"You know Jack, always pulling stunts. The matriarchs are upholding it, though."
"Yeah, Kelly rang through after Jack did. He really sick?" Hawk shrugged. "Well, tell him to get his arse into work tomorrow, or he can find something else to do. Plenty of blokes who petition and hold down a job."
"We had some...developments last night that would have made him useless today. You wouldn't want him on the end of a sledgehammer, Mick."
Micks' eyes slid back to me, an eyebrow raising.
"Not that kind of development," I said.
"That right?” Mick turned to me. “Well, it’s smoko time. Care to have a coffee with me and tell me about it?"
I rocked back on my heels, a nervous laugh bursting from my chest. His stare was gentle, inviting, waiting for me to respond, so I stared right back. He had a kind of big, spare body, and my eyes took in the finely wrought hands and the veins snaking up his well-muscled forearms.
"Um... I'm flattered, really." I glanced up when Hawk took a step towards me. "You seem like a nice bloke, and your approach has been much more appealing than many guys…"
"I'm sensing a but is coming."
"But I'm struggling to deal with the guys I have right now. This has been a lot to adjust to."
"Seems you should be doing more to help her," Mick said, staring into Hawk's eyes.
Hawk's thumb shoved itself into my back pocket, and he drew me into the curve of his side.
"Gimme a chance. Haven't even been there for a day yet."
"Well, if you ever get sick of that dickhead, Jack, you know my offer is still on the table." Mick's eyes were just as warm as they took in Hawk as when they had inspected me. "Especially with such a lovely new addition."
Mick plucked up my fingers and brushed his lips across them before I even had a chance to react, his wicked smile making it plain he'd planned for exactly that.
"Um... while you're being all helpful and stuff, I need to see Shaun."
I watched his expression change, from open and friendly to a little sad.
"He didn't pull up well this morning. We've got him sorting nails right now. Should be at home, really."
"I'm sorry, this is probably interrupting your work day. Maybe I should catch him after work?"
Mick considered the idea for a second and then shook his head.
"He's not much use to us. More here to get his mind off things, I think. He's down the bottom of the rise, in the big green supplies van.”
"I know where that'll be," Hawk said.
"Yeah, well, I've got to get these idiots working before they all blow on the spot. You know where to find me if you change your mind."
His words were deliberately ambiguous, but Hawk just shook his head and steered me away.
"That happen to you a lot?" I asked.
"Mick? Or guys in general?"
"Both, I guess."
"Some. More now that you're here. Word is out you don't mind a bit of guy on guy, so some blokes are creating alliances, hoping that'll be enough to catch your eye, but Mick..." He glanced back over his shoulder. "He likes me, doesn't like Jack, and has made it plain he's ready to swoop in if Jack fucks up. I'm not sure if he's flirting with you to get to me, or vice versa."
We walked the rest of the way down the rise in a comfortable silence, the feel of his hand in my pocket a constant reminder of his presence. He didn't withdraw it until we reached the truck in question.
"Do you want me to stay or go?"