Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Those fantasies are stupid for many reasons, but I can’t stop myself from having them. Brooks and I could never happen, even if we could get past the age difference. My father nearly killed him and took his career, which I can see still meant so much to him. Even as I watch him sweat, grunt, and work himself to the bone, the joy is in his hazel eyes.
The second Brooks pulled off his shirt, I licked my lips. It was foolish, and I quickly looked down at my tablet. I hoped no one saw me. I chide myself mentally. When I lift my head again, his buddy looks at me and tosses me a wink. I try to ignore it, but I think the man is onto me. Turning around, I see a television news van approaching. Damn. Walking up to the organizer, I ask, “Do you have a coat or something for Mayor Payne to wear?” I tilt my head toward our approaching guests.
“Oh, yes, ma’am. One moment.” He steps inside their trailer, coming out a moment later with an official Coast Guard wind jacket.
I take it and walk up to my boss, interrupting the pissing match and informing him of our company. He slides it on, and I can’t help but notice the way his muscle looks as he does. Damn it, I look away and catch his buddy, who winks at me again. I heard a low rumble, similar to a growl, that I could have sworn came from the mayor, but it was probably the wind quickly picking up.
We manage the media and thank the team of hard-working crew members. “He’s only around for the sandbagging. They are leaving right away,” he says as we start returning to the SUV.
I stop dead in my tracks and look up at him. The wind blows strands of hair in my scrunched-up face, so I brush it off as I try to understand what he’s talking about. “Who?”
He tilts his head toward the Navy men who are clearing the area. “Fields.” Does he think I’m interested in him?
“So,” I say, giving my boss a bit of an attitude. Hopefully, he drops the damn subject because this isn’t a conversation I want to have with him. I’ve seen him with his sister, but I’m not her. He doesn’t need to protect me like he does her. My heart can’t be protected by the only man holding a sledgehammer to it.
“Never mind,” he mutters, wiping his forehead with his shirt, which is still half wet from his sweat.
“Okay.” Sometimes I don’t understand this man. Perhaps it’s the age gap. I follow him into the waiting vehicle, and he stares at me strangely when the door closes. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” He reaches over me and taps on the divider, telling the driver, “We’re ready.” I sneakily breathe in the musky scent of his sweat. Damn, how does he smell so good after working hard? Slowly and without drawing attention to myself, I press my legs together, attempting to get that friction.
“Yes, sir.” We begin moving and notice he appears more irritated, grimacing, and I wonder if he exerted himself too much. Yes, he works out once a day and is finally recovering from his injuries, but today was intense, and it’s different from the strength training regime that he’s used to.
“Does your leg hurt?” I ask.
“My damn leg’s fine,” he barks out. I clamp my mouth shut, revert my attention back to my tablet, and check the agenda for the day.
When I see that he is meeting with the police chief and some council members later, I say, “Sir, perhaps we should stop and get you a change of clothes.”
“That’s a great idea.” I reach up behind me, tap on the divider, and tell the driver that we’re stopping at the Mayor’s residence first. As his assistant, I’ve been there multiple times, so no one would think twice about my command.
“Have you spoken to your father?” he asks. I lift my head with a start.
“Um…no. I haven’t heard from him in a long time, but it’s for the best.” We never speak about my father. In the two years of working together, all conversations regarding our private lives have been off the table besides Honey, but that’s because she sometimes shows up at Town Hall. Also, he stops by her shop at times to bring me some honey-flavored goodies she sends with him.
“Maybe you should try again.” I’m about to tell him I can’t go there again when my private phone vibrates in my pocket. I slide it out just enough to see the caller. It’s this guy in town that wants to go out with me. He’s nice, but my heart belongs to the mayor, who has no interest in me and would never. My neighbor gave him my number when she tried to set us up on a date.