Never Let Me Go

by Kianna Alexander

Braxton glanced in that direction, chuckled. “Yep, that’s her. Her company is all ladies, and she made it clear they ain’t afraid to get a little dirt under their nails.”

  “I can see that.” Maxwell scratched his chin, impressed with Ms. Patterson and her all-female cement outfit. “As long as they do good work, they can count on working with us again. I’m heading over to the trailer. I’ll swing by later to make sure everything’s still on track.”

  When he arrived at the trailer, he paused, hearing the raised voices coming from within. As the commotion seemed to die down, he took a step. The door swung open as his boot hit the bottom step, and an angry-looking woman wearing a hard hat and a shirt bearing the Carmichael logo stormed past him.

  Harold appeared in the doorway, calling after her from the top step. “Carol! Don’t you walk out on me like this!”

  The woman stopped, turning so fast her boots kicked up the dust from the ground. The hard set of her face betrayed her irritation. “Harold, if you think I’m working for peanuts, you’re out of your mind. Good luck getting the job done without me and my crew, because I’m taking them with me.” She spun and strode away without another backward glance.

  A bewildered-looking Harold threw up his hands. “Women. Can’t work with ’em, huh?”

  Maxwell shrugged. “Women aren’t the only ones who expect to be paid what they’re owed, Harold.” Moving up the steps to the trailer door, he stopped again. “Good morning. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get inside.”

  Harold moved out of the way, though he didn’t look happy about it.

  Inside the trailer, an office had been set up with three desks and chairs. Pegboards and whiteboards on the wall displayed handwritten notes and tacked-up paperwork while a small stand holding a coffee machine, cups, and condiments occupied the far corner.

  A broad-shouldered man with an orange construction vest over his bright red NC State T-shirt sat hunched at the center desk, talking on a phone. The space allotted seemed much too small for a guy his size, but he appeared to be making the best of it. His ruddy skin affirmed that he spent plenty of time in the sun, while his longish brown hair and full beard suggested he’d been too busy for a haircut as of late. He looked up when Maxwell entered, then ended his call. “Mr. Devers?”

  “That’s me.” Maxwell walked over to the desk.

  The man stood, revealing his impressive height. He was easily two inches or so taller than Maxwell. “Albert Hartsfield, project manager. You can call me Al. Pleased to meet you.”

  “Likewise.” Maxwell shook Al’s hand, trying not to lose any fingers to the larger man’s kung fu grip. “Is everything set for us to start working?”

  Al rolled his eyes. “It would be if Mr. Carmichael over there could get his crew in line.”

  Amused and annoyed, Maxwell turned to Harold, who still stood by the open door, his arms folded over his chest. “Um, what’s the problem, Harold? We’ve got a job to do here.”

  “I’m aware of that,” came his terse reply. “I’ve just lost my graders to a petty squabble over money, and—”

  Maxwell’s eyes went wide. “This isn’t my area of specialty, Harold, but I doubt you can lay any concrete for that parking structure until the land is properly graded. That about right, Al?”

  “Yeah, that’s about the balance of it.” The large man clasped his hands together. “And this morning, the earthmovers came to me saying they’re short two drivers. That’s under your jurisdiction too, isn’t it, Carmichael?”

  Maxwell cringed. Already the job was off to a rocky start, and they hadn’t even started foundation work yet. “Come on, Harold. What the hell goes on with your outfit?”

  Harold’s face turned red. “I don’t know! Those two were on the schedule to come in today. I don’t know why they haven’t shown up.”

  His frown deepening, Al asked, “And where is your construction manager, anyway? I’ve never known an architect to be this involved in a project of this type.”

  Harold looked uncomfortable, cleared his throat. “He…uh…quit yesterday. I’m looking to replace him soon and…”

  Al shook his head. “I don’t know what kind of dog and pony show you think I’m running here, but we’ve got a schedule to adhere to. The city expects this job to be done on time and on budget, and I can’t have incompetence mucking things up.”

  Harold relaxed his posture, softened his tone. “Look, Al, I just need an hour. I promise you, by ten a.m., my crew will be ready to go.”

  Al nodded. “I can give you that. But if you can’t get it together by ten, you might as well pack up your folks and get off my jobsite. Understood?”

  With a stiff nod, Harold turned and left the trailer.

  Turning to Al, Maxwell shook his head. “Yikes.”

  “Yikes is right. Carmichael is certainly off to a bad start with his part of the project.”

  We both had the same amount of time to get ready for this project. Why didn’t he get his people lined up and in place before now? “He talks a big game. I’m surprised he let his team get out of line like this.”

  “He who talks big often thinks small.” Al shuffled through the pile of papers on top of his desk. “Whatever he’s got planned to get things back on track, he’d better get busy.” He glanced at the brown leather wristwatch on his left wrist. “He’s got fifty-seven minutes.”

  Shaking his head, Maxwell returned to the door. “I’m headed out. See you around the worksite, Al.”

  Al tipped an invisible hat in his direction.

  Outside in the morning sunshine, Maxwell headed back to the main building site. On the way, he noted the two earthmovers parked near the rear border of the cleared land. I wonder if those are the ones that Harold’s people are supposed to be operating.

  Back at the site where the new center would soon stand, he stood by the folding table set up on the eastern perimeter, poring over the blueprints. As an architect, he wasn’t required or expected to spend very much time on the jobsite. His main goal was to create the design, then leave the actual building to the construction team. Still, he loved being present on worksites. As he watched the skilled laborers moving through the space, some carrying tools, some operating machinery and equipment, he felt the same sense of excitement he’d felt on his very first visit to a jobsite. He enjoyed watching the work of the people who would bring his vision to fruition. For him, it never seemed to get old.

  He was so caught up in the goings-on of the site that he lost track of time. He felt someone tapping him on the shoulder, drawing him back to reality. Turning around, he saw Al standing there. “What’s up, Al? Do you need me for something?”

  His face somewhat grim, the project manager nodded. “Need you to take over the parking and landscaping aspects of the project as well. As of fifteen minutes ago, Mr. Carmichael’s been kicked off my jobsite. I run a tight ship, but you seem like the type who can handle it. You in?”

  “Sure.” Shaking hands with Al, Maxwell watched as the man walked away.

  Wow. This day certainly has taken a turn.

  * * *

  Around seven in the evening, Yvonne sat by the front window in the living room. With a mug of green tea in her hand, she curled up in the armchair, watching the sunset over the sprawling brick mansion across the street. Ribbons of purple, red, orange, and pale pink painted the sky, and she sighed. This was just the sort of peaceful moment she needed to end a busy day of wrangling a curious little one.

  She thought of how comfortable she’d come to feel in Maxwell’s home. He’d gone out of his way to make her feel welcome, including personalizing the bedroom that now belonged to her. Observing the silent street outside, she wondered how much longer it would be before he got home. True, Sasha had kept her occupied all the way up until she’d fallen asleep about twenty minutes ago. But there was no amount of busyness that could keep her mind from straying to him.<
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  This relationship with her boss, one she never would have thought she’d have, had blossomed into something sweet and beautiful. She saw him off to work each morning during the week and anxiously awaited his return in the evenings. Whenever he left or returned, they shared soft kisses and affectionate gazes. Being in his arms had come to feel familiar, like a home she never knew she had but could now return to when the outside world became too much to bear.

  She set the empty mug down on the side table, her eyes locked on the skyline. Crossing her arms over her chest and placing her open palms on her forearms, she embraced her own body. Anticipation for his return home fired her blood, and her mind began to wander. It feels so good when he holds me. What would it be like if we did more?

  The sensible parts of her warned her to push those thoughts aside, but those desires were undeniable. She moved her palms up and down over her arms, the thin fabric of her pink chambray cardigan whispering over her skin like a lover’s caress. She knew she should corral her thoughts, turn them toward something productive. Yet she couldn’t do it. All she could think about was what it would feel like to let him touch her in earnest, to let his hands roam over her body. No interruptions, no pretense, and certainly no clothing to stand between them. What would happen if she stopped dousing the fires of passion she felt crackling between them? What if she let them grow until they consumed them both?

  The sound of an approaching vehicle drew her gaze back to the street. Her heart did a somersault as she watched his sleek black SUV pull into the driveway. The whir of the garage door’s motorized mechanism sounded once, stopped, then sounded again as the door closed behind him.

  She stood, running a hand over her hair as she crossed the foyer. Just as she stepped into the kitchen, the side door swung open, and he stepped inside.

  “Hey, Yvonne.” He smiled as he shut the door behind him.

  “Hey, yourself.” The sight of him gripped her so, it was as if she hadn’t seen him leaving this morning. The rugged look of jeans and construction vest suited him. He looked just as good in these casual clothes as he did in the suit and tie he normally wore to his office. “How was your day?”

  He chuckled. “I’ll tell you all about it…after I get my kiss.” His intense gaze smoldered with heat.

  She swallowed, taking a few steps to close the distance between them. His arms draped around her waist, he pulled her closer to his body. She lifted her arms, her hands coming to rest on his strong, broad shoulders. Raising her chin, she leaned up for his kiss.

  His lips touched hers, and her mouth opened almost immediately. He groaned as if he sensed her feelings. Pulling her even closer to him, he grazed the tip of his tongue between her lips, teasing her before slipping it inside.

  “Mmm.” Her insides felt as warm and molten as lava. She could stay like this forever, with him kissing her, his tongue exploring the cavern of her mouth, driving her mad with wanting.

  He finally broke the kiss, leaning back without releasing her from his embrace. “Sorry. I got a little carried away there.”

  Still trying to get control of her breath, she murmured, “Feel free to get carried away anytime, Maxwell.”

  His low chuckle vibrated through the space as he stepped back, releasing her and walking over to the fridge. “So how was your day today? Was Sasha good?”

  She followed him, already missing the feeling of being wrapped in his arms. “She was just as sweet as she always is. You know, she’s doing really well with her balance. She can stand on her own for a few seconds at a time now.”

  He shook his head, his expression wistful. “I already missed so much with her. I’m not sure I’m ready for her to be so mobile just yet.”

  Now it was her turn to chuckle. “Well, Maxwell, the longer you’re a parent, the more you’ll realize how little control you have over things like this. They’re always learning, always growing.”

  Grabbing a soda from the fridge, he silently offered her one. When she shook her head, he closed the door.

  “Nothing terribly exciting happened here today, but you just had your first day at the new jobsite. How did that go?”

  His thick eyebrows lifted. “You want to hear about that?”

  “Of course I do.”

  He studied her for another silent moment, then nodded. “Sure. I’ll tell you all about it. First, I’m just going to sneak into Sasha’s room and have a peek at her.” He popped the tab on the soda can, took a long draw. “Don’t worry. I promise not to wake her.”

  She tilted her head, grinning. “I doubt you could. She’s sleeping hard after a whole day of playing.”

  Setting the can on the kitchen table, he strode across the kitchen and into the foyer, disappearing up the staircase. She stood in the doorway where the kitchen met the foyer, her gaze settled on the second-floor landing. It’s so sweet that he wants to look in on her.

  Before long, curiosity got the better of her, and she padded barefoot up the carpeted stairs. Stopping outside Sasha’s room, she found Maxwell leaning over her crib. She watched as he inhaled deeply, as if taking in his daughter’s scent. Then, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead, running a gentle hand over her silken curls. Mouthing the words “good night,” he turned and slipped from the room.

  She was leaning against the wall when he softly closed the door. “That was incredibly sweet, Maxwell.”

  An easy smile came over his face. “She’s easy to love. What can I say?”

  “I agree.” Must be a family trait. Her father isn’t so bad, either. Slipping her hand into his, she walked with him back downstairs.

  As they sat on the sofa together, he removed his boots and set them aside. With that done, he cozied up to her, placing his arm over her shoulder. “Ready to hear about today’s adventures?”

  “Sure.” She listened intently while he told her about all the things he’d encountered on the construction site that day. When he casually mentioned having shown Sasha’s photo to his construction manager, she stopped him. “Wait. You mean you were bragging about her?”

  “I guess I was.” He smiled, his expression conveying a mixture of pride and satisfaction. “And I gotta say, it felt pretty good.”

  “Based on your expression, I’ll bet it did.” She loved the way he spoke about Sasha, the way he doted on her and displayed consistent concern for her well-being. As she’d guessed, his worries about not being a good father had been unfounded.

  He continued on, telling her about how his competitor-turned-partner had lost his contract to work on the site. “I was worried about working with Harold. As it turns out, I only had to do it for a few hours.”

  She shook her head. “It sucks for him, but I’m glad he’s out of your hair. Now you can focus on delivering exactly what the city wants.”

  “Exactly. See, you get me.” He shifted on the sofa cushion, angling his body toward her. “You were the only one who didn’t dismiss my irritation about working with him. It’s like you understood how that affected my creativity.”

  She swallowed. “I’m…glad you feel comfortable with me, Maxwell. Your feelings were absolutely valid, by the way.”

  “You’re so caring, Yvonne. It’s one of the things I—” He stopped short.

  Her heart clenched. Was he going to say “love”? I think I heard an “L” sound. Is that where he was going? Her mind raced. Part of her wanted him to say it. But how would she react? Everything about this man seemed to set her body and her emotions on high. She was careening full tilt toward falling in love with him, and so help her, it was a ride she never wanted to end.

  His voice broke the silence, penetrating her thoughts. “You know something?”

  Looking into his eyes, she asked, “What?”

  “Coming home to you and Sasha every night has become the best part of my day, Yvonne.”

  Her mouth fell open, and her breath escaped in a
whoosh. She didn’t speak. She couldn’t. Her heart pounded in her ears like an up-tempo bass line.

  He ran a finger along her jawline. “I used to come home to this big empty house every day. I did that for years. But I never realized just how big and empty it was until Sasha showed up in my life.” He scratched his chin. “I never thought I’d be a father. But it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. She’s doing more than change my lifestyle. She’s changing my heart, and it’s definitely a change for the better.”

  Yvonne nodded, feeling her throat tighten with emotion.

  “And then there’s you.” He grabbed her hand, squeezed it. “You came in when I needed someone the most and whipped me and my big empty house into shape so Sasha could have the home she needs and deserves. I used to think I liked living alone, having my privacy, doing whatever I want, when I want. But you’ve shown me there’s so much more.”

  Tears welled in her eyes now. “Maxwell, I…”

  He brushed her tears away with gentle fingertips. “There’s so much about you to love, Yvonne. And when I look at you, I see it all.”

  She wanted to speak, but a sob threatened. Instead, she drew a deep, shaky breath.

  “I may be risking looking like an absolute fool by telling you this so soon.” He squeezed her hand again. “But I love you, Yvonne.”

  Exhaling, she leaned close to him. “You’re no fool. And if you are, we’ll be fools together, because I love you, too, Maxwell.”

  Groaning, he dragged her against him, capturing her lips in a fiery kiss. She wound her arms around his neck as she slid into his lap. His tongue searched her mouth, and she leaned in all the more, wanting to give him everything he sought. Her nipples tightened, and swirling heat raced through her body, pooling at her core to remind her how much she wanted him inside her.

  When she pulled away, breathless and vibrating with passion, she looked into his dark, hooded eyes. “Maxwell…”

  “Yes, Yvonne?” He traced his fingertip over her kiss-swollen lips.

  “Will you make love to me tonight?”