Dirty Working Hero (Hard Working Hero 2)

I like this man. I like how he looks at me. I like how he touches me.

And I really like how he makes me feel.

5

Millie

“Well, well, well, look who decided to finally show up.” Kelsie looks down at the watch on her wrist. “You're only an hour late. What happened? Did tall, blond, and handsome keep you up late?”

“Ha ha, very funny.” I drop down beside her in the community garden and slip on my gloves. “How are my green beans doing today?” I pick one off the stalk and take a bite.

The skin is crisp, popping in my mouth. The flavor vibrant and better than any frozen bag you could buy in the grocery store.

I love this place. I've been coming to this community garden any chance I can get since I was sixteen. When other kids were out at the beach, I was here. When other kids were off with daddy's credit card, I was here. It's my version of therapy, planting vegetables for the local homeless shelter.

“Mm, so good,” I say to her. “Try one.” She takes a green bean but fixes me with a stare. She knows I’m avoiding her question.

“That's not a no, and don't try to change the subject,” she says with a giggle. “So, are you going to spill the deets, or are you just going to make me guess? Because you can't fool me.”

“Deets? There's no deets to spill, Kel.”

“Bullshit,” she chirps. “I saw you two sucking face outside, and then you ditched me.”

I keep my eyes on the dirt as I poke small holes to plant new seeds. “Okay, fine. Yes, we hooked up. There, you happy now?”

“No, obviously you two hooked up.” Kelsie rolls her eyes and laughs. “But I need more than that. What's his name?”

“His name is Hardin.” I can't stop myself from smiling as I say his name out loud.

“Did you meet him at the bar during the twenty minutes you were alone? I mean, Jesus, I'm running late one time and you run off with some guy.”

“Actually, he isn't just some guy, he's doing some work at my house for my father. He's a contractor.”

“Wait—” she says, sitting up straight on her knees. “Let me get this right. He's just a regular guy, not some rich trust fund baby, and your father is letting you date him?”

“One, my father doesn't know. And two, we're not dating, we just hooked up, that's it.”

“I'm calling bullshit again.”

“I'm serious, Kel, it was a one ti—two time thing, that's it.”

“One,” she says, mocking me. “Two times isn't just a hook up, that's at least a friend with benefits. And two, you still have to see this guy, he's working at your house. It's not like you can just avoid him.”

“What's your point?” I ask.

“My point is, I've known you for years, and not once, not a single time have you ever slept with someone more than once if they weren't your boyfriend. You like this guy.”

“I didn't say that.” My eyes dart to hers, mouth hanging open. “Don't make assumptions.”

Kelsie claps her hands and grins big. “You do! You like this guy! I can see it all over your face, Millie.”

“Okay, so maybe I do like him a little. I don't know why. He's a bit of a hard ass, he's bold for sure, and he's the complete opposite of any guy I've ever dated. I can't figure out why I'm so drawn to him. It's like I have no control over it.”

“Mm,” she grunts as she pulls a small broccoli plant from its pot and plants it. “It's the bad boy bug.”

“The what?”

“The bad boy bug. He's dirty, he sounds crude, he's probably got a mouth on him too. I bet—”

“He does, he definitely does,” I say, cutting in.

“See? You got bit.” Kelsie giggles, pointing her finger at me.

“I wish I could get un-bitten then.” I drop a seed in each hole and cover it with dirt. Sprinkling water from the watering can, I say, “My parents will kill me if they find out about this. I'm on thin ice as is.”

“So what? Who cares about them? If you like the guy, I say go for it.”

“Just like that? I just told you he was dirty and crude and had a mouth on him. And you think I should go for it?”

“Why the hell not? There's obviously something you like about him. Besides, my grandmother used to always say, you'll never really know if something is bad or good until you try it.”

“That's broad. She probably wasn't talking about a man, she was most likely talking about brussel sprouts.” I stand up and brush the dirt off my shorts. Grabbing the wicker basket next to me, I start picking the vegetables that are ready in the garden. “Even if I do go for it, how do I know it's right for me??”