He watches me with a single eyebrow raised.
I gesture towards the coffee. “I came bearing liquid heaven. The phone was ringing off the hook, and, well, as a former receptionist, I couldn’t let it go unanswered. I hope you don’t mind. It was your wood supplier confirming the address and delivery.”
“Mind? I don’t mind one fucking bit. In fact, it’s kind of a godsend that you’re here right now,” he tells me, moving farther into the trailer, the door slamming behind him. He doesn’t stop until he’s directly in front of me, hauling me into his arms as he leans in and presses a quick, hot, hard kiss to my lips before pulling away. Too quick for my taste. It leaves me breathless, and a minty taste lingers on my mouth.
“Well,” I breathe out, “Good morning to you, too.”
He grins down at me, sheepish as he gives me a quick wink. “Just showing my appreciation.” He unhooks his tool belt and hangs it on a rack next to his desk.
As he does, his shirt rises, showcasing a muscular back. I have the urge to reach out and touch him, wanting to feel the perks of his job with my own hands, but all too quickly, he turns back to me.
“You said you used to be a receptionist?”
Tearing my eyes from his muscles, I glance up to see interest on his face. “Yep. It was all I could find after I graduated college. Not flashy, I know, but it paid the bills.”
“You know . . . it still could.”
My forehead wrinkles in confusion. “What do you mean?”
His eyes soften. “Brie, I said I’d help you,” he reminds me before nodding towards two stacks of papers on a second desk in the trailer. “Not to mention you’d be helping me out, too. My receptionist is on maternity leave, and usually, I’d pick up the slack, but I’m shorthanded on this project. With how particular Mr. Morningstar is, I’d like to spend my time working with the guys and with my hands. I was going to hire a temp, but if you’d be willing, I’ll hire you today.”
Excitement wells up in me at the prospect of not only having a job, even if it’s temporary, but that said job has me working alongside Rafe every single day. Okay, so based on what he said, he won’t be in the trailer, but we’ll be closer than before.
“Are you sure?” I ask. “I mean, I can give you references and my résumé if you want before you decide to just hire me.” I chew on my bottom lip, knowing I’ll have to create a new résumé, but for this opportunity, I’d do just about anything.
“I’m absolutely sure. I don’t need references. Like I said, it’d be helping me out. A mutually beneficial relationship. Plus, it means I’d get to see you whenever I wanted. I like the idea of that much more than glancing at the house, waiting for a Brie sighting. Now, all I have to do is make an excuse to come into the trailer. After all, I’m not completely altruistic,” he admits, giving me a wink.
A beaming smile breaks out on my face. Suddenly, everything’s looking up. “Then, yes. Wow, Rafe. You have no idea how much I appreciate this. This will definitely help me get back on my feet.”
He nods. “And hey. For a while, at least in the beginning, I’ll pay you under the table. That way, no one has to know.”
My heart falls as disappointment washes over me. With a heavy sigh, I shake my head. “Actually, I don’t know if this will work. He’ll be back in a few weeks, and he’ll notice if I’m down here every day. I appreciate the offer though.”
Rafe crosses to me and cups my cheek so I’m looking up at him. “Brie, you don’t have to worry about him anymore. I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Concern and sheer determination gleam in his eyes, and I feel safe. The expression on his face warms, compelling me to believe every single word. “It’s not that. It’s just . . . You have no idea how much I appreciate this. It’ll help me save for a security deposit on an apartment.”
“I have an apartment that’s plenty big for the two of us,” he blurts out.
My eyes widen as his implication.
He’s quick to continue. “As roommates, for the time being. Until you save your money.”
“I don’t know,” I whisper. Even though his very presence puts me at ease, he’s still practically a stranger. Then again, it’s no different than what I did in college—moving in with a roommate I didn’t know. “I mean . . . Don’t get me wrong, Rafe. I enjoyed the kiss the other day. More than you know. But I’m not ready for anything more than a rebound at this point. I don’t think my heart can handle emotions.”
He lets out a small chuckle, and humor fills his eyes. “Okay, so that came out completely wrong. I’m not asking you to fall in love or even like me for that matter. I’m just offering a way out. You don’t have to answer me now. I know it’s too much, too soon, but dammit, Brie. I can’t stand the thought of you in his house. In his bed. Especially when I know I could treat you so much better.”
“I’m not,” I inform him, and his eyebrows narrow. “In his bed, I mean. I moved into a guestroom the day he left.”
He looks surprised, then a slow smile crosses his lips. “Listen, like you said, we have a couple of weeks before he gets back. If it’s a rebound you want”—he pauses, letting out a deep breath as if it’s not what he wants—“then that’s okay with me. All I ask is that we be friends and you don’t completely discount that, one day, even if it’s far away, we could possibly be something more.”
Before I can stop myself, I hold my hand out and we shake. “Friends is it. And I promise I’ll keep my mind open.”