by Sarah Peis
“Only if there is something else you want to tell me?”
He set me back on my feet, and I turned around and threw myself into his arms, wrapping myself around him until there was no space left between us. “I love you,” I said into his neck. It was muffled, but he could make out the words since he hugged me tight and kissed the top of my head.
“I know. I just wanted to hear you say it.”
I tipped my head back, and Jameson bent down and his lips met mine. I was home. I was happy. And I had the other half of my heart back.
“Mmmbldmm.”
“Babe, wake up, your phone is ringing.”
“Mmmmmmgggddl.”
I was pushed into the mattress by a big body. Something I wasn’t opposed to at all until the big body started talking. “Hello?”
I refused to open my eyes but could make out a voice on the other end of the line. Jameson answered with a few grunts here and there and finished the call.
A hand brushed my hair back, and I snuggled closer. “Willa, that was your uncle. Your dad wants to see you.”
My eyes shot open, and I blinked at Jameson, who was suspended above me. I tried to get up, but he didn’t move. “Des said he’s fine. He’s going through therapy, and they want family members to come up for a therapy session with him.”
Dad had agreed to go to rehab four weeks ago. I hadn’t seen him since he left because he didn’t want anyone to visit. I was nervous, so I asked, “Will you come with me?”
“Of course. I’ll do whatever you need me to do.” He turned us over, so I was lying on top of him. I nodded into his neck and sank into him, relaxing. I’d pretty much moved into his apartment. Most of my clothes were here, and I had spent exactly zero nights at my place over the last few weeks.
“What time do you have to be at the bakery?”
Shit, not again. “What time is it?”
Jameson handed me my phone. “Noooo, it’s almost eight. I was supposed to be there ages ago.” I scrambled off Jameson, kneeing him in the stomach on my way to the floor. “Why didn’t my alarm go off?”
I was on all fours, scrambling for my clothes, finding my jeans but not my panties. I guess I could go without. Jameson had followed me off the bed, still naked and seemingly unaffected by the crazy person that seemed to have taken over my body.
I raced past him, but he caught me with an arm around my waist. “I’ll drive you.”
I kissed his chin, all I could reach if he didn’t bend down to meet me halfway, and went into the bathroom to at least brush my hair and teeth. A girl’s gotta have some standards.
When I came back out, he was fully dressed and in the kitchen. And was that coffee I smelled? Be still my beating heart.
Jameson pulled out a travel mug and filled it with freshly brewed coffee. I sighed in delight and blurted out, “Oh God, I love you. We definitely should get married.”
I could probably blame it on withdrawal symptoms. Yup, that’s what I was going with. Jameson held the cup out of my reach, his eyes fixed on me. “Say it again.”
“Say what again?”
“You know what.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Willa.” Alrighty then, he was clearly not buying it. I sighed. I fidgeted. And I relented. It was time to put on my big girl panties. Even though I wasn’t currently wearing any because I couldn’t find them.
“Fine. I love you and may have blurted that I want to marry you. Now can I have my coffee?”
He handed it to me and crushed me and my coffee cup to his chest before I had a chance to take a sip. “I love you, too. And the answer is yes.”
I never got enough of hearing him say it. Since he first said the three words, he’d repeated them all the time. They had become the three most important words in my life. Up until today, I had been too much of a coward to say them back.
“The answer to what?”
“You proposing to me.”
“I wasn’t proposing.”
“Sure sounded like you were to me. Did you not just say we should get married? Not the most romantic proposal, but I’ll take it.”
He was grinning down at me, and I bit my bottom lip instead of answering. We had never talked about it, but I was totally down with marrying him. In a few years.
“Well, now that’s cleared up, we should probably get going,” I said, trying to lighten the suddenly serious mood.
He shook his head and planted a sloppy kiss on my lips.
“Right. You got everything?”
I nodded, holding up my bag to prove I remembered to take it with me. He took my hand and walked me out to his car, opening the door before going around to the driver’s side.
“I’ll pick you up after work and take you to see your dad. They said you can drop in from midday onward. And don’t think you can just change your mind about the whole marriage thing. We are now as good as engaged.”
I did a little happy dance inside because Jameson was it for me. And apparently he felt the same way. It didn’t matter when we would make it official, all that mattered was that he was my person and I was his.
The end
Sneak peek of Some Call It Temptation (Some Call It Series #2)
“That’s not the right hole. You have to stick it in here.”
“I know where to put it in. Go away and let the professionals do their jobs.”
“And I’m not a professional?”
“Not when you wave that thing at me. It stinks.”
I watched Landon, one of the mechanics, and Mason, the co-owner of Drake’s garage, argue from where I was standing in the doorway. Their heads were under the hood of an old car that looked ready to go to the junkyard, and they were bickering while Landon was eating a giant sandwich.
I worked at Drake’s while their receptionist Willa was travelling around Europe with her boyfriend, Jameson, the co-owner of the garage and Mason’s brother. Willa was one of my best friends, and when she found out that I didn’t have a job lined up after I finished college, she asked if I could help out while she was away.
Since I needed the money and there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her, I agreed. I was desperate to get out of my hometown, Humptulips, and to be able to do that I needed to save up some money. The small, sleepy town was in the middle of nowhere America, and if I wanted to get out from under my mother’s thumb, my only option was to move away. Not only had Willa organized a job for me, she also let me stay at her apartment rent free for as long as I needed.
When they stopped arguing to take breaths, I seized the opportunity to call out to them, “Carter is on the phone. He wants to speak to Mason.”
I heard a loud groan, followed by a bang, and then Mason’s head came up from underneath the hood. “Seriously, Starla, what could you have possibly screwed up already? I’m never doing a favor for Willa again.”
There went my hard-won equilibrium. “Excuse me? You’re doing her a favor? Don’t you mean I’m doing you a favor by helping out while she’s travelling?”
He brushed me off and went inside the office. “We could have hired someone from the temp agency.”
I followed him and stood on the opposite side of the desk. It was always a good idea to put space between me and Mason. Things happened when we were standing too close. Confusing things.
“You mean the temp agency that blocked your number?”
He grumbled something unintelligible under his breath and picked up the receiver. After talking to Carter for all of five seconds, he hung up, then aimed another glare at me and stalked out. Before the door closed behind him, I pushed it open and leaned into the garage. “And my name is Stella.” Misogynistic imbecile.
I would have loved to say the last part out loud, but good manners were a part of me like makeup to a pantomime. So they stayed in my head.
The day was busy, the garage popular, and I lost track of time. I was entering numbers into a spreadsheet when I felt someone watching me. I stopped typing, waiting for the pe
rson to speak. Judging by the raised hairs on my arm and the warmth I felt in my belly, it could only be one person. I looked up to confirm my suspicion.
“Is there a reason why you’re back already?”
“I need more oil filters for the Bronco,” Mason said, his stare game going strong.
“Okay.”
“Why aren’t you writing this down?” he asked, the deep timbre of his voice resonating through my body.
“Because I’ll be able to remember oil filters.”
Despite what he thought, I wasn’t an idiot. But try telling him that. He seemed to have cast his judgment already.
“I also need brake pads for the Mustang.”
“Right. Anything else?”
“Spark plugs for the Audi.”
“You got it.”
“You’re still not writing anything down. How do you know how many to order for each?”
“That’s three items. And Willa wrote down how many to order of each before she left. I think I can remember three things.” I sighed.
“Can you, though?”
I ignored his jab and smiled at him sweetly. I had perfected putting a mask in place when I needed to. “Anything else?”
“I need it by tomorrow.”
“No problem.”
“Means you need to send the order now.”
I fought hard not to roll my eyes. “I can handle it. Now can I get back to work?”
He didn’t say anything else, just glared at me with his beautiful emerald eyes—that were totally wasted on the jerky shithead—and left the office. Good riddance. There was only so much time someone could spend staring at all the gloriousness that was Mason Drake. Too bad he was such a butt-wipe.
One that had the nicest arms I had ever seen. They were muscular and defined. And I’ve always had a weakness for toned arms. They were my kryptonite. Fortunately, he didn’t know that. Unfortunately, he liked to wear tight T-shirts that showed me entirely too much.
I made myself another cup of instant coffee—the only thing available since I broke the coffee machine—and ordered the parts His Majesty requested.
The day went by in a blur, and I was still in the office an hour after closing. Willa told me I could leave as soon as I turned the Closed sign on the door. Technically that was true. But since the computer wasn’t working properly, everything took forever, and I had a few invoices I needed to pay.
Tonight was one of the nights I usually babysat for my friend Nora, and I only had thirty minutes to get home. Lucky for me, peak-hour traffic wasn’t a thing in Humptulips. I would have time to finish answering the last email that was titled urgent, then could rush home and still make it.
The workshop was busy, and the guys usually worked long hours. Landon came inside as I was packing up. “What are you still doing here?” he asked and stopped at the door with his brows raised.
“I’m on my way out, just had to finish up a few things.”
“Pretty much anything can wait until tomorrow. You don’t have to work late, you know.”
I liked to do a good job and that meant getting my work done. Despite what most people thought about me, I was not a ditzy idiot. I got a scholarship to college and I studied hard. None of the things I accomplished in my life were because of who my family was. The Connors were notorious in Humptulips; my mother owned a huge cattle ranch and half the businesses in town. Everyone thought I had it all, but nobody really knew how oppressive a life I had led.
I shouldered my bag and gave him a half-smile, which was all I had in me at the moment. “Didn’t want to mess up on my first day. The computer wasn’t working properly, so it took a bit longer. But I got it done.”
He nodded and walked closer. “If you ever need anything, come and find me.”
I guessed him to be around my age, and he had the boy-next-door look perfected. His light green eyes and curly dark brown hair would get him laid without a problem.
I made my way to the door. “Thanks, that’s a really nice offer. I will.”
The door to the garage opened again and Mason stepped inside, sucking all the air from the room. I guessed his big head needed the extra oxygen to function.
“What’s a nice offer?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes at his gruff voice and kept walking. “Nothing. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He didn’t respond, but judging by his narrowed eyes he wasn’t all that happy. But then again, I didn’t think I had ever seen him so much as smile at me. He was happy-go-lucky with everyone else, but as soon as he saw me he went all frostbite. He’d been around when I visited Willa at work before, and we’ve all gone out together a few times. He was hard to avoid; his brother was dating my best friend, yet for some reason we always seemed to disagree about something.
I ignored his angry scowl and waved good-bye to Landon. I really had to hurry up, or Nora would think I wasn’t gonna show.
The drive home was blissfully uneventful, and I made it with a few minutes to spare. I dropped all my stuff into Willa’s apartment before going next door.
I opened the door with the key Nora had given me and was greeted by her three-year-old boy, Luca. “Esteballa, you are here,” he yelled while dancing toward me wearing only his underwear and dinosaur slippers. His speech had been delayed, and he struggled to pronounce words. Regardless, I loved that he had a special name for me and secretly hoped he’d never be able to say my name properly.
Nora was a single mom who had been dealt a few blows in life, but she never let anything keep her down. I did what I could to help, especially since she had no support from her family or the kids’ dad and was raising them by herself. We met when I first moved in with Willa. I was heading out to meet Maisie and ran into Nora, who was struggling up the stairs with two kids and a bag of groceries. I gave her a hand and we bonded over our mutual love of unpronounceable cheese.
“Hey, bud, how was your day?” I asked.
“I gots to play with Pete t’day.”
I kissed his chubby cheek and walked into the living room. “How exciting. Sounds like your day was more interesting than mine.”
“I sincerely doubt that. Don’t think I’ll let you get out of telling me how it was,” Nora called out from the bedroom. I plopped down on the couch and Luca threw himself next to me, a book already in his hand. He loved to read, and it was now our thing to read before we did anything else.
Nora worked nights at a bar, and I watched Luca and her baby Lena a few times a week. It wasn’t unusual for me to sleep on her couch because I was too tired to drag myself next door. We always joked that us meeting was fate.
“I might be a bit later tonight. We have a private function in one of the back rooms. Lena is already asleep. She only had one nap during the day, so she was pooped,” Nora said, dressed in her usual work outfit of black skinny jeans and a skintight corset. She refused to wear the short skirts that were part of the uniform, but she got away with it because she was a fantastic bartender and her boss loved her.
“You know I don’t mind. It doesn’t make a difference to me when you get home. I’ll most likely be asleep anyway,” I said.
She leaned over the back of the couch and kissed Luca’s head, then mine. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. Thank you for watching my babies.”
“I love Luca and Lena more than anything, and you know there’s nowhere I’d rather be. Go to work already and leave us in peace. We have a few books to get through before bedtime.”
“All right, all right, I’m leaving. Sounds like you have big plans. He’s had dinner and a bath. You know where the formula is in case Lena wakes up.”
I waved at her, not looking up from the book that was open on my lap. “Not the first time I’m doing this. Go. We’ll be fine. And I’ll call if anything happens. Which it won’t.”
“Good night, baby,” she called as she walked out the door not waiting for a response. Luca was already lost in the book.
I squeezed him to my side until he started t
o protest. I wasn’t kidding when I said there was nowhere else I’d rather be. “One book, then you’ll have to put your pj’s on, okay?”
“Two books,” he bargained, knowing full well I’d agree.
“Fine. But no complaining when it’s time to get dressed.”
He held out his hand and we high-fived on it. Eight books later he was putting on his pj’s.
Thank you for reading this far,
A legend is what you are.
There are so many people to thank,
But when I get to this part I usually draw a blank.
Let’s start with the beautiful Natasha who saved my characters from developing multiple personalities and traveling through time and space,
You are an ace!
Ginna, I’ll be forever grateful for your amazeballs support, you are simply the best,
Thanks to you nobody will be hit with a cold bucket or suffer from a hot dog filled chest.
Robyn, there aren’t enough words to tell you how much I adore you,
One day we have to get a matching tattoo.
To my friends and family who support me in all that I do,
I f*ing love you!
Thank you to Kristi who always makes sure all my ts are crossed,
And no dots on my i’s are lost.
Thank you Stacey from Champagne Formatting for lending me your skills,
And even after seeing my document not running for the hills.
Sim—I could never have done this without you, you are the love of my life,
I’m so proud to be your wife.
I love the written word in all forms and shapes and if I’m not glued to a book, I’m attempting to write one. I’m a frequent blonde moment sufferer and still haven’t figured out how to adult. Lucky google always has an answer, so I don’t have to.
I live in Melbourne, Victoria, with my two kids, the holder of my heart and two fur babies. If you want to accompany me on my path to enlightenment, check out my publications or get in touch, I would love to hear from you!