“No problem.”
Walker faced Nate and draped his arm over my shoulder. “The schedule is done?”
“Yes.” Nate pulled out a piece of paper and handed it over. “The other thing I’m supposed to ask Trinity: Would it be easier if someone else primed the sets?”
“That would be great.”
“I’ll let the director know. If either of you can think of anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I do have a question,” Walker said. “Would it be possible to get a key so I can come in late when no one is here? I have insomnia some nights and I might as well be productive.”
It shocked me that Walker had admitted that to a stranger. But there were more important things to address. “I imagine the answer will be no since I also imagine there’d be issues with liability insurance, especially since you’d be here alone running power tools. From a commonsense standpoint that’s not safe. What if something happened? You couldn’t call for help. And if you could, emergency services would have to break down a door to gain entrance. And no offense, but how can they be sure if something did happen that you wouldn’t sue them?”
Walker made a noise like he was choking down a laugh. “I can promise I’d never file a lawsuit. But I understand your concerns, Nate—” he said to me since I’d just jumped on in. “Why don’t you call LCCO, ask for Priscilla in the main office, explain the situation and my request for a key. I suspect she’ll give you an immediate answer.”
“Sure. It’s worth a shot. I’ll let you know. Later.” Nate hustled out the door.
I shook my head at Walker.
“What?”
“It’s dangerous to be here alone.”
“I’m not an amateur, babe. I’d probably stick with finish work, which requires minimal power tools.” He bent closer and kissed me on the nose. “It’s sweet that you’re worried.”
“I was worried. Now I’m just annoyed because you’re acting as if a big, macho tool expert such as yourself couldn’t possibly have an accident.” I poked him in the chest. “FYI: They’re called accidents for a reason.”
He curled his hands around my hips and squeezed. “Then in that case maybe you’ll have to meet me down here. That way, if I break a nail you can patch me up.”
“Funny.” I slid my hands up his chest and smoothed my fingertips down his beard. “Do you really have insomnia?”
“Yes, unfortunately.” He sighed. “And it’s worse when I have to work nights—I get home and I can’t wind down. I figured I’d use that time to my best advantage since I’m not sleeping.”
“Maybe, after we’ve been going steady for more than a couple of days, we can come up with a better way to kill time together in the wee small hours of the night,” I said, adding a rowr.
“Jesus, Trinity.” His sexy growl rolled over me as potent as a caress. “Lock the door so we can try out a few of those late-night fantasies right now.”
His phone buzzed in his back pocket.
I stepped away to let him answer it, because I knew he would.
“I thought I told you not to call.” Pause. “Like I’d know the Swedish phrase for that? You wanna call him a scum-sucking douchebag, do it in English! He’ll get the gist.”
But I didn’t bother to pretend I wasn’t listening.
“No,” he said adamantly. “Because you’ll end up in jail and I am not bailing you out. Oh yeah? Call Mom and tell her what your plans are. Or maybe I should tattle on you like you used to do on me?” He laughed. “Anatomically impossible. And just for that—no way. You need help, call Jens. Fine. Ash is in town. Or call Nolan—he’s probably still at the office. It’s only Monday. He hasn’t picked his skank-of-the-week yet. I’m hanging up now.” He held his phone in front of him. “Fuck.”
“Is everything all right?”
Walker whirled around as if he’d forgotten about me. “My sister is way the hell pissed off about the favor she was railroaded into doing for our cousin. But instead of railing on him, I get to deal with her in Godzilla mode.”
“Same cousin that had car trouble last week?”
“No.”
“Swedish curse words, skank-of-the-week, possibility of jail time . . . sounds entertaining.”
He snorted. “Don’t get me started on the craziness that is my family.”
I recognized he’d said that with no real malice. Not like my family—who really meant it when they said the craziness that is Amelia.