“I’m not your boss,” he reminded her.

“You’re bossy.”

“Not the same thing.”

“It is from where I’m sitting.”

He wanted to sit there, make conversation with her. But that would be obvious. He’d made an art form of being subtle when he pursued her the first time. Now he’d have to be stealthy. The realization that he intended to pursue her again hit him.

The thought didn’t disturb him…it did the opposite. For the first time in a long time he looked forward to waking…to going to work…to really living. He still wanted Katelyn Morrison.

“Jack called me this morning. He has a meeting in LA at lunch but will be here before four. You still gonna be here?”

She nodded. “Like I said, I have some things to do.”

“Good. Would you mind picking up the phone if you’re in the office? Jo’s out sick.”

“That’s funny. One of Bowman’s men flagged me down when I came in. Steve is sick, too.”

“I hope it isn’t going around.”

“Do you have any of those bottles of hand sanitizer around here?”

He shook his head. “Don’t think so.”

Katie pushed away from the table. “I’ll run to the store and get some. Maybe some of those Lysol wipes. We can’t be too careful.”

Dean frowned. “Since when are you a germ-a-phobe?”

“I’ve spent the whole weekend with a nurse. Monica washes her hands more than anyone I know.”

He’d forgotten about that. The fact that Katie was quick with where she’d spent her weekend made him think it wasn’t with the much-too-old Ben guy. He smiled.

“Good idea. Grab the big bottles. We’ll spread them around and let everyone know to be careful.”

She grabbed her purse and limped, albeit not as much as the last time he’d seen her, to the door. “And you say you’re not the boss.”

He snorted a laugh and watched her leave.

The only reason he kept smiling was because he knew she’d be back.

Chapter Twelve

The heat outside was well over one hundred degrees. Staying inside the construction trailer wasn’t a chore for Katelyn.

Dean had offered to pick up lunch and the majority of the job site was quiet. Without Jo in the office, it was actually relaxing. Even the phone didn’t bother ringing all that often.

The door slammed, announcing the arrival of lunch.

“I know how fond you are of salad,” Dean said as he walked into the room with two huge bags. From the smell traveling to her nose, there was more than lettuce for lunch.

“Yeah.”

He set the bags on the edge of the conference table, swooped up several plans, and tucked them to the side. “I got you a salad.”

The rich aroma of barbeque teased her stomach and the thought of salad left her hungry. “Ah, thanks.”

“You don’t want salad?”

“Salad’s fine. Great.” Boring.

Dean removed a clear plastic container of garlic dinner rolls. Next came a slab of ribs smothered in sauce.

Katie licked her lips.

“I, on the other hand, am hungry. Mike suggested a takeout barbeque place down the street. The place was lined up out the door.” Out popped an order of baked beans…followed by mashed potatoes.

Out of a second bag, Dean slowly removed a small plastic container with her salad. There wasn’t a smell from her container at all.

“It smells amazing, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“Here ya go.” He set the salad in front of her and smiled.

“Thanks.”

The full force of the food hit her senses when he opened the last container and started loading up a paper plate. There was enough food for three people. Katie glanced at her salad and tried to think of it as appetizing.

All she saw was an appetizer and a paltry one at that.

Her stomach rumbled.

Dean tore off one of the ribs and sank his teeth into the meat. “Oh, wow. This is amazing.”

Katie opened her salad and stuck a fork into the lettuce.

“Oh, my God. This is better than Mac’s. You know that one off the frontage road on the way to your daddy’s ranch. So. Good.” Dean smacked his lips together and hummed as he chewed.

He ripped off another rib and Katie couldn’t stand it anymore. She shot her hand out and stopped him from devouring it.

He sent her a cocky grin and lifted the rib toward her. “Did you want a bite?”

Instead of answering, she leaned forward and bit into the food. Her taste buds sang and her stomach did a happy dance. The smoky sauce hit the back of her tongue and she closed her eyes with the pleasure of it.

“Can I have my hand back?”

She licked her lips as Dean watched. “Not unless you dish me up a plate.”

Dean stroked away sauce from her lower lip. Her skin prickled with his touch. Why did he have to be so damn handsome?

“No problem, darlin’.” Darlin’ rolled off his tongue with such a smooth tone she felt him sliding back into her system. It wasn’t often Dean used his Texan charm, but when he did, a woman was helpless not to fall under his spell.

Get a grip, Katie.

She forced her gaze away from his and divided the salad.

“Remember the time we went to Mac’s after the Halloween party at the high school?”

“I remember you chasing after Sally Richfield who was dressed like a  p**n ographic cat.”