Page 23 of Fruit and Flash

Kai’s eyes widen and he considers the options. “Ooh, now you’re thinking! Blue will make it look more derelict, but I don’t think that’s what I’m going for. The roof is gray, so I think that will blend in instead of sticking out like a sore thumb.”

Grabbing the gray one, I hold the vacuum-sealed bag instead of letting him carry it. “On to cleaning supplies?”

“Onward,” Kai declares loudly before turning his phone camera on to film his path down the aisles.

How much goes into filming and probably editing a video for social media never occurred to me, but now I'm seeing it in action. Kai holds different items up for the camera every so often, and I set the wood aside to fill my arms up with everything he picks.

Kai stops short of lifting the camera to my face. “Do you mind being filmed?”

Giving it a moment of thought, I almost shrug then remember my armful of things. “I don’t mind, I guess.”

“I’ll tag your new farm account so it starts building your online presence.”

“If you say so.” I can’t help the laugh and grin at the thought of me having followers or something.

Kai pans the camera to me where I have his supplies up to my chin. “Always handy to have a big strong cowboy to help carry your things.”

When he puts the camera down, I see a questioning look on his face. I hurry to reassure him. “I do own cows on occasion, so that’s technically true.”

“And the big and strong part?” He asks, now looking less worried and more flirtatious.

“If the shoe fits.” I wink and head towards the register, “Grab my wood.”

Kai laughs and I hear him picking the sheet up with a grunt. Two can play at this game.

Chapter fifteen

Kai

Checkingoutatthehardware store that somehow unironically has ‘Nuts’ in the name, Hayes is quiet and thoughtful. It’s not that he’s usually verbose, but I wonder if being around me in public is too much for him. Maybe I shouldn’t have held his hand so openly, but it seemed the fastest way to get him moving into the store and out of the heat. Did I push him too far?

“Thanks for shopping at Nuts and Bolts,” the man Hayes called Jack tells us and my worried thoughts scatter.

As we grab the bags and Hayes handles the sheet of wood, I smile at the cashier and give him a glance as we head out the door. Jack’s around my age with brown hair and green eyes, and normally I’d be checking him out. Ezra told me a lot more people are out as queer in this small town than you’d expect, so there’s a chance he swings my way.

Except I’m way more interested in the broad-shouldered man carrying the awkward eight-foot-long lumber like it’s a paperbag. Hayes’ muscles bunch under his plaid shirt where the sleeves are rolled up to reveal sexy forearms, and the jean fabric covering his lower half is putting in the work to contain his bubble butt and thick thighs. Makes me want to take a bite.

Shadow yips from the truck window when he sees us coming around the corner. “Hey, buddy,” Hayes coos in a voice I haven’t heard from him yet. And who doesn’t melt at a big strong man being sweet to an animal?

After laying the wood flat, Hayes takes the bags from me and tosses them in the back before opening my door for me. Swooning a little, I hop in beside Shadow.

“Thank you,” I tell him, not wanting to make a big deal out of the chivalrous act in case he really is struggling with being seen out with a man in public.

There aren’t a ton of people outside in the afternoon heat, but there are a few. The pool bar and pizza place seem to be popular, and I see a couple walk into Ezra’s boutique across the street, so I am glad the shop is getting regular business.

On the way here, I was fully focused on my excitement for both my project and to be with Hayes, and those are still on my mind, but I take in my surroundings more after Hayes gets in. The outside is two-tone in a pretty sky blue with white along the sides and the interior matches with added wood detailing. The radio looks original and doesn’t even have a usb port.

“What kind of truck is this?” I ask as Hayes starts the engine and I buckle my seatbelt. Shadow sits up, ready to go, and I wonder if she should have a seatbelt, too.

“It’s a nineteen-eighty Chevy C10 with a long bed,” Hayes tells me with a pride reserved for men who love their trucks, but there’s also a note of affection in his tone. He keeps his eyes on the road, partially blocked by his hat, but I can see conflict in them. “It was my dad’s first vehicle.”

“Oh,” I reply, not sure what else to say. I get the sense he doesn’t talk about his parents often, but Hayes has mentioned his dad a couple times to me now. “That’s so cool you’re driving it now. I bet he’d be proud of how you’re taking care of the truck.”

Hayes’ mustache twitches with a polite smile as he nods and drives us down Main Street. When we get to the park where the Pride event was the first day I stumbled across Foggy Basin, the street name changes to Lake Road.

“Is there a lake at the end of this road?” I ask to change the subject.

“Big Butte Lake is not too far past my farm. Over the mountains there’s also Blue Lake, which is a lot bigger. Leon goes fishing at both.”