Chapter 4
Lyrical
Notebook in hand, I headed out the side door of the center just in time to see an SUV full of military muscle hop out and head toward me.
Jamie had brought the guys from the diner with him, dressed in Henleys, denim, and ball caps.
Did military guys wear anything else? Granted, when they were in California and off duty, their wardrobe comprised a lot of board shorts and T-shirts, but I didn’t count that since they all spent most of their time at the beach.
“I brought you a crew!” Jamie called out as he came around the front of the vehicle. “Figured if I let them run loose in Milwaukee, I’d just end up bailing them out of jail later.”
The grin on his face was infectious, and from the trash talk Oz and Sapo threw at him, I knew he didn’t really mean that, but my heart expanded at their presence.
“You all didn’t have to give up time to work,” I chastised them.
“He’s exaggerating about jail, but we probably need to be kept out of trouble,” Sapo said with a wink.
“Well, I can certainly keep you busy for as long as you like.”
“Where do you need us?” Jamie asked.
“Tent construction?” I offered meekly. I handed him a map. “There are flags where they should go. And if you’ve got someone who’s good with electricity, we need to run power for lights inside the tents when they’re done.”
“You got it.” He ruffled my hair, his smile still ten miles wide. “All right, grunts. You heard the lady. We’ll construct tents east of the stage and out, then switch to the west and out. Sapo, you’re on electricity once we get tent number one up.”
They gave affirmatives in chorus, and they were off.
I noticed that Tiguan hung back a bit from the others, hands in his pockets, thumbs anchoring them so they didn’t go too deep. “How was your breakfast?” he asked.
“It was good. Yours?”
“Don’t really remember it,” he admitted, a light pink rising in his cheeks.
He stood there, biting his lip, flashed a look at the guys, then looked back at me. “You have other helpers coming?”
I nodded. “There are women coming this afternoon to set up chairs and tables. I’ve got the National Honor Society and some other school groups coming after school.
They’ll set up their booths for the games, plus the vendors and food trucks will be here tonight.
Other volunteers will drift in so we can get other areas set up. ”
“Good.” He glanced around again. “When you’re about ready to take a break, let me know.
I didn’t know when you all would break for lunch, but I ordered some coffee and dessert stuff from the diner.
It should be here at about two o’clock. If you know how many people you think you’ll have, I can add to the order for another hour. ”
“Wow, Tiguan, that’s so generous of you. I don’t know how many we’ll have. Twenty, maybe?”
“No worries. At least it’s not too cold, and the sun’s out.” He nodded toward my notebook. “What’s that?”
“Oh,” I said, looking down. “It’s my notebook that tells me when to breathe. I like to make lists, then cross things off as I finish them. Makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something.”
Chaos started bellowing for him to flirt later and get his ass in gear, which only made the light pink in his cheeks go a little brighter. Or maybe it was the cool wind that blew through.
“Well… I guess I should go help the guys. You need anything, just holler.”
“Will do.”
He gave me a small smile, just the one corner of his lips turning up, making a dimple pop, and I think my ovaries did a somersault.
He was gorgeous to begin with, but devastating when he smiled.
I wondered what it would be like to kiss him.
I bet his lips would be soft. He’d probably take charge, but in a way that made a woman feel cherished.
What the hell was I doing thinking about kissing him? I’d have to admire him from afar because, given what I knew about him, he wasn’t interested in me.