A Perfect Match

Zeke turned around to see none other than the true-to-the-flesh Julia Evans slip-sliding her way down a steep, gravel-covered driveway and onto the job site. Her arms flapped wildly as she struggled to maintain her precarious balance.

She wasn’t dressed for visiting a construction job site. For one thing, she was wearing a dress. A pretty, soft, flowery-looking thing that Zeke thought might disintegrate underneath the touch of his rough fingertips. It was a dress that could easily be torn to shreds in a work area full of protruding nails and rough lumber.

And then there were her shoes. High heels from the looks of them, and they were sinking into the gravel with every step she took.

Feeling like a bumbling giant, he lumbered to her side and offered his arm for assistance.

Her eyes widened to enormous proportions as she laid her hand upon his forearm and allowed his other arm to encircle her tiny waist, and Zeke wished for the millionth time that he wasn’t so big.

Sure, men admired his strength, but to a delicate young woman like Julia, he knew he must come off looking and moving like a big, dumb ox.

For Julia’s part, her lungs had simply refused to work from the moment Zeke jogged to her side to the time she stood safely at the bottom of the hill. He was so athletic, his muscles and ligaments working in perfect harmony. His autumn-blond hair shone like a gold halo over his expressive blue eyes.

She wished she could enjoy the picture, but she had other problems, like being about to plunge head-down on the gravel driveway. Her shoes were the worst possible choice.

Warmth flooded to her cheeks. She was mortified. She hadn’t given her attire a single thought when she came here, to this dirty, rocky job site.

What must Zeke think of her? He was all kindness. But honestly, what kind of an idiot wore patent leather pumps to a construction site?

Even Zeke had a hard hat on.

As if seeing the direction of her gaze, Zeke moved to a trunk and picked up an extra hard hat. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to—” he cleared his throat “—to ask you to wear one of these guys for the length of your visit. It’s for your own safety, as well as our regulations.”

He tacked the last part on so swiftly Julia barely understood the words.

She thought she saw Zeke cringe slightly, as if anticipating her answer. No doubt he thought, based on the little he knew of her, that she’d criticize or whine at having to meet with safety requirements that were nothing less than good, common sense.

Well, she’d do neither, she thought, reaching for the hat with her best smile.

Even though she knew she’d look ridiculous. Even though the hat was two sizes too big.

Zeke jammed his hands into his front jeans pockets and raised his eyebrows. His huge blue eyes were gleaming with mischief, and she was certain she detected the corner of his mouth twitching under his beard.

Her dander rose quickly, and just as quickly departed. What could she say, when he was right? “Feel free to laugh out loud,” she said wryly, and with a smile.

A bubble of deep, hearty laughter burst from his lips, though he looked like he was struggling desperately to restrain it.

“Sorry,” he apologized when he could speak. He wiped his eyes with his thumb. “It’s just that you’re by far the cutest carpenter I’ve ever seen on a job site, this or any other.”

“Thank you very much.” She curtsied slightly, turning her head to conceal the blush she knew clouded her cheeks. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It was meant that way.” His voice was deep and husky, and Julia looked away.

There was an extended silence while Zeke collected his mirth and Julia collected her thoughts.

“Did you come here about HeartBeat?” he asked quietly, leaning a shoulder against the wood framework he’d earlier been pounding upon.

“No. Not directly, anyway.” Julia’s chest tightened around her breath as she quickly gathered her thoughts and gained her courage.

Yesterday, at the pool party, Zeke had left as soon as he’d pulled the dog from the pool. She’d never had the chance to thank him, or to help take care of that poor little dog.

“Actually, I’d like to find out what happened to that little Jack Russell terrier you rescued. Is he okay?”

“Tip? Yeah, she’s fine.” He cocked his head and stood silently for a moment, taking in her mettle. “You really care?”

“I think I’ve proved my worth with my pumps, don’t you?”

He looked puzzled, and she explained with a laugh. “My high heels.”

He grinned. “You have a point.”

“How do you know her name is Tip?” she asked, self-consciously fiddling with her hard hat.

“Because I named her. Would you like to see her for yourself?”

“The puppy is here?” Julia asked in astonishment. “At the construction site?”

He nodded. “I didn’t want to leave her home alone all day. Especially while she’s healing from her wounds.”

Julia’s heart fell. “Oh, my. She’s badly hurt, then? Is there anything I can do?”

Zeke smiled gently and shook his head. Offering his hand, he led her toward a gentler incline than the one she’d come down. “Tip will be okay, give or take a few weeks. No permanent damage.”

He grinned down at her, and her racing heart stopped still. “Her leg is broken. And I think there’s a screw loose in that brain of hers, jumping into the pool the way she did.”

“Oh, no,” Julia objected, wondering at the squeak in her voice, and hoping Zeke could not hear it. “I’m sure she must have thought she knew how to swim.”

Zeke chuckled loudly. “Yeah. Thought being the key word.”

She met his gleaming eyes, and they laughed.

“Seriously, though,” Zeke continued, swinging Julia’s hand as they walked, “Tip is going to be just fine. Nothing a little good, old-fashioned R and R can’t fix.”

One step at a time, he led her back up the gravel to where his full-size blue truck was parked. In the bed of his truck, tucked securely into a torn box and curled up on an old scrap of blanket, was Tip.

Zeke picked her up, and she immediately wagged her tail and began licking his chin enthusiastically.

“You can sure tell who Tip likes,” Julia teased. “It didn’t take long for the two of you to form an attachment.”

Color crept up Zeke’s cheek above his beard, and Julia smiled in delight. There was nothing made up about Zeke Taylor. He was all man, the genuine article.

“I made a report to the Humane Society, but if no one claims her, she’s mine,” Zeke explained tenderly. As he spoke, he stroked the dog’s fur, almost mechanically. Julia marveled at how gentle Zeke’s big hands appeared against the small dog.

“So she’ll recover completely?” Julia reached forward to stroke the dog’s wiry coat. Tip had had a recent bath, she noticed. No more dirt spots were clinging to her, and the white part of her coat was fresh and sparkling in the sunshine.

“Completely,” Zeke agreed. “And she has a home. I figure she can keep me company, and I can keep her away from large bodies of water.”

Julia smothered a laugh. “I’m glad she has a good home, now,” she said softly. “I hope I’m not over-stepping my boundaries, but if it’s okay with you, I’d like to buy a few things for Tip.” She paused and caught his gaze. “Sort of a homecoming present for her.”