Page 35 of Be My Reason

We quickly set up the banquet table and coffee bar in the corner of a large tent that is right next to a roped-off construction site. We stand to the side, adorned in our Brooklyn’s Bakery aprons, ready to help novices with the espresso machine.

“Brooklyn,” someone says behind me.

I close my eyes. I know that voice.It is in my dreams. That low, raspy, sexy voice that makes my heart beat fast and my legs turn to Jell-O. I whirl around quickly and come eye-to-eye with Nate. Instantly, several emotions wash over me. Happy, relieved, confused.

“Nate! What are you doing here?”

Then I eye his shirt. There is a logo of a building with the letters R.A.D. just above it.

“You?”I say, surprised. “Youhired me?”

“Well, not exactly.My company, or rather my dad’s company, hired you.”

I’mstill staring at his shirt. I point to the logo, almost touching him. I want to touch him. I want to feel the muscles that I know are underneath the shirt he is wearing. But I don’t, because . . . well, it would be weird. I am at work after all. And more importantly, he is off limits. All men are off limits.

“Riley. . . ?” I trail off and raise my eyebrows, looking from his shirt up to his face and into his deep blue eyes.

“Architectural Designs,” he finishes.

“Oh. Right.” I giggle, thinking of the silly names we came up with in the van. “So, what are you doing here?” I ask. “I mean, you didn’t say anything yesterday.”

“I wasn’t sure how you were going to feel about this.” He looks around nervously andsays, “Brooklyn, I’m going to be in town for a while. My dad put me on this project and I’m here to oversee it.”

In town for a while.My heart leaps for joy.

Joy? Wait, what?

My better judgment pops her head in. No, this is not a good thing. I’m weak around him. I need to stay the hell away from him for my own good. “How long will you be here?” Days . . . weeks . . .oh, yes, please, weeks.

“Probably a few months.It takes a while to get these projects up and going. We basically have to babysit the engineers every step of the way to make sure it will all work as planned.”

Months!I didn’t even hear a word he said after that.

Derek walks up and clears his throat. “Lyn, can you please help me with the espresso machine? That lever is sticking again.”

“Oh, yes, sorry.” I quickly introduce Nate to Derek and then get back to work.

It takes me twice as long as usual to get the machine working again. I’m well aware that Nate is staring at me. However, I’m not at all sure that what I’m feeling is uncomfortable, more like I’m hoping my butt looks good in these pants. I think back to this morning and wonder if I put enough mascara on to make my eyes look pretty. I even run my tongue over my teeth and am relieved when I taste the remnants of mouthwash, given he was standing so close to me just moments ago.

“I’ll see you later, Brooklyn,” Nate whispers in my ear on his way by.

I forget what I’m doing. I actually stop moving and can’t form a cognitive thought in my head after feeling his hot breath on my neck.

~~ ~

Back at the bakery this afternoon, I can’t stop thinking about what transpired this morning. Nate will be around for months. Will I see him?Of course you will, stupid, he will probably make sure of that.

I remember the stolen glances we made at each other this morning.I can still feel the heat of his touch when he brushed up against my arm as he walked by me, and the glare of his eyes when he watched me from across the tent. He was busy and I was busy, but somehow we always knew where the other was.

What am I doing?I have to stop thinking of him this way. He is a crush, an infatuation even, a schoolgirl fantasy I will never again experience. I have to strengthen my resolve. I have to make sure we aren’t alone together. How hard can that be? It’s not like I’ll be seeing him every day. I can do this. Can’t I?

Yes.

No.

I don’t know.

Crap. I’m toast.

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