Chapter 31
31
COLE
It was only pizza and a movie , I repeated to myself while trying to concentrate on this interview, but my mind kept going back to last night when I’d closed the garage by seven and went upstairs to find Paige staring into the refrigerator.
But it was the way she looked at me when I came out of the bathroom and stood in the kitchen doorway that I would never forget. She didn’t even attempt to hide her attraction, or maybe she couldn’t. I sure as hell couldn’t.
For the first time in a long time, my sisters were a welcome distraction. After they left, we finally ordered a pizza and sat down to watch a movie. It wasn’t the best movie, and we both fell asleep, but when I woke in the middle of the night with her head on my shoulder, I knew I wanted that for the rest of my life.
“What are the hours?”
Paige elbowed me gently, and I snapped out of my thoughts to focus on Chris. Was that his name? Yeah, it was definitely Chris. I’d asked him if he had any questions before I got lost in a smile Paige sent my way. “I let everyone set their own hours for the most part, but the office is open from nine to five.”
“Hmm...” He frowned. “Nine? I’m not much of a morning person. I could probably start by ten or eleven.”
It didn’t really matter what time he thought he could start because there was no way in hell I was hiring this little asshole after the way he’d talked to Paige for the entire interview.
He smirked at Paige. “What time do you start?”
“I work in the office,” she answered sarcastically, “so I’m sure you can figure that out.”
I held back the laugh I really wanted to let loose, knowing this idiot didn’t even realize she was mocking him, considering I had just told him the office hours.
“You may just be worth getting out of bed for.” Obviously, he thought that line was a compliment, but it wasn’t. I could tell by Paige’s raised eyebrows that she was annoyed.
“Okay.” I stood and gestured toward the door. “We’ll call you if we plan on hiring you. If you don’t hear from us, we went in another direction.”
Chris stood and winked at Paige. “You have my number.”
I walked around the desk and jerked open the door. “Time to go.”
I slammed the door after he left, locked it, and turned to face Paige.
She shook her head. “You don’t even have to ask. He’s a hard no.”
I nodded. “I wasn’t going to ask.”
She ran her hand through her hair. “Why do some guys act like that?”
“No idea. I’ve never acted like that. My dad would’ve skinned me alive if he heard me talk to a woman that way.”
“You haven’t.” She tilted her head to the side. “Actually, your cousins don’t act like that either. How is that even possible with the way you all look?”
A grin tugged at my lips. “The way we look?”
She gave me the same annoyed look she’d given Chris. “You know what I mean.”
“I don’t,” I teased. “And I’d really like you to explain it to me.”
She sat down in her chair and refused to meet my eyes. “I’m not doing that.” She glanced at me. “Are you working tonight?”
I shrugged, not wanting to commit before I heard what she was going to say. I already knew she had made plans with Lanie because Jake had texted and asked if I was bringing her or if she’d need a ride. I told him I didn’t know, but in truth, I was waiting to see when she planned on telling me. “I don’t plan to. Why?”
“Umm…I was wondering if you would be able to drive me to Lanie’s? She invited me to her place for dinner, and she offered to pick me up, but…” She never finished her thought before she hurried on. “If you have to work, I’ll just cancel.”
“Cancel?” I was surprised to hear her say that. “Why would you do that?”
“I just know you work most nights and are behind, so I don’t want to be the reason you get further behind.”
“I’m actually back on schedule except for Bailey’s truck.” I grinned at her. “Thanks to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, all those calls you make and answer and dealing with the customers when they come in saves me a hell of a lot of time.”
“Oh.” She sat back in her chair. “I didn’t really think about it, but I’m glad.”
“If you need a ride tonight, I can take you.”
“Okay. I’d appreciate that.” Her eyes lit. “You should call Jake and see if he’ll be around.” She rubbed her palm over her thigh while she talked, almost as if she was anxious about inviting me. “I mean, if you wanna hang out with us. I’m sure Lanie won’t mind.”
Putting my hands on the arms of her chair, I spun her to face me as I squatted down. “You’re gonna have to help me out here, sweetheart, because you’re saying one thing, but you’re acting really nervous, and we have a history of misunderstanding each other. So let me be clear. I’ll take you, but I’m only staying if you want me to.”
She looked down at me, and I waited for her answer, not surprised when my stomach cramped in anticipation. I wanted her to want me there, but I couldn’t read her expression at all.
“I want you there,” she answered quietly but then followed up with words I equally loved and hated. “I feel safe with you.”
“Then I’ll be there.” I smiled and pushed to stand. “Before we leave for the day, will you call Matt and Ryan? Matt said he needs full-time, and I have enough work for him, so you can offer him that. Offer Ryan part-time for now since he already has a job working for his uncle and just wants to make some extra money.”
“Got it,” she answered quickly. “When do you want their start date to be?”
“Leave it up to them, but not before Monday.” She nodded, and I continued, “What time do we need to leave tonight?”
“I told Lanie I could probably be there by six.”
I looked at the clock on the wall. It was just after four. “Okay, I’m going to work on Bailey’s truck for a while, and then I’ll be up to shower. We can leave around five thirty.”
She smiled, and her shoulders relaxed. “Thanks.” I’d just turned to leave when she called out to me. “Oh, and Cole?”
I turned back and saw her standing by the corner of her desk. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for last night.”
“Last night?”
“Yeah. I mean, you catching on to my tells when I’m getting a headache saved me from having one last night.”
“No problem.”
“And for coming up early.” She played with the edge of her blouse. “I know you used to work nonstop and that you come up early for me. I just want you to know I appreciate it.”
Tilting my head, I took the few steps back to her. I wanted to hear what else she had to say. “Anything else?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Are you making fun of me?”
Unable to stop myself from touching her, I reached out and laid my hand on her waist. “Nope. Just giving you a chance to say what you want to say.”
She glanced over my shoulder before meeting my stare. “I’m not always great at saying thank you. I’m trying to do better.”
“Or apologizing,” I reminded her with a grin.
Her lips tilted in a small smile. “Pretty soon, you’re not going to get either.”
“There she is.” I dropped my head, putting our faces closer together. “I like seeing pieces of her breaking through.”
Her smile wavered. “I’m starting to worry there are only pieces left.”
I laid my other hand against the side of her neck. “Nah, she’s in there. You just need a safe place to heal.” I ran my other hand along her side so both hands lay against her neck. “Just give it time.”
“I feel safe with you.” She smiled. “Is it weird I don’t feel this safe with anyone else?”
“No idea, sweetheart,” I answered honestly. “But it doesn’t matter. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
We held each other’s stare a moment too long, and when she cleared her throat and took a step back, I knew she needed space. Dropping my arms, I shoved my hands into my pockets.
“I’ll be ready at five thirty.”
I jerked up my chin but didn’t say more before making my way out to the garage. I wanted to be the person she felt safe with, but I also wanted to be more. I just had to put my feelings aside and be the person she needed me to be right now.
“Boss?”
My head snapped to the right when I heard Billy call out for me. “Yeah?”
“Gotta leave today at four thirty, remember?”
Oh shit, no, I hadn’t remembered until now. He’d asked me on Monday if he could because he had a date.
Grinning, I leaned my hip against the bumper of Bailey’s truck. “Where are you takin’ her?”
He smirked. “Not sure yet.”
My eyebrows rose. “This a girl you’ve been seeing for a while?”
“No.” He shrugged. “A friend set me up. It’s his friend’s sister.”
“And you don't know where you’re taking her yet?”
“Nah, I figured we’d drive around until we figure out what we want to do.” He tilted his head. “You got any ideas?”
“You gotta have something planned. At least show her you gave it some thought.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “What about grabbing a pizza and watching a movie?”
“Pizza and a movie is kind of lame.” He laughed. “You’re old, so you don’t get it.”
“I’m not old.” I scoffed. “I’m only twenty-nine.”
“Dude, I’m twenty.”
I couldn’t help but grin. However, it was a little unnerving that I either was old or had been out of the dating game so long that I thought pizza and a movie sounded good.
It was no coincidence that I’d had that night with Paige only yesterday.
And it was one of the best nights of my life.