Tessa had no trouble avoiding him, since Bair was able to tell her what she needed to know, where to find things, and how to get places. From what she’d observed, Smith’s leadership style was organized and competent, and he didn’t shirk his own workload. His natural exuberance had matured into an industrious confidence, though she tried not to analyze him. He wasn’t the reason she had stayed. Her energy went into preparing to re-create the labyrinth— and the rest of the landscape design that Smith had reminded her was equally important to the overall project. For the most part, the engineer consultants were working remotely and connecting electronically, each discipline adding to Smith’s base sheets their part of the design as the drawings neared completion. Smith would bring all the designs together under one set of plans and specifications that would eventually get the engineers’, hers, and his own seal of approval. She felt the rising energy. The design phase always excited her, and she would have to guard the emotions stirred by observing people in a creative mode— especially Smith.
