A Younger Man Read Online Free Page B

working out the details with the owner,” he shared, his tone softer now—at least, as much as someone with too much grit in his natural voice could achieve. “Seems like you have enough keeping you awake at night already.”
    Zane didn’t reply, and the reality of this moment crash-landed straight into Noah’s brain. Fuck. He thinks I’m a pervert or some kind of murderer.
    “If you’re not comfortable coming with me,” Noah got to his feet and gave Zane plenty of space to call his own, “you can call someone to let them know where you’re going. You can follow me up to the cabin in your own car.”
    Red crept up Zane’s cheeks, turning them ruddy. “I don’t have a car.”
    Noah bit back the urge to smile. “I’ll give you the address and you can use the money you were going to spend at the motel tonight to pay for a cab instead.”
    Zane licked the edge of his lip and then started to worry it between his teeth. “I don’t have anything to give you as payment or rent for the cabin. At least not today. Maybe in a few weeks I could come up with something.”
    Noah exhaled, and a hundred-pound weight flew off his shoulders. He’s not scared of me; it’s just that his pride won’t let him take charity. Back on steady ground, Noah explained, “The cabin needs repairs done to it. Most of them are cosmetic, or only require a minimal knowledge of home repair. Painting, resurfacing the floors, some exterior beautification … stuff like that. If you want to take a few of those tasks in hand, I think I can work out a deal with the owner for reduced rent for you. I know her. She’s a good lady.”
    “Okay, it’s a deal.” Just as fast as Zane lifted his hand in offering, it fell to his side, and he slumped. “Living in town, I can walk my brother and sister to school in the morning, and they can get a ride home in the evening from someone who lives close by. If I’m halfway up a mountain, I won’t be able to get them to and from school.”
    A solution flashed like a neon sign in front of Noah, but before it spilled out of him, he swallowed the offer back down inside him. Good Christ. What am I doing? I don’t know this kid. Then Noah caught the way Zane rubbed his palms repeatedly against his jeans, and once again saw the cut-up forearm. On instinct, Noah let his gut take over from his head. “I pretty much drive my work truck everywhere,” he shared. “As long as you can afford to put gas in it, you can use my car while you’re staying at the cabin.”
    Zane’s pupils dilated and took over the blue. “I don’t know…”
    Terrell emerged from the apartment building right then, with three overstuffed trash bags in hand. In a winded voice, he said, “Owner wouldn’t let you back inside, but he let me get the clothes. I threw in a few other things from the kids’ room I thought I could get away with.”
    In a rush, Zane flew to Terrell and shook his hand. “Thank you. I appreciate everything you were able to do for me for as long as you did.”
    With a nod, Terrell went back inside.
    As Zane dragged the bags across the sidewalk, Noah settled his tool belt over his shoulder and lifted his kit from the ground. “I’m going to go take care of that leaky showerhead.” He walked backward and jerked his thumb toward the building. “If you want to throw your bags in the back and wait for me, I should be out within an hour. I’ll show you the cabin then. If you decide to move on, I’ll understand that too. It’s up to you.”
    With that, Noah gave Zane some space to breathe and think. As Noah rang the buzzer for the appropriate apartment, he got a glimpse of Zane, standing with his bags, still as a statue, a decision clearly not yet made. The young man hadn’t moved by the time Noah went inside.
    Noah knew what he wanted, though; what truth sat in his gut with a certainty he hadn’t experienced in ages. It didn’t make a damn bit of sense, but Christ, Noah really, really wanted Zane to be