“Well, that’s good to know,” Paxton said. “What Xavier does helps a lot of people here. And you don’t have to worry about Gauthier drowning in a flood. We’re going to get that system in place in time.”
“So, what’s the issue?”
“Do you remember those flood maps I mentioned Monday?” Paxton asked.
“The ones Sawyer thought were outdated?”
She nodded. “The rest of the team at Bolt-Myer agreed that we need to study the topography of the landscape before we move forward. Thankfully, it won’t set us back too much schedule-wise, but this will be the first project I’ve ever managed that will come in behind schedule.”
“Maybe you all can make up for lost time on the back end,” Shayla said. “Although coming in a little late doesn’t sound like a big deal if it means the system will be done right. Itneedsto be done right.”
With a sly smile as she mixed up a pungent combination of ground cloves and nutmeg, Shayla asked, “So how haveotherthings been going?”
“Meaning?”
She picked up the paring knife and pointed it at Paxton. “Don’t you play dumb with me, girl. I know there has to be something going on. I could have baked croissants with the heat I felt between you and Sawyer on Monday. I want the dirt.”
Paxton closed her eyes and released a frustrated sigh. “He has me climbing the walls.”
“Hold. Up!” Shayla shrieked. “He has youclimbingthe walls, or he has you upagainstthe walls, as in…you know.”
Paxton opened her eyes and rolled them so hard at her best friend that she nearly gave herself a headache.
“Okay, okay, no having you up against the wall yet, but it sounds like progress is being made. It’s about time,” Shayla said, going back to her apple peeling. “I knew Sawyer would step up his game now that he’s got you in that tiny conference room all day.”
Paxton pushed the bowl to the side and dropped her head onto the silicon cutting board. She thumped it several times, groaning like a wounded animal.
She finally looked up at Shayla and said in a pathetically annoying voice that she only used when at her whiniest, “I don’t know what to do.”
“First thing to do is get this piece of apple from the middle of your forehead.” Shayla reached over and plucked the offending fruit away. “And what’s so hard for you to figure out? Sawyer is a great catch. In fact, if you asked just about any single woman in town, he’sthecatch.”
“You’ve been knowing me for how long now?” Paxton asked, her brow arching. “You haven’t figured out yet that I’m not like the other single women in this town and never have been?”
It was Shayla’s turn to indulge in the frustrated sigh, but of course hers was twice as dramatic. “Forgive me, I forgot you’re Miss I Don’t Need a Man on My Arm.”
“Actually, Miss Independent is a shorter and much more accurate description.”
“Whatever,” Shayla said. “But even Miss Independent has to admit there are worse things than jonesing for Sawyer Robertson, especially after you finally realized that he’s been jonesing for you all this time.” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe you didn’t know.”
“Can we stop talking about how clueless I am for a moment?”
“If you want my opinion,” Shayla said, speaking right over her, “you need to stop holding out and get you some. It’s good for the complexion. See?” She ran her hand along her jaw as if she were showcasing a prize onThePrice Is Right.
“Thanks for the advice, but I get quite enough to keep my skin clear,” Paxton argued.
“Uh, I don’t think so. Your coworker in Little Rock doesn’t count. That was months ago, and you told me that you nearly fell asleep in the middle of it.”
Paxton grimaced. “I tell you too much about my sex life.”
“True, which is how I know that you haven’t gotten any in a while.”
“I—”
Shayla held up a finger. “Vibrators don’t count.”
“Depends on the brand you use,” Paxton countered, sticking her tongue out.
“Would you just admit it already?” Shayla said. “You’re at least a little curious about what Sawyer has to offer when the lights go out. You have to be.”
