No Sweat - Chapter 6

Brady had been filling the role of mechanic at the factory for his boss presently on vacation. There was an endless number of things that needed to be fixed. Chloe had been working there for three weeks. Other than the constant heat and the long hours she liked the job. Especially the fact that she was working so close to Brady. At least until the boss went on vacation. Now Brady spent most of his time all over the factory fixing machines. She couldn't wait until the week ended. Chloe looked at the space across from her where Brady was usually stationed. It was empty of course. Chloe scanned the factory and immediately spotted him working not so hard to fix Sarah's machine. The girl laughed and swatted Brady in a flirtatious manner. 'Look at that, she is practically throwing herself at him. Well if that is what it takes to capture Brady Blacks attention, I am certainly not interested'. She went back to her own work.

The lunch bell sounded and hundreds of workers flooded the cafeteria. Chloe went to her locker and grabbed her lunch. She liked to eat outside away from all the noise.

"Hey wait up" a voice called after her. Chloe turned to look.

"Hurry up Brady, we only get half an hour."

"Chill. Man do I miss working with you" Brady said once they were seated under a tree to avoid direct sunlight.

"Really?"

"Hell ya. Do you know how much extra work I have to do now?"

"Oh...that's what you get for knowing how to fix things" Chloe said a little disappointed.

"I swear, it's like people break their machines on purpose just to create extra work for me" he chuckled.

"Well don't look at me, my machine hasn't broken once since you took this position"

"I know. How is everything, without me there to entertain you?" Brady questioned.

"It is really peaceful actually" she joked. Secretly wishing her machine would break down just so she could talk to him. She had gotten used to him. She was even starting to understand him better. "I've noticed that Sarah's machine breaks down quite often. Now, why do you think that is?" Chloe asked in a sarcastic tone.

Brady laughed everyone knew Sarah had a crush on him.

"I dunno" is all he replied with a smile.

"Why don't you just ask her out?"

"What? Ask her out? She's just a kid"

"She's 16, that's hardly a kid"

"Whatever, I don't see her that way"

"You sure flirt with her enough for someone who is not interested"

"I can't help it if my natural wit and charm come out, rendering me irresistible to all women" he concluded as the lunch bell rang signalling them to go back to work.

It was late afternoon when it happened. Chloe was loading plastic bits into the machine to be imprinted with a special flower design when the sleeve of her baggy overalls got caught. She tried to yank it out but it was still being sucked in since the machine was on. She couldn't reach the off switch because it was below her. At this point, she was hunched over her machine before someone ran to get Brady.

"Don't try to pull your clothes out. It will just suck more in" Brady yelled while running over to a very scared Chloe. The suction on the machine was so powerful that her circulation was being cut off.

"Okay, I am going to shut it off that should alleviate the pressure"

Brady bent down and reached under Chloe pulling a lever to stop the motor. Both Chloe and Brady were sweating.

"Are you all right? You're not hurt are you" Brady gasped, anxious to know.

"No, no I'm okay. Just a little shaken up" she said despite the pain in her arm.

"Okay, try to pull out your clothes" Brady said calmly.

"It won't budge" she sighed.

"Okay, ...well then take off the overalls."

"I can't."

"And why not?" he questioned.

"I only have my bra and underwear on under here" she said shyly.

"Okay, that would be a problem" he couldn't ask her to take it off anyway, not after what happened at the last blast. He was now puzzled of how to pry her loose. "How am I going to do this?"

"I don't know but just please get me out my arm is aching" she winced in pain.

"But you said...never mind. With that Brady came behind her as it was the only way to get to the machine now. She felt his muscular body move forward touching her. His arms practically wrapped around her as he struggled to get to the machine. "Can you feel this?"

'God yes' she thought liking his new position, but she replied "yeah but it hurts" she said as she acknowledged him touching her arm.

He moved his hand closer to the opening of the machine where her jumpsuit was bunched. He tugged. The reverberations slightly shaking Chloe. She let out a small yelp.

"Oh God, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...I'm an idiot" Brady scolded himself.

"It's all right. Just please get me out of this mess soon"

"I am just going to have to cut your overalls and then take apart the machine after you are out" he concluded, not wanting to cause Chloe any more unnecessary pain.

He gently started cutting the fabric adding "if I hurt you let me know."

"Okay"

He finished and she was free. By now the entire factory was watching the spectacle and cheered when Brady freed her. Sarah was not impressed.

"Okay, now let me check you over, if you would follow me Miss Lane to sick bay." He said charmingly trying to hide his concern.

"Brady I'm fine. I don't need to be 'looked over'" she said trying to be brave.

"Humour me then"

The look in his eyes made her follow him.

"Okay, just hop up on that table thingy please, while I get my tools" Brady said trying to sound official.

"Hmm, yes the 'table thingy' now that is a very technical term" she giggled.

"Yes, very professional" He laughed.

He brought the stool close to the examining table. He brought out a clip board with an injury form. He smiled to himself and then looked at Chloe.

"Before I examine you, I have a few medical questions to ask you. Age? Weight? Height? Family physician? Yadda yadda" he mumbled. "Oh here is a good one, so how often do you think about Brady black?"

"What? It doesn't say that. But the answer is never"

"fine" he said as he scribbled something down.

"What did you put?"

"Oh, only that you are in denial and the correct answer is you never stop thinking about him" he laughed "ok next question...."

"...wait a minute, no more questions otherwise I will report you for sexual harassment, Mr. Black

" Fine, go ahead and ruin all my fun" he laughed before getting serious. "Ok let me really examine you now"

He took her blood pressure and heart rate as he was taught to do with any type of high paced trauma.

"Your heart rate is a bit high but that is normal after what just happened'

Chloe thought to herself 'the only reason my heart is beating so fast is because of you Brady'.

He then took her arm. The one with the cut off sleeve and examined it. While he was doing all this Chloe admired how he wore his overalls on the lower half of his body. He tied the rest so it was on his waist. He wore a wife-beater that covered his well-toned abs that still poked through the thin material. His arms were slightly stained with oil from working with machines all day. Chloe found herself liking the way he looked. It was rugged and manly.

"Looks like you're just a bit bruised, but I 'm still sending you home for the rest of the day" he smiled.

"Brady I'm fine!" Chloe whined.

"Doctors orders, and the decision is not up for debate. Okay get some rest"

"But Brady..."

"...for me" he cut her off.

So she went home. She had another dream about Brady but this time was not foolish enough to believe that the dream was really about Philip.

To be continued.....