"That's whereIcome in."She wanted to do it. I could tell.I turned and called out to Wayne. "Hey Wayne! Come here for a second!"
Wayne had been gathered with the group of construction workers I'd been meeting with just before Harper's arrival. Now, he strode over to ask, "What's up?"
"Care if we borrow the excavator?"
"For what?"
I flicked my head toward Harper. "She wants to smash the drive-through."
Harper laughed. "I never said that."
I looked back to her. "So youdon'twant to smash it?"
She bit her lip. "I, um…never said that either."
I smiled. "So youdowant to do it."
The corners of her mouth turned upward. "Maybe a little."
When I looked back to Wayne, he was scratching his beard while giving Harper a long, appraising look.
I'd first met the guy almost fifteen years ago when I'd done construction work during my first summer break from college. I'd spent that summer – and several afterward – working as part of a demolition crew under Wayne's supervision.
Back then, he'd been a crew-leader for a different company. Now, he owned his own, which was part of the reason I'd selected Thunder Demolition for this particular job.
Wayne was the best at what he did – and a pretty nice guy besides.
I told him, "And just so we're clear, I mean her and me together. I'm not gonna let her loose on her own."
Harper laughed. "Let me loose? Like what? A rabid dog?"
I grinned. "Hey,yousaid it, not me."
Her eyes narrowed in a mock threat. "Don't make me slug you."
I had to say it. "Don't you mean bite me?"
Her cheeks colored as she practically growled, "Don't tempt me." But then she turned to Wayne, and her expression turned serious. "Hey just so you know, I totally understand if you'd rather I not do it. I mean, I don't like people messing with my coffee truck, so…" She shrugged. "Anyway, no hard feelings if you'd rather say no."
Her little speech was yet another surprise – and a reason to be impressed. The first time I'd met her, I'd pegged her as somebody who wouldn't let anything stand between herself and something she wanted.
But now, come to find out, she was more concerned for the feelings of others than for herself.Go figure.
As far as Wayne, I'd known him for long enough to understand that he wasn't a stickler about his equipment, not if the person working it knew what they were doing. And he knewmewell enough to understand that there was no way in hell I would let any of this go off the rails.
But Harper didn't know any of this, so her consideration for Wayne's business must've made an impression on him, too, because his face broke into a wide smile. "So, you got any more mochas?"
Harper turned and looked toward her coffee truck. "Yeah, totally." She turned back to him with a smile. "Can I make you one? Peppermint, right?"
I had to give her credit.This girl knew what was she was doing.
Sure enough, Wayne replied, "You'd better. I'll needsomethingto do while you smash up that drive-through."
Chapter 18
Harper
My heart was racing, and my palms were sweaty. I looked to Bryce and said, "I can't believe I'm doing this."
