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I agree. I checked out his ass when he was walking away from me earlier today.
“Wilson must be letting him use his truck,” I say.
“Wilson doesn’t let anyone drive his truck except family. Or Kenny, when Wilson has to bring it in for service.”
“Well, he’s letting Kyle drive it.”
“He probably stole the keys and is driving it without permission.”
I ignore her comment and watch as Kyle checks the door on the hardware store. It’s locked so he turns and goes back to the truck. He starts it up and drives off.
Nina laughs. “Must be a city boy. Doesn’t seem to know how early stuff shuts down in a small town.”
“He almost made it. They close at nine and it’s just after nine.” I take out my keys. “I need to go. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
“Yeah, see ya.”
I get in my car and head home, expecting to see Kyle in front of me, but he’s not there. And when I pass Wilson’s house, I don’t see the pickup out front. It’s always parked outside. Wilson has so much junk in his garage that he can’t park his truck in there.
Where would Kyle be going this time of night? He doesn’t know his way around town and bars are the only thing open. Maybe that’s where he went. But he said he was tired and going to bed.
Okay, this isn’t good. I’m starting to sound like one of the locals. Getting in other people’s business? I don’t like it when people do that to me so I shouldn’t be doing it to Kyle. But I still can’t stop myself from thinking about him.
CHAPTERFIVE
SAGE
“Hey, Sage.”Jesse walks into the office, already covered in grease and it’s only eight in the morning.
“Hey.” I keep typing, my eyes on the computer monitor.
“Can we talk a minute?”
I check the clock. “It’s almost my break. Can we talk later? I shouldn’t have to work on my break.”
“It’s not work-related. This won’t take long, but if you want, you can take a longer break. I don’t care.”
I stop typing and turn to face him. “Go ahead.”
“The firehouse fundraiser is Saturday and I thought we could go together.”
“No.” I turn back to the computer. “Was that all?”
“Why won’t you go with me? We could just go as friends.”
“People would see us there and think we’re more than that, which is completely unprofessional given that you’re my boss. In fact, just you asking me out could be considered harassment.”
“Don’t give me that harassment bullshit. I’m not grabbing your ass. I just invited you to something. And I don’t care what people think. I know everyone in the whole damn town. They don’t care what I do.”
I sigh and look back at him. “Jesse, I told you I’m not interested in you. Even if I didn’t work for you, I’d still say no. I think of you more as a brother than someone I’d go out with. And besides, I already told Nina I’d go with her.”
He scratches the stubble along his chin. “I don’t know why you have to be this way. There aren’t many guys your age in this town, and compared to them, I’m a success. I run this garage and I’ve got my own place.” He takes a step closer to me. “If you were mine, I promise I’d treat you right. I’d buy you flowers and shit.”
“The answer is still no. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to find someone else.”
There’s a knock on the office door. It has a glass partition and is partially open but I can’t see who’s there because Jesse’s blocking my view.
“Come in,” I say, desperately wanting someone to barge in and end this awkward conversation.
