My mind played wild images of him and me in bed. On his motorcycle. On his weight bench. I clenched my legs together and moaned.
I needed to do something. Reaching under my bed, I pulled out my trusty vibrator. This would be perfect. I could just get myself off and forget that the man I worked for had the body of a god.
After a few minutes, I realized my vibrator was loud and not doing the job. Besides, the images of Clint had simply intensified in my head. Groaning, I put it back in the shoebox under the bed. The only thing that was going to help was the real thing. It was so much harder to ignore these feelings now that I knew he was interested too.
I took a sleeping pill and went to bed.
Chapter Six
Clint
After watching Jo run to her room, I went back out to the garage and added fifty more pounds to the bar. I knew it was too much weight, but I didn’t care. I lay down on the bench and tried to lift it.
How could I have been so fucking stupid? Of course she didn’t want to jeopardize her job. But she was beautiful and made me so hard I lost all train of thought. I groaned. I was her boss. I didn’t want to put her in a position where she thought her job was endangered, but I just had. I’d held her against me and kissed her. I’d felt every inch of her perfect body as I held her against me, and I wanted more.
Struggling, I was finally able to lift the bar a few inches, but I had to put it back down before I lost control.
Fuck. I just needed to remember to keep my distance and not touch her again. Easier said than done when I could still feel her tight little breasts brushing my chest.
I gave up on the weights and went to bed. There was no way I could fall asleep. I jacked off and started to fall asleep, but then a buzzing noise woke me up. I started to sit up, thinking it was my phone. Then it hit me. She had a goddamn vibrator—I wasn’t the only one practicing self-care tonight. I wondered if she was thinking of me.
I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
* * *
In the morning, I got up at the crack of fucking dawn. That was my usual routine. I carried my boots through the kitchen so I wouldn’t wake up Nana or Jo. On my way out, there was a yellow Post-it on the refrigerator. Jo had left me a note.
I need Wednesday off.
That explained why she was up last night. She wanted to ask me for time off. I wrote a quick yes and stuck it on the fridge.
After stuffing the note in my pocket, I headed in to work. It was a rough day all around. We got two new customers and one needed an entire rebuild but didn’t want to pay for it. It was a Chapel day, when the whole club got together and discussed business. By the time I got to Chapel to meet up with the guys, my attention span was shot to hell. Everyone was listening to Tate talk about...something. I was still focused on how badly I’d fucked up with Jo last night. I’d fucking kissed her and then when I asked her out, she turned me down because I was her boss. She was a hell of a lot smarter than me.
“Clint?” Tate asked. “What do you think about heading down to the docks?”
“The docks?” I repeated. What the hell had he just asked? “Sure thing.”
Tate nodded at me and banged the gavel. Chapel was over and I had an assignment down at the docks, and I didn’t know what it was. Fuck. I followed the guys out and headed for the bar.
“Hey, get a move on,” Tate called after me. “Connor is only on customs duty until midnight. Our shipment is coming in late. You should leave now.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask what the hell the shipment was because I had no clue. But I was supposed to be paying attention. That would tell Tate just how much I was daydreaming in Chapel. I couldn’t even ask the guys, because it probably had something to do with the import business. I couldn’t be the one in charge and not know what we were picking up at the docks. Damn. I kept my mouth clamped shut and went to find Roach.
He and I took the tow truck. The club had a few paid parking lots around Tacoma and we often towed people who didn’t pay their bill. It also came in handy when you didn’t know what you were picking up at the docks.
“So, do you know if it’s a car or a bike, at least?” Roach asked from the passenger seat.
“Not a clue,” I grumbled. Only full patch members were allowed in Chapel, so Roach was in the dark too. “We gotta be prepared for anything.”
We pulled out of the club’s parking lot and turned toward the docks. Conner, our contact, was a federal customs agent. I’m sure Uncle Sam paid him well, but it was our extra cash on the side that supported some of his more unsavory habits. When we got to the customs office, he dug through paperwork on his desk for our shipment. He obviously hadn’t showered in a few days and just looked like he was one step away from being homeless.
“It’s listed as electronics,” he said, peering at some form he’d fished from his desk. “My Korean ain’t so good.” He thrust the paperwork at me.
Looking at the faded pink carbon copy, I couldn’t read anything on it. “So, no clue?” I asked. “Not even a hint?”
“Probably a car.” Conner shrugged. “I got it delivered to E5 for ya, though. Nice and quiet.”
E5 was our delivery point at the docks. We could get the tow truck in there pretty easily and the other customs agents stayed away. Whenever Conner received a shipment for us, he stashed it in that area until we could pick it up.
Roach and I drove the tow truck over to the designated area and threw it into park. After grabbing the bolt cutters out of the back, Roach stood off to the side as I cut the lock.
“All right, man, this is like goddamn Christmas.” Roach rubbed his hands together as I yanked open the door on the shipping container.
As soon as I had the hatch open, Roach was in there and crawling around. “I think it’s a Lambo!” he yelled from the back of the dark container.
Turning on my flashlight, I started to inspect our new project. As soon as the light ran over the front fender, I let out a low whistle. “Holy shit,” I said to myself.
“Nice little Lambo, huh?” Roach asked, joining me next to the front wheel.
“It’s not just a Lambo,” I said, my flashlight beam caressing the funny little telltale mirrors on the top of the doors. “It’s a 1999 Diablo SV with a fucking Strosek conversion.” I paused, letting it sink in. “This is one of the fastest cars Lamborghini has ever made, and it’s sure as shit not street legal here.”
I couldn’t help myself—I rounded the front and headed directly for the driver’s side door. It was unlocked with the keys in the ignition. After moving the seat back, I got in. My jeans slid against the butter-soft leather of the seats. It was the same feeling you get when your dick slides into a beautiful woman. I groaned. Once I got seated, I ran my fingers over the steering wheel, then the gearshift—manual—and finally the steering column. Holy shit. She was one fine piece of machinery.
There was no way she was getting a tow. I was gonna drive her back to the garage myself.
Chapter Seven
Jo
It had been a week since I kissed Clint, and I was having a hard time getting him out of my mind. Tonight I’d gotten a crossword so I didn’t think about him. As I did my puzzle, I noticed that Nana’s game shows were blaring, but she hadn’t fallen asleep yet. Usually she was out like a light.
I smiled at her. “You’re up awfully late, Nana.”
“Well, you promised me you would show me what you were going to wear on your date.” She winked at me from the recliner. “I’m not going to sleep through that.”
My date? My brain flew through my last conversation with Clint. Did he have something planned for tonight? Then my phone beeped. I had a calendar reminder: Date with Tomas. “Oh no!” I jumped off the couch. “I need to get ready.”
I ran to my room and considered my options. With everything that happened with Clint, I’d forgotten m
aking that date with Tomas last week. I should just cancel. The fact that I completely forgot about our date was not good. I was far more attracted to Clint, the guy I couldn’t have, than Tomas, the guy who was a good choice for me.
I picked up my phone to cancel, but I froze. I lived with Clint and he was my boss. Trying a relationship with him was just about the stupidest thing I could do. I needed this job and this room until I graduated at least. Maybe a date with Tomas would help me forget about Clint. Pulling out my red dress, I started to get ready for the date.
“I’m home,” I heard Clint say from the hall. I’d asked him for the night off right after Tomas asked me out. Hell. Clint remembered my date when I couldn’t.
“Hey,” Clint called through my door. He knocked softly. “I’m home, I’ve got Nana. The rest of the night is off for you.”
I opened the door slowly. “Thanks.”
“Damn,” he said, dropping his boots on the carpet. “Oh shit.” He scooped up his shoes and snuck a glance at my dress. It was strapless, and even though I’d gotten it at Goodwill, it was tailored to hug every curve. “You got some fun plans? Going out with the girls or something?”
“Actually...” I took a deep breath. “I have a date.”
“A date?” His smile was gone, and suddenly his face was stripped of all emotion. He stepped back and then nodded. “Of course you have a date. Well, have fun.”
“Wait.” I reached out and grabbed his arm as he turned away. “It was before everything happened—before we kissed.”
“Really, Jo, it’s fine.” He smiled. But I knew Clint’s smile, and this one didn’t quite reach his eyes. There was hurt reflecting back at me, and I’d caused it. “It’s not like there’s anything between us. You should go out with him. I hope you have a nice time.”
But there was something between us. Wasn’t there? He went to his room and turned on his stereo, and I held back my tears. I was being stupid. I’d been the one to turn him down. I’d chosen safety with Tomas over the possibility of something more with Clint. It was my choice, and maybe I’d been wrong.
“Jo?” Nana called from the living room. “You promised to show me your dress.”
I was mostly ready. My hair was pulled back into its usual messy bun, so I tamed it into a slightly less messy chignon. Lipstick, shoes, and I was done in record time.
Nana approved of my outfit, and she even helped me pin up a few loose strands of hair. We both sat on the couch, waiting for Tomas to show up. There was no way I could go out with Tomas—it wouldn’t be fair. I would spend the whole night wondering if Clint was disappointed. Tomas deserved a woman who was at least present on the date. I would have to let him down easy when he came to pick me up. I certainly couldn’t tell Nana that the only man I wanted to date was her grandson.
“Is he attractive?” she asked, meaning Tomas. “Smart?”
I laughed, instead thinking of Clint. “Yes. Both.”
“That’s a good combination. My Richard was like that,” she said.
“Will you tell me about Richard?” I asked.
Nana smiled and fiddled with my hair for a while. She was obviously reliving something, by the look on her face. “He was sweet and patient.” She blushed. “He was a very good kisser. That’s very important in marriage. Of course, these days you kids do everything before you get married. You know if they’re a good kisser or not. But back then, we didn’t. It was just the luck of the draw. You know me as an old woman, but I was young once—like you.”
“Oh, Nana,” I grabbed her hands. “I think of you as a vibrant woman. You’re not nearly as old as your years.”
“Aw.” Nana laughed. “You’re good to me. I just wish I could think of a way to keep you in the family.”
“You’re so sweet,” I leaned over and kissed Nana’s cheek. “I think I’m gonna go wait for Tomas on the porch. I don’t want to introduce him to you and Clint. You just don’t do that on the first date.”
I grabbed my jacket and waited on the patio chair. Except I wasn’t waiting for Tomas. I was waiting for Clint to come out and say something. Anything. Or maybe I could be the one to apologize. I’m sorry I kissed you, turned you down, and then made a date with another guy. You’re the one I really want.
I doubted he would believe me.
Chapter Eight
Clint
I got home and discovered Jo had a date—with someone who wasn’t me. It was a fucking hard reality to face. I’d dropped my goddamn greasy boots all over the carpet when I saw how hot she looked. Then my fucking heart dropped into my stomach when she told me she had a date with another guy.
Last night was so damn amazing that it rocked me to my core. I knew that I had no hold on her and she was free to date whoever the hell she wanted, but I wasn’t expecting it to smack me in the face the next day. Damn.
After Nana went to bed, I flipped through the channels. It was nine o’clock and nothing was on. I should have brought home one of the little scooter engines from the shop and rebuilt it in the garage. I tried to pay attention to the crime drama I was watching, but something was wrong. The porch light wasn’t on. I’d left it on for Jo so she’d have light when she came home from her date. Not that I was waiting up or anything.
Grabbing a spare bulb, I stepped out onto the front porch. That was odd. As I started to unscrew the bulb, it was already loose.
“There’s nothing wrong with the light.”
Jo sat in the shadowy corner of the porch. She was wrapped up in her coat and I could see the skirt of her red date dress around her knees.
“Oh.” I screwed the bulb back in and the light flickered on. “What’re you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be out with what’s-his-name?”
“He didn’t show.” Her voice hitched just a little. There were tears in there somewhere.
“Ah, fuck, I’m sorry.” I sat next to her in the other patio chair. “Maybe he got stuck somewhere and couldn’t call?” I didn’t want to make excuses for the asshole, but it could have happened.
A blue light flashed as she turned on her phone. “His text says, ‘My wife doesn’t want me dating yet.’” She shut the phone. “He’s been divorced for nearly a year. Sounds like his ex-wife is jealous and he couldn’t cut the strings.” She sighed. “I didn’t really want to even go out with him, but it still hurts. I guess I sound silly. I should take off this dress. Maybe I’ll even go to bed early.” She sounded hollow. Sad.
Shit. I had to do something.
“I’ll take you out.” Not that. Dammit. “Just as friends. Tonight, so you don’t waste the pretty dress. I mean, I guess you can wear it again so it’s not wasted. But I could take you to dinner tonight and it would just be a friend date.”
Motherfucker. I was an idiot. A wasted dress? A friend date? She’d already turned me down once. I should have just kept my mouth closed rather than sound like a complete moron.
We sat together in the silence. I was fucking glad she didn’t say anything about my stupid diarrhea of the mouth.
“I promise, I’m just trying to be your friend, nothing more.”
She stared at her dark phone. After a while, she finally looked at me and smiled.
“We can’t leave Nana.” She shrugged. “But it was really sweet of you to offer.”
“No one has called me sweet in a really long time.” I smiled. “It’s the vest.”
She began to giggle. I knew I had her attention.
“Just sit here.” A million things were running through my head. “Give me thirty minutes and we’ll go on a date.”
Chapter Nine
Jo
“Okay.” Clint walked back out onto the porch. “Are you ready for our date?”
He’d changed. The vest was gone and in its place was a nice button-down shirt. The shirt stretched just a little too much across his shoulders—I shivered when I t
hought of what those bare shoulders looked like. Instead of jeans, he had on a pair of black slacks. I’d been living in his house for almost a month now and had never seen him like this.
“I won’t bite.” He laughed.
I blinked. He’d been holding out his hand to help me out of the porch chair and I had been too busy staring at his clothes to notice. I grabbed his hand and he helped me to my feet—it was just like when we danced.
He’d taken a shower; I could smell his evergreen soap. But there was something more, something spicy and different. It took me a moment, but then I realized—motor oil. He smelled like evergreen and motor oil.
“Madam?” he said, offering his arm.
Slipping my hand onto his arm, I looked up at him and smiled. I was a beautiful queen with a handsome king by my side.
The kitchen had been transformed. Wineglasses and pretty silverware were set for two on top of a white tablecloth. Three candles in the middle lit the darkness.
“Oh,” I breathed as he led me toward the table.
He pulled out a chair for me. Once I was seated, he returned with two plates full of food. Steak and baked potatoes. “I hope you like your meat done medium,” he said, putting the food down in front of me. “I wasn’t sure.”
“This is too much, Clint,” I whispered as he sat next to me. “I don’t know how you did it all so fast.”
“Don’t ask questions, just enjoy it.” He grinned as he poured me a huge glass of wine.
I nodded, but it was hard to concentrate as the steak melted in my mouth. I closed my eyes.
“This is wonderful,” I said, cutting my next piece. “I haven’t had steak this good in years.”
“Let’s pretend this is a blind date,” he suggested. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself...?”
His voice trailed off and he waited for me to supply a name. I blinked. He was pretending we were total strangers.
“My name is Cheryl and I’m a nurse.” I wiped my mouth with my napkin. This could be fun. Maybe even more fun than my original date with Tomas. Tonight would be a total fantasy. “What’s your name?”
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