Chapter 8 Forest
FOREST
“This isn’t going to work, is it?” I glanced at my slacks and button-down. There was no way to know how I should dress for the interview. I still couldn’t believe I’d gotten one, given I had zero experience working with cars. And yes, I knew I wouldn’t be doing that.
“Why wouldn’t it?” my brother asked. “You’re smart as hell, For. They’d be foolish not to hire you.”
“What if I answer a question wrong?”
“Considering you have no idea how to even change the oil in a car, I think it’s a solid guess that you’re going to answer something incorrectly.
That’s not what you should focus on. Yes, give them an honest answer, but if you don’t know how to do a task, push what you are good at.
Spin it so you show your skills. Your ride will be here any minute.
” Hartley said he had a friend who was driving me who knew the city well.
He’d also said it was better if I wasn’t alone.
I didn’t know what the hell he was getting at, but he was adamant.
I knew the city by now. I’d been here long enough.
This was one of those pick your battles situations, and I wasn’t choosing this one.
The door to the studio opened, the bell over it ringing.
Sheldon walked in with his blond hair pulled back and a faint scruff on his jaw.
When it was loose, his hair fell almost to his shoulders.
Why I found it so appealing was down to the man wearing it.
I couldn’t forget how he was the last time I saw him though, how he left like he didn’t care to be in front of me any longer.
His eyes caught mine and held them. Before either of us could say a word, Hartley stepped in front of me to face Sheldon.
“Thank you for coming. Forest needs a ride and you’re just the person to give him one.
” I could feel my face burning. I’d ask what was wrong with my brother, but this was par for the course with him.
Sheldon nodded, his eyes not leaving mine. He didn’t react to what my brother had said. No joke. No sarcastic comment. Shit. I still had zero clue what I’d done, and Hartley didn’t either. He said he’d barely seen Sheldon.
“Where are we going?” Sheldon asked. “I’m guessing you cleared this with Jordan. I’m not usually a driver.”
My brother turned, rolling his eyes as he did so.
“Please. Like I’d just ask one of his best guards for a favor without telling him.
Jordan was fine with it. He even said it was good you were getting the fuck out of his building for a while.
His words, not mine.” Hartley put his hands on his hips and looked me up and down.
“You’re going to do great. Just remember what I said. Go, before you’re late.”
“Thank you for your help.”
He waved me off. “It’s nothing.” It wasn’t, but I didn’t press it.
Sheldon had a black Lincoln Navigator at the curb. He opened the passenger side door for me, which was a surprise. I tried not to let it show as I climbed in, and he closed the door. My hands shook while I buckled, and it was not because I was nervous about the interview.
“Where are we going?” he asked when he got behind the wheel and started it.
“JJ’s shop.”
He raised an eyebrow, then turned to pull out onto the street. “Why are we going there? If you don’t mind me asking that is.”
“I have an interview.”
Sheldon’s foot hit the brake, causing me to lurch forward, the seat belt catching me. “Shit. Sorry, there was a rabbit.” He accelerated again.
I turned around, although there was no rabbit in sight. “I’ve never seen one in the city.”
“They’re rare, but every once in a while they pop out. Daring fuckers. Why are you looking for a job there? You’re not a mechanic.”
“No shit.” I chuckled. “It’s for the office manager. I want to do a job that’s different from what I’ve done in the past. Maybe it will be more exciting.”
“Or maybe you’ll get your ass shot when someone comes looking for JJ and aims at his shop.” There were enough stories going around that I’d heard it had happened before, but not in a while. JJ was hardly there.
“Has there been an incident recently?”
Sheldon rubbed the back of his neck. “No, it’s just… You have to be careful.”
“I’m going to be tucked away in an office, not standing on the sidewalk flagging potential customers down.”
“It’s still dangerous.”
The SUV swerved as Sheldon abruptly changed lanes. The way his knuckles whitened as he held on to the steering wheel had me tensing.
“What’s happening?” I asked. “Is there something wrong? Is someone following us?”
His head whipped in my direction for a second. “What? No, why would you think that?”
“You’re pissed and I can’t figure out why.”
“You’d be safer in an office environment or working from home.” Was that what this was about? I was so damn confused. The last time I’d seen him, he acted like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough. Now he wanted me safe at home rather than pursuing a new career?
I was about to ask him what was going on when he turned the SUV around in the middle of the street and parked along the curb. “What time is your interview?” Damn, he drove fast.
“In five minutes.”
He nodded and shut the vehicle off. “Let’s go. I don’t want to linger out here.”
Before he could open the door, I grabbed his arm. Sheldon’s whole body froze as he slowly turned in my direction, gray-blue eyes meeting mine.
“Would you please stop for a second?” I asked. “I don’t understand what I did to chase you away the other night. Now you’re acting like I’m in imminent danger, and you’re my personal bodyguard. I’m so fucking confused.”
“I’ll explain later. You should go inside. I can stay here if you want, but I’d rather not.”
“I’m going to hold you to it.” I gave his arm a gentle squeeze, feeling the muscles flex beneath my fingers, before releasing him. “I’d like you to come with me. Not for the interview. It would be nice to know someone.”
He nodded, and we exited the SUV. Sheldon walked at my side toward the front of the shop.
For a moment, I thought his hand brushed my lower back.
I couldn’t be certain and didn’t want to turn to look at him.
Having him this close, his body near mine, was doing shit to me I shouldn’t have had to fight as I walked in for an interview.
If only I had better control over myself around him. My body was all over the place.
Sheldon held the door open for me. We could have gone through the open bay doors, but that didn’t feel right. I didn’t work here and knew nothing of their policies.
“There he is,” I heard the moment we were in the door.
JJ Altair needed no introduction. Even if I hadn’t met him before, I’d sense the power he exuded. It was similar to Jordan’s, although I didn’t think JJ meant to do it.
Around the same height as me, JJ’s gaze was sharp, bouncing from me to Sheldon and staying there.
JJ’s blond hair was brushed away from his face, and the dress shirt he wore had the top couple of buttons undone.
The sleeves were rolled up, revealing tattoos beneath.
Even dressed for the office, JJ screamed danger.
“I hope you know I wasn’t talking to you,” he said to Sheldon. “You should wait outside.” He made a shooing motion with his hand.
Sheldon leaned toward me to whisper loudly, “I freak JJ out. He doesn’t like it when I’m calm. Apparently, it’s terrifying.” He even gave his voice a spooky note when he said it.
“Jesus Christ, I’m not afraid of you, jackass. I can’t handle the emotionless shit.”
“I’m not emotionless. Ask anyone who knows me. Maybe I only behave this way around you. Did you ever think of that? I like toying with you, JJ. It makes my day.” What the hell was I witnessing? Sheldon smirked, and JJ visibly shivered.
“The less I know, the better,” JJ stated. “Forest, it’s nice to see you again.” We hadn’t spent a lot of time together, only when we were in the same room for a gathering.
I stepped forward and offered my hand, which JJ shook. “Thank you for the opportunity to interview. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Please,” he scoffed. “You’re smarter than that. My old man found out you applied, thanks to your brother, and texted me.”
My chin dropped to my chest. This was a courtesy, nothing more. Sure, I could still get through this and show them I was able to do the job. What would be the point? Jordan did what he typically did and got involved when he shouldn’t have. I wanted to earn this myself, not have favors called in.
“Hey,” Sheldon whispered. This time, his hand was definitely on my back. “We don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”
“Creepy, back up,” JJ told him.
Instead of doing what JJ said, Sheldon stepped closer to me. “I wouldn’t test me right now.”
My head snapped up. Why did he have to make this worse?
I was about to apologize when JJ let out a low whistle, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and rocked back on his heels.
“Well, well, he does have fire in him. I like this better. You’ve been upgraded from creepy to potentially tolerable.
We all have our vulnerabilities. I’m filing this away for later.
” He tapped his temple. Seriously, what the hell was happening?
It was like I was under water and couldn’t make sense of anything.
It was right there in front of me, yet out of reach.
JJ focused on me. “I didn’t mean it as a bad thing.
I’m honest and wanted you to know the chain of events.
In truth, Keith probably wouldn’t have brought you in.
He’s the other owner of the shop and is currently filling this role until we find someone.
I told him it would be good to get new blood in here who didn’t live and breathe motor oil and grease.
We don’t need you to crawl under a car. The job is to help with the business side of shit. That’s why you’re here to interview.”
“Why are you here then?” Sheldon asked. “If his being interviewed has nothing to do with your father, why bother showing?”
“You’re going to be a different kind of pain in my ass now, aren’t you?”
“Depends on where today goes. I like to keep my options open.”
“In case you’ve forgotten, this shop is still mine.
I co-own it. I can come and go as I please.
Hell, I can interview Forest if I want. The office manager is a key role.
It only seemed fitting I was here. Plus, I’m a nice fucking guy.
Stop being an asshole and let Forest interview for the goddamn job. ”
“I’m not stopping him.”
JJ tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling just like I’d seen Jordan do countless times. “Fuck my old man for this bullshit. Just when I think it’s getting better, this happens.” His gaze was on us again. “Keith.”
A clean-shaven man with deep brown eyes exited what I assumed was an office. Keith wasn’t a small guy. The T-shirt he wore had grease stains on it and was taut against his body. Blue coveralls sat on his hips, the top part hanging loose. “It’s about time. I have shit to do.”
“He’s nice,” JJ told me. “I promise. He just has a Cadillac that’s giving him grief.”
“Day’s got it while I’m in here.” He held out his hand. “Forest, it’s nice to meet you. If you’ll step inside, we can get started.”
I nodded, grateful to move on from the weird conversation out here.