by Fiala, PJ
Watching her walk to her bike, with the little bling on the pockets of her jeans catching the light, his cock jumped. She climbed on her bike, started it up, and pulled away. His cock started dancing in his pants again. Looking over, he noticed Gunnar watching him. He nodded to Gunnar and turned to trek back to his office. A couple more things to finish up tonight and he could head home.
Jeremiah sat at his desk, looking over the notes from the meeting, but his mind kept wandering back to the beautiful, sandy-haired, gray-eyed woman he had just met. Sleep wasn’t going to come easy tonight.
Chapter 3
Logo
Joci clapped her hands together in front of her as she stared at the wall. “That looks fantastic!” Four months had passed since she had designed the logo for Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, Inc. The logo was all black, featuring an inferno motorcycle in the middle and flames shooting off the back of the bike. Rolling Thunder was in orange and yellow on either side of the motorcycle, and Motorcycles, Inc. was painted under the bike. The bold colors and design were stunning.
Jeremiah stood next to her with his arms crossed, staring at it. The painter had just finished an hour ago. Gunnar, JT, Ryder, and the other employees strode in behind them.
“Holy fuck. That is so fucking cool!” JT exclaimed.
“Very cool. Wow, fucking sexy logo, Mom,” Gunnar said.
Others offered their opinions as they admired the painter’s handy work. The shop had closed at noon to allow the painter to finish his work. Since it was a Monday, their slowest day, it didn’t really matter, and Jeremiah wanted the painter to finish before their meeting tonight.
“Why don’t we pull some tables out of the back room and have our meeting down here tonight so we can admire the new logo?” Jeremiah said.
The employees scampered around, locating tables and chairs to set up in the showroom.
“You did a fabulous job with it, Joci. Thank you. This really gets the juices flowing. Know what I mean? Breathes new life into the shop and the ride.”
Joci looked over at Jeremiah. Wow, what a great compliment. “Ah…thank you. That’s very nice of you to say.”
“I mean it. Since you’ve been coming here and helping us organize the ride, everyone has a renewed sense of what we’re doing. I’m fortunate with all these great employees, but something tells me we were just phoning it in. Now…well, just look at their faces. Everyone is stoked. You’ve added organization, purpose, and cohesiveness to this ride and this business.”
Joci turned to face Jeremiah. “Thank you.” Her voice was soft, but sincere.
Jeremiah smiled at her, causing Joci’s heart rate to kick up a few notches. “Have dinner with me.”
Joci blinked. Her tongue felt stuck to the top of her mouth. God, she wanted to go out with him so badly. But she couldn’t. LuAnn was still hanging around, and while Gunnar had told Joci they weren’t an item and didn’t date, LuAnn had made it clear that Dog was hers.
“Joci?”
Joci shook her head to set her thoughts straight, “I…ah…I can’t, Jeremiah.”
“Fuck you, bitch. Get the fuck away from me.”
Joci looked over to see Gunnar’s face scrunched up, addressing LuAnn.
Joci looked back at Jeremiah. “I don’t think Gunnar likes your girlfriend very much. I hope it doesn’t cause problems between you two.”
Jeremiah opened his mouth to say something, his brow furrowed, and he closed his mouth again. Joci turned and walked over to the tables that had been set up for the meeting. Gunnar pointed to a seat between him and the head of the table, where Jeremiah would sit.
LuAnn watched Joci sit in the chair she wanted to occupy and hissed under her breath, “Bitch, better watch it.”
Joci looked at LuAnn and flicked her gaze to Jeremiah, who was walking toward the table. He sat at the head of the table, brows furrowed, and said, “It’s time to get started.”
The meeting started, though the mood had shifted. Jeremiah was short and edgy. LuAnn was pissy, and any time Joci opened her mouth to contribute, LuAnn scoffed, shut her down, or generally made a snide comment, so Joci stopped talking altogether. Sensing the mood, everyone else also shut down.
Jeremiah huffed out a gruff “Let’s call it a night. We’ll meet back here in four weeks. Thanks, everyone.”
* * * * *
There it was again, `I can’t, not I won’t or don’t want to.’ What the fuck did she mean, she can’t go out with him? This was frustrating as hell. For the past four months, all he had thought of was Joci. He didn’t sleep at night. His cock was constantly hard. He had gone to The Barn a couple of times thinking he would pick someone up and get his rocks off, but looking around the bar, no one caught his interest like Joci did. Then the girlfriend comment. LuAnn wasn’t his fucking girlfriend. What the fuck did that shit mean?
A few days later, Jeremiah was working on a bike in the shop, and Gunnar walked in. Gunnar pulled out some tools and walked over to Jeremiah. “What’s up, Dog?”
“Hold that for me, Gunnar. I’m going to pull the back tire off and make some adjustments.” They worked together a while until Jeremiah couldn’t take it anymore.
“What’s up with your mom, Gunnar? She doesn’t date?”
“You interested in my mom, Dog?”
“I’ve asked her out a couple of times now, but she says she can’t. Not won’t or doesn’t want to. She says can’t. What the fuck does that mean?”
Gunnar released a loud breath. “Well, my dad really did a number on her, Dog. He knocked her up and left. She caught him cheating with her best friend. Later, she found out he had screwed almost everyone she knew, including my mom’s Aunt Susan. She was devastated. For years, she never even looked at a man. Then, when I was about thirteen, she started dating again. Cocksucker cheated on her, too. So, she just doesn’t want to get hurt again.”
So, he had to be patient. Well, it explained a lot. They kept working on the bike together in silence, each lost in thought.
“Why does she think LuAnn is my girlfriend?”
“Oh, yeah, I forgot. She asked me if you two dated, and I told her no. But she said LuAnn told her to stay away from you. LuAnn made it seem like you two are in a relationship.”
“That’s why she’s been so clingy lately. Fuck.”
So Jeremiah now had a better idea about what was going on with Joci. He was going to approach her differently from this point forward.
Chapter 4
Let’s Start Over
“So, I was thinking. If you add this to the Rolling Thunder Motorcycles website, anyone already on the site will be able to easily click on the Veteran’s Ride information. We can capture early sign-ups, which should relieve some congestion on ride day. We can have a separate table set up for those who have pre-registered, where they can get their wrist bands and swag before we ride.” Joci smiled at Jeremiah as she explained her marketing strategy.
“This is amazing, Joci. We’ve never had this so organized. How have I been able to pull this off before? When I look back on it, I’m almost embarrassed at the state of organized disorganization I had here.” Jeremiah looked into her eyes and held her gaze.
Joci’s heart was thumping away loudly in her chest. She could hear her heart beat in her ears, drowning out almost everything else. Everything except Jeremiah’s low, soothing voice as it slid over her. Gawd. Her resolve was waning where he was concerned. He had taken great pains to let her know that he was not with LuAnn over the past three and a half months. At the ride meetings, he always made sure LuAnn sat at the opposite end of the table, while Joci sat next to him.
“This is going to be amazing. I bet we have more riders than ever before,” Ryder stated, smiling at Joci.
“That’s true,” JT chimed in. “You should hear all the comments and compliments from customers on the logo. Every day, someone says something about it.”
“Oh bullshit, JT. I never hear anyone comment on the fucking logo.” LuAnn’s snarl hit an all
-time low as she leveled her sights on Joci. “It’s not like she cured cancer or anything. I’m sick of hearing how great it is.” LuAnn jumped up from her seat and walked out.
Ryder smirked as she left and looked at Joci where he smiled brightly. “I think it’s fucking HOT!”
Joci smiled at Ryder and nodded once at his compliment. “Thank you, Ryder.”
“Okay, now that we’ll have some peace and quiet, let’s get down to work.” Jeremiah smiled. Laughter erupted around the room at the little joke.
Joci lost herself in the meeting. It was enjoyable without LuAnn. She knew she wouldn’t be sniped at every time she said something. The others in the room were in high spirits as they threw ideas around and worked out minor details.
* * * * *
“Gunnar, thanks for figuring that out. The parking has been an issue from the beginning. I don’t know how you got Mrs. Wilkes to agree to let us use her land, but thanks.” Jeremiah said with a smirk on his face.
Gunnar was a nice-looking man, so the women always said. He knew exactly how Gunnar had gotten Mrs. Wilkes to agree to let them use her land. One big smile from him with those dimples like his mom’s, and the old lady probably puddled in her undies. Jeremiah had been trying to get her to let them use her land for years now. He had tried buying it, renting it, borrowing it. Nothing. She wanted nothing to do with him or Rolling Thunder. A couple of visits from Gunnar and suddenly, they could use her land, provided they mowed it, kept it neat, and returned it to her in better condition than they got it to begin with.
“Thanks, Dog. So, we need some volunteers to go over and start taking care of it. We’ll need to mow it and plant a barrier of evergreens. They won’t be very big this year, but I thought if we planted them in a row between her house and the field she’s letting us use, it’ll give her the privacy she’s concerned with.”
Gunnar’s comments were to the group at large, but focused on JT and Ryder.
“I don’t want that old bag watching me plant trees on her property,” JT hissed.
“All she wants is a little eye candy for a day or two. Since when don’t you want a woman to look at you?” Gunnar shot back, smiling broadly.
Deacon laughed. “Besides, you’re on a dry spell right now anyway. Maybe she’ll put out for you, JT.”
“Fuck you, Deacon.” JT snapped.
“Okay, okay.” Jeremiah was laughing at the banter. This was the most enjoyable meeting to date. “April 10th. Let’s plan on being over there at eight o’clock sharp and begin working on Mrs. Wilkes’ property. Gunnar, you and JT want to go over after the meeting and schmooze with her and let her know we’ll have a bunch of shirtless men out on her property beginning then?”
Gunnar smiled at JT and nodded, while JT wrinkled his face.
Jeremiah looked around the room at this group of people. He was a very fortunate man. Though he hadn’t enjoyed the company of a good woman as a constant in his life, he had this. Last year, Gunnar joined his shop, and this year, Joci started helping with the ride and marketing. When he first met Gunnar, there was something about him that instantly clicked with Jeremiah. He had hired Gunnar on the spot, and had been proven right a number of times. His boys loved Gunnar, and Gunnar loved them back. They went out together, teased, cajoled, and generally enjoyed each other.
Now he had to get Joci to come completely into the fold. He wanted her to be that constant in his life. He looked forward to days when he would see her. He went to bed most nights jerking off to thoughts of her.
“Okay. Two weeks back here. The ride is less than three months away. Thanks, everyone.”
All the staff members got up and started throwing garbage away and filtering out of the room. “Joci, I’d like a word please.”
Joci looked at him and his breath caught. “How can I help?” She had a little smile on her face, which created those irresistible dimples and his cock jerked in his pants.
Jeremiah looked up and noticed everyone else had left the room. “I want to start over.”
Joci’s brows furrowed. “Start over?”
Extending his hand, Jeremiah’s grin spread across his face, “My name is Jeremiah. I’m single with two grown boys. I work hard and I’m honest. I ride motorcycles, and eat hamburgers and brats. I drink beer, and I love my parents. And you are?”
Joci laughed. Start over, okay. She laid her palm against his and looked him in the eye. “Hi. My name is Joci. I’m a single mother with a grown son. I’m a graphic designer and often have my head in my latest project. I’m honest and dependable. I ride motorcycles, eat hamburgers, drink wine coolers, and love my son and my sister. Nice to meet you, Jeremiah.”
With their hands still linked together, Jeremiah’s eyes never left Joci’s. Great start over.
Chapter 5
So This Is How It’s Going To Go
Jeremiah burst out laughing.
“That’s not funny,” Joci grumbled.
“Joci, the look on your face is priceless. And, yes, it is funny.” Jeremiah grabbed paper toweling from the counter and handed it to Joci. She had walked into the break room at Rolling Thunder to grab a bottle of water before the meeting when she interrupted a beer fight between Chase and Deacon. She hadn’t gotten hit with any beer, or very much anyway, but she squealed as she saw the beer flying, causing Jeremiah and the boys to laugh at her.
She grabbed the toweling from Jeremiah as the guys all muttered “Sorry” and started cleaning up the room.
“Do you always squeal like a little girl?” Jeremiah teased.
“What does that mean? I didn’t squeal.” Joci feigned irritation, but the smirk on her face gave her away. As she stood here now, even she realized she did squeal like a little girl.
Jeremiah stepped close, very close. “I thought it was cute. Actually, I thought it was sexy.”
Joci’s breath caught in her throat. He thought she was sexy? Gawd, she thought he was sexy. Every time she looked at him, her core tightened and tingled. She grew wet and wanting. This past ten months, she had grown to know him. She liked what she saw, physically and on a deeper level.
She loved watching him with the boys. He was a great boss, a great father and more and more, she saw how he was with Gunnar. It took her breath away.
Her voice breathy, all she could say was, “Jeremiah.”
* * * * *
Jesus. She whispered his name and his dick ached. Ten months. Ten fucking months he had wanted her. Now that he had gotten to know her a little more, he needed her. His body wanted her, but he needed her in his life. She was great with his boys. She laughed and joked with them. Ryder gravitated to her in an inexplicable way. Jeremiah noticed that on meeting nights, Ryder would watch the door for Joci to come in.
He was done waiting. The Veteran’s Ride was tomorrow. They were having an afternoon meeting for the core group and later that evening, with all the volunteers. Then, she was going to be his.
“Here’s how this is gonna go, Joci. We’re going to finish this meeting. Tonight, after we meet with the volunteers, we’re going home together. No more of you avoiding me. I want you, Joci, and you want me. I don’t want to hear ‘you can’t’ because you sure as hell can. We can. We will.”
Joci looked into his eyes. Her throat was dry and she didn’t think she could speak. Jeremiah reached up and touched her cheek with the back of his fingers, neither of them breaking eye contact. Neither of them wanting to move.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Joci jumped back. Fucking LuAnn! What a buzz kill. All those warm, fuzzy feelings flew right out the window when she was around.
“Last time I checked, I didn’t have to explain myself to you. Still don’t.” Jeremiah’s snarl caused LuAnn to take a step back.
“Well…I thought we were supposed to be having a meeting, not making out.”
Jeremiah looked at Joci, “We’ll talk after the meeting. Yeah?”
Hesitating briefly, Joci said, “Yeah.” She nodded and turned to walk
down the hall to the conference room.
She stepped through the doorway, fighting the urge to turn her head and see what was happening between Jeremiah and LuAnn. Then she felt someone behind her and felt his lips close to her ear say, “Tonight.” Oh, lordy. Her stomach flipped and she became instantly wet. Her breathing felt constricted.
He walked around her and took a seat at the head of the table and looked at her with a smirk on his face. He motioned with his head for her to take the seat next to his and immediately said, “Okay, let’s get started. We have a ton of stuff to cover.”
* * * * *
Standing to leave, Gunnar looked at his mom. “Mom, you want to ride a little before the meeting tonight? We haven’t ridden for a while. I thought I could take you to eat somewhere, and then we’ll ride over here.”
Joci chanced a quick look at Jeremiah. He grinned and nodded slightly. “That sounds like a great idea. But after the meeting, she’s mine.”
Gunnar looked at his mom, eyes wide, a broad smile spread across his face. “Yeah? Awesome.”
Jeremiah’s smile grew, “Yeah. Awesome. I’ll see you two later. I have a few things to get ready before the meeting tonight.”
Joci’s face was flame red as she watched Jeremiah walk out of the room.
Gunnar snickered. “It’s about time, Mom. He’s a great guy, and he’s been hung up on you for so long. I’ll swing by your house around 4:30 and we can ride a little before we eat. Good?”
She nodded, “Yeah. Good. I’ll see you then, Honey.”
Joci walked out of the conference room in a daze. What just happened in here? First, Jeremiah told her how it was going to be, then he told Gunnar she was his! Holy shit!
Chapter 6
Ride Meeting
“Mom, what’s taking you so long?”