First Impressions

by Aria Ford

  I smiled. “Thanks,” I said softly.

  It was a surprise to me that they all cared about me. The gangs I'd been in weren't like that – they might have said they were like brothers, but they never cared the way these guys did for me. It was each man for himself there. Here, I felt I was among friends.

  I turned my steps toward the main building. As I walked there, I could feel my heart start to pound in my chest. I was scared. Stupid, really. I mean, I'd faced all kinds of threats in my time. But facing this guy being mad at me felt way worse somehow.

  I went to the door. The boss's car – a new BMW cruiser – was parked outside the place, which meant he was here. I drew a deep breath and knocked.

  “Hello?”

  The voice sounded neutral. No indication of what he might say when I went in.

  “Hi,” I said. I cleared my throat. “It's Jared.”

  “Oh. Hi, Jared.”

  I went in through the door. Mr. Haddon

  was a shortish man with a severe haircut and big blue eyes. Years in the sun had made his skin look like leather, brown and seamed. But he smiled when he saw me.

  “Mr. Haddon,” I said in a small voice. “I'm sorry. I know I missed work and I...”

  He shook his head. “I know. I understand. That's been taken care of.”

  Darby. I guessed immediately that she had already phoned him and explained things properly. I wanted to kiss her. That thought was distracting, of course, and I had to struggle to focus on hat the boss was saying now.

  “Jared I need to ask you about... well... you know, I have a warehouse in Evanston, yeah? Well I need someone there. A... well, a technical assistant, if you like. I've got an accountant there, but he needs someone to do stuff like count wares, log stuff, track stock... you seem like a smart guy. You want to try?”

  I stared at him. Was I actually hearing that? The boss was offering me a job? Another one? One in another sector entirely – a sector I'd dreamed of being in?

  “Boss. I...” I actually felt my legs go weak and I put a hand on the wall to keep myself standing upright. “Boss. You are serious, right?”

  He scratched his ear. “Of course, if you take this job, it'll give you a record of technical work...so you could maybe go on to start building a career in that line. You know, logistics...that kind of thing. It's hard work, mind, and you'd need to study – still...” he trailed off, shrugging.

  I stared at him. “Boss. I don't know if you understand what that would mean to me,” I said in a small voice. It would mean, well...everything.”

  I wasn't ashamed to lean on the desk. I felt as if someone had pulled the floor out from under me. It was a dream come true. I could get out of this kind of thing. I could go to college. Now I had a passport to the future I'd always dreamed of and never thought I could have. It was amazing.

  “Okay,” he said. “I'll talk to the guys. See what we can do. Now. I take it you'll be coming into work until the end of the month?” He raised his brow.

  I nodded vigorously. “Yes. Yes, boss.”

  He nodded too. “Good. See that you do. You know I don't take shit.”

  I laughed, nodding. My laugh was a bit wired. I was excited. I was so happy. My life had just changed completely. I could do what I'd always dreamed of doing. It felt like I'd woken up after a long sleep. It was a fresh start.

  I almost felt as if I was floating when I walked out of the office. I drifted out to the barns. When I got there, Cody and Nics were busy grooming horses. They looked at me oddly.

  “Jared. Hey...”

  They seemed unsure of what to do, what to say. I think they thought the boss had fired me, but they weren't too sure how to ask if he had or not.

  “Guys. I have news,” I said slowly. “I'm...I'm gonna be leaving.”

  Cody and Nics exchanged glances.

  “Listen, Jared,” Cody began, clearing his throat. “We've chatted and...”

  “No,” I said. “It's not that. I'm not being fired. I'm being moved.”

  “Moved.”

  Nics and Cody looked at me like I'd just gone crazy. I felt like I had. But if this was crazy, then I wanted a lot more of it.

  I told them.

  They both grinned at me.

  “Jared! That's awesome!”

  “You want to do that?” Nics sounded dubious.

  He looked at me suspiciously, as if wondering if the knock on my head had messed up what was left of my brain. I guess the idea that anyone would trade days on the ranch in the fresh air for time in an office somewhere must have seemed like a crazy thing to him. Maybe it was a crazy thing. A month ago I might have thought that too – but now I was excited. Really excited.

  “Yeah,” I nodded. “I reckon it's what I wanted to do with my life all along. It's everything.”

  I bit my lip, not wanting to do myself the embarrassment of crying in front of the guys. But the emotions I was feeling were so big, so complex, that I couldn't help it. I wanted to cry.

  “Let me help,” I said gruffly, coming over to start grooming the horses. “It's about time I did something useful.”

  At the end of the day I felt as if I had been beaten with sticks. Every muscle ached and my ribs throbbed. But I was happy.

  I drove myself home, gritting my teeth and swearing every time we went over a bump. My mind was full of things, so that the journey passed by seemingly instantly. I was thinking about my new job. And of course, I was thinking of Darby.

  If I get a job working in logistics, I could move to Newton. I could do something useful with my life. I would have something to give her.

  When I got home, I called her. I noticed there were some messages on my phone from her and I felt bad. She had been to the hospital and found me gone. I wished I'd seen them earlier.

  “Darby?” I said. “Look, I'm sorry if...”

  “Jared!” She sounded relieved. “I was so worried. Listen, are you okay? I can't believe they said you were good to go! I thought...”

  I chuckled. It hurt so I stopped. “I'm fine. Darby, really. I'm okay. And... thank you.”

  I knew that this sudden bright idea of the boss had probably been her idea. At least, she'd had something to do with it.

  “Thank me?” she sounded puzzled.

  “Yeah. For talking to the boss. He...” I paused. How was I even going to find the words to tell her what had just happened? “He offered me a job. I mean, I have a job. But, well...another one. Listen,” I said, my mind leaping. “How about we meet for dinner? I'll tell you then.”

  “I... okay. Great. Same place? When should I arrive?”

  I shrugged. “If you like. Eight?”

  “Okay,” she sounded pleased. “See you then.”

  I hung up. I went through to my room. It was sunset outside, the sky going cool and white over hills far beyond the window. I closed my eyes and lay down. I was confused and elated and happy.

  I was going to move to Evanston. To start learning logistics. Then maybe, off to college for the first time ever.

  Impulsively, I started to search for colleges in Newton. I knew it was silly of me, but the thought of being in the same town as her made me so excited. I couldn't believe it might happen. I might get to see Darby every day.

  If she'll have me.

  I let out a long, shuddering sigh. Tonight, I was going to have to let her know. I was going to have to find the courage, finally, to tell her how I felt.

  I rolled over again and sat up. Looked in the mirror. My face looked back – bruised, still, but with both eyes open at least, and the bruising already more green and less black. I checked the time – it was seven o' clock and I still had to get ready and then drive to the place. I started racing.

  Ten minutes later, washed, showered and with my hair combed, I checked myself in front of the mirror nervously. I had never thought of myself as being someone girls might notice. Too skinny, I thought – though I had to admit I had a good jawline.

  “Not bad.”

  I
checked myself in the mirror again and headed briskly out.

  My mind was full of sweet memories of Darby, my loins on fire. I had to see her again. And this time, I was going to be honest.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Darby

  I walked into the restaurant at five to eight. I had dressed carefully – a blue shirt and white skirt, a white blazer over it. I knew it was maybe a little dressy – the place was fancy but not that fancy – but I felt like I should go the extra mile.

  I caught sight of him. He was at the table in the corner, bent over the menu. I watched him for a moment or two, feeling a delicious shiver of apprehension. He was so handsome it sometimes defied imagining. With the gold light of the restaurant lamps a soft glow in his hair, that strong jaw flecked with stubble of a beard, I felt my body tingle with excitement just studying him.

  Here goes.

  He looked up and saw me. I grinned and he smiled back.

  “Hi,” he said. He stood and took my hand. Mine clasped his. We looked at each other. We kissed.

  My body was aching and tingling with longing for him. It was like a fever in me, a need that had to be met. I slid into the seat opposite him.

  Our ankles touched and I felt my pulse race.

  “Hey,” I said feeling a bit dizzy. “You had news for me?”

  He nodded. “Uh huh.” His grin was dazzling. I felt it sear through me and touch a spark to the tinder of my longing. My body started to ache with need.

  “Well?” I asked.

  He bit his lip. “You...when you talked to Haddon, you mentioned I wanted to improve myself? Yeah?”

  I looked at my hands. I had wondered about my wisdom in saying that. I suddenly had a sinking feeling about it. It had gone bad on him. Haddon had said there was no way he could. I'd made it harder for him.

  “Jared, I...”

  He smiled. “I knew you had. Because this morning he offered me a job. In logistics.”

  I stared at him. “Logistics? I... Jared. Wow. I'm sorry...that's a lot to take in. I mean...” My head was reeling. He had been offered a job in logistics? Jared? His boss had transferred him?

  I knew how much that meant to him. He wanted to go back to college. This meant there was a way for him to earn and improve his skills. A way of getting there that hadn't been open to him before. It was a dream.

  “Jared!” I said. “That's...amazing. Well done.”

  He blushed. Looked at those muscular hands. “I dunno, Darbs,” he said shyly. “I didn't do it.”

  I shook my head. “Listen. If you weren't a great worker he wouldn't have done that. It was you. You can be proud,” I said.

  He blinked. To my amazement, there were tears in his eyes. To see a man of his stature crying made my own throat close up. On such a strong, rugged presence, the tears were easily the most moving things I'd ever seen.

  “Sorry,” he said. He cuffed at his cheek angrily. Sniffed. Looked away briefly. “That's... thank you, Darby.”

  I laughed. “I didn't do anything. Now, should we order? I'm starving.”

  He nodded, sniffing again. “Sure. If you like. I'll take what I had last time.”

  “I think I will too. It was good.”

  We gave each other a look.

  I knew he was thinking what I was thinking – the look in his eye told me memories were flooding his mind of the last time we'd been here – memories of our time together when we went home together. I felt myself shivering.

  “It was good,” he agreed.

  Under the table his leg slipped between mine. I shivered. He smiled.

  After dinner we left together. The instant we were out of the door and in the car-parking area, he was on me. His lips clung to mine, his tongue thrust into my mouth in a way that made my loins ache.

  “Shall we..?” I whispered softly.

  “Let's go.”

  We headed to his car and drove out into the night.

  At his place, we paused on the landing while he opened the door. I breathed in the smell of disinfectant and plaster and felt, surprisingly, like I was home again.

  We fell in through the door and hit the bed almost instantly. His lips devoured mine. I parted mine and let his tongue slide gently in between. I felt the thrust of his tongue and the sweet throb as his arousal stirred against me.

  I was wet, I could feel myself ready for him. I rolled over. He looked into my eyes as I kissed him.

  “Mm,” he whispered.

  I laughed. I ran my hand down his body and kissed him again, slowly, letting my tongue do the work as my hands ran over his muscular sides.

  He sat up, pushing me down onto the bed. His hands were fierce yet gentle as they tore my clothes from my body. I could feel my excitement rising, so that, by the time I was in my undies I was shivering.

  I smiled at him. I was lying on my back, looking at the ceiling. He was beside me.

  He smiled. His hands moved to my breasts. He reached round and unclasped the clasp of my bra deftly, as if he did it every day. Then he worked it off me and bent down to take my nipple in his mouth.

  I felt desire surge through me as he nibbled and licked and sucked it. I closed my eyes and tried not to shiver and shudder as he kneaded my nipple with his fingers, sucking the other into his warm, firm lips. I felt so wanted, so consumed. So longed-for.

  His hands moved down my body eagerly. I felt them take my panties down and then he was touching me there, too, his fingers slow and gentle as they probed my folds.

  When he stroked my clit I jumped and shivered. He was touching me slowly, carefully, working the little nodule between my folds with his thumb and forefinger, coaxing it out.

  I could feel myself start to shudder and I groaned. He stopped by groans with a kiss and warmth and the most delicious wonder flowed through my body. I lay where I was, shivering and shivering.

  “Oh, Jared,” I murmured as his lips moved away from mine.

  He smiled. He was still dressed. I watched through eyes lazy from my sweet sleepiness as he swiftly undressed and came to join me on the bed. The light was low in the room and it shone on his soft skin, his rippling arm-muscles, his lean chest. I sighed as he leaned down and that hard, muscled body rubbed against me.

  I started to shiver and his cock pushed against me, probing the tight, wet entrance to my body. I was shaking and shivering, panting and groaning as he thrust into me, tight and hard, pushing and pushing until I thought I was going to split with the pressure.

  I was moaning and sighing as he moaned and started to screw his eyes shut with the sweet pain that was his come.

  He cried out just as I did and the collapsed in my arms.

  We lay like that for a long time. I must have fallen into dozing because the next thing I knew he was sitting beside me, stroking my hair softly.

  “Darby,” he whispered. “I love you.”

  I swallowed hard. My heart melted. “I love you, too,” I said.

  ***

  Later, I made love to her again. My lips tasted the salt of tears and I wasn't sure if they were mine or hers. We were both crying.

  I shook my head at myself. I couldn't quite believe it. I was in my bed with the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. And she loved me.

  I cradled her in my arms. I stroked her cheek, gently. She opened her eyes. Gave me a sweet, sleepy look.

  “Jared,” she whispered.

  I chuckled. “Hello, baby.”

  She grinned. “Hey.”

  We lay like that, her head cradled on my shoulder, my hand stroking her waist, for a while.

  I couldn't believe how full my life was, suddenly. I had a future. I had friends. And I had someone I loved more fiercely and more wonderfully than I would ever have imagined.

  I was so lucky. So very, very happy. We kissed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Darby

  Things happened rather fast after that. I had an evening flight the next day, so I hurried back to uncle's from Jared's – this time, he drove me to th
e restaurant and I drove home.

  I felt amazing. It felt as if my whole life had changed and I wondered, with amazement, how I had lived till now. It felt like my whole life had been a dark hallway, leading to this moment in the sunshine. I was still grinning when I walked into Uncle.

  “Hey,” I said. “Sorry. I didn't see you there.”