by Pj Fiala
Jeremiah sat in his desk chair; Joci leaned against the desk, hands on either side, bracing herself. Joci glanced at Jeremiah, trying to gauge his mood.
“Go ahead, Barbara. Spit it out. We’re on our lunch break here.”
“Yes, I saw what you were eating,” she snorted. “I need money, Dog. I’ve kind of fallen on hard times.”
Jeremiah huffed out a breath. “Tough. JT told you last year, and I’m telling you this year, no. If you need money, get a fucking job like everyone else.”
“I bet your little ‘girlfriend’ gets all the money she needs from you.”
Joci opened her mouth to say something. Barbara’s little air quotes as she said girlfriend was the last straw. Before she could say anything, Jeremiah jumped up and pointed to the door.
“Get the fuck out. For your fucking information, Joci works. She’s always worked for a living. Something you wouldn’t know anything about. I told you I wasn’t going to let you disrespect her, and you’ve done it again. Get the fuck out.”
Barbara smirked as she got out of her chair. She walked to the door and looked over at Joci. “See how he treats the woman who bore him children?”
She walked out. Jeremiah picked up the phone and barked at someone on the other end. “Barbara’s on her way down. Make sure she doesn’t grab anything and make sure she walks straight out the door.”
He hung up and rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry you had to endure that. She’s a crass bitch. Always has been.”
“So, that was Barbara.”
“Hey, you know she was just trying to get to you. Don’t let her.”
She looked up into his handsome face. Worry etched his brow; his mouth, moments ago so soft and demanding, now took on a hard line. “You good?”
She swallowed. “It’s not her comment as much as it is how she looks. LuAnn looks just like her. Clearly that’s the look you go for.”
He let out a pent-up breath. “When I hooked up with Barbara twenty-seven years ago, I just wanted to get laid. She looked like someone who wouldn’t want anything more than that. I told you, no commitments, just fucking. LuAnn dresses like she dresses, I don’t know why. What I like…love is this beautiful woman standing right here in front of me, with sandy brown hair and eyes like a stormy sky. I think you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
She ran her hands over her face. An effort to wipe away the worry. “I’m sorry.” She smiled at him. “Are we finished dealing with shit this week, because, honestly, I’m not sure I can handle anymore.”
He kissed the top of her head and hugged her close. “I sure hope so.”
Jeremiah pulled back and smiled. “The best part about Barbara coming around is that it’s usually only once a year. We won’t have to see her for another year now.”
Joci giggled.
“Okay, come on. I was just reading the menu the restaurant emailed over. Let’s get this ironed out and go for some lunch.”
They finished up the plans for the staff party. The menu was set, the DJ selected, and the gifts were taken care of. Jeremiah gave each employee a bonus every year, based on his or her performance and the shop’s numbers. This year, the bonuses were very generous. He had also put a little extra in the checks for Deacon, Gunnar, JT, and Ryder for all of the additional work they’d done on the Veteran’s Ride.
After they ordered their meals, and while they waited, Jeremiah took a deep breath.
“Joci, don’t make any plans this weekend. I just want to spend the weekend alone with you. Just the two of us. Maybe we’ll tell everyone we’re going somewhere, so they don’t come over.”
Joci sighed. “That sounds fantastic.”
“Let’s just tuck in at home and hide.”
She smiled. “I would love that.”
He chuckled. “Great. I was worried you wouldn’t want to. Friday too. Three days, just us. I think we need it.”
Joci giggled. “You can see how hard it was to talk me into it. I’m looking forward to not having to share you with anyone for a few days, no exes, no pretend baby mommas, no one.”
28
Eating In
Friday morning came slowly. They were lying in bed, enjoying a cup of coffee, when he said, “Today, no clothes. Just you and me naked all day, okay?”
Joci laughed. “Really? What if someone comes over?”
“No one’s coming over. The boys think we flew out this morning for a weekend getaway, and everyone else is busy with their own lives. It’s just us, alone here, all weekend.” He leaned over and touched his lips to hers. Kissing her was tantamount to making love to her in so many ways. The prelude, the beginning of good things.
She hummed, and his heart soared. “Okay. No clothes.” She giggled.
He smirked. “Okay, now stay right here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He slid out of bed and walked out to the kitchen.
They needed this—time together to heal their wounded hearts. A weekend alone wouldn’t fix everything they needed to sort out with Deborah being the black cloud hanging over their heads. He had to resolve that issue but was at a loss as to how since she was refusing a paternity test.
He prepared a tray of breakfast foods: sliced strawberries, cheeses, Danishes, coffee, and yogurt. Carrying the tray back to the bedroom, he shook the dark thoughts from his mind and thought only of the life he was making with Joci. Entering the bedroom, he said, “Breakfast in bed.”
He slid in beside her and set the tray between them.
Joci’s brows raised. “When did you find the time to pick this up?” She bit into a strawberry and closed her eyes as she hummed appreciation.
“On my way home last night. I left work a little early, so I could shop. Wait till you see what I got us for dinner tonight.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Wow, Jeremiah. You’re going to spoil me rotten. Then I’m going to be awful to live with.”
“I doubt that, but I want to spoil you.”
She finished her Danish and noticed that Jeremiah wasn’t eating anything. She frowned at him, her eyebrows dropping down. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you hungry?”
He turned slightly to face her, his eyes hungry. “When you’re finished eating, I’ll eat. Off of you.”
Joci froze as what he said registered. Then a smile grew across her face, so big it nearly flattened him. “Really?”
He picked the tray off the bed and set it on the nightstand beside him. He grabbed a plate with a cut-up Danish on it and set it down next to Joci. “Roll over onto your tummy.”
Joci rolled over, resting on her elbows. “Down, all the way. Lie flat on the bed, hands above your head.”
She moved the pillow and did as he asked. He began placing little pieces of the cut-up Danish down the center of her back, on her butt cheeks, down the seam of her butt, tucking a few at the juncture of her thighs. He moved to straddle her legs and began kissing her shoulders. He kissed the back of her neck, licking and nipping. He moved down and snagged a piece of Danish and ate it while he continued pressing kisses down her back. He kissed and nibbled all the way down to her ass, nipping and biting as he did. The lower he got, the more aggressive his kissing became.
She hummed.
He ate the Danish from the seam of her ass, licking and dipping his tongue in as far as he could go. A sigh escaped Joci’s lips as he continued this sweet assault on her body. Best meal ever.
After he had eaten the last bite from deep between her thighs, he lifted slightly, his voice husky, he said, “Roll over, baby. I’m still hungry.”
She rolled over and the look in her beautiful gray eyes was a sight to behold. He began placing sliced strawberries across her chest, on her nipples, between her breasts, down the center of her tummy. As he got lower, his nostrils flared as he looked at her, “So fucking beautiful.”
He placed two slices of strawberry over her clit and took a whole strawberry and gently placed it between the lips of her pussy. He leaned forward and kissed her lips, gently. He licked
across her bottom lip and pulled it into his mouth and sucked on it. She slid her hands into his hair and held his head.
“Jeremiah. Holy shit, this is…it’s great, but…I need you.”
“You have me, Joci. Always.” He kissed her neck, across the top of her chest, eating his strawberries and licking and nipping at her skin as he went. When he reached her nipples, he placed his mouth over her breast and sucked the strawberry and her nipple into his mouth. Sucking and pulling and teasing her until she began squirming.
“Don’t knock my breakfast off, Joci.”
She blew out a breath.
He did the same to her other breast as she moaned. He smiled against her skin as he continued to kiss and eat his way down her tummy. Finally, he made it to her clit. He ate the strawberry slices from her and sucked it into his mouth. He was still straddling her, so she couldn’t open her legs and let him in. He sucked her clit into his mouth and flicked his tongue over it. Her skin became clammy and her breathing heavy as he pulled away and slid down her legs. He pulled her knees up and gently spread her legs open to him.
“Now this...this is a sight to behold.” Before she could say anything, he dipped down and sucked the strawberry from her opening. As he chewed, he slid two fingers into her channel and smiled up at her. “Joci, you’re so wet, baby. I think you like feeding me breakfast.”
“Jeremiah…please.” He chuckled as he swiped his tongue down the seam of her pussy and began moving his fingers. She whimpered, and he felt her grow wetter. He sucked her clit into his mouth, and she exploded.
He pulled his fingers out and thrust his tongue inside to taste her. He continued to lap at her until her orgasm subsided. He crawled back up her body as he said, “That was the best breakfast I’ve ever had. Now, dessert.”
He swiftly plunged into her and began riding her hard. She slammed her hands into his hair and wrapped her legs around his waist and rode with him. Too soon, Jeremiah thrust hard into her, and she cried out his name as he released himself into her. He held himself inside of her for several moments, letting his heart slow. “Jesus. What you do to me is mind-blowing.”
29
The Future
They spent the day lounging in bed, watching movies and talking. Around five o’clock, Jeremiah said, “Okay, we have a problem here.”
She looked across the sofa where he was sitting and frowned. “We do?”
“Yeah. I wanted to grill dinner and forgot about that when I issued the no clothing rule. I’m not afraid for people to see me naked, but I don’t want the neighbors calling the cops on me. So, just for dinner, we can wear clothes. Okay?”
Joci scrunched her face. “I don’t know. A rule is a rule.”
He jumped on her and began tickling her. “My rules, so I can change them.”
She squirmed and squealed, “Okay. Okay.”
He kissed her lightly on the lips and stood up. He reached his hand down for her and pulled her to him. “I loved spending the day with you.”
She smiled up at him. “I loved spending the day with you, too. I’ve never, and I mean never, lounged around the house naked before. It’s kind of…freeing. But, now I’m going to get dressed.” He swatted her bare butt, and she giggled as she strode down the hall, happy again after last weekend.
An hour and a half later, Joci walked out of the bathroom, ready for dinner. She wore a white sundress, no shoes. Jeremiah was working at the kitchen counter on a salad. He whistled and walked over to her and spun her around.
“You look so beautiful.”
She hugged him to her and kissed his temple.
“You look pretty hot yourself.”
He was wearing light tan khaki shorts and a light green shirt, which made his eyes look even more amazing than usual.
“Ready?”
She nodded. He held out his arm for her with a grin on his face. She slipped her arm through his, and they walked out the patio doors where a table had been set with candles all around it and all over the patio. She was mesmerized by the flickering lights.
She looked up at Jeremiah, and her breath caught at the love in his eyes. Walking her to the table, he pulled out a chair for her to sit down. He sat across from her and poured them each a glass of champagne. He handed Joci her glass; then he picked up his.
“I want to toast. Here’s to us, Joci. I love you.”
He tapped his glass to hers.
“I love you, too.”
They sipped their champagne and set their glasses down.
She smiled. “This reminds me of the first night we spent together. You had these candles all over the house. You said you didn’t know anything about being romantic, but you do. Here you are doing it again.”
He looked into her eyes. “Well, you’ll have to pardon me for repeating a good move, but after the no clothing rule was lifted and I came out to start the grill, I realized how nice it is out here, so I thought we could come outside and play.”
He got up and opened the grill, placed two lobster tails on a plate surrounded by vegetables and set it in the middle of the table. Joci looked up at him as a smile slid across her face. “Lobster? You truly spoil me.”
“Good. I’m glad you feel spoiled.”
They ate their meal and sipped their champagne in comfortable silence. A light breeze blew across the patio, making the candles flicker. Joci sighed loudly and sat back in her chair. “Bliss. This is bliss.”
He stood and walked around the table to her. He bent down on one knee. “Joci. I’m so sorry things went dark on us last weekend. Please know that I would never willingly hurt you. Ever.” He brushed the backs of his fingers along her cheek. “When I look at you, I see my future. I see my life with you and Gunnar, JT, and Ryder. I see us playing with children and grandchildren. I can’t picture my life without you in it. I don’t want a future without you. Joci, will you marry me?”
She stared into his eyes. She had no idea he had planned to propose this weekend. It hadn’t occurred to her with everything else going on.
“Jeremiah.” Her eyes filled with tears and she had to shallow the emotions riding in her throat. When she could speak, she softly said. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He jumped up and pulled her with him. He hugged her tight and kissed her lips. When they needed air, he gently set her on her feet and pulled a ring from his pocket. The candlelight flickered on the stone, making it dance and gleam. He slid it on her finger, and she gasped. A three-karat, princess-cut diamond solitaire—the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen in her life. Tears welled up in her eyes.
She whispered, “Jeremiah, it’s so beautiful.”
“Joci, I’m so happy right now I can barely catch my breath. I was so worried you would say no.”
She glanced back up at him, then back to the sparkler on her hand. “A couple of weeks ago, I might have. But this past weekend, when Gunnar told you he loved you, and you told him you loved him back, something happened inside of me. For the first time, I felt like there was a future for us. You love my son, and it suddenly seemed real for me like nothing ever has. I was so afraid to think long-term about us because I didn’t want my heart to get broken. I was holding back. But watching you and Gunnar with each other made me realize you were committed to our family. It isn’t just sex—you love us both.”
He wrapped her in his arms and held her for long moments.
“I’ve been in love with you for so damned long. It was never about sex. I met you, and I knew you were special. I worked with you this past year and fell in love with you more and more every day. In some ways, it was great you keeping me at arm’s length. We got to know each other slowly, even though I would have given anything for it to be different. I wanted you so badly. Waiting was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
She wiped her eyes with shaking fingers and giggled.
“I asked Gunnar’s permission to marry you. The first time we spoke about it was last Friday. He asked me if I was going to marry you. After the fiasco with Deb
orah, I asked him again yesterday morning. I needed to make sure he was still okay with us.”
“Thank you for that. I bet it meant a lot to him that you asked.” She squeezed his hand.
“I told the boys I was asking you to marry me this weekend, too. They’re excited as hell. They love you, Joci. Ryder especially. It’s been a little harder for him, being so shy. But I’d watch him stare at the door on ride meeting nights, waiting for you. My heart swelled.”
“I love them, too. You’ve raised amazing young men, Jeremiah.”
“Yes, I did.” He held her hand as he pulled her inside. Turning just inside the door, he scooped her up in his arms. “I want to get married soon. Can we get married in the fall? It’ll be beautiful with the trees in full color.“
She laughed at his request. “Clearly you have no idea about all the planning that needs to happen for a wedding. “
30
Milwaukee
They got busy calling family and friends. The boys were happy for them but weren’t surprised. Jeremiah’s parents were elated. So were his brothers and sisters-in-law. Joci called Jackie and Sandi too.
“Jackie, I’m going to need help planning a wedding for the end of September or early October.”
“What year?” Her tone flat.
“This year.”
Jackie burst out laughing. “He doesn’t want much, does he?”
The remainder of the weekend they discussed the future and the upcoming rally to Milwaukee. They had quite a crew going. Most of the employees from the shop were coming along, as well as Jeremiah’s brothers, Jackie and David, Jon, Sandi, and Connor.
At four, they were standing in front of the shop talking to the large group of rally riders. Spirits were high. Joci was thrilled that Jackie and Sandi were coming along, as well as all of Jeremiah’s sisters-in-law. They might even get some wedding planning done.
