Picking Up the Pieces (Pieces, #2)(11)

As Eva made her way toward the building, my eyes remained on Lily, penetrating her with my gaze. "Me too," I whispered.

I waited until she entered the building before I reached down to adjust myself through my pants. This is gonna be a long f*cking day.

***

Normally, my drive down the Pennsylvania Turnpike gave me time to relax, sip my coffee, and listen to sports radio in peace. Despite the length of my commute, it was the one point in my day when no one bothered me. No one asked me about last-minute design changes or how to use our drafting program—something most of the guys had received adequate training on and should know how to use by now. The drive gave me time to not think.

But today’s ride didn’t provide that same respite I had grown to appreciate over the course of the past several weeks. My mind was plagued with thoughts of Lily. I hadn’t expected to see her, though I didn't know why. She worked at the school, for God's sake. It shouldn't have been that much of a surprise. But I still hadn't been prepared, especially for the physical reaction I'd felt. I'd spent the past few months fluctuating between being disgusted by her and missing her. Finally, my emotions had melded into a kind of melancholic ambivalence.

But I wasn't feeling ambivalent today. I couldn’t deny that I’d felt something. I just wasn’t sure what that something was. Part of it was physical, and I could easily chalk that up to being a guy. There was no denying that she was still hot as hell. But what else had I felt?

For once I was thankful when my phone rang and the new intern John’s question about the build materials for the Ashcroft Development interrupted my thoughts. “Did you look in the Ashcroft folder?” Jesus, it’s like f*cking Romper Room there. Can’t they do anything without my help? “All of it should be on the computer where I showed you last week. I’m driving. I can’t look it up now.” I heard John whistling as he searched the computer for the file that held the material specs. I wish I could be that carefree when I work.

“Okay, got it, Mr. Carter.”

I hung up the phone quickly before John had a chance to fire off his next stupid question.

***

My babysitting duties continued when I arrived on the job site, and I had to spend the first fifteen minutes re-explaining the difference between the Berkshire and Evanston floor plans. I started up my computer in the trailer that served as my office and opened the CAD program. “The Berkshire has a connecting bathroom between two of the spare bedrooms, as well as a sitting room off the master. Other than that, they’re nearly identical. You should know this shit, Joe. You’re in charge when I’m not here. I can’t hold your hand every goddamn minute.”

“Sorry, Adam. Got it. Won’t happen again,” Joe said apologetically before exiting the trailer.

“Rough morning, Adam?” Cecilia asked, handing me a fresh cup of coffee. Her warm smile greeted me as she swept her graying hair away from her face.

“Just a little,” I said with a shrug.

“Eva?”

Sure, let’s go with that. “Yeah, teenage girls.” I raised my eyebrows and let out a long sigh. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do with her some days.” I took a swig of the piping hot coffee and burnt the roof of my mouth. “Guess I was a little short with Joe there, huh?”

She chuckled softly and the fine lines around her mouth and eyes became more pronounced. “Nah, he deserved it. Even I know the difference between the Berkshire and the Evanston, and I’m just the site receptionist.”

“You’re not just anything. Don’t sell yourself short. What would I do without you, Ceil?”

“Probably be as gray as me," she replied, smiling. "But that reminds me. . . Jeff’s coming home from college for the weekend, and he’s bringing his girlfriend. I was wondering if I could leave at noon on Friday so I could pick them up from the train station. I haven’t met her yet.”

“How am I gonna survive a half a day without you?” I asked, only half kidding.

Cecilia already knew the answer to her question before I could give it, and thanked me with a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a sweetheart, Adam.”

And as I watched her return to her desk, I was suddenly overcome with the desire to hear another voice saying those same words.





Chapter 5: Max


As I pressed the two hundred and sixty pounds above my chest for the thirtieth time, I was thankful for a little relief. Carefully, I eased the bar in place on its rack and sat up to take a breather. One more set of ten and I’d move on to incline dumbbell presses. In the last few months, I’d really focused on my workout routine. It’s not like I’d ever been lazy. I’d always been athletic and kept in shape. I guess I’d just found myself with extra time to kill lately. No job. No girl. Well, maybe too many girls was my real problem. I needed something to focus my energy on.

The last time I’d been this serious about a workout regimen had been a few years ago when I’d still played for the Avalanche. Somehow, despite my recent weakness for wings and whiskey, getting back to my old routine helped me pack on an extra fifteen pounds of solid muscle. And my chest and arms showed it.

I kept to a strict schedule: a serving of Muscle Milk with skim milk for breakfast and a performance drink before my workouts to supply me with strength and energy. This last part was vital since my late nights often left me tired and run-down.