Page 12 of Cedarwood Manny

Once Adrien and Nathan were alone together, Adrien finally spoke. “Tell me yesterday was a coincidence. I feel set up.”

“You were.” He’d always believed the truth was best, but the way Adrien glared at him, Nathan wished he could say anything without being honest.

Adrien crooked his eyebrow.

Well, shit.He’d better explain… “I didn’t know when we met that you needed a manny. I went to the coffee shop to get a drink and sketch in my notebook. I’d heard about you in conversations with Kelsi, but I never begged her to help me get a job. When we chatted yesterday, I enjoyed it. Had I known then what I do now, I would’ve told you up front.”

“Kelsi mentioned she knew who was interviewing with me.” Adrien gestured to the Queen Anne chair. “Please, sit.”

“Thank you.” He hated the tension between them, but what could he do? “Kelsi greased the wheels—probably because she’s so happy to be engaged and wants everyone else to be happy, too—but I would’ve asked for this job. I love Cedarwood and want to stay here. The training center is adamant about showing us who we could be working with and your file would’ve caught my attention. This is an interesting situation, a challenge, and I love those.”

“Where are you from?”

“Spencer.”

Adrien half-smiled. He remained tense, but leaned back in his seat a bit. “I drove through there on the way to a state park. Do you camp?”

“I have.” Memories of slogging through the woods, only to kip down in a tent, filled his mind. The bugs, mud and strange noises weren’t his idea of exciting. “But I can start a fire, pitch a tent and fish. If you’re interested in a camping trip, I know what to do.” But he’d rather not. “Do you enjoy camping?”

“I hate it.”

“Oh.” That made things a bit easier. He doubted Adrien would demand Kyle be taken on a camping trip, then.

“My ex-husband loved it.”

Things made so much more sense. If the ex liked it, then chances were Adrien didn’t. Adrien also struck him as the type who preferred a bed to sleep in, rather than a sleeping bag on the ground. “You don’t like dirt, do you?”

“It’s not my favorite, no.” Adrien narrowed his eyes. “Don’t try to butter me up. If you enjoy camping, then say so.”

“Whoa.” Nathan held up both hands. The tension came back in a wave. He needed to return to where they’d been the day before. “You don’t have to be defensive. I want to work with you. Kyle is a shared concern and I want to see him grow up well adjusted. I understand your position. You have to work and without doing that, everything else isn’t possible. I also get you were hurt by your ex. I don’t know him, but what I know about him isn’t good. The guy wanted the easy way out. You’re not him and neither am I. I’m not Kelsi, either. I’m not looking to get married or jump your bones.”Liar.He’d slide right into Adrien’s bed if given the chance, but he’d keep that quiet for now. “I’m here for the duration. I respect you and want the best for everyone.”

Adrien folded his arms and crossed his ankles. His dark eyes sparkled and his forehead knotted. His jaw tightened. He swept his gaze over Nathan. “Fair enough. What about a pet? I remember you saying something about wanting a dog. Kyle does, too. Would you be interested in helping us rear a pet?”

“I love dogs, so that’s not a problem.”

“I see.” Adrien nodded. “You’ll have room and board, plus an allowance. Kelsi demanded a gas card, too. If you’d like one, then I’ll have hers transferred into your name.”

“Thank you.” He took his bag off his shoulder. Adrien still hadn’t relaxed, but he’d offered the perks of the job. Nathan forged ahead. “What are your concerns? Lay it all out.” He braced himself for an ass-chewing over the coincidence. “I like transparency.”

“I’m scared I’m screwing up. Kyle is important to me, but I’m crap as a father. I want help, but asking for it seems emasculating.” Adrien sighed and rubbed his palms on his thighs. “I wasn’t a bad kid and didn’t need much parenting by my mother, so I have no real pattern to follow for Kyle.”

“You’ll learn,” Nathan said. “What else?”

“I don’t want Kyle to think I don’t care. I’m trying, but I feel like a failure.”

“Kyle is smarter than you think. He’s caught on to a lot of what’s going on. He might not understand what’s happening, but he gets the main points,” Nathan said. “He knows you’re not going to leave him the way Gerry did. He loves you just as much as you love him. Now what else?”

“I’m concerned I’m wasting my life at the office,” Adrien said. “You do realize it’s scary, how you’re able to get me to open up? Kelsi kept telling me to visit a support group in town. I declined because I have too many patients to deal with.” He frowned. “Jesus, that sounds awful.”

“Kelsi is right. A support group might help—if you can fit it in.” Nathan laced his fingers together in his lap. “I’m told I’m easy to talk to, but if you asked my ex-boyfriend, he’d tell you I’m more engrossed with my job than my relationships. Guess that’s why we’ve been thrown together. We’re good at what we do and not good with interpersonals. But I’m sure you’ll find balance. I’m sure we will.”

“How will we find balance when you’re part of the problem?”

“I am?” Nathan asked. He tamped down his burst of excitement. He’d made an impression on Adrien.Hell yes.

“I liked yesterday. I planned on calling you today,” Adrien said. “Then the interview came up. I don’t know what to think.”

“I enjoyed our chat, too.”

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