Page 28 of Hiding for the Holidays
“Excuse me?” I ask, crossing my arms over the chest. Even though I’m like ten years older than him, no girl wants to be referred to as an older woman.
“I bet you could show me a thing or two, right gorgeous?” Callum says, eyeing me up and down. His tone is joking, but it feels a bit like he’s crossing the line, and I take a step away from him, not liking the direction he’s heading. It reminds me too much of Scott.
“Don’t talk to her like that.” Leo scowls, stepping between us as he stares him down.
“You’d rather I do it behind her back, like you?”
“I don’t do that,” Leo argues.
“You were just commenting on how good her ass looks in those pants—” Leo lurches forward and covers Callum’s mouth with his hand, laughing awkwardly as he glances over his shoulder at me.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“Sure… I’m just gonna go… over there,” I say, gesturing to anywhere that isn’t here.
As I walk away, I hear Leo whispering angrily at Callum about keeping his mouth shut. I bite my lip in amusement. I think Callum is harmless. He was clearly trying to get a rise out of Leo… and it worked. I probably should be upset he was talking about my ass like that, but it’s honestly flattering. And I know he also told Callum about all the work I’ve done here, too.
I hear the door open, and Asher steps in with pizza. Hegestures with his head for me to follow him into the staff room. I gladly take the opportunity to get away from the others for a few minutes.
Pulling my new cellphone out of my pocket, I check the time. I still can’t believe Asher bought me a phone. He told me as an employee, I needed one so they could contact me. He apparently added me to their business plan, so I don’t even have to pay monthly for it. I really had landed a dream job here. If only I could tell them the truth about me.
By the time we’ve finished eating, the tension is gone between Leo and me. I wave goodbye to Asher and Grant as I follow him out to his car.
When I see the truck we’re heading towards, my eyes grow round in excitement.
“That’s your truck?” I ask excitedly.
“Yep, you like it?”
I take in the bright, candy-apple paint that seems to gleam like a Christmas ornament. “I love it! It’s like a modern Christmas truck!”
“It’s an F-150. Since Asher has his bike, and Grant has his Dodge Charger, I thought we needed something more practical that would fit us all and cargo. Here?—”
He opens the passenger door and holds my hand as I place my foot on the little step and press up. His hand finds my hip as he helps me into the seat. He closes the door and jogs around to the driver’s side as I gaze around the black and red interior.
“It’s so clean,” I tell him as I buckle my seatbelt.
“Did you expect it to be messy?”
“A little.”
He chuckles. “Sorry to disappoint you, shortcake?”
“Oh, I’m definitely not disappointed,” I say with a little too muchenthusiasm.
I clear my throat, feeling a little awkward as he pulls onto the street and asks, “Do you drive?”
I nod. “I have my license, but I’m from a city where public transportation was easier and quicker.”
“Ah, a big-city girl, huh?”
“I’d say medium-size. It’s not like New York or anything.”
“And you left that to come here?” We hadn’t spoken anymore about where I’m from or what I’m running from, but I know they want to know more. I’m just afraid of pulling them into my mess.
“Yep,” I say, popping the p as I look out the window.
He pulls into a hardware store parking lot, and I pull on the gloves Asher gave me.
