“Guess my time has come, too. My partner’s been eager for us to get a place of our own.”
Tim hummed in agreement.“So, you’re looking to buy?”
“Yep. Happened to remember you had a friend who worked in real estate. That still the case?”
“Mhm…”Tim paused as the waitress brought over their food and drinks, thanking her with a huge smile.“Bryan Stakov. Got me a great deal on my place.”
“You vouch for him then? I reached out to someone a week ago, but it was a scam. So glad I dodged that bullet.”
“Yep, Bryan is the real deal. All round a great guy. He mainly deals with properties ready to be moved in, but he usually has a few still under construction as well, if you don’t mind waiting a few months.”
Rick and Tim slipped into a discussion about the available options and then Rick had Tim call Bryan. While the two men explained to Rick the process, Aiden noticed Rick fiddling with the ID-cloning device in his pocket. As if feeling Aiden’s gaze, he gave the thumbs up a few seconds later and then resumed asking questions about the options Bryan had offered.
Aiden tuned out the rest of the conversation, instead focusing on the selection of cured meats and olives that made up the sharing platter. He was aware of Darren watching him eat and even if he didn’t meet Darren’s piercing gaze, the weight of it was tangible enough to make his shoulder tingle.
“Aiden? Are you sure your shoulder’s okay?” Darren asked, concern bleeding through his words. “I was careful, but we’ve got a kit in the Maine’s medbay.”
The gravelly quality to Darren’s voice had Aiden look up over his thick-rimmed glasses at the man. There was heat in those indigo eyes, making them even more hypnotizing than they normally were, and Aiden felt himself sink deeper into them with every second. A surge of heat made him feel trapped in his clothes, and he wanted to tear them off so he could feel Darren’s naked body against his skin.
“Aiden?”
Aiden must’ve stayed staring mutely at Darren for a while, because uncertainty had wormed its way into Darren’s tone and the handsome features of his face.
“There is no need. My shoulder feels fine. I just…” Aiden didn’t really know what or how much to say, and then he forgot about it as something in Rick and Tim’s conversation snatched his attention.
Darren’s knitted eyebrows as he seemed to concentrate on what was being said suggested he’d also picked up on it.
“…working at the warehouse still?”Rick was saying with casual curiosity.
“Yah.”
“Team leader?”he followed up, tossing nachos in his mouth.
“Nah, not anymore. Got promoted to night shift supervisor a few years back.”
Rick whistled.“Congrats, man. How’s that new role been treating you with the increased responsibility? What, is it like, thirty-forty employees you’re in charge of?”
Tim laughed.“Try a hundred forty.”
Interesting.
Whistling again, Rick steepled his hands on the table.“Damn. That’s a lot of staff for a warehouse. Thought they’d mostly switched to using drones?”
“Yeah, they have, except for this one. Don’t really know why they need so many, but I don’t get paid to care either.”The older man shrugged and took a long swig from his drink, then tipped his chin at Rick.“What’s that smirk for?”
“Your bosses wouldn’t happen to be looking for another supervisor?”
Tim laughed.“Why? Are you also looking for a career change on top of settling down? Got bored of… What was it… Cargo logistics?”
“Yep, that. And it depends. Are they hiring?”
“Nah. I got a new team leader hired recently, so we should be good for a while. Although…”Tim snorted and shook his head.“Sammy, one of the guys on the night shift’s been cutting it close lately. He’s not a TL, but he’s the one that handles offloading.”
“Is the pay for that role worth it?”Rick probed, his voice low and conspiratorial.
Aiden knew Rick had a way with people, but he hadn’t really realized just how good his friend was at this sort of thing. It really was no wonder he’d gotten all the way up to a Director of Management role at the cargo company.
“Yah. You get a bonus too ‘coz of the weird hours. It’s a good start if you don’t mind hanging on for a year or two until you land a promotion.”
