When I’m Lost
by Aria Grace
Book 3 of the Mile High Romance Series (M/M)
Although there are references to When I’m Weak, When I’m Lost can be read as a standalone.
Mike hurt many people in his past. With no other way to make things right, he sets off on a journey to apologize to those he has damaged the most. When he reaches the end of his list and his cash in Denver, he decides to stick around and attempt a new start.
Seb isn’t sure he can trust Mike but offers to help the guy out with some projects in his new apartment. They try to deny the chemistry but it’s too strong to ignore. Seb wants to find someone who can be his physical match so he can never make the mistake he made with Kyle.
Mike just wants to be found.
Excerpt
I barely have time to inhale my sandwich before Seb’s black Xterra comes barreling up the driveway. He must’ve been hauling ass to get here so quickly. I unwrap the plastic from the big peanut butter cookie I bought and break off a piece just to keep my hands busy while I wait for him to enter the barn.
The dogs bark at his arrival, but I ignore them. They have plenty of water, so I have some time before I need to take them out individually.
“Hey, this place is pretty cool,” Seb says as he steps inside and checks out Shane’s setup.
“Yeah. Shane did a really good job,” I say, nodding and looking around with pride. I’ve only been here twenty-four hours, but I already feel like I’m making my mark.
“Yeah, he did. So which one is yours?”
He points to the pens with a completely straight face. I try to look insulted,
but I can’t hold it before I grin.
He points to the pens with a completely straight face. I try to look insulted,
but I can’t hold it before I grin.
“Mine’s upstairs.” I nod to the open door.
“After you,” he says, gesturing for me to climb the steps first.
I’m about three steps ahead of him before he takes his first step on the staircase, which means his eye level is right at my ass. Good thing I’m wearing
clean jeans, I think self-consciously. I just wish they fit a little better. I’ve lost some weight since the last time I went shopping, so everything fits looser than I’d like.
clean jeans, I think self-consciously. I just wish they fit a little better. I’ve lost some weight since the last time I went shopping, so everything fits looser than I’d like.
When we step inside the apartment, I turn and point to the sink. “It’s right—”
“Oh, you shouldn’t have.” Seb breaks off a piece of my cookie and pops it in his mouth. “Mmm, but I’m glad you did. Peanut butter is my favorite.”
My mouth is gaping. I don’t even know what to say. He winks and walks toward the sink. The bucket I’ve set out is almost full but not quite. He lifts up a small toolbox and starts digging through it. “Give me five minutes and I’ll have this taken care of.”
I stare wordlessly and sit at the little dinette.
After a few minutes of just staring, I feel a little guilty. “Can I help or get you anything?”
“Nope.” Seb has taken the top of the faucet completely off and has little pieces everywhere, but it seems like he knows what he’s doing. Within a few minutes, it’s all back together without any extra pieces. Pretty impressive, actually.
“That should do it.” He turns the water on and then turns it all the way off. No drip. He turns it on halfway and then off. Still no drip. He does this a few more times before I realize he’s actually playing the song Staying Alive with the water flow. I have to laugh.
“Do I need to get the bucket again? You’re wasting water.”
He finally turns off the water and chuckles. “What’s your deal with buckets? What are you gonna do with that? Flush the toilet or something?”
I give him a serious look. “Yeah, I plan to. I’m from Arizona. We have droughts. You don’t just waste water like that.”
“Arizona?” He leans back against the counter and crosses his ankles. “What does a guy like you do out in Arizona?”
“Get into trouble,” I say half joking, half not.
“So I’ve heard,” he says quietly then turns to pack up his tools.
It takes me a minute to realize I should offer to pay him. I have some cash, but I spent most of it on groceries and some work gloves like Shane’s, which I didn’t want to put on his business account. So I don’t have much, but maybe he didn’t come here for cash. I bite my lip and wander to the couch, pacing in front of it for a minute and trying to decide what I should do. I’ve never had to sell my ass before. I don’t plan to start now, especially since I have a real job and an actual home, but if Seb came here with the expectation that something was gonna happen…
Fuck! I don’t know what to do.
“Okay, well, I’m just about done here. Is there anything else you need help with while I’ve got my tools?” Seb walks over to me with his box in his hand.
“No… Not that I can think of.” I take a look around the room. “It’s actually in pretty good shape.”
“Okay, then.”
He seems to be stalling. What is he stalling for? Is he waiting for me to make a move?
I have to at least offer him something.
Whether or not he accepts is up to him. “So what do I owe you?” I ask, nervous he’s going to ask for more than I can give.
Whether or not he accepts is up to him. “So what do I owe you?” I ask, nervous he’s going to ask for more than I can give.
His eyes go wide and he shakes his head. “Nothing at all. I’m happy to help.”
“Oh, so do you want to stay for a little while?” I ask. “I don’t have much, but I picked up some sodas and chips.”
He smiles and takes a step toward the door. “Thanks, but I should probably get going. I’ve got to work tonight.”
“Right, of course.” Then I do what I always do—the wrong thing. I reach for his shoulder to stop him.
“Hey, Seb, if you wanted something else, like, as payment, I guess I would be open to that.”
Seb squints at me with his nose scrunched up. Then his eyes go wide. “Are you seriously offering up a blow job?”
I avert my gaze, focusing on my hand instead of his eyes. “Well… I guess, if that’s what you want.”
He pulls his shoulder out from beneath my hand. “No, I was just trying to be nice, kid. That’s definitely not what I want. You take care of yourself.” He turns and takes the stairs two at a time until he’s out of the barn. I hear his car door slam and tires spinning on the gravel as he drives away.
I’m not sure if I offended him or just disgusted him. Either way, I basically just told him I’m a whore.
