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her, she’d get exactly what she wanted.
    He hadn’t seen her. He’d been working in her home for three days, but he always left before she showed up. She hadn’t officially moved into the house yet, but she did spend the nights in her great-aunt’s bedroom. He’d learned that from talking with Kevin.
    Between Karessa here at night, and workers in practically every room during the day, Max hadn’t had the chance to searchfor the bond. He would. He was determined to find the bond and get out of here before he ever saw Karessa.
    He didn’t think his heart could stand seeing her again.
    A final tug with the claw of his hammer and the last cabinet came loose from the wall. Max stood back and smiled. He pictured Karessa’s drawing in his mind, the way she wanted this room to look when completed. She’d always had excellent taste. The room would be beautiful, as would the entire house.
    “How’s it going?” Kevin asked from behind him.
    Max turned and faced his boss. “Great. I just pulled down the last cabinet. Now I can start tearing down the walls.”
    “You can start on the walls tomorrow. It’s ten after five.”
    “It is?” Max glanced at his watch. He’d been so absorbed in his work, he hadn’t noticed the time.
    “I wish all my men worked as hard as you do.”
    “I like the physical work.”
    “Yeah, me too.” He clapped Max on the shoulder. “Karessa called me about half an hour ago. She’s run into some problems at her museum, so she won’t be here tonight.”
    Max kept his face impassive so Kevin wouldn’t know how his heart had kicked into high gear. “Oh?”
    “Everyone else has left. As soon as you gather up your stuff, I’ll lock up after you.”
    This was his chance…the chance to search the house without anyone bothering him. “Hey, man, I’d like to work a little longer. How about if I lock up for you?”
    Kevin frowned slightly. “I don’t think that’s a good idea—”
    “You can trust me, Kevin, you know that.”
    “It isn’t you, Max. I’m responsible for this house. I think I should be the one to lock up.”
    Time for Plan B. “Okay, I understand that. How about if youcome back in a couple of hours to lock up? I’d like to start on these walls.”
    Kevin rubbed his upper lip. “No, that’d be silly. I don’t want to turn around and come back here once I’m home.” Reaching into his jeans pocket, he pulled out a gold key on a red keychain. “Here. Stay as long as you want to. Just don’t wear yourself out so you can’t work tomorrow.”
    “No problem.” Max took the key and squeezed it in his fist. “Thanks.”
    “Surely you have something better to do than hang around this house and work all night.”
    “Nope. I don’t have anyone to go home to like you do.”
    “My wife knows a lot of single women—”
    Max held up one hand to stop Kevin from saying anything else. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not into blind dates.”
    “If you change your mind, let me know.”
    “I will. Thanks.”
    Max continued to clutch the key until he heard Kevin’s pickup start. Moving to the window, he watched his friend drive down the lane until he could no longer see the truck.
    “Yes!” he whispered.
    Slipping the key into his pocket, Max picked up his hammer and left the kitchen. Even though he hadn’t been able to search the house the way he wanted to, he had checked out the downstairs. The bond wouldn’t be in plain sight. It had to be hidden somewhere…probably in some kind of secret compartment in one of the walls or within the woodwork.
    He started in the living room. Standing in the middle of the room, he turned a circle, searching for anything that might be obvious. The walls were covered with a hideous pink flowered wallpaper. Karessa’s great-aunt obviously had no taste when it came todecorating. Two of the walls had already been torn down, exposing the wooden studs. Nothing hidden there. Even though Max had been assigned to the kitchen, he’d