Scott

Dinner with Missy had been weird. Of course, she’d looked the same as she had in high school. But she’d done nothing but go on and on about New York. How much she loved the city. How much she couldn’t wait to escape back to the big city. It was a reminder that I had, and yet, here I was, back home.

I couldn’t shake the thought that somehow returning here made me feel like I had failed. Forget that I never really liked New York. Everyone knew I’d left after high school. Now everyone was aware that I was back. They all assumed that the move was temporary, and I hadn’t wanted to think about the possibility of anything else.

After dinner and an awkward goodbye, since Missy had invited me over to her place and I’d declined, I went to see George, Kelsey’s dad in the hospital. He was awake, and I simply wanted to let him know that I was looking out for his little girl on the runs that she’d been doing. Thankfully, he thought it a great idea. I stayed an hour, then drove around to the west side of the city. It was a fantastic view to pull into the waterfront and see the illuminated city of Seattle. I’d missed it. So why couldn’t I feel settled now that I was back here?

Waking up the next morning, I was anxious to get to work. I told myself it had nothing to do with seeing Kelsey and spending most of the day in her company. She’d been a trooper yesterday. I knew that I’d been hard on her, but I wanted to ensure that she’d be safe on the roads. Even if that meant I’d gone a bit overboard to make sure that I put on the boss’s hat and not that of friend and neighbor. I especially didn’t want to come off as the guy who was having a hard time getting her green eyes out of his head.

I practically growled when I saw her in the dispatch room with four men gathered around her. Three were her father’s age, but one guy was in his twenties. And he was giving her an unmistakable look of appreciation. Then again, she was dressed in skinny jeans, which once again, were doing nothing to hide the shape of her ass or legs. I couldn’t blame him, I appreciated the view too.

When I walked up, she was talking about her dad. My expression softened. Of course, everyone wanted to know about her father. He’d been driving at this company for forty years.

“You ready?” I asked, fighting the urge to put my hand on her back, and as if we were together. Dangerous should be stamped across her forehead to remind me.

“Yep. Let me get my backpack and coat.”

I met her outside. Her father’s truck was one of the older ones, which worried me if she were to get a run that took her over the pass. We needed to do one tomorrow, and with the holiday coming up, I couldn’t keep driving with her. She’d have to start making some solo runs, so I could drive as well to alleviate the over flow. Perhaps I could talk her into taking one of my father’s newer trucks.

“Tomorrow we’ll run the pass. Thought we’d take my newer rig.”

“Why?” She climbed into the cab and glanced over.

“Better heating. Newer. Safer.”

“Yeah, but I like driving my dad’s truck. It’s comfortable. Plus, it reminds me of him, you know?”

I did know, and decided to drop it. It wasn’t worth fighting about, especially since she wouldn’t be taking any overnight routes if I could help it. I’d talk to Nell when I got back to ensure it.

“Okay. Just thought I’d offer.”

We’d gotten onto the highway before she spoke again. “How was your dinner with Missy?”

“Fine.” I didn’t mention that Missy had sent me a text this morning, asking if I wanted to go to her holiday party on Friday night. I should say yes, as she’d indicated she really wanted a date, since she didn’t know anyone at the hospital. So then why hadn’t I responded to her yet?

“Hey, make sure you’re signaling longer. Not everyone sees you.” The routine of me pointing everything out to her had begun.

After driving a few more hours, I realized either I’d crossed the threshold of constructive criticism with Kelsey or she was biting her tongue. She was uncharacteristically quiet while we sat in gridlock on the way back from our run four hours later. There was nothing like the last five miles taking forty minutes with traffic.

“Everything okay with your dad today?”

“Yep. Fine. Oh, so uh, I have an awkward question for you.”

It was adorable the way she was biting her lip. Like she was nervous. “Shoot.”

“Is there a policy on dating people on the job? Like whether it’s allowed.”

Both of my brows shot sky high while my mouth formed into a grin. Was she about to ask me out? “Not that I’m aware of. Why?”

“Andrew asked me out for dinner on Friday.”

Oh. That sneaky bastard. I knew he’d been looking at her a little bit too familiarly. “And you said yes?”

“Not yet. I told him I’d have to see about things with my dad first.”

“There probably isn’t a policy in the handbook, given that it was written in the eighties before women worked at the company, well except for Nell, but let’s just say I don’t think she’s ever been asked out by the men.” Most were afraid of the older, eccentric lady with a two-pack a day smoking habit, present company included. I’d seen her chew out a three-hundred-pound man for filling out his paperwork incorrectly a few too many times. No one screwed with Nell.

“Good.”

“I didn’t say it was okay though. What if you two have a falling out? Then there could be drama at work.”

She laughed. “It’s just dinner, and something to do while I’m home.”

My phone buzzed. Taking it out, I sighed at Missy’s name. She needed to RSVP if I was coming or not. I typed out that I would be there. Might be nice to wear one of my over-priced suits again for an evening.

“Fine. It doesn’t matter.”

She looked a little hurt with my half-ass reply. “Good. Glad we have that straight.”