“But—oh, hey Wyatt,” his eyebrows dropped. “What are you guys doing together?” He walked a few paces closer and folded his arms across his chest. It reminded me of being caught with a girl by her dad when I was in high school.
Vera gestured to the pile of supplies. “I’m going to build custom nightstands, and sell them.”
He glanced towards the stuff, then back at his mom. I felt like I shouldn’t be here for this, but wasn’t sure how to gracefully back away.
“For fun, or because you think I can’t pay my own tuition?” Ben’s face was solemn.
“Both. I have faith in you, kiddo, but life’s expensive.”
“I’m not a kid, Mom, I—”
They both seemed to remember I was there at the same time, and Vera turned back to face me. “I should head out,” I said awkwardly.
She nodded. “Thanks again for today.”
“No problem.” And it wasn’t, even if the evening didn’t end the way I wanted it to. A parent’s work was never done; this interruption reminded me of why I had told myself to keep my distance. She didn’t need one more person vying for her attention.
I got back behind the wheel of the truck, vibrating from how much fun I’d had with Vera and the fact that I knew if I had kissed her she would have kissed me back.
And I was absolutely going to think about that the entire drive home.
Probably longer.
******
The next day was Monday, and I had an entire week ahead of me working on the Beast. The client, Marin, had made change after change, and I was the only one with the patience to update the software. Which was less a compliment the more times I had to redo the plan.
The Wild Timber yard was a massive piece of property with lumber and machinery everywhere, not to mention workshops. I started my morning in the portable building that served as our main office.
“Morning, trouble,” Layne called from behind her computer as I stepped through the door.
“I resent that nickname,” I called back as I hung up my stuff.
“Then stop calling meboss lady.”
“Never!” I called over my shoulder.
“How is your project going by the way?” I glanced in her direction. She had a cat that caught the canary look on her face, and I narrowed my eyes.
“You knew the details of what she wanted when you gave me her number, didn’t you?”
She cackled. “I may have.”
“Well, jokes on you, she thinks I’m a delight, and it was not at all awkward when I walked into her house to see a pile of dildos on her kitchen table.”
Layne doubled over laughing. I couldn’t be mad, not when her joke had led me to meeting Vera.
“Alright, alright, it was a good one. I’ll give you that.”
Layne gave a little bow and got back to work.
Zane walked into the office a moment later, lunch kit in one hand and a file of papers in the other. “Morning, I talked toMarin about the Beast last night. She has more changes, but they are just tweaks.”
I sighed. I had been mocking him about his communications with Marin, hinting that he had a crush, but after what happened yesterday, the jokes didn’t feel as funny. Hard to tease a guy about flirting when I’d face-planted into my own almost-kiss situation.
“Alright, I’ll get them added to the design.”
Zane raised an eyebrow at my lack of a smart-ass response, but didn’t comment.
