Page 25 of Better Together

“Then by all means, let’s hurry. I’m starving. Plus, I need one of those gooey s’mores.”

“Too much of a visualization?” He laughed.

“You know me too well.”

She was surprised to see how many people had flocked to Oktoberfest. She hardly ever went, being in such a hurry every fall to finish jobs requiring outside work before winter came. Blustering cold winds and piles of snow weren’t her favorite working conditions.

They approached Main Street. “Wow,” she said. “It’s a good thing we walked. There isn’t a place to park anywhere. It’s nice to see a lot of people in town. The turnout is almost as good as Labor Day.” Alexis’s stomach growled as she inhaled the smoky aroma of barbeque.

“Come on.” Zeke grabbed her hand, and they jogged across the street in front of the Deer Creek Lodge. When they reached the food trucks, she noticed he hadn’t surrendered her hand. At the low, guttural purr of a motorcycle, she turned to look. She knew that bike. A 2003 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail.

The motorcycle pulled to the curb and the rider took off his helmet. “Hey, sexy lady, need a ride?”

Zeke tightened his grip on her hand. “Ignore him, Alexis.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Zeke’s hand fell to his side as Alexis released it, her smile widening. “Pete?”

The rider, a tall, muscular man clad in leather, dismounted with a huge grin and strolled toward her. “Yep, it’s me, General.”

Alexis ran to him and jumped into his arms. He twirled her around and set her down.

She smacked him on the arm. “I can’t believe it’s you. When I didn’t hear from you, I figured you were off doing God knows what.”

Zeke’s disappointment at the way Alexis greeted this man made him regret he hadn’t acted on his feelings sooner. He walked closer to get a read on Pete and on why Alexis would be so friendly with a former coworker. Didn’t a hug suffice? Only in Zeke’s dreams had she jumped into his arms like that.

“As soon as I got your message, I filled my truck with tools, strapped down the bike, and headed north. I’d never pass up a chance to work for you again.” Pete kissed Alexis’s temple.

“It’s so good to see you! I missed you,” she said.

Zeke cleared his throat to break up the reunion. Pete looked at him over Alexis’s shoulder.

“General, I didn’t know you had a boyfriend. He looks like he wants to chop me to bits and feed me to the fishes.” His mouth curled up into a shit-eating grin that Zeke wanted to wipe off his face. Alexis laughed.

Pete was right; he wasn’t happy.

Alexis spoke up. “Pete, this is my friend—not boyfriend—Zeke Reynolds, who’s also my electrician.”

Did she really have to emphasize their status?

Pete stepped forward and offered his hand. “Nice to meet you, Zeke. You must be Maggie’s brother. I just booked a cabin for a few months at your sister’s place.” Pete stowed his helmet on his bike.

“General, huh? I haven’t heard that nickname before,” Zeke muttered.

“Yeah, well, it’s my nickname for Alexis. She was my General Contractor on a jobsite in the cities. The name stuck.” Pete snaked an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

Zeke knew he needed to be civil to the guy; he’d clearly dropped everything to help Alexis. “Thanks for coming, Pete.”

“No problem. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything. Your grandma is a real hoot—told me all about Oktoberfest going on in town, and that Maggie was already here. I figured Alexis would be with Maggie.”

Addressing Alexis again, he said, “I texted you when I got into town, but figured you were on the jobsite.”

Alexis pulled out her phone. “I’m sorry, obviously I haven’t checked my messages in a while.”

“Why don’t you join us, Pete? We’ll introduce you to our family and friends.”

“Sounds good, thanks.” Pete held out his arm for Alexis to take. “I’m all yours, General.”