Chapter Eighteen Lee #2
Unfortunately, literally every coherent thought leaves my head when I round the truck only to be greeted by the sight of Nico in battered, low-slung jeans, a worn, white T-shirt that clings lovingly to the long lines of his torso, and an actual toolbelt coming towards me.
I’m not sure if he’s really walking in slow motion and being soundtracked by Ginuwine or if my brain is doing that, but Oh. My. God.
As he swaggers closer I have to lean back against the bumper, my knees dissolving from under me. This feels indecent, filthy. Someone should do something! This is pornography! Happening right in our streets!
‘Lee,’ his mouth kicks up, and he’s pulling off a pair of work gloves, tucking them into the back pocket of his jeans. Why is that the sexiest thing to ever happen? ‘You didn’t need to bring my lunch. Luke said he’d pick it up.’
You know the sound that the dial up internet used to make when it connected? The horrible disjointed whirring and beeping then the long, shrill scream? That is what is happening in my brain right now.
‘No car,’ I gasp finally, the words absolutely airless.
Nico frowns. ‘What?’
‘You don’t have a car,’ I swallow, my eyes flickering all over him, unable to settle on any one detail.
His arms, muscled and tanned against the white T-shirt, his biceps definitely more…
substantial than the last time I saw him, the tattoos, the heavy work boots, the unshaven jaw, the gleam of the tiny gold hoop in his ear, almost hidden behind the fall of his dark curls. He’s all dusty and dishevelled and…
‘… get there all right?’ he asks and I realise he’s been talking this whole time.
‘Yep,’ I squeak. ‘Yes. Sure. Fine.’
‘Are you okay?’ he asks, suddenly concerned. ‘You look a bit flushed.’ He steps right up to me and lays his hand over my forehead, the other cradling my cheek. Big, callused man hands.
I whimper and clutch the giant paper bag full of food to my chest, holding it like a barrier between us.
‘I’m fine,’ I say, staggering away from him. ‘A bit warm from the… truck. I think I had the heating up too high. I don’t have the controls figured out yet.’
‘Oh,’ he pries the bag gently out of my death grip, hefting it lightly on one arm, ‘I can take a look at that before you head home.’
‘No need,’ I say, feeling a bit steadier.
As long as I don’t look directly at him everything is fine.
I find myself fascinated by a patch of gravel to his left.
‘I’m going to walk back. You said it’s faster, right?
And I figured you might need the truck for your…
’ My eyes dip to his belt of their own accord and I feel lightheaded again. ‘Tools.’
‘Yeah, we need to sort you out with your own transport while you’re here,’ Nico says. ‘Luke said his mum’s old car is just sitting in their garage. He’s going to check with her to see if you can use it, but he doesn’t think it will be a problem.’
‘Oh,’ I push my hair back away from my face, trying really hard to focus on the conversation, ‘that’s so nice of him.’
‘It’s not his car,’ Nico says, his voice suddenly gruff.
‘I know, but it’s nice of him to think of it,’ I say. ‘I really like him.’
‘You really like him?’
I nod frantically. ‘Yup.’
‘What exactly do you like about him?’ Nico’s eyes are fixed on me, and I think he must be realising how flustered I am.
‘Oh, you know,’ I say, barely able to remember what we’re talking about. Luke! Right, Luke. ‘He seems like a good guy. He made me feel really welcome last night.’
Nico’s posture softens. ‘Of course he did. All my friends loved you.’
‘Really?’ I ask hopefully. I’d want his friends to like me anyway, because they’re important to Nico, but I realise now that I want them to like me for me, too.
Last night was a bit like that first morning with Nico and Phoebe…
a glimpse at the sort of life I always wanted but never felt I could have.
‘Yes,’ he huffs out a laugh. ‘They’ve formed a Lee Turner-Jones fan club. Mei told me they’re only using me to get access to you from now on.’
I can’t hold back a laugh at this. ‘Kat did invite me out to girls’ night,’ I confide, trying to sound cool about it but failing miserably.
‘That’s great,’ Nico says with another smile. ‘So,’ he turns and gestures behind him to the inn, ‘do you want the tour? Are you going to stay and keep me company over lunch?’
‘Yes, please. All of it.’
He leads the way towards the door. ‘Do you need me to wear a hard hat or something?’ I ask.
When he turns back to look at me there’s amusement in his face.
‘As much as I’d like to see you rocking a hard hat, the structural work is long finished.
That’s why the rest of the crew are done…
the whole project is wrapping up. It’s all cosmetic now, so you’re fine, just watch where you step – especially in those heels. ’
‘I think I’d look great in a hard hat,’ I say, following him through into the entrance hall that I saw briefly the other night, which is acting as a bit of a storage space – boxes, tools and tins of paint are stacked against the walls. Nico puts the bag of food down next to a rolled-up rug.
‘If anyone could pull it off, it’s you,’ he says, and it’s not even a real compliment, but try telling that to my face because I can feel the broad, delighted smile stretching across it. So much for playing it cool.
‘Come on,’ he gestures towards the staircase, ‘let me show you what I’ve been up to.’