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A part of me wanted to go over and talk to him, but another part was content just watching from afar. I didn’t want to declare my interest in such a public way and interrupting a conversation between all of the drivers would accomplish just that. I knew Linc was struggling with demons of his own, and to watch him come out of his shell was heartwarming. Feeling satisfied for the first time since waking up, I continued my journey back to my office.
11
LINCOLN
It was torture to kiss Aly and then not see her again for nearly a week. I made a point of walking out to the park at night on the off chance that I might catch her there. But if she was still awake and looking for distraction, she wasn’t doing it at the same time and place that I was. After three nights of solitude, I began to marvel at the fact that we had met up in the first place. Maybe she was hitting the park at a different time of night. Or maybe she had other places that she walked. Maybe she was actually sleeping.
I held that last option as a best-case scenario. I shouldn’t be greedy, wanting her to suffer from the same affliction I did. She deserved to rest.
By Wednesday night, I had given up on running into Aly, so I did some tighter loops around Mrs. Washington’s neighborhood instead of going so far afield. I did enjoy the park, but the ambiance of the town was more soothing. Seeing the individual houses, each tucked away behind manicured lawns and white picket fences, reminded me that my tour of duty was over.
Not only did I miss Aly in the early morning, but I hardly saw her at work. She was up there in the main office, and I needed an excuse if I wanted to see her. A couple times, I made the trek to the back of the lot with some piece of paperwork for Porter to sign. On Tuesday, I grabbed the mileage form and took it to the farmhouse.
Aly was there behind her desk on the phone with someone. I waved hello and took a seat on the couch. Her hair was swept up in a ponytail, showing off her pixie ears. It had been days since I had seen her, but as soon as we were in the same room, all my warm feelings came rushing back. I remembered the chill of the air that night and how it had brushed her lips mere seconds before I had. I remembered the quiet in her eyes after I pulled away and how time had seemed to stop.
She finished up her phone call and set the receiver down. “Linc.” Her voice was warm and unmistakable in its joy.
“Hey,” I said, fighting the urge to take her in my arms again.
“How have you been?” she asked, leaning forward.
I caught a glimpse of her breasts under the button-down blouse she wore and inhaled sharply. “Things are good. I’ve been looking for you in the park.”
“Really?” She sounded pleased. “Do you go walking every night?”
“Pretty much,” I answered. “It calms me.”
“I’ve actually been sleeping,” she admitted.
“That’s great,” I said, even though my hopes of another romantic encounter were dashed.
“I can meet you tonight,” she offered, seeming to think better of it almost instantaneously. “For a walk, I mean.”
“Sleep is more important,” I responded. “But, uh, if you wanted to go out to dinner sometime…”
“I would love to.” She beamed, folding her hands in front of her.
Neither of us moved. I felt an attraction like gravity between us. It was as if the magnetic pull would be impossible to resist if I allowed myself to get sucked in. Stepping any closer would result in such a passionate embrace that we would both be fired on the spot. We were in the middle of the main office, a location that was as public as a train station. I could only watch helplessly from my position on the couch and bide my time until we were alone again.
Porter walked in a second later, the front door swinging shut. His gaze bounced from Aly to me, recognition sparking instantly. Aly leaned back in her chair, I relaxed into the couch, and the gravity well between us dissipated.
“I have a question about the mileage form,” I explained.
“What are you doing Thursday night?” Porter said in response.
My eyes widened. “Nothing.”
“Come to dinner at our house,” he said, more as my boss than my near brother-in-law. “Gina’s been patient, but it’s time for you to say hello and meet your nephew.”
I frowned. I knew that I needed to see my sister and meet her kid, but I didn’t like being told I had to.
“Aly’ll be there,” Porter added, checking with his receptionist after making the announcement.
Aly nodded encouragingly. “Do come, Lincoln. You haven’t met the baby yet. And Porter makes the best canned soup this side of the Mississippi.”
Porter chuckled, looking back to see if I would agree.
I was sold. “Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll be there.”
