She shrugged. What could she say? She’d never had someone to call. Someone she could rely on. No, it hadn’t occurred to her.
“I’m here now.”
Sighing, he walked up next to her, wrapping his arm around her. She stiffened at the feel of him against her, getting a whiff of his cologne. Oh, that was nice. He smelled like the woods. Fresh and masculine.
“Easy, I’m gonna help you into the garage so you can sit down, all right? Unless you’d rather I pick you up?”
“Uh, no, best we save your back,” she joked. “I’m not exactly light.”
He looked her over. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the way you look. Unless you were trying to insult me? I have missed a few gym sessions lately. Are you saying I’m looking puny?”
Her mouth dropped open. Insult him? “I wasn’t insulting you. You . . . you look perfect. And there’s nothing wrong with your muscles.”
“So, you were insulting yourself then?” he asked calmly. But something warned her to be careful of her answer.
“Not sure if you noticed, but I’m carrying plenty of junk in my trunk.”
“From what I can see, your trunk is perfect. Good for grabbing. And for spanking.” He winked down at her, making her wonder if he was just joking.
She let him half-carry her into the garage. And there was definitely nothing puny about him. He walked her into small office that seemed to be overrun with paperwork.
“Sorry,” he told her, red filling his cheeks. “Administration is my nemesis.”
It kind of surprised her, because from what she’d seen of his garage, it was spick and span.
“This is a disaster,” she told him bluntly.
He drew out a chair on wheels for her to sit in and she did, spinning around as she took in the piles of papers everywhere, along with sticky notes pasted onto almost every available surface.
Placing his hand on the back of his neck, he gazed around almost stupefied, as though he couldn’t work out why this room was in such a state. “I know. I just can’t seem to get on top of everything.”
“Maybe I can help,” she said. Wait. What? You don’t have time to help. She had a full-time job and two kids to look after. The only reason she’d been able to come out tonight was because of Juanita. She’d agreed immediately to take Keir and Ace for the night, telling Thea she could pick them up as late tomorrow as she liked. As though she thought Thea would be sleeping in for some reason. She’d had to explain this wasn’t that sort of date. Juanita wasn’t buying any of it, especially after hearing about how she’d met Carrick. She thought it was romantic.
Thea wasn’t even sure she’d know what romantic was unless it bit her in the ass.
“You don’t have to do that,” he told her, although there was a hopeful look to his face.
“I kind of owe you.”
He frowned. “No, you don’t. And I don’t want you to do anything out of obligation. You owe me nothing. Now, what are we going to do about your feet? Can’t take you out if you’re limping.”
Now she felt terrible. She hadn’t meant that the way it sounded.
“Carrick, I’d like to help you. Really. I wish I had more free time. Would you mind if I brought my brothers with me? Maybe I could come on a Saturday morning? Are you open then?”
“You have custody of your brothers?”
“Um, not exactly. My dad isn’t around much. So, what do you think?”
“If you don’t mind, that would be perfect. I’ll pay you, of course.”
“No need to pay me.” With what she figured she owed him; it would take her a good couple of months to pay him back.
“Thea,” he reached out and gently grasped her chin, raising her face, “I’m going to pay you and I’m not hearing any arguments about it.”
There was a dominant note in his voice that sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn’t dominant in the way Jardin was. Jardin had a natural air of authority. People looked to him to take charge and he did. Easily. Even though Carrick was bigger and rougher looking, he had more of a laidback air.
But it seemed he could be dominant when he wanted. And for some reason, she really liked that.
She had to stop thinking about Jardin. He was her boss. Nothing more.
“Well, how about I work off what I owe you?”
He opened his mouth and she kept going. “For the parts, I mean. I know you won’t let me pay you for your labor.”
He looked thoughtful. Then he glanced round the office. “All right, I can live with that.”
She smiled up at him. This worked out far better for her anyway. It would have wiped her savings clean to pay him back, that was supposing she even had enough.
Suddenly, Carrick crouched in front of her.
“What are you doing?” she asked as he reached for her shoes.
“Taking these off you,” he replied calmly. “You can’t walk in these.”
“Well, I can’t go into a restaurant in bare feet,” she joked. “And shouldn’t we get moving? We’re already late.”
He gave her a thoughtful look. “What if we skip the restaurant?”
He didn’t want to take her out anymore. She guessed that was his prerogative. And really, he was probably doing her a favor. She was tired and in pain.
“Okay, sure. I guess I’ll grab my car and head off. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. What time should I come in?”
She pushed herself off the chair, but he grabbed hold of her shoulder, pressing her back into the seat.
“Stay there.”
She gave him a confused look.
“I didn’t mean that we shouldn’t do something. My house is a few blocks from here. I was thinking, if you felt comfortable, well, I could grab a couple of steaks on the way and I’ve got some cold beer.”
“Do you have a fan?”
He blinked. “Uh, yeah.”
“And a bucket?”
“I guess so. Do I want to know the punchline?”
“What? Oh,” she laughed. “I was thinking as I walked those six blocks that I’d kill for a beer, a fan and a cold bucket of water for my feet.”
“That so? Well, think I can do you one better than a bucket.”
“Then take me to your place.”
He hesitated. “Do you want to text someone and tell them where you’re going?”
“Why? Do I need to?” she joked.
He shrugged. “I’d never do anything to hurt you, rocket. But it’s always a good idea to be safe rather than sorry.”
She just stared at him for a long moment. “You’re a good man, Carrick Jones.”
Red flushed his cheeks. She loved that this big, tough-looking man could blush. Holy hell.
She bet Jardin had never blushed a day in his life.
Argh. Stop thinking about Jardin.
“You’re safe while you’re with me. I promise you that. But text a friend. It will make both of us feel better.”
Giving him a small smile, she wrote down the address he gave her and sent it to Juanita in a text. Her friend texted back immediately that she’d send over some condoms. She groaned.
“Everything okay, rocket?” he asked her.
“Yeah, just my friend being a dork. Why do you call me rocket?”
“Oh, the other day you were like a pocket rocket. Small but feisty.”
“Not so sure about the small part, but I can be feisty when I need to be. Especially if someone is trying to hurt someone I care about.”
“I like that. Loyalty is something I value.”
“Me too.” She cleared her throat. “So that went deep quickly. Shall we get those steaks?” She picked up her shoes to force them back onto her feet.
“That’s not going to work,” he told her. “Your feet are already swollen. Why don’t you come with me in my truck? We’ll stop at the store for steaks and some salad since I doubt I’ve got the fixings for one, and I’ll see if they’ve got some flip-flops there for you. I mean, if you’re okay with them?”
“Are you kidding? They’re what I live in on the weekends.”
“Good. How about we trash these then?” He picked up her shoes and walked them over to the garbage can.
“Hey! I still need those for work.”
“You seriously want to wear these again?”
“Want to, no. Need to, yes. I only have two pairs of suitable shoes for work.”
He gave her a knowing look. Shit. She needed to watch what she said around him. He was perceptive and smart.
Sighing, he walked away from the garbage can, her shoes dangling from his huge hands. There was something about that image that did it for her. Big, rough hands holding her tiny, delicate shoes.
Yep. Sexy as hell.
You’re a weirdo, Thea.
He held out his hands to her and she reached up with her injured hand without thinking.
“What did you do to your hand?” he asked, noticing the bandage on her palm.
“Oh, nothing,” she squeaked.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
He seemed kind of protective. Sweet and thoughtful. But definitely the type who wouldn’t like hearing that she’d injured herself the other day and hadn’t told him.
“That’s a guilty fucking face if ever I saw one,” he said to her roughly. “Thea, what happened to your hand?”
He still had a hold of her, and she was grateful her sleeves hadn’t ridden up to show the fading bruises on her wrist. She’d been wearing long-sleeved shirts all week. She just hoped that by Monday they’d be faded enough for her to go back to something lighter.
“I burned it,” she admitted.
“On what?”
“I’m guessing a radiator lid?”
He stared down at her in shock. “You did this the other day?”
Biting her lip, she nodded hesitantly.
“God damn it! You touched a hot motor? What were you thinking?”
“Well, obviously I wasn’t thinking that if it was smoking it would be hot.”
“Thea,” he growled.
“I’m not sure I know what you want me to say,” she told him. “I touched something I shouldn’t have, it burned me. End of story.”
“Not end of story. End of story would have been you telling me you burned yourself as soon as I turned up.”
“It was nothing.”
He gently held up her hand. “This is not nothing, Thea. Let me see it.”
“No,” she replied stubbornly.
“Thea,” he growled. “Let. Me. See. It.”
* * *
Carrick had never had the urge to spank someone more. He enjoyed dispensing discipline in the bedroom, but he’d never spanked someone outside the bedroom or a scene.
Maybe that’s where he’d gone wrong.
Maybe if he’d spanked Sally, his life wouldn’t have imploded the way it had. Perhaps she wouldn’t have turned into a complete bitch set on ruining everything in her path.
“Thea, let me see your hand. This is the last time I’m going to ask.”
Her gaze narrowed. “What happens if I refuse again? Are you going to force me?”
Yes.
Shit. She barely knew him. He couldn’t force her or she might just disappear on him. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly searching for patience.
“Please let me see it. I hate knowing you were injured and hid it from me. That you were hurting when I could have done something.”
The tension faded from her body. “I’m not your responsibility.”
But he wanted her to be.
“Please, Thea. I won’t be able to stop thinking about it until I see that you’re okay.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “Are you even real?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s just . . . most people would have driven past me. They wouldn’t have cared that my car had broken down. That I didn’t have the money to pay for repairs. They definitely wouldn’t have bribed me to go on a date with them. Especially not someone who looks like you. Obviously, you don’t have a problem getting a date.”
“You’d be surprised.”
“I’d be shocked.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I could find a date, but I’m getting older. I’m getting less interested in some fling or a one-night stand or someone fickle. I want something real.”
“You think I’m that something real?” she asked incredulously.
“Think you could be, if you’d let me through those walls of yours.”
She shook her head. “You know nothing about me. I could be a terrible person.”
He pushed her hair behind her ears. “I know you’re a hard worker because you were so worried about being late to work. I know you care about your brothers; by the sounds of it you’re more of a parent to them than your own are. I know you took one look at my mess of an office and immediately offered to help even though you likely don’t have the time or energy. I know you don’t have much, yet you’re not out to take me for a free ride.”
“I’d never do that. I hate people who use others.”
“And that’s why I know you’re real, Thea. That’s why I want to get to know you. If you’ll let me.”
She puffed out a breath. “I’ve got baggage.”
“We all do, rocket. You think I got to the ripe old age of thirty-eight without plenty of shit in my past?”
“Oh, God, you’re thirty-eight! You’re ancient.” Her eyes twinkled with laughter.
“Brat,” he mock growled. “Never met anyone as much in need of a spanking as you.”
“Hmm, is that a promise?”
He raised his eyebrows. Now that surprised him. “You want to be spanked, rocket?”
A flush filled her face. She licked her lips. “Maybe this is, uh, going a bit fast.”
Shit. She wasn’t wrong. His cock was hard, pressing against his black jeans. He’d meant what he’d said, he wasn’t looking for a one-night stand or a meaningless fling. Sex wasn’t the endgame here. He had a working hand, after all.
What he wanted was something real. And the last thing he needed to do was scare her off by moving too fast. But he couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her forehead.
“Christ, you’re small.”
“You’re the first person to ever say that.”
Fuck, he hated that she put herself down like that. There was a light note in her voice meant to convey she was joking, but he didn’t think it was funny. And he was certain she didn’t either.
His mouth moved to her ear. “You keep saying things like that about yourself and I’m gonna forget I need to take things slowly. I’m going to put you over my knee, pull up that skirt of yours and smack your ass. Then if you take your punishment like a good girl, I’ll play with what I’m certain is the most beautiful pussy in the world until you’re screaming my name. Begging for more.”
Her breath was coming in harsh pants as he reached around and placed his hand lightly on her ass. She startled but then relaxed as he just massaged the firm cheek. “Got it, Thea?”
Pulling back slightly, she stared up at him. Her eyes were wide, filled with excitement and trepidation. “Are you serious?”
“Yep. Utterly.”
He felt sure she’d tell him off. Walk away. Maybe slap him.
Instead, she looked intrigued. Hungry.
“We could just skip to the orgasm part.”
Placing his huge hands on her hips, he drew her closer. “Christ, don’t tempt me. I’m hanging onto my control by a thread here. But you were right before. We should slow down, get to know each other. I can stand a few cold showers.”
She sighed. “I guess so.”
“Good. Now show me that hand.”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re seriously stubborn?”
He grinned. “Not all that often. Maybe it’s something you bring out in me.”
“Lucky me,” she muttered. But she offered up her hand and he carefully tugged at the bandage.
He sucked in a breath at the red, sore-lookin
g burn underneath.
“Oh, rocket, you should have told me.”
She shrugged. “It’s really not so bad and it wasn’t like you could have done anything.”
“I could have taken you to the damn urgent care clinic,” he countered. “What did the doctor say?”
“What doctor?”
He narrowed his gaze. “You didn’t go to the doctor?”
“My boss saw it and put some cream and a bandage on it. It’s been healing pretty well. Still can’t really write with it but typing is a lot easier as long as I’m careful not to bang it.”
“Your boss didn’t insist on taking you to see a doctor?” Who is this fucker?
“Oh, he tried. But I refused to go.” She pressed the bandage back down. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the tips of her fingers.
She stared up at him, enthralled.
“From now on, rocket, you’re to tell me every time you’re injured. Understand? Even if it’s a damn papercut.”
“You’re gonna get sick of hearing from me then, because I’m a klutz.”
“I’ll never get sick of hearing from you.”
8
I’ll never get sick of hearing from you.
She shook the words off as she followed him through his house. It was small, with the living areas downstairs and three bedrooms upstairs. There wasn’t a lot of furniture. A couple of recliners and a huge TV in the living room and a round table with four chairs in the dining room. That was about it.
But it was a hundred times better than where she lived. Mind you, most places were better than where she lived.
There were a few dirty dishes in the sink of the small kitchen, but, other than that, it was surprisingly tidy.
“Come through here.”
He opened a door out to the backyard. She stepped out onto the small porch and her breath caught. “You have a pool?”
“Yep. Bought this place because it was close to the garage, but this was a definite bonus.”
“A garage called Jim-Bob’s. Something you want to tell me?”
“That my name is secretly Jim-Bob?” he joked. “Afraid not. But I did buy it from a guy called Josh, whose grandfather was Jim-Bob. Apparently, everyone has just kept the name.”
So, he had too. That was sweet.
Jardin’s Gamble Page 7