Page 17 of Fast Lane

Confusion wraps around my brain as I slowly turn back around to face him. “That was over an hour ago.” Even though I didn’t ask it as a question, Roscoe still nods his head. “What could be so important to talk to me about?”

“I need your help. Ever since you told me about Free Fall and the inside of the school being the first impression that anyone gets of us, I haven’t been able to not think about it. I looked around for interior designers but the ones that actually have good ideas are way out of my budget and the ones I can afford… well, let’s just say they’d be more qualified to design a strip club than a skydiving school,” he explains.

Silence suddenly falls between us. I wait for him to say something more but he doesn’t, he just looks at me expectantly. “Okay… what does that have to do with me?”

Roscoe starts to look nervous. It’s a new look for him and it totally throws me off. “I was thinking that maybe I could hire you. I’d pay you, of course, but it can’t be a ton.”

The idea of getting to do a design project sends a sudden bolt of energy within my soul. Exhaustion melts away. I haven’t felt this excited about anything in months. I can’t help the way my mind takes off and begins spinning in a thousand different directions. Somewhere, though, my reality slams into me, like a high-speed car slamming into a brick wall. “I’m not an interior designer.”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Maybe not in the technical terms, but what you came up with was perfect and that was just a quick idea. I can only imagine how amazing it would come out if you actually had the time to put into it.”

I don’t think he realizes how much those few words mean to me. There aren’t many people who have been in my corner with blind faith, so the fact that he is means a lot. “And the owner of Free Fall is okay with this?”

There’s a moment of hesitation and Roscoe looks really uncomfortable before he nods his head. “Yeah, he thinks it’ll be great for business.”

Most of the time Roscoe and I can barely stand to be in the same room together, so it seems a little crazy to consider this opportunity. But a part of me really wants it, so I set my differences with Roscoe aside and tell him, “I fully accept then.”

The smile on his face is large and could light up this entire parking lot. Who needs the lights fixed when Roscoe smiles at you like that? A thousand watts of cocky, happy, knee weakening, and handsome. Quickly, I look away. “Great, come by whenever you can. I’m there every day for the rest of this week.”

“I’ll come by tomorrow.” We stand there staring at each other—a couple of feet away from one another. Neither of us moves until Roscoe starts to move towards me. I’m not sure why but I hold my breath as his hazel eyes hold on to mine. However, he surprises me when he moves around me. When I turn around he’s got my car door open and waiting for me. I don’t fight the smile that comes over my face. As I walk past him I can’t ignore the lime and ocean scent coming off Roscoe. “Thank you.”

“Of course. Be safe getting home,” he tells me before he shuts the door. After locking them, I start the car and pull out of the parking lot. As I look in my rearview mirror, I notice Roscoe leaving the parking lot as well. Tonight definitely didn’t go like I expected but it was good, I know that much.

Sixteen

Roscoe

Today has been total crap! Everything has gone wrong from beginning to end. I walk into the office and slam the back door. I hear a startled squeak when I do. When I look up, I see Kosi standing there with Mushu in her arms. He looks very comfortable, and for a moment I’m pretty sure my heart stutters in my chest at the image. “I’m sorry,” I finally manage to bite out.

Kosi shrugs her shoulders. “Bad day?”

I run my fingers through my hair roughly and in frustration before I take a seat. “You could say that again.”

“You do know it’s not the door's fault though, right?”

When I look up at Kosi, she’s scratching Mushu’s chin, her perfectly shaped eyebrows nearly lost in her hair with how high they are raised. “Oh really? I didn’t know that. I thought the door caused all the issues in my world currently. Thank you for informing me of that intriguing information.”

“Geez, easy with the sarcasm.” She kisses Mushu on the head while he purrs away.

I sigh heavily. “I’m sorry. That was a little harsh and definitely unnecessary.”

Kosi’s mouth falls open. “Wait, didtheRoscoe Langston just apologize? That has got to be some world news right there.”

“I’ve apologized before.” My arms cross over my chest and I notice the way her eyes follow the movement. If I didn’t know Kosi Scott better, I’d think she was checking me out. Short lived fantasy because I do know Kosi and I know she doesn’t check out anyone—even if all eyes land on her when she enters a room.

She laughs but it’s slightly sarcastic. “Really? Did hell freeze over?”

“Ha ha,” I tell her. “I don’t know, you’d have to let me know if your throne got cold.”

“Did you just insinuate that I’m the queen of hell?” Her blue eyes watch me carefully. Most people would back down now but that’s never been our forte.

I smirk and lean in towards her. The floral scent of her skin engulfs me and makes my blood boil on a new level. I bite back the groan that builds in my chest. “If the crown fits, sweetheart.” When I pull away I wink at her. For a moment we just stand there, neither of us moving, just watching the other, waiting to pounce like hunter prey. Finally, I give up because let’s face it I’m not a patient man. “Why don’t you have a seat?” I tell her as I move around the office desk where I stashed the paperwork with the budget for the facelift and what I can pay her this morning when I first got here.

Kosi remains standing and when I look up at her I raise my eyebrows in question. “Oh, I don’t know if I can sit on something besides my throne.”

Touché. Point for Kosi Scott if anyone is keeping score. It’s been too long running for me to keep up with at this point in my life. “Would it help if I got Wyatt to come and feed you some grapes while he fans you, your majesty?”

“Well, we were talking about the queen of hell here, not Cleopatra, but okay.” I take a moment to appreciate the royal blue sundress she has on. Her legs are long, lean, and perfectly tanned. The nude wedges she has on compliment the dress well. Her hair is down and straight today, and makeup light. The denim jacket she has on is distressed and the sleeves are rolled up to her elbows.

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