by Calinda B
All day her thoughts drifted to the image of Jace. Is he as hot in bed as he looks? Will he be a jerk? She had to keep mentally kicking herself to keep with the present. No sense focusing on the future if it’s not in your face, her father often said. But if he’s a decent guy? On the other hand, what if he’s trouble with a capital T? Only one way to find out. Tomorrow night would come soon enough.
Chapter 6
Jace
Jace opened the throttle on the Deus when he hit Highway 104, leading toward the bridge. He loved to take the sweet café racer on long stretches of road like this one. The needle climbed to 60…70…80…85. He prepared to gun it up to 90.
The nose of a cop car poked out from the bushes ahead.
He braked, slowing to the speed limit. When he passed the police officer, he lifted his leather clad hand in greeting.
The cop’s head swiveled as he rode by, watching him the entire way, but not pulling out after him. Lucky break, Jace thought. The last thing Marni needs is her uncle getting into trouble with the police. He slowed the Deus even more as he headed down the hill. The last thing her uncle needs is to have to take care of her and not get any sex.
He let out a sigh. As he approached the bridge, he caught sight of the beginning of a beautiful sunset sliding across the blue, like melting butter. It gave the sky, water, and mountains beyond an almost luminescent glow. Good thing I brought my camera, he thought, pulling into the turnabout.
He slung the leather backpack off his shoulders, opened it, and fished out his Nikon. Crouching, he held it up to his eye, and took a test shot.
He pictured Zoé in the frame, bikini-clad, her nipples forming hard buds in the brisk air. And then I lay her over the bike and fuck her. He adjusted his jeans, making room for his unhappy cock, angled the camera at the glorious sky, and took a few more pictures before climbing on his bike.
When he arrived at the ferry terminal, he had about twenty minutes to wait. He removed his helmet, and studied the bruised clouds dotting the sky. Across the parking lot and down several steps, stood a beach. He started to wander toward the wooden stairs leading to the wave-kissed shore, when his phone blipped. He pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at the screen. An unlisted number.
He answered, anyway, and gave a suspicious “Hello?”
“Hey, doofus.”
He blew breath from his cheeks. “Jayna. Where the fuck are you?”
“Don’t be mad at me, Jace. I…I needed to take care of some things.”
“What kind of things?”
“You know…things.”
“You should be home taking care of your child, not your mysterious ‘things.’ She’s your daughter, not mine.” He lifted his gaze.
An elderly couple glared at him, reproach dripping from their gaze.
He strode away from them.
“You’re better equipped to deal with her.” Jayna’s voice sounded like she spoke from a distant planet in a dark corner of the universe.
She’s probably high. Jace clutched the phone. “What the fuck does that mean? She’s not my responsibility.”
“I know but…you’re better with her.” He paced in a circle.
Jace pictured his sister’s dependence on drugs. This wasn’t the first time she’d OD’d. She might be right about him being better parent material, but still—insta-dad didn’t fit with his lifestyle. “For fuck’s sake.” Jace felt his temper flaring. He glanced around at the rows and rows of cars waiting to get on the ferry, and then lowered his voice. “Tell me you’re coming back to resume your responsibility as a mother,” he said, softer this time.
“I…I need some more time.”
“How much more?”
A neon-yellow clad Washington state transportation employee waved him forward to drive onto the ferry.
“Hold on, I’ve got to board—don’t go anywhere.” He dropped the phone in his lap. Then, he turned on the ignition and revved the engine, gunning the bike a little as he boarded.
The yellow clad employee pumped her hands up and down, indicating he slow down.
He gave her a salute. Once on the boat, he parked the bike, removed his helmet, and put the phone to his ear. “Jayna? Still there?”
A muffled male spoke to his sister, followed by his sister’s rising voice. It sounded like they were arguing about something but Jace couldn’t make out any of it.
“I’ve got to go, brother,” Jayna said into the phone.” I’ll call you in a couple days.”
“Wait, Jayna, no! Where are you? When are you coming home?”
No answer.
“Jayna? Jayna? Goddamn it.” He’d lost her. He swung his leg off the bike and stalked toward the end of the boat.
Gripping the phone, he toyed with the impulse to hurl it into the churning water.
“Trouble?”
Jace spun around to see who was talking to him.
An older woman, wearing a bulky black jacket, a mid-calf plain looking skirt, a white turtleneck, sturdy shoes, and a black headdress draping her head stood gazing at him with kind eyes. He did a double take. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a nun.
“Um, a little, yeah. My sister’s kind of messed up.”
The nun nodded, saying nothing.
“She, uh, she got involved with the wrong crowd. Left her baby. I’m taking care of her.”
The nun nodded once more, still silent.
“She almost died…my sister, I mean. I found her unconscious in her home last week. OD’d. Took her to emergency. They pumped her stomach, held her for observation, but she took off. I haven’t known where she was until just now.” He pointed to his phone like that would explain everything.
“The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
“So I’ve heard. No offense, sister, but I’m not sure about the Lord. Don’t know if I believe.”
“No offense taken. Young people don’t always subscribe to the old ways. What’s your sister’s name?”
“Jayna —it’s Jayna Savage.”
“Irish?”
“Yeah. Irish and French.”
“It’s a lovely name.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you like to walk with me? I like to stroll the top deck when I take the ferry —and when it’s not raining, of course. Tonight looks like it will be a crisp, clear night. Fall’s around the corner.”
“Uh,” Jace said, not sure about the offer.
“I promise not to convert you. You don’t have to talk to me. Just walk.”
“I think I’ll take a rain-check, sister. I need to be alone with my thoughts, right now. You know, kind of sort things out a bit. I’m on my way to see someone and my head’s not in the right place.”
Why am I telling her this shit?
“Seeing someone special?”
“Don’t know yet. It’s a woman I just met last night.”
“Young love. I was in love once.”
“Was?”
“Yes, I was eighteen. Met the man of my dreams. Turns out he was a heartbreaker. He broke mine, anyway. I turned to God for solace and found peace and joy instead.”
“Oh.” Jace didn’t know what to say. Good for you? Hurray you found God after heartbreak?
“You look like you’ve had a troubled life.”
Jace frowned. “I do?”
The nun let out a small laugh.
“Don’t look so surprised. I have a kind of sixth sense. Don’t tell anyone,” she said, conspiratorially.
“Uh, okay. I won’t.” This conversation is getting stranger and stranger. He looked left and right for an escape of some kind.
“I sense a troubled past. You’re at a crossroads. There’s someone in the way. You need to make a choice to move forward into a positive future.”
“What kind of choice?”
“How would I know? I’m not God.” She smiled.
“Right,” he said, returning the smile. Who could she be talking about? Kate? He said goodbye to her yesterday.
More like good riddance.
“Well. I’ve taken enough of your time. I’ll leave you to your sorting.” Another benign smile crossed her lips, before she turned to walk away. Before she climbed the stairs leading to the upper decks, she called over her shoulder, “I’ll pray for Jayna.”
“Thanks, sister, but I think she needs more than a prayer.”
“You never know. What can it hurt? It’s in God’s hands now.”
Jace shook his head at the woman as she strode out of view. A nun? A nun predicted my future? When he thought about it, she was right, though. What could it hurt? Nothing else seemed to be working to get his sister straightened out.
He let out a huge sigh and turned his thoughts to other, more essential things —like fucking Zoé Dubois.
Chapter 7
Zoé
Zoé’s body alternated between humming excitement and complete apprehension. Am I finally leaving safe and boring behind? Should I leave safe, boring, and responsible behind? I sure don’t need another lying Jack. Or, Billy. Talk about heartbreak. After he’d dumped her, completely crushed and humiliated, she’d sobbed for days. Still, she repeatedly glanced at the door as each patron strolled in, looking for signs of Jace. I want someone I can fall into and trust, not be looking over my shoulder the whole time, to see if he’s telling me the truth.
The crowd couldn’t keep her busy enough to stop thinking about Jace. She filled orders, zipped back and forth, brought drink after drink to the demanding customers until she was completely amped on adrenaline. Will he arrive at eleven, when my shift’s over? Will he even arrive? She pulled out her cellphone, glanced at the time, and sighed. Only eight thirty! Gah!
Fifteen minutes later, she placed drinks at the same booth Jace sat at the other night.
Tonight, six college guys crammed in the booth.
One of the dumb college boys said, “Twenty bucks says I can kiss you better than he can.” He lifted his beer mug toward the guy across from him.
She scoffed. “Fifty bucks says go after someone else. Not interested.”
“Snap!” said the guy who’d been challenged.
They all laughed.
The door behind her opened.
She turned to see who entered. Oh, my God. It’s him. She stopped to stare at him. Her heart beat increased. She licked her lips and smoothed her apron covered skirt.
He wore the same black leather motorcycle jacket she’d seen the other night, butt-hugging jeans, and motorcycle boots. A blue linen shirt peeked out from underneath the leather. His eyes scanned the room as he slid the coat from his shoulders. His gaze nestled on her, and he smiled.
The smile warmed her from head to toe, inside and out, setting off sizzling fireworks. She managed to get her mouth to close and lifted a finger. “One sec,” she mouthed.
He nodded, grinning. He pointed to himself, then, the floor, indicating he’d stay put.
She rushed toward table six, dropped off their bill, then scooped up the credit card at table three. Practically sprinting, she made her way to the back bar and dropped off the payment for Sharon to process.
“He’s here,” she whispered to her manager.
“Who’s here?”
Zoé pointed toward the door.
Sharon glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, him. Darn, it’s so busy or I’d let you off early.”
“It’s okay. I’ll let him order.” Zoé could barely contain her excitement. She rushed to greet him before Sharon had a chance to hand her back the receipt for table three.
When she stood next to him, her words tangled in her throat. “Hi,” she managed, grinning stupidly.
“Hi,” he said, returning the shit-eating grin. “Nice skirt,” he added, eyeing her black, hip hugging mid-thigh number.
“Thanks.” She congratulated herself on her last-minute decision to wear it tonight, instead of pants. “Did you come here to eat? Drink? What’s your pleasure?”
“I came here to see if you’d talk to me. After the other night, I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome.”
“You’re early. I don’t get off for a couple hours.”
A small frown flashed across his face and he cocked his head to the side. “Well, I think I’m right on time, then. I can wait.”
“Are you sure? It’s a long wait.”
“Absolutely.” He gave her a panty flinging grin.
“Zoé! Need you at the bar, love,” Sharon said as she zipped by.
She turned back to Jace. “Sorry, it’s super busy. Sit anywhere you like. Well, not anywhere —my section’s this one.”
She indicated the tables in her area.
“Got it. Looks like this spot’s free,” he said, indicating a two-top. “Take your time. Don’t want you to get into trouble on my account.”
He winked at her.
“I’ll be back with your menu,” she said, turning to speed-walk toward the bar. Standing at the polished wood, she slipped her order to Devon.
“Is that the one?” Devon asked.
“Yeah, what do you think? He’s a tall one, that’s for sure. Gorgeous, right?”
Devon laughed. “I guess if you’re a female. He’s not my type.”
“Oh, yeah. Well….”
“He looks like a stud, love. Knock yourself out. Order’s up, by the way.” He poked his thumb toward the kitchen. “As soon as you get the food out I’ll have your next drink order ready.”
Zoé snagged a menu, shoving it in her pocket before carrying the food tray to table eight. There she deposited mac and cheese, a hickory glazed salmon sandwich, a burger and French fries, and a basket of sweet potato fries.
“Can I get you anything else?” she asked the group.
“Catsup,” the burger lover stated.
She leaned over to the vacated booth next to them, retrieved the catsup, and placed it next to him.
“Thanks.”
“Anything else?”
“No, we’re set,” he said.
She smiled and headed toward Jace’s table.
“Here you go,” she said, handing him the menu. “Can I get you started with a drink?”
“Uh, what do you have on tap?”
She flipped the menu over and indicated the list of alcoholic beverages with her fingertip, perplexed. Were you even here the other night? You don’t remember where the drinks are? Are you as nervous as I am?
“Let’s see,” he said, deliberating. His leg started jacking up and down as if nerves were getting the best of him. “I’ll have the Dragonstooth Stout.”
Her eyebrows rose. “A man’s beer, huh?”
“I’m a man.” He gave her a heavy-lidded look.
Oh, I can see that. She swallowed.
“A man who’s in the mood for a stout,” he said. “Something with good body.” He focused his green eyes on her and slid his tongue between his lips.
Damn. Down boy.
“I’ve never had that one but I hear it’s intense.” Her insides fluttered with electric, pulsating heat.
“That’s the way I like it.” A smile curved his lips as his eyelids lowered slightly. A quick dip of his gaze scanned her from head to toe.
She felt a rush of pleasure. “I’ll be back with your beer in a sec.”
He nodded, his smile widening.
Another rush of pleasure. Shit. What is he doing to me?
He licked his lips again. Bit his full lower lip. Squinted slightly. “My beer? I’m pretty thirsty.”
“Right,” she said, coming out of her lust filled stupor. I can tell. She wanted to reach over and push his dark brown hair out of his eyes. Then, niceties out of the way, she’d lay him on the bar room floor and climb on top. “Your beer. I’m on it.” She zipped away, chiding herself. Jesus, stop behaving like a sex-starved idiot.
When she returned with his beverage, he’d draped his jacket along the chair opposite him, as if saving her place. The leather looked supple, well worn. His shirt sleeves were rolled up slightly higher tonight, revealing more of his ta
ttooed forearm.
“How’s the blood loss?” She fidgeted with her pen.
“The what?”
She fingered the blade tip on his skin.
“Oh, right. Clean wound. It’s actually starting to heal.”
“Good. Glad to hear it.” She smiled and glanced at his menu. “Have you decided?”
“What to eat?” he said. “Oh, yeah. Most definitely.”
Another smile. Another glittering, dark-eyed gaze. Another lick of his lips.
A shiver launched up her spine.
“I’ll take this one.” He tapped the menu. His fingers were long. slightly calloused. His nails were trimmed. A beautiful silver and gold turquoise ring circled his middle finger.
She leaned closer to see where he indicated. “Butcher’s Grind,” she said, feeling heat pour from his body. “That’s a favorite. Everyone loves the Grind,” she said, before realizing her faux pas. Her cheeks flushed. Damn. Did I really say that? Did he notice? “Nice ring, by the way.”
This time his smile appeared mocking, teasing. “Thanks.”
Oh, yeah —he noticed. Her skin began to roast. “Um, how do you want it prepared?”
“Seared on the outside, juicy, moist, and pink on the inside.”
An ache bloomed between her legs that caught her completely by surprise. She blew out her breath. “Okay. Seared on the outside,” she said, scribbling fast. “And…” She stopped speaking and blushed again.
“And? Repeat it back to me so I know you wrote it correctly.”
Her cheeks grew hot. “Seared on the outside, juicy, moist, and pink on the inside.” She gave him a challenging glare. “Also, known as rare.”
“Good. Now you know how I like it.”
She thought she’d combust. “Like it?”
“My burger.”
“Burger. Got it.” Sweat broke out on her forehead. “Oh, by the way, I got your…” Flowers, she started to say.
He looked at her quizzically.
Sharon zipped by, interrupting. “Chop, chop, Zoé. Your order’s up in the back.”
“Okay, I’m going.” She slid her order pad into her pocket.
When she turned back to Jace, he had a slight frown on his face.