I let out a short sigh as I locked the door. A loud ding resounded in my ear and I jerked the phone back, the text from Brian simply asking if I was coming.
“Fine. I’m running out to have lunch with my roommate, so ask away and I’ll have to call back on the moving in thing.” I walked quickly down the hall, hoping like hell that the phone wouldn’t cut out or lose reception.
“My question is about your roommate. The handsome young guy that called you last night. He’s not your type? I half expected you were with him and that’s why you were roommates.”
I shook my head and gave a breathy laugh. “No. I’m not his type. He’s proposing to his boyfriend soon, or that’s what he keeps telling me.”
“Oh. That explains it. Why do I feel rather comforted by that?”
Yes. Good question. Wouldn’t I love to know?
“Because you believe that means I’ll jump at the chance to move in with you now? No restrictions on my life?”
“There are always restrictions. Why are you fighting this? Are you worried about leaving Brian high and dry?”
“There is that, of course.” I jogged down the stairs, trying not to breathe into the phone like I was entering cardiac arrest.
“That’s easy. I’ll double your pay and I’ll pick up the rent in your place for the next three months.”
I stopped just short of pushing the door to exit the building. “Do you only need me for the next three months?” Something about having the new job be so short term in nature caused my blood to run cold. I wanted years, not days.
“Of course not, but I’ll make you this deal. Move in and I’ll do all I’ve said. If you’re not happy or don’t like sharing the penthouse with me and Tyson, I’ll move you out in three months. You can go back to your place with Brian, or I’ll get you an apartment in the building.”
He made it all sound so simple. Maybe everything was that simple for the wealthy.
Being there would take a huge burden off my shoulders where public transportation was concerned. Riding the subway for an hour there and back each day would be painful. If he was willing to take care of my half of the rent, then why was I still fighting it? It seemed almost too good to be true.
“What else, Kendra? Tell me what has you thinking instead of speaking.”
I grabbed at any excuse. “My sewing stuff. I have tons of it. I don’t want to clutter up your home, Jax. It’s where you rest and entertain, where you bring women and build relationships. I don’t want to impose.”
“I have most of that worked out.” He paused and then his voice dropped even lower. “Stop fighting me and take this golden opportunity.”
“I want to...” I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth and pushed the door open. To spend more time around Jax and Tyson would be great, or so it seemed. I really didn’t know the man too well. The baby had stolen my heart immediately though. Maybe I could just invest in him and use the time like a three-month break from life. Like a long-term vacation of sorts.
“You do know you miss all of the shots you never take.”
I nodded. He was right. “Okay.” The word came out on the tail of the breath I’d been holding. “I’ll try this out for three months, but after that, if I need to find another place, no strings attached, right?”
“Only the ones you weave, Kendra.” His voice deepened even further, the sound of it rushing across me and forcing chill bumps to rise along my exposed arms.
“I’ll be ready at four. Thank you for your generosity.”
“Good. I’ll see you then.”
We hung up and I got into the car as Brian glanced over at me, a growl leaving him.
“Why do women force men to wait? This is one of the reasons I’m grateful to be gay.”
“That, and you get to rub all over a sexy guy like Billy.”
Brian laughed and pulled out onto the quiet street. “Steer clear of my man, girlie.”
“Not a problem. It’s steering clear of my new boss that’s going to be the struggle of my life.”
Brian glanced over, concern brushing over his features. “That bad?”
“That bad,” I confirmed and dropped my phone into my purse before leaning back and letting my imagination make much more out of the situation than it should.
2 - Kendra
“Why are you so quiet?” Brian picked a french fry off my plate and swirled it in the glob of ketchup between us.
I glanced up and shrugged. “Just trying to think through everything.”
“Talk to me about it. We can figure it out together.” He reached for another fry and I popped his hand back.
“You just ate all of yours and now you’re eating mine?” I chuckled and shoved the plate toward him, my burger only half gone.
“You done?” He nodded toward my plate as a boyish smile crept up on his handsome face.
“Yeah. Feel free to finish it.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.”
“How is it that you eat like a heifer and yet don’t look like one?” I glanced down at my own frame, grateful for the metabolism of an athlete. I tried to watch what I ate on most occasions, but I knew it would catch up with me. It seemed to catch up with everyone. It would have been nice to know what my family history or genetics predisposed me toward, but not knowing anything about my parents left me with nil.
“Good genes?” He winked and picked up my burger. “Spill, Kendra. That worried look on your face is going to leave ugly lines in your forehead. Get it off your chest.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Maybe. So the latest request by this guy is for me to move in. Today.”
Brian’s gaze moved to mine as his brow lifted. “Today? You know Billy isn’t moving in for another few months and I’m already strapped just paying my half of the rent. Paying yours lately has been a total ball buster.”
“I know. Jax said that he would pay my part of the rent for the next three months. He wants me to give our new arrangement that long to work out.”
“Oh.” Brian picked the burger back up and wiped his forehead with his napkin. “I thought you were trying to skip out on helping me for a minute there.”
“What?” Anger rushed up from the pit of my stomach. I swallowed it back down. Brian had been carrying me for a while now. My character was obviously in question due to that fact alone. “I would never do that to you. I haven’t paid the rent because I couldn’t, not because I didn’t want to.”
“I know.” He glanced at his plate as his mouth turned down into a frown. “I’m sorry. I’ve just wanted to buy Billy this ring he wanted and I can’t seem to save up the damn money. It’s like every time I get a little put away, something else happens.”
I reached for his hand, guilt squirming in my chest. “I’ll give you the back rent I owe you as soon as I get paid. Use that to get the ring.”
“Yeah. That’s a good idea.” Brian sat back and picked up his soda, sucking it dry and reaching for mine. “Are you okay staying with some guy you don’t even know?”
“I guess. He seems like a good guy and with the amount of wealth he has, he has to be legit, right?” I picked a fry from my plate that sat in front of Brian now.
He popped my hand and we laughed. “If he’s rich, then there’s tons of info on him. Get on the inter-webs and find out who he is.”
“That’s true.” I shrugged, half liking the idea of the mystery Jax had become. The lonely bachelor who lost his wife and needed comfort seemed fitting. I could offer comfort and a strong shoulder for him to lean against. In return, I would get the opportunity to mean something to him and Tyson.
Drop it. You’re going off the deep end again.