Page 10 of It's Going to Be a Chrome Christmas
Cayden hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. He’d been walking down the hallway to try to talk to Trixie again when he heard Mrs. Wynn mention someone named AJ and Trixie’s defensive words. Who was AJ? Who was Joey? Why the fuck was it that Trixie seemed to be surrounded by these men? And why did she not have an issue being near them, but she fought being near Cayden?
Whoever AJ was, it seemed Cayden owed him for smoothing his way into working with Trixie. Her laugh was pure music. Cayden could stand there for hours, leaning his head against the wall, and just listen to it. But he decided not to push his luck. He was pleased with the turn of her attitude and decided to leave the women alone. He’d get his time with Trixie soon enough.
He turned and froze like a deer in the headlights. Mr. Wynn was standing right behind him with his arms crossed over his chest.Busted. He indicated for Cayden to follow him.
Like a child being sent to the principal’s office, Cayden’s shoulders slumped as he trailed after the halfway-house owner.
Mr. Wynn’s office had an open door policy. The file cabinets were locked, and the computer and phone were passwordprotected. Mr. Wynn did not believe in locked doors. The residents of his home were not prisoners. They had rules, like anyone living under someone else’s roof, but what they did was their own choosing. And therefore, they were solely responsible for the consequences of those actions.
Which was also why Mr. and Mrs. Wynn did not hesitate to call the police on rulebreakers. They were not in elementary school, still learning their way in the world. They were grown men and would be treated as such.
Mr. Wynn indicated to the chair in front of his desk. Cayden sat, ready to be reprimanded for eavesdropping. To his surprise, though, Mr. Wynn sat down next to him in the dual chair, rather than across from him.
“My Peggy is a very special woman. She has enough love in her heart for every single person who walks through those doors, whether they deserve it or not. She will always see the good in people.” He leaned closer to Cayden. “Always.”
Cayden nodded, not really sure what he was supposed to do or say.
“Trixie’s grandfather was my best friend. We grew up together, raised our kids together. He was lucky enough to have grandchildren. I took Trixie and her brothers under my wing too. To this day, I am still saddened by my friend’s passing.” He paused then, glancing out of the open office door. “But I look at that girl, and I see him.” He tapped his chest, repeating with even more emotion, “Iseehim. His goodness, his strength, and his weaknesses.” He looked Cayden in the eyes. “Bobby always tried his hardest at everything he did. He had to prove himself as a Latino, a father, a grandfather, and a businessman. Trixie is the same way. I love that girl like she’s my daughter and granddaughter all wrapped up into one incredible package.”
He leaned forward, placing his nose less than an inch from Cayden’s. “So if you hurt that girl, physically, emotionally,financially, romantically, metaphorically, I will not send you back to jail. Jail would be too good for you. I won’t sic her older brothers on you. I won’t even tell Mr. Jones what happened. You’ll just…disappear, never to be seen or heard from again.”
Mr. Wynn sat back in his chair, cool as a cucumber.
Cayden actually had to remember how to breathe. Well, damn. He’d been through some intense situations, but somehow that paternal threat had surpassed all of them.
“Am I understood?” Mr. Wynn asked.
He cleared his throat, sitting up more. “I have no intention of hurting her, Mr. Wynn.”
“Good.” Mr. Wynn slapped him on the knee like they were old friends catching up. “Now, we need to discuss your new job with your new boss. Should I go get her?”
Mr. Wynn left the room, returning quickly with Trixie in tow. Cayden leaped to his feet.
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. Crap, had she decided not to offer him the job after all? Then she rounded on Mr. Wynn. “Did you give him the vanishing into thin air speech?” Cayden raised an eyebrow, and Mr. Wynn just shrugged. Trixie scoffed. “Ignore him. He’s been giving boys that speech since I was in the fifth grade.”
She took the seat Mr. Wynn had vacated to go get her. Cayden also sat back down. She crossed her legs, and Cayden’s dick decided that Cayden was a fucking moron for preferring her in coveralls.
Fuck, he was so screwed. He needed this job, but he’d be damned if he could get his dick to behave. If he somehow didn’t end up making an ass of himself, his blue balls were certainly going to be the death of him.
Chapter
Three
Somehow, they got through the paperwork required by the work program for Trixie to hire Cayden. At his request, she promised not to reveal his history to the others under her employ. Apparently, that was how he’d been fired from his last three jobs. Ridiculous. People just needed to get over themselves.
Mr. Cocky Biker’s true arrogance made his presence known when she’d asked for a list of his skills. Apparently, he didn’t just steal cars. He could paint, repair, and maintain them, too. He also still wanted to update her security. It did not pass her notice that he kept talking about keepingherjust as safe as her merchandise.
Damn, but the man was sexy. Jeff, her head mechanic, was going to eat him up and spit him out for breakfast. Trixie was looking forward to seeing that. It would be good for Cayden to get knocked down a peg or two.
She also picked up on the fact that both Peggy and Greg had been in on the plot to get her to hire him. Peggy had implied a more personal reason she should take him on, whereas Greg was all about making sure Trixie was safe. Peggy likely saw a futureromance that wasnotthere. Greg just saw Cayden as a means to secure Trixie’s safety.
Trixie could definitely see herself sleeping with Cayden. There was no denying she was attracted to him. Now that he was an employee, she was going to have to keep her hands and thoughts to herself. Cayden was only in the program for four more months. She could survive four months of lustful thoughts before the state set him free on the world.
Unfortunately for Peggy’s wishful thinking, Trixie was not a relationship type of girl. After what she and her family had gone through with AJ, Trixie had sworn off them. So maybe her reward at the end of his parole could be a one-night-only down-and-dirty fuck that would satisfy her for some time.
Both Cayden and Trixie filled out forms for the work program. He could start working once the shop was approved as a viable workplace. Earliest would be the upcoming Wednesday, latest would be the following Monday. Trixie wasn’t sure which she was hoping for.
Glancing at his paperwork as he handed it back to Greg, she took notice of Cayden’s birthdate. He was twenty-seven. She wasn’t sure if she had been expecting that. She hadn’t thought much about his age, though she had assumed him to be older than her. After some quick math, she determined that he was by about twenty months.
