The Men of CCD: Help Wanted

by Marie Rochelle

“I don’t know the answer to either question. Keira is a very complex woman. She’s kept me guessing since I first met her. I’m pretty sure that isn’t going to change.”

  Picking up his tool kit; Jim made his way towards the office door. It was a bittersweet moment for him to know that this would be the last time he would be inside this space. He had spent the last twelve years of his life being a construction worker while he saved up money for his dream job.

  He was finding it a little hard to finally believe it was coming true. If he’d been a crier, he might actually have shed a few tears, but he wasn’t, so there would be no tears from him today.

  “Come on, Dave. Let’s go. I need to get to the shop and back home before Trevor comes over. He’s spending the weekend with me.”

  “Why?” Dave asked as he picked up the car seat off the floor. “I thought Kathy hated when you spent extra time with Trevor.”

  “Would you believe that she’s going to Las Vegas with about six of her girlfriends?” Jim opened the door. “I swear I don’t think she spends half the child support money I send her on our son. He constantly needs something new when he comes for his visits with me. Just last week I had to buy him a new backpack for school along with a pair of tennis shoes.”

  “Have you complained to the court about Kathy’s misuse of the money?” Dave asked as he followed him out of the door. “I wouldn’t let her get by with that if I was you.”

  “I was going to, but I know my ex-wife. She would find a way to have the joint custody changed to piss me off. The last time I lost my cool in court the judge almost threw me in jail. The only reason he didn’t was he decided to take pity on me. Kathy had been pushing my buttons all while we were there. So, I can lose a little money to see my son. I can buy Trevor anything he needs as long as he tells me about it.”

  “Damn man, I didn’t know it was that bad,” Dave stopped beside Jim’s car. Opening the back door, he placed the car seat inside, secured it and then closed the door back making sure it locked.

  “I hope that Charisma and I never get divorced. I don’t know how I would handle it. She’s everything to me.”

  “Dave, I wouldn’t worry about that. I’ve seen the way Charisma looks at you. I believe you’re in store for a very long and happy marriage.” Moving around his best friend to the trunk, Jim opened it up and placed his tool kit inside. After the trunk was closed, he made his way back towards Dave.

  “I’m ready to hit the road if you are,” he said patting Dave on his wide shoulder.

  “I’m ready. Tonight is our last night staying with Clinton and Jenisha. Our house should be completed and ready to move into tomorrow.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Jim said as he got into the car. He waited while Dave got in and buckled his seat belt.

  “Charisma is very excited about it. We didn’t realize how fast her house would sell especially with how the real estate market is with the economy the way it is now.”

  “How do you feel about moving from Florida to California?” Jim asked as he started the car and pulled out into traffic.

  “At first, I wasn’t too thrilled to move from Florida because my whole life was there. Plus I just landed that nice position at CCD that I worked my ass off at college for. However, when Clinton offered me a higher management position I accepted. Charisma was thrilled she wouldn’t have to close her sports agency business and relocate to Florida. I think it all worked out for the best.”

  “I’m glad that I’m no longer in a relationship. I don’t want to have to worry about compromise.” Jim stopped at a red light.

  “Buddy, you’re too funny.” Dave laughed shaking his head at Jim.

  “Why are you laughing at me? What in the hell is so funny?”

  “I’m just waiting for you to fall in love. I bet you will fall harder than the rest of us.”

  “If I was a gambling man I would take that bet. Yet I’m not, so you’re lucky.” Jim pulled back into traffic.

  “I have no doubt that I would win hands down,” Dave tossed back as Jim continued to drive to Clinton’s house.

  Chapter Nine

  “Ms. Winters, can I ask you what you’re doing in my shop again? This is the second time I walked in on you doing something that you shouldn’t. Care to share why I don’t have the right to have the locks changed against you?”

  Keira hung up the phone and leaned back on the counter drawing Jim’s eyes down to the deep v-neck in the front of her t-shirt. He had always been a breast man and Keira’s were about the most perfect he had ever laid his eyes on. He felt his cock stir against the zipper of his jeans and was happy his shirt was pulled out to cover up his semi-erection. The last thing he needed was for Keira to notice that she was turning him on. He wasn’t going to let them cross that line.

  “Don’t get all territorial on me, Mr. Russell. I wasn’t going to destroy anything in the shop. I had to make a phone call and instead of going back home I used the phone in here.” Moving from behind the counter, Keira walked toward him. “You come off like this badass, but you’re nothing more than a cry baby and worry wart. I’m leaving. So, you don’t have to worry about me being here anymore.”

  Before he knew what he was doing, Jim grabbed Keira by her upper arm and pressed her back against the wall. She was pushing his buttons and she knew it. “I wouldn’t toss around words like that, Keira,” he whispered getting closer to her face. “Besides, I don’t think you’re telling me the real reason you came inside my business.”

  He let go of her arm and slowly trailed his fingers down her body until his hand came to stop at her hip. Jim didn’t miss the soft gasp that flew from between Keira’s lips. He secretly wondered if they tasted as good as they looked. Keira tried to push him away with her hands, but he grabbed the left one with his hand and held it down next to her leg.

  “Stop trying to act like you don’t like having me this close to you. I’ve been around the block too many times not to notice when a woman is attracted to me.”

  “I’m not attracted to you” Keira said with a shake of her head. “It’s all in your mind. Now move back from me.”

  “Are you saying that your nipples aren’t hard for me? It isn’t cold inside the shop, so what is the other reason? Why are they outlined against your t-shirt like this?”

  Cupping her left breast in his hand, Jim brushed his thumb across the hard nipple. “God, you feel so good in my hand. I wonder, would you taste even better in my mouth.” He slowly lowered his head and was about to draw the hard nipple into his warm waiting mouth when a loud buzzing sound interrupted them.

  * * * *

  “What in the hell?” Keira pushed the covers off her head and glanced around her bedroom as it dawned her that she was only having another one of her nightly dreams about Jim Russell.

  God, I have to stop fantasizing about him. He has been in my thoughts since I invited him to stay for dinner.

  She couldn’t believe she was actually having sexual thoughts about Jim. He was so far off the scale of the men she usually dated and found attractive.

  That long, thick brown hair he wore back in a ponytail gave him a very rebellious look, and that sexy goatee and all the tattoos that covered his arms only enhanced his sex appeal. Jim was the perfect image of a Haley Davidson riding bad boy.

  She wouldn’t tell the girls, but she was a little intrigued by the man who bought her father’s business. Jim came across like he didn’t have a clue in the world and if someone didn’t like him then to hell with them. She would bet that he wasn’t scared of anything. She, on the other hand, was a totally different story.

  Just the thought of getting back on an airplane panicked her. Charisma was constantly on her case about it, but she just wasn’t ready to get back onto a plane yet. She wasn’t sure she would ever be ready to tell anyone about the dreams or the horrible guilt she still carried around about not telling everyone the entire truth about the crash.

  Chapter Ten

  “Good morning, Jim, I t
hought you might like a cup of coffee.”

  Jim spun away from the blank wall at the back of the room and glanced at Keira standing behind him with a steaming cup of coffee in her hand. He had been thinking about a way to design the empty space to make it a part of him.

  “Thank you,” he said taking the cup from her. He tried not to notice how good she looked in her tee shirt and red shorts. He already woke up this morning with a hard on after having a hot dream about her.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see you this morning. You look like the type to sleep late on the weekends.”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Mr. Russell,” Keira said as she turned away from him. “I hope you have a nice day.” Keira was out the door before he could stop her.

  “Way to go, you idiot,” Jim said to himself. “Keira was trying to extend the olive branch further and you just snapped it in half.” He took a sip of the coffee and was a pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted. Most people didn’t know that he liked his coffee with one sugar with a splash of cream. Even fewer people remembered his preference after he informed them, but last night at dinner he had told Keira and she remembered it. Keira was slowly making him see a new side of her. Maybe she wasn’t as self-absorbed as he first thought she was.

  Standing back from the wall, Jim took a long look at the blank space. It just didn’t fit in with the image he wanted for Choppers. He had to turn this building into the most talked about spot for motorcycle repairs in town and the outdated layout of the place wouldn’t let that happen.

  “Have you gotten so old that you have to stare at an empty wall for entertainment?”

  “Dave, you’re going to make me put that irritating bell back above that door.” Jim jumped then looked back over his shoulder at his friend. “I have to be prepared for unwanted visitors.”

  “I can leave if you want me to.”

  “No, have a seat. You know that I’m kidding with you. My morning just got off to a bad start. I’m glad you came for a visit. I wanted you to see Choppers.” Jim moved away from the wall and took a seat in one of the two chairs in the building.

  “What brings you here?” he asked Dave.

  “I wanted to check in on you and Keira. I had to make sure that neither one of you had taken each others’ heads off. Charisma was also worried about how you were getting along with Keira, despite the fact that her best friend had shared a home-cooked meal with you. My wife knows how hard-headed and stubborn the two of you are apart, and so together she thought it might turn into WWIII.”

  Jim loved how the women took care of each other, but Keira wasn’t in any danger from him. Charisma should know that he wasn’t the type of man to ever lay a hand on a woman. “I haven’t done anything to Keira. She was in here before you came to pester me and bring me a cup of coffee. He held up the cup to Dave before placing it on the counter. “We’re getting along fine with each other.”

  “That’s good to hear. Charisma and the girls will be happy to know that. Have you asked her out yet?”

  Jim pushed his coffee cup around on the counter and cursed underneath his breath. Dave wasn’t going to let it go. His buddy was turning into a worse matchmaker than his wife. “Why do you keep trying to fix me up with Keira?” Why doesn’t everyone get it through their heads I’m fine with being single.

  “It isn’t me.” Dave held up his hands in protest. “I was only wondering why you wouldn’t mind just going out with Keira. I’m not asking you to propose to her.”

  A sneaking feeling started to work its way up Jim’s spine. There was another reason that everyone was trying to get him out on a date with Keira so badly and he was going to find out what it was.

  “Dave, why don’t you tell me the real reason you want me to go out with Keira?”

  Dave stared at him like he was debating on telling him the truth. Jim knew that his buddy was an honest guy, so he wouldn’t be able to lie about it.

  “You have to promise me that you won’t tell Charisma or the rest of the gang I said anything to you. They will be pissed if they knew I didn’t keep the secret.”

  “We have been friends too long. I won’t ever betray your confidence,” Jim said. Now he was even more curious about was going on.

  “My wife is very worried about Keira. She has noticed a change in her since the plane crash. Do you know that she was the only survivor?”

  “Shit,” Jim said. “That would play with anyone’s mind. What a horrible weight to carry on her shoulders.”

  “Now you understand why all of us are so worried about her. I mean Keira isn’t the same funny loving, outspoken woman I hung around with in Jamaica. Charisma is concerned Keira will get so withdrawn that no one will be able to reach her. The plane crash, her father’s death along with losing the shop came pretty close together. She was only thinking maybe you could take her mind off her problems for a while.”

  “How does Charisma even know that I would be interested in getting to know Keira any better? Did any one of you think I might already have someone that I was dating?”

  “Are you saying you would rather lie about dating some imaginary person than help out one of my wife’s closest friends?” Dave’s dark brown eyes flashed with sudden anger as he got up from his seat. “Jim, I thought better of you. You may come across as an unyielding bastard to most people, but I always defended you. I guess I can’t do that anymore. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Charisma how pissed you were at the thought of helping out the godmother of our child. We’ll think of another way to reach out to Keira.”

  Spinning on his heel, Dave stormed towards the door as Jim stared after him in stunned disbelief. A tight knot grew in the center of Jim’s chest at the thought of his second family disowning him because they might think he didn’t like Keira.

  The real problem was that he had been drawn to her since their first meeting at the airport. His uneasiness grew the more he spent time around her because his attraction for Keira was getting hotter by the moment, but it was a chance that he was willing to take.

  “Dave, wait a damn minute!” he yelled at his best friend’s back as Dave’s hand wrapped around the doorknob.

  “What? I don’t have time to listen to you bad mouth Keira for the hundredth time. I have to meet Charisma for lunch and then go baby shopping for Dave Jr.”

  “I’ll do it.”

  “You’ll do what?” Dave faced him.

  “I’ll try to get closer to Keira and bring her out of the sadness all of you are so bothered about. I’m not saying I’ll have any power to make her like me, as I know she hates me with a passion.” He hoped that was true because it would be a lot easier to keep his growing feelings at bay instead of acting on them.

  “Oh, I think Keira likes you far more than she’s admitting. Thanks for doing this. Charisma will be so pleased that you said yes. Also, it will give her one less thing to think about. I’ll talk to you in a couple of days.” Dave waved at him before going out of the door with a huge smile on his face.

  Jim wished that he could smile, but he was scared he might end up falling hard for Keira and he wasn’t sure if that happened he would really be able to make a true commitment to her.

  Chapter Eleven

  “I’m surprised to see you still here so late. I thought you would have left hours ago since Clinton and Jenisha were throwing that house warming party for Dave and Charisma.”

  Jim finished washing his hands in the sink and wiped them dry before he gave his attention to Keira. He had been thinking about her ever since Dave left. She was truly a gorgeous looking woman. Even the thick black hair that she usually had pulled back into a loose bun at the back of her neck did nothing to take away from her. It only seemed to enhance the rich darkness of her skin and seductive quality of her bedroom brown eyes.

  He liked that she wasn’t overly tall or too short, but right in the middle maybe around five feet five inches tall. It gave her body all of those sexy curves black woman seemed to have been blessed with naturall
y. Curves that he would love to run his hands over if he ever got the chance.

  No, Dave was so wrong. It wasn’t going to be hard for him to spend time with Keira at all. “I told the gang I was going to take a rain check,” he finally answered after he finished staring at her pretty face. “Why aren’t you there?”

  Keira shrugged her shoulder. “I wasn’t in the mood to be around a lot of people tonight. I’m just going to relax in front of the television.”

  “I have a better idea,” Jim said as he walked towards Keira. “I still haven’t repaid you for that wonderful home cooked meal. Let me take you to one of my favorite hangouts. The food isn’t as good as yours, but I’m sure you’ll like it. I’ve never had any complaints about it.”

  “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Keira said shaking her head.

  The panicked look in Keira’s eyes didn’t escape his attention. He didn’t like this scared side of her. He would rather see the feisty woman who got in his face at the airport. He was beginning to see why Charisma was troubled about her.

  “It’s a good thing your opinion doesn’t matter.” Picking up a helmet, Jim handed it to Keira. “Come on let’s go.”

  “I’m not getting on your motorcycle. Are you out of your mind?” Keira followed him out the door.

  Jim took the time to make sure everything was locked up properly before he tried to ease Keira’s mind about his motorcycle. “Sweetheart, I never took you as the type of woman to be scared of a bike. I promise I won’t let you fall off.”

  “I’m not scared of you or your bike.”

  “Excellent! That is so good to know. Now let’s hit the road.” Going past Keira, Jim gave her a light tap on her ass before hopping on his Harley Davidson. He liked how Keira glared at him with her mouth open and the helmet hanging from her cute little hand.

  “How dare you hit me on my ass!” she sputtered.

  “I know I’m not the first man to give your luscious ass a tap. Now get over here and get on this bike. I’m starving for some buffalo wings and beer.”