Chapter 2
Chapter two
Max
"Hey, Max, can you hand me a new tube?" Archer pulls the empty container from the caulking gun and holds a gloved hand out to me.
DP Construction is renovating the reception hall that Violet and Brooks purchased last year, and we're hauling ass to get this place ready for the first scheduled wedding in June.
"Here." I throw the bag filled with caulk too hard, and it bounces by his feet. "Shit. Sorry."
"What's got you all worked up?" Emmett asks, reaching down to gather the scattered containers and handing one to Archer.
"Wait, I need like fifteen seconds, then I want to hear about it too," Archer says, ducking into the bathroom to finish the seal on the toilet.
"Nothing." I shake my head. "It's nothing!" I yell louder when I hear Archer's muffled protests.
"Dude." Emmett crosses his arms and glares at me. We've been friends for so long, I know he's not going to drop it.
"I stopped for a bear claw this morning."
"At Sugarplum?" Emmett asks.
"Betty and Candy were obsessing over a dating website." I shrug. "It's no big deal."
"I don't think Slate would be cool with that," Jameson growls as he comes into the room we're working on with his clipboard. His gaze darts to each wall, and he jots down notes on my rough-in progress. Electrical wires sprout from every box, ready for installation.
"No. Candy wasn't signing up." I shake my head and turn back to my work, hoping they’ll drop it.
But the silence is deafening.
I glance back over my shoulder and scowl. They’re all lined up, staring at me.
"What?" I bark.
"You're this upset because Betty's signing up for a dating website? I'm sure she'd let you take her out to dinner if you asked nicely," Emmett says with a shit-eating grin.
"Hell, man. Don't do it. Betty would eat him alive." Archer claps Emmett on the back, and all three guys laugh. Well, Jameson grunts with a half-smile, which is as close as he gets to laughing.
"No." I grit my teeth, irritated that they won't let this go. "They signed Aubrey up for a dating website."
"Ah, and that has you all worked up?" Archer prods.
"I'm not worked up," I snap, then force a laugh when they all raise their eyebrows at my contradictory tone. "I had to wait there while they rated her prospects. I needed to get to work."
"Oh, so you were inconvenienced this morning. Of course. I'd be pissed too." Archer nods.
I eye him suspiciously. His words don’t match his tone, but I want this conversation to be over, so I nod slowly.
"Yes. I didn't want to be late."
"Again, you mean. Late again," Jameson adds unhelpfully.
"So I like a pastry in the morning. Sue me." I shake my head and turn back to the wiring.
"Right, so if I bring you a muffin every day, you'll be on time?" Jameson asks.
I shake my head noncommittally, even as my cheeks heat.
"Nah, man. Then he wouldn't get his daily dose of Aubrey," Archer teases.
I glare at him. "Sugarplum is the best in town." The back of my neck itches, but I don't want to seem fidgety, so I clench my jaw and stubbornly ignore it. "I can't help that it's her place. Am I supposed to eat subpar baked goods just because she hates me?"
"Hates you?" Archer asks, glancing at Jameson with that irritating smirk. "You're the one always glaring at her."
I don't say anything, turning back to the job I’ve assured Jameson will be completed by the end of the day.
"Don't worry about that dating website, man," Emmett says as he pulls out his tape measure. "One of Barrett Billings' friends is coming to town, and Piper wants to introduce him to Aubrey."
"Your brother-in-law? The billionaire?" I turn to gape at him. My blood pressure flies through the roof, but I cross my arms, trying to hide my reaction.
Emmett nods. "Yeah, apparently this guy is loaded."
"Money isn't everything," I scoff, but Archer's next words have my heart beating furiously.
"Oh, yeah. The guy she told Hadley Marie about. Apparently, he volunteers as a firefighter in his spare time and helps at the local animal shelter rescuing kittens and shit. His arms are like tree trunks. Is he coming here just to meet Aubrey?"
"Yeah." Emmett nods, marking measurements on the subfloor with his pencil. "I wouldn't be surprised if she heads back to the city to live happily ever after in the next few months."
"Over my dead body," I growl, my fists clenching. I'm overcome with the need to punch something.
"Why not?" he asks, his face scrunched up in confusion.
"Because she's mine!" I yell, then immediately clamp a hand over my mouth in shock. If the white-hot rage hadn't blinded me to being played by my best friend, I would’ve caught myself in time.
"About damn time," Archer says with a smug grin.
Emmett hoots. Even Jameson looks mildly amused, which is saying a lot for his grumpy ass.
"No," I state firmly. The mythology of this town has everyone talking about the damn water and instalove. But that kind of stuff belongs in books. I am not going down as some star-struck, love-sick mountain man.
Even as I think it, my heart squeezes. Because deep down, I know that means I don't get her. Fuck.
My phone pings, and I grab it irritably, even though I'm grateful for the distraction.
Hayes
Did you get everything set up?
Oh, shit.
I'm leaving the farm now. I'll be home in about two hours, but I'm barely going to beat Sara there.
Double-shit.
"Hey, Jameson. I forgot to set up Hayes' anniversary present for Sara this morning. I have to go," I say, gathering my tools.
Jameson sighs. "Max, I need the electrical done in here and the annex space by tomorrow. Violet's friend is coming in, and she's staying here while we work."
"Really? In the annex? She knows we're still working on the building, right?" Archer asks, exchanging a look with Emmett.
"I've explained it to Violet and Brooks repeatedly, but they said she won't mind. She's going to be in charge of bridal experiences and wants to ‘become one with the place’ before she starts the job," Jameson says in disgust.
Jameson, Emmett, Hayes, and I have been friends since we were kids. We ended up in Duhring Park because our friend, Cole, fell in love here and we were in his wedding.
Jameson had his heart broken when his fiancée left him for his cousin three years ago. Cole's bachelor party wasn't too long after that, and I think Jameson saw a fresh start. He moved to Duhring Park and started DP Construction. The rest, as they say, is history.
We're growing so fast that we added Archer to the team, and we're looking for a few more to join soon. It's fantastic, and I'm happy for Jameson. But he’s thrown himself into work instead of dealing with his feelings. He certainly doesn't have much patience for people these days.
My phone pings again.
Will you be ready?
Hayes is bringing home a puppy, and I need to get the space set up. I can get it done, but I have to go now.
"Look, I'll come right back and work late tonight. And I'll come in early tomorrow morning. I can get the entire list done by tomorrow afternoon, and we can still make it to McGurdy's for a cold one." I grin at my friend.
Jameson sighs heavily. He's annoyed, but he knows I'll follow through. I'm a man of my word.
"Fine." He narrows his eyes at me. "But no Sugarplum tomorrow morning."
I consider crossing my fingers even as I nod in agreement. Maybe a sugar detox is what I need. "Thanks, bud."
I respond to Hayes' text with a thumbs up.
Headed over now. Plenty of time.
Thanks. You sure you don't want me to get you the sister?
"Fuck me. She's adorable," I mutter.
I’m the go-to dog watcher for Emmett when he needs one. I'll certainly help Hayes and Sara with the new pup if they need it, but something is holding me back from getting one myself.
"Who?" Archer peers over my shoulder. "Aww, is that Sara's present?"
"No, that's the one Hayes is trying to talk me into." I sigh and type out my response.
Tempting, but not right now.
"You can't even commit to a dog?" Archer pokes me.
Emmett barks out a loud laugh.
I gather my tools and raise my middle finger high above my head as I leave. The chorus of laughter behind me doesn't make me any less irritated.
I’ve never been in love with anyone… until last year. One second, I was meeting some of Violet's friends and my life was normal. Next, I was head over heels in love with a stranger, and everything I thought I knew about the world was topsy-turvy.
She's tall, blonde, and curvy, with round hips, sexy tits, and a smile that brings me to my knees. One look at Aubrey, and my soul was connected. But it was insane. Just because I felt it didn’t mean she wanted me.
If the angry glares she sends my way are any indication, she would prefer I didn’t exist at all.
Even as I hustle to my truck, I wonder if I have time to swing by Sugarplum on my way back to the job site in a bit.
Fuck me.
I'm addicted, craving the one treat I know I can never have.