I’m working with a man.Okay, that’s fine, I’m adaptable.I just hope he doesn’t go allI know everythingon me.
There was something familiar about him.About the way he held himself and for a split second, she thought it was Zach sitting in the seat, but she dismissed it because there was no way he would be her helper.He hadn’t been in town long enough.She needed her assistant/helper to be someone who knew the town.Someone familiar with the business owners so they could visit them and ask for their involvement if she was busy.Someone the townspeople were comfortable speaking with.
“Take a seat next to Zach, Tilly.”
Tilly sat with a thud as she turned and faced the man she’d been thinking about only a few seconds ago.
Had her thoughts really been a manifestation?Had the universe shown her that it worked?Would that mean if she continued to wish and say out loud that Kathryn Lancaster was going to be a part of the show, it would happen?
Considering the man sitting next to her was proof that flyaway thoughts could lead to him helping her, then she was going to say it a hundred times a day.
The only reason Zach could be in the office with Chelsea was that he was her assistant.
“Hi there, Zach.”How she managed to sound calm and in control when her heart was thumping a million beats a minute was surprising.
“You two know each other?That’s excellent,” Chelsea gushed, her eyes sparkling, but Tilly couldn’t place the underlying emotion in them.
“Yes, we had dinner a few nights ago, but I’m not sure I’m the right person for the job,” Zach said, shifting in his seat, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.At least she hoped it was the task and not the fact that he had to work with her.
“As a firefighter you play an important role in the safety of our citizens.What Tilly has planned is a big event that will incorporate a lot of people, and I want to make sure that we have every avenue covered in terms of risks to the participants and the audience.”Chelsea paused and pointed to a map of Marietta on the wall.“We will need to look at road closures and crowd numbers in terms of fire safety inside the businesses that will be frequented.What permits will be required.The request may seem unnecessary to you, but it’s very necessary to me.As mayor, it’s my responsibility to ensure the event is not only successful but also a safe one.”
Tilly had to admit she hadn’t considered the logistical aspects of what would need to be done to ensure the event went off without a hitch.She hadn’t even considered that she might need various permits.What those permits would be, she had no idea, but she didn’t want to ask because they were things she should’ve thought about.Her concern had been about getting people to play the roles as well as getting the businesses excited enough that they would want to take part.
“I’m not doubting the reasons for your request, ma’am,” Zach said.“If all you want me to attend to is marking out all the necessary permits, road closures, and ensuring fire codes are met—that I can do.Anything else, I’m not sure I can be of too much help.”
“Those are huge things that I hadn’t thought about,” Tilly admitted, even though she’d planned not to.“I’d really appreciate it if you could handle all of that.As for the other aspects, I’m sure I can get them all done.”
“Do you have a list of things that need to be attended to, Tilly?”the mayor asked.
“Not yet, but I’m working on it,” Tilly responded.“I have a fair idea of what I need to do to make it successful.”
“Well, perhaps Zach can help you with that.Sometimes an outside person can help you see things you wouldn’t normally.Why don’t you both use one of our conference rooms to go over things now?Get a head start on it all, considering time is of the essence.I’m assuming you’ve completed the entry form?”The mayor looked at Tilly, one of her eyebrows quirked.
“Yes, I’ve got a copy here.I thought you might need it for an official record, and now, for permits.”Tilly pulled out the printed copy and handed it over.
“Excellent.Follow me and you can get started.”
Tilly rose from the chair with a quick look at Zach.Why did he look like the world was about to end?
Chapter Five
The musky scentwafting to him from Tilly was temptation personified.Not to mention the dress she wore and the way it hugged her curves and showed a delectable amount of leg.She looked like she belonged on the catwalks during New York’s Fashion Week, not in small-town Montana.
Zach was fighting the desire to bury his nose against the soft flesh between her neck and shoulder.He’d spent the two days of his shift trying to work out how to get out of helping Tilly, but he hadn’t come up with anything convincing.
That was why he was now in this conference room in the mayor’s offices.He’d come straight from the fire station to see the mayor in the hopes that he could get her to change her mind about him helping Tilly.Unfortunately, her mind was made up, and anything he said fell on deaf ears.
“Zach, are you okay?”Tilly’s fingers touched his forearm and immediately warmth seeped into his bloodstream.He wanted to pull her close, sample her lips, and lose himself in her.Forget about what was going on outside of them.Forget about this damn event Tilly was organizing.Forget that if he started something with Tilly, her life would never be the same.She’d be sucked into a world where she’d be eaten alive.
Zach shut down where his thoughts were headed.
What was it about this woman that had him wanting things he long believed he couldn’t have because of who he was and the world he lived on the periphery of?He had to maintain distance between them.
He moved his arm away from the gentleness of her touch.“I’m a little tired.I came straight here from my shift.”
“What?How long is your shift?”
“Forty-eight hours.It wasn’t that busy either, so we had a lot of downtime, but I didn’t get much sleep.”
