A Better Man (The Men of Halfway House) (4 page)

He was hungry and needed some coffee to stay awake. He grabbed his keys and walked down the street to the nearest Starbucks hoping to return before his new contractor arrived.

* * * *

After taking a quick shower and getting dressed, Julian stood in the bare room and looked around. He didn't have much to pack. The apartment had been partially furnished when he had arrived and he just never seemed to add anything to it. He grabbed his sleeping bag and backpack with camping gear from the closet. He snatched his duffle and threw it on the bed then emptied the drawers and stuffed the bag with his clothes. He'd just finished with the nightstand when he heard a knock at the door.

"Hey, Jules," David started when Julian opened the door. "Did you need me?"

"Yeah, I'm moving out and I wanted to give you something."

David started to fidget. "I know I told you we couldn't keep doing this but I don't want you out in the street."

"It's cool. I've got a job and I'll be staying there while I work. I've got the rent I owe you," he said as he fished the money from his back pocket and counted out the two months' rent.

"Jules, whatcha doin', man? C'mon, you're one of the good guys. I don't wantcha doing something you shouldn't be doin'."

Julian put a hand on his shoulder to reassure him. David either stuttered or clipped his words whenever he was truly concerned about something. "Don't worry. You know me better than that," he said then flashed one of his rare toothy grins.

David relaxed and smiled up at him. "Do you need any help or boxes?"

"Nah, I'm fine, I'm just about finished packing. I'll drop off the key before I leave. Is that cool?"

David nodded. "You sure you're going to be okay?"

Julian thought about the house and its current state. "I might need a place to take a quick shower for a couple of days 'til I get the water running over there."

David nodded. "You can come back here for that. I'll keep the key so I can show it during the day but just stop by and see me when you're here."

"Thank you," Julian started before he was grabbed by the pudgy man in a bear hug. He wasn't normally the touchy-feely kind of guy but David had that paternal quality about him. "I really do appreciate the leeway these past two months," he said as he awkwardly patted David on the back.

David finally released him and smiled. "You be good, okay?"

Julian gave him his signature half smile. "I'll try."

* * * *

After a flavored coffee and wrap, Matt walked back to the house at a brisk pace. He wasn't sure if it was the heat nudging him along, the excitement of finally having someone get started on rebuilding the house, or the thought of seeing his new hire again. He tried to not linger on the latter too much.

As he walked along the street, he saw the small shops, diner, and several other businesses along the way and made a mental note to meet with the store owners to gauge their interest in working with him and his new venture. He hoped the neighborhood was receptive but was well aware that he hadn't really given them a chance to voice their opinion before getting approval from building and zoning. He wanted to have faith in them, but his experience thus far upon release and his family history was too much of a hindrance. He'd work on it, he had to, but his knee-jerk reaction was to prevent judgment at all costs, to avoid the repercussions that would undoubtedly follow. He'd experienced this first hand and knew all too well how badly it wore away at someone.

It was one of the reasons he chose the building right smack in the middle of busy downtown. He could have easily chosen a remote ranch setting with several acres of land farther south or up in Orlando, but that wasn't what he wanted for his guests. He didn't want someone released from prison to feel ousted, isolated, or rejected by society. He wanted to build a home for them, a place of solace, where they would feel welcomed and a part of a family working toward the same goal—a chance to rebuild their lives.

He stopped at the front gate and looked at his new building. His mental image of what she could be replaced what he actually saw. He easily envisioned the rich earthy tones against decorative keystone in place of the currently faded peeling paint and broken or boarded windows. Rather than the overgrown grass or weeds slowly overtaking the yard, he saw colorful landscaping that brightened the entrance of the home and welcome its visitors. Electrical cables hung loosely outside the front door, but that was simply the home's way of letting him know that a light was needed at the entrance, a beacon to those lost and rejected.

He sensed Julian was the person to bring out the beauty of this house. Although the man with a shaved head and smart-ass remarks tried to appear as if he didn't care, it was obvious he saw beauty in this place. The way he'd attempted to nonchalantly survey the room before accepting the job was, in Matt's opinion, a poor disguise for the interest that shone in his eyes.
Now
,
it's just a matter of time to see if things work out the way I hope.

Matt walked through the gate and up the steps to the house. A swoosh of hot air welcomed him when he opened the door. Reluctant to subject himself to the stifled heat of the closed home, he opted to sit on the entry steps of the house and enjoy the rare, mild afternoon breeze. He rested his head on the column and began to sip the cold soda he'd purchased at the shop on his way back.

He watched as a group of businessmen stared at the building with a frown. The man briefly waved and plastered his fakest smile as soon as he spotted Matt sitting on the steps. Matt returned the greeting and sighed. He used to be
that
man, the one with the fake million-dollar smile and custom-tailored suit. He looked down and exhaled deeply. He couldn't even wear a simple T-shirt and jeans and make it look right for the entire day. He started off looking fine, or so he thought, but after an hour in the South Florida heat and humidity, the sweat just would not leave. Hell, even his eyelids sweat. And the dust and worn surfaces of the building helped to both wear away at his clothes and add colors and stains of who knew what. He felt the trickle of sweat at the back of his neck. He sighed again as he ran his hands through his hair and pulled it up off his neck. He was excited at first to let his hair finally grow out a little without the mandatory monthly prison haircuts, but now, it was just annoying.

And hot.

He was so tired but continued pushing himself because he wanted to see some progress. At least the graffiti and street tags had stopped since he'd bought the house. The battery lantern he used to light the interior at night and the removal of the real estate sign seemed to deter the local street artists. He settled himself into a more comfortable position as his mind filled with visions of the beauty this house was anxious to reveal.

"Are you part reptile?" a gravelly voice asked which Matt tried to block out. "You passed out or something?" the voice insisted. Matt reluctantly woke when he felt a nudge against his shoe. He opened his eyes and noticed it was no longer bright. Something must be off, he couldn't have fallen asleep that long.

"Wake up. It's hot as hell out here."

He looked up and saw his new contractor outlined in light like some huge angelic form, standing in front of him blocking the fading sun from hitting his face.

"You're going to tell me you don't have at least one bed in there you can nap in?" Julian asked as he repositioned the duffle over his shoulder.

"Did you kick me?" Matt asked, blinking slowly while his eyes adjusted.

"I tapped you with my boot, if I'd have kicked you, you'd be on your ass right now."

Matt ran his hands through his hair, hating the wetness of sweat. "I am on my ass right now," he responded casually.

Julian half smiled at him and snorted a stifled chuckle. "You shouldn't be napping in downtown streets," he said as he held out his hand to Matt.

Matt took the offered hand and stood. "I wasn't napping."

"So you walk around with your eyes shut and snore," Julian asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't snore."

"I hate to break it to you, but, dude, you snore."

"None of my boyfriends ever mentioned snoring." Matt had let it slip in his still semisleep state, but he was relieved it was now out in the open. He didn't need or want Julian's approval, but he was growing tired of hiding.

"Whatever floats your boat, but you had one hell of a throat orchestra going."

Matt shook his head, trying to clear the haze from his non-nap. He faced the door and hoped Julian's intense gaze overlooked the flush of red he knew flooded his face.

"I'd like to know where I'm sleeping. I'm guessing you've claimed the porch," Julian said, obviously holding back a smile and not letting up.

Matt turned to face Julian, a little closer than he had anticipated. It must be the exhaustion or the heat screwing with his head or maybe it was the heat coming off this man that was driving him mad. How could someone emit that much body heat and smell so damn good in this hell?

"Are you always like this?" Matt asked.

"It's the heat. Brings out my charm."

Matt just stared at Julian, mesmerized. He knew he must have had a blank expression on his face. For some reason, his brain was completely empty of anything to say. He wasn't the type of person who could deliver quick comebacks or snappy comments but he was usually in control of a situation. He felt completely unprepared for someone like Julian to waltz into his daily routine and take over. Matt knew that was exactly what was going to happen—this man would easily plant roots and be in charge.

He wasn't sure what made him more nervous, the sexiest man he had ever seen in his lifetime moving in with him for the next year, or the loss of control he felt over the situation.

He took a deep breath as he finally found the nerve to open the door and welcome Julian into his home.

Chapter 4

Julian followed Matt through the hallway. Matt seemed nervous as he walked a little too fast toward the back of the place.

"I think this one, but you might want to check out the others just in case," Matt said as he opened the door to the last room on the right.

Julian stepped in and the first thing he noticed was the lack of lighting. The dangling wires in the entrance were a clear indicator the electricity was spotty at best in the place, and the boarded up window blocked out any potential source of light. Sure, it would be great to have total and complete darkness to enjoy sleeping in, but he had a job to do and early mornings were required.

"Nope, this won't work. Which one's yours?"

Matt looked flustered again. "Um, it's the first one on the left when you walk in. Why?"

Julian could see the coloring of Matt's cheeks again. Funny how his room was the farthest away on the opposite end of the place. The only thing more distant would have been a room on the second floor, but who knew how stable it was up there. He had that on the short list of immediate things to check out.

"Just getting the lay of the land."

"Oh." Matt stood there as if lost in thought.

"So that first one is your room, the first one on the right is the office space you set aside, and there is this one. How many more?"

"Nine in total. I guess some would be common areas or something. But essentially nine open spaces including these two," he said as he ran his hands in a half circle to point to the two open areas that could easily double for some type of waiting section, living room, or something comparable.

Julian nodded then dropped his bag in the hallway to do a quick inspection of each of the smaller office or room-size areas. After an initial sweep of the first floor, he selected the second room on the left with the window that would allow just enough natural light to annoy him until he had no choice but to wake up. "This one."

The blank expression on Matt's face was priceless.

"Um, my room is next to it."

"Yeah, you already said that."

"Why that one?" Matt snapped out of his daze and ran his fingers through his hair.

The tinting of his cheeks coupled with the hair pointing in all directions was cute as hell. Julian was going to enjoy unsettling the man like this on a daily basis.

"Is there some reason I can't have this one?" he asked with a raised eyebrow and a half smile. He was being an ass but he couldn't resist. It was just too tempting to give the man a hard time. He liked the way Matt's skin flushed, the way he couldn't look at him while talking, the shifting of his feet, and the constant running of his fingers through his hair. It was all rather entertaining. He was getting a kick out of causing this guy to totally become unglued right before his eyes. He crossed his arms and casually leaned against the doorframe, waiting for an answer.

"Um, no," Matt responded, unable to meet his eyes.

"Good," Julian said, and he pushed off the wall to grab his duffle bag from the end of the hallway. Walking back toward his selected room, he couldn't help but notice Matt still stood in the same place looking down. "You all right?" he asked as he dropped his bag in his new room for the next year.