He did mind.Easy on the eyes.Cute and cuddly.Way too many other men were looking at her.
“So, is there anything going on that I should be aware of?”he asked, getting back to business.When it came to Maxie, there was only so much he wanted to discuss.He wasn’t quite sure what was happening between them.He knew what he wanted to be happening, but she had him bouncing around like one of those Super Balls.Hot then cold.Go then stop.He was having a hard time keeping up.“Has there been any trouble down at the Falls?”
Dodd wrapped his thumbs around his gun belt.“Not at Falls Park, but we were called down to the Inndigo last night.”
Zac stilled.“The Inndigo?”
“Yeah, a couple of construction workers got into it.Nobody was hurt, and they didn’t cause any damage except maybe to their egos.They were so drunk, neither managed to land a solid punch.”
So, no report of three hot women skinny-dipping.Good to know.
He leaned back against the wall and nearly sighed at the coolness against his shoulder blades.“Any charges filed?”
“No.We hauled them both in and let them sleep it off in separate cells.Fortunately, we had the space.”
As harmless as the scuffle sounded, Zac was glad he’d gotten Lexie and Roxie out of that place when he had.“How much longer before that bridge project is supposed to be completed?”
“Not for another month or so, from what I hear.”
He frowned.“Their people are running on fumes as it is.”
“I know.I had a talk with their foreman about it.”
“You called him?”
“He was there.”
That sounded about right.Zac mulled it over.Maybe it was time they stopped being lenient.Next time something like this happened, somebody was going to have to face the consequences.Maybe that would get the company’s attention and make it clear their guys were running ragged.Hell, he knew how it could get when work separated a guy from friends and significant others for a long time.You went a little bonkers.“Okay, keep me updated.”
He turned into his office and tried not to scowl.New paperwork was in his inbox.He ignored it.He’d deal with it when he was on-hours and getting paid.Today, he had other chores that needed his attention.
He waited for the computer to boot up.It seemed like ages since he’d last been at his desk.He’d worked a full shift yesterday, but a lot had happened since five o’clock last night.
He ran a thumb across his lower lip.Alot.
He glanced through his open door towards the sergeant’s desk.He didn’t mind people knowing that he was seeing Maxie—if he was truly seeing her.Things had spiraled out of control with her faster than he’d expected.He’d underestimated her, and he’d underestimated his attraction to her, as impossible as that seemed.
He ruffled his hair as all that sexual heat and frustration built back up inside him.He’d only meant to kiss her last night, to mess around a little and get her out of her head.He hadn’t expected her to react the way she had or for his own thoughts to go completely haywire when she’d touched him back.
Shy?Timid?It wasalwaysthe quiet ones.When would people realize that?
His chair squeaked as he leaned back in it.She’d been embarrassed this morning, but he hoped to God it had been because she’d left him hanging high and dry, not because she regretted letting it go as far as it had.She’d kissed him on the porch readily enough.Then again, she’d also left the bed pretty damn quickly, hightailing it down to the kitchen without waking him.
Shit.These were the thoughts that drove men crazy.
The computer cursor was blinking in front of his face.Rolling his chair closer, he typed in his password and organized his thoughts.Most of her uneasiness was caused by having too many questions coming at her too fast.If he could find some answers, she’d feel better.Calmer and more in control.
Then they’d get down to the questions he had—and ways to make them both feel better.
It was already warming up by the time Maxie and her helpers unloaded The Green Thumb’s van.Fortunately, she didn’t have a lot of big things to transport, mainly trinkets.Fresh-cut flowers didn’t do well in heat, so she’d brought other things they could sell.Park Art was just too good of an event to miss.It brought so many people into town.She and her grandmother had participated in the event every year since it had started.
Grandma.Maxie took an unsteady breath as she ran her finger over a dried rose.Why hadn’t she ever been told she was adopted?
“Where should I put the potpourri and sachets?”Roxie asked.
Maxie pushed down the feelings of sadness and confusion.“On the table over there.”They were small and cheaply priced.They’d sell well if they were displayed up front.She stepped back to look at the dried arrangements she’d hung on a corkboard.They looked attractive, if she did say so herself.
Roxie inhaled deeply.“Everything smells wonderful.”
