Page 33 of Keeping Kama

Derek welcomed the respite. “Sure, whatever you want,” he tried to sound casual though nothing sounded better than a break.

Slowing their pace, eventually Leia stopped running and walked across the grassy area which led to the drinking fountain. The park was empty. Once in front of the drinking fountain, Leia bent down, taking a long swig of water. Done, she wiped her face with the back of her hand and stepped to the side so Derek could access the drinking fountain. Derek took a few big gulps then straightened himself.

“Don’t you usually wear one of those running belts that holds water bottles?” asked Derek.

“I do,” said Leia. “But I didn’t feel like carrying the weight, and I know enough stops along the way to get water. It isn’t ideal, and if I was running over ten miles, I could never do it without a water belt. But I don’t have enough time this morning to go that distance.”

His eyes glided over her sleek form. Derek resisted the urge to pull her close, wrap his arms around her waist and kiss her for a second time. Bringing a hand to his hip, Derek used his other hand to swipe the sweat trickling down his temple. “Because of me? Am I slowing you down too much? If you need to run ahead, go for it.”

Leia shook her head. “No. It’s not that.” Glancing down at her watch, Leia pressed a button he assumed was tracking their distance and time. “I don’t have very much time this morning, because Tyson emailed me about the farm’s financial reports. He kept telling me it was urgent, and he needed them by late morning.”

Derek froze. “Tyson contacted you.” His jaw tightened.

Looks like Tyson wasted no time. Derek didn’t appreciate Tyson going behind his back. Derek had promised he’d get Tyson the information he needed, but Tyson hadn’t even given him any time to do it. Anger seeped into his veins. In all their years together, Tyson had never contacted a client without his knowledge. He always made sure to cc Derek onto every email.

Leia replied, “Last night. Tyson gave me a list of things he needed me to email over to him. I was a little confused, because I had told him most of those things Kai had, not me.” Leia shrugged.

He formed fists on both sides of his body, Derek spoke slowly, “I can’t believe Tyson emailed you,” he remarked, through an almost locked jaw.

Leia tilted her head to the side, studying him. “Am I missing something? Are you and Tyson at odds with one another?”

To dissipate the tension formed in his neck, Derek cranked it side to side. “No,” he said much too quickly. “I’ll sort it out with Tyson today. I don’t know …” Derek waved it off. “I’ll talk to Tyson when I get back this morning. I’d love to see the report too, so if you don’t mind sending me a carbon copy of the email.”

“Absolutely. I’ll was already planning on it.” Pushing a button on her watch, Leia glanced at Derek then back at the street. “Are you ready to go? We’ll run another mile then head back if that works for you.”

Eager to work off his pent-up anger, Derek said, “Yes, let’s do it.”

They ran back to the road, following it up another mile before turning around and heading back to Derek’s Airbnb. During the rest of the run, Derek remained distracted. His mind ruminated on Tyson emailing Leia. Though he had every right to contact Leia for the financial records, the entire thing rubbed him the wrong way. It seemed like Tyson didn’t trust Derek, and if they didn’t have trust with one another, how could they continue to be in business with one another?

Leia slowed their pace, stopping in front of his Airbnb. Derek was shocked the run was over. He had been so lost in his thoughts, for a few miles Derek hadn’t even noticed he was running. Maybe this was why people ran? To sort out their problems?

Lingering in front of his place, Leia asked, “Will I get to see you today?” She bit down on her bottom lip.

“Of course,” replied Derek. He took a step closer to her, capturing her by her waist, bringing her body against his own, sweat and all. “Tonight, if I don’t see you at the farm sometime today.”

There he went again, muddling business with whatever this thing was—bad idea.

“Tonight then. I want you to come over to my place for dinner. I’ll cook you something,” said Leia.

For the briefest second, Derek hesitated. Dinner at her place? It felt way more intimate than dinner at a food truck with her family popping in and out of nowhere. Rubbing the back of his neck, Derek said, “Could I buy you dinner somewhere instead? I don’t want you to have to cook for me.”

Kissing him quickly on his cheek, Leia said, “Nah, you can take me somewhere tomorrow night.”

Laughing, Derek remarked, “Are you already planning tomorrow too?”

Tucking some loosened strands of hair behind both her ears, Leia asked, “Yeah, aren’t you?”

For a second, Derek stared back at Leia’s challenging gaze like she was calling his bluff, if he was in fact bluffing. Fire raged in his gut. Derek wasn’t bluffing. He liked Leia. A little too much. But soon, he’d be gone. And if he left not investing in the farm, Derek would be leaving with Leia cursing his name. The thought made him break out in a cold sweat.

Finally, Derek said, “I want to plan every available minute I have with you.” He tugged her closer, wrapping a sweaty arm around her waist.

Though they were both sticky and slick with sweat, Leia managed to smell intoxicatingly delicious. How did she do that?

“Okay, until tonight.” Leia gave him a quick peck before untangling herself from his arms. “I need to get those financials out.” As she twisted toward the road, over her shoulder, Leia said, “Later.” She ran away at twice the pace she had been running with him earlier.

“It’s a date,” yelled Derek to her image as it drifted further and further away.

Before Derek could wonder if Leia heard him, she held up a hand without turning around. Derek waited until she was completely out of sight before going inside to his Airbnb.

---