"Yeah, I mean, it's good timing for me, honestly, with school and work and everything. And my sister already mentioned it."
"Josieee," he said, still touching my thigh. "Are you staying?"
I nodded.
"For my whole project?"
I nodded again.
The doubting, planner side of me wanted him to make things black and white between us. I wanted to start asking him for some sort of label or commitment when I talked about staying in Montana. But I didn't need that. He didn't owe me that. I could just stay for a while and get to know him.
"It really does work out with Lu and everything," I said. "I'm thankful I stumbled upon you and your little operation at a grocery store."
"No kidding. What are the chances? We have Lu to thank for that."
I smiled at the memory of her announcing that she was finished using the restroom.
"Little Lu Bird," I said. "She's going to be happy I'm staying around. I'm happy too. I'm gonna get my old jobs back. At least the restaurants."
"I go to Missoula twice a week," he said, grinning with a pleased expression and taking his hands off of me to stretch. "I'm so excited you're staying close, Josie."
"Yeah, of course. I'll stay for the project. That'll be fun."
"How do you do it?" he said.
"What do you mean?"
"How do you just agree to things like this—change your mind—go with the flow?"
"I have my master's, and I'm proud of that and everything, but honestly, I look at you and your life,and I think, 'how does he do it?' It's you who's doing the big things."
"Not from my perspective," Alex said. "The story, it all feels like it was just dropped in my lap. But you, you're like switching gears, making moves, and taking care of Lu, all while getting your master's. I don't know how you do it."
I let out a little laugh at the thought. "Honestly, I hang on by the skin of my teeth sometimes. God's bailing me out of fear all the time. The Bible. I wouldn't be stable if I didn't have that book in my life."
Alex sat back, regarding me. He was sitting on a box, but it was near a different, taller box that he leaned against. He looked at me with an unreadable expression. He was a work of art—his resting face was different than his smiling face, and both of them were so handsome. I stared at the lines of his cheek and jaw… and his mouth. That wide, curved mouth started to gently curve upward at the corners, and I felt weak in the knees.
He nudged his chin toward the back door of the wagon where we had come in. I was slightly closer to it.
"There's a cover that comes down from the inside," he said. "You just have to unroll it."
Chapter 19
I stood up. "You want me to unroll it?"
The covered wagon was narrow and cramped, but it had high ceilings, and I didn't hesitate to stand up in it. I could see the canvas he was talking about. It was a rolled-up piece of the same off-white material that was covering the wagon.
I inspected the ties as I approached it. It was fastened on each side with a thin strip of the same material. I reached up to touch the strip of supporting material on the left side, feeling for a knot or button—something I could un-attach.
I gave up on the left side and reached out for the strap on the right, hoping for a clue on that one.
Alex came to stand behind me, and I moved to get out of his way. But he caught me before I could go anywhere. He shifted me back into place, my back to his chest. He put his hand on the front of my waist, and I put my hand over his, holding it there and appreciating how it burned my skin. There was fabric between his hand and my stomach, and my skin was still on fire.
He was all around me now. His arms fit around mine. He pulled me closer, and I gently leaned into his embrace, pressing myself lightly against his chest. I was out of my head with desire and attraction for this man. I had never felt like thisabout anyone. He was like a brick wall behind me, around me—a warm brick wall. It was the most secure, amazing feeling I ever had. I forgot, for a second, that we were supposed to be finding a way to loosen the strap. I nudged my hand toward the canvas again, and he followed me with his hand.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to do it," he said. "There's a trick."
He took my fingers in his, easily finding the back of the strap. I had no idea what he was doing with my hand, and I didn't care. I just went to him, letting him lead me, staying in his grasp. I felt a little force on my fingers as he gently used my fingertips to peel back the back side of the strap. I smiled as it popped open and the right side began to roll down. I pulled back and looked up at him.
