Pulling into the parking lot of the apartment building, Valerie recognized Brad’s truck backed up to the building marked “office.” A brand-new truck sat parked next to it that she assumed belonged to Ken.

She got out of her car and looked up at the sky. The sunny spring weather had started to surrender to the heat of summer, and the heat of summer brought afternoon thunderstorms to northern Georgia. The clouds looked like a dark bruise against the summer sky, and a cool breeze stirred the muggy air.

She went through the open door and into what used to serve as the office of the apartment complex. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust. A brown leather couch, a recliner, and a square coffee table sat on the orange shag carpet. Where the carpet ended, orange ceramic tile began. Her interior designer self comically recoiled at the décor.

Jon stood on a stepladder and lifted one end of a large flat-screen television onto a brace on the wall while someone she did not know lifted the other end. He glanced her way and lifted his chin in a greeting but did not speak. Instead, he offered instruction to the person helping.

She could smell freshly cut wood, stale carpet, and a mildly unpleasant odor of mildew. She wandered through the room. A cooktop leaned against the back wall next to a kitchen sink and a rolling cart that held a microwave.

A hallway with a bare plywood floor branched off to her right. As she walked down the hall, she saw a bathroom on the right. Next to the bare shower, she saw a box of towels. A few feet ahead, she saw a doorway to her right and glanced in. A metal bed frame held a bare mattress and box springs. A sink and mirror sat in the corner next to a dresser. Two suitcases and two big moving boxes sat on the floor next to the bed.

Following the sound of voices, she went to the last room on the right. There she found Ken and Brad. Brad stood on a stepladder and fastened vertical blinds into the window frame. Ken had an open box next to the dresser and transferred clothes from the box to a drawer.

“Hey,” she said, lifting a hand.

Brad glanced her way. “Hey,” he said, then ducked his head and looked closely at the blinds. With a metallic click, the blinds snapped into their housing and he stepped off the ladder. “Thanks for coming.”

“Happy to help. Where do you need me?”

“I have to run back to the house and grab Ken’s drafting table and some tools. Do you want to help with that, or unpack here and I’ll take him?”

“Wherever I can be most helpful,” she said.

Ken shut the dresser drawer and pointed at the half-empty box. “Why don’t you unpack? That way, Brad and I can probably be more efficient. We aren’t keeping the boxes. Jon can haul them out to the recycle if you get done.”

She smiled. “Sounds good.”

Brad stopped next to her and bent, brushing his lips against her cheek. “Thanks for helping.”

Her cheek tingled where his lips had touched. She smiled a nervous smile. “Sure.”

Ken slapped Brad’s shoulder. “We’ll take my truck. Got to break it in.”

“You’re just enjoying all the gadgets.”

“What gadgets?” Ken asked, mocking shocked indignation.

“‘What gadgets?’” Brad repeated, assuming a mocking tone of his own. “The cab looks like mission control at NASA.”

When they left, she checked the dresser, inspected the closet, and made logical assumptions about where clothes belonged. In no time, she’d emptied two boxes and a suitcase. Worn steel-toed work boots, sneakers, and one scarred pair of leather dress shoes in need of a good polish made her guess she’d just unpacked Ken.

In another box, she found toiletries in plastic bags and bedding. She set shaving accouterment at the sink and carried shower accessories to the bathroom, then made the bed. Everything in that room unpacked, she carried the boxes to the front room and found Jon on the floor next to a speaker wiring something in the back. The man who had helped hang the television had left.

“Hey,” she said, “should I break these boxes down?”

He took a screwdriver out of his mouth long enough to say, “I would save me the trouble.” He gestured toward a tool bag. “Boxcutter’s in there somewhere. It’s blue. You done unpacking?”

“Not yet.”

“Do them all at once, or I can when you’re done.”

Seeing the logic in that, instead of flattening the boxes, Valerie stacked them next to the couch and went into the other bedroom and started putting clothes away there, too. Here she found garment bags of suits hanging in the closet, nice leather shoes in varying shades of brown and black lining the two-tiered shoe shelf in the bottom of the closet, and dry cleaner bags of starched dress shirts.

She unpacked the suitcases, using the same organization as she had in Ken’s room. She placed the walnut jewelry box of cuff links and tie tacks atop the dresser. As with Ken’s, she put shaving elements at the sink and the other toiletries in the bathroom. Just as she nested the suitcases together and zipped them closed, she looked up and saw Brad in the doorway.

She straightened and wiped the sweat off her forehead. “I hope you guys are installing air conditioning.”

“First thing. I have units coming for each room. I had to figure out which storage facility I’d put them in from the last job.”

She carried the empty boxes out of the room, following him. Brad grabbed the boxes out of the kitchenette and tossed them toward the other boxes in the central space where Jon had already broken down a bunch of them. Jon said, “Hey. The recycle bin isn’t here. It was nearly full, so they took it already. They’re dropping a new one tomorrow morning. We can store this cardboard next door until then to get it out from underfoot.”

Brad collected most of the torn down cardboard and carried it out like a giant sandwich. Valerie collected the remainder and followed him out. They left the office and stepped outside.

The wind had picked up and the cool breeze felt nice. Brad stopped at the unit next door to the office and pulled a key out of his pocket to unlock it. Without going in, he tossed the boxes in his hands inside then took hers and tossed them in also. Then he shut the door and locked it. “There,” he said with a smile. “All put away.”

She watched Ken and Jon carry tools into another unit. Brad gestured in that direction. “We need to get the truck unloaded before this rain hits.”

“Is everything going in that unit?”

“Yes.” He stopped at the cab and reached inside, grabbing a pair of tan leather work gloves which he held out to her. “Put these on.”

The extra-large gloves swallowed her hands but protected her from the dirt and grime on some of the tools. They carried saws, drills, tables, sawhorses, and boxes of tools from the truck to the unit. As Ken shut the tailgate, the first drops of rain fell, and they all rushed back into the office converted into an apartment.

“Thanks, guys, for helping.” Ken went to the sink in the kitchen and washed his hands. “Brad and I would still be unpacking the first load.”

“I hooked the television up to the router,” Jon said. “Your WiFi password is on a sticky note on the router.”

“Perfect.” Brad shook Jon’s hand. “You available to come to a meeting Wednesday morning?”

Jon’s eyes narrowed. “What’s up? Your voice sounds weird.”

Brad sighed. “Got to do what I got to do. We have to let Mitch Conway go.”

Jon whistled under his breath and took his baseball cap off. “That’s not going to go well.”

“No. Nothing about it will go well. I could use the backup.”

“You want me to be you?”

Valerie didn’t understand what they were talking about, but the excited look on Jon’s face made her start to laugh. Because of the serious expression on Brad’s face, she covered her mouth and coughed instead. Brad said, “No. It’s my thing. I just need a wingman.”

Jon pulled his phone out of the cargo pocket of his shorts and swiped up. “What time? Let me check my schedule.”

They hashed out details then Brad looked at Valerie. “We’re done with the moving in.”

She looked at her watch. She had enough daylight left to go to the grocery store so she could spend the evening meal prepping. “Okay. I need to go to the grocery store.”

“I do, too. I’ll follow you.”

Knowing she’d have company in the store lifted her spirits. “Okay.” She told him which store in case they got separated and told Jon and Ken goodbye.

“I’ll text you a list for me,” Ken said as he dried his hands. “We need coffee, but we forgot to grab the coffee maker from the house.”

Jon pulled his keys from his pocket. “I’ll bring it to work tomorrow. Save you the trip.”

“Thanks.”

Valerie dashed through the rain to her car. When she shut the door, she pulled some tissue out of her purse and used it to dab at the raindrops on her face. Since Brad knew her destination, she didn’t worry about waiting for him. Instead, she drove the mile and a half to the large shopping center nearest her house. The rain hadn’t even pretended to let up when she pulled into a parking space, so she got her umbrella out of the back seat and used it for cover as she dashed into the store. After getting a cart, she waited by the door until she saw Brad coming in. She shivered a bit as the air conditioning met her wet arms and legs.

“I probably should have met you at your truck with my umbrella,” she said, slipping it into a plastic bag.

“After working in the non-air conditioning all afternoon, the rain feels great.”

He started to grab a cart then said, “Why don’t we share, and we’ll split it at the register?”

“You want to share grocery carts, Brad? Is this like a grocery store date?”

He grinned. “A romantic grocery store date-date.”

They began to work through the store. She explained how she’d spend the evening preparing meals that she’d freeze or refrigerate. “It saves eating out all the time. Healthier, cheaper.”

“Great idea.”

“I did it in high school. Your mom actually helped me menu plan with it and set up the system.”

He frowned. “I don’t think she did that for us.”

“Of course not. She didn’t work.”

“She had triplet boys. I think she’d object to the notion that she didn’t work.”

With a laugh, Valerie said, “She didn’t leave the home so she could spend time in the kitchen every day. You know what I mean.”

“I do. And I’m very grateful that mom worked as a homemaker. I know dad is, too.” He winked at her and they finished their shopping in the produce aisle. She contemplated some fresh summer squash while Brad filled a bag with green apples.

“Valerie?”

Hearing her name, she glanced up and spotted an intern from work. “Oh, hi, Donna.”

Brad set the apples in the cart and touched Valerie on the back of her arm. She glanced at him. “Have you met Donna? She’s an intern in the engineering department.”

“I have not had the pleasure.”

Donna’s face turned red and she stuttered, “Hi, Mr. Dixon.”

“Nice to meet you, Donna.” He looked at Valerie. “Done?”

“Let me just grab some zucchini.” She lifted her hand. “See you tomorrow, Donna.”

“Sure thing, Valerie.”

She slipped four zucchinis into a produce bag and caught Donna staring at her from the other side of the produce department. She looked up at Brad. “I have a feeling we’re going to be the source of some rumors.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “How so?”

“Well,” she said on a breath, “Donna is in NAWIC with us, and I’ve noticed she is prone to gossip.”

He winked down at her. “Shall I kiss you? Make the gossip really juicy?”

Valerie gasped and laughed. “I will not have our first kiss be in the produce department of a grocery store.”

He slipped an arm around her waist and grinned. “Oh? Is that so? But this is a romantic grocery store date-date.”

Still laughing, she slapped a hand onto his chest. “Absolutely sure.”

With a mock sigh, he let her go. “Fine. Apparently, you get to dictate where our first kiss will be. I guess I should cling to the idea that there will at least be a first kiss and let that tide me over.”

“Such drama.” She gripped the handle of the cart. “All set?”

“Yep.”

“I’ll make it up to you by making you some zucchini bread.”

He casually put his hand on her lower back as they walked to the checkout. “See, here you are speaking my language. It’s no wonder you so consume my thoughts.”

Valerie tossed her empty yogurt container in the break room trash and went into the bathroom adjacent to the break room. She heard a couple of women come into the room a few minutes later. She exited the stall just as they went in.

“I’m telling you, Diane, I saw them together myself. Plus, someone else saw them together at that Memorial Day picnic we weren’t invited to.”

Valerie froze in the middle of washing her hands. She knew, without a doubt, that this unknown woman spoke of her and Brad. Unable to ignore the impulse, she stayed by the sink instead of leaving.

“Who is she? I’m not putting a face with the name.”

“The new black architect chick. Don’t you remember? Something happened to her when she worked for the Dixons in Savannah. There’s been a lot of hush-hush conversation about it.”

“Oh, I think I know who you’re talking about.” The toilet flushed and she could barely hear the sound of the metal lock sliding over the rushing water. “Her? Seriously? What makes her Dixon material?”

“Sounds uppity for sure. Social climber.”

The stall opened and the file clerk receptionist, Diane, came out adjusting her belt. Valerie stood with her back to the sink, arms crossed over her chest and legs crossed at the ankles, giving the air of nonchalance. Diane had the courtesy to freeze and turn red. However, she did not say another word. Valerie raised an eyebrow and waited while Donna continued the conversation.

“Must be something. No one’s ever been able to get a Dixon to look twice. I’m not sure which one she was with, but it was one of the brothers for sure. Probably Jon. Rumor has it he’s a little wild.”

She came out of the stall and froze when she saw Valerie. For several seconds, they just stared at each other. Finally, Valerie pushed away from the sink and said, “I was actually socially climbing up Brad.”

When their eyes widened, she nodded and said, “Ladies.”

Valerie left the bathroom keeping her footsteps purposeful and slow. She calmly headed straight to the elevator, praying she could maintain the cool composure as long as she needed to. When she pushed the button for the executive floor, she wondered if she needed to see Brad or Sami. Honestly, anyone who didn’t hate her would do.

By the time she made it into Sami’s office, the panic attack had started. Her heart pounded and the edges of her vision had blackened so she could barely see in front of her. Every breath felt like it contained zero oxygen, and her stomach rolled with nausea. Sami wasn’t at her desk, so she burst into Brad’s office.

Phillip sat in the chair in front of Brad’s desk, and they both looked up sharply when she burst in. Before she could speak, Brad had crossed the room and had her in his arms. “What happened?” he demanded.

The words could barely come out. Every word burned her throat and she thought she might throw up or pass out, neither of which appealed to her. Somehow, she told him. When she got to the words “black architect chick,” Phillip demanded names.

“I only know first names. Donna, an intern in engineering, and Diane from the file room.”

Brad helped her to the couch. Before sitting next to her, he got a bottle of water out of the mini-fridge and opened it for her. The cold water shocked her dry mouth.

She knew Phillip had picked up the desk phone to call someone, but she didn’t know who and couldn’t make out what he said through the roaring in her ears. She looked up at Brad. “I don’t know if I can work in a place where I’m such a source of gossip again. I barely survived the last time. It was only because it was Dixon that I even stayed.”

He cupped her cheek with his warm hand and wiped at a tear with his thumb. “I can’t stand the thought of someone hurting you this way, but the idea that you would stop whatever is happening between us because of catty women gossiping doesn’t resonate well with me, either.” His touch was gentle, his words soft, but his eyes stormed with emotion. Fury, concern, care. “It should bother you that they think so low of you.”

Phillip walked toward them. “I have HR coming to my office. You want in?”

“No. Do whatever you can.” He didn’t break eye contact with Valerie while he spoke.

“What are you going to do?” Valerie demanded, pushing away from Brad and standing.

“That’s what I’m going to find out.” He put a hand on the door handle.

Brad speculated, “Chances are good that there’s absolutely nothing we can do outside of a first written warning and some mandatory retraining on our company policies. But they’ll know they overstepped, regardless.”

Phillip said, “Doesn’t apply to the intern. There are dozens of interns waiting in the wings. She can go back to school with a letter to the dean for all I care.”

“Uncle Phillip,” Valerie said on a sigh, but Brad held up a hand.

“Let him protect you.” He put both hands on her shoulders. “Be thankful I’m not going with him. If I did, I might have to take some retraining under the supervision of HR.”

She leaned forward and put her forehead on his chest. His arms came around her and she felt so very safe. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath through her nose, feeling better, less panicky, more in control. Finally, she gripped the collar of his suit jacket and lifted her head. He looked down at her, his eyes less stormy, calmer too. Without a word, he cupped her cheeks with both hands and lowered his mouth. When he hesitated, she tightened her grip and pulled him to her as she raised up on her toes to meet his mouth.

For weeks she had wondered what kissing Brad would feel like, but nothing she imagined even came close. The second their lips met the remaining traces of the panic attack slipped away.

His lips felt warm, soft, and as she took a deep breath through her nose, the smell of his aftershave filled her senses. She placed a hand on his cheek, feeling the smooth skin under her palm, and he pulled her even closer, deepening the kiss as she wrapped an arm around his neck and stood on her toes. She felt like she could just stay like this forever, letting Brad consume her every thought, her head spinning, her heart pounding, her toes curling. She felt his hand on the back of her head, gripping her hair and holding her steady as he kissed her and kissed her.

She didn’t know who ended the kiss. It just gradually became gentler, until he lifted his mouth and brushed it over her cheeks, her eyes, her forehead, then wrapped his arms around her again. How long they stood there, she didn’t know. But she listened against his thick chest as his heartbeat slowed from fast and furious to steady and strong.

Finally, she stepped back and broke the contact with him. She ran her hands down the sides of her dress and looked at him. He slipped his hands into his pockets and stared at her without speaking.

“Well,” she said on a breath, “I think that’s way better than it would have been in the grocery store.”

He chuckled softly and smiled. “You’re probably wrong. I think it would have been amazing anywhere.”

“I guess we’ll never know.” She crossed the office and put a hand on the door handle. “Thanks for bringing me back from the panic vortex.”

“Well, as long as I’m useful.”

Laughing, light, walking on air, she floated from his office and went back to work.