Page 34 of Crush

Thankfully it was expected to be dry with low-level winds. No rain meant the rest of the scaffolding work could be completed. The climate in the UK was a bitch.

Annie was still at lunch. I rarely ate when I was working, too much to do.

As I deleted some random emails, there was a knock on the open door of my office. As I lifted my head, I saw Wes Buchanan standing just outside the doorway in the section Annie used.

Why was he lurking? We had worked together for years and were more like friends than colleagues. I’d promoted him to foreman a couple of years ago after he had helped deliver several successful projects. Why he didn’t just walk in as he usually did was weird.

Leaning back in my chair, I scowled and waved him over. “Get in here.”

“Boss,” he replied as he shuffled forward.

“What’s up?” Wes only came to see me when there was a problem.

He strolled over and lowered himself into the chair on the opposite side of my desk. He was tall and broad with almost as many tattoos as me, but his hair and skin were fair. The blonde mop always looked like he’d been dragging his hands through it. Wes looked like a younger version of the guy in the Rocky films, Dolph Lundgren. He was in his early thirties, happily married (whatever the hellthatlooked like) and his wife Stella was expecting twins.

“So, spill it,” I said, staring at him down my nose. His body language suggested he was tense.

“You’re not going to like it,” Wes announced, his cockney twang more apparent. I placed my screen lock on and gave him my full attention, watching as he took his hard hat off and placed it on my desk.

I stretched my arms out and threaded my hands behind my head. Here we go. What now? I swear the project was jinxed.

He shot me a suspicious look. “Just heard the lads talking.”

I raised my eyebrows. “And?”

After a short pause he said, “And, rumour has it that you are dipping your wick in the company’s ink.”

My eyes narrowed. Wes was ex-army and loved talking in code. “What the fuck doesthatmean?” I knew exactly what it meant but he’d surprised me. Plus, even if I was, it was myfuckingink.

He shifted on the chair and rested his hands on his jean-clad knees. Wes’s clothing was, as usual, peppered with concrete dust, and I noticed he wasn’t wearing a high-vis waistcoat.

“Where’s your safety jacket?” I questioned abruptly, staff health and safety were a high priority of mine.

Wes rolled his eyes and leaned towards my desk. “Did youhearwhat I said?”

“Yes. But it made as much sense to me as you not wearing the appropriate PPE. It doesn’t send the right message to the lads.Youknow that,” I explained, not bothered about whatever site gossip he was about to share. Wes enjoyed keeping me up to date with all the bullshit that went off in the ranks.

I eyed his torso moodily, “Go put it on.”

“For fucks sake, Max. It’s in my office. I literallyjusttook it off. Can we focus on the issue at hand?”

“I wouldn’t exactly say there’s an issue. The lads are bigger gossips than the women.” I exclaimed with exasperation.

“So, you don’t think it’s an issue that the guys think you’re shagging someone who works for you? That you’re a hypocrite?”

“So? There’s no truth in it.” I deadpanned as if that would magically make that shit go away. “Who is the lucky girl?” I knew I sounded like an arrogant cock, but Wes just smiled.

“Still an egotistical dick I see.”

“Blowme. Who am Isupposedto be screwing?” If it was one of the women in the office, I barely remembered their names. Linda, my office manager, sorted out the temporary office workers for site duties. That amounted to typing, answering emails, filing and shit like that.

And then he socked me with it.

“Her ladyship.”

What theactualfuck? His revelation was like a punch in the nuts. Shit! Why couldn’t it have been one of the office girls? I could have just let it slide then andignoredit. The fact that the gossip involved Amber released a flutter of concern. Surely no one had seen our kiss and I couldn’t imagine she’d tell anyone about it.

The thought of someone talking shit behind Amber’s back also pissed me off. Yes, she was uptight and bitchy and a pain in my arse, but I was responsible for her. I didn’t want anyone fucking with her as that wasmyjob. Plus, her father was my partner on the project and my men should treat her with respect. Our private war was no one else’s business. I wondered if Hopton had been shooting his mouth off after what had happened at the restaurant.

---