I’ve spent the last month trying and almost failing on multiple occasions to avoid pouring coffee in his lap. At almost no point have I stopped being jumpy and downright awkward around this veritable bear of a man. I never imagined that while I was doing all those embarrassing things, he was finding me attractive.
Shy and quiet, tongue-tied and awkward with no idea how to even flirt back if that’s what this is, I say nothing.
From his perch on one of the five cherry-red bar stools on the other side of the front counter, he takes a sip from his coffee and sets it down to admit, “My family would be ready with a long list of things I do wrong. I have two older brothers and three older sisters, each with kids of their own now.”
“Sounds like you have a big family.”
“Most families do in the town where I’m from. New Orleans, Louisiana.”
Ah.That’sthe accent.
“I’ve heard it has amazing food.” Parades, too, but the thought of thousands of men so close to me is the stuff of nightmares.
He bops his head. “Best food in the world. I try to get home to see family a couple of times a year. The Comeaux Sunday dinners are legendary.”
“You miss it.”
New Orleansandhis family. The smile in his eyes comes from his heart. When you see love as clearly as I do, you feel it.
“I do, but I wanted to see a little more of the world before I settled. What about you?”
“I don’t have a big family, just an older sister.” This interesting conversation is suddenly littered with too many traps to avoid. “The rest is the same.”
But my reason for traveling was not the same as his.
One person tried to help me before. Just one. They spent three days in intensive care because of it. Now I know not to involve anyone else in my trouble and to keep my problems to myself. I miss my sister, but Pittsburgh would be the first place Derek looked for me.
“Well, Rios is friendly,” Wyatt says, giving me a probing look.
“I know.”It’s why I’m still here.
Picking up his fork, he decimates his second slice of pie. Four quick, large bites, and his plate is empty of everything except a smear of dark blue sauce. “This pie is damn good,” he says, eyeing the cabinet as if he’s thinking of another slice. “Not sure what Nico did, but lately I’ve been dreaming about these pies.” He sets the fork on his empty plate and wipes his mouth with a napkin.
Looking down helps me hide my red cheeks. “I’ll tell him you said that.” Then I blurt out, “Lina said the condo is nearly done,” wincing at my inability to communicate without sounding like a crazy person. My eyes automatically flick over his left shoulder, settling on the five-story apartment building that I’ve watched taking shape over the last month. When my eyes return to him, his are on me.
He takes a sip of his coffee. “Most of us go where the work is. Once the condo is done, it’s time to move to the next job.”
“Including you?” I wipe the spotless counter for something to do. Before I helped Nico open up this morning, I gave each counter a quick wipe, even though Lina, Nico’s daughter, who closed up last night, would have done the same, since I always spill sugar when I’m refilling the canisters.
“I have a job waiting for me in Florida.”
My heart gives a little flip. “Florida?”
Stop repeating him. He’s going to think you’re an idiot.
“We’ve got a good team. The company that hired us for this job likes our work and wants us to manage the next one. It’s a big new resort.”
You knew this, Maisie.
Lina and Nico told me once this condo goes up, all the construction workers will move on to the next town, since the company isn’t based in Iowa.
I’ve had a month to get used to their leaving. So why do I feel so strange at the thought of Wyatt no longer stopping in for a coffee and a slice of pie?
Why do I think I’ll miss him?
“That sounds great.” I force a smile to my lips. “A bigger job means better pay, right?”
Means I never get to see you again.
