CHAPTER NINE
Simon
“I can’t thankyou enough for giving us a ride home,” Simon said as he pulled a couple of cold beers from the fridge.
“It was no problem at all. Frank requests, I deliver. Happy to do it. Just think of it as part of the service.” Darren’s actions belied his joking manner as he glanced around and fidgeted with his keys.
“You play taxi driver to all your customers?” Simon passed Darren a bottle, noting the tremble in the younger guy’s hand as he reached for the beer.
“Wh… no… I guess not—” His cheeks flushed as he stuttered, the pink tinting his pale skin so the freckles didn’t stand out quite so much.
“He’s only joking, Darren,” Patrick cut in, obviously sensing Darren’s nervousness. He grabbed the other bottle from Simon’s hand and turned back to the timid mechanic, but not before glaring at Simon. “C’mon, Darren, let’s take these to the living room and get comfortable. You’re welcome to stay for pizza, too, if you like.”
“Ahh—sure, that’d be great,” Darren replied, giving Simon a furtive glance before following Patrick through the doorway.
“Jesus,” Simon muttered under his breath. He turned to the fridge and grabbed another bottle. After the day he’d had, he was looking forward to finally being able to relax. The car was being towed to the workshop, and he could worry about that tomorrow, but having Darren in the house wasn’t his idea of relaxation. The kid radiated a kind of nervous energy that put Simon on edge. He couldn’t work out if Darren was extremely shy or whether something else was going on.One thing’s was for sure, I freak him out.
“I’ll have one of those,” Mike said as he entered the room, indicating the bottle in Simon’s hand.
Simon rummaged in the fridge again. “Here you go.” He passed over a bottle and twisted his own cap off before tossing it toward the trash can.
“So, what’s Darren’s story?” Mike asked as he leaned against the counter.
“What do you mean?”
Mike rolled his eyes. “That kid is like a puppy dog where you’re concerned. Big eyes, and panting at your feet, just waiting for a bit of attention. But nervous as all hell.”
“Oh, God.” Simon took a swig of his drink. “Is that what it is? I think he has a crush on me.”
Mike’s eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. “Ya think?”
“It started ages ago when Andrew first invited him to a barbecue round at his place. Darren had just started as an apprentice at Moffatt’s, and I don’t think he knew many people when he first came to town, so Andrew took him under his wing. So I’ve seen him around a bit. He always seems to be watching me, but he never says much of anything. At first I thought he was wary of me, but maybe it’s a crush thing.”
“He’s just a kid. He’s probably shit-scared. He looks as if a stiff wind could blow him over, and you look like….” Mike waved a hand up and down in front of Simon.
“Like what?” Simon couldn’t wait to see how Mike would describe him. A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.
“Let’s just say, I can see what the kid sees in you.” Mike waggled his brows and chugged back his beer.
“Jeez,” Simon chuckled, “don’t let Patrick hear you say that.”
Mike straightened, his gaze turning serious. “Anyway, the kid obviously idolizes you. Don’t forget that he sees Andrew with his fireman, Tanner, and Charlie with his paramedic, Josh. Darren probably wants to snap up a big strong hero of his own, and you, Mr. Paramedic, are it.”
Simon groaned. “And now Patrick’s inviting the guy to stay for dinner. I really don’t want to encourage him. I don’t want to give him any reason to hope, and I don’t want Patrick to get the wrong idea, either.”
“You’re not encouraging him.” Mike gave him a friendly slap on the back. “You invited him in for a beer to say thanks for bringing us all home. Any half-decent person would have done exactly the same thing.”
“Yeah, well, fingers crossed he’ll see the invitation as me just being courteous.”
“Not to mention you’re now in a relationship with Patrick. I’m sure that’ll throw iced water on Darren and any ideas he might have had. In fact, he’ll probably need another beer to drown his sorrows.”
“Shit. I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, either.”
Mike took a step toward the doorway. “C’mon. I’ll distract the kid while you set him clear on how things are.” Mike looked back over his shoulder. “And if he’s absolutely devastated, I’ll make sure to console him.”
Simon raised his eyes to the ceiling.Oh, God help poor Darren.Mike in action was a thing to behold—a bit of a swagger and confidence oozing from every pore. If Mike ever got his hands on Darren, the kid would probably faint.
The living room was a comfortable room decorated in mismatched furniture and in need of a coat of paint. But where it wouldn’t win any awards for style, it was lived-in and homely, and deserved a trophy for comfort. A three-seater couch ran the length of the front window, with Darren perched on one end, still dressed in his work gear. He sat ramrod straight, clutching his beer bottle between both hands as if his life depended on it. It didn’t look as if he’d even taken so much as a sip. Patrick, on the other hand, was slumped in one of the armchairs, his sock-clad feet crossed at the ankles and resting on the coffee table. His boots were on the ground next to his chair and his nearly empty bottle was hanging between two fingers as he talked to Darren. Simon’s heart beat just that little bit faster at the sight of Patrick so relaxed in their living room.
