“A bunch of boys who thought they were above the law,” Lottie answered and went on to repeat the same story she had told Jack when he got back to the site a few minutes before.
“First time ever in all my years there has really been a break-in,” Jack answered. “But Knox has installed security so that one of us will know if anyone comes over the cattle guard after dark.”
“Sweet Lord!” Thomas gasped. “Us old married guys are glad to rest after a hard day’s work, but what about the single guys who stay out late at night?”
“The system is set to go off at eleven o’clock every night. If anyone forgets or is too drunk to check the time, a siren will wake all of us up, and lights will flood the place.”
“And believe me when I say they will definitely suffer if they do,” Lottie added.
“As in?” Jack asked.
“I will cook breakfast, and they will be required to eat it,” Lottie answered.
“That would be terrible after a late night and too many beers,” Thomas said.
“Then tell them to come home before eleven,” Lottie told him. “Or you’ll all have cold cereal and burnt toast.”
Knox chuckled and wondered if Lottie truly could cook. Not that it mattered since he loved to be in the kitchen. More guys filtered into the room, and while Lottie told them the story, he went to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. When that one finished dripping, he set it on the warmer. If he was dating for real, would it matter if she didn’t cook?
He answered his own question by realizing that he wouldn’t mind working all day and coming home to cook supper, too, because if this was real, she would be working right alongside him all day. So why should she have to prepare supper? Besides, there was always takeout or DoorDash if neither of them wanted to spend time in the kitchen.
He took several mugs from the cabinet, and when thecoffee stopped gurgling, he set the pot to the side and started a second one. Before everyone checked in for the morning, both would be emptied and a third and fourth one made for break time.
Lottie startled him when she said, “ What are you smiling about?”
Knox poured a mug full of coffee and handed it to her. “I was wondering if you have always taken it black or if there’s a story?”
“A short story. When I first started drinking it, Martha, the housekeeper that I told you about, made it so strong that it practically curled my toenails.”
Lottie edged over close enough to Knox that her shoulder brushed against his. That feeling that he wanted more than friendship landed like a rock in his heart. Apparently, she didn’t feel the same because there wasn’t even a hitch in her voice when she went on with the story.
“I asked for cream and sugar, and she laughed at me. She said, ‘Girl, life don’t come with cream and sugar, and neither does my coffee. Take it like it is or leave it alone.’ I didn’t touch it again until I went to college. Even then I usually made something like one of those Starbucks lattes that has lots of sugar and cream in it to get me going in the mornings. Then I started working full time with Jack and the crew and learned to drink it black.”
“What changed?” Knox noticed that most of the guys had gathered around Jack and were looking at the video playing on his phone.
“I found out that all coffee wasn’t like drinking Grandma’s stuff.” She took a sip and stepped away from him. “In case you are wondering, they’re all watching the video on your phone. I’m tired of telling the story.”
“Me too,” Knox agreed. “You probably won’t need a fake boyfriend anymore after they all see how mean you were with that shotgun. They’ll all be afraid to cross you or even mention going out with you.”
“One can only hope, but I’m not ready to break up with you yet,” she told him.
* * *
Lottie spread a blanket on the grass beside the lake and watched Knox walking toward her with an old-fashioned picnic basket in one hand and a six-pack of soft drinks in the other. She had vowed that tonight she was going to tell him that she had developed feelings for him. He might say he didn’t feel the same, but at least the guessing game in her head would end.
“You remembered to bring the blanket.” He smiled as he motioned for her to sit down and then followed her.
“Of course. If all I have to do is rustle up a blanket to get a good supper, I can do that. Are you disappointed that I don’t cook?” Her voice held an edge.
“Hey,” Knox set down the basket and the soft drinks. “What bee crawled up your overall legs?”
“I’m wearing a sundress, not overalls, and I don’t have an attitude,” she shot back. Maybe tonight wasn’t a good time to tell him how she felt after all.
“And you look gorgeous, but, darlin’, you also look amazing wearing only a towel wrapped around your body.”
“Good save.” She finally grinned.
The aroma of fried chicken rose up from the basket when he opened it. “To answer your question, I really don’t care if you cook or not. I enjoy working in the kitchen after a long day of framing houses.”
