8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Nick
“See you tomorrow, son. I love you.” Mom pats me on the back as I lock up the hardware store for the night.
“Love you, too. Have a good evening.” I wave her goodbye as she heads toward her car.
The air is crisp, and I take a moment to breathe in the familiar scents of the small town I’ve called home all my life before getting in my truck. I turn the key in the ignition and start the diesel motor.
Fatigue from a long day at the hardware store after a long night of trying to put out a barn fire has me feeling less than chipper today. And in all reality, I want nothing more than to go home and pass out … but I dug the holes for the new posts at the Willis’s house yesterday, and I need to set them before it rains.
The diesel engine roars to life as I head out from the store parking lot, running my fingers through my hair as I work through my mental checklist.
I’m supposed to be helping with the float for Daniel’s group of kids, too, but I’ll just have to go there tomorrow.
Maybe I am overstretched.
I shrug my shoulders at the thought as I make my way across town. If I am overstretched, I don’t mind that much. It’s better to be busy than to sit around and let my mind wander. Plus, there’s nothing for me at home—just an empty cabin out in the woods. Five minutes pass before I park off to the side of the yard and kill the motor.
She’s here.
My heart jumps at the sight of the silver Hyundai parked beside Ms. Marilyn’s old truck. And suddenly, my energy is renewed.
If I’m honest, coming to the Willis’s house has been the highlight of each day since Eliza moved in. And I was so glad she let me give her a tour around town earlier this week.
I wonder if she’ll come out and say hello.
I sure hope so.
I slip out of my truck and make my way back to the trailer where I’ve stacked the precut posts. As I’m working the straps free, I hear a click behind me. I figure it’s nothing so I ignore it and finish removing the straps, rolling them up and putting them away.
Click .
“What the…” I turn around to see a black camera lens pointed right at me. Behind the camera, is that cute, messy, blonde tuft of hair. “Woah. What’re you doing?”
Eliza drops the camera, her cheeks slightly red. “Did I startle you? Sorry. I’m just trying to practice taking photos with the evening light.” She points to the sun beginning to creep down in the sky. “And I figured you could use some candids for your social media or something.”
I blink a couple of times, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. “I don’t have social media … and I don’t really do pictures.”
Her brows furrow. “Why not?”
“I just don’t like the internet.” I shrug, grabbing one of the posts and head toward the holes around the porch.
Eliza follows me. “But why don’t you like pictures?”
“I don’t know,” I answer her, dropping the post into the hole before spinning around. I nearly run right into her, but I stop, letting out a sigh. “Sorry.”
“Are you okay?” she asks, her pale green eyes alight with concern. “You seem a little off today.”
I can’t hold back my smile as my heart thunders under her gaze. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired. There was a barn fire last night that kept me up late, and then I had a long day at the store.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. You could’ve skipped today,” Eliza offers with a shrug.
“There’s a chance of rain in the forecast in a couple of days. I need to get these posts in so the concrete has time to set before then.”
“You could wait until after the rain.”
“Maybe, but then it’ll just take me longer to get the ramp done.”
Not like I’m trying to be quick.
I like having an excuse to see this woman. But I’m not going to tell her that.
“So…” her voice trails off as I continue to grab posts and set them in the holes. “Would it be okay if I took some pictures of you? I need the practice, and I think the squirrels are getting tired of me; also, I’m trying to build a portfolio.”
I swallow the nerves that come with the idea of her taking pictures of me. “A portfolio? For what?”
Eliza’s cheeks turn a rosy pink as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear nervously. “Well, um, I’ve always loved photography, and I recently decided to pursue it more seriously. I’ve been brushing up my skills in the hope that I could start freelancing for local events or even small businesses around town. But I need to build my portfolio first, you know? And your woodworking skills would make for some great shots in the warm evening light.”
“Well, I suppose, since it’s for a good cause, you can take my picture,” I finally agree with a nod. This is not something I would normally agree to, but the smile that grows on her face makes it worth it. “But be warned, I’m not much of a model.”
“You’re the best, Nick,” she says, her voice giddy. “I think you’ll be surprised at how photogenic you are.”
“I doubt that,” I snort, shaking my head. “I don’t think I’ve ever been called photogenic in my entire life. ”
“Well, you are.” Eliza beams, putting the camera back up to her face. “You’ve just got that look.”
I laugh, feeling my cheeks grow warm. “I don’t know what that means, but thanks … I think.”
“It’s a compliment.” She gestures to the bags of concrete mix on the trailer. “Now get to work so I can get some good action shots. I bet all the ladies on Instagram will be drooling over you.”
“Nah,” I mutter, grabbing the concrete and tossing it into my wheelbarrow. I then grab the handles and maneuver it across the yard. It bumps over the uneven ground and crunches through the leaves—leaves that I need to rake up again.
Click.
Click.
Click.
“Just pretend like I’m not here,” Eliza instructs.
This woman has no idea how hard it is to pretend like she’s not here, but I nod anyway and begin mixing up the concrete for the posts as she floats around me, taking pictures as I work. It’s nearly impossible to focus, but eventually, after setting a few of the posts, I start to relax.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still very aware that Eliza is near … but it’s not her camera that’s making me nervous.
It’s just her.
Every now and then, she moves in a way that lets me catch the scent of her warm vanilla perfume, or she’ll giggle, filling the crisp fall air with her laughter. I don’t know why it’s so dang cute , but it is.
And it makes the time pass so much faster.
Before I even know it, all the posts are set, the sun is just below the horizon, and Eliza drops her camera around her neck.
“Do you want some help cleaning up?” she offers, her tone light and easy. This version of her is very different from the Eliza that was stuck in a ramp when we first met. She’s relaxed, her eyes bright and friendly. There’s not an ounce of defensiveness about her now.
“You don’t have to,” I say, trying not to stare at the way the warm glow of the dusky sky is dancing across her face. “I don’t mind cleaning up myself; I know you probably have a thousand pictures to edit.”
She grins and waves me off. “I can do that later. I think it’s only right that I help you clean up. I was probably a huge distraction, anyway, so it’s really the least I can do.”
“Only a little,” I joke, grabbing my tools and carrying them back to the truck.
She sets her camera back into its bag on the porch and takes the wheelbarrow over to the water hose. “I can rinse this out for you.” She gets started before I can even respond, not paying any mind to the water splashing up on her jeans or sweater.
And it’s … hot.
My face flushes with heat as I shut my toolbox. Stop being weird, Nick. I shake my head. I don’t ever talk to myself like this. Ugh .
“I really need to rake up these leaves,” Eliza comments as she bumps the wheelbarrow back toward the trailer. “You showed me what the yard could look like when you raked them up the first time. Then again, leaves could make for some really great pictures…” Her voice trails off as she stares across the yard. “I really need to work on building my portfolio.”
“Yeah, you’ve said that,” I tease her, letting her help me lift the barrow and set it into the back of the trailer. “Hopefully, some of the ones you got tonight will be helpful.”
“Oh yeah, they definitely will be.” She beams, meeting my gaze. “Thanks for letting me take them. You’re an excellent model. It’s like you were made to be in front of the camera.”
I burst into laughter. “I gotta say, I’m not sure I agree with you there.”
She makes a face at me. “Why not? Once you relaxed, you were a natural.”
“I was just working,” I point out, using a bungee cord to fasten the wheelbarrow to the front of the trailer. “And now I’m done,” I say with a little disappointment.
“You have a long way to go.” Eliza giggles. “So, I wouldn’t say you’re done.”
Man, I like this side of her.
“Yeah, but I’m done with today.”
She bites her lip. “Now off to fight fires?”
“I sure hope not.” My gaze lingers on her face for a few moments before I look away. “I need to catch up on some shut-eye. ”
“Well, I hope you have a nice night,” she says. “I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah, you, too. I’ll be here, same time tomorrow.” I chuckle lightly as I watch her walk back toward the house.
I’m not the kind of guy to fall head over heels for a woman I barely know—or even one that I do —but here I am, feeling all sorts of ways with Eliza.
And I feel crazy for it.