More Than One Night. Heatherly Bell

      “I’m sorry, did I not mention that?”

      “You didn’t. What does he think about all this?” He waved to the expanse of the hilltop and the land around them. There had to be a good two hundred acres or more here. A large man-made lake with a dock and an array of boats and kayaks. The land was mostly undeveloped other than the park and he had to wonder how difficult it must have been to get both the funding and the approval on a project this size.

      “He’s supportive.” She folded her arms across her generous rack, which he had to admit was further emphasized by the rather snug fit of that shirt. He was beginning to love their new company tees. “Okay, see. That’s one more thing you now know about me. Your turn.”

      He didn’t like this. It was a clear manipulation and he’d never been into these types of games with women. She was prying, and he knew it. He also realized she wouldn’t give up. Someone who’d taken on a challenge of this magnitude didn’t give up easily.

      Using his equally strong manipulation skills, he ignored her. “We should talk about what you have for a plan so far. Let me see what you’ve got.”

      “You’d do that?”

      “I would.”

      “This isn’t just your attempt to make us more than a one-hit wonder?” She held up finger quotes.

      “Nah. I’m all business right now.”

      She grinned, but he wasn’t sure it was certainty he saw in her green eyes or concern. “Drop by after you guys knock off. I’m sure I’ll still be in the office.”

      She apparently spent too much time at work. Probably not healthy, but at the moment it would benefit him.

      * * *

      After the workday ended, the guys were headed down the hill and toward town and a bar called the Silver Saddle. He begged off joining them, as he was always more clearheaded without a drink. Instead, he hit the shower and changed. The light was still on in the office trailer, so he knocked once and let himself in. And found Jill doing jumping jacks.

      This was not helpful to his all-business approach. She had her back to the door, turning slowly in a circle, and apparently hadn’t heard him come in. The earbuds, probably. But the way she was going, she’d turn in his direction any second now.

      “It’s raining men!” she sang out.

      He smiled as she bounced in the direction of the door and tried hard to appear... Wet.

      “It’s...oh.” She stopped and pulled earbuds out. “Sorry.”

      “Nothing to be sorry about.” He bit back a chuckle.

      “It’s just that I’ve been working so hard lately to get everything ready for grand opening that I never get to the gym anymore. Every hour or so I try to remember to take a break and do some jumping jacks.”

      “Get the blood pumping.”

      “That’s right.” Breathing hard, she walked back to her desk.

      “On the other hand, there’s a lot you could do right outside the trailer door.” He pointed.

      “Yes, and I’ll get to it. This is just easier right now. Convenient. But I can’t wait to try the zip line.”

      “Looks like some good engineering went into it.”

      “It cost us enough.” She opened up her laptop and pushed papers aside. “I’ve got the search and rescue plan in here. I had some help from a couple of firefighters from the rescue squad and I did some research of my own. I’ll just print it out for you.”

      “No need. I’ll read from here.” He sidled up behind her, kneeling to see just over her shoulder. And smell her hair. Coconut.

      She shot up suddenly. “Here, you sit.”

      He took her seat, gratified he made her nervous. “You just continue with your jacks. Give me fifty.”

      “Uh, no thanks. I’m okay for the next hour.” She stood behind him, looking over his shoulder. “And don’t think I forgot you haven’t told me your one thing yet.”

      “Oh yeah. That.”

      “You thought you distracted me, but you now know two things about me that you didn’t before. I have a brother who was in the service and he’s the Sheriff. I know you like dogs, which, BTW, is not big news. Everyone likes dogs! Now it’s your turn.”

      “True enough,” he said, perusing her plan. “I like cats, too, and that one isn’t as common.”

      She let out an exasperated sigh, which sounded like a cross between a groan and a moan. Again, not helpful to this all-business attitude he was trying to keep with her.

      “That doesn’t count! Look, I know you’re from the Bay Area. It’s the one thing I knew about you that night.”

      “Yeah?” He didn’t like where this was headed. If she didn’t stop pushing, maybe this job wouldn’t work out.

      “Is your family in the Bay Area?”

      He turned to look up at her. “I don’t talk to my parents anymore. It would be stupid as hell to put them on your damn form. And that’s your one thing. It’s big enough that it should take me through tomorrow, too.”

      Shockingly, she seemed to agree, nodding quietly.

      “Do you trust me?” he asked now. “Because you should.”

      “You know I do. I realize you could have taken advantage of me that night, but you didn’t.”

      “No more than you took advantage of me.”

      “Yes, but you know. You’re a guy.”

      “I’m aware of that, thanks.”

      “Anyway, I feel like we both took advantage of the situation.”

      “Equal opportunity advantage.”

      “Right.”

      An hour later, thank God, she’d quieted down and sat on the edge of the cot, reading from her Kindle. She looked up at him. “Are you almost done?”

      “Almost. Just needed to dot some i’s.”

      Liar. He’d pretty much revamped the entire plan to be much more in line with serious search and rescue. What she’d had was serviceable but did not account for all possibilities. Might as well plan for everything.

      A few more minutes later, he stretched and leaned back in the chair, satisfied. “Okay. Done.”

      No answer. She was asleep on the cot, clutching her Kindle.

      Just the sight of her lying there, a lock of her hair covering one of her eyes, caused a strong pull of lust to flicker through him. He should get out of here. Nights in particular he didn’t feel human, and watching her sleep wasn’t helping. This felt like a moment when he should do something. Something helpful. What did a civilian do in a situation like this? He needed to remember how to be normal again. Should he wake her up so she could drive home? Let her sleep? Pretty sure he shouldn’t touch her. He didn’t have the right.

      He took the Kindle from her death grip and set it on the desk. Drew the covers up to her neck, managing not to touch her. She didn’t move but continued to sleep like a rock. Her face, normally so animated and open, was now relaxed and strangely vulnerable.

      And he couldn’t stop looking at her.

      He’d never watched her sleep and felt a little voyeuristic doing that now. Like he had intruded on her private personal space. Not that she wasn’t trying hard to intrude into his private world. But she wasn’t going to get an all-access pass into his personal life. He couldn’t allow that. She was his boss now and nothing more. He shouldn’t want