Read Online A Better Man (The Men of Halfway House) by Jaime Reese - Free Book Online

lips around something else, and it sure as hell wasn't a water bottle. He'd needed to leave the room before he lost his composure and did something completely different than keeping it business .
    Another crash came from upstairs. He stood there, debating if he should go up and help. He entered the house and started to make his way to the stairs but stopped. This situation had to stay professional. He closed his eyes as he battled with himself, a white-knuckle grip on the railing kept him in place. He finally let out the breath he was holding, opened his eyes, and released the railing. He looked up one last time before turning around and heading to his makeshift office.
    He had to finish this place. For Liam, his aunt, and himself. He needed to regain control of his life and define who Matt Doner was. He'd left the old self behind the day his freedom returned and he had changed his last name. The question was…who was he going to become? That should be his focus right now. Building this halfway house was important, and he was going to make sure he didn't screw this up by going after the one builder who was willing to work on his terms.
    He was determined to get this renovation completed within the year. He wanted it finished by around this time next year in memory of Liam. With a renewed sense of responsibility, he sat at his desk and started running the numbers on the various accounts and estimates. He was going to do this and put everything else aside that would inhibit the completion of the renovation. Even if what he was putting aside was upstairs and possibly mutual.
     
     
    * * * *
     
     
    Within the first week, Julian had managed to get follow-up permits, fix the two patches in the roof, and replace the broken windows. With power in a portion of the house, he could finally plug in a few lamps and fans. Never had Matt appreciated electricity more than when he was able to walk around in the evening without stumbling over the uneven floor or getting splinters in his hands from a rough edge he couldn't see. The combination of electricity and running water…well, hell, it felt as if he had won the lottery. He wasn't sure how Julian had managed to do it all within a week, but one thing was certain, when Julian was determined, it was damn near impossible to find a more dedicated person.
    Since Sam had mentioned the potential mutual situation, Matt started noticing a few details. How Julian's gaze lingered a little longer than usual and how he smiled at him every time Matt ran his fingers through his hair. He tried to keep their conversations short and businesslike, but sometimes he just wanted to linger and be around Julian. They'd occasionally take a break down to the coffee shop or simply sit and relax for a few minutes in the backyard. They talked about the renovation's progress and what was next on the agenda. Even though they kept their chats to the construction, never discussing anything personal, it was causal, nice. There was something comforting about being in Julian's presence. He was no longer intimidating, rather he had a calming effect. Matt felt safer than he had for some time. He felt he could be himself.
    He sat at his desk and sighed as he thought about what had happened yesterday. In an attempt to be around Julian for a while, he'd offered his help with some of the drywall upstairs.
    "Come here," Julian said.
    Matt, being the obedient assistant, did as ordered.
    Julian unexpectedly reached up. "You've got something here," he said as he pulled at the side of Matt's locks. He showed him a small piece of a white substance, evidence of what he had removed. Then Julian ran his fingers through Matt's hair a few times slowly, claiming there was more 'construction crap' in it.
    Construction crap, dirt, dust, he didn't give a shit. It felt great to have Julian's fingers in his hair. But Julian abruptly stopped. "There you go," he said rather hoarsely then turned to continue working on the wall he was rebuilding.