Chapter 6
Auggie
My head feels as though I’ve put it through a lifetime of abuse when I wake up with a groan. Wasn’t my humiliation yesterday enough to earn a free pass from a hangover?
I slowly force my eyes open against the blinding sun, and the room comes into focus.
But it’s not the motel room.
A sliver of panic shoots through me as I contemplate what on earth I could have possibly done last night. I’ve stripped to my boxers, and while those are still on and I don’t feel sticky or sore anywhere, I’m not hopeful that’s a good sign.
Swallowing is my go-to, after all.
Plus, I hate to say it, but … the bedroom has total serial killer vibes. One set of drawers with clothes flowing out of it. The mattress is on the floor. What I’m assuming is supposed to be a master bath is taped off and gutted.
Yikes.
Am I going to be taped off and gutted?
That’s the only thought I need to send me scrambling for my clothes. They’ve been neatly folded, which is so odd that it only increases the panic I’m feeling, until I see the note left next to them.
I pause, half into my shirt as I contemplate reading it or getting the hell out.
Of course my curiosity wins.
Auggie,
I’m guessing you’ll probably wake up feeling like shit, so I’ve left some water and aspirin.
To answer the questions I’m sure you have:
No, we didn’t sleep together
You’re at my place because I didn’t know where to take your drunk ass
Your phone is on the charger in the corner, and your wallet is in the pocket of your shorts
I have some bacon and eggs in the fridge that I’m happy to cook up, but it’s totally your call. You can come down and chat, or sneak out the front door.
Last night was fun.
Leon
My eyes widen at the name, and a mushy warmth replaces the panic that was starting to kick in.
The option to sneak out the front door is the only one that appeals to me though. I’ve embarrassed myself enough for one day, and I’m not interested in giving the universe yet another opportunity to screw me over.
Especially when, to repay my total social ineptitude, he of course is a complete prince.
I reread the note again, my smile morphing to insane levels.
How can one man be so dreamy?
Aaaand completely wrong for me.
I hurry to down the water and the drugs, then finish getting dressed. Flashes from last night are slowly coming back to me, and I distinctly remember having my face in someone’s neck. Was it Leon’s? All I can recall is how badly I wanted to lick it.
But he said nothing happened.
Given that my morning breath only tastes like morning breath, I’m inclined to believe him.
Pity.
For the first time since I woke, I’m actually disappointed.
There are no pens for me to write a return thanks note, so I’ll have to leave it at that. As much as I want to see him, I’m no glutton for punishment, and I’m not going to force my company on him any longer.
Nope, the smart thing to do now is to run home with my tail between my legs.
I finish dressing, grab my phone, and check to make sure I haven’t left anything behind before sneaking out onto the landing.
The house seems quiet, and I can only hope Leon is still passed out in one of the other rooms. A loose board creaks under my weight, and I tense to see if anyone appears, but Leon stays true to his note.
He’s going to let me out of here without having to face him.
I could kiss him, I’m so grateful. If, well, that wouldn’t require me to actually see him again.
Which it would, so I won’t.
I pick up my pace and reach the stairs. My ears strain for any movement as I hurry to flee the house and get back to Portland to hide away, probably forever at this point. Leon seeing me drunk and having to look after me like some dumb child is the very last thing I can stand.
No, this is for the best.
For me to gather my final shreds of dignity—what’s left, anyway—and never step foot back in Sunbury again.
I need to leave. Fast.
I—
The stair disappears out from under my foot, my stomach flips, and then I’m falling. My knee hits a stair, then shoulder, ass, hip …
Shoulder …
Ass …
Ouch!
I slam into the ground at the bottom and can do little more than let out a pathetic moan.
“Auggie?”
Ah, shit fucks.
Heavy footsteps come pounding down the hall, and I automatically slam my eyes closed, figuring if I can’t avoid the situation, I can at least avoid seeing Leon’s expression.
“Shit, are you okay?”
He drops down beside me, and then soft hands are cradling my head. He lightly taps my cheek.
“Auggie?”
“I’m fine. I’m alive,” I force myself to say, since he’s not going to let me die in peace. “I’m just once again humiliated in your presence, so that’s how my day is going.”
His chuckle sends warmth through my gut. “At this point, I don’t know how I’d recognize you without a bright red face.”
I crack an eye open. “Any chance you can go back out there and we can pretend like this never happened?”
“Yeah, no.” His smile tugs at his beard as he helps me sit up. “How do you feel?”
“Sore.”
“Where? Here?” His fingers slide through my hair, and I barely stop myself from leaning into his touch.
“Other than the hangover, nope.”
“Here?” Leon’s touch dips to my neck, and the feel of his calloused fingers running over the skin makes me shiver.
“Nope. It’s my pride that’s bruised.”
“I’m surprised you still have any of that left.”
At least he appears to be teasing, which is a step up from him calling me an idiot and kicking me out of his house. “I landed on my ass.” I pretend to pout. “Kiss it better?”
Leon laughs, and it’s a sound I’d pay to hear again. For someone who looks so scary at first glance, he’s not living up to my impression of him. “You’re going to have to put a pin in that flirting if this is going to work.”
I narrow my eyes. “What is?”
“Come on, I’ll feed you. We can talk over breakfast.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t. I already have plans to go and die of mortification.”
“I’m sure you’ll manage to reschedule that.”
I reluctantly take his offered hand and let him pull me to my feet. My hip twinges in protest, and I try to hide my cringe, but he catches it.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I really did hurt my ass. But yeah, I’ll be fine.”
I follow Leon out to what I guess is supposed to be his kitchen. There’s one counter and a sink left.
“Can I ask something?”
“Just did.” He pulls out an electric skillet, and I walk to the fridge to grab the promised bacon and eggs. Normally I wouldn’t dream of making myself so comfortable in a near stranger’s house, but it’s not like I can sit around—literally. The place is close to empty.
“You’re a builder, but your house is so …”
“Rustic?” His level voice makes it hard to tell if he’s joking with me or not, until he throws a grin back over his shoulder.
“Yes, rustic, okay, go with that. Haven’t you been here long?”
Leon turns his back on me and starts to dump the bacon in the fry pan. It lets out an aggressive hiss before the sound dulls to a sizzle between us. “A bit over a year.”
“A year? I’d been expecting months, but hell. Leon, what have you been doing? How can you live like this?”
I realize what I’ve asked a second after it comes out of my mouth, of course. Thankfully, when he turns around, he looks more surprised than anything. “I’m sort of used to it.”
“Used to it?” I cast my eyes over the wall that has been stripped back and is just a bare frame. “I’ll take your word for that.”
He huffs, and for the first time, I notice a trickle of frustration in his expression. “It was supposed to be a fast flip job. A weekend hobby after the business got on its feet, but I underestimated how busy I’d be. Now, this place is an afterthought.”
I’m definitely sensing some regret from him, and it makes me want to wrap him up in cotton wool and snuggle him tight. Him. This enormous man who clearly has his life together a thousand times more than me.
He doesn’t need or want my sympathy.
But maybe he could use my help.
I kick at the loose floor tile, wondering how to word this. My interview yesterday was a bit of a mess, and last night was a total mess, and this morning was another addition to the general mess that is me, but if there’s the slightest chance at all that he could need me …
Leon clears his throat before I can follow that thought. “It’s what I wanted to talk to you about, actually.”
“Your … house?”
He pokes at the bacon some more before adding eggs to the pan. I’m not sure if his hesitation is deliberate or not, but I have to physically bite my tongue to keep from jumping in and filling the gaps and telling him I’m here, I’ll do it—whatever the hell he’s referring to.
He could be about to ask me to sacrifice a virgin to the construction gods, and I’m not so sure I’d care.
Though how someone goes about finding a virgin is—
“It’s clear I need, ah, help. And that’s hard for me to admit. I was barely managing everything in a week before I took on this contract in Port Welling, and now that it’s getting to the pointy end of planning, I’ll admit, I’m not sure how I’ll get it all done.”
“And?” I shove my hands into my pockets to stop myself from clasping them in excitement. It almost sounds like he’s about to bring up what I was about to mention, and if it turns out I’ve jumped ahead of myself, I’m going to be ridiculously disappointed.
“Last night you said some things that reminded me of how I felt before I started my business. In Sunbury, everyone kind of helps everyone. I’ve always been good with tools, and ever since I was a teenager, I liked fixing the things that needed to be fixed.
I did a bunch of YouTube tutorials and thought I was clever.
It came naturally. And there wasn’t one moment where I stopped and was like, okay, do I actually want to do this with my life?
I just did.” He quickly checks the food before turning back to me, a teasing glint in his eye.
“It’s clear a lot doesn’t come natural to you.
But the passion is there. That’s what I want.
So when we got back last night, I checked out the other people who applied for this job, and there wasn’t a single one who interested me.
Sure, a couple had some experience, but … ”
I shift a little under his stare, and he looks like he’s not sure what to say next.
“I think it’s obvious I can’t let you out of my sight. That’s three times I’ve seen you and three times you haven’t been able to stay on your feet.” He chuckles and rubs a hand over his face. “If I put you on-site with one of my guys, you’re basically a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
“I would be extra careful, I swear. I know I don’t look it, but I’m good with tools, and if there are other people around, I’m doubly careful. It’s usually only myself who ends up getting hurt.” I laugh weakly, but he doesn’t join in.
“That said, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve gotta give you a chance.”
“Oh my—”
“A trial, at least.” He scratches his beard. “But you’ll stick by me. Maybe I’ll send you on errands or whatever, but I’ll feel better when we’re on-site if I know where you are.”
Happy tingles have reached all the way to my fingertips, and I’m dying to jump into his arms and squeeze the ever-loving life out of him. I have enough presence of mind to remember he’s now my boss, not a casual almost-fling. “You’re not going to regret this.”
Leon sighs. “Pretty sure we both know that’s horseshit. But here’s hoping.”