Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Bridges
October
“You want me to do what?”
Alexis stood next to my drafting table with an arched eyebrow as she reviewed my latest design for a racing bike that I envisioned could be perfect for the type of ride Weston was going to undertake for his charity ride.
I was sure it wasn’t the bike she was objecting to.
It was the favor I asked her. If she didn’t like this favor, she was going to hate the next one.
My coworker wasn’t happy with my current suggestion, but I was sure she’d come around after I enlightened her that the ride would offer us fantastic advertising opportunities.
“Contact some of our customers and ask them to sponsor a cross-country ride with the proceeds going to the Rainbow Equality Alliance. You know our customers and some of our vendors, and you can persuade them to donate to a good cause, especially if you come on the ride with us and video document his training. We can use the footage for promotions.” My suggestion was weak because she wasn’t buying into my proposal yet, but I had hopes she would climb on board with my big ask when I got the balls to make my request.
Alexis heaved a sigh. “Is this about the charity ride or West riding you?”
I cocked an eyebrow at her and waited for her to acquiesce.
She knew the answer as well as me. My neck heated and Alexis rolled her eyes.
“Do you want me to start lying to you? Boss, seriously? If you want to fuck him, then do it. You don’t need to drag me along on a romantic bike ride,” Alexis sniped at me.
“It’s a weekend in Missouri. The Katy Trail.
It’s a straight shot across the middle of the state, and I believe there are wineries.
It’s not particularly difficult, but it’ll give him another distance ride.
It’s only two hundred-forty miles on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
I’ll rent an RV when we get there so we can fly instead of driving all that way. Will you come along?”
Alexis sighed, which was a sign she was almost ready to give in—the offer of wine must have done the trick. She liked Weston a lot though, treating him like a little brother when he was in the shop. I was glad she stepped up for him because his older siblings were pieces of shit.
I glanced at the clock to see Weston was due at Eaton Cycles within half an hour so I wanted things to be settled before he arrived. “So, next weekend? Are you willing to fly to Missouri for the trip? He honestly needs another ride, Alexis. Don’t make me beg.”
Alexis sighed. “Can I bring my girlfriend and can we stay in a motel? I don’t like the idea of staying in a camper with you and your groupie.”
Groupie? “What the hell does groupie mean?”
“Oh, come on. You haven’t noticed Weston making moony eyes at you? That kid wants you to throw him on the ground and fuck him like a savage.” Only Alexis would be that bold.
“I think he might have a crush on me, but that’s not why I’m doing this, Alexis. His father was my mentor when I was growing up. I’m just trying to offer the same to his son.”
Alexis laughed. “Sure, Daddy. Keep telling yourself that.”
My mouth opened in surprise. “I’m not his Daddy. I’m his mentor.”
“Again, I say, keep telling yourself that.” Alexis grabbed the pencil from me and made a change to my sketch that made sense before she stormed out of the room.
Apparently, I had her on board for the trip to Missouri. What would it cost me financially? Who knew? Personally? That was the bigger question.
The phone rang, and Alexis answered. “Hi, Weston.” She spun her chair toward my desk, her face questioning whether I wanted to talk to West.
I nodded and picked up the office phone, punching the flashing light. “Hi, Weston. Are you ready to leave on Friday?”
“Yeah, Bridges. I wanted to check whether there was anything I needed to get for the trip. I have a little extra cash this month and since Alexis and you are both helping me out, I wanted to do anything I could to repay you.” He was such a sweet guy that I couldn’t help but smile.
I had a moment of hesitation, but I couldn’t stop myself. “You got time for dinner tonight to go over the plan?” What the fuck was I doing? I must have lost my mind. Was there a plan to discuss?
“Uh, yeah, sure. I can bring food, you know. I make money, though not much, so I’ll pick up dinner if you’ll tell me what you’d like,” West offered.
Fuck it. I wasn’t about to turn him down for reasons that had nothing to do with food. “Uh, sure. Come to my place. We’ll figure out what we want to eat when you get there. I’ll see you in a little bit.”
I hung up the phone and turned to Alexis. “Not a word. It’s a business meeting.”
“Funny. It sounds a lot like a date.” Her smirk made me laugh.
“Bite me.” I had no other logical response.
We both laughed before she gathered her things to leave for the day. Before Alexis left the office, she turned to me. “Don’t break his heart, Bridges. Believe it or not, some of us fall in love at the drop of a hat.”
What the fuck did that mean?
“Okay. I don’t think anything like that is going to happen but thank you for the warning.”
Without another word, I walked out of the office and took the stairs to my apartment two at a time. Once I was inside, I went to work making dinner—steak, onion, and tomato kabobs with a saffron rice side. I wasn’t about to let West pay for a dinner he couldn’t afford.
I put some seasoning on the kabobs before flipping them on the grill. Why I was going to so much trouble dawned on me—or landed on me like a boulder. I had a thing for Weston Aames, and I wasn’t exactly sure what to do about it.
West rang the bell of the bike shop. When I opened the door to see his beautiful face, I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Come in. How was your day?” We walked up the stairs to the apartment.
“It was busy as usual. My boss fucked up a delivery and I got blamed for it. I’m on probation.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
West released a sigh as he averted his eyes from me. “I was given the wrong address to deliver a package in the Financial District. I got blamed for not meeting the delivery deadline, and now, I’m on probation.”
“On probation at your job?” I asked. “A job you’ve worked for months and been successful enough that your boss gave you a bonus this summer?”
How the fuck could some half-ass delivery service blame West for a delivery that was misdirected?
“Yeah. I mean, I’m not surprised that I got blamed because I’m the new idiot in the ranks, but it pisses me off. I’m sorry. Anyway, you have a plan for the ride this weekend?”
I swallowed hard. I didn’t have a plan yet, but I’d make one up pretty fucking quick.
“Let’s sit down and discuss it. I’ve got kabobs in the fridge because I wanted kabobs. You don’t have to worry about food. I’ve got it covered.”
West grinned. “I’ll pay you back for this, I swear.”
His worried expression made me smile. “We’ll tally up next year, Weston.
Stop worrying about the money. This weekend I was thinking we’d fly to Missouri and rent an RV or maybe an SUV so we could get a jump on the ride.
The trail is across the middle of the state.
..two hundred and forty miles. You think you can do a hundred and twenty over Saturday and Sunday?
I’m not sure if I can because I haven’t ridden that much in a few years, but I’ll try. ”
Weston’s laugh echoed through my mind in a way I’d never forget. “I’ll pull you along on your bike if you need me to.”
I chuckled. “I’m going on the ride with you in Missouri to see if I need to be in a wheelchair behind your bike.
I’ll be doing my best, but it’s been a couple of years since I’ve done a distance ride.
I’ll practice. Hey, if you want to ride together in the evenings instead of you emptying the trash and shit, I'll give you credit for the time. "
West offered a grin that nearly stopped my fucking heart. “Sure. I appreciate it.” His cheeks flushed a bit.
“Okay, so, I’ve talked Alexis into driving the RV behind us as the SAG. She’s bringing her girlfriend, and we’ll stop at a few sights along the way? We can see a little of the country as we go. I don’t plan to go back to the Midwest any time soon.”
He laughed, and it was fucking musical. I shouldn’t be feeling that way about a kid whose father I’d idolized.
Was it weird? Was I sick because I’d fallen for Weston Aames? It didn’t feel sick to me. It felt right.
“Sounds good. Um, do I need to start doing more hours here to make up for Alexis going along?”
My heart wanted to shout yes, a million times yes, but my brain engaged before I made a fool of myself.
“No, don’t worry about it. She wanted a vacation, so this was our compromise.
The two of them will be staying in a hotel or motel, depending on when we stop, and you and I will stay at a campground somewhere nearby. I’m looking forward to it.”
Yes, and why was my dick hard just thinking about it?