Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Jesus, he wanted to pass out, but not in the hallway. It smelled like piss and something else he really didn’t want to think about.
He pulled himself up and tripped on a step, catching himself at the last minute. “Shit!” His voice was louder than he’d intended and he immediately regretted the outburst.
Mr. Craig’s dog started barking in 2B and the rustle of a chain and a twist of the deadbolt in 1A echoed in the corridor.
Whoops, he’d woken the landlord. He groaned and tried to climb faster. The only thing that could make this worse would be facing that bastard while he was out of his mind drunk. Who knew what would spew forth. He could be a major bitch when he wasn’t careful.
“Mr. Becke, do you know what time it is?”
He stopped at the top of the stairs on the second floor. Just one more flight and he’d be home. He looked longingly up before sighing and trying to focus on the landlord.
“Mr. Palecheek, ’m sorry I woke you.”
“For fuck’s sake, it’s Policek. Are you drunk?”
“No, nope, not. Nuh-uh. G’night.” He started to climb the stairs as quickly as he could while gripping the handrail with one hand, his heels with the other, and trying to hide the forty under his arm. But the fucking building kept swaying and his stomach protested every move with a nasty gurgle.
“Mr. Becke, I told you when you moved in this type of behavior would not be tolerated. It’s one thing for you to be queer. It’s another for you to flaunt your sinful lifestyle around the building. We have veterans living here. Good, respectable men and women. I will not have you sullying the place.”
The man’s tone was so much like the one his mother had always used, it raked across his skin. His apartment was at the end of the hall and though he could still hear Mr. Palecheek’s angry threats, he concentrated on making it to his door while the corridor kept stretching and swaying. If he could get inside, the night would be over. Everything would return to normal and he could go on with his life.
Just a few more steps.
If only he had a big strong man to carry him the rest of the way. A man like Fitch—tall, dark, muscular, and sexy as hell. He sighed.
But he was not the type of guy people fell in love with. He had way too much baggage. Not that he wanted someone to love him. Love was stupid and imaginary.
He hadn’t been so naive for a long, long time. He hadn’t believed in love since he realized his own mother hated the sight of him.
Love was a fairy tale.
Chapter Six
“What the hell, Bobby, these window spaces were supposed to be moved over three feet. Don’t you remember me telling you that at the Wednesday meeting?” Fitch pushed his fingers through his hair and tried to contain his frustration.
“Yeah, but your pop said we were doing it wrong. Sorry, man.”
“You know you’re supposed to call me when he does this.”
The older crew chief’s shoulders stooped. “I’m used to following his orders, Fitch. He’s been my boss for ten years.” He nervously scratched his oversized stomach, sweat stains forming under his pits. It was only April, but already the temperature spikes were making it hard for them to work.
“I know, but this is a big fuckup. It might cost us the job. Jesus, I wish I could just strap him to his armchair and make him watch Wheel of Fortune reruns all day.”
At this Bobby smiled, but his eyes remained sad. “He’d never stand for it. Your pop has to be in the center of everything.”
“Unfortunately he’s getting too old for that. Tell the guys to take the day off while I try to figure out how to deal with this.”
“You sure?”
“There’s no sense continuing if we end up having to tear it apart to fix the problem at our own cost. I need to talk to the client and see what they want to do.”
“All right. Sorry again.”
“Just fucking call me next time. Okay?”
Bobby nodded before heading toward the noise of pounding hammers and running saws. Great, now they’d probably have to eat the cost of materials and labor for this fuckup, which would dig into their profits more than the company could afford. They could lose the client altogether, which would be an even bigger blow. But more important, he had to worry about his old man. This wasn’t the first time his father had become confused on the job.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed his parents’ home number. His mom answered.
“Hey, Ma.”
“How did Meg’s birthday go? I haven’t talked to her yet today. Did she have fun?”
Bright red lips and killer boots filled his mind, and he temporarily forgot where he was and why he’d called. Fun? Would he say last night had been fun? No. It had been confusing as fuck. He’d tossed and turned all night after he’d dropped the girls off. Visions of hard naked abs and long legs kept him aroused until he’d finally jerked off and passed out. Not something he wanted to think about while on the phone with his mother and surrounded by a bunch of burly construction workers.