Forever With You (Silver State Series) (46 page)
Read Forever With You (Silver State Series) Online
Authors: Renae Kelleigh
I wonder why she isn’t at work. What’s up with her family?
“I think we’re all done here, Linus,” says Todd. It occurs to me I haven’t heard a word he or Greg have said in the past five minutes. Thankfully, they don’t seem to have noticed.
“Give us a call if you need anything else,” I say, recovering quickly enough to shake his extended hand. “We’re happy to help.”
Christ, Linus. FOCUS.
A WATER MAIN burst up on the sixth floor. The alert came in at five, just as I was heading home. Big Mike had no choice but to call for all hands on deck.
That’s why it’s 8:45 and I’m just now leaving. We got the worst of it stopped, but we’re all on call tonight just in case. I’m soaked with water and sweat, and my stomach is growling. The only silver lining is that the sixth floor is no longer used for patient care, so there wasn’t any significant collateral damage. Still, tomorrow morning will be tough – we have a massive cleanup job ahead of us.
My car is just feet away, and with it the promise of a hot shower and some food. I’m working to unclip my car keys from a sodden belt loop when I almost plow into someone I hadn’t even seen –
Kenna Aldridge
. What is it with these weird chance meetings?
She’s dressed totally differently from the way I’m used to seeing her. For one thing, she’s in shoes that look like moccasins, which might explain why I didn’t hear her coming – no clicking of heels to tip me off. She’s also wearing jeans and a soft-looking t-shirt that has CAROLINA screen-printed across the front of it. I think this is the first time I’ve seen her with her hair down, instead of slicked back in a ponytail or a bun. It’s parted on the side and flows in loose, flaxen waves around her shoulders.
It’s a good look for her.
“Maintenance Guy,” she says, clearly mystified. I try my hardest to stand still as she takes me in from head to toe. “You’re…wet.”
“I think that’s my line,” I reply, taking a step back since I’m pretty positive I smell. She lifts an eyebrow, and I chuckle. “And it’s Linus by the way,” I add. “I have a name.”
“Linus. Right.”
“What brings you here at this hour?” I ask, leaning against the back bumper of my car.
“Just picking up some things from my office,” she replies absently, gazing off in the direction of the hospital.
“You didn’t work today?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.
“No.” She looks down and scuffs her toe against the pavement. A part of me wants to reach out and touch her face, lift her chin so she’ll be forced to look at me. She seems upset, and for some reason I find that troubling. I want to know why.
“How’s your ankle?” I ask, dodging the more important question. I know I should get in my car and drive away, but I’m not ready to let her go just yet. I kick one foot up on the rear bumper of my car and lean back against the trunk. She notices.
“It’s fine,” she says curtly. Then, “Is this your car?”
I glance back at my old, dinged-up Metro and nod, wondering what her reaction will be. “Yep,” I reply, laying a hand on the trunk lid as if I’m staking ownership. I look over my shoulder at the only other car parked in this vicinity of the employee parking lot. It’s some kind of hatchback with a glossy black paint job. “That yours?” I ask.
She nods dismissively, not bothering to look up from her unhurried inspection of the Metro. I observe warily as she steps to the side, her eyes riveted to the back of my car. She’s sort of fascinating to watch.
Suddenly she snorts. “Nice vanity plate,” she says derisively. I follow her gaze to my rear plate, whose bold blue letters spell out F OPEC. “Fuck OPEC,” she reads. It’s weird and strangely thrilling to hear her say the F word. “You get good gas mileage or something?”
Her eyes are back on me now, the low light of evening dancing in her light blue irises. I swallow as I nod. “Forty-two, sometimes forty-five miles to the gallon. I averaged fifty once on a road trip to Boise.”
She lets out a low whistle. “Well. You and my dad would get along.” She clears her throat and lifts her head, squinting toward the hospital against the orange light of the sun. “Bye, Maintenance Guy.”
My gaze lingers on her retreating back as she abruptly turns to walk away. This chick is just full of surprises.
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