Page 29 of Backdraft
He drew in a breath and sent her a text.
Meet for coffee?
There. Done. And now he'd wait for a reply. Not expecting one to come back right away, he put his phone back in his pocket and continued to sign off on the reports.
His phone buzzed, and he was pleasantly surprised to see it was her. It hadn't taken that long for her to reply.
A good sign?
Sure, when you free?
He checked his watch and started typing a message back.
I'll be on the road at two thirty, somewhere around then? Will that work?"
Yeah, I should be good. Same place?
Yes, are you at a scene?
I'm finishing up what was rather a dramatic event. I can tell you about it later.
Taylor liked how the conversation seemed normal. Easy. Like they were old friends. Just like how they'd conversed when they first met. His heart skipped a beat, and he smiled. He wasn't a schoolboy, but he sure did feel happy knowing he'd see Drea later.
Taylor was in the lot, and he didn't see her truck, so he decided to wait in the car and review one of the intern’s reports. He rolled the windows down and a nice breeze blew through. It was getting hot again.
"Hey there."
Taylor was startled by Drea's voice.
"Hey." He put the files down and closed the windows.
He got out of the car, and they fell into step walking quietly to the coffee shop. He pulled open the door. "After you."
She smiled and entered. She was wearing her work clothes, cargo pants and a logoed T-shirt tucked in, kept snug with a leather belt. Her solid black leather boots increased her height a bit, but she still had to look up to him.
The simple and efficient outfit did little to hide her sexuality. She looked damn hot, and he appreciated the view. Her easy gait made her hips swing, and memories of them together flashed in his mind.
"It was nice to hear from you." Drea stopped at the end of the line, crossed her arms, and faced him.
"I was thinking maybe we should get together and talk."
She nodded, and they shuffled forward as the line moved. "I was thinking the same thing."
Her gaze caught his, and they stared at each other. A small smile curved her lips, and he wondered what she was thinking.
Remembering the weekend? He wondered if it was on her mind as much as it was on his.
With drinks in hand, they found a seat outside in the shade. Taylor would rather be away from any eavesdroppers.
"It's been what, five years since Denver?" He sat opposite her.
"Yes, hard to believe. Seems like yesterday, and yet also eons ago." She settled and put her cup on the table.
"I did try to find you about six months later, but you'd moved on," he told her.
"You did? I wish I'd known." She sipped her iced coffee and looked pensive. "I've never been one to stay in one place for long. I live a rather nomadic lifestyle, which also helps with experience. I go where the work needs me."
Their gazes met, and he searched hers to see if there was anything there. A connection. A spark.
