* * *
By the end of the day on Monday, Knox wished that Micah would hush for a few minutes. That man could talk the devil out of his pitchfork or a dead man into buying a new coffin.
“What are you thinking about?” Lottie asked when she caught up to him at quitting time.
“Peace and quiet,” Knox whispered. “Does Micah always talk so much?”
“Yep,” Lottie answered. “He’s a hard worker, but when I have to work with him, my ears hurt by the time the day ends. And tonight we have pizza in the rec hall since the next crew has arrived.”
“That’s every Wednesday night?” Knox groaned.
“Yep, right up until we finish the last house, and then you have to provide supper for everyone,” she reminded him.
“Do we have to stay very long? Can we slip away and take a walk to the lake?” Knox asked.
“As long as we just watch the sunset, and you don’t say a word,” Lottie whispered. “My brain has listened to so manystories the past three days that it is as tired as my body. I’m glad that I’m not going anywhere this weekend.”
“Me too,” Knox said.
“Oh, really? You aren’t going home?”
“Nope. I need a weekend to do nothing, and besides, who’s going to take care of my new livestock if I’m gone from Friday to Monday morning?”
“Anytime you want or… Whoa!” She slapped her forehead with her hand. “We promised that we’d help Bo at the bar.”
“That’s not this weekend, but the next one. I figure we can drive up there a couple of hours before time for Aunt Bernie’s event and come home when it’s over,” Knox suggested. “The animals can survive a few hours without us.”
Lottie stopped at her trailer. “That will give Uncle Jack two weekends away. I’m sure Aunt Mandy would love to have him at home to help her with the packing.”
“What are you going to do now?” Knox asked but didn’t wait for her answer. “I’m going to get my things and take a quick shower. Want to join me to prove to the next group that we really are a couple?”
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” she agreed with a nod.
Four new guys were in the rec hall when Knox arrived with his small duffel bag in his hand. Eddie made introductions, and Knox shook hands with each of them before he went on to the bathroom. He had soaped up his whole body and was in the process of shampooing his hair when he heard the door open.
“I thought you’d be finished by now,” Lottie said.
“It takes a while to wash away all of Micah’s words.” He chuckled. “I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.”
She giggled loud enough that he heard it over the hard water spraying down on him. “That should convince the new guys that we are having fun in here,” he mumbled.
As usual, when he stepped outside with a towel wrapped around his waist, she had undressed and had her towel tucked around her body. And like always, he wished he could unwrap the package and see what was hidden underneath. Butjust friendsdidn’t do that.
“Your turn,” he said as he went to the sink to brush his teeth.
“You don’t have to wait on me,” she said. “Jack was bringing in the pizza when I got here. If you go on out, you can save me a couple of slices of our favorite kind.”
Knox waited until she was behind the shower curtain to whip off the towel and put on underwear and a pair of sweatpants. “See you on the other side, then.”
No one was interested in black olive and mushroom pizza, but to be on the safe side, Knox put four pieces on a paper plate and carried it to a nearby table.
Micah sat down across the table from him with a plate piled high with slices of meat lover’s pizza. “I still can’t believe you and Lottie are a couple.”
“Why not?” Knox asked.
“You aren’t her type. She goes for tall, dark, and handsome. You look like you belong on a beach waiting for the surf,” Micah answered.
“I’m tall, and some folks say I’m handsome. Apparently, she thinks two out of three ain’t bad.” Knox grinned.
