I nod and duck out toward the bay. We run through equipment checks and cleaning the bay well into the morning. No calls yet today.
After the routine tasks, I’m finishing up sweeping. Dustin’s at the workbench replacing worn hose gaskets. Greyson’s oiling the chainsaws. Patrick’s updating the maintenance logs.
“Someone’s happy,” Patrick says in my direction.
I look up, at first I don’t realize he’s talking about me. My mood is leaking into my work. I straighten my face, but not soon enough, because Dustin starts singingWhistle While You Work.
“Am I committing some sort of code violation?” I ask. “We’re allowed to smile at work, right?”
“Why don’t we call Carli and ask her,” Dustin jokes.
I’m not a man prone to blushing, but I feel my face heat,so I turn my back to my crew and focus on sweeping the pile of dirt into the dustpan.
Images flash through my mind like a private slide show—Carli sipping her coffee from Frothy Monkey, her with barbecue sauce smeared on her face, the light in her eyes when she found the pair of boots we bought, and the way she fell asleep leaning on me on the drive home.
The crew and I finish our morning routine, followed by a workout in the weight room.
I slip my cell out of my pocket while the other guys are getting ready to shower and send Carli a quick text. We’re still not sure when we can steal more time alone together. I texted her before I headed into work this morning, but I haven’t heard back.
Cody: I’m still smiling. Even after a whole day, I feel like I didn’t get enough time with you. Never enough.
Her text comes through immediately.
Carli: Yesterday was special. I’m smiling too. Thank you for letting me tag along. I’ve got to go. Work calls.
I pocket my cell, grinning like an idiot. My smile falters for a moment. Carli’s still on the other side of town, and I’m on the clock for another twenty hours.
A few hours later, the guys are all chilling in the main room. Greyson’s on his laptop. Dustin’s digging through the fridge and as usual during any downtime, Patrick has his head in a book.
I’m planning our grocery run when a voice rings through the bay and carries into the kitchen. I’d know her anywhere.
“Hello?”
“Is that Carli?” Greyson asks, shutting his laptop and standing.
“I think so,” I say, trying to hide my eagerness to go to her. I slowly rise from my chair and walk toward the door behind him.
“Hi,” she says, greeting all four of us.
The guys gather around like they’re each on a personal mission to welcome her to the station. I had no idea she was popping by.
My eyes rove over her skirt and heels, then her hair—which is usually in a braid or wild and free, like it was only yesterday when she was riding Storm at Ray’s ranch. She’s smoothed it back and pulled it into a knot at the base of her neck. She’s even wearing some makeup. Not too much, just enough to make her eyes pop and her lips look beyond kissable. This is a version of Carli I’ve rarely seen. My eyes linger on her despite the fact that we’re surrounded by my coworkers and boss.
But, beyond her appearance, it’s the way she’s carrying herself—with an air of confident professionalism.
David steps into the middle of the group of firefighters gathered around Carli and extends his hand to her. She shakes it, smiling at him.
“Thanks for coming by, Carli,” he says.
Looking around at the rest of us, Captain explains, “I wanted to go through the inspection of Jensen’s Auto Repair and that vacant building next door.”
His eyes land on me as if he’s assuming I’ll be the one doing this kind of follow-up in the future.
When Captain’s gaze shifts away from me, I catch Carli’s eyes and wink at her. I probably shouldn’t. She smiles softly and then looks away, straightening her features back into an on-the-job expression.
“I’ve got the documentation here,” she says to David. “Along with the corrective actions Jim completed … Mr. Jensen, that is.”
Carli hands a folder over to David. I take it all in—her hand, her fingers, the bend of her wrist, the slight tilt of her head, the way she straightens her shouldersonce David is holding the folder and her hands are empty.
