Chapter 24
“I don’t know what to think, Sandi. His behavior was weird this morning. I’m trying not to let my mind wander, but shit—the feeling in the pit of my stomach isn’t good.”
Sandi reached across the lunch table and squeezed Joci’s hand. She smiled her brightest smile, which made Joci worry more. The fake smile was never good.
“Don’t read too much into this. He runs a growing company, and there are bound to be times when he is preoccupied or busy.” She released Joci’s hand and picked up her menu. “What are you having for lunch? I’m starving.”
Hmm, changing the subject wasn’t good either.
Joci walked into Rolling Thunder from the garage entrance. Gunnar was working on a bike at his station, so she headed over to him. “Hey there, how’s your day going?”
Gunnar turned and smiled brightly. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, without touching her with his dirty hand. “Hi. What brings you here?”
Joci looked around the garage. She didn’t want to seem like a stalker, but she couldn’t shake the niggling feeling that something was wrong. “I just stopped to see Jeremiah. Is he in his office?”
Gunnar nodded. He reached forward and picked up a grease rag and wiped his fingers. “Yeah. He’s been up there most of the day. Go on up.”
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, honey. You doing okay?”
He smirked. “Yeah. You?”
She looked toward the door to the store. Absently, she responded, “Yeah. I’m good. Talk to you later, okay?”
She walked toward the store, her stomach a little queasy.
The door from the garage into the shop opened directly to the parts counter, and just beyond that were the parts shelves.
To the left was the sales floor, and to the right, the clothing section.
There were several customers milling about.
JT was helping a customer at a desk on the sales floor.
Janice was speaking to a customer in clothing.
LuAnn was speaking to a tall brunette with short spiky hair and a protruding baby bump.
When she saw Joci, she nodded her head toward Joci, and the brunette turned and smiled at her, then quickly turned to LuAnn.
They whispered to each other, and as Joci walked past them, they giggled loudly.
Heaving out a breath to keep herself calm, she refused to look at them again. Climbing the stairs was difficult as her knees felt weak. Today was weird—she’d like a do-over.
Jeremiah’s door was open, and he sat staring out the window that looked out over the parking lot. He looked sad. Lost in thought. But he was still the sexiest man she’d ever known. His broad shoulders seemed to slump forward, and his hands were balled into fists at his sides.
“You look pensive.”
He swung around, his eyes large and shocked. It took him a moment to compose himself, but she saw the shutter close in his eyes. He cleared his throat, but when he spoke, his voice was gravelly. “Hey. What brings you here?”
Joci’s brows furrowed. She stepped into his office, and he didn’t move toward her.
That was the first time he held himself back.
Wait. Nope, it was the second time; the first was this morning when he left.
She swallowed the large lump in her throat.
Softly she said, “I just had lunch with Sandi, and I wanted to see you. You seemed preoccupied this morning, and I was worried.” She looked into his eyes, noted his jaw clench and tighten, and his hands flexed open then closed again.
“I’m fine, Joci. Just busy.” He walked toward her and kissed the top of her head before he turned and sat at his desk. Tears sprang to her eyes. This was it. She shouldn’t have moved in with him; it was too soon.