Chapter 12 Forest
FOREST
I was supposed to have first day of work jitters, but I didn’t.
Instead, I had a nervous stomach because Sheldon spent yesterday in my apartment and most of the night.
He left this morning before I got up. There was a note on my nightstand about him needing to get back to work.
It wasn’t a surprise, given who employed him. Jordan could call him at any time.
What surprised me was the knock on my door as I was about to leave. I opened it to find Kayli on the other side.
“Hi,” I said, confused as to why she was here.
She eyed me up and down, her shoulder-length blond hair falling forward slightly as she did so. “You’re wearing that to work at a garage?”
Glancing down, I took in my loafers, black slacks, and baby-blue button-down. “What? I’m not wearing a tie or a jacket. I thought this was a nice middle ground.”
“Sure, whatever you say.”
“No, you don’t. Should I change?” Now I was nervous. What if what I wore was wrong? They didn’t give me a dress code per se, just told me to wear something other than pajamas. “I’m not working on cars.”
“I guess that makes sense then. So you’re not going to get under the hood or change oil or anything like that?”
I shook my head. “It’s an office job.”
“Okay, that’s more like it. I was only told to go to work with you at JJ’s shop.” Going to work with…
“Why would you go with me?” Before she could answer, I said, “Sheldon.”
“Bingo. At least you’re sharp this morning. Sheldon looked well rested too.” She winked.
Oh my god. My face immediately heated. “We didn’t… We aren’t…”
“It’s okay. Whatever you do or don’t do with him is between you two. I’m just glad to see him more alive and not in his usual morning zombie state. You ready to go? I have to get you there on time.”
“I’m capable of taking myself there.”
“Sure, but with me here, you don’t need to. I have the Nav parked out back.” Did Jordan have an unlimited fleet of Lincoln Navigators?
Instead of fighting her, because I’d lose, I grabbed my wallet, keys, and phone and headed for the door. I could have brought a briefcase and looked like I had shit inside it, but there was no point. I had nothing to take with me since Keith said everything would be there.
Once I was seated inside the SUV, I asked, “Are you staying with me all day?”
“Yup. Fun times for us both.” She pulled out onto the street, merging with the morning rush-hour traffic.
Kayli was someone who was underestimated, not by Jordan or his guards, but by those who didn’t know her.
She was at least four inches shorter than me and lean.
Dressed in a pair of jeans and a pink short-sleeved shirt, she didn’t look intimidating at all.
I’d seen her in action in Jordan’s gym though. I knew what she was capable of.
“Are you coming with me every day?” I asked. I could cope better if I knew what I was dealing with. I wasn’t used to having a guard with me like my brother and Vail were.
“I have no idea. I got a call this morning saying I was to take you to work, stay with you, then drive you home, where I would be relieved of my duty by your boyfriend.”
I coughed and spluttered. “He’s not… We haven’t…
” Shouldn’t Sheldon and I have this conversation instead of me having it with Kayli?
We didn’t speak about who we were to each other, only that there was something between us, and Sheldon was willing to take it as slow as I wanted.
I wasn’t sure how slow I wanted to go. Everything felt brand new.
“Calm down,” she said and patted my thigh.
“I’m only fucking with you. I wanted to see how you’d react.
God, you’re cute when you get flustered.
Too bad I didn’t catch your eye. Then again, you’re the boss’s partner’s brother, so that’s pretty much off-limits for me.
I have enough to deal with without adding a work complication.
” I hadn’t even thought about Jordan having an issue with Sheldon and me being together.
“Shit, do you think he’s upset about Sheldon spending time with me?”
She chuckled. “No. Sheldon’s been pining for you for a long time.
Jordan’s probably happy you two are finally doing something about it.
Sheldon isn’t always the easiest to work with.
He’s a moody fucker, even though he tries to hide it under a sea of calm.
He’s good at it, mind you, but I see through it. ”
“I’m still not sure how he does it. I wouldn’t be able to stay that relaxed in the situations he’s in.”
“Believe me, he’s the only one with that level of skill. It’s wild to see him in action.” It made my stomach knot to think about Sheldon out there in danger, where anyone could hurt him, and him staying calm the entire time.
“How did he convince Jordan to put a guard on me? I’m not anyone Jordan should worry about. There aren’t any active threats against his family currently.”
“That I don’t know. Jordan was his usual irritable self this morning, barking at me on the phone to get my ass ready to guard you.
I rolled my eyes like I usually do and got dressed.
It’s fine, honest. I’m used to this. Jordan does what he does for a reason.
My guess is Sheldon drove him up a fucking wall with annoyance until Jordan caved and agreed to put a guard on you.
I’m just the lucky one who got to take you today. ”
“I’m sorry. This isn’t the best way to spend your time.”
“Please. I’m usually on standby for whenever he needs something. At least I get to be busy.”
Before I could say anything else, Kayli pulled up to the shop. It was better Kayli was with me rather than Sheldon. With him, I’d be more nervous only because he’d be here. I didn’t know how to act around him. It was like I was starting over in every way when I wasn’t.
“Let’s do this,” she said and turned off the SUV.
It was just a job. If I sucked at it, at least I’d tried. That counted for a lot. Not everyone would be able to leap into a new career. I had to keep looking on the bright side. I could also learn a lot about cars, considering I didn’t know much about them.
We entered through the front door of the shop. Keith was waiting for us behind the reception desk, and there were a few customers sitting in chairs while their vehicles were being taken care of.
“Forest,” Keith said in greeting, a smile on his face. “Let me take care of this, and I’ll introduce you to our team. They’re excited to meet you.”
A man exited the office in the hallway where I was interviewed.
He had wavy brown hair and wore a pair of coveralls that hung on his waist, a black tank top covering his upper half.
“That’s because we can use K on the floor.
We’re slammed. The heat isn’t helping either.
We’re not the nicest bunch when we’re sweating. ”
“Forest, this is Damian. Day meet Forest.”
Damian stepped forward to offer his hand. We shook. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“We need the organization in there.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
“Can I help you?” Keith asked, looking behind me.
“Me?” I heard Kayli say. “No, I’m with Forest. I’ll be here all day.”
Keith raised his eyebrows, then lowered them. “You know what? I don’t even care. JJ said you might have someone with you. I didn’t expect…”
“Kayli,” she said. “You’ll remember me, I’m sure.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it.”
Damian suddenly stepped in front of Keith. “He means that in a strictly you aren’t ever going there way.”
“Hey, I’m only here to work,” Kayli replied. “It’s too bad though. All that grease and sweat—”
“Anyway,” Keith cut in. “Let’s take you out there so the customers can relax in the air-conditioning.” I had to wonder how much more Kayli or Damian would have said had others not been listening.
Damian clapped me on the shoulder the moment we were out of the customers’ earshot. “If you couldn’t tell from that, Keith and I are in a relationship with each other, and Jeremy, another one of our mechanics. I’m assuming there won’t be any shit from you, considering JJ vouched for you as well.”
I held my hands up. “I’m guessing you know nothing about me.”
“We’ve been busy, and Keith hasn’t filled much in.”
“My brother is one of Jordan Sr.’s partners. I’m more than fine with three people being in a relationship.”
“Ohhh, that makes sense now. No wonder you were a quick hire. I already figured you knew your shit to work in the office, but having you be part of that life makes it easier to be here and not stress over being around JJ when he stops by.” I could see how it would bother others who weren’t comfortable working with JJ, given who his father was.
“Honestly,” I said, “I’m grateful to be given a chance. This is a career change for me. I wanted something different, closer to home.”
“It’s a fun environment when we’re not neck deep in repairs.”
Damian went back to work while Keith introduced me to the other people who were working today. Kayli was introduced as well.
Every time I’d talked to her, she was friendly to me, but there was this undercurrent of danger I wasn’t certain others noticed. Maybe I’d been around a mafia boss too long. Who knew?
After that, I was taken into the office where Keith sat with me for a couple of hours, going over the systems, where he wanted me to start, and how he’d like me to get their records into shape.
It wasn’t that they didn’t keep them. It was they just threw them into a pile and didn’t think of them again.
Sure, a lot was on the computer, but there were paper stacks too.
The computer was a whole other issue. It was a newer machine with current software. It lacked organization.
Keith said they needed me to handle what they didn’t have time to or couldn’t because they didn’t know how to.
Keith was familiar with the software, but he was being pulled in too many directions, given them being down a couple of employees.
We were interrupted repeatedly, yet Keith remained cool and handled each person as they came in like they were his best friend, treating them with kindness and respect.
I’d listened as he did the same for the customers.
It was nearing the end of the day when I realized this wasn’t just a shop. This was a family. Everyone took their job seriously, but they also knew when to joke and have fun. There was a balance, one I was happy to witness. Not every place had that. I was fortunate to have found somewhere that did.