Alone With You by Aliyah Burke

both could keep an eye on him.
    “Still, it was an extremely thoughtful gesture, one you didn’t have to do.” She dipped her brush back in the soapy water and attacked the last bit of tagging that defaced the building.
    “Jasper says it’s because of my girlfriend.” He watched her close, wanting to see her reaction to his statement.
    “You have one?” She never turned around.
    “Yes. Don’t you?”
    “Women haven’t ever done it for me, so that would be a definite no.”
    He was tempted to smack her on that firm ass. “Not what I meant.”
    “Not sure how I am supposed to take it. You asked me a question, which referred back to your comment of having a girlfriend. I said no. Very basic question and answer.”
    “Tuck!”
    He turned to see Jasper waving at him, beckoning him over. Ariel snorted and said, “Break’s over.”
    “You’re enjoying this,” he retorted.
    She peered at him. “Yeah. I kinda am. Catch ya later.”
    He reached out and tugged on one braided pigtail. “Leave these in for later. I have plans. You’re giving me one hell of a fantasy here.”
    She winked at him. “Awesome. Can’t wait. You may want to clear it with your girlfriend first.”
    Her braid slid free as she moved back to the wall and attacked it again. With great reluctance, he left her there and returned to Jasper’s side. “What?”
    “Man, we’re here to work, not pick up women.”
    “Speak for yourself.” He slid his safety glasses on and, with Jasper’s help, set up the four sheets he was slicing through at one time.
    The roar of the motor and the smell of sawdust made him feel at home. This was what he loved doing. Even with wanting to get to more of the design side of this business, he knew he would always want to be hands-on, getting dirty.
    They worked well together and it didn’t take them long to put up the boards and go back for more. As he passed a window, he spied Ariel again. She was beside the man who’d introduced himself as Slater. On her other side was Connie. She made him chuckle—in her blue shirt and white bib overalls with the pant legs rolled up, she appeared more like one of the children running around than a woman who, according to Ariel, could kick his ass.
    Ariel and Slater were laughing at something. Tuck paused, smiling at her expression. So obvious for all to know her emotions, she didn’t hide behind a wall of seriousness. Ariel loved life and it showed.
    “And we’ve lost him again,” Jasper drawled from behind him.
    “Shut up, man. You’ve not lost me. I stopped for like a second.”
    “Yeah, but like he pointed out, your eyes get all goo-goo when you look at her.” Todd punched him in the shoulder. “Although, that little one beside her is pretty cute. Is she available?”
    “I don’t know. Go ask her.”
    Todd puffed out his chest. “I may do just that. But we still have work to do.”
    Snorting, Tuck returned to the stack of plywood they were putting up. He readjusted his tool belt then grabbed some more and got back to it. They were working on a shed behind the church. It had been set on fire so there was more work to be done on it than some of the other places. After they got the plywood up, they’d put on the siding.
    It was afternoon when two kids ran over and called them to lunch. Ready for some sustenance, Tuck and his crew followed the duo to where a large grill was being manned by the minister of the church. A long table full of sides and condiments, as well as dessert, met his gaze and all three of them groaned happily.
    After placing two burgers on his plate with macaroni salad, potato salad and more, Tuck found himself surrounded by some of the older boys who’d been recruited to come help. They talked, laughed and asked him lots of questions. Across the way, he spied Ariel eating with Connie and another woman from Prometheus Protections. She toasted him with her red plastic cup.
    Some of the boys wanted to get into construction and he gave them his