Uber Bossy: A Small Town Romantic Comedy (Jobs From Hell Book 2)

by Marika Ray

  “I want a simple life, Lenora.”

  The statement floated through the airwave, more a plea, directed at the heavens and not at me. But the scrape of the hard want in his tone hit me harder than an angry yell would have. That and the way my name sounded on his lips for the first time combined to leave me tumbling. I couldn’t imagine what torment he faced to look like he did with the square jawline and broad shoulders, and still only want for simplicity. His clothes were high-end. His mustache was fake, but the way he carried himself was not. Jay was a leader, a man who had a story far more intriguing than mine—I was sure of it—and yet he wanted nothing but peace.

  There was more to this mystery man and his dreams called to mine, making me want to know everything about him. Past, present, and future.

  Who was this man?

  And why couldn’t I stop thinking about him?

  4

  Jayden

  “What are you doing, man?” I mumbled to myself as I exited yet another plane in Monterey.

  I’d been back home in LA for a week after my last visit to Auburn Hill. Enough time to wonder if I’d merely imagined the connection to Lenora, or perhaps dreamed up the crazy cat rescue. I needed to forget about my intriguing ride share driver and remember what I was doing in Hell.

  I was building my new life.

  Not pining over a woman, that was for damn sure.

  Construction was done on my mini factory and I needed to give final approvals before the interior build could get started. Everything was so close to being finished I could taste it. I could quit wearing this itchy mustache and tell everyone my big secret. I could haul all my crap out of LA and raise Alfred in a town where he’d know his neighbors.

  I could finally settle down and have that peaceful life I told Lenora about.

  Which was another thing. What the hell was I doing spouting off about my dreams to a virtual stranger? Women were dead to me. At least anything beyond the physical. Talking about life goals? Definitely off-limits.

  My sigh must have been excessive since the lady in front of me turned and scowled. Considering the goat incident from last time, I needed to keep a low profile and get off the damn plane without being assaulted. An involuntary shiver went up my spine remembering the sand paper tongue—40-grit, baby—that had swiped through my mouth.

  By the time I made it to the curb outside of baggage claim, Lenora was there, that same friendly smile lighting up her face. Everything got a little brighter just seeing her face. I moved forward quickly, telling myself I was only excited to get to the job site. She met me at the back end of the car, dressed in an oversized T-shirt that had seen better days and a pair of black leggings that highlighted just how perfectly she’d been made. Her perfume wafted toward me and my jaw clenched at the effort not to bury my nose in her neck.

  I forced my eyes upward and reached for the trunk to deposit my bag. At the same time Lenora also reached forward as if to hug me. Her outstretched hands hit my shoulders the same time the trunk lid popped open. Her mouth dropped open into an “O” at the realization I wasn’t coming in for a hug. I winced. I didn’t mean to leave her hanging, so I pulled her into the hug just as she stepped back. I ended up clipping her in the shoulder instead.

  “Jesus. That was more awkward than Yedda walking around with a litter of cats hanging on to her.” I shook my head slowly, appalled I’d lost my finesse with the ladies so quickly. You have one baby and suddenly you’re just a dad with bad jokes and socks with Crocs.

  Lenora smiled, a blush staining her cheeks. “A clowder.”

  I tilted my head. “Bless you?”

  She burst out laughing, brown eyes twinkling. “No. A group of cats is called a clowder, not a litter. But yes, that was exceedingly awkward. Sorry about that. I forget not everyone is a hugger.”

  “Nah, it was my fault. I’ve been preoccupied.” I quirked an eyebrow, feeling some of my old mojo returning. “Wanna try again?”

  Her cheeks heated even more, but she came in for the hug, her head at the perfect height to rest on my shoulder had she any inclination to do so. Much to my disappointment, she kept her hips out of the hug, denying me the feel of her whole body pressed against me. A more mature side of me was proud of her for not giving a full-body hug to a virtual stranger, though I felt anything but. If I believed in past lives, I might be convinced we’d been soul mates in another lifetime.

  Lenora pulled out of the hug all too quickly and got into the car, leaving me with an open trunk and my overnight bag, wondering how my brain had gone to past lives and soul mates. Singing lullabies to Red must have fried more brain cells than I initially figured.

  I threw my bag in and got in the car, this time sitting in the front seat. Taking our ride sharing relationship to a new level, if you will.

  “Auburn Hill, I presume?” She gave me a saucy smile across the console of her car and I felt myself smiling back, my shoulders finally inching away from my ears where they’d been the last seven days.

  I nodded in confirmation when what I wanted to say was “take me home!” Hell wasn’t quite home yet and keeping things a secret was necessary for making the move a smooth one. I couldn’t divulge my secret just yet. And certainly not because Lenora had me so relaxed I let things slip. That was a recipe for disaster. I knew. I was father to an infant who frequently let things relax and left me with a slippery bomb inside his diaper.

  As we got onto the freeway, I studied her profile, content to look at her instead of the beautiful terrain outside my window. Her nose turned up slightly at the end, giving her a youthful appearance I’d bet she’d have her whole life.

  “You just going to stare at me like a creeper, Jay?” Lenora asked straight ahead. Then she gave me a side-eyed look that had me glancing away.

  “Sorry. Just wondering if turnabout is fair play and I should ask you about your own life goals and dreams.”

  I envisioned bashing my head against the dash. I hadn’t meant to ask her anything personal and the first thing I did when I saw her? Gave her a hug and asked her about her hopes and dreams. Jesus, Jayden, get your shit together.

  Her smile, the one lurking at the edges of her lips at all times, got dreamy. “I want my college degree in my hand, a professional job I love, and my own place where I don’t answer to anyone but me.”

  She shifted in the seat, becoming animated simply for having stated her dreams out loud. Her gaze darted from me to the road, back and forth again as she gained steam.

  “I’m so close, Jay. I took my last exam and should know any day now if I passed. Then the degree will be mine and I can start applying for better jobs. By this time next year, I plan to have everything I want.”

  I smiled at her enthusiasm, caught up in her dream hearing the raw want in her voice.

  “Does that mean you won’t be available to give me rides for much longer?”

  She shrugged, nothing dimming that sparkle. “Well, I can always give rides for special people, but yeah, I don’t want to have to do this gig forever.” Her nose wrinkled. “You should see some of the weirdos I’ve driven before.”

  I shifted in my seat. Now that sounded interesting. “Oh yeah? Do tell.”

  She giggled and I wondered when I’d had so much fun just talking to someone. Oh yeah. Last weekend. With Lenora.

  “Well, there was this one time in downtown San Jose where a couple asked me if I’d take the ride for weed instead of payment. When I said no, the guy said his girlfriend could flash me instead. Like that would interest me. I have a pair I can look at any time I want!”

  She cracked up laughing and I joined in, my eyes widening at all the craziness she must have to deal with. That and the mention of her boobs seemed to have short-circuited my brain.

  “Sorry, that probably wasn’t appropriate to share, but you asked, right?”

  The phone mounted to her dashboard rang before I could answer her.

  Her nose did that wrinkle thing and she flicked her gaze over to me. “I’m so s
orry, but it’s my mom. I need to answer this. She never calls me while I’m working.”

  “Sure, sure.” A little breather from this conversation would be welcome anyway. I was enjoying it far too much for my own good.

  “Mom? What’s going on?” she said into the little white earpiece she popped in her ear.

  Her eyes widened as I watched, my concern ratcheting up higher as her face drained of color. I was going to look away and give her space, but watching her expressions was fascinating.

  “Oh no. Yeah, okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Did you call an ambulance?” She paused and listened, shaking her head in disbelief. “Mom. Seriously? I’m sure it’s more important to get him to the hospital quickly than it is to worry about the cost of the ambulance.”

  She listened again and sighed heavily, her shoulders drooping. I had no idea what was going on, but it didn’t sound good. I had to help her. You know, as a stranger-turned-friend would, right?

  “Okay, okay, I’ll be there as soon as I drop off my rider.”

  She hung up and pressed the gas, the car speeding up as we shot down the freeway.

  “Everything okay?” I ventured.

  She veered around a driver going slow in the fast lane. I gripped the handle above the passenger door and hung on for dear life.

  “My grandma is faster than you, shitpouch!” she yelled through the window as we zoomed past the poor guy.

  I stifled a laugh, knowing it wasn’t the appropriate time, but damn. This girl’s creative cursing when driving was feeding my soul.

  “My dad started complaining of chest pains, but the dumbass doesn’t want to take an ambulance and my mom doesn’t feel comfortable driving him.”

  I frowned. “Your mom can’t drive?”

  She shook her head and sighed again. “You’d have to meet them to understand. Their wedding picture is next to the word ‘conservative’ in the dictionary. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a housewife. They live in a small town and my mom just never really needed to drive with my dad around all the time.”

  A shiver of revulsion crept over me at the thought of such strict parents living an exceedingly boring lifestyle to just die one day. Although wasn’t I trying to create something similar by moving to Auburn Hill? A simple, peaceful life I’d told Lenora. Then I remembered my new business and my fears whooshed away. Who was I kidding? I’d never be traditional or conservative.

  “Wow. Sounds like it works for them, though, huh?” It was the blandest thing I could think to say without offending her with my true thoughts on the situation.

  She snorted and darted around another car. “Go ahead and say it. Snooze-ville, am I right?”

  I grimaced and tilted my head back and forth. “Well…”

  “Nah, I get it. I think it’s boring too, which is why I want to move out on my own so badly. But they’re my parents too. I’m not going to turn my back on them just because they’ve chosen a life I don’t understand.”

  I thought about that, understanding the need to break out on your own. My parents weren’t exactly an example of what I wanted either. Both had been cheating on each other for years. It worked for them, but I didn’t want that sort of duplicity. Honesty was a big deal for me, I was finding.

  As Lenora honked at another car and then swerved across three lanes of traffic to exit the freeway, I found myself making an offer I wouldn’t normally make if I hadn’t been living on the razor edge of adrenaline. Fearing for your life would do that to you.

  “Want to just go to your parents’ house directly? I can help you take your dad to the hospital and then get a ride from there. Would save you time. You know. If it’s serious.”

  Lenora started to shake her head, but I could see her reconsidering. I hoped she’d take the offer like you would the offer to hang out sometime when you saw someone you hadn’t seen in ages. The offer was out there as a pleasantry, but both parties knew they didn’t want to actually hang out.

  “That would be great, thanks!”

  Well, shit. There goes my night.

  “Great!” The look of gratitude and relief on Lenora’s face almost made up for my colossal blunder.

  I was here in disguise. No one was supposed to know about this little visit and here I was, offering to help Lenora’s parents go to the hospital where any number of people might recognize me.

  “Here we are.”

  While I’d been pondering how to get out of helping without looking like an absolute cad, we’d pulled into the driveway of a little white house not far from my new place of business. The place was tidy, but a bit run-down around the edges. I guessed that was to be expected for a small-town preacher’s house.

  “Stay here, I’ll be back,” Lenora said over her shoulder as she bolted out of the car and ran up the steps of the house.

  The screen door slammed shut behind her and I drummed my fingers against the door handle. Part of me wanted to get out and help. I mean, what if the poor guy couldn’t walk? Lenora certainly couldn’t lift a grown man by herself. But the other part of me, the one that reminded the rest of me, was a total stranger. What right did I have to go into her house uninvited?

  Indecision kept me pinned to my seat until I heard the screen door flip open and hit the siding of the house. A man about six feet tall had his arm flung over Lenora’s shoulders as she helped him out of the house. His face looked haggard and gray. Lenora almost buckled under the weight and I’d seen enough. Throwing open the door, I climbed out and got on the other side of the man, holding him up and taking his weight off Lenora.

  “Thank you, Jay,” Lenora said breathlessly.

  Between the two of us, we got Lenora’s dad into the front seat of the car. Lenora’s mom came bustling out with an overnight bag and closed the door to the house. Her reading glasses were pushed up on her head and her floral blouse made me think of a Saturday Night Live skit I’d seen as a kid. Seemed the Church Lady was alive and well in Auburn Hill.

  “You forgot to lock up, ma’am,” I told her helpfully before we got in the back seat.

  Her head whipped up and she met my gaze, seeing me for the first time. “Oh, aren’t you the cutest. We don’t lock up around here, boy.”

  She got in the back and I followed her, a little uncomfortable being in such close quarters with Lenora’s whole family.

  “I’m Glenda Murphy, by the way. And that’s Glen Murphy in the front seat. Don’t mind his manners, he’s feeling a bit under the weather at the moment.” Lenora’s mom quit clutching the huge purse on her lap long enough to shake my hand.

  “Glen and Glenda Murphy, huh? That worked out nicely.”

  Lenora backed out of the driveway, only slowing when her father groaned at the huge bump coming down from the sidewalk. She sped down the street and I wished for a handle to hold on to.

  “You could say it was a sign from God. When you know, you know.” Glenda winked at me, completely unconcerned with her daughter’s driving.

  “That’s what my brother says too.”

  “Oh? And who’s your brother? Sounds like he’s found true love.” Glenda smiled at me and I felt my return smile freeze.

  I couldn’t tell her who my brother was. I was here under false pretenses and going off telling people about my family wasn’t in the plan. Thankfully, Lenora bounced the car into the hospital parking lot a second later with surprisingly no curse words. I found I missed them.

  “Would you look at that? We’re here.” I jumped out the second Lenora stopped the car, coming around to help her dad out.

  Without Lenora this time, I got Glen through the double doors of the hospital and into a wheelchair while his family dealt with the paperwork. The minute he was settled, I came back to Lenora and whispered in her ear. A larger woman with turquoise hair and a postal service uniform eyed me from the front desk of the emergency room. Warning bells went off in my head and I knew it was time to fly back under the radar before I got caught.

  “I’m going to head out, okay? Good luck
with everything.”

  Her head jerked up and I could have sworn I saw panic in her eyes. Not the worry I saw there when she was talking about her dad, but panic over me leaving.

  “We’re super close to the hotel. I’ll just walk. Call you later?” I assured her.

  Her eyes softened and she flashed me a smile. “Please do.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “And thank you, Jay.”

  I nodded, ignoring the way my stomach clenched as she touched me. I left her there, ducking my head to avoid attracting attention, and headed back out the double doors. The sun was high in the sky and turning the day much warmer than I’d anticipated. Thankfully I’d only worn a button-up shirt and not the suit jacket today.

  I threw my overnight bag over my shoulder and hit the road. Not a quarter mile into my walk I got honked at. Listen, I’d spent the last six years in Los Angeles, so I was not unfamiliar with people honking at me. What was different this time was the way the guy in the front seat leaned halfway out the window and hollered at me.

  “You better not be making a deposit on the way out of town, son. Just move right along!”

  He hushed up after that and drove off, leaving me to wonder just what in the hell was wrong with these people. My brother had assured me this was a good town to live in, but I was starting to second-guess his opinion on things. His new wifey might have addled his brain. Sex on the regular could do that to a man.

  By the time I made it to Hell Hotel ten minutes later, I still hadn’t made sense of things.

  “Welcome back. Jay.” The girl at the front desk lifted an eyebrow.

  I didn’t like the way she said my name. Like she meant to spew a whole tirade but summed it up in one word. I held in the eye roll, several years of keeping a poker face during business negotiations coming to my aid.

  “Good afternoon”—I scanned her name tag—“Amelia.”

  She clacked away on the keys of her computer, but kept flicking glances up at me. She finally got my two keys programmed for my room and held them in her hand, not yet stretching out to give them to me.