2
Noah
Four elevator banks. Fifteen cars. Thirty-five-hundred-pound capacity. Eight miles of multi-cable wires in the lobby panel alone. A mile of wiring per high-rise car. Half a mile per low-rise.
Numbers. Logic. Practical things.
That’s me.
So, what is it about the girl from the entrapment call that has my head spinning? I should be focused on resetting the controls on car seven. Instead, her image keeps replaying in my head, a hint of lavender still consuming my senses.
I mean, yeah, she was gorgeous. Those toned legs and ass were the definition of perfection, showcased by her skin-tight jeans that came up high enough to hug her waist. An oversize sweatshirt tucked into her jeans concealed her upper body, but it was the lip she kept nibbling that had me completely entranced. I wanted that lip between my teeth more than I want a boss with a brain cell. My fingers flexed with the need to reach out and smooth it from her abusive grip just to pull it into mine. The intense focus on her lips almost— almost —distracted me enough to miss her emerald-green eyes.
What I wouldn’t give to have a real conversation with her. To slip those loose tendrils of hair back behind her ear. To cradle her face in my hands as I trace my nose—
My thoughts scramble as my helper’s voice crackles through the radio. “Hey, man, this door hates me or something. Can you come take a look?”
Rolling my eyes at Colt’s lack of confidence in his own work, I slip the hand-held off my belt and answer. “It’s basic wiring, bud. You should’ve learned it six months ago. They teach y’all anything these days?”
“Okay, jackass. Keep acting like that, and I’ll tell Katie not to send you anymore apple pie cookies.”
Huffing a laugh at the mention of Colt’s wife and the most amazing cookies that—no joke—taste exactly like apple pie and trying to ignore his name-calling, I concede. “Come down to the lobby. I’ll take a look after lunch.”
Without permission, my mind drifts back to the girl. I didn’t even get her name. Best believe I am kicking myself for that one.
I was working on a door issue when the power cut off and the chime sounded. Lucky for this girl, that car was in the same elevator bank. Otherwise, she would undoubtedly still be waiting for someone to show up an hour later. And judging by the messy brown hair that looked like fingers had constantly combed through it and the incessant fidgeting once she stepped through the doors, she would have had a panic attack before then.
As soon as she started rambling, I was a goner. The huskiness of her voice and dry sarcasm amid the panic sucked me right in.
“What’re you camped out by the stairs for?”
“Shit.” I jump, punching Colt in the arm for sneaking up on me. Although it probably wasn’t much of a challenge.
He stares at me, a knowing glint in his eye. “She was a looker, huh? Waiting on her to come down?” He’s not wrong.
“Mind your own damn business, man,” I mumble as I stand, groaning when my left knee protests.
“You good?” he asks, staring at my leg like maybe it’ll grow a mouth and talk.
“Don’t ask stupid questions.”
He doesn’t need to know that turning thirty stole my ability to judge a jump onto a car top. It’s just pain. It’ll go away eventually.
Colt shrugs off my tone, weaving his way through the lobby.
“Hell, how do you know? You weren’t even on the same floor.”
“Passed her on the stairs. At least, I assume it was her. She was mumbling something about metal death traps and soot-covered men.”
I chuckle, which is probably why Colt gives me a questioning look. I’m more the growly type. Something about the girl intrigues me, more than her looks. “Definitely her. I’ve never met someone who radiated innocence and chaos at the same time.”
“Did you get her number?”
“I didn’t even get her name.”
“That sucks, man. But you know what else sucks? Working on an empty stomach. That cheesy, greasy goodness is calling my name.”
It’s pizza day. Nothing beats Fellini’s Pizza. As we weave through the lunch crowd of the building, I catch a glimpse of the entrapment girl’s profile. She must’ve slipped by while we were talking. Luck is not on my side, because the second I open my mouth to tell Colt I’ll meet him at the restaurant around the corner, my phone rings, our boss’s name flashing across the screen.
“You gotta be kidding me,” I mutter before grabbing Colt’s attention and pausing my steps while hitting the answer button.
“Yeah?” I grunt out. I’m not one to waste words, and nothing ever good comes from Ryan’s calls.
“Hey. I need you and Colt to go to the shop and pick up some parts that some of the other guys need for tomorrow. Don’t know if yours came in or not, but I need you to come sort them and see,” Ryan says.
I bite back a groan as entrapment girl slips through the exit doors before I can take another step. Resigned to never learning more about her, I sigh. “Yep. We will be there a little after lunch,” I grumble before hanging up.
A bunch of bullshit, if you ask me. Ryan is an asshat who doesn’t know his foot from his ass when it comes to elevators. I can guarantee the parts he wants sorted are incorrect for the current project. He has no common sense.
I run to the doors at a fast pace with the hope that this girl is still outside. Colt is quick to follow, but the mystery girl is already out of sight. Rubbing the back of my neck, I sigh again.
Damn it.
***
The worn wooden sign on the side of the road tells me I’m finally back home, but I don’t need it. I could make this drive in my sleep. After traveling to the other side of Atlanta just to confirm that the wrong parts were ordered, I told Colt to go on home. The wiring issue can wait until next week. I’m more than ready for my three-day weekend of nothing.
I love this little town. The population is low, sitting at about twenty-five hundred, which is insane considering it borders city is known as “Hollywood of the South” due to all the movie and television productions that take place there. We don’t have a Wal-Mart or a Publix. And the only drive-thru is the town’s breakfast diner. The town square is home to most businesses and a few loft apartments that I own, thanks to some smart investing right out of high school.
I don’t even have the key out of the doorknob or the door open all the way before I hear my Australian Shepherd yipping from her kennel. My keys clink on the counter as I drop them on my path to the room where her crate is. The moment her kennel door opens, Sadie launches into wiggling with what my sister refers to as tippy-tappies and wiggle-butts in excitement, whining and yipping her way between my legs.
“How’s my Sadie Bear? D’you have a good day?” I ask as I scratch her neck and ears.
She yips again and takes off toward the back door. I let her out into the small, enclosed backyard and toss her tennis ball down the steps. It lands on the grass below, and I leave the door open for her as I start to clean up last night’s dishes. I’d promised my best buddy Jace that I would come down to Riley’s—his family-owned bar-slash-diner—to spend some time together since we’d both had hectic schedules lately. But before I can go out in public, I need to get some of this carbon dust and grease off me. My skin is coated in the shit, along with my lungs.
As I trudge back to the door to whistle for Sadie, my thoughts slip back to the girl from earlier. Or, woman, I guess. Though her entire presence screamed innocence. Chaotic, maybe. But there was something innately tender about her. I want to see her again. Hear her raspy voice. Get lost in those green eyes of hers as she nibbles on her lip.
I let out a deep sigh and shake my head to clear it of the images trying to evolve there and look at Sadie. “Pathetic, right?”
She sneezes, pawing at the floor.
“Yeah, I know. Get a grip, right?”
Sadie sneezes again before trotting over to her gray memory foam dog bed that takes up the entire far corner of the room. She has been through all the ups and downs of the last three years with me. My princess deserves it.
“Behave yourself while I get cleaned up, yeah?”
She stares at me for a moment before dropping her head onto her paws, feigning sleep. Funny. As soon as I slip into the bathroom, she’ll be running laps, getting into everything she isn’t supposed to touch. Too nosy for her own good.
Sure enough, as soon as I start the shower faucet, I hear the speedy clicking of nails and sliding as she chases what is hopefully just a tennis ball around the living room. The last time I left her unsupervised, I lost a slipper and a pair of ear buds.
Shaking my head at the antics I know are underway, I slip out of my work clothes, making sure to toss them into the correct hamper. Can’t have the oils and carbon dust mixing with my everyday wear. The hot water beats down on my sore muscles as I step under the shower spray and do everything possible to keep a certain brunette out of my thoughts. But every time my eyes close, the encounter consumes my senses. The smell of lavender, the softness of her hand in my calloused one, the vibrancy of her eyes. And that damn lip between her teeth.
I groan as my soaped-up hand glides lower, stroking my length firm and slow. Thoughts of pouty pink lips wrapping around me, those soft hands toying with whatever doesn’t fit, have me on the edge faster than I’d like to admit.
Until Sadie barks once and scratches at the door, successfully destroying the best illusion I’ve had to date.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I mutter. I bang my forehead on the shower wall in frustration then reach for the handle and shut off the water.
Sadie barks again, which either means she needs to go outside or someone is at the door.
I better not have unexpected company. Or a pee puddle by the door.
Quickly wrapping a large fluffy towel around my waist, I open the bathroom door and look down the hall to find Sadie sitting at the front door. Damn. Someone is here. Also, don’t hate on the fluffy towel. Men can prefer comfort over efficiency, too. I learned that the hard way nearly three years ago.
“Just a minute,” I holler before running across the hall to my bedroom. I slip into the first pair of shorts I find and a gray V-neck before sprinting back to the front door. “Go lie down, girl.”
It’s none other than my tenant from the loft next door.
“Mrs. Grayson, is everything alright?”
“Oh, yes, dear. I just wanted to pass over the key. We decided to head out today instead of this weekend. The grandkids have a mid-winter break coming up, and we want to take them on an adventure.” She holds out an envelope, which I assume has the key in it. “Thanks so much for being such a wonderful landlord and gentleman. Your mama should be proud of the boy she raised.”
I take the proffered envelope and rub the back of my neck with the other hand. “I’d like to think she is, ma’am. Good luck transitioning to Florida weather.”
“Looking forward to it, Noah.” She turns and struts away, already hollering down the way to her husband. I close the front door and lean against it, looking at Sadie.
“Why couldn’t it have been a cute brunette?”
Sadie groans, and I chuckle.
“Yeah, I know. Too much to ask for her to show up here.” Oh, well. A guy can wish.