Something in Common (Dreamspinner Press Bundles)

by Talia Carmichael

  “See? Someone is actually nice!” Avril yelled after her brother as he went to his car.

  Alex stifled a smile at being called nice.

  “It’s okay, Alex. We do this every time I have a show with Cuda. Leslie is a pain in my butt, and I make it my business to return the favor.” Avril smiled. “So, you’re hooking up with my big bro? Don’t hurt him, or I’ll break your legs. Now, I’ve got to get me a dog. Cuda!” Avril ran around the car and in the direction the dog went.

  It wasn’t until she was gone that Alex realized she had threatened him. He went to where Leslie was idling his vehicle and got in.

  “Did she threaten you?” Leslie asked.

  “She did.”

  “Good. That means she approves. She wouldn’t waste a threat if she didn’t.”

  Alex told himself he was not going to ask, but a moment later changed his mind. “What would she do if she didn’t approve?”

  “Take you to see her dogs, then give them a signal to scare you so you’d run off.”

  “Has she done that before?”

  “Yep. But sometimes it doesn’t work, and they stick around.” Leslie shrugged.

  “A unique family,” Alex whispered. “More like crazy.”

  “We’re that too.” Leslie patted Alex’s leg. “Don’t worry. You’ll fit right in.”

  Alex refused to respond. Leslie was acting as if it was a given they would become involved. Alex knew they shouldn’t.

  LATER THAT day, while pulling up to his house, Alex spotted an unfamiliar black Silverado in his driveway. Alex parked next to the truck and noticed the garage was open. He exited his vehicle and, holding his briefcase, went toward the garage and paused in the doorway. The sound of soft jazz music filled the area, surprising Alex. He would have thought Leslie would be more of a rock person. Alex stared at Leslie’s full ass as he bent over, working under the hood. He clenched his fist and strove for control and to remember he wasn’t going to let Leslie get to him.

  “You’ve already gotten started.” Alex entered and Leslie glanced toward him, a welcoming smile on his lips.

  “Yes. Had an early day at the garage so I came over.” Leslie returned his attention to the car.

  Cuda padded into view and came to Alex. When the dog stopped beside him, Alex squatted and placed his bag on the floor.

  “Your sister didn’t take him?” He stroked the dog’s head.

  “He hid out and she couldn’t find him. She usually starts coming around a few days before she needs to get him ready so she has time to find him.” Leslie chuckled.

  “You could just make it easy for her and give him to her.”

  “What fun would that be?”

  “Fun for who?”

  Leslie straightened. “For me and Cuda. Avril wouldn’t admit it, but she enjoys our little hide-the-doggie game.”

  “You all are strange, strange people.” Alex petted Cuda and stood.

  “Unique. Mama says we’re unique.” Leslie wiped his hand on a cloth.

  “I bet she does.” Alex stood and joined him by the vehicle. “I’m going to help with the car.”

  “I know you want to, bu—”

  “No buts. I’m helping.” Alex wasn’t going to let Leslie back out on what they’d agreed on.

  “I was going to suggest that you change out of your spiffy suit first.” Leslie touched the lapel. “Dark blue with a pale blue shirt looks good on you, but if you get grease on….” He didn’t have to finish the statement.

  Alex glanced down at his suit, then focused on Leslie’s slender fingers. He remembered the calluses on Leslie’s hands. Alex went hard at the thought of how the raised flesh would feel on his skin. The knowing look in Leslie’s gaze made him need to put distance between them, now.

  “I’ll get changed.” Alex stepped back from Leslie’s touch, picked up his briefcase, and went to the garage door.

  Cuda came with him.

  “Cuda, get back here,” Leslie called.

  “It’s okay. He can come with me.” Alex opened the door.

  He entered and waited for the dog to join him, then closed the door leading from the garage.

  “Your daddy is definitely going to be trouble,” Alex said to Cuda.

  The dog woofed, as if in agreement. Alex crossed through the kitchen and headed upstairs to get changed. Hopefully by the time he returned to the garage, he wouldn’t be thinking about things he knew he shouldn’t.

  LESLIE LEANED against the side of the Hemi and watched as Alex retreated. That was exactly what Alex was doing. He’d seen the distance Alex was trying to put between them. Alex would learn that Leslie didn’t let what seemed impossible stop him. Instead it only made him more determined. Leslie leaned further around the car, appreciating the suit Alex wore, which fit him well—Alex’s broad shoulders made it flow over his back and cover his butt which, when Leslie got a look yesterday, looked firm. It also gave Alex a sexy, debonair air, yet the eyes gave him away. There was something hidden there, a devilish sense of humor. When he couldn’t see Alex or Cuda any longer, he listened to the door open, then close. Leslie sat on the stool by the counter, absently watching the screen saver of his laptop display his company’s name. The close proximity in which they’d have to work together to fix the Hemi would be a test of whether he could resist grabbing Alex and kissing him senseless. He couldn’t kiss him, at least not yet. He’d have to take it slow, or Alex would close him out. The statement he’d made less than twenty-four hours ago was enough to get Alex to at least think about the possibilities. Leslie returned to the car and focused on working.

  “What can I do?”

  He lifted his head to see Alex standing by the side of the car, close to the open hood. Leslie gripped the screwdriver he held at the sight of Alex wearing a sleeveless, holey T-shirt that gave tantalizing glimpses of his skin. Leslie lowered his head, biting his lips and taking in Alex’s sweats, which weren’t much better. In particular, there was one hole on Alex’s right upper thigh that if he slid his finger inside, Leslie imagined, he’d be able to touch soft flesh that would go hard in his hand. Leslie drew in a breath, and the scent of Alex’s cologne filled his nostrils.

  Focus, Leslie. Work on the car and don’t think of ways you can have him naked in seconds.

  Leslie gestured to Alex, and he leaned down. He dumbed down how he explained so Alex could understand he wanted him to remove mounting screws, and showed him how, then made sure he knew what to do before leaving him to it. Leslie returned to the counter, pulled his laptop to him, and brought up the screen. He searched for parts from his vendors, making notes on what he had already seen he needed to change on the car. Getting another tool, Leslie braced himself, then turned.

  Son of a bitch. The tear just below Alex’s butt should have been higher, but it still didn’t stop Leslie from thinking what he could do through the tear. Leslie dragged his gaze away and moved back under the front of the hood. He worked next to Alex and corrected him as needed. Alex hummed under his breath, seeming to enjoy his work. Leslie strove for patience but lost it.

  “For God’s sake, Alex. It’s a delicate instrument, not something you rip into.” He grabbed the tool out of Alex’s hand.

  “I was doing it the way you showed me,” Alex protested.

  “No, you weren’t.” Leslie knew he was hard to work with and demanding, but he’d already shown considerable restraint with Alex’s ineptitude. “How were you planning to fix this car by yourself?”

  “I had a book—”

  “A book.” Leslie straightened, disbelief filling him. “Let me see this book.”

  Alex frowned, moved away to a cabinet, and opened it. He returned and handed Leslie the book. Leslie stared at the book on car restoration and then flipped through it, his disbelief turning to anger. He slammed it closed.

  “No book can show you how to fix a car.” Leslie held up the offending item. “Certainly not this.”

  Leslie walked toward the shed he’d attached to the garage
. He quickly got a bucket, lighter fluid, and a lighter, then put the book in the container before returning to where Alex stood. Leslie went just outside the garage to the driveway and put down the items, flicked his lighter, then lit it.

  Alex looked from the fire to Leslie, shaking his head. “Dramatic much?”

  “That’s all the book was good for.” Leslie grinned. “Seriously, a book.”

  “If you had let me finish speaking instead of getting all fire-happy, you would have heard me say I had a book but found it was useless. I’d already decided to call someone”—Alex stared pointedly—“for help. Although I’m thinking working with you on this is going to be a challenge.”

  “A pain in the butt is more like it,” Leslie muttered.

  “Ditto.” Alex eyed him. “You’re not any bed of roses to work with. Are you always so—”

  “Demanding. Yes, I am.” Leslie moved to stand beside him, then gestured around them. “What do you see?”

  Alex studied the garage. “Lots of stuff. Most of which we won’t need.”

  “Wrong. These are tools. For any job you do, you need the right tools.” Leslie pointed to the radio. “The music is to accompany me as I work.” He motioned to the laptop. “To let me find what I need for your car.” Then he held up the screwdriver. “To work on the actual car. I could tell you what each item in this place is for, but that’d take forever. It’s all about finding the right tool for the job you’re doing. When you’re doing a marketing campaign, you find the right places to get your clients seen. You use many tools to get the job done.” Leslie put his hands on his hips. “I’m one of the items needed to get the car fixed, and so are you, Alex. I’m going to use you in the best way for us to get this job done.”

  He walked over to his laptop, beckoning Alex over to him. Leslie showed Alex what he needed him to do—send e-mails to his distributors on the parts he required to fix the car—and left him to do it. He went back to work on the car.

  “All that ‘best tool for the job’ is a load of shit to just get me out of the way so you can work.”

  “I do want you out of the way.” Leslie glanced over toward where Alex sat. “But if you think on what I said, it’s all true.”

  “The agreement is I would work with you on the car.”

  “And you are. The laptop is a tool in the process.”

  Alex snorted and went back to working on the computer. Leslie smiled and returned to his own task. Now that Alex was not in the way, he could get more done. Leslie took a peek at Alex, noting he had his head bent over the computer. Yep, Alex was indeed stubborn, yet Leslie was looking forward to outwitting him.

  Chapter Four

  WITH A wide smile on his lips, Leslie pulled into Alex’s driveway. Holding the two tumblers, he exited his vehicle. Leslie was already pumped to see Alex for the next foray into their clash of wits. In the last two weeks, whenever they met for lunch or he came by to work on the Hemi, he’d enjoyed being in Alex’s company. That thought in mind, he went to the garage, punched in the code, and went inside.

  “I didn’t expect you today.” Alex came into the garage from the kitchen entrance.

  Leslie handed him the to-go container with Alex’s favorite brand of tea. It had become a ritual for him to bring it if he came by early in the morning.

  “Thanks.” Alex accepted it and took a deep sip.

  “I took the day off for the party,” Leslie explained.

  “Me too. I can’t believe the twins are seven,” Alex said.

  “Time passes quickly,” Leslie replied, thinking of the Jenkins twins. Today was their birthday, and there was a surprise party for them in a few hours along with Del, who had become the boys’ guardian a year ago. Del wasn’t aware he would also be celebrated. Leslie and Alex were going to help set up for the get-together.

  “Where’s Cuda?” Alex’s words brought his attention back to him.

  “Still home recovering from being at Avril’s.” Leslie smiled. “He didn’t want to leave the bed.”

  “I know the feeling.” Alex yawned.

  “You could get more rest. I’m good here,” Leslie suggested.

  “You’re just trying to get rid of me.” Alex’s gaze narrowed. “I’m going to finish my tea first, then help out.”

  Alex came closer to where he stood. Leslie noticed he was again in a T-shirt and sweats. Alex sat in the corner by the door, leaning against the wall of the garage. Leslie sipped from his own cup, then put it on a shelf close by as he went under the hood.

  “I was thinking since we’re both going to the party, we could go together.” Leslie glanced at Alex.

  He had the cup halfway to his mouth as he looked at Leslie.

  “That way, after the party you can come to my house to see my car collection.” Leslie went back to working on the car.

  “Sure.”

  It was said so grudgingly Leslie wanted to laugh, but he didn’t. Soon Alex joined him. They went through their usual routine of Leslie letting him work on the car until frustration took over, then he sent Alex to the laptop.

  “There is a response from Geter. He wants four hundred more for the part.”

  “That weasel. Tell him we already agreed on a price, and I won’t give him any more. Add if he fucking wants any more of my business, he better stop pulling this shit.”

  “I’ll let him know, but in a nicer way.”

  “Hmph. He’ll know I didn’t write it. He tries to pull something like this periodically.”

  “Okay, I sent a reply.”

  Leslie’s cell rang and he pulled it out and looked at the ID. “See, that’s Geter.”

  Leslie answered the call. “Yes… I’m having someone e-mail for me. Yeah, you know it wasn’t me, you fucking weasel.”

  Geter laughed. “Ahhhh, you’re in Maestro mode. Let me know when Leslie comes back so I can talk to him. He’s the nice… correct that, sort of nice one.”

  “We might be friends, but you’re not going to change prices on me, Geter,” Leslie warned.

  “Come on, Leslie. I give you good deals, but you’re killing me on the prices you want to pay for parts on the Clone.”

  Leslie glanced at Alex, who was busy checking on more parts. He went outside.

  “This is a special project, and I need to get a better than usual cost for my parts. You know with how much business I send your way it’ll work out.” Leslie hardened his voice. “Or I could take my business elsewhere.”

  “You could, but no one would put up with your demanding ass. Fine, I’ll get you what you need at the low-ass prices you want.”

  “Good. I also need….” Leslie proceeded to discuss the other projects he had in his shop.

  When he returned to the garage, he walked over to Alex and grabbed his hand.

  “Get out from under there. Back to ordering parts for the car.” He pointed to the laptop.

  “I can work on the car.” Glaring, Alex twisted his wrists out of Leslie’s grip. “I can’t be that bad—”

  “You’re worse. Your job is to get what we need, and I’ll put it in.”

  “Why do you get to put it in?”

  “Because I know what I’m doing.” Leslie couldn’t resist. “At least in this case. But in others I’m good with either way.”

  “I’ve always been versatile.” A playful grin curled Alex’s lips, showing off his dimples.

  Leslie’s breath caught. Alex winked, then returned to sit before the laptop. Leslie slowly released his breath and focused on what he should be doing.

  LATER THAT afternoon, in preparation for the party, Alex opened another chair and placed it by the table already set up. He had deliberately chosen to work farthest from everyone else as they got ready for the party. It gave him time to think and avoid answering questions.

  “You and Leslie arrived together.” Robert came into his line of sight, taking a chair off the pile and setting it on the other side of the table.

  Alex didn’t answer, since it wasn’t a question. They
continued to set up chairs around the tables. Robert didn’t say anything else. The silence wore on Alex’s nerves. He slammed the chair down, lifting his head and meeting Robert’s gaze.

  “Wipe that knowing look off your face. I’m not telling you anything.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.” Robert picked up another folding chair, opened it, and pushed it under the table.

  “I hate when you do that.” Alex walked to his side of the table.

  Robert kept putting chairs around the table. Alex worked beside him, then stopped.

  “He came by the house to work on the car. Since we were both coming to the party, he suggested we come over together.” Alex gripped the top of one of the seats. “Besides, after the party, I’m going by his house to see his car collection. Carpooling saves gas and time.”

  “I’ve heard it called a lot of things, but not carpooling.” Robert stared at him in disbelief. “You’re going over to his house to see his etchings, Alex. He has you flummoxed.”

  “Flummoxed? Really, Robin? Who uses words like that?” Alex grabbed Robert’s jaw, squeezed his lips, and moved them while saying in a high-pitched voice, “I do declare, I’ve been flummoxed.”

  Robert jerked his head back and smacked Alex’s hand, laughing. Alex chuckled, putting out more seating.

  “It’s better than your gas and time crap.”

  “It was bad. The only excuse is I’m indeed bamboozled. See? You’re not the only one who can throw out big words.” Alex stopped. “The damn man is a sneaky little shit.”

  “You all are the same height,” Robert pointed out.

  “I know that, Robin. It’s just a saying….” Alex paused at Robert’s grin, then said, “I must really be off that you suckered me with that one.” Alex rubbed the bridge of his nose, then lowered his hand. “For the last two weeks, he’s found some way to maneuver it so we can be together.”

  “Uh-huh. During the week, don’t you drive yourself to lunch at his garage every day?”

  “Not the first day. He did. But after that, I did. B—”