Chapter 1
Leon
Someone remind me why I do this shit.
My whole body aches as I make my way toward Harvey’s Burger Bar, desperate for a coffee. The sun has barely lifted over the mountains surrounding Sunbury, but already I can tell today will be another hot one.
I groan and rub my dusty eyes.
Last night was a total bust.
Well, sort of. I found a big guy who was eager to take and receive and drained the hell out of my balls, but the all-night fuckfest didn’t do anything to ease the tension in my muscles.
It used to work. The release, coming until I’m practically blind, was my one reliable way to relax and never failed to leave me fresh as a goddamn daisy, even on minimal sleep.
I twist my head to the side, every muscle in my back protesting at the movement. It’s still so early, Harvey’s isn’t even open yet, but Piper’s inside setting up, and when I catch her eye, she hurries over to unlock for me.
“Someone looks like shit this morning.”
“Love you too, darlin’.”
She laughs and ushers me toward the counter where I basically collapse onto a stool.
I’d say I’m getting too old for this shit, but technically, twenty-four is prime hookup age.
“You okay?” Piper eyes me from where she’s standing at the coffee machine.
“Totally.”
“Leon …”
Her probing tone makes me chuckle. I like Piper, even if I never liked her brother a whole lot, but since all that stuff went down between him and my best friend, Piper and I have gotten closer.
Bonding over mutual dumbasses has a way of doing that.
“I have a lot going on.”
“You always have a lot going on.”
That’s true. Since starting my own construction company four years ago, business has been nonstop. And I’m grateful every day.
But also … tired.
“I’m never going to complain about having a successful business.”
She gestures around herself. “I hear you. This place is well on its way to being all mine, but you want to know the difference between us?”
“What’s that?”
“I have help.”
She makes me chuckle again. I don’t need another Mom—hell, since running off to Florida, mine can barely do the job—but sometimes it feels like Piper’s filling that role anyway. “I’ve got a bunch of people working for me and a shitload more coming on board once we start the Port Welling build.”
Somehow I manage to keep the cringe off my face. Every time I think of that massive contract, I die a little inside.
“I made it a double shot.” Piper slides my coffee over and props her elbows on the counter between us. “You need someone working with you. Not for you.”
I snort. Like I’d ever trust someone with the business I’ve worked my ass off for.
“You also need a vacation,” she adds.
“Tell you what. I’ll give you my books and you find where I can fit one in the next … oh, five years? And I’ll go.”
She purses her lips, not bothering to argue anymore when this conversation is looping back around to how they normally go.
“How’s Rowan?” I ask, changing the subject.
She raises her eyebrows and starts unstacking mugs from the dishwasher. “Doing a lot better. Though I swear he’s so focused on getting his gym set up that I barely see him.”
“Setting up a new business is never easy,” I say, grabbing the coffee and pushing back to my feet. “Thanks for this, Piper.”
“Day off today?” she asks.
“Yep. I’ve got some time to actually work on my house.”
“So … not a day off, then?”
I don’t bother answering the disapproval in her tone. “Same time next week?”
“I’ll be here.” She follows me to the door and locks it behind me. Harvey’s doesn’t open until midday on a Sunday since the Harvey family are in church, but she’s always here beforehand setting up.
Even though I’m dead on my feet, I walk the three blocks home. I’m not convinced there isn’t still a truckload of alcohol in my system, so I’m not going to risk driving.
Yet the closer I get to my house, the more anxious I start to feel.
Coming home should be a relief and comfort, but with half the downstairs pulled apart, a makeshift shower set up out the back, and my bedroom consisting of a mattress on the floor, all I feel when I’m there is the weight of my to-do list.
I unlock my front door, which is new but still taped up, ready to paint, and pass through the empty living area that I’ve almost finished. The only thing left in there is the flooring. The old boards have been sanded right back to bare but still need a lot of work to look any good.
My legs protest as I make my way upstairs, and as soon as I glimpse my mattress, crumpled blankets, and soft pillows, I can’t resist.
I set my almost empty coffee on the floor and fall face-first onto the bed.
My breath stinks like alcohol, cum, and coffee, and any other time I’d force myself through at the very least brushing my teeth, but I just.
Can’t.
Move.
I moan, and my eyes close all on their own.
I’m so comfortable the thought of getting up again makes me want to sob, but I figure I can give myself a couple of minutes. Minutes I don’t really have if I want this damn house done, but at this point, I don’t think I have much choice.
My muscles relax, even with the metaphorical stopwatch I have hanging over my head, and before I know it, I pass the hell out.
A loud bang slices through my consciousness, and I jerk upright, blinking blearily. What the …
Fuck.
I fell asleep.
“Leon?”
My brain moves that bit too sluggishly as I reach for my phone. My eyeballs almost fall out, and dread sinks deep into my core. Shit. It’s already three in the afternoon.
No, no, no …
“Leon?”
I frown at the voice. “Tanner?”
My friend appears in the doorway and immediately jolts backward, screwing up his nose. “Jesus, what happened in here?”
“I happened.” I sit up slowly. My body doesn’t feel like it’s completely falling apart anymore, but I’m far from refreshed. Not when I consider the amount of work I should have gotten done today and didn’t. “Shit, I need a shower.”
“I’ll say.” Tanner grins in that way that warms his brown eyes. “Roo said you’d be over today, and when you didn’t answer your phone …” He scans my room as I grab some clean clothes from a pile by the door to the empty master bath.
“Sorry, man. I had planned to swing past after clearing some of the demo from downstairs, but I, ah, fell asleep.”
Concern crosses his face, so I quickly wave off my statement.
“Been a busy night.” I wink. “You know what I mean.”
“Ahh …” He doesn’t look entirely convinced, but the good thing about Tanner is he takes people at face value. It’s one of the things I like most about him. “I have a few questions if you have time …”
“Yeah, of course. I’ll grab a quick shower first, then I’m all yours.”
Because like I’m going to say anything else to him. When it comes to my friends, I’ll move mountains for them, especially for someone like Tanner. He spends all his free time helping people with anything they need done, and this is the first time he’s ever asked for anything in return.
Tanner hangs back while I head outside and strip off. I don’t give myself time to enjoy the shower; I’ve already wasted more than enough time today.
It’s lucky the hedges I planted when I first moved in here have grown up enough that I’m able to do this. If anyone wants a peek at my junk, they’re going to have to be one dedicated motherfucker.
By the time I’ve given myself a quick scrub and brushed last night’s disgust out of my mouth, I feel almost human again. Definitely human enough to answer Tanner’s questions, at least.
And there are a lot.
I appreciate that he and Roo want to do most of the work on their place themselves, but building and renovating is no joke.
They pay me to check things are up to code, and I love swinging by to help them, but damn, it’s a time-consuming process.
And time isn’t something I have a whole hell of a lot of.
“I also think most of the tile on the roof needs to go. There are a lot of wet patches up there, so it’s probably better to have the entire roof replaced.”
“Not something you can do yourself,” I point out.
“No.” He laughs. “The rest is already a lot.”
I can agree with him there. I’m a qualified builder and my house looks like a horror show.
In my defense, when I’d started pulling this place apart a year ago, I had no idea I’d win the contract for a shopping center in Port Welling.
I still don’t know how I pulled that one off, but I do know it’s the biggest job of my life.
I can’t fuck it up.
It’s very possible though that I maybe kinda sorta didn’t account for all the pre-work that goes into a job like that. So all the work I’ve got booked between now and then is going to be cutting it close as it is. My house has barely had a look-in.
“How’s everything going with you?” Tanner asks when he tucks his list of questions back into his pocket.
“Busy, as usual.”
“You hired an apprentice yet?”
“Not yet.” The applications I’ve had a chance to sift through haven’t exactly been promising. “I think I’m at the point where I need to close my eyes and just point to one.”
“I’d offer to help, but …”
I nod. Tanner doesn’t talk about his dyslexia much, but I know it has to kill him to not be able to help me with something I need. Tanner’s about as good at saying no to people as I am.
“No worries, man. I’ll get on it this week. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t reached the point where I need someone.”
He cuffs me on the shoulder before getting ready to leave. “It’ll help a lot. But remember, if you need an extra set of hands, let me know. Roo … not so much.”
I don’t know two people who are as opposite to each other as Royce and Tanner … and yet, as inevitable to be together.
I walk him out, and when he’s gone, I take a long breath in and try to steady myself. Today was a total bust, and I’m back on-site tomorrow, so that’s another week gone with nothing accomplished on my house.
Casa De Shithole, I might as well dub it.
I climb the stairs back to my room and grab my laptop from the floor. Most of my paperwork gets left at the office for the sole reason that if I bring it home, I’ll be up all night working through it. My emails aren’t so easy to avoid though.
I log in and open the folder I’ve set aside for apprenticeship applications. A handful have come in since I last looked over them, so I start with those ones first.
Most are kids fresh out of school, and while giving them a chance would be ideal when I have time to coach and mentor them, I was really hoping for someone whose life experience extends beyond puberty and losing their virginity.
I need someone with common sense. Someone I can trust to work, even when I’m not watching over their shoulder. Someone …
Well, someone like that.
I sit up and lean closer to my screen to make sure I’m reading the resume right. This guy has had years of experience but never took the time to gain formal qualifications.
The problem is, the experience was with his dad’s company, and Kieran Brashford and I have butted heads since I went into business. I can only imagine the expression that would cross his face if his son ended up working for me.
It’s tempting though. Very tempting, even without all the experience.
And honestly, the experience is confusing me the most.
If this guy has done all of that, and his father owns a construction business … why is he applying with me?
What’s stopping Kieran from hiring him?
Can I really hire my competitor’s son?
There has to be something seriously wrong with this guy.
And yet, on paper, he’s my best bet.
I hold my breath as I hit Reply and see if he’s available for an interview.
Here’s hoping August Brashford is the answer to my problems.