A Different Light Page 3

  Mac knew he was going to enjoy today. He loved his job most days, but today something was giving him that extra boost of energy.

  And it wasn’t just the coffee he was drinking.

  He sat at the small table in the breakfast nook, sipping his morning coffee, checking off all the stuff on his mental to do list. Number one on the list was making him happy. So happy, in fact, that he was having trouble concentrating on the rest of the long list. Because, after ten years, Mac was going to come face to face with the boy next door.

  Bennett Cole—aka Princess—was the bane of his existence as a kid and into his teenage years. Crush or no crush, the boy had been so full of himself. Probably because everyone oohed and ahhed over him like he was the next Einstein, which for this small town wasn’t a bad comparison. He had to admit, if only to himself, he was a little nervous about seeing Bennett after so much time had passed. Especially when the last time he’d seen him was the night Bennett was assaulted. A night that Mac had carried guilt about, for the last ten years.

  Then Bennett fled the town and conquered the world. Mac thought about being the fleeing kind, but his heart was here. He still lived in his childhood home, not one filled with warm happy memories, but a beautiful house all the same. He tweaked and tinkered until he made each room feel like him, like he had always wanted the house to feel when he was growing up. His parents weren’t bad. His dad was sort of checked out on the parenting thing, but he showed his love to Mac whenever he was around. His mom loved him, he knew that, but she had this expectation for him to one day wake up and love school and love education.

  She wanted him to be Bennett.

  Mac wasn’t stupid, but books had never been his thing. Working with his hands, creating something beautiful for someone else, that was his passion. And his mom just hadn’t understood. Even though he’d only gone to college to make his parents happy, his bachelors in construction management and business helped him get to where he was now. He wasn’t rich or anything, but he’d made a life for himself and built a business that he was proud of.

  Now, he had a contract to work on the Cole’s house next door. Mrs. Cole said she wasn’t going to tell Bennett that Mac was the contractor, mainly because she knew that they didn’t exactly get along, and if Bennett had known who was going to be working on the house, he wouldn’t have agreed to come. Mac warned her that he didn’t think that was the best plan, but she was sure it all would be fine. If there was one thing he knew, Mrs. Cole was as stubborn as her son had been.

  Mac looked at his watch and realized it was already seven forty-five and he needed to get a move on. He rinsed his cup out and placed it in the sink, walking out the front door after grabbing his gear. He’d told his guys to meet him at the house next-door. Since he was already so close, it made no sense for him to go into the shop just to come back there.

  As he walked out his front door, he looked over at the Cole house and saw his crew parked at the end of the driveway, already pulling out the ladders and scaffolding they’d need for the roof, among all the other supplies that they would keep there for the duration of the project. Danny, his foreman for any major projects, was walking around the property making notes on his clipboard. Mac swore he slept with that thing.

  Fifteen minutes later, the crew was on the roof tearing off old shingles and tar paper. As two guys did that, another two followed behind them, banging nails in or ripping bent ones out. They were a well-oiled machine by now since they did roofs nearly every week during the warm months.

  Mac moved on to the next part of his job, talking to his foreman about the plan for the day. He knew it shouldn’t be too long before the noise on the roof drove Bennett out of the house.

  “You want me to hang around or go over to the Patterson’s to get started on the appraisal they been bugging you for?”

  “Danny, you know they’ve only been bugging for that appraisal so Mrs. Patterson can preach the bible at me. They don’t like me or rather my “lifestyle” as the old bird likes to tell me.”

  “So, is that a yes?” Danny replied with a smirk that said he already knew the answer.

  “Yeah, get. Go. Stop pestering me when you should be working.”

  Just as Danny opened the passenger door of his truck to throw his notebook in, the front door of the Cole house slammed open, and they both turned to see Bennett storm out.

  While Mac had been expecting Bennett to come out and greet his crew, what he hadn’t counted on was the physical changes that Bennett would’ve gone through over the last ten years. He was no longer the slim and lanky kid—puberty was a bitch but so worth it in the end—Mac remembered. Bennett was what most would consider average build, but to Mac he was anything but. He’d come out of the house in nothing but a thin white t-shirt and pajama bottoms that hung low and loose. The toned frame and tight ass he could see through those clothes was making his mouth water. But the biggest change was the no longer boyish face Bennett had. Where he’d once been considered pretty, he was now more rugged with his dirty blonde scruff covering his jaw.

  He still had that floppy blonde hair that looked like he was always running his fingers through it, the same pale skin of a science geek who spent more time in a lab than outside, and even from a distance, he could see that same vibrant blue in his eyes. Bennett had always had beauty and brains, but now the man was on a whole new level.

  Mac was standing in front of Danny’s pick up truck where he had backed it into the driveway, writing in his notebook when Bennett came out of the house, so it was no surprise to him that Danny was the first person that he saw.

  “Hey.” Bennett said as he quickly approached Danny, who’d closed the truck door when he’d seen Bennett coming toward him. “Are you in charge here? Can you keep it down? I had a late flight, and it’s only eight am for Pete’s sake!” Bennett ran his fingers through his hair, gripping the ends in frustration. Sighing, he put his head down, took a deep breath then looked up, continuing in a calmer voice, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to take things out on you. I know it’s just your job, but I’m exhausted. A red eye flight and banging on the roof do not go together. Can we reschedule this?”

  “I’m the foreman, but not in charge of this job. I was just on my way out, but I can talk to the supervisor.”

  “Okay, that would be good. Who is the supervisor?” Bennett asked, squaring his shoulders.

  Mac walked up behind him, waving off Danny so he could get a start on his day. "What, did we interrupt your beauty sleep, Princess?"

  He whipped around, and Mac came face to face with a stunned Bennett. Mac knew his voice hadn’t changed since they had last spoken, it was the part of puberty that had hit him first. He couldn’t help that his stupid cocky-as-shit grin, as his best friend called it, had come out.

  “Mac?”

  “In the flesh.”

  “But…you…why are you here?”

  “I’m your contractor for the next three months.”

  Mac watched as the realization of that passed across his face. First confusion then horror. All the things that Mac had been expecting. All the things he had told Mrs. Cole would probably happen.

  “I take it that means your mom didn’t tell you?” Bennett’s eyes narrowed, and he must’ve realized he’d been set up. And not just by anyone, but by his own mother.

  Then Bennett did what Bennett Cole does better than most; stormed off in a huff.

  Mac wasn’t sure they were going to survive the next three months.

  Slamming the door behind him, Bennett made his way across the foyer, through the family room and into the kitchen. He was so pissed at his mom for not telling him that Mac— annoying, cocky, know-it-all Mac—was going to be the contractor for the house. It wasn’t like he would’ve figured it out on his own. He hadn’t spoken to his parents about Mac, or anyone from this town, since he left. The least they could’ve done was have the courtesy of telling him.

  Obviously, he wasn’t going back to sleep anytime soon, so he might a
s well make his coffee and eat breakfast as he tried to calm down. He knew all too well that throwing a fit and throwing things never made him feel better. Just made more of a mess that he had to then clean up.

  As he listened to the single serve coffee maker—so glad he had one shipped here before he arrived—huff and hiss, he searched his memory trying to find a moment where his mom or dad had maybe mentioned Mac, but he just couldn’t. Of course, with his mind closed off to anything about the small town, he probably wouldn’t remember if they had. But he knew. He knew his mom wouldn’t have told him, because she knew he would’ve found a way out of having to come back. He’d definitely be talking to his mom soon about the secret keeping. If she kept that secret, what others was she keeping?

  He sat at the big L-shaped sofa in the family room trying to look at things from a logical point of view. There wasn’t anything he could do at that moment to change anything. Bennett knew he could fight his mom, but as far as he knew, there weren’t a whole lot of options in White Acre for contractors. And even if there were, he knew his mom well enough to know that he didn’t get his stubbornness from his dad.

  Sighing, knowing he had to make the best of it, he looked out the big bay windows that overlooked the backyard. The trees swayed with the gentle, early morning breeze. Soon, the weather would get hotter and decidedly more humid. Bennett wanted to be out on the patio drinking his coffee, breathing in all that cool air that didn’t smell of city but of summer grass and fresh flowers. It was the one thing he would admit to actually missing of White Acre.

  He spent so much time on college campuses and in labs that he’d forgotten what that smell had made him feel. It was like just taking a deep breath opened him wide, cleaning out all the clutter and uncertainty, bringing new life and a fresh start with it. But, he’d have to wait to sit out there, because right now, there were men everywhere he turned.

  He was jolted out of his thoughts by a knock on the door followed by the doorbell. He could only guess who that would be.

  Making his way back to the front of the house, he opened the front door trying to keep the scowl off his face when Mac stood there with that stupid grin on his face. Bennett had always hated that grin which made holding in the scowl even harder.

  He'd thought he was sexy as a teenage boy, as sexy as a teenage boy can be anyway, but now, he'd really grown into the cocky bad boy attitude that he always had. He'd let his dark hair grow out on the top, he filled those worn out jeans perfectly, tattoos covered both of his arms, and his grey eyes still pierced right through Bennett. There were even some tattoos peeking out from under his t-shirt, reaching toward his neck. And Bennett wanted to lick them. Shit.

  “Mac.”

  “Hey. Just wanted to come talk. Maybe let you in on our schedule, especially when it comes to the interior of the house.”

  “Yeah, sure. Come in.” Bennett stepped aside and signaled for Mac to enter. As he passed by Bennett, he was so close that he could smell the earthy scent that was always Mac. Like his pores soaked in the wood and paint around him. He was so frustrated with himself for loving that smell.

  “How’ve you been, B? Getting smarter from what your folks tell me.”

  “My parents talk about me to you? That’s not embarrassing at all.” He shook his head as he walked back toward the kitchen. Mac followed. He didn’t have to look to know that. He could feel the man. Like the heat just poured off him and reached out to Bennett.

  “Yeah, they tell everyone about their PhD son. But we all knew you’d go toward the geeky shit.”

  “Geeky shit? Okay, I’ll give you that. My best friend calls me a nerd and he’s a geneticist, so if he thinks it, I can imagine others do too.” Bennett grabbed his coffee gesturing to Mac to see if he wanted any. Getting a nod in reply, he set out brewing a cup for him. He could do this polite grown-up thing with him. He wasn’t completely the same hard headed kid he’d once been, stubborn, yeah, but he learned some life lessons years ago that changed him and his view on people.

  “Well, ya know, you should be happy they talk about you with such pride. Some parents don’t give enough of a shit to do that or are too selfish to notice.”

  “You can’t tell me your parents don’t give a shit. I’ve met them, and your mom was always so sweet and interested in even my shit.”

  Bennett saw an immediate change come over Mac. He went from having that cocky look on his face to being embarrassed and almost looking like he was ashamed.

  “Yeah, well, no one can measure up, especially me, against the great Bennett Cole. I was just the consolation they got, not the prize. We can’t all be as perfect as you, Princess.”

  “I wasn’t…you know what, never mind.” He clearly was just trying to needle Bennett. He refused to believe that Mac’s parents weren’t proud of him, he met them, he saw their pride. “Wow. You haven’t changed at all. Let’s just get this schedule stuff done so we can avoid each other.”

  As much as Mac had changed physically, he was still the same guy that annoyed him and talked down to him as a kid.

  Hot, but still an asshole.

  “Yeah, okay.” Mac scowled at him like he was the one that got all snippy for no reason. “No, wait. I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have said that. Let’s just pretend I didn’t open my stupid fucking mouth and move on.”

  “If you say so, Mac.” Bennett knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. There was too much baggage between them that was apparently still getting in the way.

  He could see the resignation on Mac’s face, and at that moment, he couldn’t care less.

  They’d spent the last hour walking through the entire inside and outside of the house, trying to pinpoint a schedule between what Mac had to do and what Bennett had to do.

  Bennett found it tedious, which was a lot coming from someone who worked in Nanotechnology, but it was necessary if they wanted to avoid stepping on each other’s toes. When Mac and his crew were tearing out the cabinets in the kitchen, Bennett would make sure he was painting in a completely different part of the house. It was a win-win plan.

  He found hanging around Mac when he wasn’t being the cocky asshat he knew years ago to be…nice. He hated using that term when it came to Mac. Bennett had trouble trusting who the real Mac was. He was much more organized than Bennett had originally thought he’d be. He was thorough in his questions and planning. Something he had a hard time fitting with the guy he’d known.

  “Okay, I think that’s it. The crew should be done with the roof in a few days but in the meantime, me and a few of my guys will start inside replacing the carpets with the laminate hardwoods your parents picked out. We’ll start in the liv—”

  Bennett cut Mac off before he could finish. “Yeah, I know, Mac. We just got done going over that.”

  “I was just double checking we were both on the same page, okay?” Mac replied, rolling his eyes.

  “Way to be a grown up with the eye roll, Mac.”

  “Why are you act—”

  “I was just saying that you were repeating yourself like I’m a child or something.”

  “Quit cutting me off, Bennett.” Mac had a growl in his voice that Bennett hadn’t heard before coming from him. He’d always been the picture of calm and cool. Finally, he was getting to him for once instead of the other way around. “Interrupting people with your snotty know-it-all attitude is far from grown up. Stop acting like you know me or why I do things.”

  “I know you, and from what I’ve seen, you haven’t changed.” Bennett was getting annoyed now. Just like all the times he’d been as a kid living next door to the nosy jerk.

  This was obviously the real Mac.

  “Keep believing whatever you want to believe, just like you did back then. Look where that got you.”

  No sooner had the words left his mouth Bennett could see the guilt fill his face. But he was beyond caring at this point. That was a low blow.

  Bennett could feel his face drain of all color and the need to be sick rise. “Get
out.” He didn’t yell like he wanted to. This time, he used the cool tone he often used with people who thought they could get one over on him, and then turned and started to walk away.

  “I—I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I shouldn’t—I had no right.”

  Bennett stopped without turning around. He knew Mac probably hadn’t meant to be cruel, but it still hurt all the same. Bringing up his naiveté was low even for him. But what could he do?

  Bennett sighed and turned around. He nodded once, acknowledging the apology but not quite ready to forgive yet. “Don’t do it again.”

  After he heard the door shut behind the retreating Mac, he stood there taking calming deep breaths. This was not going to be a fun visit home.

  Bennett walked around the house, thinking and trying to calm down, knowing he had to make a call that would require all the composure he could muster. Picking up his cell and dialing his mom, knowing she was probably the one that made the choice to hide Mac from him.

  "You couldn't have told me that Mac was the contractor?"

  As Mac drove down the main road toward the diner, he couldn’t help but groan over how much Bennett had gotten under his skin, the same as he always had. Even as the hours had passed, he was still annoyed by the know-it-all snotty attitude that Bennett had. It was like the man hadn’t changed in all the years he was gone. Still the spoiled, much-loved princess of White Acre.

  Mac would admit though that he still felt guilty as fucking shit for his comment about the assault. What kind of person would say that shit? Him, apparently. Then after a shitty apology, he just turned tail and ran. As he turned into the parking lot of the plaza where the diner was, he sighed. He was so disappointed in himself. He was better than that.

  The man just brings out the fucking worst in me!

  And now he had to go in sit and face his best friend, who would no doubt be even more pissed off at him than he was at himself already for his fucking shit behavior.

  The Route 43 diner was obviously named because it was located on the main strip of town—route forty-three. It had been the hundredth diner to open in that exact spot, and the only one to last as long as it had. Mac ate his way through puberty at that diner. The food was greasy and good and the atmosphere was small town but also modern in style. Mac always believed it was the people that made it feel small town.