“Can’t say that I have,” Sawyer admitted. He took a bandanna from his back pocket and wiped his hands off, offering one.
“Call me Theo, please.” Theo said, shaking his hand.
“The initiative could really benefit from more community support, maybe even a partnership with the town,” Amber said casually. “Sawyer, the mayor’s been looking for ways to support local sustainability efforts.”
Sawyer nodded. “Any help from the town would make a huge difference.”
“I’d like to hear more about that,” Theo said, nodding. “Maybe we can set up a meeting to see how the town can help.”
As they headed toward the Amish farm stand, Amber couldn’t help but smile.
“I’d tell you how good you are at this job, but I can tell you’re already patting yourself on the back,” Theo said dryly.
Hannah, the young girl behind the table, had an assortment of jams and fresh baked goods displayed. Amber’s mouth watered. Theo put a glass jar of sauerkraut in the bag.
“I am, aren’t I?” she said delightedly. She took the sauerkraut out and replaced it with a bag of to-die-for snickerdoodles.
Theo took them back out.
She stopped and glared. “Hannah, tell the mayor he does not want to mess with keeping these cookies away from me. It will get ugly.”
Theo grinned, dimples and all, and she melted a little. “Compromise?” He held up a carton of peaches. “I’ll make you a peach crumble with these.”
Amber snatched it from him. “We’ll take both,” she said. “Hannah, have you met the mayor yet? And howare your parents? Are they here today?”
“They’re around here somewhere. My mom said she missed seeing you at the Maple Street Center.”
“Oh, really?” Amber shot a glance at Theo, but he was looking over the fruit. “Tell her I said ‘hi,’ please. Come on, Mr. Mayor, the kettle corn is over there.” Amber hustled them on before Theo could ask any questions, stopping at every table to introduce him to everyone she knew.
Now, back at her apartment, freshly showered and wrapped in her silk kimono, Amber couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of Theo putting away food in her kitchen as if he had been doing it for years. And here she was, absolutely killing it with his PR campaign. Was this a forever type of job? She wasn’t sure, but for now it felt incredibly good to be acing something for a change.
A month ago, she had been living off bananas and ramen, with her bank account scraping the bottom, and a constant stress headache hovering. Now, there was a sexy, buttoned-up mayor casually making himself at home in her kitchen, while she watched in just her robe. The contrast was stark. Overwhelming. Thrilling.
But what struck her the most was that more and more, she could be herself with Theo. There was no need to channel anyone else, even with all of her chaos and quirks on glaring display. He seemed to want to be around her, mess and all.
Life was wild.
“Drink this,” Theo said, handing Amber a green concoction. Amber barely flinched; she was so used to them now.
She sipped and swung her bare legs from the counter where she sat and let herself preen a little. Just a bit. Because she was damn proud of herself for helping Theo.
“That was pretty good work with the yoga ladies last week, right? And the farmers would be so happy to have you supportinglocal agriculture. Oh, you’re going to the outdoor movie night tomorrow, right? I’ll be there with my family. It’s always a fun night with all the kids and there’s snacks and a dance party.. .” she trailed off, realizing she had been close to rambling. She flashed him a quick, sheepish smile. “Sorry, I got a little excited.”
It was just...she didn’t feel like being very glamorous right now. She was freshly scrubbed, her hair was wet, and she felt a raw, unfiltered happiness bubbling inside her in a way that was unfamiliar but not unwelcome.
“It was brilliant work.” Theo grinned at her and opened the fridge to put away the lettuce and kale. He even washed it before storing it, she noticed before getting distracted by the show. Theo’s shorts clung to him, outlining powerful thighs and draping interestingly around other...parts.
From where she sat, she could see the high, taut curve of his ass and the black waistband of his underwear peeking out of the top. The sight sparked a warmth in her that had nothing to do with the heat outside and everything to do with the sexy man in front of her.
If she wasn’t careful, she might just tug him by the waistband of his shorts into the V of her legs and wrap herself around that hard body. She wondered what he would do.
She knew he felt the attraction between them as much as she did, but she doubted he’d act on it. He’d probably never done an impulsive thing in his life for one, but that whole boss-employees dynamic was another big red stop sign for him.
She picked up a peach from the basket on the counter and rolled it in her hand, a confusing mix of emotions swirling inside her. Theo had bought strawberries and cherries too. They were ripe and fragrant in her small kitchen, soft to the touch, and still warm from the sun. She narrowed her eyes.
“That’s it. That’s all I get? I just set you up with a direct lineto your biggest variable in the election, and all you’ve got for me is ‘good work’?” She mimicked his deep voice.
“I’ll cut it for you.” Theo took the peach and rinsed it, then moved her ankle aside with one big hand to open the cabinet under her and pull out her cutting board. The feel of his hands sent a flood of warmth through her body. He deftly peeled the ripe fruit and sliced it, then turned to the fridge again. Unaffected. It was like waving a red flag at her.
