As the weeks went by, Zoe often found her eyes drawn to the kilt-wearing contractor.
Nate and his men were polite and smiled easily. She was pleased by their efforts to keep the noise down throughout the project to avoid disturbing the men, women, and children who frequented the library.
If he climbed a ladder anywhere within eyesight, nothing stopped her from watching the flex of his muscular legs beneath the plaid.
It was hypnotic.
The tightening of his calves affected her in unfamiliar ways she wasn’t entirely comfortable with.
More than once, hecaughther looking. Their eyes would meet across the space and he’d give her a gentle but knowing smile.
Blushing hot every time, Zoe quickly looked away.
Her group of elderly volunteers at the library were over the moon for Nate and his crew of equally impressive men. Several confided that he asked about Zoe when she wasn’t around. The knowledge gave her butterflies she tried to quell.
He was a hard worker who capably handled carpentry, electrical, and painting during the third-floor remodel.
The previously unused space was being converted into a business center with computer stations and office equipment.
It was based on plans she put together to increase revenue. Once the city accepted the proposal, she started a crowdfunding campaign online backed by sponsors from all over the world. The money she raised provided enough to do the renovations and update several antiquated areas of the sixty-year-old library.
The new third-floor space would support local business owners by providing a dedicated space they could rent without assuming the full overhead of an independent office.
For a small fee, they could use the facilities during library hours and still enjoy the freedom of running their own businesses. Of the twelve mini-offices planned, she had commitments for all but two.
From the beginning, Zoe drove the back-end and listed her assistant as the primary contact. She created the designs, secured the funding, then put Beth in charge of dealing with vendors.
Though Zoe was capable of handling most questions and concerns via email, she didn’t want too much attention drawn to her deafness.
It was better that way.
Hence, Nate Lang’s bid to do the construction was accepted without them ever communicating personally.
The project would wrap soon and Zoe was torn about having coffee with him, despite her agreement to consider the request.
In her personal experience, people usually couldn’t handle the long haul of being around her. Her own mother, ever lovingly dramatic, spent a lot of time patting her hand and fighting tears when they were together.
It was the deciding reason she moved to this little outpost town in Colorado. A fresh start, less pity, and less awkwardness from the hearing who remembered herbeforeshe was deaf.
With her education and background at the library where she grew up, the small town snapped her up when she applied.
She and Beth were the only employees. The rest of the people who worked at the library were indispensable volunteers.
As far as she knew, she was the only deaf person in town. There were no support groups or other services but she didn’t mind because she hated standing out. She wanted to blend in, to be the same as everyone else.
Being seen with a man who looked like Nate and wore a kilt was guaranteed to blow her camouflage all to hell.
All her life, Zoe waspainfullyshy. She knew most people who met her assumed she was a teenager and the accident that destroyed her ability to hear increased her overall insecurities.
Being deaf and afraid to speak meant she relied heavily on lip-reading. Sign language seemed to embarrass hearing people in public.
Nate Lang was attractive, successful, and struck her as a man who didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought. He went out of his way to speak to her, to see if she needed anything, and ask if she’d changed her mind about having coffee with him.
Each time, she made an excuse while trying to control her blushing and awkwardness. She assumed he’d give up and not ask again. She was surprised he hadn’t yet but surely, it was only a matter of time.
Zoe wasnotthe type of woman men chased.
* * *