by Jillian Dagg
"Can't keep your eyes off him, can you?” Karl said in her ear.
Cally felt her cheeks turn hot. “Why do you creep up on people?"
"Swear I didn't creep. I merely came to pass the time of day and you were staring at Lukey baby like he's the best thing since they invented the wheel."
Cally squeezed a frown on her forehead. She had to jump off this accusation with both feet. “What are you talking about?"
"You should know. You spent the weekend together, babe."
"I did not spend the weekend with him. He drove me home, that's all."
"You went to a party with him,” Karl sounded malicious.
"How do you know that?"
"Ah, hah. You've admitted it. See."
Cally's cheeks were flushed and she wasn't sure what to say next. Karl had caught her out. How had he known about the party? Who was his spy? Naturally, if she asked him how he knew, then she would dig herself into a deeper pit with Karl. So she said, “It's none of your business what I do on my time off. But I'll tell you this. There's nothing going on.” And there wasn't. She didn't have to protest. This is what Luke had warned her about, and it was his name hers was linked with, which would be laughable if she felt like laughing today.
"Then if there's nothing going on, you can come to a movie with me."
"I don't want to go out with anyone,” she stated firmly, taking a defensive stance, which was easy in jeans and work boots. She heard a spot of rain bounce onto her hard hat and looked up. “It's beginning to rain."
"It'll get the humidity out of the air,” Karl said. “Oh, well, you miss a lot of fun by staying in your corner.
Unless you're having enough fun all on your own.” His glance went to Luke once more before he sidled away.
Cally sighed deeply. Luke was right. Working with men did get complex. The rain began to get heavier.
Luke commanded that they shut down. But by the time all the equipment was stored, the construction site was a sea of mud. Cally was soaked to the skin and shivering badly. Now the humidity was gone, the temperature had suddenly dropped.
"Here.” She felt something warm go around her shoulders. “Ride back with me."
It was Luke. Across her shoulders was his black nylon fleece-lined windbreaker. He rushed her to his car. She scrambled in with him, noticing everyone else was gone. She saw the line of trucks disappearing into the rain soaked distance.
Cally took off her hard hat and stuck her wet gloves into the crown. Her jeans clung to her legs the way Luke's clung to his. She snuggled into his jacket. “Thank you."
"You were standing out there looking like a drowned rat,” he said with a smile at her, which was probably his first one that week. That it was directed at Cally set off a few warning bells she wasn't sure she wanted to hear ring at that very moment. “I don't want you to catch cold."
"I don't catch cold very easily,” Cally told him.
"Even so. The temperature is cooling down fast. Have a hot shower and get out of those wet clothes."
He was so concerned. Something he might not have been a week ago, before the drive to Minneapolis and the party. She didn't really like being the center of his attention when she was trying to make the point there was nothing going on between them. Yet, here she was, snuggled into his nice big jacket, the car heater drying her clothes and her wet hair. And she wanted to be here with him. That was her problem. She'd met the man behind the boss facade and she liked Luke a lot.
"Okay?” he asked as he swung the car into the motel parking lot beside all the other vehicles. The crew was rushing to their rooms to get cleaned up. A hot dinner really seemed appealing at this minute.
"Yes. I'm fine,” she said. “Thank you."
"It didn't look as if you were going to get a ride back."
"I was worried about the site."
"Everything was in order.” His mouth curved into another smile. “Let me do the worrying."
She wanted to say she had more to worry about. Somehow Karl knew about their blind date at the party on the weekend, but she didn't know how to approach the subject. Better to say, “Thank you, Luke,” for the ride, jump out of the car, toss his jacket onto the passenger seat, and say, “I'll see you around."
But she didn't. She sat there, her gaze pinned by his and she could feel the atmosphere grow misty and close until she could barely breathe.
"Better go,” he said softly in a voice that did something crazy to her heart.
"Yes.” She turned away and fumbled with the door handle so he had to lean across her and open it.
Pinned back by his muscular arm did nothing to help her heart or her breathing. He looked at her and drew back. She left the car to stand in the dripping rain. She eased out of his jacket, getting her hand caught in the sleeve, so she had to tug it off, and she tossed it on the seat, but it fell to the floor.
She said, “Thanks."
And he said, “Are you going home again this weekend?"
She hadn't expected that. She said, “I don't think so. Are you?"
He said. “I don't know yet. I'd like to stay around here maybe and check on the equipment."
Cally clutched her hat. “Are you going into the restaurant for dinner?"
He nodded. “I'll see you there."
She didn't say she would. At that point she could see she was doing everything she planned not to do.
But Luke wasn't making it easy. He was coming on to her. She could feel it. And she wanted him to come on to her. She wanted to be taken into his strong arms and kissed.
Luke reached across to pick up the jacket and close the passenger door. “See you in a while. Go get cleaned up."
She saw what he meant when she stared at herself in the mirror in her unit. Mud streaked her face. Her hair was in tangles, still very wet. Her clothes were splattered with thick clods of dirt. How could he have been coming on to her when she looked like this? Unless he saw beneath the exterior, saw something inside her he liked. The way she saw something inside him she liked. So much.
Loretta was taking a shower, so Cally stripped off her clothes and used the exterior washbasin to clean herself up until she was ready for her own shower. When Loretta came out, Cally slipped into the steamy bathroom and took her shower. Feeling clean and warm, she returned to the bedroom, where Loretta was now getting dressed. Cally wasn't quite sure who was causing the silence. Herself or her room mate.
"Going for dinner?” Loretta asked finally when Cally turned off the buzz of her blow dryer.
"Sure. I'm starving."
"I'll wait,” Loretta said.
"I'm almost ready. Just let me get my purse."
All the men were at the corner tables when the women arrived. Including Luke. Loretta and Cally sat at the two reserved seats. Cally was opposite Luke tonight and wondered how she was going to avoid looking into his eyes. In front of the men she had to forget about all those feelings she experienced when she was with him. Yet how could she when he was hunched into the black jacket she'd had over her shoulders only an hour earlier? How could she when he smiled warmly at her? How could she when she wanted to reach over and touch his bronzed hand? She noticed Karl was watching her and she looked away. Ignore Luke needed to become her credo.
Somehow Cally got through the meal. Out of distaste, as well as decorum, she declined the poker game and returned to her unit. Settling onto her bed, she opened one of her books and began to read. Reading usually worked in situations like this. Except she had never been in a situation like this. She'd had crushes on boys when she was in her teens. She'd liked a man in university and they had dated a few times, but she had never ever felt as if she might be in love.
* * * *
On Thursday the rain continued. Work was suspended. Men restlessly stayed around the motel, some went into Echo Bay. Loretta went with Vince to meet his friends there. Cally finished her book, and with fresh money in her wallet from her pay check, went along to the store. As well as drinks, munchies, candies, and gum t
he store also sold souvenirs, T-shirts, magazines and paperbacks.
Cally buried herself behind the paperback carousel display and began the very serious but enjoyable task of choosing some books to read. She liked nothing more than a brand-new crisp paperback with all the excitement the story might have to offer. Especially after years of college when she'd done nothing but pore over text books.
With two books already chosen to buy, she was replacing a book in the rack, when the carousel suddenly swung around in a circle. Beneath the rack she saw a pair of male feet in white trainers. She knew those trainers because they had a strip of green along one side.
"Come out of hiding,” a low husky voice said.
Smiling, Cally poked her head around the carousel. “Great minds think alike,” she said, forgetting her promise to be cool and offhand with Luke.
He shuffled up beside her and touched her chosen-to-buy books. “What you got?"
"These. What kind of books do you like?"
"I like this author,” he said, holding up her chosen mystery author. “Can I borrow this book when you've read it?"
"Sure you can. What have you got?"
He showed her the book he had chosen. It was also written by one of Cally's favorite authors. “I'd like to read that as well. So we'll switch."
"You're on,” he said. “Come and have a cup of coffee with me. Not here, but at the other motel up the highway."
We're sneaking, Cally thought as she sat beside him in his car on the way to the other restaurant.
Sensibly she should have turned down Luke's invitation. But sensible wasn't part of her mind set when she was anywhere near Luke. Between them in the car were the two plastic bags containing their books.
Books they were going to read, then exchange. Books by authors they had already read and enjoyed. In Cally's mind, that, in itself, gave them something deeply in common.
The windshield wipers flip flopped against the heavy rain. Luke grimaced. “We might be off tomorrow as well. The men can go home for an early weekend, if that's the case."
"Are you going home?"
"Why? Do you want a lift?"
"No. I'll stay here. It's only a few more weeks."
"I'm not going home anyway,” he said with a chuckle. “The weekend forecast is sunny. I'd like to do the inventory and check on the equipment. Next weekend, if it's fine, we can make up these two days."
"You mean work the weekend?"
He nodded. “If it's acceptable to most of the crew."
"I don't mind,” Cally said. “We are missing a lot of work time."
"Even if it's a skeleton crew we can get caught up,” Luke said.
Cally nodded. “Count me in then."
"Thank you, Carolyn."
He pulled into the parking lot of a motel called, “The Cozy Nook.” Attached was a neat little coffee shop, where the pies were homemade and smelled delicious. Luke chose raisin pie, Cally chose the blueberry. Both were served cups of steaming hot coffee.
But all the time Cally knew this shouldn't be happening between them. She shouldn't be here with him.
Luke shouldn't be here with her. They shouldn't be laughing, talking, and relating their favorite movies and books. They shouldn't be saying,remember that scene in that film , and laughing over the comedy they jointly recalled. They were becoming one, Cally thought, merging memories. Memories of the year they were both at Echo Lake, Paul's party in Eden Prairie, the coffee shop at The Cozy Nook.
"We should get back I suppose,” Luke said when their pie was long forgotten, their coffee past the three cup refill.
Cally turned to the window. “It's still raining."
"Yep."
She looked back at Luke. His eyes were upon her, something sad in their depths. “What?” she said, knowing she didn't really want to know what.
He fiddled with the knife he never used. “I've applied for a position in the Middle East,” he said. “Just for a year. I thought building a bridge over the desert might be good experience. And I'm used to heat."
Cally felt her throat become dry and completely close up. She cleared it to try and say, “You mean, you might be leaving Minnesota?” Why hadn't he mentioned this when they discussed traveling to exotic places last weekend in Essie's kitchen? She cleared her throat once more and this time she did say, “You mean, you might be leaving Minnesota?"
"Well, yes. I'd have to, to go to Saudi Arabia."
"How long?"
"It's a year contract. Not long."
"My brother, Matt,” she said. “He went to Germany for two years but he's going to be away for four."
"He wanted it obviously?"
She nodded. “Yep.” Then she smiled a completely forced brave smile. “It'll be great experience Luke.
Really great. I wouldn't mind going."
"It will be great.” He returned her smile as he swiped the check off the table. “Let's go."
If the rain were tears, I'd be crying them, Cally decided as they drove back to Tall Pines. Luke's news that he might be leaving the country at the end of the summer was like a blow to her belly. She could barely breathe and she wanted to bawl.
He left her outside the unit clutching her package of books. She went inside and caught her reflection in the mirror, which always happened because the full length mirror was facing the door. She appeared sad and she wasn't the sad type. She was always positive. But what was there to be positive about at the moment, with the possibility of never seeing Luke again after August?
Friday did rain. Luke canceled work and most of the crew took off for Duluth before noon. Loretta went with Vince. Cally read for a while, then went for lunch in the restaurant. Karl was there reading a newspaper. He beckoned her over.
"Don't be a stranger, Creighton. We're the only ones around today."
She nearly said, Luke's here, but pressed her lips together quickly. Luke's name shouldn't be so readily on her lips, especially in front of Karl.
Reluctantly, she sat opposite Karl. He folded his paper and smiled at her. “Are you going to order lunch?"
Cally nodded and when Stacey came over, gave her order for a grilled cheese sandwich and salad. Karl ordered a clubhouse and fries.
"Not going home this weekend?” he asked.
"No. It's too far."
He raised an eyebrow. “Luke not going?"
"I don't know,” she said. “Karl, if you're going to bug me about Luke, I'm not eating my lunch with you."
"I'm not bugging you. I just wanted to know what Luke might be doing."
"Why are you so interested in him?"
Karl shrugged his red flannel-covered shoulders. “Because I'm interested in his double standard, that's why."
"He hasn't got a double standard.” Cally knew she was asking for trouble by defending Luke.
"Yes, he has. We can't look at the women on the crew, but he can fool around."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You do, Creighton. He can't keep his eyes off you."
"That's not true,” she said, although she knew she might not be too convincing. There was definitely something between her and Luke. But it wasn't going to come to anything. Besides, the fact, she had five more weeks to work here with Luke and the crew, Luke had applied for an overseas job. He would be leaving the country. It was more than Cally could bear to think about. Better to bail out now, she thought.