Page 63 of Rebel Obsession

“Soggy towel gave me away, huh?”

Kian grinned and sat up on his creeper, rocking it in minuscule movements with his hips.

I was sure he was aware that if he’d made the movement bigger, it would have been a thrust.

He rested his forearms on his widespread knees and pointed at my face. “Nah. You always get goggle marks around your eyes.”

Once upon a time he’d liked to trace them, while informing me if I continued to wear them so tight, they were going to leave permanent indents.

But then again, once upon a time he would have seen me coming in after swimming training and quietly followed me up the stairs into the shower.

Heat ignited at the back of my neck.

We’d been stupid kids, just fooling around.

Until it had become the most important relationship in my life.

“Do you ever think about us?” I blurted out.

Kian’s smile fell.

I held up a hand, the heat moving to my cheeks. “Fuck. Don’t answer that. That’s embarrassing. I need a shower.”

I was almost at the front door before he called back, “All the time.”

I stopped and turned around.

His gaze burned me. It wasn’t hot with passion or anger.

He just saw me.

He always had.

“I have to go take a shower. I’ve got a meeting with my dad’s business partner this morning.”

Kian wiped a wrench with a rag. “Can I ask a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Could I get a lift? I’ve got a job interview at eleven. It’s not far from your dad’s building. They only just called, and I already had the truck in pieces. I’m not going to have time to get it back together before I’m due to be there.”

An uncomfortable feeling settled over me. “You’re quitting?”

He pushed to his feet and shoved the oily rag in the back pocket of his jeans. “I need to get paid, Vaughn.”

I squinted at him. “You still haven’t been?”

He shook his head. “Not since your dad died. I’m surprised Rebel didn’t tell you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I would have gone to see Harold sooner.” I was horrified I’d been so selfish and privileged that I hadn’t even thought about where his paycheck was coming from. “I thought that had just been a delay while they adjusted to my dad being gone, but you should have been paid by now, delay or not. I’ll fix it, okay? Today. I’ll make sure you get everything you’re owed.”

Kian nodded slowly. “I’d appreciate that.”

A ‘but’ lingered in the air between us.

I sighed heavily, knowing exactly what that ‘but’ was. “You’re still going to interview for the other job, aren’t you?”

He nodded. “I can’t keep working here.”

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