by Calinda B
“And where’s your safety protection? If you were to crash your heads would explode like pumpkins.”
Great visual, Zoé thought.
“I know, I know,” Jace said. “We were being reckless. We’ll learn.”
“You don’t want to learn the hard way, son, by ending up dead.”
“No, sir, point taken.”
“Good. Off with you now,” he said.
The little dog barked.
“Thanks for watching out for us,” Zoé added, a mixture of shame and embarrassment pooling inside at having been caught. So much for being wild, she thought. “We’re heading that way,” she said contritely, pointing in the direction of the stuff they left behind.
“Uh huh,” the middle aged man said.
Jace revved the engine a couple times. “Sounds like we fixed it.”
“Sounds like,” the gentleman agreed.
“Thanks again,” Jace said. “Climb on, honey.”
“Okay, babe,” she said, playing along. She positioned herself behind Jace, placing her hands on his shoulders. She hoped she looked respectable. Her face felt aflame with heat. She wanted nothing more than to crawl under a big rock and hide.
Jace slowly eased out onto the road and drove away at a senior citizen’s speed. When they got out of sight, he kicked it up and they sped back to the turnout.
When he parked, she practically leapt from the bike. She gave an angry kick to the helmet lying on the ground, sending it spinning. “What was I thinking? That was so stupid of me.”
“What’s the matter? I thought it was hot, especially the Hollywood moment. That seemed like a classic movie scene.”
“Yeah, of a porno movie,” Zoé said, her voice shrill and tight. “And I let you enter me without protection! What was I thinking? Oh, jeez, I’ve been reckless!”
“Baby, calm down.” Jace climbed off the bike and came over to her, grabbing her by the shoulders.
“We could have been arrested for public indecency!” She brushed away his hands and resumed pacing. “This isn’t me! I shouldn’t have done this!”
“Zoé. Baby. Stop. We did nothing wrong.”
“We did everything wrong. We had sex in a public place! In that old man’s driveway!”
“It wasn’t exactly public. I haven’t seen a car on the road all night,” Jace said with a small chuckle. “We’re blanketed by nightfall. Baby, stop.”
She came to a halt and looked at him.
He regarded her with his emerald pools and her frantic worry melted.
“I…I’m not used to this. I’ve never…” She bit her lip and looked away.
“Had sex on an Angel?” he said.
“No. I’ve never even had sex in the great outdoors.”
“It came to you quite naturally,” Jace said. “Eyes over here, please.”
She met his gaze.
He came close to her. “Are you telling me you didn’t like what we did?”
“No,” she said in a small, stupid sounding voice. “I’m not saying that.”
“So no harm, no foul. Babe, it was a hot thing to do. I had a lot of ideas kicking around in my skull but you took the prize. Fucking hot,” he said to her. He let his fingers splay on both sides of his head, as if fireworks were exploding. “And it did nothing to whet my appetite. Here, see?” He grabbed her hand and placed it over his hard cock.
She smiled shyly and bit her lip. “Isn’t that kind of quick?”
“Kind of. With you, I…” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I want you, Zoé. All the fucking time. I know we just met but thoughts of you hum in my head constantly.”
“Which one?” she said, smiling sweetly.
He laughed. “Both of them. When one stops humming the other takes over.”
She threw back her head and groaned. “What are you doing to me, Jace Savage? I feel like that’s going to be my mantra with you. Already I’ve done more and felt more than all my relationships combined.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “For one, you’re going to help me scratch this itch I feel,” he said, rocking his hips into her belly. “And for two, you’re going to let yourself live. You heard me say to your dad that I like to live on the edge. I don’t believe in playing it safe.”
“Hence, the trouble,” she said into his shoulder.
“Yeah, that, too. But I also have a lot of fun on this planet. You will too. Let’s be wild together, baby. Wild and uncontrolled, like savages.”
She giggled. “It was funny when that guy drove up to us and you were all, ‘sorry, sir, I thought I was having engine trouble’. I thought your engine worked just fine.”
He laughed and the sound rumbled into her chest. “Yeah, and you’re standing there all prim and proper with our combined juices dripping down the inside of your legs.”
“It did not!” she said indignantly.
“Did, too. I kept glancing at it, wondering when you’d notice.” He let out a huge belly laugh. “Damn, girl.”
She shoved him away, patting the inside of her legs, finding the dried semen. “God, Jace, you’re impossible! You think that’s funny?”
“Sure do.” He quieted as she fumed. “Zoé, let go into life. I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”
“How much trouble will we get in? Because I’m a straight A student in college and a model citizen,” she said, smiling ever so slightly. As she said it she realized how dull it sounded. “A model citizen who’s looking for a new way of life, it seems,” she said, letting her shoulders sag. “I need to let go of being so horribly responsible all the time,” she said wearily.
“You’ve come to the right place, girl,” Jace said. He pulled her back against his chest.
She encircled her arms around him and held him tight, breathing in his earthy scent.
“Feel better?” he asked her.
“Mm hmm. Much.”
“Okay, now, about helping me with that itch?”
She laughed. “Jace, Jace, Jace…you’re going to be my undoing.”
Chapter 12
Jace called Neil to arrange to arrive late today. Since he was one of Neil’s most trusted employees, he’d said okay, especially when Jace offered to stay late to make up missed time.
“You’re a good guy, Jace. You’re probably the only one here who’s that conscientious.”
When Jace pulled up to the dock at 10 a.m., he noticed a couple of dour, suited men getting into their expensive cars. Trepidation filled his gut.
“We have a bit of a problem,” Neil said, when he entered the break room.
“What is it?” Jace said, as he dropped his keys in his locker. Thoughts of Zoé hummed in his system. Sex, all night long. Mmm.
“It’s Billy. Apparently you roughed him up a bit the other night.” Neil glanced at Jace’s bruised hand. “He sent his lawyers over here today.”
“Fuck,” Jace said, slamming shut the metal locker.
“Yeah, fuck is right. According to his lawyers - and I know this is unfounded - but according to his lawyers he’s received shoddy treatment here, you’re the culprit, and he wants damages to the tune of two million dollars.”
“What? Are you kidding me?” Jace slammed the metal locker with a resounding bang.
“Nope. We can’t afford this, Jace, you know this. I’m barely holding on as it is. I can’t afford lawyer’s fees and missed time from work to deal with Billy O’Reilly and his bullshit.” He huffed out a sigh. “You’ve got to stop using force to solve problems. You’re a smart guy. Use your smarts.”
Jace sat down wearily. So much for the high from last night. “Goddamn it. You want to know why I hit him?”
“You want to tell me?”
“He was coming after a girl I like, behaving like a foul predator. He already messed up one relationship. I’m not going to let him mess up another. Fuck,” he growled again. “And I’ve had it up to here with his bullshit.” Jace slashed his hand at eye level. “He comes in late, wants me to cover
for him, he’s useless at the yard. This is complete bullshit.”
“I know that and you know that. Tell that to his lawyers. They’re a couple of well-paid pricks.”
“Goddamn it.” He scrubbed his face with his hands, desperately wanting this to go away. “So what’s on the books today? I still have to sand the rest of that boat bottom. I have about an hour’s worth of work on that. Two tops. Then, I’ll get to work on prepping it for the Vinylester Gel Coat and bottom paint. What’s after that?”
“Back on the Selene. That one still needs a lot of work. Did you get the stabilizers repaired?”
“Yep, got that done last week. Also changed the zincs.”
“Okay, good. The cutlass bearing needs to be replaced. You’ll go back and forth between the Rival and the Selene until they’re done.”
“Is Billy still working here?”
“Haven’t heard to the contrary. I’m sure he hasn’t told the old man of the lawsuit.” Neil rubbed his eyes tiredly. He reached for the coffee pot brewing on the counter, and lifted it toward Jace. “Want some?”
“Yeah, thanks.” He accepted the offered cup and took a welcome swallow. “You ever thought of cutting him loose? Sending Billy packing?”
“Oh, you know it.” Neil slumped down in the chair opposite Jace. He sipped his coffee, poured more creamer in it, and stirred it with a plastic stir stick. “But his dad’s gifted the wooden boat school on more than one occasion and that school is one of our largest sources of clientele. Plus, I teach classes over there. Daddy dearest wants Billy to learn a useful skill. He pays us to employ him.”
“Seriously? The dipshit gets all his fucking allowance money and his dad pays to keep him here? You never told me that. Damn.”
“I know, it’s sick, right? His dad helps keep the wheels turning while Billy tries to destroy them. This town is too small to make big waves.”
Jace’s phone blipped and he pulled it out of his pocket. Mmm he read. Loved getting into trouble with you. He grinned, distracted, his cock giving an instant stir of approval.
“Nice text?” Neil asked.
“What?” Jace looked up. “Oh, yeah. It’s this new girl.”
“Looks like she’s rocking your boat,” Neil said with a smile.
“Big time. She’s the reason I’m late today. I promise I won’t make it a regular thing,” he added quickly.
The door to the break room opened and Billy swaggered in, squashing his thoughts of Zoé.
“Hey, guys,” he said cheerily. “How’s everybody?” His face had angry reddish purple bruises along the left side. “Oh, Neil, I’ll be setting my own hours from now on. No offense, but the lawyers said I need to take care of my pain and suffering. You understand. It’s a legal thing.”
“It’s a bullshit thing is what it is,” Jace said, his voice low and menacing.
“Jace,” Neil said in a clipped tone.
“Funny thing,” Billy said, striding cockily to his locker. “I got in a fight with someone this weekend. Both Jasmine and Simone took pity on me and gave me extra special care. Might have to get hit on the other side.”
“That can easily be arranged,” Jace said, mentally pulverizing Billy with his fists and an iron bar.
“Don’t start with me, Jace,” Billy said. He gave Jace an icy stare. “I’ll have to report in to my lawyers. They’re documenting everything that goes on here and I mean everything.” He smirked at Jace.
Jace wanted to take the sander to his face, grinding the skin off - and that was for starters. “Even your tardiness, calling in sick because you’re hung over and shit like that?”
Billy recoiled. Said nothing.
“Why don’t you head on out to the Rival, Jace? I’ll deal with our friend, here.”
“Right,” Jace said. He slammed the door as he walked out, roiling with anger. His phone pinged again.
Hey handsome. Want to get into more trouble? I get off work at 7.
His cock did a little dance in his pants again. He thought of Marni. Sorry, girl, I’ll have to take a raincheck.
Maybe Thurs?
Too far, she messaged. Miss you now.
Miss you too. Want to be inside you. Weds? Marni wasn’t even going to know his face. Some stable guardian I am, he thought. “My goddamned sister,” he muttered.
At the boat, he read, k, I can wait til Weds. Xo, Z. He blew out his breath, torn between obligation and passion.
At lunchtime, he drove over to Aunt Molly’s house to check on Marni. His entire mood turned black when he heard her insistent screams coming from inside the house.
“Hi, Jace,” Aunt Molly said, when she opened the front door. She held the screaming child on her hips. “Our girl Marni seems to have caught a cold. She’s running a fever.”
“Shit,” he said. So much for Wednesday.
Marni, her face covered with snot and tears, reached for him.
He grabbed her and slung her over his shoulder. “There, there, baby girl, Uncle Jace is here,” he said tiredly. Which is not where I want to be.
Her cries turned into soft whimpers as she clung to him, sending his heart into the melt zone again.
“I only have forty-five minutes before I have to go back to work.”
“I know. We can watch her the rest of the day but I’m afraid your uncle and I have plans tonight that we can’t change.”
“I understand,” he said, feeling stretched six ways to Sunday. “What time do you have to leave?”
“We have to leave by…” She held her wristwatch up and studied it. “We can get away with leaving by six fifteen. Will that work for you?”
He sighed. “I’ll have to make it work. I got in late today and told the boss I’d stay late. I’ll just have to pull a couple weekenders.” He thought of Zoé and wiped his forehead with his free hand.
“Want to come in? I just brewed some ice tea and I believe there’s tuna in the ‘fridge.”
“Yeah, thanks. Tuna sandwich would be great.”
Once he settled on the back deck, still holding Marni, munching on his sandwich, his aunt said, “Did you have fun last night?”
“Did I ever,” he said, brightening. “I enjoy the hell out of Zoé.”
“And your face is lit up like a torch. Must be a sign.” She winked at him.
“We’ll see. Her name is Zoé Dubois. Sounds exotic, huh?”
“It’s a pretty name.”
“She’s a pretty girl,” Jace grinned.
His aunt’s eyebrows rose. “I can see you think so. I hope it works for you. You’ve been pretty sad since you and Kate broke up.”
“More like pissed off and determined,” he said. “I saw her a couple days ago. She’s moving to California. I took that as a good sign to start pursuing Zoé.”
Marni let out a snuffly little sigh.
“Is she asleep?”
“Sound asleep.” Aunt Molly stroked her curls. “She sure loves you.”
“Yeah. I’m just available,” he said dismissively. “I don’t remember ticking the box that asked if I wanted to be a dad right now.”
“All we can do is hope your sister comes around.”
“Fat chance of that,” Jace said with a grumble. “But we can hope. Anyway, I’ve got to head back to work. Let’s see if I can put her down without waking her.”
As he slowly got to his feet, attempting not to wake the little one in his arms, his aunt asked, “Is everything all right, dear? You seem troubled.”
“You know how I feel about my sister and this situation.”
“I don’t mean to pry but I sense that something else is on your mind.”
“Remember I told you about the trouble with Billy?”
“Yes.”
“More of the same. He’s nothing but a shit.”
Marni stirred and whimpered.
“Shhh,” he said, jiggling her up and down.
“Want to tell me about it? You still have a few minutes.” She reached for their plates, cru
mpling up the paper napkins inside the ice tea glasses.
“Auntie, I really don’t. I have a lot on my mind. And I don’t want to mess things up with Zoé. I need to get this shit sorted before I introduce her to our fair hamlet. Let’s just say it’s a hell of a time to start a new relationship.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“You’re already doing enough with kid care. Just wish me luck. I’ll figure it out.”
“You know we’re here for you.”
“I know. This one’s on me to figure out. You and practically half the town have helped me out at one time or another.” He smiled at her ruefully. “I figure I have to grow up sooner or later. May as well be now. Just so long as I can do it Savage style,” he added, giving her wink.
“Lord help us, child. I can only imagine. If it’s going to be Savage style we’re all in for trouble.”
Chapter 13
At Tony and Tanya’s Garden Supplies in one of the outer regions of Seattle, Zoé hefted the last tray of chrysanthemums into the back of her friend Tanya’s truck as the sun slid along its lazy Indian summer descent. She lifted the dirty white tailgate into place, immersed in thoughts of Jace, and gave it a shove to lock it into position. “That’s the last of the mums, Tanya. You’ve got your Goatsbeard, Alpine Strawberries, Blanket Flower and Lewisia. Oh, and the Blue Lupine, too. It’s going to be a beautiful garden of native plants when you’ve finished with it.”
“Thanks,” Tanya said, pushing her sweat stained, light brown hair out of her eyes, leaving a smudge of dirt on her cheek. Her denim shirt and pants were covered with grime. “I appreciate you helping me out on short notice. Haven’t seen much of you lately. Want to go get a drink when I get back?”
“Sorry, can’t,” Zoé said, her face turning its typical crimson. “I’m a mess.” She looked down at her dirty work clothes. “And I have a date.”
“A date, huh? So you heave-hoed that Billy guy?”
“More like he dropped me once he sampled me but I’m glad. Jace is wonderful.” She removed her garden gloves and placed them on one of the wooden tables holding potted plants.
“Where are you going?”
“Not sure yet. He said it’s a surprise.”