and a T-shirt, rather than dressed for an interview. These clothes were more like the woman he remembered.

“I want a do-over,” he told her. “The interview,” he added, just in case she thought he was talking about sex. Not that he would say no to a chance to prove himself.

“I have nothing left to say to you. You have my résumé. That’s enough.”

“You’re right. It is. I want to hire you as a construction manager.”

“Go to hell.”

“Is that an ‘I’ll think about it’?”

“It’s a go to hell. I’m not interested in being played.”

“Why would you think I’m playing you?”

“You’re only offering me the job because I said you were lousy in bed.”

He winced, hoping her voice wouldn’t carry. “This is a project worth tens of millions of dollars. Do you think I’d risk that because of my ego?” He moved toward her. “You’re more than qualified, which is important, but as you pointed out yesterday, you’re a local. You know how things are done around here. You can help us avoid making mistakes.”

It was a lesson he’d learned the hard way more than once. Paying attention to the seemingly foolish rituals and expectations of the locals could often mean the difference between coming in on time and on budget and blowing through all projections.

“I know you’re interested,” he continued. “Otherwise you wouldn’t have bothered applying or showing up for the interview.”

“It was supposed to be with your father,” she snapped. “Not you. I never wanted to see you again.”

“I’m the one in charge.”

“Exactly. Which is why it’s okay for you to leave now.”