“The one they’re roofing today?” Hailey asked.

“Yeah, that’s one stop.” Fisher turned his hat the right way again while nodding at me to head toward the door.

“Jeremiah is there. Make sure you introduce him to Reese. I said he’d be a good summer hookup.”

“Reese isn’t hooking up with Jeremiah this summer.”

“Why?” Hailey asked as if I wasn’t standing in the middle of their conversation about me and my sex life.

“Because Rory left me in charge of her.” He disappeared out the door, and I shot out after him.

“Hey, you’re not in charge of me. Maybe you’re my boss when I’m working, but Rory didn’t leave you in charge of me. I’m an adult.”

“You’re eighteen.” He hopped into the truck.

“Yeah …” I fastened my seat belt. “Eighteen is a legal adult.”

“Legal yes. But not in the practical sense.”

I scowled at him, but he ignored me. When we got to the first site, I started to climb out of the truck.

“Stay put.” He opened his door.

“Why?”

“Because it’s a work site, and you don’t have a hard hat yet.”

I peered out the window at the crew roofing the house. “They’re not wearing hard hats.”

“They’re on the roof. Nothing’s going to fall onto them.” He started to shut the door.

“Where’s your hat?”

“I’m hardheaded. I’ll be fine.” The door shut before I had a chance for a rebuttal.

For three job inspections in a row, I waited in the truck and basically got paid to work on my crossword puzzles. Then we pulled into a supply and apparel store parking lot.

“Let’s get you some boots and a hard hat.” He jumped out of the truck and strode a good twenty feet before he turned around. After holding out his hands, he let them flop to his sides, returning to the truck and opening my door. “Did you already forget how to operate the little lever called the door handle?”

“No. I just wasn’t sure if I was allowed to exit the truck yet.” I hopped out of the truck, and he shut and locked the door.

“I said we’re getting you boots and a hard hat.”

“Yes, Boss.”

He glanced over at me, one eyebrow peaked. “Boss, huh?”

“That’s what Hailey calls you. Bossman.”

“I’m not sure she means it with any sort of respect.”

“I’m not sure I’m saying it with any respect either.”

He laughed and shook his head. “You’re a spitfire, like your mom.” Opening the door to the store, he waited for me to go inside.

I nodded for him to go first. “It’s not a date.”

“You’re right. My mistake.” He stepped inside and let go of the door.