“I’m not.”Salzy reached for the box.“We got a knife to cut it?”
“Sergeant Jones?”An older man stuck his head out the back door.“We’re about ready to wrap up.Want to come have a look?”
“Absolutely.”Mike stood and offered his hand to Jamie.“Come with me.”
Jamie let himself be pulled to his feet and followed the two men inside.Other guys were sweeping and shovelling up dust and small pieces of brick and other debris.After a minute, Mike was standing on a ladder inspecting where the upright beams and the new overhead beam were joined.Jamie got an up close look at the man’s legs.The fine dark hair, the muscle definition, the very fine butt, clenched in those tight,verytight, khaki shorts.
“Looks like some mighty fine work.”Mike smiled down.“I doubt any of my men could have done it any better.”
“Thank you.”The older man chuckled.“That’s pretty high praise coming from you.The electrician will be here first thing in the morning to do the wiring.That won’t take too long, and then the Sheetrock men will be hot on their heels.I’d say, by the end of tomorrow, we’ll be outta y’all’s hair.”
“That’ll be perfect,” Joesph said.“The flooring people will be here on Friday.They’ll start in the kitchen since they’ll have to jackhammer this old tile up.”
Jamie walked around the new opening.“It’s all so different.”He turned to Joesph.“I did mention that I wanted to maintain the dignity of the diner, didn’t I?”
“You did, and I think I’ll be able to achieve that.You’ll see when I show you the drawing.”
Mike looked at his watch.“It’s still pretty early.Is there anything else we need to get accomplished today?”he asked Joesph.
“No, we’re at a good stopping point.”He looked pointedly at Jamie.“No offence,butyou look like something the cat threw up.”
“Gee, thanks.”Jamie shook his head, frowning.“You’re no rose, you’re damn self.”
“Why don’t you go and have a nap?”Joesph took Jamie’s arm and pulled him towards the door.“We can have leftovers for dinner.”
“More than enough,” Salzy said, pushing Jamie as Joesph pulled him.
“Do you mind if I join you guys?”Mike asked.“I’ll need to go and grab a shower first.I’m smelly and grimy.”
“Of course not,” Joesph answered.“I think we all need a little downtime.”
“What am I?A toddler that needs a nap?”Jamie resisted being pulled and pushed up the stairs.
“No.”Joesph pulled on Jamie’s arm a little harder.“You’re a man who looks like he needs some serious sleep.You’ll feel better and hopefully, look better.”He stopped and glared at Jamie, hard.“I’m telling you, you need some rest.”
“What if I’m not sleepy?”Jamie allowed himself to be pulled into the upstairs apartment.
“Then just rest,” Salzy stated.“I’m going to do the same, after I have a shower.”
“Same here,” Joesph echoed.
“I’ll be back around five or so,” Mike yelled from the downstairs parking lot.
Admittedly, Jamie did feel tired, so he didn’t protest any further.
* * * * *
Jamie woke up withJoesph shaking him.“Jamie, wake up.It’s four o’clock.If you sleep any more, you may not sleep tonight.”
He sat up and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.“Really?Already?”
“Yeah.You have time for a shower before Mike gets here.”
“Dang, I feel like I just got to sleep.”He swung his legs over the side of the bed.“I guess I was more tired than I thought.”
“Um-mm,” Joesph nodded.“I told you.”
“Thanks.”Jamie looked up at Joesph.“You were right.”
