Page 13 of The Outlaw's Code

He was tinkering with something mechanical, a box of borrowed tools at his side. He was so focused that I wondered if I’d be able to sneak past him into my cabin, completing my goalof avoiding him for the day. I took a few steps in his direction, staying quiet, my head held low…

But of course, as soon as I got a few steps away from him, he looked up at me with a grin. “Shane! Hey! There you are.”

“Here I am.” I tried to hide my unease. “How, uh, how has today been for you?”

“Same old, same old.” He shrugged. “Except for this thing. I heard it rattling and decided to come check on it. Looks like the generator might be about to go on the fritz.”

“Have you worked on generators before—” The question came out before I could stop myself.

But Calder just smiled. “You know, it’s the strangest thing. I can’t seem to remember…”

“Sorry.”

“No worries.” Calder playfully knocked against the generator. “This might drive me crazy, though. I feel like I’m so close but still so far away.” He looked back up at me. “What were you up to today? Handling business off the ranch?”

“Something like that, yeah.”

“Do you have anything left in the tank? I could use some help down here.”

“Oh… uh…” I hesitated, trying to come up with a good excuse.

“Wait. Do you not know how to fix a generator?” Calder’s mouth fell open. “Sorry, that’s just really surprising. You seem like you’re the whole cowboy package.”

“I know how to fix a generator, Calder.”

“Prove it.”

I inwardly groaned. Even though I needed to keep my distance, my pride wasn’t going to let me pass up an opportunity to show Calder that I knew what the hell I was doing. Conflicted, I took a seat next to him on the ground, reaching for the toolbox. “Here. Let me get a good look at it first…”

Calder shifted closer to me, his body way too close to mine. “What do you think?”

My mind blanked at the question.

He smelled so perfectly earthy, the scent warm and refreshing.

“Shane? What are you thinking?” Calder’s eyes were on mine. His gaze was soft but focused, almost like he was trying to memorize what was right in front of him.

Which was my face.

Is Calder trying to memorize my face? Why?

“I’m thinking that I need to… do… something.” My words came out vague, as I forced myself to concentrate on the task at hand. After about thirty minutes of silence, the deed was done, the generator no longer making any strange noises. I immediately stood from the ground, wanting to put as much distance between us as possible.

“All right. I’ll be seeing you,” I said, already walking to my cabin.

“Tomorrow, right?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah. You’re still letting me shadow you, aren’t you?”

“Sure. Of course.” I nodded, still unsure. “Tomorrow it is, then.”

I continued moving away from him, getting back on the main trail.

Fuck.

Why’d he have to look at me like that?

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