Thrill Me

They wrapped up the interview. Del thanked the couple for letting him speak to them, then he helped Maya load up the equipment. By noon they were heading back to Fool’s Gold. He’d driven his truck up the mountain and now she relaxed in the passenger seat.

“They were impressive,” she said, leaning back against the headrest, her eyes closed. “Married for seventy-six years. How did they do that?”

“They married young.”

“It was probably considered normal, back then. Today everyone wants a career first.” She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Female economic success is changing the social structure of our country.”

He grinned. “I heard that, and no.”

“What?”

“There was a challenge in your voice. As if you expected me to step into your trap. I’m not getting involved in a discussion about equal rights for women with you, Maya. I still have another interview to do, and I’m not showing up bruised and bloodied.”

She laughed. “As long as you admit I’d best you.”

“You’d hold your own.”

She relaxed against the seat again. “I’d win.”

She probably would, but he wasn’t going to admit that. Maya was tough when she had to be. Meticulous when it came to her work. Although it was the town’s win that she hadn’t gotten the network job, he thought whoever had made the decision not to hire her had been an idiot. She was obviously brilliant and a hard worker.

There was a lot about her he liked and admired. Which meant even as a kid, he’d had good taste. Because it was all about him.

He smiled as he drove, thinking that while his relationship with his family was totally screwed up, hanging out with Maya was turning into one of the best parts of coming home. They’d cleared the air between them. That was good.

Things could have been awkward after that kiss, but they weren’t. They’d said what needed to be said and now they could move on. The fact that he wanted more than a chaste kiss was his problem and not something he would share with her.

But ever since his mouth had touched hers, he’d been unable to forget the heat of her, the sound of her breathing. He wanted to do it again, only this time kiss her deeply. He wanted to taste her, to touch her. He wanted to make love with her until they were both satisfied.

Not going to happen, he reminded himself. Because they were friends now. Nothing more.

* * *

MAYA LOOKED THROUGH the camera lens at the couple seated at a bench. Del had suggested the location for their second interview of the day and she had to admit it looked good. From the various props they’d dragged along in the back of his truck they’d pulled out an old chair for Del to sit in. He looked delightfully masculine on the small seat supported by spindly legs.

He was obviously older than the teenagers he was interviewing, but in the best way possible. Talk about appealing, she thought, her mind trying to drift back to their brief kiss. She had to remind herself she was here to do a job and not daydream about her close encounter with a yummy man’s mouth.

“Okay, let’s start,” she said. “You two ready?”

Melissa, a pretty redhead, leaned into her boyfriend. “Are you ready?”

“I was born ready.”

The young couple looked good together. Percy had medium brown skin and short, dark hair. His broad shoulders contrasted with Melissa’s more delicate build. They were obviously comfortable with each other, which was part of their appeal. Sometimes when she looked at a couple she had the feeling there was nothing beyond the sexual tension. But with Percy and Melissa, she had the sense they really got along.

“How did you meet?” Del asked.

“He came up and talked to me at a festival,” Melissa said with a laugh. “It was last summer. I was home from college. Here was this skinny boy who thought he was all that.”

Percy looked at her. “I wasn’t a boy.”

“You’re younger than me.”

“Only in years, babe. Only in years.”

They stared at each other for a second. There was a flash of silent communication, of something significant shared. The moment was so personal, Maya felt she should look away, but knew that didn’t matter. The camera would capture the glance and turn it into viewing gold.

Two hours later, they completed the interview. The young couple had explained how they met and that they both believed that without the magic that was Fool’s Gold, they never would have fallen in love. While Melissa was going away to college, Percy had stayed in Fool’s Gold to get his GED. He was now registered in community college. Despite the distance, they’d stayed close.

They were charming, articulate, sensible and completely in love.

“They were perfect,” Maya said with a sigh as she and Del packed up after the interview. “I really liked them. They know what they want and they’re making it happen. I’m about a decade older and not nearly that together. It’s intimidating.”

“You’re doing just fine,” Del told her.

“I wish, but no. Did you see how they looked at each other?”

“Yeah. They’re in it for the long haul.”

“So in seventy-five years, they’ll be Elizabeth and Albert, out in the woods.”

He grinned as he closed the truck gate. “I don’t see those two living out in the wilderness, but otherwise, they’ll be the same.”

His gaze lingered on her and she wondered what he was thinking. That if they’d stayed together, they could have been the little old couple?