had said he’d take the stairs, Beck gave the other guy a few more minutes before turning off the power. He also sent a text to the boss so she wouldn’t be surprised either. A moment later, she’d replied with a “Go for it.” Figuring that was enough due diligence, Beck turned on his torch and flipped the switch. With a whoosh, the lights around him went dark.
Taking a deep breath, he sat in the dark silence for a moment. It had been years since the dark had stirred panic in him. As a boy, he’d been afraid of the dark longer than most of his friends. It had taken him years—and a lot of teasing at their hands—to get over the affliction.
When he’d told Sarah about his old fear one night after a storm had knocked the power out, he’d waited for her to say something. To tease him like his friends. Or to murmur words of comfort like his mom had. Instead, she’d wrapped her arms around his waist while they waited for the power to return.
Tracing a palm over his heart, he could almost draw back the feeling of her cheek pressed against his chest.
He shook the memory from his head. He didn’t have time to dwell on the past anymore. It was time to go to work.
Back in the main open office area, Beck set about removing the outdated wires. With the generator humming and his phone playing music, he made quick work of it.
A Bruce Springsteen song came on, and Beck softly crooned along with the Boss about having a bad desire and being on fire. It was one of his dad’s favorite songs. Something about the familiar music put him at ease and into the zone.
Beck was just crescendoing into the final chorus when a chuckle froze his hands and blood.
“I see your musical tastes haven’t changed much.” Sarah stepped into the glow of his work light.
He wiped his hands on his jeans. “A classic is a classic.”
“So you used to say.” Her lips curved into a slow grin. “You always were an old soul when it came to music.”
Beck couldn’t help but stare at her mouth, remembering the way it had felt against his own. The muscles in his stomach clenched painfully tight. Thoughts like those were going to get them both into trouble.
Clearing his throat again, he gestured over his shoulder. “I almost have this panel knocked out.”
“So I see.” She moved closer until she was within an arm’s reach. If he wanted, he could grab her and pull her up against his chest.
If he wanted. And damn it all, he did.
To keep himself from giving in to the impulse, he shoved his hands in his pocket. “I should be able to get this wall finished before dinner.”
“Don’t let me stop you. Will it bother you if I work over here?”
Not if she stayed at least three yards away from him at any given time.
He shrugged. “You’re the boss.”
She gave him a wry look. “I promised I wouldn’t get in your way.”
“I didn’t say you were.” Pulling his hands back out of his pockets, he pointed to his toolbox. “If you’ll excuse me, I need that wrench.”
“I’ll get it.”
She grabbed the tool and offered it to him. Their fingers briefly touched. A jolt surged through Beck, bringing his whole body to life. Pulling away, like he’d been shocked by electricity, he took a step back.
Ready to bury himself back in his work and pretend she wasn’t there, Beck couldn’t help but notice the way her chest rose up and down rapidly. Had she felt it too? The energy between them. No. He had to stop asking himself questions like that.
Shaking his head, Beck stepped up on his ladder, determined to finish this project as soon as possible. Bonus or not, he needed to get done here. Fast. And after he finished, he’d put Sarah far out of his mind again.
They worked in companionable silence for an hour. In that time, he managed to clear out the rest of the wiring in the wall. He also managed not to notice how her fingers flew across the keyboard of her laptop with the grace of a concert pianist.
Well, he mostly managed not to notice
As he was about to install the first panel of new wiring, Sarah cleared her throat.
“Will it bother you if I make a couple of calls?”
He was tempted to tell her the coffee shop across the street might be a better