I fell onto the couch, still smelling the combination of sweat and sex in the air. I heard his truck start up in the parking lot. The thing must have had a hole in the muffler. The sound faded, and silence pressed in around me.
I took our empty glasses to the sink, rinsed them, then set them aside. I needed to get some sleep. I’d need to get up early enough to style my hair tomorrow, maybe sweep on a littlemakeup, even though I rarely wore it. It would be a long day too, between the setup and manning the booth all day to talk forestry with the locals.
Knowing I should just shove him from my mind and get some sleep, I stepped into the shower and washed the smell of him off my skin. I hated to do it, but I knew I wouldn’t sleep if I didn’t.
******
I woke the next morning feeling like a harried mess. I’d slept through my alarm, forgotten to set the timer on the coffeepot, and there was a dull throb in my temple. The one good thing about being late was that I didn’t have time to dwell on anything. I left my hair down, swiped on a coat of mascara, threw on some clothes and was out the door in twenty minutes with a banana in one hand, and a tumbler of coffee in the other.
When I came bustling through the door of the community center, my eyes immediately landed on the wide, plaid-covered shoulders of Brody as he leaned down to grab something from a box at his feet.
Stubborn man.
I jogged over and put a hand on his shoulder. “Let me do that.”
He tensed under my hand and turned to face me. “I can do it,” he said gruffly, but there was no bite to his words. I stepped closer, feeling bold in my frazzled state.
“We both know you like me on my knees. I’ll get the stuff from the box, and pass it to you.”
Something flashed in his dark eyes, and then they dropped to my lips.
He gave a single nod, and we got to work. I focused on the display rather than the questions that were swirling through my head about the man beside me.
The day flew by. Brody and I were both passionate about our project and a little stubborn, so we barely left the table.
We both did a lot of talking, but none of it was to each other.
Eventually, things wound down and people started to clear, but my heart rate picked up.
This was it.
After today, the info would stay on display, but there was no reason for us to be here. No reason for me to see him again. I wanted to know how he felt. I wanted him to know that I didn’t want this to be the end.
“Your project looks like it went well, Rachel.” I turned to see Mayor Caldwell standing behind me.
“Ourproject, and yes, we had some great discussions today.”
He nodded and flicked his eyes to where Brody was skulking over my shoulder. “I had my doubts, but you two pulled it off. Congratulations.”
I glanced over at Brody. “We make a great team, actually.”
The mayor’s eyes flicked to Brody again. “She’s right,” he turned his eyes to me. “We may seem like opposites, but we’re both passionate about the same thing.”
I nodded, almost forgetting that Mayor Caldwell was even there. “I’m glad you trusted me enough to…work on this project together.”
He took half a step forward. “I don’t trust many people, especially not…about forestry…but your curiosity, and the way you’re reserved, but not afraid.” He held my eyes with his. “I think I’d like to work on more projects with you in the future.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread over my face. “I’d likethat too. I’m excited to see what we can do once your back is better. Even more intense research, I bet.”
Mayor Caldwell cleared his throat. “Yes, well, anyway, good work, you two.” He eyed us both, then turned and walked away.
Brody moved even closer, bringing his hands to my waist. “So, can I show you that cut block sometime? You never got to see it the other day.”
I brought my arms up around his neck and smiled. “Only if I get to drive.”
Epilogue - One Year Later
Brody
