Page 6 of Mistletoe Omega
Swallowing hard, Sam said, “I get paid at the end of the week. I’m good for it, I promise. Just let me back in my goddamn room.” His voice wobbled.
“No,” the man growled. “Take your shit and leave. Don’t make me call the cops, kid.”
“You just threw my stuff outside when I wasn’t even here. Who does that? Someone could have stolen it.”
“What was I supposed to do with it? I’m not a storage facility.” The manager looked annoyed.
The guy’s heartless attitude pissed me off. “Legally you’re supposed to keep his property safe. Even if you’re locking him out. You can’t just put his stuff out on the stoop and hope no one steals it.”
He glanced at me. “I don’t have room for his junk.”
“That doesn’t matter. Legally you were supposed to keep it in a protected area.”
Blowing out an impatient breath, the guy shook his head. “Whatever. He’s here now and it’s his problem now.”
“You’re a real asshole, you know that?” Sam snapped. “What did I ever do to you?”
“I’m an asshole?” The guy scowled. “I made it clear to your boyfriend, you needed to either pay, or get out. I let you stay two extra days for free, but I’m the asshole?”
Sam now looked a little pale. He pressed his hand to his stomach, looking like he wanted to puke. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Unable to help myself, I put my arm around his shoulders. I led him out of the building, giving the office manager a dirty look while I was at it. I took Sam to my truck, and I opened the door. “Get in.”
He balked. “What? Why?”
I sighed. “You can crash with me until you figure this out.”
He stiffened and took a step away from me. “I can’t stay with you.”
“You can’t stay here.”
“I… I know but… I can’t just go to your house.”
“Do you have a better plan?” I wrinkled my brow at his stubbornness.
“Not yet.”
“Well, I don’t feel right about leaving you here. But it’s after midnight, and I’m tired and fresh out of ideas.”
“I don’t just sleep with strangers.” He clenched his jaw.
My face heated as his meaning sank in. “Jesus. I’m not soliciting you.” He thought I was hitting on him? While I found Sam attractive, I wasn’t in the habit of forcing myself on guys, or trading room and board for sex.
He chewed his lower lip, still watching me suspiciously.
“I didn’t plan on sharing a bed with you. I have a guest room.”
“How do I know that’s true?”
I exhaled with exasperation. “Kid, do you want the room or not? I have no desire to do anything to you. I’m freezing my ass off, and I would love to go home and go to sleep.Alone.”
“Then go,” he snapped. “I’m not keeping you here.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Yeah, you kind of are. I can’t just leave you here in a snow storm. I won’t be able to sleep.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s not in my nature to abandon people who are in need.”
