Build

by Gillian Archer

My eyebrows rose. “Nice to see you too.”

  “Yeah, we don’t have to do the little dance. Your brother made it clear that I wasn’t welcome.”

  “I’m sorry he mouthed off to you. And when you meet him next time, he’ll apologize. Things got a little heated with my whole dad getting parole news—that’s not to excuse what he said about you. I’m sorry, and he wants to tell you how sorry he is too.”

  “Okay, thank you. I appreciate that although you could’ve said as much in a note or to my boss or whatever. You didn’t have to track me down at home. But thank you.” Rachel turned back to the door like we were done.

  We so weren’t.

  “But that’s not the only reason I wanted to see you,” I blurted out.

  Rachel faced me with a wrinkled brow. “I uh, don’t know what more we have to talk about. You made it clear that we were a one-night then two-night-stand, so I don’t know what else you want from me.”

  “I don’t remember that conversation. Regardless, it went out the window after that second night, and if you’d bothered talk to me before you left, I would’ve told you as much.”

  “Wait. What?” Rachel blinked at me.

  I rubbed at the back of my neck. “I just…I like you, okay?” I dropped my hand to my side then waved it erratically between us. “I want to spend more time with you. And if that means commitment or whatever, okay then.”

  “Okay then?” She repeated weakly. “Is that your way of asking me out?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t had this conversation since I was fourteen. I don’t know how to do it as an adult.”

  “Most guys just ask if they can see me again. Or call. Calling is good, too.” A smile crept across her face followed by a red flush.

  “Okay then.” My cheeks felt flushed, too. “Would you like to go out with me?”

  I couldn’t even look at her. Was she ever going to answer?

  “When?”

  My eyes met hers, and I cocked my head. “That feels like a trap. I wanna say tonight, but don’t girls usually have rules about same night dates or something?”

  “I don’t have dating rules. Aside from the one you introduced me to.”

  “Rules? I don’t have rules.”

  “Oh, you have one.”

  A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.

  She swayed closer to me. “Something about if it feels right do it.”

  “That’s a fucking fantastic rule,” I whispered as I closed the distance between us. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her to me and covered her lips with mine. I was voracious. I didn’t ask permission—I took. In seconds her knees went weak, and she sagged in my arms.

  My breath was ragged when I broke our kiss. “Which bedroom?”

  “Huh?” She blinked up at me, her brain still foggy from all the pheromones surging between us.

  “Which bedroom is yours?”

  “I—Uh, shit. We can’t.”

  “The hell we can’t. Fuck it, I can figure it out.”

  She giggled as I dragged her a few feet toward the hallway. “Austin, stop. Wait! I really can’t. I have to go pick up Wyatt from preschool, and then we have to get my mom from physical therapy, and then I have to figure out dinner before my shift at the bar starts.”

  I groaned and rested my forehead against hers. “Fuck me. I just need a minute.”

  She bit her lip, hiding her smile. My girl had an evil streak and enjoyed the pain I was currently feeling.

  Because I was in pain.

  My cock throbbed impatiently behind my stiff and uncomfortable jeans. I wanted to be naked. I wanted to be buried inside her. I dropped my head onto her shoulder with a groan. Think unsexy thoughts. Think unsexy thoughts. Think unsexy thoughts.

  “So, um, raincheck?”

  “Raincheck,” I grunted in agreement. “But we gotta talk about that schedule of yours, sweetheart. There doesn’t sound like there’s much time for me in there.”

  “There’s not.” She shrugged. “I work two jobs to keep a roof over our heads. Even a crappy roof like this one costs a stupid amount, because it’s on the first floor. Mom’s medical bills and Wyatt’s preschool aren’t cheap—the state helps with both, but not much. Last weekend was a fluke. I don’t generally have two whole days off ever. I’m lucky to get a few hours when I’m not working or fetching or cooking or sleeping.”

  “I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it. Let me know when you can carve out an evening or a few hours for me, and I’ll make it work on my end. Someone told me recently that I need to take some more time off for me, so I’m gonna do that. As long as you’re with me too.”

  “I’ll do that. I just need your phone number first.” Her cheeks turned bright red like she’d never asked a guy for his phone number.

  Although given all we’d been through it was kinda ridiculous that she had to ask him for that now. “I’ll text it to you.”

  “Wait, so you have my phone number? Why didn’t you call me first?”

  “Why would I call when I could come by and do this?” I pulled her to me and pressed another kiss on her lips. She laughed but then parted her lips and let me take the kiss deeper.

  It felt like an eternity but was probably only a few moments later when she broke the kiss and took a few steps away. “Okay, you have to leave now. I’m not kidding. Just having you in the same room with me is bad for my self-control, and I have things to do today.”

  “So, you’re saying with a little persuasion I could…”

  “Yeah, you definitely need to leave. Now.”

  “Fine. I’m going. But first I wanted to give this back to you.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out her ring.

  Rachel smiled as she reached for it. “Thanks for bringing me my ring back. It’s kind of a family heirloom. When I realized I’d left it behind, I couldn’t figure out a way to ask my boss about retrieving it without subjecting myself to a ton of embarrassing questions. This morning was difficult enough.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My boss offered to pay me for my time being stranded in Tahoe.” She made a face. “Awkward. I laughed off my boss’ questions with an excuse about it feeling like a vacation given the extravagant cabin and everything. But I’m afraid she didn’t buy it.”

  “That’s uh, awkward. Do you want me to call her and, I don’t know, compliment the job you did?”

  “No!” Rachel shouted before taking a deep breath and continuing softly, “No, I don’t think that would help. I just want to put some distance between her and last weekend. It’ll be fine.”

  “Okay.”

  “Thanks,” she smiled as she slipped the pearl ring onto her left ring finger.

  “If it’s all the same to you, could you to wear it on any finger but that one?” I shrugged uncomfortably. “It drove me nuts last weekend every time I looked over and saw your ring sitting on that finger. Felt like I was sleeping with a married woman or something.”

  “Oh.” She looked down at the ring sitting on her finger. After a deep beat, she slid it off and moved it to her other hand.

  “Thanks, sweetheart.” I wrapped an arm around her, and pulled her to my side, and pressed a kiss against her temple. Everything felt right in my world—aside from the bullshit with my father. And Dylan. And not being there to deliver the Kings’ bike. But this right here—having Rachel in my arms—made all that fall away.

  Right up to the point where she went rigid in my arms.

  Rachel brushed her head against my chest. “I think we need to slow this down a bit. We need to see if we work together in the real world before we invite everyone else into our relationship.”

  “The real world?” I frowned. “What does that even mean?”

  “It means I need to see if you can fit into my life here, and not the snowy cocoon we spent last weekend in. We need to figure out if we work in the everyday between preschool and doctor’s visits and my jobs. Speaking of…”

  “Yeah, speaking of.” I gave her a sa
d smile and kissed her temple again then took two exaggerated steps back. “I need at least five feet between us if we have any chance of making out the door in the next minute. You are my fucking kryptonite, sweetheart.”

  “You are ridiculous.”

  “And you are too fucking hot for your own good.” I bit my bottom lip and groaned. “I’ll text you.”

  “You better.”

  “You better let me know when I can see you again. This is…fuck, this is not enough. I just want ten more minutes. Can you give me ten minutes? I think I can get you off at least twice before time’s up.”

  Rachel closed her eyes with a muffled moan. It probably wouldn’t take much more to convince her. Until she took a quick glimpse of the clock then squealed when she realized what time it was. “I have three minutes to get to Wyatt’s preschool. Get out! Go. Now!”

  Rachel shoved me out the door and all but ran to her car.

  “Hey!” I yelled from her front step. “Take a few breaths. And don’t drive like a maniac. Wyatt is safe right now. If you’re a few minutes late, it’s not the end of the world.”

  “Yeah, he’s three—he doesn’t exactly understand that—I’m never late.”

  “You need to calm down. You’re gonna be really late if you get into an accident on the way. You know what? Maybe I should drive you myself.”

  “Yeah, no. That’s not happening. I’m not ready to explain you to Wyatt or to the nosy moms at preschool either.”

  “I’m starting to think you don’t want anyone to know about us. Am I just gonna be your dirty little secret?” My laughing tone belied my concern.

  “No, it’s not that. It’s just…I need to think about all this, okay? I wasn’t expecting you to show up. You’ve thrown a lot at me, and I need a second to unload it all. Just not now. I have to pick up my son and my mom right now.”

  “Okay. But you better answer my text.”

  “Aye, aye, captain.” She mockingly saluted my before diving into her car and tearing out of the parking lot.

  I sat in my truck and typed out a text to Rachel. Or three.

  Austin: Dear Rachel, please let me know when you’re available to go out on a date. Yours truly, Me.

  Austin: You better not be reading this while driving.

  Austin: This is Austin Burns by the way.

  I rolled my eyes at my last stupid text, but I couldn’t deny the giddiness that filled me. I felt like a teenager who’d asked out his first girl. She said yes!

  She said yes!

  I pulled out of the tired apartment parking lot feeling like I could take on the world. It was a bit of a drive back to Sac from Rachel’s place—forty minutes without traffic—so I pulled into a convenience store for some snacks. I was coming back out with my hands filled with junk food when my phone pinged with an incoming text. Then again and again.

  That giddiness came back as I shoved the food into my passenger seat and reached for my phone.

  Rachel: The stars have aligned. I have tomorrow night off.

  Rachel: Not technically off-off. I’ll just be done with both of my jobs by 5 tomorrow night.

  Rachel: This is Rachel Tannenbaum by the way.

  That last text had a grin sweeping over my face. Who was I kidding? All three of them had me grinning like a fool.

  Me: Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. How does dinner at my favorite restaurant sound?

  Rachel: Sounds good to me. Just a heads up. Pretty sure my mom will interrogate you if you pick me up. Maybe I should meet you there?

  Me: I’ve got nothing to hide. I’ll pick you up at six. Be ready.

  Rachel: Okay. But it’s your funeral ;)

  I laughed softly as I threw my phone down and started my truck. I couldn’t wait, and I was worried about how it would all go.

  It was the best feeling in the world.

  20

  Rachel

  One month later

  I still couldn’t believe that this was my life. I didn’t have a ton of time to spend with Austin, but we’d still managed to carve out over half a dozen dates. The guy I’d thought was an arrogant, player asshole had turned out to be the sweetest, sexiest, and most thoughtful man I’d ever met. He understood that Wyatt and my mom came first, so he moved anything in his schedule if it meant we could spend some time together.

  He’d moved an interview with one of the most important magazines in our state, The Californian. Their initial interview with him a few years back was the reason he’d gotten all the national coverage which ultimately led to the cable special. And he moved their follow-up interview so he could have lunch with me? Someone pinch me. There was no way this man was real.

  I was quickly falling under his spell.

  My eyes flicked to the top of our text exchange, and I reread our silly texts from yesterday.

  Austin: I haven’t seen you in forever. I’m dying for some Rachel time.

  Me: It’s been three days. Really?

  Austin: What can I say? I’m a Rachel addict.

  Me: You misspelled breast.

  Because Austin was obsessed with my boobs. He always wanted me naked as soon as possible so he could play, fondle, nibble on my breasts. Not that I was complaining. My whole body turned into a large throbbing erogenous zone when he was near, but my breasts? He could practically make me come just by licking them.

  Austin: I’m addicted to every part of you. But I can’t deny that your tits are my favorite.

  I rolled my eyes even as a huge smile curved my lips.

  “Are you crazy?” Shelby hissed from the other side of the kitchen. “Erin will flay you alive if she sees your phone out. She’s out for blood today.”

  I shoved my phone into my back pocket and gave Shelby a shrug. “I know, I know, but I couldn’t resist.”

  “You need to start resisting. I don’t know what’s going on with Erin today, but you do not want to get on her bad side. She tore me a new one at the last house because I left a dirty paper towel in the trash can. The trash can.” Shelby bugged her eyes out at me.

  “I know. I heard.” I barely bit back the impulse to say I’m sorry—because of Austin—and said what I really meant. “That sucks. Thanks for the warning.”

  “I’m hearing a lot of talking and not a lot of scrubbing in there, ladies.” Erin barked from the hallway. “Does that mean you’re done already?”

  Oh my god, had she heard us? I traded frightened glances with Shelby. Coughing uncomfortably, I dropped my gaze to the counter top then resumed scrubbing. “No. Still working in here, Erin.”

  “It doesn’t sound like it. I don’t pay you to gossip. I pay you to clean these houses, quickly, efficiently, without a bunch of nonsense and lollygagging. Get to work, ladies.”

  “Yes, Erin,” Shelby and I replied. I resumed scrubbing and after a moment Erin’s footsteps echoed down the empty hallway, away from us. I waited an extra minute then swung around to face Shelby. “Nonsense and lollygagging?” I whispered. “Really?”

  “I know. She sounds like my grandma. I don’t think anyone would guess she was thirty-something if they heard her.”

  I muffled my giggle and rolled my eyes. “Her being eighty would explain her texts. How does she not know about autocorrect?”

  “I know, right? Speaking of, who were you texting with before the boss lady came in?”

  I turned back to the counter top and picked up my cloth. I hadn’t told anyone at Hilltop Cleaning about Austin because of the way we’d met. There was every possibility that if Erin found out, she’d can me. And judging from her attitude today, she’d probably blacklist me with every agency in the city. I couldn’t afford to lose this job; I didn’t make nearly enough money at Finnegans to support my family.

  “Or you know, don’t tell me. That’s fine. I know you’re still pissed about the whole snowstorm thing last month. I get it.”

  “Shelby, no. I swear I’m not. It’s just…” I darted to the doorway and listened to the sound of the vacuum roaring on the second f
loor. Erin was busy and couldn’t hear us. Turning back to Shelby, I shrugged uncomfortably. “It’s because I met the guy in Tahoe. That weekend. In the cabin I was cleaning.”

  “Oh my god!” Shelby shrieked. “You’re hooking up with Cole Jackson? Oh my god! Oh my god!”

  “Shut up!” I hissed.

  Shelby clasped her hands over her mouth but continued to jump.

  “I’m not hooking up with Cole Jackson. I’ve never even met the man.”

  Shelby blinked then pulled her hands away from her mouth. “Wait, then who are you hooking up with?”

  “Austin Burns. I guess he’s friends with Cole Jackson? I don’t know. But I’m seeing Austin.” I darted another glance down the hall, but Erin’s vacuum continued to hum away.

  “Austin Burns? Who the hell is that?”

  I opened my mouth to reply when Shelby waved a hand.

  “Wait, that sounds familiar. Where do I know that name from? Was he in that boy band that was big ten years ago? Boys of Summer or something like that?”

  “No, he’s not a singer.” I laughed remembering the offkey way he’d hummed along with the radio last weekend. I think people might pay him to stop singing. “He’s not famous like that.”

  “Who is he?” Shelby whipped out her phone to search for herself.

  “He builds motorcycles. He and his brothers had that cable special a few months back. He’s done a few interviews and stuff. He’s a local celebrity, I guess.”

  “He’s also hot as hell.” Shelby held her phone out to me, displaying the infamous photo of Austin and the muffler. “Wow, girl. You have got spectacular taste.”

  “He’s also super sweet and thoughtful, and he can do amazing things with his tongue.”

  “Hell, yes!” Shelby gave me a high five.

  I slapped her hand with a laugh even as I felt a wave of heat sweep over my face. It’d been forever since I’d had a conversation like this with a girlfriend. I’d missed it. I’d been so lost, so busy working to survive, I’d kept everyone away from me. I’d missed out on friends and laughter and just being a stupid twenty-something.