Protecting Summer

•Chapter 8•

{Author's Note: Above is how I picture Leo Delaney (**Chris Hemsworth**) Only hair a bit blonder and eyes brown, lol. Enjoy!}

The moon rose as the sun set. The annual festivities quieted and the streets of Regina were slowly emptied.

Leo looked over his shoulder. Summer followed him and he slowed his step a bit so he could walk in line with her.

A street light lit up above their heads. Summer looked up. Leo couldn't help but think how beautiful she was. Her slender neck bending back to see the light and her brown curls falling around her sweet face.

Logan Bowen and his girlfriend Hope walked ahead of them, holding hands and laughing. The picture perfect couple. He wanted to mirror that someday.

"I had fun."

Summer's gentle voice brought him back down to earth. He glanced over at her. "Yeah? Well, good."

"For a forced date, it wasn't too bad." Leo could hear the smile in her voice without looking.

Leo laughed, "huh. Well maybe the next forced date we go on, I'll try not to let you enjoy it so much."

"I'll kick your shins underneath the table and make rude jokes about your hair and tell you what lazy, idiots all my ex-boyfriends were." She chuckled. "I might even lock you out of your truck on accident."

Leo chuckled and shook his head. He was quiet for a moment. "Or I could ask you on a real date?"

Summer's pale face lit up dramatically and she froze in her steps. She clasped both hands and held them up to her chest. "Ooh, then we can wear matching outfits and talk all about your family and how many kids I want. Then later, make out on my front porch when you take me home precisely at 11. Sounds positively perfect!"

Leo couldn't help but laugh. She was funny. And he liked that. He had to admit, he was having a lot of fun; and also that he was maybe falling for her. Though, when he took the job the situation was not at all what he expected it to be. Then again, he didn't expect Summer Bowen to be who she was. Beautiful. Sweet. Funny. Fiery. Down to earth and so free spirited. He liked every little thing and wanted to know even more. But he needed to take things slow. Keep a level head. It had only been a few days.

"Ready to go?"

•••

The next morning, Summer sat at her desk in the office of the mill. She yawned and bobbed her crossed leg underneath her desk. She wore black jeans, her leather lace up combat boots and a thick chunky knit cardigan over a V-neck gray t-shirt. She fingered the end of her long braid and focused on filling out this month's taxes.

Footsteps thumped on the stairs and the office door swung open with a gust of chill September wind. Ding! "Hey, baby girl!"

Summer smiled and looked up at her father. "Aren't you supposed to be training the new guys?" She tapped her pencil against her chin.

He walked around to the side door of the office and leaned against the frame. "I came up for a cup of coffee."

Summer rolled her bright blue eyes. They both knew he got away because her brothers and half the crew are obnoxious at times. Especially on their break.

"How was your day yesterday?" He turned to Summer's Keurig machine and turned it on. He selected a coffee capsule and slid it into place.

"It was lots of fun." She smiled at the memories of the previous day in Regina. "Leo Delaney went with us. Your new intern."

"Ahh, yes. Did he enjoy himself?" Mr Bowen asked as he poured a bit of sugar into an empty cup and placed it under the spout. It slowly poured out rich smelling coffee.