Except those kisses.Man, those kisses were different from anything they’d ever done before.Right now, he wanted to go and kiss her some more.Honestly, he wanted to do much more than that with her, but moving slow was a better option, and he knew it.She wasn’t the type of woman you rushed into a more intimate relationship.They needed to take their time and really ease into it.Would they get there?They seemed to be on the right track, but what if something came along to spoil things?
He’d never known anyone like Mercedes.Such class, along with smarts and grace.Never mind her stunning looks.She made him feel like he could take on the world.He’d do anything for her, to be with her and care for her.Protect her.He trusted her with all his little secrets, the worst being his reading ability.He was so thankful she was someone to trust.
Chapter Twenty-One
The vibration of his phone had Evan parking the skid steer and pulling the phone from his pocket.Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Mercedes saying she was by the supervisor’s trailer waiting for him.It was time to get the stitches out of his arm, thankfully.The stupid things itched like crazy.Because the wound was healing, he’d been told by a dozen people every time he complained.
Even though he could absolutely get to the doctor’s himself, he’d promised her she could come with him.Of course, he’d said that when he’d been hit on the head with a drainpipe.Hopefully, he’d be able to do this on his lunch break and be back before it ended.He hated taking time from work.
A dozen guys milled around the trailer when he got there, and he searched for a reason why.Typically, they’d spread out or head to their cars to eat if the weather wasn’t pleasant.Right now, they all congregated near the door.As he got closer, he could see why.Mercedes stood outside like a queen holding court.Her lovely smile and colorful dress had attracted every able-bodied man from the dig.
“There he is,” she signed, where she hadn’t been signing a minute ago.“Thanks for all your help.Have a great lunch.”
Your fan club, he signed, not voicing it.The guys didn’t need to hear their chatter.
Maybe, she signed back.Do I need one?
I’m your biggest fan, he teased.You don’t need anyone else.I need to let my boss know I’m leaving.Be right back.
She smiled and nodded, so he headed into the trailer.Vince looked up from his desk.
“Hey, boss, my ride is here.Getting my stitches removed.Am I okay to punch out?”
Vince pulled out his phone and spoke into it.Evan’s phone vibrated.
—You’ll get paid for this time during your appointment since the injury happened during work hours.—
“Thanks.I’ll be back right after.”
—Take your time.Make sure to get a lunch.We don’t need you lightheaded from hunger because you didn’t eat.Understand?—
Evan gave him a thumbs up and exited the building.Several of the guys wiggled their eyebrows at him and made kissy faces.A few shook out their hands to indicate she was hot.He couldn’t disagree, but he didn’t like them ogling his girlfriend.The fact he could call Mercedes his girlfriend excited him.
“Find your own woman,” he growled.Some slapped him on the back.Even Tyler got in on it, his eyes wide in his young face.He’d probably never seen someone as beautiful as Mercedes.
“You are lucky,” he mouthed clearly so Evan understood.“She’s gorgeous.I’m impressed.”
Evan laughed and waved the kid off.Having a beautiful girlfriend didn’t make him a better person or worth more.It made him fortunate, though, mostly because she was so much more than her looks.
Mercedes stood by her car, arms crossed, a smug grin on her face.“Are you finally ready?”
They got in the car and he said, “They were all congratulating me on my lovely girlfriend.Told me I’m a lucky guy.”
Her eyes crinkled in laughter.“And you told them you are, correct?”
“Of course I did.The luckiest.”
She put the car in drive and maneuvered through the streets to the medical center.Parking was tight, but she managed to find a spot in the back row.By the time they got inside, it was just about time for his appointment.
At the window, he said, “Evan Jameson.”The woman squinted at his words, so Mercedes repeated his name while also using ASL.
“Evan Jameson.He’s here to get stitches out.”
“Thank you.Have a seat, please.”
Evan hated being dependent on someone else to speak for him.However, as he was reminded often, it was his right to have an interpreter.His parents used interpreters all the time when they had medical or professional appointments.It didn’t make them any less in his eyes.It wouldn’t be any different from having Mercedes here with him now, except when she was with him, the doctor didn’t have to pay for an interpreter, and she was someone he trusted.He trusted her far more than any interpreter, though he’d known many wonderful ones through the years.Doubtful she’d be needed much, as he was only having his stitches removed.Still, she was doing him a favor, and he should pay her back.Not that she’d accept any money, but he could take her out to dinner or do something else fun.He’d have to think about it.He had to stop being a hard head about some things.
He wasn’t as diligent about watching the door, and Mercedes had to poke him when the nurse called his name.They were shown to a room, and Mercedes signed, “Evan is Deaf.I’ll be interpreting for him today.”
