Chapter 65

I turned my head and met his eyes, feeling unexpectedly guilty. I looked away and took a step forward. "It's not that. I just don't want others to overthink it."

"Oh." His response left me unsure of his feelings. I didn't push it; we were adults, after all. We should understand boundaries and propriety. Besides, he didn't seem like the type to gossip.

The silence between Hayden and me grew awkward. Finally, I broke it. "How long will it take to finish adjusting these lights?"

"Hard to say," Hayden replied.

I felt exasperated. "We have twenty days," I reminded him, thinking of my promise to Jace. Hayden glanced at me, and I half-expected him to say something, but all I got was a low "Mm." Does that mean he agrees? I wondered.

With that topic concluded, there wasn't much left to say. I could have mentioned Macy, but that would only make things more awkward. The rest of the walk was painfully silent. Each minute dragged, and I even started sweating. Ugh, I felt pathetic. It confused me. Why can I face Jace, my ex-fiancé, without breaking a sweat, but feel so uneasy around Hayden, who wasn't even a successful blind date?

Finally, we reached the power distribution room. The electrician was already there, waiting. After a quick introduction, he led Hayden to examine the amusement park's electrical diagrams.

Once they were finished, I asked, "So, any problems?"

"No," he replied.

That left me deflated. We'd spent all this time checking things. If Hayden wanted to inspect the power supply, it meant he'd noticed something affecting the lighting. I was getting confused. Hayden turned to the electrician. "Let's check the power distribution room."

The electrician readily complied, leading the way. Hayden followed closely, quietly inspecting everything, while I tagged along, understanding little. At times, I even doubted Hayden's expertise, but remembering his background as a lighting engineer, I dismissed my doubts.

"Is this line not 220V? Which equipment is it powering?" Hayden asked.

The electrician glanced at the generator's label. "It's for the amusement park's large equipment."

"I need the names of the devices this power is supplying, their locations, and the lighting setup," Hayden said, looking at me.

I nodded. "I'll have Demi bring it over."

I quickly made a call. As I hung up, Hayden was engrossed in a discussion with the electrician about another power supply issue. His clear eyes and rugged features gave him a tough, cool vibe, especially in his work gear.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice Hayden calling me. "Come here."

Unsure what he wanted, I rushed over, and, of course, didn't see a piece of equipment sticking out. I slammed right into it. Pain shot through me, and I lost my balance, stumbling forward. The electrician closest to me tried to catch me, but Hayden was faster. He intercepted the electrician and caught me around the waist. His grip was strong and firm.

Just then, footsteps approached the door. "Keira, I brought—" Demi began, then stopped, her eyes wide as she took in the scene.