Kiki’s claws clicked against the clean linoleum that spread across the floor, and the sound echoed throughout the moderately large regional office. The Hasborough Construction Agency spanned the entire country, and I’d been to more than one facility that managed local projects. Glancing around through the general air of boredom and discontent, I easily decided that this was one of the worse off offices.

“Let me do the talking.” Caroline’s abrupt declaration-slash-request made me pause, and I looked down at her from under furrowed brows. Determination set deep in her face, and she smiled almost wickedly as a plan sparkled in her eyes. “Guys assume women don’t know shit, so he’ll probably be more relaxed. I got this. I took an online course in human relations after I graduated high school.”

“Are you telling me you do know about construction?” She’s full of surprises, isn’t she… Keeping my thought to myself, my lip twitched in a smirk when Caroline instantly shook her head.

“Nope. But you want to see if he’s not a sleaze, and most people generally don’t do well when confronted with 6’4” tall muscular beasts trying to get information out of them.” I grinned fully at that, and she bumped my shoulder with a roll of her eyes. “Just trust me, okay?”

“I’m 6’5”, but okay. Go for it.” Nudging her shoulder playfully, I returned to surveying the reception room. There weren’t many people around, and I started walking towards what I assumed was an information desk. Like the people, there also weren’t any signs that told me what was where, and my grin slipped into a frown.

The receptionist inside what was essentially a closet with a glass wall stared at her computer with her chin in her hand, and I pursed my lips together before glancing at Caroline. With no other eyes on her, she fixed a sweet, clueless expression on her face that instantly reminded me of Hannah- if I didn’t count the fact that Caroline knew exactly what she was doing.

Content to watch her knock on the window firmly, I leaned back on my heels to turn my gaze to the receptionist when she jumped in surprise. The woman was easily in her 40s, with no make up on to hide the displeasure on her face as she slid open the partition.

“Can I help you?” The receptionist didn’t even look at me, too focused on the person that made her actually work. Sourness poured into her voice, and I shoved my hands into my pockets while Caroline grinned widely.

“Hi- I’m Caroline. I called earlier about an estimate… I don’t remember who I spoke to, but he was really nice and answered all my questions.” Caroline’s high pitched, nasally tone gyrated my ear drums, and I had to hide a chuckle at the borderline furious-looking receptionist.

“You don’t know who you spoke to…?” The sensation of sitting in a dark theater, watching some satirical play, sprung to mind when Caroline shook her head wildly. The receptionist let out a harsh, drawn sigh before picking up the phone, and the woman beside me winked expertly. “Dale, you have two people here asking for you.”

Dale. That was the guy I’d spoken to on the phone earlier. My eyes widened at the realization, and Caroline smirked knowingly before thanking the woman and turning away from the desk.

“How did you do that?” My awe must’ve been evident in my voice because Caroline laughed with a half shrug, and we wandered a few feet from the desk. Leaning on my arm, she glanced behind us even though I knew the receptionist wasn’t paying attention before opening her mouth.

“They always send the grunt to do the worst work. I’d bet money she thought I was some ditz that would want so many different things, and then I would change my mind. None of the senior contractors want to deal with that, so they send the new guy.” Whispering low, she cocked her head with a small ghost of a smile crossing her lips. “You never had to do things in boot camp that higher ranking people didn’t do?”

“Well, yeah- of course. I just… never thought about people like that before. You’re dangerous.” My tease pulled another laugh from her, and I wrapped my arm around Caroline’s waist to glance around. “That guy is going to take his sweet time. What do you say we head out?”

“Okay.” She brightened up quick, and I smiled as we headed for the door. No one had even noticed Kiki, and I glanced down to watch her slink across the linoleum. Dogs like her were always uncomfortable indoors. Reaching down to pet her head, my fingers ran through her smooth fur easily, and she looked up at me with sharp eyes.

Making my way through the winding, downtown streets, I couldn’t help but be disappointed that my venture had failed so miserably. I knew it was a risk, but nothing could’ve prepared me for how hard it’d tanked.

Now I had to find a new contractor with a company I didn’t know, and that was almost just as big a gamble.

“Hey James- what’s your favorite food? Besides rations, of course…” We were about three minutes from the nature reserve parking lot when Caroline broke the silence. Furrowing my brows, I chewed on the inside of my cheek as I raked my brain for an answer.

“I’d have to say… lasagna. What about you?” Easing off the gas and onto the brakes when I spied the sign pointing to the lot, I glanced over the center console. Caroline was rubbing the top flap of her camera bag like it was a lap dog, and my lip quirked at the sight of her anxiety.

“I love a good cheeseburger. Lasagna is, maybe, number three or four on my list. Sheila doesn’t make a lot of pasta, but she’s a wizard with the grill.” Pulling into an empty space, I parked my car and turned off the engine with a hum.

“Yeah- I spent time in France and Italy between my tours. Literally every dish had some sort of pasta in it.” In the back seat, Kiki woofed softly, cutting our pathetic attempt at conversation short, and I didn’t try to revive it. Caroline practically jumped out of the car, but I took my time as I locked up once she’d closed her door and opened the back.

Lagging behind the pair as they started straight for the trail, I shoved my keys into my pocket and kept my eyes on Caroline. Even from behind, she looked so different than I had seen her yet. Her back was straight and shoulders proud, and her steps were far apart while her dog trotted a few yards ahead of her.

Savoring the shade of the trees from the hot, noon sun, I reached to swipe my hand through my hair as Caroline’s voice reached me. She talked to Kiki a lot, and I wasn’t as asshole; I knew this was important for them. That was the only reason I agreed to come all the way down here just for an hour.

As fucked up as it was, I felt somewhat responsible for Caroline’s current predicament. Despite doing what I could to help her, guilt ate weakly at my insides. I hadn’t even been there when she broke her ankle.

Lengthening my strides, I caught up to Caroline as she carefully tread the dirt and gravel path. Pride blossomed in my chest at how dutifully she followed her doctor’s orders; I was sure that it was only because she didn’t want another three weeks at home with a fractured ankle. Draping my arm around her waist, I pulled her close to me to take a deep breath of pine and oak.

“How does it feel, huh?” Taking in the healthy greenery around me as I probed, my gaze flew to the woman under my arm at the sound of a soft click. Caroline’s camera lens stared back at me, and she slowly lowered it to smile guiltily up at me. Here eyes were so bright it was almost painful to look, and she nuzzled my shoulder with her cheek with a gentle sigh.

“It feels amazing. Thank you, James- seriously. Without you, I don’t know what would’ve happened… If I lost my foot-…” Trailing off, Caroline pursed her lips together tightly and turned her face away. Squeezing her hip, I reached with my free hand to pull back her hair. Affection bubbled in my chest, sticking thickly to my ribs and the space around my heart.

“I understand. You’re very welcome, Caroline. I’m glad I could give you a little bit of what you give me.” Truth rang in my words, and she peered up at me from under her eyelashes as a fiery blush spread across her cheeks. She was so beautiful she took my breath away, and I caressed her cheek with the back of my fingers.

“This means a lot, James… more than you know.” Her mumble was almost a whisper, and I ducked my head when Caroline puckered her lips. Our kiss was soft, sweet, and she released a breathless moan before I pulled back.

“Go take some pictures for me. I can hang them after I renovate." With those six words, Caroline’s excitement was back full force, and she walked as fast and as carefully as she could down the trail. Left to my thoughts, I watched her absently as I recounted the person I had been six months ago.

Strip clubs, gyms, and desperation- that was what my life was. Now that Caroline seemed to be a semi-permanent fixture, I could truly see how pathetic I had been. Staring at her back as she twisted and searched, my eyes narrowed as I silently compared her to Hannah. Surely, I couldn’t be that fucking stupid; I was 36 years old and couldn’t even recognize someone that wasn’t good for me?

But I was glad that it happened, because if I wasn’t so stressed out about Hannah, I might’ve said ‘no’ to Frank.

And I would’ve never met Caroline.