Read Online Shawn Lane - Car Wash 1 - Car Wash by Shawn Lane - Free Book Online Page B

Whatever you want, Kevin. Just tell me.” He closed his mouth and looked out the window again.
“Twenty’s fine. Maybe I could look for a motorcycle this
week. They aren’t as expensive as a car and you won’t have to
keep giving me rides. Besides, I still have my pink helmet.” The corners of Michael’s mouth curved up. “Pink?” “Uh-huh. It’s dramatic.”
“That it is,” Michael agreed.
Kevin waited for Michael to make another comment about
how he shouldn’t get a motorcycle, but this time Michael
remained silent. Oddly enough it depressed him further. Yeah,
he was definitely an idiot. He’d thought for a moment when
Michael brought him breakfast maybe the man did care about
him and maybe there might be a chance they could talk about
things and see each other again. Stupid .
* * *
    The week had gone by pretty fast. Michael could hardly believe it was already six-thirty on Thursday evening and he was once again, as he had all week, driving Kevin back to his apartment.
    Damn, it was getting frustrating. Michael had hoped if he didn’t push it, Kevin would come around. Instead, as the week progressed he’d become more distant. That morning when Michael had picked the younger man up he’d come equipped with a MP3 player and earphones. He had the damn thing on now, too.
    His cell phone beeped and he said into his wireless earpiece, “Michael Bennett.”
“Danny Bennett.”
“Hello.”
His brother chuckled. “How are things going in the love
department?”
    Michael glanced briefly at the man slumped in the passenger seat. Kevin’s fingers tapped to whatever likely obnoxious music he played on his device. “I can’t really talk about that case right now.”
“Is he there with you?”
    “Yes, I’m on my way home right now. The plaintiff is being…difficult.”
Danny laughed again. “I see. I shouldn’t laugh, sorry. I know you’re having a rough time.”
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you just talk to him? I know, I know. You’re giving him space. It’s all part of the Michael Bennett strategy. It’s not working though. You’re going to have to do something. If you still want him that is.”
He sighed, his gut twisting. “I do. I’m just not sure it’s going to happen.”
“Well, hang in there and call me later when you can talk.”
“Okay, bye.” Michael looked over at Kevin again and cleared his throat loudly to get the man’s attention. Blue eyes glanced his way. “Want to grab something to eat? Some dinner?”
Kevin took out the earphones. “Can’t. I promised to call Noah.”
Michael’s throat clogged. Did Kevin have another man in his life already? He forced himself to ask casually, “Noah? Is that your boyfriend?”
Kevin shook his head. “No. Just an old friend. Once I hoped…”
When Kevin didn’t continue, Michael found himself prodding. “Once you hoped?”
“I had a thing for Noah for a while, but he never really knew about it or encouraged it.” Kevin’s full lips twisted. “Sort of like you.”
“Kevin.”
“Anyway, Noah has a hot boyfriend named Charlie. They even live together now.”
Michael pushed aside the jealousy and said, “Okay, so no dinner. That’s fine.” He pulled up to the curb in front of Kevin’s apartment. “See you in the morning, Kevin.”
“Good night.” Kevin waved and headed toward his appointment.
* * *
    It was almost four o’clock Friday afternoon when an email popped up from Michael in his work inbox. The subject line read “Leaving early.”
    The week had gone by surprisingly fast and the job was really easy. He’d seen on the paperwork given to him that Michael had settled on twenty-two an hour. Ridiculously high for what he’d been doing, but he didn’t mind the work and the people there were really nice.
Kevin bit his lip and opened the email.
    “I have a date tonight, so I want to leave early today. Be ready at four-thirty.”
For a second, his vision blurred. A date? Michael had a date? He found it hard to catch his