Unconventional

“Tools,” he said again. “As I told you, the extra stuff they want done requires some tools we don’t yet have on site.”

“Uh huh. And you have these tools at your house?”

“Trailer,” he corrected me. “And yes. They’re Chase’s tools and technically they’re under my house, but who’s keeping track?”

Our apparent failure at the county clerk’s office had somehow turned into a marginal victory. We hadn’t gotten answers on the additional work, at least but two more weeks was two more weeks. Supply-wise, I’d have to come up with some more money, though. Somehow. Some way.

And then there was Noah, fighting for me. Trying to get me an additional two months, without even blinking an eye. I couldn’t even imagine the guys working that much longer without pay. Luckily though, I had a few ideas to fix that little problem.

“And you’re sure you’re not just bringing me home for other reasons?” I teased, as we turned again. I slid one hand playfully onto his thigh. “You know… to maybe show me your bedroom, or—”

“Baby,” Noah laughed. “I’ve had you in a castle, on a king-sized bed. What makes you think I’d want you in a dirty nine by ten-foot bedroom?”

“To make it even dirtier?” I flirted back.

He turned to look at me, and I saw the hunger was back in his eyes. Maybe I’d been joking. Maybe I hadn’t. But all of a sudden, the wheels in his head were turning.

“Well you did call me your boyfriend back there,” he pointed out.

“Yeah. So?”

“Is that what I am to you?”

I wasn’t sure what kind of answer he was looking for. I decided to go with my gut instinct.

“You are, as far as I’m concerned,” I told him, trying to sound casual. “I mean you care for me. You spend time with me.” I shrugged coyly. “You screw my socks off…”

To my surprise Noah blushed; actually turning a bright, beet red. It was something I thought I’d never see.

“And you stood up for me back there,” I finished, “when no one else would.” I paused for a moment, staring out at the landscape. “You have no idea how much I appreciate that. For so long now, I’ve been… alone.”

For another half minute or so we drove on in near-silence. The only noise was the sound of wheels crunching gravel.

“You know we really should be getting back,” he reasoned. “The others—”

“Can wait an extra ten or fifteen minutes,” I said coyly, squeezing his thigh. “That is… if your little bed can handle it.”

Noah stared back at me, his mouth turning up in a saucy grin. The look in his eyes told me he was in.

“If it can’t, I’ll do you right on the floor.”

“Ohhh…” I teased. “Sounds dirty.”

“Filthy, actually.”

“Even better.”

His palm closed over the back of my hand, his fingers interlacing themselves with mine. I felt happy, despite the added pressure. Deadline and renovation problems aside, everything with the guys was so amazingly good right now.

The road became dirt, and the vehicle slowed even more. Noah pulled into a flat, circular area piled with a long streak of dark garbage and debris. I saw a few pieces of outdoor furniture. A propane tank, and some sort of electrical hookup…

His face became grim as the truck rolled to a stop.

“What?” I asked, after a moment of silence. “What is it?”

Noah’s expression said it all. A cold shiver ran through me, before he even uttered the words.

“We’re here,” he managed.