Just What I Needed(38)
“Show up after seven; we’ll eat at eight. Bring beer. You and Esteban are the only ones who drink it.”
I fought a groan. I did not want to deal with Esteban.
“Esteban is looking forward to seeing you again.”
“When are you going to stop pushing your brother at me?”
“When you agree to try one date with him,” Ramon said sweetly. “If you give it a chance, you’ll see that you two are a good fit.”
My mind jumped to Walker. His dimpled smile. His compelling blue eyes. The easy banter between us. The way our mouths—and bodies—had fit together perfectly.
Dammit. I’d been so eager to brag about my good fortune that I hadn’t considered that Walker might want to do something with me tonight.
“Davina is yelling for me. Adios.”
I stared at my phone. Being prideful always turned around and bit me.
I hoped that wasn’t a precursor of how the rest of my day would go.
—
As promised, I had help from high school volunteers. They were eager and followed directions well, but I still had to direct them.
It would’ve been easier and faster to do everything myself. I had to keep reminding myself this was what the word “community” meant: multiple people working toward a common goal.
But with five volunteers, we ran out of things to do right after noon. I hadn’t seen Walker all day, although I’d heard the saws going. I wondered if he’d been saddled with volunteers.
As soon as I stepped outside, a blast of heat hit me like a glory hole furnace in a glassworking studio. I noticed a long extension cord ran to the only shaded area at the back of the lot. Big pieces of plywood rested against a tree.
Walker stood between two sawhorses manning a jigsaw. He wore goggles and ear protection. Wood shavings covered his chest and dusted his hair. Even in the heat he wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. He looked so ruggedly delicious in work mode I just stopped and watched him.
He must’ve sensed me because he glanced up after he shut the saw off and set it aside.
Oh, that smile. Seeing it was like standing in a beam of sunshine that was just for me.
As I meandered toward him, he tossed his gloves on the ground and brushed himself off. I wouldn’t have cared if he’d been covered in mud. I still would’ve wrapped myself around him.
Walker kissed the top of my head. “Hey, beautiful. I’m glad to see you. I did wander into the set-painting room after I first arrived, but I saw you had a crew to supervise, so I didn’t bug you.”
“Did you have volunteers?”
“Nope. Guess teens and power tools aren’t a good idea.”
I laughed. “Probably not. But teens are excellent with paintbrushes. We are completely caught up.”
Walker groaned. “I’m going as fast as I can.”
“I figured that. But until you get more sets done . . . there’s no reason for me to be here.”
He sighed. “So you’re headed home?”
“I have projects to work on there.”
“Not all night, I hope. Because I wanted to take you out to dinner.” He nuzzled my ear. “Someplace secluded and romantic where we can get to know each other better.”
I managed to keep from asking . . . In the biblical sense? “That sounds good . . . but . . .”
He leaned back to look at me. “But what?”
“I already have dinner plans.”
Walker’s eyes immediately narrowed.
“And I want you to come with me. My friend Ramon is having a dinner party.”
When he smiled, I wanted to stand on tiptoe and feel it on my lips. “What?”
“You’re introducing me to your friends?”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Very okay. What time should I pick you up?”
I read the challenge in his eyes. He thought I’d argue and insist on meeting him. But I wanted to prove to him I considered us a couple. “Seven thirty. Ramon said we were eating at eight, but he runs an hour behind. Casual dress. I’ll have to stop and get some beer on the way.”
“No problem. Where do you live?” Walker pulled out his phone and paused to look at me. “I don’t have to worry that you’ll give me the wrong address?”
“We’re past that,” I said softly.
“Good.”
After he plugged in the address, I wreathed my arms around his neck. “I missed you the last couple of days.”
“I wondered when you’d get around to kissing me hello,” he said gruffly.
“This one will have to serve as hello and good-bye,” I murmured, rubbing my cheek along his jawline. I kissed him slowly, a tease of the wet glide of my lips and little nibbles with my teeth rather than a deep kiss.