Mac rounded the corner of the house as Danny made his way back toward his truck waving goodbye. “Hey, B. Danny says you need some muscle to move some furniture.”
“I didn’t want to bother you, but yeah. Do you have someone to spare for a few minutes?”
“Yup. Me. Let’s go get to moving stuff.”
There was no reason to complain, and it would make him look bad if he did, especially after he agreed to work with the man.
Bennett walked into the living room, Mac followed closely behind him. Mac wasn’t built like Danny with miles and miles of muscle, but his body looked strong and so very distracting. Even with Mac following behind him, it was like Bennett could sense him there, his stare on Bennett, the scent of wood and paint mixing with the natural scent of Mac that was calming and enticing all at once.
“Okay, I see what the problem is. We didn’t think about this part.” Mac looked around the room surveying each item then his stare landed back on Bennett. “You think you could move some of this, or should I get one of my guys to come in here to help me?” Bennett could see the smirk on his gorgeous face.
Straightening his back and lifting his chin, he primly replied, “I am perfectly capable of moving furniture. I’ve got some muscle of my own. I’m no longer that gangly teenager I once was.”
What he wasn’t expecting was the heated stare that Mac raked over his body after Bennett’s words. It felt like a caress, so light and soft but burning to the touch, Bennett could feel his body reacting to it. His face warmed, his spine tingled with arousal, and his cock took notice too.
“Don’t worry, Princess, I noticed.”
Mac turned his back to him and started to move some of the smaller pieces of furniture, giving Bennett the time he needed to calm down. He would have to evaluate his response to Mac later. He refused to do that with the man in the room.
Mac was piling the smaller things onto the couch and loveseat, and Bennett was trying to figure out how that plan was going to work. “You do realize that you are making the already heavy furniture heavier, right?”
“Yes, but it’s the best way.”
“Would you care to explain to me how it’s the best way?”
“No.”
“No?”
Mac sighed audibly. Of course, he was getting frustrated with Bennett again. And here Bennett thought they’d had a moment. “I don’t care to explain how it’s the best way because logic should tell you why.”
Bennett harrumphed at him because how dare he speak to Bennett, a scientist, about logic. He was the logical one, not Mac. He was the one with the degrees and the experience. Maybe not in moving furniture, but he was smarter where it counted. “I don’t know how you expect us to be able to move the couches now.”
“With all those muscles you’ve got now, B.” Mac winked over his shoulder at him while he placed the final item on the pile.
“Stop calling me that. My name is Bennett, not B. Or Princess.”
“Okay.”
Bennett didn’t know what to say in response to that. He was pretty sure it was an agreement, but with Mac, he could never be sure.
Slowly, they started to move each piece of furniture from the outer walls to the center of the room. The loveseat was moved first, then the hutch that sat in the corner had come next. After that, it’d been the entertainment stand, but only after Mac had moved the tv to the hallway.
By the time all that was left was the couch, Bennett was sweating. It was an unpleasant feeling, one he wasn’t used to. Physical labor wasn’t something he did. At most, he swam to work out because going to the gym never held any appeal. After all that, he wished he worked out and maybe built more muscle, because his arms started to feel like wet noodles.
He moved to the opposite end of the couch just as they had before, but this time, when he tried the lift and push thing that Mac had shown him, the couch, laden with objects from the room, didn’t budge.
“Come on, B, put some of that muscle you got behind that push.”
Bennett was sure he was being mocked by the jackass, but he refused to look up or give him any kind of reaction. Trying again, he moved the grip his hands had on the arm of the couch. That time he was sure it moved at least an inch. Maybe.
“Use your back and bend your legs. Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself the first day on the job, Princess.”
He wanted to yell at the asshole, but he was trying to use his energy to move the stupid couch. Bennett tried not lifting, just pushing, even added a grunt for good measure, and still…nothing.
“You aren’t doing it right. Try putting your hands on the sides.”
Each time he tried, Mac’s end would move the barest amount then back to where it started. Bennett was sure Mac was teasing him by moving his end back and forth as he tried to move his end. Bennett refused to look up the entire time, because he knew what he would find. But now, he had no choice. When he looked up through the sweat pouring into his eyes, he saw Mac not sweating and standing there with a goddamn sexy smile on his face.
He glared at the man. Mad that he was being so freaking bossy, and because it wasn’t fair that Bennett probably looked like he ran a marathon and Mac still looked unrumpled and gorgeous. “Stop talking to me like I’m a child. I know how to move furniture. I helped a friend in college once. And stop calling me Princess!”
“I was only teasing you, damn. Lighten up a little, will ya.”
“This is not a time to tease and play around. We’re trying to get work done. Plus, I don’t find your jokes at my expense funny.” Bennett crossed his arms over his chest, glowering with all his worth.
“Knock off the princess attitude and learn to take a joke.” Mac sniped.
“Why don’t you grow up and realize that your attitude is unattractive and unprofessional.”
“You know what? You can find someone else to help you and your snotty attitude because I’m leaving.”
“Fine.”
Bennett stomped his way into the kitchen to get a glass of water and tried to cool down. Being angry wouldn’t help accomplish that, so he tried to quell that by doing some deep breathing exercises that Jaden showed him once.
Finally calm and hydrated, Bennett found two of Mac’s crew that were willing to move the heavy-ass couch out of his way. He thanked them, and he was once again alone.
Now he just had to figure out how to use the supplies Mac had shown him. He used the paint can opener he bought and opened the paint can, and after putting the liner for the paint tray in place, he poured the paint into the tray. He assembled the paint rollers onto the telescopic pole and placed it by the tray.
So far, everything had been pretty simple. Then he looked at the walls, trying to figure which one to start with, and realized he missed something. Mac had him buy painter’s tape which, apparently, he was supposed to put on the things he didn’t want painted. That sounded easy enough.
He grabbed the blue tape, kneeled on the floor and started on the baseboards around the room. He wasn’t concerned about the carpet, because like Mac had pointed out that day in the hardware store, the carpet was being replaced and thrown out anyway.
Bennett thought he was doing a phenomenal job, especially for someone who has never painted before. He was being meticulous, making sure every inch of the baseboard was covered as he made his way along the one wall. He had no idea how long he’d been at it, but he was not concerned, getting it done right would take time.
Something made him realize he wasn’t alone any longer. It was the sensation that he got when he sensed someone staring at him, a prickle on the back of his neck. Not moving from his position, he looked over his shoulder to see Mac standing there once again.
This time there was no smirk or smile on his face. From the glazed over-heated look in his eyes, Bennett assumed that he was staring at his ass. Why he’d have that naughty daydream look over him, Bennett had no idea. He knew he was attractive, but this was Mac. Mac hated him.
He probably didn�
�t even realize that he’d been caught. Testing his theory, he wiggled his ass just the slightest bit, and when Mac groaned, Bennett’s face warmed. Not willing to test or experiment any more, he quickly stood and turned his ass away from the hot stare.
“Can I help you?” Bennett asked shortly.
Mac finally looked up at his face. “I just came back to apologize. You were right. I was being a jackass and making fun. I wasn’t trying to be mean about it, but I get that since we don’t know each other that well, my words could’ve been misinterpreted. I’m sorry.”
Bennett calmed down with Mac’s sincere words. “I’ll admit I was wrong as well. I took my frustration about the situation out on you, and I shouldn’t have. My friend Jaden is often telling me I let my temper control me too much.”
“So, we were both wrong and admit it? We should write this down, because I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
Mac smiled at him before turning his head toward the work that Bennett had been doing on the baseboard. Bennett was proud of the job he’d done but he was starting to think he did something wrong when a look of horror and amusement came over Mac’s face. Bennett turned and looked at his handy work then back to Mac. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Uh, you covered the whole baseboard.”
“Yeah? That’s what I was supposed to do.” Bennett said, uncertain.
“B, you covered every inch of the baseboard in little pieces of tape. Is that what you’ve been doing for two hours?”
“Doing things properly takes time.”
“Except you only needed to cover the edge that touches the wall.” Mac was smiling, but it didn’t look to Bennett like he was mocking his inexperience, just amused by it. Not that he liked being someone’s amusement, but he wasn’t going to make an issue out of it. “Come on, let me show you how to do it.”
As Mac showed him how to put the tape on the edge, he could see the error in his thinking. The way they were doing it now was much more efficient and easier than the way he’d been doing it, and he said as much to Mac.
“Nothing against you, but I can see why your parents only have you doing the painting.”
“Yeah, physical labor isn’t where my strengths lie.”
“Your mom likes to tell people how smart you are, but put a hammer or screwdriver within ten feet of you and you become completely inept.”
“It’s a wonder she even asked me to come here to help.” After the Mac piece of the puzzle, Bennett wondered what her real motives were in asking him to come here. He knew her, there had to be more to it.
He looked over at Mac, who moved over to his own wall to finish some of the taping, trying to see the guy beyond what Bennett saw on the surface, beyond the tattoos, beyond the cocky grin, beyond the rebel persona he showed to the world.
Apparently, he had a lot to learn about Mac, and he needed to get out of his own way to do it.
Mac had been replacing ceiling fans in the Cole house nearly all day. The electrician had finally come by the day before to start rewiring the electrical in the ceilings so that Mac could replace the lights that were there with ceiling fans. He hadn’t finished until around noon that day, so Mac had gotten a later start than he planned. He completed all the bedrooms first, since Bennett was still downstairs in the dining room, then he moved onto the den and the living room. The only room left after the one he was in would be the one Bennett was currently in.
His team had made great progress in the week since the project had started, even Bennett seemed to catch on to painting fairly easily. In the last week, he managed to finish not only the living room, but the dining room was about done as well.
After the rough start they had, things had been going smoothly. They’d run into each other here and there and ended up having quick chats, mainly about the work, but Mac slipped in some other questions since Bennett wasn’t avoiding him and the snippy attitude had taken a back seat. It made getting along a lot easier.
He knew he was just as much at fault for the fights. Not many that didn’t know him well knew how to handle his sarcastic personality. Allie was always telling him he’d never end up with someone to spend the rest of his life with if he couldn’t tone it down. But something about Bennett made that part him flare up. Keeping control of it had been a bit easier with Bennett being not too much the princess Mac liked to call him.
It was getting dark outside which meant it was well past dinner time. June was a blessing and a curse. It gave them the longest days of the year, which meant more daylight to work, but the downside was that if Mac wasn’t careful he’d spend all day working without even realizing it.
He wasn’t even sure when his team had left, or really, if all of them had. He thought he’d remembered Danny coming in and talking to him about leaving, but lately, with all the projects they had going on and the late nights, the days bled together. He couldn’t even remember turning on the work light in the room so he could see.
Finishing off with hooking up the ceiling fan in the living room, Mac climbed down off the ladder, side stepped the various tools that lay at his feet, and walked to the wall by the entry way that had the switch. Flipping it on, and seeing that he hadn’t fucked up this one like he had to the last one, made a grin appear on his face. Damn, he loved the feeling of accomplishment, even on the small things.
Walking back over to the ladder that sat under the light, he bent over and started to pick up his tools. He was about half way done when a familiar voice startled him.
“Mac?”
“Shit. Fuck.” Quickly standing up, his hands filled with his tools, he spun to face Bennett. “Damn B, you scared me.” How had he forgotten that the guy was here?
“Sorry.” Bennett replied with a chuckle, as he stepped further into the room.
He looked so out of place in his bow tie and button up, mainly because he was in a room filled with the scent of fresh paint and tools and flooring scattered all around. Mac never knew anyone who dressed like that because they liked it, but Bennett seemed to dress like that whenever they weren’t working. He seemed more at ease wearing it than he did in worn jeans and a t-shirt.
“No biggie. What are you up to?”
“I finished painting in the dining room about a half an hour ago. I didn’t hear you in here, even when I passed by to go upstairs and shower. You must’ve been really freaking quiet.”
“Oh yeah, well installing a ceiling fan doesn’t make much noise unless I’m swearing because I hurt myself. Which isn’t unheard of, but this one was a piece of cake.”
“Cool. Umm, well, I was going to eat a late dinner now, so...”
“Oh, right. I’ll get out of your hair then. I can do the last ceiling fan tomorrow, so you can eat in peace.” Mac had hoped that had been leading to an invitation, but after an awkward moment of silence, Bennett hadn’t said anything else.
“You, uh, you could stay if you wanted. I was going to go get takeout from the Chinese place in the 43 Mall.” Bennett paused, looking anywhere but at Mac, and then he hurriedly added, “If you didn’t have any other plans, that is.” He finally looked directly at Mac, squaring his shoulders.
Bennett had probably always approached things in a clinical, distant manner. Not because he was a cold person, but because it was just the way his brain worked. Unless he was riled up. Mac loved both those sides of him. The one that got all uppity and logical and brainy and the side that his emotions ruled. Mac liked it as an adult even more than he had as a teenager.
“Hell, yeah. Can’t pass that up. You want me to call the order in since you’re going to get it?”
“Sure. We’ll eat in the family room, unless you’d rather use the kitchen table.”
“Nope, family room sounds good.”
They both walked toward the family room, and while Mac called for the food, Bennett went to the kitchen to get forks and plates. Mac felt…light. Like there was this giddy feeling building inside of him, and he goddamn couldn’t stop smiling. He hadn’t felt like that i
n a while, at least not from anyone other than Allie. But even that was different. Almost less somehow.
Placing the order was easy. Mrs. Lee knew who he was by his number on the caller ID and greeted him by name when she picked up. The woman and her family had owned the business for decades. It was one of three places in their small town that lasted for more than a couple of years and was booming with customers nearly every night. He’d always told her that their food was an addiction he never wanted to break.
Getting off the phone after some small talk, he called out to Bennett who had yet come back into the family room, but the banging of drawers and cabinets could be heard. “Hey, B! She said ten minutes.”
“Okay. Just trying to find the damn plates.” Then, in a lower voice that Mac thought was Bennett talking to himself, he said, “I swear, I put them away the other day.”
“You’ve been here a week and you haven’t used a plate?” Mac walked into the kitchen as he replied to see Bennett now bent over rummaging through a box. Damn, the man had an ass that made you want to slap it just to see if it’d bounce.
“Yeah. Well, I’ve been living off AJ’s pizza and chinese.” Bennett stood with a couple of plates in his hands and looked a little sheepish at admitting that. “And I can use paper plates for those.”
Mac chuckled then replied, “So basic bachelor’s diet. Got it.” Then Mac winked at Bennett. As they stood there staring at each other, neither knowing what to say to the other, one of those awkward silences bloomed.
Bennett cleared his throat then said, “Okay, I’m going to go get the food you just...stay.” Mac raised his eyebrows in amusement over the order, and Bennett shook his head at himself, probably realizing he basically ordered him to stay like a dog.
“You go, B. I’ll stay—”Mac winked. “—and finish the last ceiling fan while you’re gone.”
A Different Light Page 6
