A Restored Man

by Jaime Reese

  Cole walked alongside Ty, but would step ahead, turn to walk backward, then walk alongside him again while he spoke. Repeatedly.

  "Are you kidding me? Your shop is great and there's always some project going on."

  Ty stopped walking midway to their destination. "Are you sure you haven't had any coffee?"

  Cole shook his head. "Sorry, I tend to have a lot of nervous energy."

  "So you're getting along with everyone?"

  Cole nodded quickly. "Stacie's on some major happy pill but she's really nice. Jeff is a bit of a smartass but I get a kick out of that. The guys are cool. Everyone's nice, everything's good."

  Ty looked over to him. "So am I lumped into the guys who are cool or the everyone's nice?"

  Cole stood in front of Ty, facing him. "Both and neither."

  Ty cocked his head to the side. "That's…I don't know what to say to that."

  "Are you fishing for a compliment?" Cole asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms.

  Ty's cheeks heated. They had joked endlessly for the last few days but Cole always seemed to say or do something unexpected. This time, he was hoping to be the one who would catch Cole off guard. He reached into his pocket and handed the plastic bag to Cole.

  Cole took the clear bag and turned it in his hands. He ripped open the package and removed the knit cap inside then looked up at Ty. "This for me?"

  Ty nodded. "We had some thin knit caps done a few years ago so the staff could wear it under the paint masks if they wanted to. I remembered we had some left so I thought you might want one."

  Cole looked down at the cap and flattened his hand gently on the knitting. He grazed his index finger over the embroidery and exhaled deeply without saying a word. He turned his back to Ty and quickly pulled off his beanie, ran his fingers through his hair then tucked it under the new cap. He turned and tugged at the sides, setting the knit material over his ears. He touched the label at the top to make sure it was centered above his brows. "How does it look?" he asked expectantly, with a huge grin on his face.

  Ty reached out and touched the Calloway's stitched tag, wishing he could have seen Cole with his hair loose. "It's perfect."

  Cole looked up at him with that teasing spark in his eye Ty enjoyed. "So you've tagged me as yours. Should I be worried?"

  Ty's cheeks heated again. Damn. How the hell did Cole always manage to get the upper hand?

  Cole laughed and grabbed Ty's arm, tugging him to resume walking. "You're too easy. C'mon."

  They reached the paint booths, and Cole immediately grabbed the roll of paper and tape to begin masking off the remaining parts for the second color while Ty began taping off the guides for the accents. Ty occasionally glanced at Cole. He worked quickly, his focus intense even without the music flowing in the booth. Every now and then, his head would bob and he'd shake his ass. Ty couldn't help but laugh, wondering what song played in Cole's head as he worked. He finished masking off the last of the panels then joined Ty.

  "Renzo, that's Italian, right? How did you end up with a name like Cole?" Ty asked, mixing the paint.

  Cole grabbed the two paint masks and disposable coveralls. "I'm half Italian, half Cuban. I get the Italian from my dad's side of the family. My mom had this tradition, where she'd let one child name the next. Gus, my older brother, thought my hair was so dark when I was born he said it looked like charcoal. So he tried to convince my parents that Charcoal was a fitting name."

  Ty chuckled. "How did that go over with the parents?"

  "Thankfully, my parents said no. My brother didn't want to be the only Renzo who didn't get to name his sibling so he asked my sister Carmen, she's the practical one, and she suggested 'Cole.' You know, char-coal. My mom said it needed to have a little more of our ethnicity mixed in so she compromised and named me Nicol and told my brothers and sisters they could call me Cole instead."

  Ty took the offered disposable coverall. "So your name is Nicole."

  "No, it's pronounced Knee-kol."

  "Nicole," Ty deadpanned.

  "Fuck you," Cole said, shoving Ty. "You knew my name from my file."

  Ty laughed. "So I take it no one calls you by your given name."

  Cole shook his head. "It's only used in school and in prison. Let's just say I don't have great memories attached to my legal name. What about you?"

  "What about me?" Ty asked.

  "What's your real name?" Cole asked, stepping into the paint coverall.

  "Ty."

  "Isn't it short for something?"

  Ty shook his head as he zipped up the thin disposable protective suit. "Like your parents, mine let Aidan name me. He said Ty. They thought it was too short and he said people would shorten it anyways so it would save time."

  "Yeah, sounds like him."

  "You ready to paint?" Ty asked. He had done all the painting the day before and his body was exhausted.

  Cole nodded. "Want me to paint one so you can check it out first?"

  Ty cross his arms and leaned against the wall, looking at Cole appraisingly. "You tell me. Do I need to inspect your work or can you paint?"

  A cocky grin spread across Cole's face. "I can paint. But if you want to watch me, it might be a problem."

  "Why's that?"

  Cole leaned against the doorway. "You're a distraction."

  "Am I?" Ty said, smiling.

  Cole nodded slowly.

  Ty pushed off the wall and starting walking toward Cole. "Ah. So I'm nice and cool, both and neither. And a distraction too. Sounds like I'm a real problem." Ty watched Cole intently. For some reason, Cole brought out a daring streak in him he hadn't felt in a long time.

  Cole was deathly serious. His jaw muscles flexed. "Definitely," he said, then turned and stormed out of the booth.

  Ty stood there staring at the empty door, wondering what the hell he had said wrong.

  * * * * *

  Being good sucks. It really, really fucking sucks.

  Cole grabbed the paint gun, yanked the air hose, and plugged it in. He fucking hated pausing. He hated being good. Worst of all, he hated turning his back on Ty. Ty's playfulness and teasing pushed every button in his fuck-yeah list. All he wanted to do was pull Ty down and kiss him stupid. If he took that step, he had a feeling he'd be crossing the line and he'd lose his job, his car, and push Ty away.

  Cole's arm moved in long sweeps back and forth to paint the second color. Rather than a song playing in his head, he replayed the conversation over and over. He analyzed every word, every smile. He finished the panel and squatted to make sure he hadn't missed a spot. He unplugged the hose, put the gun on the paint station, and walked over to Ty's booth.

  "I'm finished. Come on over and check this out," Cole said in a tone firmer than he had intended. He crossed his arms and watched Ty kneeling on the floor as he painted.

  Ty finished the section he was painting and stood, his face too difficult to read. He was serious, but didn't look angry. He walked past Cole and his arm brushed against Cole's bicep. A chill traveled Cole's entire body with the hint of contact. Even through the heavy work uniform material and disposable paint coveralls, that brush wreaked havoc on him and his vivid billion-mile-per-hour imagination.

  Being good sucks.

  He sighed and walked over to the neighboring booth, spotting Ty as he squatted to inspect the paintwork. "Looks great," Ty said, shifting his body to make eye contact with Cole.

  Cole firmly held Ty's unflinching stare. His chest heaved and his pulse raced. The hum of the compressors dulled, the only sounds were the beating of his heart echoing in his ears and the inhale and exhale of his breath.

  "You good?" Ty asked, slowly standing to face Cole with worry etched in his expression.

  Cole sighed. "Good? Yeah. That's the fucking problem," he mumbled, before turning around and walking out of the booth to prepare another panel.

  He was in for the longest day of his life.

  * * * * *

  Cole punched out his card and stalked
toward the exit door with a scowl, hoping and praying it was Julian's turn to pick him up rather than the ever-charming Aidan. He couldn't deal with Aidan today. He was too…tense. Who was he kidding? This whole being good shit just sucked and gave him a day-long raging hard-on that never ceased to soften.

  He pushed open the door and saw the taillights of the dark SUV parked in the first spot. Son of a bitch.

  He tapped the passenger side window before opening the door, knowing it was best to not sneak up on Aidan. He eased into the seat and clipped his belt without saying a word.

  "Did you get fired or something?" Aidan said with a raised eyebrow and a hint of a smile before pulling out of the parking spot.

  Fucker.

  Cole rolled his eyes and exhaled heavily. He clenched his jaw and turned toward Aidan. "Can you try not being an asshole for the thirty minute trip, please?" He turned his head again to stare out the passenger side window, watching the trees blur into one another. He chewed his lip and replayed the day again. Ty hadn't backed off. In fact, he seemed more playful than usual, which didn't help his hard-on one bit. Cole rested his head against the window and could feel the embroidery of the cap press against his forehead. He closed his eyes and imagined the seam was Ty's finger against his skin. Ty was going to wear him out with his shy smile and subtle gestures.

  Cole turned his head to face forward, keeping tabs on Aidan in the periphery of his vision. He tried like hell to avoid any interaction with Aidan and cringed each time he saw the man turn his head to observe him.

  Aidan reached inside his jacket. "Do you know what this is, you little prick?"

  Cole pivoted his head toward Aidan. "It's a badge. Big deal."

  "Big deal? It means fucking respect, asshole," Aidan said with a sneer, returning the badge to his pocket. He slowed the SUV with the busy traffic and grinded his hand around the steering wheel.

  "You earn respect. You can't get it by flashing some dime store trinket at me," Cole said with a shrug.

  "Dime store trinket?"

  Cole dramatically sighed. "You know anyone can get a knockoff of that. It's not the badge that gets you respect."

  Aidan looked at him for a few moments, his jaw muscles flexing. "You're a cocky little bastard."

  "I know. It's one of my many strengths," Cole deadpanned.

  "Arrogant, too," Aidan mumbled.

  Cole crossed his arms and rolled his eyes again. "Pot calling kettle black."

  "You're impossible," Aidan said with a sneer, stopping the SUV at a red light.

  Cole just wanted him to shut the hell up. He couldn't handle the billion things circling in his head and Aidan being a jerk. "You like me, admit it."

  Aidan turned to look at him and curled his lip. "I don't."

  "Uh huh," Cole said, returning Aidan's equally piercing glare.

  Aidan didn't flinch.

  "Admit it. If you didn't like me, you would have given me more than a black eye already, ignored me completely, or put a bullet in me. Instead, you agree to watch over me for the term of the agreement and go out of your way to get me a job."

  Aidan turned to face forward and slammed his fist on the horn, gritting his teeth. "I. Don't. Like. You."

  "Keep denying it. I'll think you're falling in love with me," Cole said.

  A chill visibly traveled Aidan's body and a look of disgust twisted his face. He turned the SUV sharply onto a side road, trying to escape the unmoving traffic. He weaved through back roads to avoid the main streets and cut through neighborhoods.

  Cole held back a grin. He'd obviously struck a nerve. There was no way in hell Aidan was attracted to him considering he only had eyes for one very specific person, but Cole just had to shut him the hell up. He couldn't deal with Aidan right now in the middle of all the tension coiled in his body.

  Aidan turned the corner and slammed on the brakes when a family of ducks slowly waddled to cross the road to the neighborhood lake. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel impatiently as his jaw muscle flexed repeatedly.

  "Show them your badge. Maybe that'll scare them to shake their asses a little faster."

  Aidan turned his head slowly and gave Cole the worst glare he had ever been subjected to.

  Cole leaned his head back in the seat and shut his eyes, enjoying the silence the rest of the ride to finally focus on his thoughts of Ty and their day together.

  Just one more day this week. You can do this.

  Cole counted backward for the hundredth time that morning, hoping to calm his racing heart. He faked reading the signs on the bulletin board above the coffee station while stealing glances over at Ty's office. They had finished the paint work on the rig the day before and he had no idea if Ty still wanted to work with him after everything that had happened yesterday. He kept replaying the day in his head, over and over, to the point that he'd developed a headache. Something had switched between them and he couldn't place his finger on it. The banter that had always been present between them transitioned into something more serious. Something he hadn't expected. The way Ty looked at him was different, almost challenging. He just wasn't sure what Ty was daring him to do. He was on edge and he didn't like it. The thought of having risked whatever had been sparking between them kept him from getting a good night's sleep.

  He shifted his weight from foot to foot, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ty to read his mood. He closed his eyes and tried counting again. Nothing was working to settle his nerves. Dammit.

  Suddenly, Ty emerged from his office wearing a crisp, white dress shirt and blue jeans that hugged his body perfectly. Cole openly stared as Ty walked toward him with his clipboard in hand. "Good morning," he said.

  "Hey," Cole said, not wanting to risk mumbling anything that would come out slurred. He couldn't focus on forming a sentence.

  "Ready to work?" Ty asked, watching him intently.

  Cole nodded and followed Ty through the bays, slowing his pace, hoping to sneak a peek at Ty's ass as he walked.

  "I'm going to have you work with the exotic team. We've got a Koenigsegg coming in today and a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. I thought you'd like the change of pace to finish off the week."

  Cole stopped. He'd never seen a Koenigsegg and knew they were rare in the US, but he couldn't seem to muster the excitement he should be feeling.

  Ty stopped walking and turned to see Cole standing a few steps behind. He walked back over to Cole and cocked his head. "What's wrong?"

  Cole tugged on his beanie then shoved his hands in his pockets. "Um, there's still stuff to do with the Drayton rig."

  "A few details, but they can wait. We're actually ahead of schedule on it now so I figured taking a few days off would be a good change of pace."

  Cole absently nodded, knowing he should agree with Ty. He rubbed his chest, hoping to ease the pressure he felt. Stacie walked past them and Ty handed her the clipboard he held. Cole looked away, thankful for the interruption and hoping to recover enough to crack some joke or act as if it didn't bother him that Ty had pawned him off to a different group.

  "Cole, will you say something, please?" Ty asked.

  Cole turned back to focus on the brown-eyed stare he enjoyed. He swallowed heavily when he saw that sadness lingering he tried so hard to make disappear. Suddenly, it all clicked. The different clothing, the shift in work. "Are you leaving?"

  "I have an appointment so I'm going to be out of the shop today. Stacie will introduce you to the team over there."

  Cole pursed his lips and nodded again. He wanted to work with Ty, not the exotics. Somehow, the quiet man had managed to burrow his way into Cole's heart. He ducked his head and screwed his eyes shut as a flood of random thoughts began racing through his mind. Shit. Working with Ty settled his mind and dulled the hum in his head.

  "Cole?" Ty said.

  He looked up and saw the worry filling Ty's eyes. Fuck! His head was messed up and now he was screwing with Ty's mood. "Sorry."

  Ty quickly glanced at the wall clock then returned his
focus to Cole. "I have to go," he said, and rubbed his palms together harder than usual. "I thought you wanted to work with the exotics?"

  "I do." Cole paused, trying to sort the thoughts racing in his mind. He was thankful he had the job and appreciated the opportunity. Working with the high-end sports cars was a dream and he knew it. He looked up and saw a mix of emotions skate across Ty's face. "But I'd rather work with you."

  He turned and walked away, hoping the pain in his chest would ease before he met with the new team.

  Cole sat on the living room couch, filling out the request form to attend his mother's birthday party next weekend. The first family gathering in almost three years had him on edge. He had tried to work off some of his nervous energy by lifting weights with Julian, but all that left him with were strained muscles to add to his nerves. He was too tense. He didn't even want to think of the frustration he battled at a hint of a thought of Ty.

  "What am I supposed to fill out for this?" Cole asked, leaning over toward Julian who was forever writing in his notebook.

  Julian craned his neck to look at the paper. "If you're planning on staying at your mom's for that weekend, she'll be responsible for you so her info goes there."

  Cole scratched his head through his beanie. "Um, can I still go to her birthday party if I don't plan on staying with her that weekend?" He was excited about seeing the whole family again, but didn't want to push his luck by overstaying his welcome.

  Julian looked at him and cocked his head. "You don't want to stay with your mom that weekend?"

  Cole shook his head and continued to fill out the form. "So I just put your info there then?"

  "Cole?"

  Cole reluctantly met Julian's fierce crystal green stare. "You know, the power of that glare sorta wears off after a while," he said, trying to ignore the lingering question.