Page 2 of Strip It Down (Spoiled by My Blue Collar Man #4)

Gentry

It’s a job. It pays the bills. Just ignore my useless boss. The same litany I play in my head every time I’m forced to deal with the jerk, Bill. Just like all the full-of-themselves asshats I was forced to deal with back in high school.

Four years ago, a new metal manufacturer opened, hiring a lot of the younger locals. Within a year they doubled their staff and are now expanding to a second building. The business is growing like wildfire.

With our central location in the country, easy shipping and the number of willing workers, Archer Falls fits all their needs. There’s a whole new housing edition being built on the outskirts of town for the people moving here for jobs. The new construction is opening up even more job opportunities.

Blue Spruce, a town down the highway, has a community college and started offering more classes geared to manufacturing needs. I was able to go back to school and get an associate’s degree in bookkeeping.

Some people are fighting the changes. Many old timers in town are losing their stature in the community and they resent it. Like, Bill, my boss.

His grandmother started the restaurant. She was friendly, well liked and a great cook and baker. Her prices were reasonable, and she catered to families. Always walking the floor and greeting people while still running the kitchen.

She was also on the town council and library board. Outspoken but fair. She pushed for free breakfast and lunch for kids, donating a lot of it herself.

Bill was a couple years ahead of me in school and in with a lazy entitled crowd.

He inherited the restaurant when his grandmother died, and his parents moved to Florida.

He has mismanaged everything since, failing to upgrade or keep up with food and health changes.

He still struts around town acting like he’s a big shot. More like big loser.

I follow him to my closet of an office, and he sits in my chair. “You’re fired.”

“Excuse me? Because I helped a guy with his kid? Or because I took a bathroom break?”

“You’re fired. I’ve got someone starting who knows how to keep books right.”

“I keep books correctly. Is this because I wouldn’t pad that invoice for you?”

“You know shit. You’re just a stripper pretending to be a bookkeeper. You’re the same slut you were back in high school.”

Yeah, you know me. You and everyone else in the town based on the bullshit lies Greg spread. Well, I’m smarter than you think. I know your kind, you and your cronies.

“So this is because I wouldn’t suck your dick or cook your books. Good luck finding someone, for both jobs. Get out of my way I need my purse and personal belongings.”

“Already hired someone, bitch.” He stands and moves to the side. “She’s a hell of a lot better than you.”

“Let me guess, one of Greg’s friends. God, you guys will never grow up.”

Opening the lower drawer, I grab my purse and sweater. Hitting the voice record on my phone, I turn quickly, letting my purse bump the tumbler of ice coffee on the desk. The contents pour out soaking all the papers.

Bill jumps back. “Bitch, you did that on purpose!”

“You think I want my personal notepad ruined? Grab the paper towels behind you.”

When he turns, I disconnect my backup thumb drive and slip it in my pocket. Not my first rodeo with jerks like him. I keep my own evidence these days.

Grabbing the roll from him I start sopping up the spill. I get most of it. After wiping off my notebook, I walk around the end of the desk and into the hall. At the time clock I pull my timecard and clock out then go back to my office to take a copy of my time stamps.

“I ain’t paying you shit.”

Stuffing my copy in my purse, I meet his gaze. “Federal law, dipshit. Don’t pay me my last check by next Friday, I report you. Who knows what else they’ll find while investigating payroll fraud.”

I walk out and through the diner. I see Greg sitting at a booth with a dark-haired girl I’ve seen around town. She looks young. Like I once was.

Shaking my head I push out the door. I take care of me now. Just me.

Walking down two streets to where I parked my car I see it’s tucked between two pickups. The first one I recognize as Greg’s. Dread fills me. I know his games.

Both of my back tires are flat.

Fighting back tears, I slamming my hand down on the trunk of my fifteen-year-old Toyota. I kick the bumper and scream. “Sonofabitch!”

“I can help with that,” a deep, concerned voice comes from behind me.

Twirling around I stare into the eyes of the baby daddy from the restaurant. Sayer Reed is no stranger to me, but I don’t think he recognizes who I am.

“I noticed when I walked up to my truck. I was hanging around to see if I could help. If you’ve got a spare, I’ve got the tools.

” He shakes his head. “Shit, Gentry, that came out wrong. What I mean is, I can change your tire and take the other to the shop and see if they can fix it. If you’re on your lunch break, I can take your keys and have it done in an hour or so and bring them back to you. ”

“Did you know this was my car? Did you see who did it?”

“No, I didn’t know whose car it was. I stopped at the store to get more pull-ups. When I walked up to my truck, I noticed the tires were like that.

“If you aren’t in a hurry, Gentry, I’ll take care of it, if you would sit with Ayla. She’s almost asleep so she should be easy.”

“You remembered me, Sayer?”

“You were the most beautiful girl in our high school. Of course I remembered. Just took a minute for everything to come back to me. Seems, we both remembered.”

Yeah, I remember the sweet boy who tried to comfort me when I was crying. The one who punched some boys for saying stuff to embarrass me. The wild boy with a chip on his shoulders, four years younger, who grew into a man too quickly, then disappeared.

“I’ve got all the time in the world. I just got fired.”

His eyes go wide. “For helping me?”

“No. Because Greg and Bill are still jerks and best friends. Greg wanted a job for his new girl of the month.”

“Some things never change, do they?” He waves to the trunk. Pop it, let’s see what condition your spare is in.”

He pulls it out. “Needs a little air but that’s an easy fix. I’ve got an air compressor in the back of my truck. Why don’t you go sit with Ayla. I’ll swap this one. We’ll leave the car jacked up and we’ll take both of the flats to the tire shop and see what we’re up against.”

I nod and climb into the backseat with his little girl who’s sound asleep cuddling a stuffed Ernie. In the restroom, she was very watchful and never said a word until I showed her how to play with the soap and water. Then she laughed.

I know a little about kids. Did a lot of babysitting when I was younger. Then when I was commuting to Blue Spruce, the next town over, and taking classes, I worked in a day care and babysat for instructors when I could during the day. I love kids.

She sure has her daddy’s eyes and beautiful hair. His was longer back in the day. Someone said he joined the military, so I guess that’s why it’s short.

Sayer climbs in behind the wheel and holds my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Car should be fine here for a little while. If you don’t have a preference I’d like to go to my friend Brody’s shop. I trust him.”

“That’s fine.”

“Seat belt please. Do you know who owns the truck on the other side of you?”

I huff, “Yeah. It belongs to Greg.”

“Thought as much, still has the same truck nutz. Too bad he never grew a brain to match the size.”

I snort. He smiles at me in the mirror.

“What did you do at the restaurant?”

“Bookkeeper. Kept his expenses, did payroll and I scheduled the help and kept track of hours. I’ve got an associate’s degree from the community college in Blue Spruce.”

“That’s great!”

“How about you?”

He snorts. “Ten years in the Army. I got a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Planned on going up in rank.”

“Are you still in the Army?”

“No, I transitioned to the reserves.”

When he pulls into the auto shop, Brody comes out and they bro hug and walk to the truck bed.

He comes to the door next to me and motions for me to roll the window down.

“I’m going to leave the truck running so you have the AC for you and Ayla and help him take the tires inside. Do you have your phone?”

“Yes.”

He pulls his out. “Can we exchange numbers in case she wakes up so you can call me? She sometimes can get a little scared if she wakes up with strangers.”

“Sure.” I give him my number, and he texts me. I save his number, and I see him save mine.

Twenty minutes later he comes out with Brody rolling two new tires. I start to get out and he holds a hand up asking me to wait. He climbs in front and Brody waves goodbye.

“What happened? Couldn’t he fix them? How much?”

“It’s all good.” He starts the truck and pulls out.

“They weren’t worth fixing. I noticed the front were in about the same shape.

He had some old stock, they’re new just an older model.

He made me a deal on four. I’ll put these two on, then you can drive back to his shop and he’ll put on the other two.

He’ll be quicker with the tools he has.”

“How much? I don’t have a lot in the bank, and I just lost my job.” I don’t want to admit that my credit card limit is low and I’m almost maxed.

“I have a proposition for you.”

“Oh hell no. Pull this truck over. Now!”

I see how wide his eyes go in the mirror. “Oh god, no! Not that kind. Aw shit. Wrong word.” He pulls over, throws the truck in park and turns in his seat.

I reach for my door handle.

“Please, hear me out. Please.”

I look at him again. Is he blushing?

“Gentry, I swear that is not what I meant. I’m not that kind of guy.

I need a bookkeeper. We need a bookkeeper.

Dad and I, for the business. You need a job.

I thought maybe after Brody replaces your other two tires you could follow me back to our house or just meet us there.

Dad and I could interview you and see if this could work for both of us. ”

“What happened to your other bookkeeper?”

“That would be Dad. But since his heart attack… Well let’s just say the bookwork has never been his favorite thing to do. Things are behind.”

“Your dad had a heart attack?”

“Yeah, that was one of the reasons for me leaving active army. I’m a touch rusty, but I worked most of my life with Dad and I know the business. I just can’t do it all and Dad needs to ease away for his health.”

“What about your wife?”

He winces. “I don’t have a wife. It’s just my daughter and I.”

There’s more to his story he’s not saying. But the same could be said for me. Ayla starts to stir in her seat.

“Please. Let me change your tires then you can get the other two new ones put on with Brody. When you’re done meet me at our house. Just to talk. No guarantee for either of us. I’ll answer your questions, ask you some and we’ll see if this could work for both of us.”

I nod. “I’ll listen. No guarantees.”