Page 8 of Deacon

“I’m not sure I should.”

“It will be fine. It’s not like I’m going to ravage you in my sleep. Come on.”

Deacon looked down at her, the dark shadows under her eyes and how tired she looked, and he couldn’t tell her no.

“Fine. Give me a sec to take off my boots.” He used the chair he’d put in the corner the day before, at her instruction, to unlace his boots and take them off. While he was at it shrugged out of his vest and set his phone on the dresser sitting there, then he went to the other side of the bed and stretched out beside her. “Better?” he asked, laying stiff on his side, trying not to think about how sweet she smelled just a few inches away, her back to him.

“Yes, thank you.” Her voice was already thick with sleep again. He hoped she’d fall asleep quickly, so he could get up and get out of here before he did something he regretted.

6

An unfamiliar ringing woke Lisa. She lay still, trying to place the sound. It wasn’t until something stiffened beneath her head that she realized she wasn’t alone. A moment of panic made her body flash cold then she remembered the night before. Deke had come by to cut that branch, then he woke her as he put her in bed. Her whole body flushed, and heat washed through her as she remembered asking him to stay. The last thing she remembered was the bed moving as he settled onto the other side of the bed.

Had he stayed the night?

“Bumblebee? I know you’re awake. I’m going to need you to move so I can get that.”

That answered that question.

She shifted, rolling away from him. He sat up, then stood. She couldn’t resist the urge to see if he’d undressed and peeked over her shoulder. Disappointment flashed through her to find he still wore the same jeans and t-shirt he’d been wearing the night before.

“Hello?” He had to go far, only to her dresser to get the phone. “Son of a bitch. Sorry. I overslept. I’ll be in soon.” He disconnected the call and turned to her. “You have work today?”

“Yeah, I’m due in at nine.”

“You might make it, if you hurry. That was Cowboy. It’s almost eight thirty.”

“Crap.” She threw the blanket back and hurried to the closet. “I must have slept hard last night I don’t even remember getting up to use the restroom.”

“I would say you didn’t move all night long, but from the way we woke up, we both know that’s not true.” He sat and put on his boots, taking the time to lace and tie them.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d stay all night.”

“I didn’t plan to, but I fell asleep. Look. Maybe it’s best if we just don’t mention this to your brother. I mean it’s not like anything happened.”

She turned to him and stared for a moment. Was he more worried about Cowboy than her? She turned back to the closet, pulling out her outfit for the day and turning toward the bathroom.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t want to upset him. Besides. Nothing happened but us both getting a decent night’s sleep.” She did her best to keep her tone polite and professional. She’d had plenty of practice doing that while dealing with patrons. She could do it now. “I’m sure you can find your way out?” She didn’t wait for him to respond before going into the bathroom and closing the door with a firm click.

Inside she didn’t take the time to wallow in her hurt feelings. She didn’t have the time to waste. Instead, she hurried to get dressed and pulled her hair up.

One thing Deke hadn’t been wrong about, if she didn’t hurry, she’d be late and what worse way to start a new career. Sure, it wasn’t her first day, but it was still her first week and she didn’t want anyone to think she made tardiness a habit.

By the time she’d emerged from the bathroom, Deke was gone. She went into the kitchen and found he’d made her a cup of coffee, and there was a note propped up against the steaming mug. There was one word scrawled across the paper in spiky masculine handwriting.

Sorry

Did he know what had upset her? Did he even really care? Why did it have to be him that set her blood on fire and made her feel safe just by being there?

She didn’t know and she didn’t have time to contemplate the mysteries of the world this morning. She took her coffee, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed for the car.

It was amazing what a good night’s sleep and a decent day at work would do for a woman’s self-confidence. At least that’s what Lisa told herself as she stopped by her brother’s shop after her shift. She marched in, ignoring the looks that some of the men shot her way, stopped, and scanned the shop for her brother. When she didn’t spot him right away, she headed for the office.

The clothes she wore to work might not show it, but she was as comfortable around a shop as she was in a library. She might not know how to do the manufacturing they did, but she could do basic repairs, if she wanted to. These days though she chose to have someone else do that for her. The looks from these men who didn’t know her wasn’t going to phase her.

When she made it to the front office, she found it empty, then noticed another door, mostly closed, behind the counter and went around and pushed it open. There sat her brother, bent over a drafting table, pencil in hand and earbuds in his ears.

She didn’t yell or try to get his attention, instead she closed the distance between them until she stood on the opposite side of the drafting table from him and could see what he was drawing.

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