3. Nina
THREE
Nina
W hy does he keep staring at me? Why do I find myself staring at him when he isn’t staring at me? It’s easy to see that he’s good looking. I mean, he’s at least a good head taller than I am. He’s built thick, but I can tell by looking at him that it is pure muscle. His dark hair is cut short, and his face is shaved, but he stills sports a thick five o’clock shadow. I get shivers when I think about its roughness rubbing across my soft skin. I can’t believe I have the hots for my new boss. And after I told Claire that she couldn’t start anything up with him. What’s wrong with me?
He’s tall, dark, and handsome, and I can tell he’s caring. What more could a girl ask for? I guess I could always quit my job. Then he wouldn’t be my boss anymore.
No, that’s completely stupid, Nina. What would you do with yourself if you didn’t have a job to go to every day?
But when he shook my hand earlier, my entire body exploded with tingles. Goosebumps broke out across my skin, and a shiver ran through me. I’ve never had that happen before. And the way he looks at me so intently is mind-altering. I mean, is he attracted to me, or is he just trying to figure me out?
I try to focus on my book, but I can feel him staring at me. I can feel it like a pull in my stomach. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. When he tugs his eyes away, my body goes back to normal. He has a commanding presence, a protective alpha vibe that intrigues me. I want to see what’s beneath that uniform of his. I want to feel his strong hands touring my body, and I want to lick my way up the hard abs I know he has.
Mind. Out. Of. The. Gutter. Nina!
Annoyed that I can’t focus on anything but him, I tuck my book away and leave a twenty on the table to cover my bill. I stand and head toward the door, but I have to pass by him in order to do that. I act surprised when our eyes lock. “Oh, hey. I didn’t see you over here.”
He wipes his mouth with his napkin. “I saw you, but you looked so enthralled in your book, I didn’t want to disturb you. How was it?” he asks, his green eyes lighting up with the sun streaming through the window.
“How was what?” I ask, lost in those green eyes with hints of gold in them.
He chuckles. “The book?”
“Oh, the book. The book was good. I can’t wait to finish it, but I better be getting back. Have afternoon checks to run. I’ll see ya there.” Without waiting on his goodbye, I force myself to leave and head straight for my car.
I climb behind the wheel, and it feels like I’ve run a marathon. My lungs are working faster than normal, and my heart is pounding so hard in my chest that I can hear it in my ears. I don’t know how I’m going to avoid him, but I know I have to. I can’t let myself get caught up in him. I like my job at the precinct and hope to keep it for a long time—at least until I get my youth center approved. Then I plan on immersing myself in every aspect of its development, from breaking ground to overseeing the day-to-day operations. It would help if I had an honorable member of society to speak on my behalf, though. Maybe I should try to befriend him, tell him my ideas, and see if he’d speak on my behalf at the city council meeting. This is my dream, and any help I can get is needed in order to see it through.
I spend the rest of the day in my office. Between fixing computers and internet connections, I continue my sketch, work on the website, and finish up my book. When I look at the clock, it’s going on six. I’ve spent an extra hour here and didn’t even notice it. Getting up, I put everything away and turn off the computer before gathering my things to leave. Just as I’m reaching for the doorknob, someone knocks on the other side.
I open the door to find Bryce leaning against the door frame. “I need help. I think I broke it.”
I laugh. “I’m sure it can be fixed. Let’s go check it out.”
I follow him back to his office, and he motions toward the computer. I set my things down, then take a seat in his chair, training my eyes on the computer screen.
“I’m surprised you’re still here. That office is like a cave. You just burrow down in there every day?”
I laugh as I click around on the computer. “Pretty much. Unless I’m summoned to fix a computer, that is.”
He smiles and looks to be grasping for something else to talk about.
“All done,” I say, pushing away from the computer.
“Really? It’s fixed? I didn’t break it?”
I laugh as I grab my things. “No, not broken. Just a little confused. You know, if you click on one thing, you really should wait until it pulls open before clicking on twenty other things. You may have slightly overwhelmed it.”
“Story of my life,” he says, running his hand over his head with a sexy smirk on his lips.
“Well, if there isn’t anything else, I guess I’ll be going.”
“Oh, of course.” He steps out of my way, and I walk out the door.
I practically run to my car, which is parked out front. My legs can’t carry me fast enough. I swear, I nearly pulled him in and planted a big kiss when he smirked at me. His green eyes seemed to light up, burning bright in the dim lighting of his office. And thinking of that, I really should have the maintenance man replace the burnt-out bulbs in there. Maybe more light would help keep my mind in the game.
I pick up my cell and dial Red’s number. She answers on the third ring. “Wine?”
I laugh. “You know it. I’m on my way.”
“See ya soon.” She hangs up, and I drop the phone onto the passenger seat.
Red, as we call her, is my best friend and has been since she bagged my groceries the day after I moved to town. Her real name is Sandy, but her hair is flaming red. Too bad she was bald when she was born, or her mother could have named her appropriately. Her house is only two blocks from the station, so I get there in no time. She’s already at the door holding a bottle of wine and two glasses.
I laugh as I climb out of the car and walk toward the door.
“I thought wine on the terrace would be perfect for tonight’s weather.”
I glance at her, “You mean your back patio?”
She shrugs, causing her red, springy curls to bounce. “Whatever. I was trying to be fancy.”
“No point in trying to woo me, Red. I’m easy tonight,” I joke.
“Yay! I’ll put away this good stuff and drag out the cheap shit if you’re giving it up for free,” she teases as we make our way through her house and out the back door to the perfect patio.
I really do love my cabin, but I may have to steal this idea. The pathway is bricked, leading to the patio where a couch, chairs, table sit in a fireplace. It has an outdoor TV above it, which we never use but is good for hosting parties when it’s baseball season. There’s a built-in grill, smoker, and bar. Her husband must have broken the bank building all of this.
“How much did all this cost again?”
She tilts her head as she gives me those eyes. “Girl, Matt went overboard on this. But now, I don’t have to buy him an anniversary present, and I still use it. So win-win, I guess.” She giggles as she pours the wine.
She hands over the glass and takes her own. “Spill it. I know something is bothering you. Is it the new sheriff you were talking about? Is he an ass? I know you were worried about that.”
I nod my head. “The sheriff made it to town today. His name is Bryce Moore, and he’s not an asshole. At least, not that I’ve seen yet anyway.”
“So what’s got you all stressed? Look at you! You’re as stiff as a board.”
I take a sip and let out a long exhale. “Red, he’s gorgeous. Like, drop dead fucking gorgeous.”
Her lips turn up into an ornery smile while her eyes fix themselves on me for all the juicy gossip. “Tell me more!”
I take another drink. “He’s tall, like a good foot taller than I am. But he’s not like the type of guys you see around here. You know, usually, if they’re that tall, they’re either a bean pole or big around. No in-between. But this guy, Red.” I shake my head. “He’s built. I bet his bicep is as big around as my head. He has a narrow stomach and a wide chest. He has dark hair he keeps cut short, a light beard that’s more like a five o’clock shadow, and these green eyes that cut right through me. I swear, when he shook my hand, I felt it in my toes.”
She squeals and giggles. “Sounds like you found your match made in heaven.” She sits back and crosses her long legs.
“That’s the problem, Red. I can’t date him. And honestly, I think he likes me too. I kept catching him staring at me.”
“Of course, he was staring at you. Have you seen you? You’re gorgeous, Nina.”
“It doesn’t matter how I look. But it matters that we work together.”
“Only for a little while, though, right? I mean, eventually, you’ll be leaving to do that youth center thing.”
I nod again. “Yeah, I know. I just feel like the timing is horrible. I mean, if I become friends with him now, I’m worried we’ll become such good friends and won’t want to date in the future. But I can’t date him now. So what do I do? Do I just keep my distance?”
“No way! Trust me. If he’s as good as you say he is, your friendship will only make the relationship that much better.”
“So, you’re saying I should get to know him, become friends?”
“Yes. I mean, what if you keep these feelings all bottled up until whenever you leave and finally date him, only to realize you both have nothing in common? Then all this would be for nothing. Get to know the guy. Become his friend. See if you guys have anything in common. Then make whatever move you think you need to make.”
I nod. That all makes sense. Why didn’t I think of that? This is why I like to keep Red around. She puts things into perspective for me and gives it to me straight. None of that being nice nonsense.
“So, you think you could talk Matt into building me a patio like this?”
She laughs. “Girl, by the end of this, he was ready to build a time machine so he could go back in time and stop himself from doing it. But he’s happy it’s done.”
“Guess I need a time machine so I can go back in time and steal him away from you before you two ever meet. Then this patio will be mine,” I joke.
“If you build a time machine, you better use it for way better things than getting a patio. I’m talking huge, like creating the internet or something.”
We both laugh and sip our wine, talking and giggling until the bottle is empty.