8. Blake #2
“That’s great,” he says as he takes in his surroundings, which don’t amount to much. A small entry nook, a great room, a kitchen to our left and a hallway with bedrooms to our right. “What are the plans for the park.”
I gesture for him to follow me and head to the kitchen. “That’ll be up to my new boss.” I pull two beers from the fridge and hand him one. “I’ve never built a bike park and it’s too big of a project for me to run given my lack of experience, so they’re bringing in someone that’s done it before.”
“So, what’s your role, then?” He cracks open the can and takes a sip.
I wipe a dab of foam from my lip. “Project Manager. Or something to that effect. I’m supposed to coordinate with the suppliers, since I know them all, to help the new guy get whatever he needs.”
“Sounds like a good gig.”
“I hope so.”
“You don’t sound so sure.” Jace’s head tilts to the side as he studies me. I didn’t even realize my voice shifted, and I don’t know if it’s good or bad that he picked up on it.
“I am sure, at least for now. I don’t know if it’ll be a full-time thing once it’s built, and I’d really like it to be. But I’m probably getting ahead of myself.”
Jace rests his forearms on the counter, the fingers of his right hand toying with the tab on the can. “I might be getting ahead of myself too… But if this thing with Axel pans out, maybe he’ll need people with biking experience. You could work there when you aren’t at the resort.”
“My experience isn’t on bikes with motors.” I toss him a wry grin .
“Yeah, I guess it’s not an exact fit. Told you I was probably thinking too much.” He lifts his shoulders in a little half shrug as his cheeks flush with color. God, he’s cute.
“Speaking of, if you do take Axel up on this job opportunity, would you move your trailer up here?”
“Permanently? No.” I fight to keep my smile from fading when he adds, “I’d freeze if I tried to live outta that thing in the winter.”
“So, you’d need a house or something? Have you thought about where?”
“Not really. I’m sure Axel would offer a room, but I don’t want to crowd him and Lennon. And while his plan is to have some bunks to accommodate campers that I’d probably have to chaperone, I wouldn’t want to live in the bunk house full-time. I’ll probably just find a room to rent.”
“I have a room.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop myself.
Jace blinks at me. “Room here? That’s…”
“Too much. Sorry.” I scrub a hand over my face. “I’m already making a mess of the figuring stuff out as we go thing, huh?”
“Actually—” he rubs his finger along the bridge of his nose “—I was thinking that’d be sort of perfect. “We could hide in plain sight if people think I’m your roommate.”
“This isn’t moving too fast?”
“Probably.” His shoulders shake as he stifles a laugh.
“But I don’t see how else we can figure this out if we’re going to keep it quiet.
I mean, I’m good with going at your pace and all, but I sure as shit don’t want to be sneaking out in the middle of the night just to avoid questions you aren’t ready to answer. ”
“No offense, but I can’t tell if that’s a really thoughtful gesture or a polite insult. ”
“A little of both maybe?” Jace has the decency to wince with that admission. “Look, I can’t pretend to understand your fears when I see how the town has accepted the other queer couples here, but I also know everyone’s path is different, so even if I don’t get it, I’ll respect it.”
“That’s not very convincing.”
“All I’m saying is, if this thing between us has to stay between these four walls—” Jace points to each wall in turn “—it’d be a hell of a lot easier to see where things go if we’re not constantly worrying about whether I’m spending too much time inside them.
If I live here, that worry goes away.” He resumes fiddling with his beer can, almost as if he’s worried he offended me.
He sort of did, although at least I get where he’s coming from.
I know I’m likely making a bigger deal out of my sexuality than I need to, I just wasn’t expecting to be confronted with it yet.
Or ever. And since I do have lingering fears about what coming out will mean, I just want to be fully prepared before I do it.
“You’re right. If you live here there are fewer questions, that’s why I made the offer.” I pull his hand off his beer and thread our fingers together. “It’s self-serving and maybe a little unfair, but I think it makes the most sense.”
“I get it.” Jace rubs his thumb along my finger. “It was self-serving of me to help you with a job, too.”
“How do you figure?”
“I’d rather have you working close to me than at the spa.”
I drop his hand like a hot potato. “You wouldn’t trust me to work there?”
He snatches my hand back and tugs it to his chest, bringing our faces closer together. “I don’t trust other people not to hit on you—you’re too hot. But I didn’t say I don’t want you working at the spa. I said I want you working closer to me. If that’s an option.”
My heart thumps heavily inside my chest. Damn this is moving fast, but I kind of like it.
“So, you’re the possessive type?” I’m helpless to stop the grin from spreading across my face.
“Apparently.” He grabs the back of my head with his free hand and presses his lips to mine. “Now, show me where I’m gonna be sleeping.”