Chapter 4
Kade
Some days, I really love my job. Truly. And then there are days like today, days when I’d give anything to be doing something else.
I’ve been up since the ass crack of dawn, bouncing between job sites to check on progress, squeezing in two meetings with clients about future projects.
The last one insisted they couldn’t meet any earlier than four-thirty, and since they were a good hour out from Mayridge, which only has one way in and one way out via a bridge, I got stuck driving back during peak traffic. Fantastic.
To make things worse, fifteen minutes from the address, they called to say they’d changed their mind and didn’t need a quote anymore. Fucking pricks.
So yeah—I’m pissed off. And damn glad to be ending my night at The Rig, drinking too much beer, talking shit with Trent, and eating something greasy enough to make me forget today ever happened.
Trent slides a beer across the table as I sit down, giving me a once-over. “You look like you’ve been chewed up and spit out.”
“Feels about right,” I mutter, taking a long pull from the glass. “Been up since before sunrise, bouncing between job sites and client meetings. The last guy bailed fifteen minutes before I got there. The whole day was a damn waste.”
Trent winces. “Brutal. At least you’re here now. Beers, food, and zero bullshit.”
“Finally, something going right.”
We clink glasses and settle into the familiar comfort of greasy food and easy conversation. For a while, we just eat and talk shit like always.
Then Trent leans back, smirking. “So, I was in the bakery earlier—picking up some of those cinnamon things Aubrey swears are good for the soul—and she mentioned someone new is coming in to interview?”
“Yeah, Olivia,” I say, taking another sip. “She’s new in town. Aubrey’s been kind of looking out for her.”
Trent grins. “So… is she cute or what?”
I groan, leaning my head back against the booth. “Not the point.”
“It’s always the point,” he says with a shrug. “Come on, man. If she’s hot and she can alphabetize, that’s a win-win.”
“She’s… beautiful,” I admit, quietly. “But she’s been through some shit. Aubrey didn’t give details, just said she needed a fresh start.”
Trent sobers a little. “So, this one’s not just some summer fling material, huh?”
I shoot him a look. “Don’t start.”
He lifts his hands in mock surrender. “Just saying, might wanna keep it professional. You know how Brandon gets.”
I shake my head, half-smiling. “Yeah, I’m already bracing for the lecture.”
Trent narrows his eyes, taking a long, deliberate sip of his beer before setting the bottle down with a thud. “So… the new girl‘s hot?”
I roll my eyes, already spotting the smirk creeping across his face. “I didn’t say she was hot.”
“No, no—you didn’t,” he says, pointing at me like he’s uncovered a secret. “You said she’s beautiful. That’s serious language, my man. You never say that. You say things like ‘cute’ or ‘hot’ or ‘smokin.’ But beautiful? That’s practically a proposal.”
I snort. “I can say someone’s beautiful without it meaning anything.”
Trent leans back in his chair, eyebrows raised. “Sure, you can. And I casually watch rom-coms without crying. We all tell ourselves little lies.”
I shake my head, laughing under my breath.
“Well,” he says with a grin, “I, for one, cannot wait to meet this beautiful mystery woman.”
“Yeah, not a chance,” I say, jabbing a finger in his direction. “You’ll scare her off, and right now, I need someone to actually take the admin job at Jenkins Construction, not run screaming from it because you tried to chat her up in the first five minutes.”
Trent smirks, tossing a peanut into his mouth. “Honestly, it feels more like you’re the one who needs the warning.”
I raise a brow. “Yeah? How’d you figure that?”
“You’ve never been able to resist forbidden fruit.”
I huff a laugh, leaning back. “How exactly is she forbidden?”
Trent grins like he’s been waiting for the question. “Well, let’s see… she’s your sister’s new friend. And she’s about to be your new employee.” He shrugs. “Sounds pretty forbidden if you ask me.”
I shake my head, more amused than bothered. “You’re acting like I’ve already done something. She’s just coming in to talk about a job.”
“Famous last words, Kade Jenkins,” he says, pointing his beer at me, amusement flickering across his face. “You forget how well I know you.”
I roll my eyes and knock back the last of my drink, trying not to let him get in my head.
She’s just someone looking for a job. A fresh start. Nothing more, nothing less.
And tomorrow, I’ll treat it exactly like that.
The next morning starts like any other. I’m in the office by eight, coffee on my mind and the day’s schedule already forming in my head. I walk right past my office, past Brandon’s, and past the empty one we’ll give to Olivia if she takes the admin job.
Once I’ve got a mug in hand, I head back to my office, scan the calendar, and silently thank the construction gods that today’s light. I’m more hungover than I’d like to admit after too many drinks with Trent at The Rig last night.
Only one thing on the calendar: our meeting with Olivia at ten.
After that, my afternoon’s pretty clear—just placing the material orders Trent flagged yesterday.
If Olivia takes the job, that’ll eventually be her task.
Which means on days like this, when there’s nothing tying me to a desk or has me travelling around meeting clients, I can be back out on-site getting my hands dirty with the rest of the crew.
I crack open my laptop and start skimming emails. One from a supplier catches my eye, some sort of issue with a delivery scheduled for next week. I shoot off a reply, flag a few follow-ups, and by the time I check the clock again, it’s already nine thirty.
I close my laptop, grab my coffee, and head down the hall to Brandon’s office. Dropping into the chair across from him, I slouch back and prop my boots up on his desk.
Without even looking up from his laptop, he says flatly, “Get your feet off my desk.”
I smile as I swing my legs off Brandon’s desk and settle deeper into the chair, sipping my coffee while he continues typing.
He finally glances up, eyeing me for a beat before nodding toward my phone on the desk.
“Saw your reply to the supplier. Nicely handled.”
I give a lazy shrug. “It’s almost like I know how to do my job.”
Brandon snorts. “When you’re not hungover or flirting with half the town, sure.”
I smirk. “Gotta keep the brand strong.”
He leans back in his chair, arms crossed. “Just make sure you’re focused on the right things today. Olivia’s coming in at ten.”
“I know. I read the damn calendar.”
Brandon doesn’t laugh. Just studies me for a second. “Then let’s keep it professional. I think you’re used to charming your way through life and sometimes forget that not every woman who walks through our door is interested in that.”
I narrow my eyes, the smile slipping. “You think I’m gonna hit on the girl coming in for an admin job?”
“I think you flirt when you’re bored. And I think sometimes you don’t even realize you’re doing it.”
I sit up, setting my mug down with a soft thud. “Jesus, Brandon. I’m not a walking HR violation. I can keep it together.”
“I’m just saying,” he says, more evenly now.
“Strawb didn’t give much detail. Just that Olivia’s looking for a fresh start.
Said she’s not going to be any trouble. But Strawb was pretty protective, which I’m taking as a sign that we don’t need to know more, just that she deserves the space to do her job without added noise. ”
I nod once, jaw tightening. “Noted.”
He watches me for another beat before looking back at his screen. “Good. Because if she works out, it’d be nice to have someone solid running the office again.”
I lean back, letting the silence stretch.
“You know what else would be nice? If you started acting like we both run this company and recognize the part I play in it. You might think you’ve got it handled on your own, but you don’t.
So maybe drop the god complex and stop talking to me like I’m some intern you’re stuck with.
If anyone’s going to scare her off, it’s your uptight bullshit, not me. ”
Before Brandon can fire back, there’s a soft knock at the slightly open door. He throws a scowl my way as he calls out, “Come in.”
Olivia steps into the doorway, a nervous smile on her face. She lingers just a beat too long, like she’s making sure she’s really meant to be here.
“Morning,” she says softly.
Brandon straightens in his chair. “Morning. Come on in, take a seat.”
She crosses the room carefully and sinks into the chair beside me. I offer her a small, reassuring smile, just enough to put her at ease.
She’s dressed simply in dark jeans, a soft pink sweater tucked at the front, and those ankle boots again, the ones she wore at the bakery. Her dark hair loose around her shoulders. She looks good. Clean, soft. The kind of pretty that sneaks up on you.
“Hey,” I say, keeping my voice easy.
She glances at me, then quickly looks down with a nod.
Brandon clears his throat, wasting no time. “Aubrey mentioned you’re new in town. Said you might be open to helping out with some admin.”
“I wasn’t really looking for a job,” she admits, her voice soft.
I watch as Olivia and Brandon talk through the role. She seems more at ease now than when she first walked in, her voice steadier, her smile a little less forced.
And yeah, she’s beautiful. That part’s obvious. But it’s more than that—there’s something about her that has my attention, something I can’t quite name.
I can already hear Trent’s teasing from last night, Brandon’s warning from this morning. Hell, if Aubrey were here, she’d probably throw in her own version too. Safe to say I’ve earned the reputation. But that doesn’t mean I like the way they all assume I’ll mess this up.
My gaze drifts over her—quick, discreet—just enough to feed the curiosity clawing at me. She’s guarded. Shoulders drawn in, posture careful, tone polite but distant. Still, she holds my focus. And maybe, for once, I want to prove I can notice a woman without immediately thinking with my dick.
“Kade.”
I blink. Brandon’s looking at me, brows raised like he’s already repeated himself once.
“Sorry,” I say, straightening up. “Missed that.”
“I was just explaining to Olivia that we’re looking for someone reliable—someone who can stay on top of phones, supplier emails, invoices, and scheduling.”
“Oh—yeah,” I say, clearing my throat and pulling my focus back. “We’re not after anything crazy. We’ve both been juggling it, and honestly? It’s a mess.”
“I don’t have much experience,” she says, a little hesitant, “but I am organized. I can learn whatever you need me to.”
“We’re not expecting you to hit the ground running,” I reply. “We just need someone who’ll show up, keep things moving. If you’re open to giving it a try, we’d be happy to have you.”
“I am,” she says after a beat. “Open to it, I mean.”
I nod slowly, watching her tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze flickering down to the floor like she’s already second-guessing it.
Maybe she is.