I stepped across to the logs waiting to be sent to the lift. It was an hour before the end of the work day, and I was ready for it. I’d only seen Tashlyn twice all day and only from a distance. Hal had gathered the workers for a quick safety equipment inspection, and as we stood waiting for our shoes, hats and gloves to be checked, Tashlyn had come out to ask a question of Hal. She’d tried hard not to look my way, but I stared openly at her. Her cheeks were blushed pink before she turned around and walked back to the office.

Walt Pickman’s whistle called my attention to shore.

“Fuck,” I muttered to myself. “Is it Dane?” I called back to shore.

He shook his head and cupped his hands. “The boss wants to see you in his office.”

I shook my head and laughed. Of all his workers, I was the one person who had to travel across logs and a pond to get to his office. “Can’t it wait?”

“He told me to get Wolfe now.”

Now was never a good thing when it came to the boss. I was pretty fucking sure he wasn’t dragging me off the pond now to give me a pat on the back. The one bonus was that I’d get to see Tashlyn. I headed across the yard and stomped the mud off my boots on the cement path leading to the office.

I opened the door. Tashlyn glanced up from the desk Hal had set up for her in the corner of the room. She pulled her eyes away quickly, and the same pink blush covered her cheeks. I was really starting to love that damn blush. She busied herself with the work in front of her, but her long, black lashes fluttered nervously as she stared down at the papers.

“Gotta question, Wolfe.” Hal’s deep voice pulled my attention away from Tashlyn. “What the hell was going on in the mill last night?”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Tashlyn’s face shoot up.

Hal pulled a piece of fabric out of his desk drawer. It was the strip of Tashlyn’s sweatshirt. We’d completely forgotten about it.

“This fabric was tied around the cradle arm at the first cut saw.”

I’d been in enough trouble in my life to know how to keep a cool as stone face. It had been a huge plus at the poker table. “Why the hell am I the one you’re singling out for this interrogation?”

“Well, for one thing, you’re a Wolfe.”

I gritted my jaw tight, reminding myself not to show any reaction. He was trying to get me to flinch and spill my guts, but that wasn’t going to happen. I’d promised Tashlyn that I wouldn’t mention the incident to Hal. From the side of my eye, I could see her fidgeting with things on her desk.

“And because some of the men told me you’ve been staying late.”

“What men?” I asked too abruptly. “Who saw me?”

“Doesn’t matter, Wolfe. Why are you staying after hours?”

“Because you sent Bozo the Clown, otherwise known as Stan, your nephew, to help me. Frankly, I’d probably do better on my own.”

He flinched first, which I figured he would.

“Can’t pay you overtime, and besides, it’s against safety code.”

“That’s why I’ve been clocking out on time—before heading back out onto the pond to clear debris. If it gets too thick, then it’s a bitch and a half getting that conveyor belt moving again once it’s jammed. Then it really will be a safety problem. But, hey, I’ll be sure to get off the water on time tonight, no matter what’s left out there.”

His mouth rocked back and forth as if he was figuring out how to make me staying late without pay to clean up a bad thing. His barrel chest relaxed. “So, you didn’t see anything going on in the mill?”

“Can’t really see the mill from the pond.”

Tashlyn cleared her throat as she stood from her desk. “Hal,” she said quietly, “it was me.”

I shook my head a tiny bit to stop her, but she ignored me.

Hal turned his big ruddy face her direction. The gruff expression he’d shown me turned to a kind smile. “What do you mean, Tash?”

Tashlyn stood next to his desk. “It was my fault. That fabric was from my sweatshirt. I know it sounds silly, but a bird flew inside the building and it was thrashing around in there trying to find its way back out. I was worried it would hurt itself, so I tried to shoo it out the opening. My sleeve got caught on the cradle. I couldn’t get the darn thing free, so I ripped it. I’m so sorry, Hal.” She batted her long, lush lashes at the man, and that was all it took. The man was fucking pudding.

Hal’s belly bounced as he laughed. “You need to be careful around the equipment, Tash. Lots of dangerous blades in there.”

She grinned. “I’ll say. Anyhow, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I was embarrassed. On the brighter side, the bird found its way out. But I’m out a perfectly good sweatshirt.”

The man was like melting butter in his chair as he listened to the sweet little liar cover him with sugarcoated lies. She was good.

Hal waved me out without another word or an apology for yanking me from the pond. Or a thank you for working late without pay, for that matter. I stomped back to the pond, kicking up the usual pegs of dirt in my wake. In less than an hour, everyone would be clocking out, and I’d be alone with the office staff. The tastiest little confection ever to sit behind a rolodex.

Chapter 18

Jem

Even though I’d told Hal I’d be off the pond on time, there was still just too much to do. And with the weekend looming, I needed to finish or have a bigger mess on Monday. The trucks had left behind so much bark and debris, it would be impossible for the waggoner to get around it.

I looked up as the steam engines were shut down from a whir to a low hiss to a final gasp. Like men hurrying to catch the last train, the workers streamed out of the mill. Normally everyone was tired and quiet as they headed in to change and clock out, but it was Friday night. Their loud voices and laughter rumbled off the mountainside. Hal usually left early on Fridays, one of the perks of being the boss. I could still see the light on in the office.

I finished shoveling the bark and broken branches onto the conveyor belt. The late afternoon air was starting to take on the chill of night as I tossed the last pile onto the belt. The men were heading up the path to the parking lot as I put the tools away in the metal shed. I shut the door and locked it.

Tashlyn was strolling toward me with a smile that was now officially the highlight of my whole damn day. She still hadn’t replaced her sweatshirt and wore just a long sleeve t-shirt and jeans. She had her hands tucked in her back pockets, accentuating her amazing tits. She took hot to a whole new level.

“What are those deadly hot chili peppers that everyone always dares their friends to taste?” I asked as she reached me.

She raised a smooth brow and laughed. “I walk toward you, purposely pressing my breasts forward for your approval, and you’re thinking about chili peppers. I think you mean the ghost pepper.”

“That’s it. Knew it had a weird name. Anyhow, your erotic little stroll over here made me think of hot chilies because you are so damn hot.” I grabbed her to me. “And yes, they have my complete approval. Your breasts—not the ghost peppers. I’m actually kind of a wimp when it comes to hot chilies.”

She laughed. “Can’t really imagine you being a wimp about anything, but we all have our weaknesses.” She hopped up and kissed my neck. “I’ve definitely found mine.”

I kissed her and pulled her even tighter, nearly crushing her against me. “I’m spending my whole day on that pond thinking about this, you, pressed against me, letting me do whatever I please.”

“Whatever you please, huh? Well, maybe.” There was a gleam in her eye as she peered up at me. “But first I want you to teach me how to stand on a log.”

“What? You’re kidding.”

“I’m not. I’ve been watching you out here, you know, when I’m supposed to be working. Anyhow, I really should tell Hal that if he wants me to get more work done he needs to hire a much less appealing pond bronc. Because this one—” She fingered the buttons on my shirt. “With his amazing arms wrapped in flannel is just a little too distracting.”