“Holy shit, I’m getting married!” Austin says on a satisfied sigh.
“She has to say yes first.”
“Fuck off. Who could say no to this?” The idiot points up to his cheesy-ass grin and I shake my head at his giant ego. “Speaking of making the ladies scream yes, how’s it going with Jessie?”
“Like cuddling up with a hand grenade. One more shitty date and she’ll be out of my hair.”
“Shitty?” Austin asks.
I nod. “She promised to leave me and my shop alone if she got three dates. I’m making sure it ends at three.”
Austin chuckles. “And how’s that going for you?”
“She thinks everything is fucking sunshine and rainbows. That woman could find something good to say about a goddamn apocalypse.” I let out a deep sigh and take a long pull of my beer.
“Exhausting, isn’t it?” Austin goes doe-eyed, thinking about Elizabeth again, no doubt. “But it’s kind of amazing too. Like seeing the world through the eyes of a kid. Everything is new and exciting.”
I grunt a lukewarm agreement and nod. Jessie’s insistence on being excited about the most mundane shit is obnoxious, considering I’m trying to get rid of her. But Austin’s right. There’s something endearing about it at the same time. Her optimism is contagious.
“Why does it have to end at three? Elizabeth thinks you two’d be great together.”
I narrow my eyes at him, grumbling at his stupid-ass idea. “Your girlfriend doesn’t know shit about me.”
“Doesn’t mean she’s wrong.” Austin sips his beer and smiles.
“Yes. It does.” I’m not going to deny there’s a fire raging between Jessie and me, but it will burn out quick enough. Girls like her don’t stay with guys like me. They marry bankers or CEOs, not tattooed mechanics. I’m nothing more to her than a way to pass the time.
Austin shakes his head at me. Falling in love has rotted his brain. “I’m just saying, why rush it? Have fun and see where it goes.”
“I know where it’s going.”
“No. You know where you’re gonna keep it from going.”
I shake my head. “I’m too old for college girls and their bullshit.”
“Dude, you’re twenty-five, not fifty.”
“I know what I want. Where I’m going. Don’t need to waste a couple years on someone still trying to figure it out.”
Austin rolls his eyes, something he’s picked up from Elizabeth. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Exactly.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Says you.” I take the last sip of my beer and make my way to the kitchen.
“Come on. I know you’re into her.” Austin stalks into the kitchen behind me, tossing his beer into the trash. I glare at him as I pull the bottle out of the trash and toss it into the recycling under the sink.
“Sorry, gramps,” Austin quips, holding his hands up in surrender. I pop the tops on two new beers. “What do you have to lose by giving this thing with Jessie a shot?”
“You lose your balls when you turned into cupid or you just tuck them up your ass so they fit in that diaper?”
Austin keels over with a laugh. I stalk over to the living room. Sinking into the couch, I flip on the TV and try to ignore my dumbass best friend.
“Fine. I’ll leave it alone,” he claims from behind me. “But don’t come crying to me when she’s got someone new chasing after her.”
I groan and turn up the TV.
Chapter Sixteen
Devin
I slide my key into the lock of the shop door early as fuck Tuesday morning, only to realize it’s already been unlocked. My shoulders tense and my senses are on alert. I know this door was locked last night because I was the one who locked it. Something’s not right.
I ease into the shop, set my gym bag on the seat and step in without making a sound. I search the space, looking for signs of damage or something missing. Nothing seems out of place. Soft voices draw my attention to the back office. I notice for the first time that the light is on. Someone is here.
I ball my fists up at my sides and stalk over. The door is cracked, so I peek in, trying to get an idea of what I’m stumbling into. My pulse skyrockets when I see Jessie’s beautiful smile and bright eyes. She’s leaning close to someone and nods in silent encouragement. I drink in the sight of her, from her bright green toenails to her sunshine yellow hair. My mouth curls into a snarl at the sound of a man’s voice.
Kicking the door open, I glare at Jessie and her early morning companion. They both jump, startled at the interruption of their private meeting. Jessie’s breath catches in her throat and she slams a hand across her heart, that I hope is racing as fast as mine. I turn my accusing gaze to the man. Mikey? What the fuck is Mikey doing here? At the ass crack of dawn? With Jessie?
I narrow my eyes at him and wait for an explanation. He raises his hands and opens his mouth.
“Jesus! You scared the crap out of me,” Jessie pipes up before Mikey can.
I cross my arms and take her in with a glare. She crosses hers to match, her eyebrow rising along with the side of her beautiful lips in a lopsided grin. She’s fucking teasing me. Taunting me.
The three of us stand there in the early morning silence, Jessie and I warring in stillness and Mikey caught in the crossfire.
“I’m going to grab some donuts before we open.” Mikey stands and shuffles to the door. I grunt in response and step into the small office so he can get by. He stops in the doorway and smiles at Jessie. “Thanks, Jessie.” Mikey looks over at me, but refuses to meet my eyes. I don’t want to believe there is anything going on between them, but there’s a shameful blush on the kid’s face that confuses the shit out of me.
“Any time, Mikey,” Jessie coos back.
He closes the door behind him, sealing me and Jessie into the tiny office as if we weren’t already locked in this standoff.
“What was that?” I ask.
Her smirk widens to a full grin. “That? Was none of your business.”
“This is literally my business,” I countered.
She sighs. “I was just giving him some pointers on the new system.”
“At six o’clock in the morning?”
“I’m not a clock, Big Man. You want to know the time, get a watch.”
She tries to brush past me, but I step in front of the door, blocking her escape. I’m peering down at her, still waiting for my straight answer.
She slides both her hands under my shirt, tracing her hot palms up my chest. A low moan escapes my lips as she presses a soft kiss on my chest, over my shirt. I can’t remember my name, much less what the fuck it was I am supposed to be getting out of her. All I’m interested in is feeling more of her body pressed against me.
“I missed you,” she whispers and my heart soars.
I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head, lingering while I inhale her intoxicating scent. She relaxes into me, resting her cheek against my chest.
“I was helping him with the new computer system,” she confesses.
“What’d he have to do to get a private lesson?” I ask, gravel in my voice.
She pulls away, peering up at me with those soft hazel eyes. “Ask.”
“That all?” I mumble, brushing my nose against hers and inching my way to her lips.
She hums against me.
“Teach me, JB.” I suck her bottom lip into my mouth.
“Say please.” Her sultry voice is honey in my ears as I deepen our kiss, sliding my tongue into her warm, wet mouth.
I pull back and look down at her. She’s a puddle of mush, a sappy grin on those kissable lips. I release her with a quick chuckle, walking away to prove to myself I still can.
“I’ve got work to do.” I stride to the desk and aimlessly shuffle some of the paperwork sitting there, distracting myself from the tightness in my pants—and my chest.
“You’re such a tease.” She fans herself and flops against th
e door.
“Look who’s talking.”
“Tell me, Big man. When and where is date number three?” She bites her bottom lip, the one I was just sucking on. It’s red and swollen from my handiwork.
“Tonight?” That was supposed to be a statement.
“Can’t.” She blows out a sigh like she’s disappointed, but I can’t help but feel like she’s playing games with me.
I ball my hands into fists and lean against the desk on my knuckles. “Hot date?” I ask, not hiding my frustration.
“Kind of.” She shrugs and watches me. We’re staring at each other from across the room. I refuse to ask, but I’m desperate to know who she’s planning on spending the night with instead of me. “My sorority is throwing our annual party. Tonight promises to be an epic debacle full of drunken debauchery.”
“It’s Tuesday.”
“All day. Now that we’ve established both the day and the time, how about you pick another day?”
“Skip the party.”
“I can’t.”
“You can.”
She shakes her head and sighs. “I wish. I really can’t.”
I shake my head, not believing her. I push off my desk and go back to shuffling papers around without a purpose, refusing to look up at her when she shoves off the door and walks around the desk. She gives me a hip check before hopping up on the desk next to me. My fingers itch to wrap around her bare thigh brushing against me.
“I swear. I would ditch if I could.” I let out a half-groan, half-laugh at her bullshit. “I have to be there. I don’t know if you’ve met many sorority girls, but they need adult supervision. I’d ask you to come, but we both know you’d hate it.”
She grabs the collar of my shirt and pulls me between her open legs.
“Come here, you grump-o-saurus rex.” She tugs me down and I let her. She drops her forehead to mine and stares into my eyes like she’s trying to communicate telepathically. I wish I could read her mind.
“If you’re too busy, forget about it,” I bite out, sick of being played with.
“Forget about what? Our third date?” She gasps. Climbing me like a fucking jungle gym, she wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. It’s more playful than sexual. “Nice try. But no. How many times do I have to tell you, Big Man? This is happening.”
Chapter Seventeen
Devin
Jessie has yet to balk at anything I’ve thrown at her. Nothing has managed to chase the determined pixie away. I’m getting desperate. The quicker I get her out of my life, the better. This is date number three and I’m counting on it to put the final nail in the coffin of Jessie’s infatuation with the idea of us. Barbie and the bad boy. Not going to happen. I’m not going to let myself get wrapped up in something I know has no future.
I side-eye her sitting across the car from me. Her mask of perpetual cheerfulness slips as I pull up to the empty, dark strip mall. The solitary lamp post in the middle of the parking lot manages to highlight the shadiness of this joint. Half the stores are closed, shuttered up with graffiti-covered plywood. The other half advertise payday loans and massages with happy endings. This is my old neighborhood, where I grew up. Dirty. Seedy. Tattered. Abandoned.
“Are we getting matching tattoos?” She leans towards me on the bench seat, teasing me with those ruby lips.
I lick my lips, picturing marking her virgin skin. My name scrawled across her thighs. My initials carved into her heart. The idea of branding her, claiming her, is tempting.
I bite the inside of my mouth and turn my head to hide the smile. The damn thing keeps popping up around her. It’s not the only thing popping up either. One whiff of her unique scent or a glimpse of those tan curves and I’m desperate to touch her. It’s a compulsion.
I shake my head. “Not unless you want hepatitis.”
She crinkles her nose. “Hard pass.”
I climb out of the car and circle around to the trunk. Her soft footsteps follow me. I hand Jessie two putters and two golf balls. She lights up at the familiar mini-golf paraphernalia. When I pull out the flashlight and bolt cutters, she recoils with a stifled gulp. I let out a dark chuckle. This is going to be fun.
I grab her hand and pull her down a small alley between two buildings. I make a show of it, looking around and hunching forward as I slide the bolt cutters onto the fresh padlock. She’s staring at the twisting metal, eyes wide.
“Keep a lookout,” I whisper hiss at her.
She whips around, with a gasp. “Shit. Sorry.”
She’s bouncing with nervous energy, but she’s going with it. I’m impressed. I thought she’d stop us long before we’d gotten this far. Demand I take her to get froyo instead of some light B&E. I’ve done this a few dozen times. It’s a rite of passage around here, but she doesn’t know that.
After a few minutes of failing with the bolt cutters, I kneel and take a look at the new lock. It’s hardened steel. Guess the owner got sick of buying new ones.
“Well, fuck.” I shake my head. Froyo it is.
Jessie peeks at me over her shoulder. “Just cut the chain.” Her voice is light and playful.
I look at her in amazement. “You a little hellraiser, Jessie Bird?”
“Bet your sweet ass, Big Man,” she says with a wink. Fuck, this woman might just be perfect.
I slice through the cheap chain like butter and pull open the door, ushering Jessie into the darkness. I slide in next to her, letting the door close behind us, shutting out the sliver of light from the alleyway. Dropping the chain and the bolt cutters with a metallic clatter, I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her into me.
“Having fun yet?” I ask in the pitch black.
She spins in my grasp, pulling me down to her while she stands on her tiptoes. “You always keep me on my toes, Devin Bennett.” She brushes her lips against mine and my tongue dips out of its own accord to taste her. She slaps my chest and giggles. The sound shoots acid into my veins, burning across my body.
“What is this place?” she asks.
I slide my hands to her hips and turn her around. I flick on the flashlight and hand it to her. The small beam of light cuts through the darkness. Jessie takes a tentative step forward, spotlighting the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Pyramids, Mount Rushmore and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
She spins and I squint when I get a face full of flashlight before I can put my hand up.
“Mini-golf?” she squeals. Is there anything this woman won’t get excited about? Her enthusiasm is fucking exhausting.
I shake my head and the flashlight drops. I can’t see her, but I know the wheels are turning in her head. I can just make out when she holds up the putters in accusation.
“Mini-golf is boring. This is strip putt-putt.”
“Strip putt-putt?” she asks. I grunt in affirmation. “You’re going down, Bennett.”
“That’s on the agenda too,” I growl, reaching out for her in the darkness.
She slips of out of my grasp, graceful as a dancer.
“Not so fast. Let’s see what kind of moves you’ve got first.” She struts off to the first hole, my flashlight and gaze following the sway of her hips the whole time.
I drop my ball, grip the flashlight between my teeth and line my shot up underneath Lady Liberty’s skirt.
“Wait!” Jessie screeches right before I take my swing.
I grumble. Her flashlight rushes up and down my body.
“You’ve got more clothes on. It’s not fair.”
“We’re even.”
She ticks off every item of her clothing on her fingers. “Bra, panties, two shoes, shorts and shirt. Six.” Hearing her say the word panties brings the image of her flashing me that tight ass in the office, and I release my lecherous smile.
“Six. Same,” I tell her.
She scoffs, counting my clothes off on her fingers. “Two boots. Two socks. Boxers, pants, and shirt. Seven.”
I lock my hooded eyes on her and give
her a devilish grin. “No boxers.”
Her throat bobs. “Briefs?”
I shake my head.
“Banana hammock?”
A laugh barrels out of my chest with such force that I keel forward and have to brace my hands on my knees to keep from toppling over. Her light laugh mingles with mine, filling the deserted shop around us.
She trains her flashlight on my junk with purpose. “I’m not sure how to process the fact that the only thing between me and little Big Man is a thin pair of jeans held together by a single flimsy zipper.” She fans herself and lets out a ragged breath. “Take your shot before my ovaries explode.”
I adjust my aim for the warping of the ancient, musty Astroturf that’s impossible to see in this light. It’s a hole in one. Jessie gives me a mocking golf clap.
“Should I just hand over my panties now?” she quips.
I moan in approval, holding out my hand.
“Down, boy. Don’t let the perkiness fool you. I’m a fierce competitor.”
She takes a shot, the Astroturf sending her ball spiraling into the dark abyss.
“Well, shit.” She hands over her right flip-flop, and I’ve never enjoyed a game of mini-golf so much in my life.
Four holes in and she’s down to her bra and panties. My hands are sweating as I choke up on my putter. I take a long, slow breath in through my nose and hold it while I swing. I shank it, my ball bouncing off Teddy Roosevelt’s chin and back at me. Jessie lets out a long breath. I’m not sure which one of us is more nervous…or more disappointed I missed.
“My chance at redemption. Out of the way, Big Man.” She wiggles in front of me, the thin fabric of her soft pink panties brushing against my groin and driving me crazy.
She nails it, sinking her first hole in one of the night. She jumps up and down, barefoot and beautiful. “Yes. Yes. YES!” she shouts, her full tits bouncing in the soft glow of our flashlights.
I’m a fucking paragon of restraint for not taking her against the stupid fiberglass Mount Rushmore.
She points a finger at me. “Shirt. Off. Now.”
This is So Happening (So Far, So Good Book 2) Page 10
