More to Love

by Alison Bliss

  Finally, Jessa cried out, her body convulsing around him as her insides gripped his cock and milked him hard. Thank God. He’d been so goddamn close to speaking in tongues that it wasn’t even funny.

  Without hesitation, he lost himself in her. He grunted his release, spilling himself deep inside her as the intense waves of his climax shook him to his core.

  As far as fantasies went, this one was at the top of his list.

  Chapter Eleven

  Max scrubbed at his prickly chin.

  He needed to go home and shave before going to work, but he didn’t want to wake the woman who was sleeping so soundly on his arm. His dead arm. The one that went completely numb an hour ago.

  He didn’t mind though. He liked waking up with her next to him. Her hair cascaded over his shoulder and smelled like the lilac shampoo he’d noticed in the bathroom the night before. He lay there mute, sniffing the great-smelling scent while listening to her soft breathing. In. Out. In. Out. Then she snorted in her sleep.

  He laughed out loud, which instantly woke her. “Max?”

  “I’m right here,” he said, still chuckling. “Go back to sleep.”

  “I can’t. I have to work this morning.” She leaned up and glanced at the clock. “Oh crap. I’m already running a little late.”

  Max watched as she jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom. He was still reclining on the bed with a sheet over his waist when she returned, her wavy hair clipped onto the back of her head. He rubbed at his tingling arm. Thank God he was finally getting some feeling back in it. “Maybe we could call in sick and stay in bed all day.”

  She stood in her closet doorway, riffling through her clothes. “You’re cute and all, but I really can’t.” She tugged on a pair of green capris and buttoned them, then slid on a white top before turning to Max. “If I don’t go, I don’t make any money.”

  He grinned. “I could pay you by the hour to stay home and let me—”

  “Stop right there. Because if you say what I think you’re about to say, you’re going to lose cuteness points with me.”

  He laughed. “You know what I mean.”

  She walked closer to the bed and reached down for her sneakers. But Max grabbed her arm and yanked her on top of him. “Come back to bed with me. I need to have you again.”

  “I never thought I’d say this, Max, but I think five rounds of sex in a twenty-four hour period of time would be overkill.”

  “But I want to make you feel good.”

  “You did. Four other times.”

  He shifted her a little to let her feel how hard he was for her, but he didn’t say anything.

  Her breath quickened. “I know what you’re doing, and it won’t work.”

  “I’m just trying to prove to you that I can make it worth your while if you stay.” He waggled his brows.

  “No need. I have no doubts about your abilities. But I really can’t. Sorry.”

  He frowned at her. “What’s the fun of being a business owner if you can’t even take an unplanned day off once in a while?”

  “It’s not that. I have other people relying on me. I have to get down to the kitchen and help Mario get the truck ready to roll out. Otherwise, I’ll miss the lunch rush.”

  His brow furrowed. “Who’s Mario?” He didn’t mean for his tone to come out so possessive…but it did. Damn it.

  She smoothed a finger across his brow and grinned. “He’s just one of my employees.”

  Confusion washed over him. “Wait a minute. I thought you only had two women who work on your truck with you.”

  “I do. Mary and Lisa. But Mario and Mrs. Howard work at the kitchen that supplies my truck with the things I need.”

  Max didn’t know Mario, but he was very familiar with Mrs. Howard. She was a retired schoolteacher who liked to get into everyone else’s business. The busybody.

  “So you have an actual kitchen too?”

  “Well, sort of. I rented a commercial kitchen that wasn’t being used by anyone else. The owner had no plans for it. It’s small but it works for what I need it for. Also, the owner lets me park the Gypsy Cantina at the back of the lot, which comes in handy.” She glanced away for a moment as if she was thinking about something and then said, “You know, you should get dressed and come with me this morning.”

  So he could run into Mrs. Howard and she could out him in front of Jessa? No fucking way. “I can’t. I have to work too.”

  “Then that’s perfect. The old inspector passed the kitchen already, but it hasn’t been checked again since we’ve been up and running. Just like the food truck had been. So it’s a good opportunity to do that. Besides, you can make sure I’m on the up and up.” She winked at him.

  He shook his head adamantly. “That’s okay. I really don’t need to. I trust that you have everything in order.”

  She sighed. “Max, that’s sweet. And while I appreciate what you’re trying to do, you can’t just disregard it. It’s your job as the health inspector to visit my kitchen, and I expect you to do your job. Just because we slept together doesn’t mean I want you to give me any leniency when it comes to the rules. No special favors. That wouldn’t be right.”

  Great. Of course she thought he was doing her a favor. “It’s fine, Jess. Really.”

  “No, it’s not. Now get dressed. You’re coming with me.” She rolled off of him and started putting on her shoes.

  This is what you get for lying to her, dipshit. Just tell her the fucking truth already…before someone else does. “Jess, I need to, uh…”

  She rose to her feet and fisted her hands on her hips. “Max, I’m not kidding. You aren’t letting me get out of this. It wouldn’t be fair. If you don’t agree to come with me today, I’m going to go up to your office at city hall and fill out an inspection request form just to force you into it. Don’t think I won’t.”

  Fuck. If she went to city hall, she would find out he’d been lying to her anyway. “Okay, fine. I’m coming.”

  Begrudgingly, he shoved the sheet off of him and slid out of the bed. Jessa’s eyes lowered, blatantly gazing with interest at his swinging manhood as he reached for his clothes. She even licked her lips.

  His brow rose. “You sure I can’t interest you in—”

  “Max.”

  He sighed. “Okay, okay. It was worth a shot.”

  She grinned. “If it makes you feel any better, I was tempted to say yes.”

  “Still could, ya know?”

  She shook her head but grinned as she headed to the bedroom door. “I’m going to grab some breakfast before we leave. Do you want anything?”

  At the mention of food, his stomach growled. They’d burned off enough calories last night that he was sure he could eat a small horse. “What are you having?”

  She stopped in the doorway. “Cold pepperoni pizza. I have some leftover in the fridge.”

  Jesus. This woman and her poor eating habits were going to be the death of him. He pulled on his pants and buttoned them. “No, thanks. I need to run home and change so I’ll just grab something while I’m there. Then I can meet you at the kitchen. Where’s it located?”

  “Are you familiar with Bottoms Up?”

  He nodded as he swung his shirt over his shoulders and stuffed his arms into the sleeves and began rolling them up. “Yeah, that’s Logan and Valerie’s bar.”

  “Oh, are they friends of yours?”

  Max shrugged. “Yeah, mostly. Logan and I have a love-hate relationship though.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, when the two of them were getting together, I may have pretended to hit on Valerie to make Logan jealous.”

  She gave him a teasing smile. “Ah, so you’re a troublemaker?”

  “Sometimes,” he said, waggling his brows as he buttoned his shirt. “So your kitchen is near their bar?”

  “No, my kitchen is inside their bar.”

  He squinted at her. “What are you talking about?”

  “The bar has a commercial kitchen
in it. But since Logan and Valerie didn’t have any plans to use it, they let me rent it from them. It’s been a huge help.”

  Shit. So now he had to worry about running into them too? He was so screwed. “Are either of them normally there during the day?”

  “Not usually. But today is delivery day so I know Logan will be.”

  Perfect. So not only was he going to a kitchen where the town’s lead gossip would be, but he would also have to come face-to-face with the one guy who would love to rat Max out the most. Just fucking great.

  * * *

  Jessa rode her bicycle into Bottom Up’s parking lot and coasted around the back of the building. As usual, she tapped her brakes and stopped near the light pole, leaning her bike up against it. Then she looped a security chain around both, locking them together.

  She didn’t think anyone in town would actually steal her bike, but since it was her only mode of transportation beyond the food truck, she refused to take an unnecessary chance. Weird considering all the chances she had taken over the course of the last several months.

  Jessa usually thought of herself as pretty levelheaded. Maybe it had been her free-spirited late mother guiding her decisions from the other side. Because, on a crazy whim, she’d decided to move to Granite and bought a food truck to take along with her. She knew how small the town was, so she hadn’t seen much of a point in keeping her blue sedan. So instead she sold the car on Craig’s List and got herself a bicycle.

  It had actually been a great investment.

  Since the area was well known for its sandy soil, she’d bought a beach cruiser type with wide, oversized tires, a wire basket affixed to the handlebars, and a large, cozy seat. It was built for comfort rather than speed, but it got her from one place to another without any problems. It wasn’t the coolest ride ever, but at least it was functional…and way better on gas than a car.

  When she’d moved to town, the bike had fit easily enough inside her food truck, along with all of her other belongings. After all, Jessa’s mother had taught her the importance of traveling light. They’d never stayed in one place long and always rented fully furnished apartments. So all Jessa had come to town with was her new bike, her clothes, some personal items, and an old cedar chest that held photos and her mother’s traveling journals.

  A thick, familiar accent broke the silence. “Mornin’, boss.”

  She glanced up to see Mario carrying a box of food supplies to the Gypsy Cantina, which was parked close to the kitchen entrance, ready for loading. “Good morning, Mario. Sorry I’m late. I…um, overslept.”

  “No worries. Mrs. Howard is almost done with the food prep. I’m just waiting for her to finish up the last box and then I can load it for you.”

  “Great. Thank you.”

  He nodded his response and stepped into the truck.

  She didn’t know how long it would be before Max would show up, but she couldn’t stand around out here waiting. She had things to do. Thankfully, she’d already given Max instructions to park around back and use the kitchen entrance to get inside. If all else failed, Mario would surely see him and could point him in the right direction.

  Just as she went to rap on the side of the truck to get his attention, her mother’s likeness caught her eye. Every time she looked at the mural on the side of the truck, she remembered how beautiful the woman truly was. Everyone always said that Jessa looked just like her mother since she’d inherited her long waves of fiery red hair, pale skin, and brilliant blue eyes.

  The only differences between them had been the light scattering of freckles on Jessa’s nose and their clothing size. Her mother had been sick though. Terminally ill. While Jessa had always maintained a healthy glow. Sadly, that only served as a gentle reminder that being thin didn’t equal vitality any more than being heavy equaled lethargy.

  Sadness washed over her, but she pushed it away. “Hey, Mario?”

  He poked his head around the side of the truck. “Yeah?”

  “I have a friend stopping by soon. When he gets here, will you point him in my direction?”

  “No problem.”

  “Thanks,” she said, heading inside.

  Mrs. Howard stood at the stainless steel prep table shredding cabbage for the slaw. Though she only worked a few hours every morning, she was in charge of accepting food deliveries, preparing produce ahead of time, and marinating the meats that would be stored overnight in the walk-in cooler and used the next day. She was Jessa’s right hand…and sometimes her conscience.

  The whirring sound of the shredder slowly wound down. “You’re late,” the woman said in an admonishing tone that she probably used a lot during her teaching days.

  “I know. Sorry about that. I…overslept.” With Max. Four times.

  The old woman clucked her tongue. “You know, it doesn’t look good for the boss to be late at her own place of business. That kind of behavior could make her employees want to lollygag as well.”

  Jessa lifted one brow but offered a teasing smile. “Mrs. Howard, were you planning on lollygagging?”

  “Hmm. Maybe not…as long as you get here on time tomorrow,” she said, wiping her hands on a towel. “I might need a good role model to keep me in line.”

  Jessa laughed. Leave it to this woman to try to use reverse psychology on her. Mrs. Howard had probably done the same with her students. “I’ll be here on time tomorrow, I promise.”

  Mrs. Howard’s mouth crinkled around the edges. “Good.” She turned toward the large washbasin and grabbed the hanging water nozzle and began spraying the dirty pans in the sink. “I’m just going to wash up these few dishes before I leave.”

  “That’s okay. Why don’t you go ahead and go. I can do them for you.”

  “It’s not a problem. I still have half an hour before I get off. Mario’s going to load the bucket of shredded cabbage onto the truck, so there’s really nothing left for me to do anyway.”

  A loud banging sound came from the other side of the wall. Both women jolted, and Mrs. Howard’s hand flew to her chest. “My goodness. What in the world?”

  Jessa walked over to the wall and touched it. Something from the other side bumped the wall once again, making it vibrate beneath her fingers. “I think the bar’s storeroom is on the other side of this wall.” She dropped her hand and shrugged. “I know it’s delivery day. They must’ve dropped off Logan’s liquor order already.”

  Mrs. Howard glanced at the clock on the wall. “This early?”

  Hmm. Good point.

  The kitchen received early morning deliveries only because Jessa ordered most of her meat, eggs, and produce from the local farmers in the area. But Logan probably wouldn’t receive an alcohol delivery this early. At least he never had in the past.

  Mario stepped inside just as something else thudded against the wall. A puzzled expression warped his face. “What’s that noise?”

  Jessa shook her head. “We don’t know. It’s definitely coming from the bar though.”

  Worry creased Mrs. Howard’s forehead. “Do you think someone broke in? Maybe we should call the police?”

  Unconcerned, Mario lifted the bucket of shredded cabbage and carried it toward the door. “No. Logan’s definitely over there. I saw his truck out front.” Then Mario disappeared through the open doorway.

  “Maybe Valerie is with him,” Mrs. Howard said, winking. “The two of them can’t seem to keep their hands off one another.”

  Jessa giggled at first but then remembered something worrisome. Max would probably be showing up there any minute, and he’d already told her that he and Logan had a love-hate relationship. If the sound coming through the wall was actually Logan and Valerie getting it on, Max could possibly close down their bar. He was the health inspector, for Christ’s sake.

  Damn it. Maybe inviting Max to inspect her kitchen today wasn’t such a good idea after all. Not if it was going to get Logan and Valerie in trouble with the health department. If either of them actually started moaning while Max was the
re, he would surely know what was going on.

  God, why hadn’t she thought to warn them first?

  Maybe she still could. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to go over and let them know that we can hear them before the sounds escalate into something more.”

  Mrs. Howard continued washing the dishes but nodded. “That’s probably wise. I definitely don’t want to hear what’s going on over there.”

  Jessa pulled out her keys and used them to unlock the door leading into the bar. She traipsed down the employee hallway toward the storage room but paused at the door when she heard something slide across the floor. What the hell was Logan doing to Valerie in there—screwing her so hard she slid across the floor?

  She knocked on the metal door. “Hello?”

  There was a slight pause. “Hey, Jess. Is that you?”

  “Yeah, I just wanted to let you know that the walls are really thin.” The door flew open, and her hand instantly slapped over her eyes.

  “Um, Jess?”

  “Yes?”

  “Is there a specific reason as to why you’re covering your eyes?” Logan asked, his voice radiating confusion and maybe a bit of humor.

  “I, uh…Are you decent?”

  “Yeah.”

  She peeked through her fingers to see a fully dressed Logan standing in front of her. Thank God. “Where’s Valerie?”

  “She’s at home. Still sleeping, I believe. I just came up here early to rearrange the storeroom before the delivery truck gets here. Valerie said she wanted to do it this evening, but I didn’t want her lifting all of these heavy boxes.”

  “Oh, that’s sweet. And now everything makes sense too. We kept hearing weird noises coming through the wall on the other side. We thought for a minute that you and Valerie were, uh…” Her cheeks heated.

  Logan chuckled. “I have to say, I like your version of my workday way better than my actual one.”

  “Sorry. I’m glad it wasn’t what it seemed like. Even if it was, I wouldn’t normally…ah, interrupt. But I needed to warn you that I invited the new health inspector to come check out the kitchen. I hope you don’t mind.”