Andy piped in. “Have you talked to her?”
“No she hasn’t seen me yet. I was going to wait until she was done.”
Wes had kept the guys apprised of the stuff he’d seen when he’d driven past Jo’s place. They agreed with him that something was off. They also knew their friend was more than just interested in her well-being, and now they could see first hand why their best friend had been so drawn to her.
“She’s gorgeous man.” Andy said to Wes.
“I know.” Wes replied softly. “I don’t think she even knows how pretty she is.” Wes peeled the label off his beer and looked back towards the make shift stage.
“The thing is, she is beautiful, actually she's friggin stunning, but there’s more to her.”
Jace turned back towards the table and then looked up to Wes.
“If you aren’t, you know interested in her, let me know.” He had a little smirk on his face and both Wes and Andy knew he was just stirring Wes’ proverbial pot.
Playfully slapping Jace on the back Wes said. “Don’t hold your breath!” This had the men chuckling. They were solid friends. They’d been through a lot of stuff, good and bad and they always had each other’s backs.
Jo finished her last song and the bar crowd complimented her by giving her a rousing burst of applause. The men watched her pull the thick strap over her head and take off the guitar. She turned to find her case and a young man from a nearby table stepped towards her and handed her the case.
“Hey bro, you got competition.” Andy said.
Wes watched as the young man struck up a conversation with her and he decided that he’d waited long enough. He rose from the table leaving his beer and friends behind and headed towards Jo.
The young man was complimenting Jo and she was blushing as she thanked him. When she saw Wes she took a step back and gasped. The young man thought she was afraid of Wes and positioned his body protectively between them.
“Wes?” Jo said shakily.
“You know this guy?” The man asked.
“Yes, we’ve met.” Jo couldn’t take her eyes off of Wes. She knew she had a silly grin on her face. He had on a dress shirt without a tie and dress pants and he looked positively yummy.
“Hi, fancy meeting you here.” Wes said to her with a gentle smile.
The young man excused himself, but not before telling Jo he hoped to see her again.
Jo thanked him for staying and then looked back to Wes.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” Her words came out huskily and Jo tried to salvage her dignity. “I mean to thank you, of course, for last week, you know. Helping me.” Jo was now stammering.
“Jo trust me, it was my pleasure.”
Jo looked at the floor; she was totally embarrassed for being so tongue-tied. “Well again, thank you.”
“You’re done for the night, right?”
“Yes.”
“Can I buy you a drink?” Wes asked. In his head he was saying, please say yes, please say yes.
“I, um, sure, but let me buy you one for helping me the other day.”
“If that’s what it takes to get you to agree it’s a deal.” Wes did a mental fist pump.
Chapter 9
Wes and Jo
Jo picked up her guitar case and Wes took it from her giving her a little smile. He turned sideways and with his large hand at the small of her back he guided her in front of him.
Jo felt the warmth of his hand radiating down her backside and she trembled slightly. For the past week this man had been on her mind, in her dreams, and one time, sinfully, in her shower. Not only was the man handsome as heck, but he was chivalrous as well. She thought to herself that he could easily star in the romance books she liked to read.
Wes guided her towards a table in the back of the bar. He had to pass by the table with the guys and of course Jace had to dick around with him.
“Hey Wes, aren’t you going to introduce us to the lovely lady?”
Wes shot him a nasty look. He didn’t want to share her and he was worried that Jace and Andy would ask them to sit down with them.
Jo looked up at Wes and could see the slight hesitation that had flit over his features.
“Yes, of course, Jo these are my business partners and friends, Jace Unger and Andy Franco.”
Both men stood and shook her hand.
“Pleased to meet you both.” Jo replied looking each man straight in the eye. Jo had learned a long time ago to never appear intimidated and at that moment she was freakin' reeling. These two men were just as handsome as Wes. They had to be models or something.
“What business are you gentlemen in?” She asked. Jace was just opening his mouth to answer when Wes put his hand back on the small of her back again.
“How about if I explain that to you over our drink?” He said gently nudging her towards another table.
Jo looked up at Wes, nodded and smiled. She knew he was trying to get her away from his friends and for some reason she knew that he wasn’t being creepy. This hunky man walking next to her wanted some alone time with her and she was all for that.
“Nice meeting you.” Jo called over her shoulder as she was whisked away.
She wasn’t sure but she thought she heard the two men stifling their laughter. Wes groaned audibly and Jo could not help herself to tease him.
“Good friends, huh?” She laughed.
Wes smiled down at the petite blond that was continuing to surprise him. He was delighted by her sense of humor and began to relax.
“They are the best.” He admitted honestly. Wes motioned for her to sit down and he took a chair opposite her.
“I guess I’ll come clean.” Wes said nervously. “I told them about meeting you last week and I kind of mentioned I wished I had asked you out. Then I saw you here and pointed you out to them. They knew you were my Jo, from last week, so they kind of gave me the business.”
Jo couldn’t resist kidding him. “Your Jo?”
She placed a frown on her face. Wes looked uncomfortable and Jo felt so bad for him that she couldn’t hold her stoic expression any longer and burst out laughing.
Wes realized she had been just teasing him and his composed face broke out into a grand smile. He liked that she was playful. He could do a lot with ‘playful.’
Ty came over and they each ordered a beer. Wes could tell he wanted to say something and he tensed, not knowing what it would be.
“Jo you’re very talented. I hope you come again. I’ve made more tips tonight than I usually do in two nights.”
“Thanks, Ty. It was fun.” He left to get their beers and Jo looked up at Wes who was watching her intently.
“So tell me what you do Wes? Are you guys models or something?”
Wes chuckled. “Oh God, really? That’s what you think?”
“It crossed my mind.” Jo said lightheartedly.
Wes chuckled and responded. “No we are not models.”
“So what do you do?” Jo asked seriously.
“Well for starters we own a business, actually two, called T.U.F.’s.”
“Tough's like T.O.U.G.H?”
“No T.U.F. for Tobin, Unger, Franco, our last names. I'm Tobin, Jace is Unger, and Andy is Franco. We specialize in security and private investigating.”
“Isn’t that the name of this bar?”
“Yes, we own this place too.”
“Wow, I’m impressed.”
“Thank you. Jace, Andy and I served overseas together and when we came back we started T.U.F.’s, the security firm. It took off and we diversified and bought this bar. To be honest, the bar is Jace’s baby.”
“I’m still impressed.”
Ty returned with their beers and when Jo tried to pay him he waved her off and told her Jace had covered it.
Jo looked over at the table where Andy and Jace were sitting and raised her beer slightly towards Jace and mouthed thank you giving him a beautiful smile.
Wes stiffened he hoped she
wasn’t interested in his friend.
Jo looked back at Wes and she noticed that he had a small frown on his face.
“Wes? I’m just thanking him.”
“Sweetheart with the smile you just gave him I may have to beat him off you later tonight.”
Jo looked at Wes tilted her head and laughed so hard that she had tears rimming her eyes.
“Wes, you are funny.”
Wes shook his head back and forth. He loved hearing her laugh.
“You have no idea how gorgeous you are do you?”
Jo blushed deeply.
He wanted to steer the conversation in a different direction.
“I understand you are quite the journalist.”
Jo hung her head, her entire demeanor changed. “You know who I am?” She asked tentatively.
“I do. I Googled you.” He said with an impish smile.
Jo frowned. “So you know I wrote an expose that basically upset an entire police precinct?”
“Yes, and you were given a prestigious award for it too.” He noted that she had tensed up and looked embarrassed. Wes wanted to put her at ease.
“Jo it was a good investigative piece.”
“Yeah, thank you. I thought it was good at the time.”
“You don’t now?”
Jo thought about it for a second. “I’m glad I wrote the article, I really am, but the residual effects; maybe I’m not thick skinned enough.”
This is exactly where he wanted this conversation to go.
“You mean dealing with the Officer Laramie’s?”
“Yes and there are others too, trust me.”
“Enlighten me.” Wes said his voice low and deep.
“Oh, no let’s talk about something else, please.” She was so desperate to change the subject. Wes hated how uncomfortable she looked so he yielded to her request.
“Okay then tell me about singing?” He knew what he’d read on line, but he was genuinely interested in what she had to say.
Her smile was honest as she spoke about singing with her sister; first just for their parents, then at family get together's, and then even at larger venues. She told him how they had won the talent show at The State Fair when they were Juniors in high school.
It gave Wes the opportunity to ask about her family. She told him that she had a twin sister, Betty Lou and they had grown up in Sussex, New Jersey. Her parents were alive and well and still lived in the house they grew up in. Her mother was a Music Teacher and her father was an Accountant. She described how her sister and she were so hard to tell apart that they had pulled some good pranks, even on their parents. She had Wes chuckling and she couldn‘t help but notice how Jace and Andy kept sneaking glances at their friend.
Jo asked Wes about his family. He didn’t want to put a damper on the fun mood she had just created, but he decided to share a little. He told her that his mother had passed when he was young and his father passed away when he was over seas about eight years ago. Jo couldn’t imagine not having a family and she didn’t even realize that she had placed her hand on top of Wes’ as if to comfort him. Wes felt the warmth of her tiny hand and because he didn’t want her to feel self-conscious he continued talking. He told her that Jace and Andy were his family now and he went on to describe some of the adventures the three had experienced when they first came back to the States that they could now laugh about.
Jo realized her hand was still on Wes’ and she became slightly flustered. She tried to pull it away but Wes caught it before she could move it far by placing his other hand on top of hers gently forcing it back down.
Jo looked from her trapped hand to Wes’ handsome face.
“I like you holding my hand.” Wes said softly.
Jo felt a pleasant twirl begin in her stomach that made her blush.
“Is this okay?” He asked just as softly. Jo couldn’t even speak. Her female parts had kicked into over drive and it had been such a long time that they had even been test driven, except in the shower, that that she was afraid if she spoke she’d blurt out what she was feeling, which was ‘Hell yes! I love it.’ So instead she clamped her lips shut and nodded affirmatively.
They continued chatting and when Wes stifled a yawn she knew it was time to end their evening.
“Wes this has been nice. I’m glad we met again and that I had the chance to properly thank you.” She stood up from the table and Wes stood up with her. Jill chose that moment to come up to them. She stood very close to Wes and Jo knew she was sending her a message.
“Jo here’s your pay. Ty put your tips in the envelope as well. Let's talk this week and set up another date.”
Jo felt like she was intruding now so she took the envelope, told Jill she’d be in touch, grabbed her guitar case and headed for the front door. Wes started to follow, but Jo watched as Jill placed her hand on his arm.
“Wes, can we talk please?”
“Now?” Wes said sounding perturbed.
Jo continued moving away from the two of them and finally she was out of earshot. If he was seeing Jill why would he have flirted with her, held her hand? Jo was definitely confused. She walked outside and took her cell out to call the cab company.
Back inside Jill was rambling about something concerning the bar, Wes was barely paying attention.
“Jill.” His tone was stern and made her stop talking. “I don’t know what you are talking about or why you needed to talk to me now, but I have to go.” He headed towards the door that Jo had walked out of.
“Wes.” Jill once again grabbed his arm. “You know I like you. Please don’t go after her. I can give you everything you need.”
Wes took her hand off his arm.
“We’ve been through this Jill. I’m not interested. Please don’t make this difficult. You’re a good manager and I’d hate to have to let you go.”
Jill looked mortified that he would even be thinking that. She turned away from him and went back down the hallway to her office. Wes made a beeline to the front door.
“Jo!” She was standing out front and Wes looked around for her car. “Where’s your car?”
“I, uh, it’s in the shop.”
Wes nodded then a terrible thought struck him. “Is someone picking you up?”
Jo nodded and Wes looked crestfallen. “A cab.” She said quickly.
“Please let me drive you home.”
“But I already called them. Look it’s here now.” The cab pulled to the curb. Wes opened the front passenger door handed the man a fifty and told him she did not need a ride anymore. The cabbie smiled positively pleased with the fifty and he pulled away.
When Wes turned back towards Jo she had a small frown on her face.
“I really want to take you home Jo.”
Jo shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She might as well speak up now she thought.
“Wes I had a nice time with you tonight, but I sort of got the feeling that you and Jill…”
“No Jill and I are not anything Jo. Employer and employee that’s it.”
“But…”
“No buts. Actually Andy has been stuck on her for a while.”
“Oh, she just looked like, you know, she was sending me a message.”
“I know what she was doing Jo. She shouldn’t have. I told her to back off. Now, please may I drive you home?”
Jo smiled at him and Wes’ heart pounded hard in his chest. This woman was doing things to him that had him off kilter. His normal M.O. was calm, cool, collected, but when it came to her he found himself doing things that were anything but normal; like watching her townhouse, Googling her, and worse still was how she was constantly on his mind.
“Well.” Jo said demurely. “Since my ride just pulled away. I guess I do need a ride.”
Wes beamed at her and took her guitar case from her hands and then guided her around the side of the building to his car. He fished out his keys and Jo saw the lights blink on a black Porsche.
“Nice car.” She said s
eriously.
“I like cars.” Wes said matter of fact. “I have a couple.” Jo laughed.
Wes safely stowed her guitar in the trunk and then placed her inside the car. Jo gave him her address and although Wes knew precisely where she lived he went through the motions of putting it into his GPS.
“I don’t think I live too far from you.” Wes said.
“Really? Where do you live?”
“On Lakeview.”
“Oh that’s a beautiful area. I run that lake all the time. Are you in a house or one of the condos?”
“I’m in a condo. I have a really great view of the lake.”
They spoke more about the lake community. Wes revealed that he too ran that same lake trail. They discussed restaurants in the area and they discovered they both liked the Italian restaurant Cafe Azzuri. When they pulled up to Jo’s townhouse Wes had one thing on his mind; he wanted to give Jo a goodnight kiss.
Jo turned to Wes to thank him for the ride and Wes captured her chin in his hand. His eyes were memorizing her face and instead of feeling shy Jo studied his as well. Finally Wes leaned in and Jo met him half way. Her lips were so soft and he drank in her sweet fragrance. She smelled like vanilla and lavender. His dress pants became too snug and because he didn’t want to intimidate her he made sure his left arm was hiding the bulge that had appeared.
Jo loved how his lips felt on hers. He smelled of spice and mint and loved how his fingers held her face so delicately, yet so firmly. Jo felt Wes use his thumb to apply a tiny bit of pressure to her chin successfully opening her mouth and the second she did his tongue swept in and caressed hers. Jo groaned and Wes felt himself harden even more.
She loved how he kissed. He was gentle but confident. Jo reached her hand up and wrapped her one hand around his strong forearm and her other hand she threaded through his dark hair. The contact stilled Wes and he pulled back slightly. He stared at Jo with his moss colored eyes and then Jo pulled his head back towards her and their lips joined with unrestrained desire. Their kiss was consuming and Jo wanted to crawl into his lap to get closer to him. Her nipples pebbled, pressing wantonly against his chest and her core dampened.
Wes couldn’t get close enough to her and for the first time ever; he wished he owned a big old-fashioned bench seated car. His one hand had left her chin and wrapped under her arm that was now grasping his shoulder. His cock was so hard that he had to adjust himself quickly. His sensitive head pressed painfully on the buckle of his belt.
One Tough Love Page 5
