The air conditioning unit was an easy fix. I found the leak in a couple of minutes. I patched it with some duct tape just long enough to run to the hardware store and grab the hose I needed.
Since it was a beautiful day, I walked. It was pretty much a straight shot down the sidewalk anyway and finding parking this time of day was usually awful. All in all, I was back on the roof without further incident in a half hour and completed the job in about double that. Not bad for a day’s work.
With a proud smile, I dusted my hands off and inspected my handiwork. Satisfied, I filled out the invoice and put all my tools back on my belt before heading back to the desk to drop off the paperwork with the kid at the counter.
Of course, two men were there, paying for smoothies. I had to admit, the fruity drinks did look good, but no way I was spending another minute in that gym. As quietly as I could, I waited behind the men and tried to sidestep them when they turned to walk away.
All I needed to do was slide the invoice across the counter and leave, but I recognized one of the men as soon as he turned around. Nick Summey. I’d gone to high school with him. He’d been the biggest dick in our class—or at least the second biggest, next to my ex. I had no reason to think he’d be any different today.
His gaze raked up and down my body like a creepy hug from an old pervert. “Kara?” he asked in an incredulous tone. “Is that you?”
“Yep.” I stepped around him and slapped the invoice on the counter, then turned to leave without another word.
“Hang on, hang on, sweetheart.” Nick reached out and grabbed my arm.
I froze, fury rushing through my body. I wasn’t sure if I was angrier about the pet name or his hand on my arm.
Definitely his hand.
Slowly, I turned my head toward him but pointed my gaze to his hand on my arm without saying a word. It was a conscious effort not to use any number of my tools to remove it for him. Go, me.
Nick seemed to get the hint and let go of my arm. “Don’t be hostile.” His overly cheery voice held a dark undertone I didn’t care for one bit. “I wanted to see if you’d like to get a drink with me sometime.”
I turned my gaze to him as he elbowed his friend and laughed like a teenager in a locker room. “I mean, assuming you own clothes other than this. Or we could just skip to no clothes at all.”
They both burst out laughing. The guy at the counter glanced up uncomfortably, then grabbed my invoice and turned away. Thanks for being a typical guy. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if men started calling each other out on their sexist behavior. I rolled my eyes.
“I think you can work the tomboy out of her,” his friend said with a disgusting leer, his thick eyebrows waggling.
My fury turned white-hot. I no longer cared that I wanted to maintain a professional demeanor whenever possible. “Fuck you,” I said in a low voice. “You immature pigs.” They both sobered up and straightened. Their body language changed as I called them out, muscles tensing, eyebrows furrowing. “You’re no better than idiotic high school boys. You’re worse, actually, because at least they have the excuse of being young. You’re grown-ass men, acting like a couple of complete fucking imbeciles.”
“Listen here, you bitch,” Nick said. “Nobody talks to me like that.”
I chuckled and turned away. “I just did.”
Someone stood right behind me. I hadn’t heard him walk up, and I nearly ran him over when I turned to leave. Judging by his facial features, he was a Kingston. He looked too much like Maddox and Maverick. Like he could’ve been their brother, or a very close relative.
The expression on his face was like a thundercloud about to release a bolt of lightning.
Or fire. The light reflected in his hazel eyes as he turned his face from looking down at me and focused on the guys. For a split second, it looked like fire instead of a reflection. It would’ve been cool if I hadn’t been so angry already.
“You need to watch your fucking mouth,” the strange Kingston said in a gravelly voice. “And remember you’re talking to a lady.”
Shit, I wouldn’t have gone that far. I wasn’t exactly a lady, and I wasn’t ashamed of that, but I appreciated the sentiment anyway.
Nick snorted. “She’s no fucking lady.”
He was technically right, but I also didn’t need a guy, especially a random Kingston, coming in here to fight my battles. “Hey, I’m no damsel in distress. I can handle this,” I said in a low voice while keeping my back to Nick and his friend and my eyes on Mr. Hottie Kingston. He was probably Mr. Annoying Kingston, too, but that was neither here nor there.
“Whatever,” Nick said behind me. I still didn’t give him the time of day. “She’s not hot enough for me to bother, anyway.” Their shoes scuffed on the concrete floor as they walked away. I tried to tune out their voices. I didn’t need any more excuses to get pissed.
“Yes, she is,” the stranger called.
Damn, it was hard not to giggle when he said that. It was cute. But still, I was too irritated. I cleared my throat.
“I’m sorry,” he said as I tried to walk around him and finally make my escape. “You really didn’t need my help. I just couldn’t not say anything after what I heard that douchebag say to you.”
I nodded but couldn’t let him think women the world over needed men to fight their battles. “I appreciate the sentiment, but it was handled. Men like that don’t need to think that the only
