Chapter Eight #2
Roxanne sensed he was downplaying it. But she’d partake at the expense of her brother to keep the mood light.
“Well, yeah, she has to be to date Bogs.”
Jonah laughed, shaking his head. “Never miss an opportunity to take a shot at your brothers, huh?”
“Not Bogs.”
Jonah’s smile wasn’t something she’d seen often. It was too bad. Roxanne liked him like this, with his guard down. He seemed so private and mysterious. All she wanted was to know more. And see more, of course.
But he made it clear the other night.
I can’t.
Roxanne would play off that statement.
“So, are there rules for non-dates?” She was teasing him and getting a reaction. His back straightened, and he slowly craned his neck, scowling.
She raised her hands, palms open, in front of her. “I’m just making sure I don’t cross the line or anything.”
He turned to face her and folded his arms. She envisioned him doing this with his brothers when he was trying to get them in line.
It was a bold, sexy move.
She raised her eyebrows and tucked her hands behind her back. “I’ll keep my hands to myself.” She winked.
His gaze drew a dark, almost fiery stare.
Clearly, the attraction was mutual and why he insisted on fighting it was beyond her.
That wasn’t exactly true. He’d been honest. He had a business relationship with Ethan.
But she knew there was more to it. Watching him with her brothers at T’s proved Jonah had a friendship and respect for them.
As a rule, she never dated her brothers’ friends.
However, they were both adults. She moved her hands to the stool, gripping the sides, smiling.
Having him standing in front of her, she could see the muscles in his neck tense, along with his chest, which slowly expanded.
He tossed his rag onto the floor while staring at her.
His temple pulsed, and his lids lowered.
God, the sexual tension floating through the room was enough to make her combust. Words weren’t an option at this point.
She purposely licked her lips and watched his gaze shift to her mouth.
His jaw clenched and her heart raced, wondering if he’d reached his breaking point.
She drew in a deep breath and contemplated where she wanted him to take her. The work bench? The hood of her car? Against the wall? Yes. Yes. And hell yeah!
He was taking too long. She stood, inching closer. His shoulders pulled back, but he didn’t step away. She had no problem making the first move.
“I’m back.”
Roxanne whipped her head toward the door to see Holden walking in.
Her shoulders sagged, and the built-up sexual tension deflated like a popped balloon.
She forced a smile and reached for her beer on the bench.
She drew the bottle to her lips, turning her back on Jonah.
It gave her a second to recover and regroup.
She scanned the wall of tools, then swiped her hand against the work bench and almost chuckled.
She would’ve been plucking splinters out of her ass for days if he’d taken her on this. Would’ve been worth it, I’m sure.
“Get me the socket set.” Jonah’s voice was raw and demanding. He was definitely affected by what could have happened before Holden came back. She gave herself a minute before looking at him.
Jonah and Holden were heavily into the work when she moved to her stool and sat down again. Aside from Holden asking a million questions, which was highly amusing, her connection to Jonah had abruptly ended.
Every so often, he’d glance at her. His eyes no longer flamed, but there was residual heat. She liked that. A lot.
****
Jonah had been working on the car for the last three hours. He’d taken a quick break and eaten two slices of pizza. The same couldn’t be said for Holden. His brother had insisted on helping, and all he’d done was occasionally hand him some tools, and try his hand at flirting with Roxanne.
For her part, she seemed entertained. At one point, he saw them sitting side by side on the workbench.
Her feet swung, and she threw back her head, laughing at something Holden said.
Seeing her in this light was making it impossible to concentrate.
She was so natural with his brother as if they’d known each other for years.
Even Jonah got in on a few jokes, making this scene all the more strange.
Roxanne’s earlier flirting was a true test for him. The only reason he was able to resist was the sudden interruption from Holden. Had his brother not walked in when he did, Jonah might’ve given in to her allure. Roxanne was the ultimate temptation.
“So, uh, what’s going on after this? You got plans for tonight?” Holden asked.
Jonah continued to work but was just as invested in her answer as his brother.
“I have some paperwork to catch up on for work.”
“Oh yeah? What do you do?”
“I own an event planning company with my sister-in-law, Cassie.”
“Wow, really? That’s interesting.” The excitement in Holden’s tone even caught Jonah’s attention. He was laying it on a little thick, but his brother was testing out his game with Roxanne. Little did he know he was way out of his league.
“Is it?” Her soft chuckle echoed through the garage. “You have an interest in party planning?”
“Well, I uh,” Holden stumbled over his words. “I mean, I like parties, so …”
Roxanne smiled, nudging her elbow into his arm. “Speaking of parties, it’s Saturday night. Do you have any plans?”
Holden shrugged. “Yeah, I think there’s one. Don’t know if I’m going yet. Haven’t decided.”
Jonah angled his head, scowling at his brother. This party was all he’d talked about the entire week. He’d begged Jonah to give him some leeway on his midnight curfew, which he’d agreed to. Holden glanced at Jonah, who cocked his brow in challenge.
“What?” Holden mouthed but was immediately distracted when she tapped his knee.
“You should go. Have fun.”
Holden smiled, jumping down from the bench. “It was cool hanging out. We should do it again.”
“We should,” Roxanne said.
Jonah wasn’t looking at her, but he felt her eyes on him. He lifted his chin at Holden.
“Remember what I told you.” Jonah wouldn’t list all his warnings. He’d said them so many times, both his brothers had them locked in their memories. And Holden was about to prove it.
“I know.” Holden rolled his eyes. “Not gonna do drugs, get arrested, get in the car with anyone who's been drinking and knock anyone up, okay?”
Jonah heard her muffled snicker but kept his focus on his brother.
“I’d appreciate it. Call if you need a ride.”
Holden nodded and then looked over at her. “Bye, Roxanne.”
“Bye.” She waved as Holden left the garage.
Then they were alone. He continued to work, distracted only when she passed him as she made her way to the fridge for another beer. When she bent over, his eyes zoned in on her perfectly curved ass molded by her form-fitting jeans.
Fuck!
He needed to focus on the task at hand. Not her ass. He worked in silence for the next ten minutes, finishing up the repairs. He’d have her on her way within twenty minutes. While he wouldn’t admit it, the thought didn’t sit well with him. After this, there’d be no reason for them to get together.
Jonah glanced around the floor looking for the tool he needed. He spotted it on the wall behind his workbench.
“Can you get me that wrench?” He pointed over her head.
She looked over her shoulder and grabbed the pliers. “This?”
“No, on the opposite side.”
She placed the tool back and grabbed another. “This one?”
“To your left.”
When she went right, he blurted. “Your other left.”
A soft snicker echoed through the garage.
“Always been bad with my rights and lefts.” She grabbed the one below. “This one?”
He chuckled and straightened, dusting off his hands on the rag he’d left on her roof.
“You’re a terrible garage assistant,” he teased.
“My gifts lie in other areas.”
He strolled over, eyeing her. “I’m sure they do.”
“Hey, remember the rules. No flirting on our nonexistent date.”
He ignored the comment and leaned past her, grabbing the wrench.
With the height of the standing workbench, they were practically eye level.
It was the closest he’d been to her all day.
Close enough to smell her faint flowery perfume.
He usually preferred the natural scent of a woman, but this was completely working on her.
He dropped his hand to his side but didn’t move away.
She was staring up at him through her lashes with a small smile.
She knew she was getting to him, and enjoying every minute of it.
“Hi,” she whispered in a soft, sultry tone. She straightened slightly, which closed the distance between them. They were only an inch apart now.
“No touching, right?” She cocked her head. “That’s against the rules?”
She lifted her hands slowly, lightly grasping his waist.
Fuck!
“If you tell me to stop, I’ll stop.”
That was the last thing he wanted, even knowing all the implications of getting involved.
Roxanne wasn’t a one-night stand type of woman.
She’d be the one to get stuck in his head, consume his thoughts and be impossible to lose when it ended.
He dropped the wrench onto the bench and flattened his hands on the wood, next to her thighs, virtually caging her in.
God, she’s testing my self-control. He bowed his head, skimming his nose against her hair.
He was just making it harder on himself, but he couldn’t resist. Everything about her felt right.
She shivered and cocked up her shoulder, moving closer until her neck was inches from his lips. Fuck it.
Jonah was too close to resist. His mouth skimmed the column of her neck, tightening his arms and brushing against her thighs. Her breath was heavy, and it hitched when he licked her neck.
“What about kissing? Is that still off the table?” She dropped her chin, rubbing her cheek against the scruff of his short beard. “Against the rules, right?”
He sucked in a harsh breath, taking in her scent, overwhelmed by the feeling of her skin against his. She nuzzled against him the way a cat would show affection, and it triggered something through his body. With a heat so strong, his hands grabbed her upper thighs in a tight squeeze.
“Jonah,” she purred, bringing her lips to his ear. “Let’s be rule breakers.”
And just like that, four simple words and his self-control combusted.
He lifted his hand, gripping her neck. There was no turning back once he kissed her.
He knew it, but did it anyway. His mouth crashed down on hers.
He was done resisting. Her hands immediately wrapped around his waist, and her legs spread, giving him full access to pull her body against his.
God, she felt good. He drove his hand around her neck, up into her hair.
His hand had been itching to feel the softness of her strands since the first time he’d set eyes on her.
She moaned against his lips and slipped her tongue inside, deepening the kiss.
Jonah had spent too many nights wondering how she’d feel against his body.
Nothing prepared him for the reality. He pulled her closer, feeling her breasts against his chest. He could almost imagine how she’d feel against him bare.
He tightened his hold on her hair, and she angled her neck, giving him the opening to drag his lips down her throat.
Her hands tangled in his shirt and slipped underneath. His skin was on fire and tingled when the pads of her fingers trailed up his spine. He groaned against her neck and sucked her skin, causing a trembling shiver.
“Jonah.” She was panting, and he thought maybe she’d insist they stop.
This had gone too far, too fast. He slowly lifted his mouth from her neck.
He was unprepared when she ripped her hands from the back of his shirt and clasped his jaw, yanking him forward.
Her tongue tangled with his, and she emitted a soft moan before tightening her grip on his jaw.
From just a kiss, he was hard and straining against his zipper.
His cock was practically begging to be released.
He grabbed her hips, thrusting her forward, and grinding his jean-clad erection against her core.
He couldn’t remember a time when he’d been turned on so quickly.
He had no restraint with her. He swirled his tongue against hers, tasting the beer.
He’d totally changed his mind about IPAs.
First thing tomorrow, he was buying a case.
His hands drifted to her hips, curling around her ass. God, he wanted to be inside her. Soft, silky and he’d bet, wet and wanting.
Fuck!