Measure of a Man: A Friends to Lovers Reverse Age Gap Romance
Prologue
ONE YEAR EARLIER…
The true measure of a man is seen in how he treats a woman, Justin. Remember that.
It’s been nine years since my old man caught Gracie Janikowski and me steaming up my truck windows after our junior prom, and I still haven’t forgotten his words.
But why they came to me this morning out of the blue, I have no idea. That is, until I pull into the Enders Excavating parking lot bright and early and find myself parked next to Rachel Perry.
“Morning, Jinx.” The gorgeous auburn-haired woman flashes a cheery grin over the top of her car, then ducks down, disappearing to grab something from the passenger seat.
“Hey, Rach. Shouldn’t you be at school already?” Last I heard, she was still teaching kindergarten at Cole Creek Elementary.
“Yep, I should,” she says, reappearing and blowing tendrils of long hair from her flushed face. “Could you grab this bakery box for me? I’ve got Craig’s lunch and thermos, too.”
“Donuts?” I waggle my eyebrows. “Say less.”
She laughs softly as I jog around to the other side of her car. “It’s been a while since I sent in treats, and since Craig forgot his lunch box and coffee, I figured today was a good day to remedy that.”
“I sure as hell won’t complain.” I’ll take free breakfast any day, even if guilt niggles at me. The last thing she should be thinking about is feeding us. The woman has enough on her plate already. She works full time, and she’s raising two kids. Not to mention she’s married to Craig Perry, the one guy on the Enders Excavating crew I don’t like.
Pink and white box in hand, I close the passenger door and follow the click of her heels on the sidewalk to the front door. The whole way there, I crane my neck, trying my damnedest not to look at her ass in that snug navy skirt. I may not like her husband, but I’m not about to disrespect him by ogling his wife.
Laughter from the guys already waiting for our Monday morning meeting wafts into the vestibule as Rachel continues ahead of me. I’m only feet behind her, but when she catches the toe of her shoe on the rug and stumbles, there’s no stopping the thermos and small cooler that go sailing through the air.
“Shit.” She grabs the doorframe to steady herself just as the thermos hits the ground with a crack and dark liquid seeps from the lid and onto the tile.
“Whoa, you okay?” Jesse rushes over and grasps Rachel’s forearm. He checks on her quickly, then crouches and turns the thermos upright to stop the spillage.
“I’m fine.” She pushes the hair from her face and rubs her fingers against her forehead, her gaze trained on the mess. “I’m so sorry. I just…”
“Hey, it’s all right.” Jesse squeezes her arm. “Connor, grab some paper towels from the bathroom, will ya?”
“On it.” He jumps up from his seat and hurries off.
Craig, however, gives a deep sigh and slowly gets to his feet. “What are you even doing here?” he asks, his irritated tone instantly pissing me off. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
Rachel nods. “Yes, but you forgot your lunch, and I thought I’d bring donuts…” Her voice cracks as she balls her trembling hands into fists at her sides. “I’m just going to go. Jesse, I’m so sorry about the mess.”
“Hey, no problem.” My older brother’s brow creases as he looks from her to Craig, probably wondering what his problem is, too.
“You sure you’re okay?” I ask when she turns to where I still stand behind her with the bakery box.
“I’m fine,” she rasps, as if the tears lining her honey-gold eyes aren’t as obvious as the quiver in her voice. “Enjoy the donuts.” With that, she hurries out the door and to her car without looking back.
My gut clenches. The urge to go after her is just as strong as the urge to punch Craig in his fucking face for not doing it himself.
“Sorry about that, man.” Craig finally takes a paper towel from Connor and squats to help Jesse clean up the spilled coffee. “She’s always been a klutz.”
Jesse makes a throaty noncommittal sound, and I shake my head. Craig just won asshole of the week, and it’s only just begun.
I glance back to the parking lot in time to see Rachel back out.
I may bite my tongue now, but one thing is for sure.
If I had a woman like Rachel Perry, the last damn thing I’d do is let her walk away.