First Sight_Never Give Up, Never Give In

by Mia Jones

He ended up handling all the cats except a mean one that tried to scratch Jessica.

  “That one will probably become a farm cat. He doesn’t really like people that much, but he’d be a great mouser.”

  By the time she finished with the cats, he felt more confident. She walked them farther down the hall that brought them into a huge room, easily three times the space as the cat room, with large kennels down both sides. Immediately a chorus of barks quickly escalated when they saw Jessica. She spoke to each one as she went. It amazed him to see how quickly they settled when she was with each one.

  Jessica turned to Garrett. “Okay, we are going to do the same thing here, if you feel up for it?”

  He nodded his head as he looked around at the different size dogs. “I’ll try it.” He sounded more confident than he felt. He wrinkled his nose. This was the first smell that hinted there were animals here, and he didn’t like the smell. He watched what Jessica was about to do in the kennels and thought if he had to clean the kennels, he was likely throw-up.

  The first cage she started with, she opened the door a crack and expertly slid a rope around the dog’s neck before she opened the kennel door all the way to release the animal. This dog was a small size, white with brown splotches over its body. It was a cute little thing and seemed very friendly.

  While he had the dog out in a small area at the front of the room, she cleaned the kennel and replenished the water with fresh and filled the dog bowl. This was the pattern they set, and everything went smoothly. Only one of the animals made him nervous, and Jessica instantly saw his discomfort, so she kept the dog in the kennel with her. The very last kennel was filled with five adorable little puppies. They were all a reddish brown with black spots mixed in. They were all very lively and climbed all over Jessica when she slipped into the kennel.

  She laughed and handed Garrett two of the small puppies and indicated a fenced area. After they had all five puppies in, Jessica went to clean their kennel. Garrett went into the fenced area with them and made the mistake of sitting down. He chuckled when the puppies were on him instantly, licking and nipping at everything they could. His chuckle turned into a belly laugh.

  “Is everything okay over there?” Jessica called from the kennel.

  He answered between laughs. “Y...ye-s.”

  She chuckled and continued to clean. When she was finished with the kennel, she headed for Garrett. A huge smile broke over her face at the sight of Garrett on the floor while five energetic puppies attacking him. The smile was wiped from her face as the breath abruptly left her lungs. A feeling very close to love, and one she’d never felt before, pierced her heart and scared the shit out of her.

  Jessica reminded herself they’d only just met, and it way too soon to feel this strongly about Garrett. She had to take an emotional step back, slow down before she got hurt.

  Jessica forced a smile before she made herself climb in with them. All five puppies attacked, pushing her down. She laughed uncontrollably while she tried to dodge their little tongues.

  Garrett tried to pull the wiggly puppies off her, but the second he released one to grab another, that one was back into foray.

  He laughingly gave up and stood, pulled her up, and held her while she caught her breath. All the while, the puppies bounced and cried pitifully for their attention. Garrett tilted her head up and drew in a deep breath as his eyes focused solely on her. The heightened color from her laughter brought out the starling blue color of her eyes that at that moment held pure happiness. Unable to wait another second before he tasted her, he bent and pressed his mouth against her smiling one.

  Her body instantly softened, even as her heart pulsed heavily. A moan slid from her throat, and she opened wider for his exploration and gave herself over to him. Her arms clung tightly around his neck as her blood pumped heavily through her veins.

  He took immediate advantage and pushed his tongue into the depths of her mouth.

  The kiss turned deeper and hotter. Garrett jerked his head up and forced air into his constricted lungs. “I think someone just peed on me,” he said gravely then held back a groan at the deeply heated expression on her face.

  Jessica’s wide eyes stared unseeingly as she tried to get her breathing under control. When his words registered, a choked laugh burst from her as she looked down. Yup, all over one of his boots. Thankfully they looked waterproof, so it would be easy to clean. “I’m so sorry. Let’s get these guys back in their kennel, and I’ll take you to the back.”

  She led him to a back room that held a shower, a large sink and counter, and shelves of supplies. Garrett’s eyes roamed over the well-organized room. “This must be where you bathe them?”

  She nodded and wrung out the cloth that she’d put a solution and water on before she bent to wipe off his boot. “And give them the medical attention they need. We also isolate expectant mothers back here for their safety. It has the quiet, serene place they need to give birth.”

  Garrett looked down at the top of her head. “Baby, I can do that,” he said and tried to pull her up by an arm.

  “No, I’m just about done. I really am sorry you got peed on,” she said as she continued to look down.

  His eyes narrowed when he realized she’d tried to hold back a laugh by the way her shoulders quivered and the soft little sounds she couldn’t hold back. He bit the inside of his mouth to keep from laughing. “You’re not laughing about this, are you?” He tried to keep his voice firm.

  She made a small squeak and shook her head.

  “Jessica?”

  Her shoulders started to shake, and desperate sounds of hilarity fell from her mouth.

  He pulled her up to stand before him, but she refused to lift her head. “Look at me,” he commanded as his lips twitched.

  She raised her head and took one look at the twinkle in his eyes and burst into laughter, unable to hold it in.

  Garrett stared at her as a band of emotion tightened around his heart. He couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, he felt this light-hearted feeling. He held her against his chest and laughed with her until they were both breathless and she had tears that trickled from her eyes.

  It was a long moment until they calmed. Jessica smoothed a hand down her cheeks to dry the tears. “I really am sorry.” Her face was awash with mirth.

  Garrett chuckled and kissed her forehead and placed soft kisses down her cheeks until he took her mouth.

  A blaze instantly erupted when their mouths touched. It became hungry and burning, pushing at his already shattered control. He picked her up and sat her on the counter by the sink before making a place for himself in the notch between her legs. One of his hands cupped the back of her head and dislodged the clip before he loosened her braid to fall free. His other hand slid down to her lower back and pressed her tighter into his hardness.

  Her breath caught as a spike of intense desire burned through her veins. Her arms went around his shoulder to hang onto him as her world. Her hips gyrated against his and tried to relieve the intense ache he caused.

  He ripped his mouth from hers as his gaze roamed over her face and puffy lips. “We have to slow down, baby.” A low growl of frustration and need slid from his throat as he watched her still gripped in the realm of desire. “Open your eyes, Jess.”

  Her eyelashes fluttered opened to try to focus on his face.

  Intense heat gripped Garrett. It almost set him off when her little tongue peeked out to run over her swollen lips as if to taste him. He physically struggled to calm himself and pull himself back from the overwhelming need to claim her.

  Garrett gripped her waist and lifted her down from the counter. He made sure she was steady before he let go and backed up a few much-needed steps.

  Jessica leaned back against the counter, and her hands gripped it behind her for stability. “I like the way you kiss.” Her eyes widened when she blurted that out.

  “I like the way you kiss too.” Satisfaction crossed his face. He took a step toward her to
put himself into her personal space without touching her, unwilling to keep too much of a gap between them. “Can you imagine what it’s going to be like when we finally make love?”

  Jessica lowered her eyes as her teeth bit into her bottom lip. “Garrett, I have to tell you something.” She cleared her throat and her face grew a darker shade of red. “I don’t have a lot of experience with...”

  Garrett grasped her shoulders gently, gaining her attention. “Jessica, it’s okay, you don’t have to say anything. I pretty much guessed as much from the way you reacted to me every time, but Jessica, we’ll go as slow as you want to. The last thing I want to do is hurt or scare you.” He tightened his grip and his tone sharpened. He needed her to understand how serious he was about taking care of her. “I never want you to fear me, okay?” He waited for her nod before he released the breath he hadn’t known he held before lowering his mouth to hers again, letting his tongue tangle with hers.

  A moment later, he raised his head and his eyes roamed over her beautiful flush face as the breath seesawed from their lungs. His hands cradled her face. “But I hope you decide the sooner the better, because I’m dying to have you under me and me loving you for hours,” his voice rasped out deep and low.

  He took a step back when he caught the confused, slightly startled look on her face. He had to grit his teeth at the separation, but he didn’t want to pressure her in any way or make her feel uncomfortable.

  Their eyes clashed. Her mouth opened and closed as her body forced fiery moisture from her womb. Make love? God, yes. A crackle of heat started in her core and spread until it pervaded her whole body.

  A shaft of pure need ran straight to his penis when her eyes darkened and a deep passion-filled flush covered her skin. His hands started to reach for her then froze. If he got his hands on her, he’d have her laid on the nearest flat surface and taking him deep into her body. He pushed the excessive hunger for her from his mind. He would have time later to examine his increasingly desperate need for her. “Are we done here?”

  Jessica crossed her arms over her aching breasts and tried to relieve some of the ache and pushed back the fulfillment her body was crying out for and nodded.

  Garrett stepped back farther. “Let’s go eat lunch then.”

  Jessica moved past him and turned lights off as they went.

  “Why aren’t you open today?” he asked.

  Jessica glanced at him as she locked the inside door. “We’re never open on Sundays. Never have been. We have limited personal time, so it’s hard to find people for the Sunday shifts.”

  Garrett watched as she locked the employee door. He pulled her against his side with an arm wrapped around her waist. “How does Mexican sound for lunch?”

  “Sounds wonderful,” she said and smiled up at him.

  Chapter 8

  Within twenty minutes, they sat at a booth across from each other. He watched her fidget with her silverware, her eyes unable to look at him. He reached over the table and twined his fingers with hers. “Hey, look at me.” He waited for her focus to be on him. “There is no reason to be nervous.”

  She continued to squirm, and her lips quivered.

  “Pretend that Lucky is with us.”

  Her brows snapped together in confusion. “Why?”

  His thumbs ran over the back of her fingers as he studied her features. She was adorable. Jessica again tried to put her hair up after he loosened her braid, to keep it away from her face, but like every other time, locks of crimson-colored hair pulled lose and flowed down her back in wild disarray. Her hands weren’t silky smooth and pampered like a high society woman would be but had a few calluses and a tinge of redness from all her work. His gaze swept over her. He’d bet she had never had a manicure in her life.

  He didn’t think he’d ever get sick of looking at her. Garrett smiled gently. “Because you relax when you have an animal around you or you’re talking about one, but the minute it’s just you and me, you get all tense.”

  Jessica studied him. Her gaze roamed over his strong, masculine features. She released a breath at the gentleness and understanding in his gaze, and her hand tightened on his.

  He knew it would take time and patience to get her used to him. He was willing to wait, if it meant she ended up his. He pulled his eyes from her to the male waiter at their table. He tried to bite back a growl when the waiter’s gaze stayed locked on Jessica. Garrett released Jessica’s hands, sat back in his chair, and cleared his throat to get the guy’s attention.

  A red flush spread across the young man face. “Um, sorry, sir. What can I get you?” His gaze trailed back to Jessica.

  Garrett tried to swallow back the hot rush of anger, but he was unable to prevent the livid tick in his jawline. “The first thing you can do is stop staring at my woman,” he barked.

  The waiter jerked then noticeably swallowed as a deep blush chased across his face. “Of course, sir. I’m sorry.” The young man’s adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed nervously.

  After the waiter left with their orders, they sat and silently gazed at one another before Garrett reached across the table and picked up her hands again. He ran his thumbs over the backs of them.

  Jessica stared at his massive hands that held her so gently. His hands were rough and callused for a white-collar millionaire. “Why’d you get mad at the waiter?”

  Garrett’s eyes moved up. “I didn’t like the way he stared at you.”

  Jessica shook her head and frowned. “He wasn’t star—”

  Garrett nodded his head toward the rest of the restaurant. “Yes, he was. I can’t believe you didn’t notice him or the others that look at you.”

  “Others?”

  “A few men have been glancing your way since we walked in. Same thing happened at the get-together at the club last week.” He frowned in obvious agitation. His thumb slid over her knuckles and sent shivers down her spine.

  Jessica smiled and looked around the restaurant in disbelief. Her smile fell, her eyes widened, and a deep blush spread across her face as she caught sight of a man across the room that stared their way. Her eyes jerked back to Garrett’s before she lowered them to the table.

  His gaze locked with hers. “I guess I really can’t blame them, because I’m the same way, but don’t expect me to like it.” A deep flush swept across his face as his heated gaze touched every part of her body he could see above the table. “You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?”

  Jessica didn’t answer right away but bit down on her lower lip and kept her gaze on the table. She tried to pull her hands from his. “I’m not,” she said, shaking her head.

  Garrett tightened his grip. “Yes, you are, baby,” he said softly.

  The sweetness of his voice pulled her gaze to look up at him.

  He chuckled softly. “If you turn any redder, you’re going to explode. How about we table this discussion for later.” He continued when she nodded her head in relief. “Tell me more about you.”

  Jessica lowered her eyes again. “I’ve told you everything.”

  A frown puckered his brows when she tensed up. “Jessica, look at me.” He cajoled in a soft voice. He was pleased when she promptly looked at him. “You’ve only told me the basics. I want to know everything. Your favorite color, foods, movies, what you enjoy doing...from your childhood to your college years.”

  Something tightened in his stomach at the quick flash of despair and fear in her eyes. “Everything’s okay, baby. Nothing can happen to you while I’m with you.”

  A sense of desperation and the need to run and hide twisted inside her. She was tougher than that. And had been since she was a child. Her chin came up. “Do I get to know everything about you, then, too?”

  His eyes narrowed on hers and his lips tightened. After a long moment, he realized he’d have to indulge her curiosity about him, if he didn’t want to watch her walk away from him. “I’m guessing I’m going to have to share if I want to know about you.”

  Je
ssica nodded hesitantly. “Yes. I think that’s fair.”

  Garrett nodded and sighed. “Okay. You first.”

  His hands tightened when she rolled her eyes and tried to pull away from him.

  Before she opened her mouth, the waiter was at the table with their drinks. Jessica watched Garrett glue his eyes on the guy until he left. She cleared her throat. “I’ve told you about college and after?” When he nodded, she continued. “Well, let’s see.” Jessica looked at their clasped hands and took a deep breath. “I’m an only child. We moved around a lot when I was a child.”

  “You had a parent in the military?”

  She licked her lips nervously. “No. They just got bored easily.”

  His brows bunched together. She wasn’t telling him something. “So how many times did you move?”

  She shrugged. Her attention roamed around the restaurant before it came back to him. “I lost count after eight times, and I was too young to count the earlier years. It got worse after my mom died.”

  “When was that?”

  “I was ten or eleven.” She exhaled raggedly.

  “Then what happened?” His stomach got tighter at the despondent expressions that shadowed her beautiful delicate face.

  “We moved every few months. My dad never seemed to settle. His drinking got worse after mom’s death, so it was hard for him to keep a job. I also suspect he was stealing and making the wrong people angry, because a few times we left quickly and at night.”

  Garrett sat quietly as he digested what she said. “You were so young. Who took care of you?”

  Her gaze snapped to his and then back down. “I did.”

  “How? Who made sure you had food and clothing? How did you accomplish school?” Jessica looked everywhere but at him, and for the time being, he allowed it.

  “I used an internet school program. That way I could do it wherever we went. All the libraries, thankfully, had computers I could use, and most of the people were very nice and helpful.”

  He loosened his grip when he saw her cringe. “And what about food, clothing?”