The day had stretched long, filled with the kind of work that left muscles aching and minds drained.
Riley exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck as she took a step back from the construction area.
The sun had started its slow descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold, casting long shadows across the site.
There was still work to be done — the casino was a long way from completion but for today, they had done enough.
The foreman had already started wrapping things up with some of the workers, and Riley found herself wandering a few steps away, resting her weight against the sturdy trunk of a tree near the edge of the site.
From where she stood, she could see Ethan finishing up a task, his movements fluid and efficient.
She was exhausted, but somehow, watching him move — watching the way his body shifted under the weight of the day's labor — made her forget the heaviness in her limbs.
