Trading with the Boys

“Wow, I had no idea,” Jacob said, bringing his mug to his lips. “That sounds cool though. You get paid?”

“Yes.”

“Well shit, tomorrow night’s out then,” said Tate. He paused in disappointment for a second or two, then his eyes lit up again. “How about tonight?”

An instant later, the two of them were looking at me. I was caught off guard.

“Tonight?”

“Sure, why not?” said Jacob. “What time do you get off?”

“Six. Home by seven.”

They looked at each other again and nodded. “That’s perfect. Gives us time to finish up in the garage, go home, grab a few showers…”

“You could always shower here.”

The sentence tumbled out before I could wrap my head around what I was even saying. But the guys were already hopeful.

“So that’s a yes?” asked Tate.

I shrugged internally. I had no logical objections left. Besides, doing something other than work seemed ridiculously exciting all of a sudden.

It also didn’t hurt that I’d be spending the evening with not one but two very gorgeous men…

“Sure,” I said, and I found myself genuinely smiling. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

The guys raised their coffee mugs, and I toasted them in turn. Then, draining them in two long pulls, they got up and headed into the garage. Jacob went first, with Tate lagging behind just long enough to deliver a smile and wink a

s he ducked through the doorway.

“See you tonight, beautiful.”

Seventeen

SERENA

I opened my front door almost an hour late, and to two very mixed scents. One of them I knew right away to be the spiced vanilla and cinnamon candle burning in the center of my kitchen table.

The other was unmistakably pizza.

“Hello?”

It was strange, calling out in my own house. Then again I knew the guys were here. Both their work trucks were outside, still in front of the house. Cole’s employees were gone though, along with his big blue pickup. They’d been keeping some late hours, but no doubt they’d all knocked off a little early for the weekend.

“Serena?”

I dropped my bag on the table and followed the sound of Tate’s voice into the living room. I found him lounging on the couch with Jacob. The two of them were drinking a couple of beers and flipping through the channels on my big flat panel television.

“Welcome home,” Jacob smiled, standing up. He hugged me then passed me to Jacob, who hugged me even longer.

Shit, this is nice, I thought to myself. I could get used to coming home like this.

“Change of plans,” Tate said, scratching the back of his neck. “Since the three of us worked all day we’re staying in. Dinner and a movie becomes pizza and a rented movie. Much more relaxing.” He looked back at me and raised an inquiring eyebrow. “Good?”

“Better than good,” I sighed happily. “I’ll need to clean up first, though. Right now I smell like onion rings.”

“Onion rings?” smiled Jacob, perking up.