Father & Son: Book two of the Jensen Family Series

by Michelle Day

  “Paul is probably the most determined, hard working, charismatic person you could ever meet. He’s hard headed, has a quick mind and a large and generous heart. He treats us all as equals and refuses to let us do anything he wouldn’t do himself and if that means getting into a ditch up to your armpits in dirt, I guarantee you, he’s the first one in and the last one out.

  “He doesn’t know what giving up is and he’s turned up on site with broken bones and still grabbed a shovel and started to dig. What he has achieved with the gardening business in itself is a major achievement for someone who is still so young but he’s raised the company from its knees and made it into the successful, well run company it is today and he does it all while working two other jobs, juggling his time and keeping us all fully employed and enjoying what we do.

  “He has shown each and every one of us who have the honour of working for him that he’s a good listener and he’s not afraid to own up to not understanding something, his sense of fair play along with his sense of humour is outstanding and I consider myself and my work mates extremely lucky to call him boss and friend.” Phil left the stage to rapturous applause for although his words had been simple, it was clear to all that they were heartfelt.

  Coming to his feet as the man he now called his business partner approached, Paul reached for his hand, looking him in the eye and drew a breath to speak but found he had no words to express his current feelings. Instead, he reached for Phil and pulled him into a hug in a rare display of emotion.

  Accustomed as he was to this young man either being loud and brash or completely silent, it took a few moments for Phil to wrap his free arm around Paul and hold him tight, whispering “You deserve this.” Before releasing his grip and returning to his seat.

  During the half hour wait while the judges made their final decision, Paul slipped out of the venue giving himself a break from the noise inside and had just lit and pulled on a cigarette when the door next to him opened and Matt stepped out.

  “Everyone is wondering where you are.” He said as he took the cigarette from his brothers’ hand and took a deep pull.

  “I just need five minutes.” Paul answered bowing his head and lighting another tobacco filled stick.

  Matt shuffled his feet and took a few more puffs before looking up at his brother, “In case I forget to say this later. I’m proud of you bro, really proud. I don’t know how you manage to juggle everything the way you do, I certainly couldn’t manage it, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose tonight, you’re a winner in the eyes of those who work for you and your name is on the lips of everyone inside. You deserve this more than any of the other guys in there.”

  Dropping his cigarette onto the ground and stamping it out, Paul leant back against the wall and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes, “This is all a little too much for me to take in.” He spoke quietly, “I don’t do it for the recognition, I just want to give my son a good life, he’s my main focus in all of this, the reason I keep pushing for success.”

  “Yeah, I figured as much but the evidence of how hard you work is everywhere Paul, the parks, people’s houses and gardens, you don’t even advertise dude and look at the clientele you have just from word of mouth, do you know how much that means? Can you even comprehend what a huge compliment that is? Couple that with the fact that the people who work for you quite clearly would have your back anytime, anyplace speaks volumes as to the kind of person you are. I wish I could be more like you.” Matt reached out and squeezed his brothers’ shoulder. “You’ve got this in the bag bro, trust me and you have nothing, not a damn thing to be ashamed of, even if you did cause a nationwide scandal by banging your teacher.”

  Paul coughed out a laugh at Matt’s last comment, “Asshole.” He grinned. “I’ll be in, in a minute ok?”

  Re-joining the throng, Paul sat quietly at the table surrounded by those he knew and admired as he waited for the results, nervously tapping his fingers on the table until Monica laid her hands over his to still them, offering him a reassuring smile when he looked at her.

  As the host for the evening took the stage, Paul stopped breathing, his eyes not once leaving the face of the man in the spotlight. When his name was called, he was sure he’d misheard; the roaring in his head didn’t allow him time to think as many hands slapped his back and pushed him from his chair and towards the stage.

  Shaking the hand of the man there and accepting the engraved glass trophy as well as the sizable cheque and listening to the few whispered words of encouragement he was given, he stepped up to the dais, his finger tracing the lettering on his trophy as he looked out over the audience.

  Drawing a breath, he allowed his eyes to stray to that of his workers and family all looking at him expectantly. Dropping his gaze to the trophy he drew another breath and looked up again, “Wow.” Was all he managed before the enormity of what he had just achieved hit him.

  “Bloody hell, Paul Jensen at a loss for words, never thought I’d see that happen.” came a voice from the crowd making the audience laugh and Paul grin as he recognised his brother’s voice. It broke the expectant hush enough for him to gather his thoughts and deliver his amusing and eloquent thank you speech.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Since winning the Young Businessman of the Year award, the already busy gardening company became over run with enquiries and new customers forcing Paul to put into place a first come first served basis on new orders while remaining available to his existing clientele. Even with his new system in place and working well, orders were still falling by the wayside and after one particularly fraught phone call; Paul called a staff meeting to discuss the issue.

  Deciding after much discussion with his current staff that more skilled tradesmen were required along with further porta cabins, Paul tasked Phil with advertising and interviewing more staff while he tackled the council for permission to site more cabins in his yard, thankful now more than ever that he had bought the place outright.

  With his birthday fast approaching, Paul, Matt and Jez made final arrangements for a party at Jokers. It was going to be huge. They had invited all of their friends and at Jez’s insistence, the club would remain open for the night meaning that the potential for an absolutely epic night was afoot. Matt agreed to cover the door fee for their friends and Paul bravely stepped up to cover the bar tab, it was going to be an expensive night.

  Arriving late, having taken an age to decide what to wear and waiting for the cab, Suzanne and Tessa waited patiently as Serge placed the coloured bands around their wrists denoting them as guests of Matt and Paul and allowing them free entrance and unlimited free drinks before allowing them to step inside.

  The club was packed to capacity, music thumping, bodies gyrating and the heat from the accumulated sweating bodies hitting them as they stood just inside the door and surveyed the scene before them.

  “Bloody hell,” Tessa leaned into Suzanne, “I’ve never seen this place so packed.”

  Suzanne nodded. She’d been surprised to receive the invite given the fact that she’d basically told Paul goodbye but she was happy to be here and she couldn’t take her eyes off him where he held court in the centre of the dance floor. He had that shirt on again, the deep burgundy one that clung to his body and complimented his dark good looks. He was smiling as he danced and taking sips from the bottle of beer in his hand.

  Nudging her friend, Tessa made the universal sign for wanting a drink and headed to towards the bar when Suzanne nodded. She hoped her friend would get to partying instead of waiting for her, the crowd at the bar was six deep and this was going to take a while.

  Smoothing her red dress down over her curves and pulling a few tendrils of hair down from where it was piled in loose curls on top of her head to frame her face, Suzanne stepped towards the dance floor and let the rhythm and dancing bodies jostle her towards the centre.

  Paul paused and downed the remaining beer in his bottle. His height allowed him to peer over the
heads of the people surrounding him and wave the empty bottle at one of the club’s floor staff who immediately ducked away to get him another and replace his empty bottle. With his drink taken care of, he turned his attention back to the woman in front of him, yet another of his sisters’ friends, Faye who was flirting outrageously with him, her hands on his hips as they danced. Sliding his free hand around her waist, he pulled her closer, his knee slipping easily between her legs while her hands glided up his stomach to rest on his chest.

  He gripped Faye closer, enjoying the feel of her body against his, knowing that at any second, Tessa could easily, with just a look, stop her friend from grinding on her brother but not caring at this particular moment in time. Faye moved easily with him and fit him perfectly and he took a moment to ponder what it would be like to get naked and slide into that hot little body.

  Hands on his back pushed him closer to Faye and he held her tighter, almost positive he heard her moan at the contact but he couldn’t be certain, the music was far too loud to allow for conversation, the only communication being gestures and body language. The hands traversed his back to caress his neck before pushing into his damp hair.

  Accustomed as he was to being groped while at the club, he took little notice and just enjoyed the feel of a hot body pressed to his front while another caressed his back. Faye’s hand slipped into his shirt and pressed against his heated skin and from the look on her face, he was now absolutely certain that she had moaned moments before. As he lowered his head to take a taste of her skin, he felt her stiffen in his grip and thought for a split second that he’d read the signs wrong, pulling back to look at her, her saw the reason for her discomfort standing beside her, smiling at him, radiant in her red dress and fuck me heels.

  Unaware of the girl code that had passed between his sisters friends when news of his hook up with Suzanne had circulated, he didn’t realise that he was generally considered off limits to anyone but her. He was puzzled by Faye’s reaction to Suzanne’s presence but relaxed as Faye stepped back from him and hugged Suzanne before blowing him a kiss and dancing away.

  Taking a leisurely look at her from head to toe, he offered her a sip of his now replenished drink and watched hungrily as her lips wrapped around the bottle and her throat moved upon swallowing. He took the bottle when she handed it back then wrapped one arm around her, smiling as her hands wound around his neck and they began to move, oblivious to everything but each other.

  A heavy beat sounded throughout the club as they pulled each other closer. Paul’s head bowed, his lips mere millimetres from her neck as he watched her pulse beat, smelled her unique scent and ground his hips into hers. He’d never wanted her more than he did right at this moment and knowing he couldn’t have her only served to make him want her even more. He danced her backwards towards the edge of the dance floor to give them both a little space from the bodies pressing into them and drew back to look into her eyes, seeing his own desire reflected there, bowing his head to kiss her parted lips, he suddenly stopped, he had no idea where this sudden bout of will power came from but he managed to avoid her lips and press his own to her cheek instead as her hands clasped his neck tighter.

  Dancing with him felt so right, they way they moved and fit together, his scent mingling with hers, so familiar and erotic at the same time. His muscled thigh between her legs, his hand spanning the small of her back, the feel of him beneath her fingers, his breath on her neck as she tilted her head, unconsciously inviting the pressure of his lips. She moved with him as he danced them backwards towards the edge of the dance floor, the air here was marginally cooler allowing her to breathe and realise she really shouldn’t be dancing with him like this. She made the mistake of looking into his deep brown eyes as he pulled back and knew she was lost, the look on his face told her just how much he wanted her and the realisation made her gasp as he lowered his head. When he paused, she thought he was just teasing but when his lips touched her cheek, she knew he’d somehow managed to rein himself in and was keeping this marginally within the friend zone.

  Paul relinquished his hold on Suzanne when Matt danced over and spirited her away. Paul laughed, Matt was very drunk, his cheeks bright red and he was sporting a daft grin a mile wide as he danced with the petite blond. Tugging on his shirtsleeve made him turn and, grinning, he wrapped his sister in a bear hug until she beat him away after wishing him happy birthday.

  Towards the end of the night, Jez called a temporary halt to the proceedings after grabbing a microphone and calling for silence and began giving out details of upcoming theme nights before calling attention to the birthday boys. Returning from yet another trip to the bar, Tessa came to a quick halt before stepping up beside her friend.

  Standing a few steps behind, Suzanne wrapping her arm around Paul’s waist and sliding her fingers under his belt had caused her to pause. Tessa watched as Paul’s hand, casually resting on her friends shoulder, began a slow glide down her back, pausing at her waist to pull her closer into his side before continuing its journey, coming to rest on her bottom, his fingers flexing as he squeezed. Reaching forward, she lightly slapped his back and looked pointedly down at his hand before glaring at him and stepping between them, handing Suzanne a fresh drink. She didn’t miss the smirk Paul shot Suzanne over her head.

  As the entire club launched into a drunken rendition of Happy Birthday, Paul left his sisters’ side to wrap his arms around his brother and wish him happy birthday while reminding him that he was still the youngest by all of twenty minutes and earning a swift slap around the head. Laughing as he pulled away, he had one last dance with Suzanne before the music stopped for the night and the club began to empty.

  Sitting on a bar stool, barely propped up on his elbows, Matt watched the club empty and the staff, including Paul begin the clean up, as Serge rounded up the stragglers. Gathering glasses and bottles and ferrying them to the bar, Paul sniped at Matt that he could get off his backside and help but Matt just raised his glass and grinned stupidly at him, making him shake his head and head back out across the dance floor.

  Heading back to the bar with his hands full of glasses, Paul was stopped by Jez,

  “What are you doing?” Jez asked as he took the glasses from Paul.

  “Cleaning up.” Paul answered, “Isn’t that what we usually do when the club closes?”

  “Not today, go and sit down.” Jez gestured to the nearest booth, “And take your brother.”

  Shrugging but grabbing Matt by the shirt and hauling him off the bar stool; they edged their way into the booth and sat, waiting for who knew what. Suzanne and Faye appeared, each carrying a tray of shots which were placed in front of them.

  “Happy birthday boys.” Jez grinned. “Drink up.” He raised an eyebrow when Paul began to protest. “I insist.” He laughed before returning to the clean up.

  Leaning forward, Suzanne slid an embossed card across the table towards them “An invite to my twenty first.” She told them before scrambling on to the seat and hugging a very happy and completely inebriated Matt. “Happy Birthday Matty.” She kissed his cheek and ruffled his hair before turning to Paul. Grasping his hands, she pressed her lips to each of his cheeks in turn. “Happy Birthday Paul.”

  “Thank you Suzie.” He murmured, his thumbs stroking the backs of her hands, he desperately wanted to cup her face in his hands and plant his mouth firmly over hers.

  “I’m glad we can be friends.” She spoke, turning his blood to ice. Pulling his hands from hers, he reached for a glass and downed a shot, never taking his eyes from her.

  “Yeah, right.”

  Knowing she’d upset him but also knowing that the words had needed to be spoken, she backed away and went to join Tessa as she waited in the lobby. Faye grasped her chance now with both hands, having wished Matt a happy birthday and receiving a sleepy smile and a rather unexpected grope of her backside, she moved to Paul.

  Sitting boldly on his lap, she grabbed a shot glass and emptied the liquid into her mouth befo
re grasping his face and planting her mouth over his. His lips parted willingly under hers, their tongues dancing as they shared the shot and it was his turn to groan as he traced his hands up her sides.

  The clearing of a throat brought them back to reality and as they parted Paul mused, not for the first time, that he could have an awful lot of fun with Faye. “Your taxi is here.” Jez told her and Paul saw that he had used his body to shield that little charade from his sister and former lover. Shooting a grateful glance at the bar manager, he moved to get up as Faye vacated her seat on his lap but soon sat back down when Jez shook his head and escorted the flushed girl to the door.

  Returning to the table and now joined by the rest of the staff, the Jensen boys were again wished a very Happy Birthday as the staff helped to deplete the shots in front of them before heading to their homes.

  “Come on boys, time you got some sleep.” Jez beckoned for them to follow him.

  “You’re letting us stay here?” Paul questioned as he helped Matt cannon ball off the walls on the way up the stairs.

  “Yep, I figured he’s far too far gone to go home.” He gestured to Matt.

  Paul nodded in agreement, then stopped moving altogether, “Wait a sec, if I stay here it means I’m not even going to get laid on my birthday and I had serious fuck me vibes coming from Faye.”

  “You had serious fuck me vibes coming from just about every girl in the club dude but you are working tomorrow in case you’ve forgotten so I’m protecting my investment.” Jez told him.

  “In case I forget to tell you later, you’re an asshole.” Paul griped.

  “Yeah, I know, I get that a lot but right now, I’m not just an asshole, I’m your boss and you will do as you’re told just this once.” Opening the door to his apartment, he gestured to the stairs. “I take it as you shared a womb, you’ll be ok sharing a bed.” He smiled at Paul’s mildly disgusted look before heading to his own bed.