August answered on the second ring. “Hey, man. What’s up?”
“I’ve just sprung two hoodlums from jail. Do you think you could give them a lift home so I can get back to work?”
No way was Wes allowing them to make a soggy mess in his car, and he knew for a fact that August’s truck was coated in mud at the moment. He’d shown up in it that morning to collect some sponsorship paperwork and Wes’s donation for the Seashore Wishes mud run they were hosting at the Palmetto Fine Arts Camp. Seashore Wishes was a worthy foundation, aiding wounded war veterans in finding new careers. Lincoln was a wounded veteran himself. He’d told Wes about his struggles to overcome his leg injury and find a new path in life. Lincoln had formed the charity earlier in the year when he felt God calling him to help others in similar situations. The entire town stepped up to support it, and Carolina Pediatrics was on board as well.
“No problem. I have to get Linc from Bless This Mess and then I’ll be there.”
“I’m not putting you out, am I?” Wes knew they were busy setting up for the run that night.
“Not at all. We heard what Doc and your brother did. Can’t wait to razz the old man about it.” August’s deep chuckle echoed through the phone before he disconnected.
Shortly after, Wes squinted his eyes and waved as the muddy truck turned in to the station. The three men stood outside in the midday sun, where two of them were trying to dry out a bit. Linc and August waved back as the truck came to a halt beside them.
August hopped out and hurried to help Doc climb into the backseat of his King Cab. “Don’t you know the saltwater fishing laws, sir?”
“Only enough to be dangerous,” Doc fired back, sending the artist into a boisterous bout of laughter.
Wes shook August’s hand. “Thanks for helping me out with them.”
“No worries.” August grinned.
“I think they have too much time on their hands. Is there anything they can help with at the camp to keep out of trouble for the rest of the day?”
“We can hear you,” Seth commented, leaning out the open window.
Wes shot him a glare, thinking his brother’s visit was wearing thin. He’d been here a little over a month now and didn’t show any signs of leaving soon. Seth was like garlic bread—an enjoyable treat when freshly presented, but the lingering presence on the palate afterward . . . not so much.
“Your brother doesn’t have a job?” August asked, shoving his hands into his front jean pockets. Wes noticed he was splattered with mud instead of the usual paint.
“It’s one of those jobs where all Seth needs is a computer and Internet access. He’s in the gaming and coding business.” Wes said it with an air of aloofness, but he was right proud of his brother. Seth was a genius with an IQ of 133 but disguised himself as a back roads country boy.
August scratched the side of his neck and glanced at the two men in the back of the truck. “Since they’re already filthy and clearly know their way around explosives, I could use their help finishing the obstacle course and setting up the fireworks.”
“That sounds perfect.” Wes looked for a fairly clean spot and clapped August on the shoulder. “Call me if they get unruly and I’ll send Sophia over to straighten them out.”
“Send her on now. I like that feisty chick,” Seth smarted off.
Linc reached over and sent the window whirring up, mumbling something about it being wise to shut up while he was ahead.
They parted ways and Wes made it back to the office with only ten minutes to spare before the doors reopened after the lunch break. He made a beeline to Sophia’s office and found her right where he’d left her almost an hour ago, behind the desk with those vivid blue eyes glued to the computer monitor.
He walked over and pulled her chair out until there was room for him to go to his knees and rest his head in her lap. “My brother is going to be the death of me,” he mumbled, blindly searching for her hand and placing it on his head. She easily took the hint and began combing her fingers through his hair.
“How’d it go?”
Wes’s eyes began rolling around as her nails scraped against his scalp. The massaging motion instantly dispersed the tension. “They’re free for now, as long as they can stay out of trouble.”
He knew it was selfish to always seek Sophia out for her soothing touch, but Wes was too drawn to the little spitfire, who had more comforting warmth than a thick quilt by a crackling fire. In the past few weeks, she had somehow managed to settle a deep hurt within him, and a peace had overtaken some of the shadows lingering in his soul.
“Did they get to keep the clams, at least?”
“I gave them to Bruce as a thank-you,” he slurred, feeling sleepy all of a sudden.
“You better wake up.” Her hand left his hair and popped him on the back. “I had to shuffle a few appointments from right before lunch to the afternoon.”
Wes inhaled a deep whiff of her perfume as he rose to his feet. “You feel bad for me, right? Working all morning and then having to deal with that fiasco instead of eating lunch?”
“Of course I do. Poor wittle Wes,” Sophia answered in a patronizing tone, making him want to tickle her.
“Good. That means you’re running with me tonight.”
Her teasing expression morphed into all seriousness. “Nah-uh.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I can’t run three miles in the mud. That’s plain ridiculous.” She glared.
“You run with me on the beach in the wet sand at least three days a week. It’s more or less the same thing. Plus, it’s for a worthy cause.” He straightened his tie and then shrugged out of his jacket, knowing it was time to prepare for the afternoon appointments. After draping the coat over his arm, Wes snatched a protein bar from the snack drawer and shoved it into the pocket of his dress shirt. Thankfully, Sophia stocked healthier selections than what Agnes used to keep on hand.
“I’m not stupid. Mud runs are obstacle course runs where you have to wallow in the mud. Lincoln Cole designed the course, so I know it will be a whole heckuva lot different than wet sand.”
“Run with me and I’ll owe you one.” Wes hurried to his office with Sophia following.
“You’ll owe me at least two.”
“Agreed.” Wes hung the jacket and shrugged on his lab coat. The sounds of a door opening and closing indicated that the staff was filtering back in from their lunch break.
Sophia plucked the protein bar from his shirt pocket and unwrapped it before holding it up to his mouth. Wes leaned over and took a playfully big bite and winked. He couldn’t help but smile when she rolled her eyes.
“Ugh. Put those darn dimples away and get to work,” Sophia sassed, handing the bar over and sashaying out of his office with enough prissy spunk to draw forth a toothy grin. Today she wore a pair of leggings with a flowy blue top that Wes thought looked more like a dress. Whatever she wanted to call it, he thought she was downright lovely in it.
Wes tried to study the afternoon’s revised schedule but couldn’t rein in his thoughts about Sophia. Ever since she had snuck into his house back in October, she’d been sneaking into a special place in his heart. She’d been firmly by his side—whether it was working, running, church services, or an amicable date—and he liked her there. A lot.