Page 14 of Smoked

I want to pull her close, those tits crushed against me, one hand buried in her soft hair.

Shit.

I let go and step back, clearing my throat.

"Brisket's probably close to moving," I say, which isn’t true. That brisket is parked at 152 and not going anywhere for a while and I think she knows it.

She nods and drops her hands. "Let's go check."

We walk back to the rig and we avoid eye contact, then sit in the folding chairs talking about the competition until the brisket moves off the stall.

It’s three-forty a.m. I check the bark, and it's beautiful, dark and tacky, exactly where I want it. Tess watches me press the probe in and asks what I'm feeling for.

"When it slides in like there's nothing there—no grab, no resistance—that's when the connective tissue has broken all the way down. The temp gets you close, but the feel is what tells you the truth."

She licks her lips. “That’s kinda erotic,” she murmurs, writing in her notes.

Just what I need. More reminders that I’m battling a hard-on every moment I’m with this woman.

“Focus, Tess,” I say, nudging her playfully with my elbow, and she stifles a grin.

By four-thirty, the brisket is wrapped and resting in the Cambro (the insulated holding cabinet), and there's nothing left to do.

The sky is already starting to change.

I’m impressed we’ve only had a few yawns between us.

She gathers her notebook and her bag and I walk her to the car since my mother raised me right.

“I'm disappointed I don’t get to taste it,” she says.

“I’ll save some for you to have next Saturday…if this hasn’t scared you off.”

“Not at all. It was fun.” She smiles. “I hope I’m turning into a decent comp partner so far.”

“You made it all night. That’s a good sign.” I kick at some of the dirt. “At the actual competition, we’ll be able to sleep in rotations. It’ll be a big help.”

“Good, I’m glad,” she says, as we reach her car.

She unlocks her door and I open it for her.

She gets in. “Will you text me how the meat turned out?”

"You bet,” I say. “See you next Saturday. Drive safe.”

"I will. Goodnight Wade.”

“Night, Tess.”

I watch her pull out of the driveway and stand there until her car disappears. The sky's getting lighter. The birds are starting up.

My insides are churning like mad.

I go inside and check on Riley. One foot hangs off the bed, and she’s drooling on her pillow.

I close her door and think about next Saturday.

And how I'm ever going to survive it.