Four Kicks

“Because I’m the big sister.”

Things are quiet between us for a few minutes as we both fold shirts into neat stacks. “I guess that’s a ‘yes’ then.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, you’re sleeping with David.”

“As it happens, I am not. We’re taking things slow.”

Bianca snorts. “That’s a first for you.”

“What do you know?” Silence falls again and I realize she has a point. I don’t recall ever taking things slow. “I’m not sure he’s really into it,” I blurt out. I’ve been trying to process tonight’s date in my head, but maybe talking through it would be helpful.

“Why do you say that?” she asks.

“Things are different between us. I mean, of course they would be. We’re older, we’ve been living our lives. But he seems like he’s just going through the motions when we go out. Doing what he thinks he’s supposed to do.”

She pauses in her task and looks up at me, letting me know she’s listening.

“If it were another guy, maybe I wouldn’t think anything of it – it’s only been two dates – but he and I know each other, and we used to have a really strong connection. He used to make me feel like I was the only person who mattered to him, but now he always seems distracted.

“He opens doors for me, he pulls my chair out, he walks me to my door. He’s doing nice ‘date’ things, but it’s like I could be any random girl, not someone he used to be in love with.”

We continue pulling things from the box, folding, stacking, pouring more wine. Eventually Bianca asks, “Are you going to keep seeing him?”

I sigh. “I don’t know. I guess so. We made plans to go to the festival together next weekend.”

“What? Aren’t you working our booth?”

“Mom said the three of you would have it covered.”

My sister frowns and pouts. “That’s not fair.”

I get up and slide over our next box. “I’m working over forty hours a week at the construction office. I think it’s fair.”

She makes an unhappy little grunt but doesn’t fuss about it. “How is your new job? I still can’t believe you’re getting such great pay.”

“I know. I’ll be getting my first check next week and I can give most of it to Mom and Dad.”

“What’s it like working there?”

My sister probably wants to know what my days are like and what types of things I do at the job since she’s never worked anywhere except the shop, but the first thing that comes to mind at her question – actually the first four things that come to mind – are the men. “It’s torture,” I say, thinking of how my body reacts every day to seeing Nathan, Ash, Derek and Landon.

“Oh, is the work hard?”

“No, resisting my bosses is hard.” Damn, the wine. I didn’t intend to talk about this to my sister, but my head is a little fuzzy and the topic suddenly sounded like fun. More fun than what we’ve been talking about.

“What?”

I swallow another sip of wine and let out a sigh. “I have four bosses and each of them is more gorgeous than the next.”

She arches a brow. “Is that right?”

“Yeah, two of them look like GQ models and the other two might have stepped right off the cover of a men’s fitness magazine. They’re ridiculously fit, and they’re not shy. Not one bit.”

“What does that mean?”

“They’re playboys. Fuck boys. They mess around a lot.”

“They sound like just your type. But I guess having sex with one of your bosses would be a terrible idea.”

I laugh a bitter little laugh. Thank goodness I’m not feeling the alcohol enough to confess that I already have slept with two of them, and that I work hard every day at convincing myself that the one time was enough.

10

Painfully tempted

Thankfully, for the sake of my productivity and my willpower, the men usually work at the building sites most days.

When they’re in the office, I try to keep my distance as much as possible, but it’s hard when the company literally only consists of the four of them, Amy, and me. It doesn’t help that I sit at the reception desk and I’m basically in their path every time one of them passes through the doorway.

Landon is always in a good mood, and never fails to flash a big smile as he’s coming and going. Nathan sometimes appears distracted, but usually gives me a greeting full of flirtation and double entendres. Ash mostly only offers a small nod, but his eyes say volumes about what’s on his mind and it’s dangerous stuff. Derek is more unpredictable – sometimes talkative and friendly, other times in a hurry.

He’s at my desk right now, helping me with a computer question that Amy couldn’t answer. It’s a tight fit with him next to me, the bulk of him barely fitting between the wall and the desk, and we’re so close that the fresh scent of his aftershave fills my senses. I should move away for my own protection, but I’m trapped.