18. Jimmy
Jimmy
C hief Sutton was an oak.
How the man could resist my blatant pickups, the dirty talk that caused his pupils to swell and probably his dick in his pants too, I had no clue. Somehow, he managed to avoid me for the rest of the week, but it wasn’t like I was actively looking to run into him since I had my hands full.
Dad’s place was almost ready to go on the market, but there was one major eyesore parked out back that I hadn’t gotten around to addressing.
Henderson Auto’s garage doors were down against the chilly afternoon air, but lights still shone inside.
I let myself into the reception area since the front entrance was unlocked. The office door was propped open, and I stumbled across the threshold at the sight of two hot guys sucking face, grasping at each other’s groins.
“Oh, shit.” I snickered but didn’t bother glancing away as Chaz and Jamie tore themselves from each other, hands shoving into uniform and coverall pockets.
Both faces blazed red. “You don’t have to stop on account of me,” I joked, lounging into the closest chair across from Chaz’s desk where they stood shuffling on their feet.
Jamie huffed and shook his head, but a smile curved his generous mouth.
I’d always thought he was hot, but his dad was ten times yummier. At least, I expected he would be. I also wondered about Jamie hiring my old co-worker Zack, who was a dead ringer for Chaz.
And while I loved a bit of gossip, I wasn’t about to pry into the life of the son of the man I wished would just fuck me already. Fall for me. Keep me and care for me until death parted us. A heavy sigh left me at the thought of the happily ever that seemed farther away than ever.
“Can I help you?” Chaz asked, and I sat up straight, turning my mind toward business.
“I wondered if you’d be interested in taking my dad’s old truck off my hands—a free fixer-upper or for parts.”
“Does it run?” Chaz asked, sitting down behind his desk in attempts to hide his tented overalls, but I didn’t tease or mess with him since I wanted to stay in these guys’ good graces in case I landed myself in the chief’s bed.
“Started it up this morning, but I’ll be honest—” I grimaced “—it’s a piece of shit that should probably go to the junkyard. Figured I’d ask if you wanted it first before having it towed. I’d rather someone who knows cars maybe make a few bucks off of it.”
“I’ll swing by later tonight and check it out if that’s all right?”
“Sure thing.”
Chaz nodded as though he’d already decided to bring the truck to his shop. “The kid who works for me needs a new vehicle, so maybe we’ll fix it up, and I’ll give it to him as a Christmas bonus.”
“I love that,” I said, grinning over graciousness that mirrored his father-in-law’s.
“How’s the house coming along?” Jamie asked.
Warmth filled my chest at his friendly question that didn’t sound anything like the interrogation I’d expected, considering Sutton must have warned him about my past. “It should be on the market soon.”
“Are you sticking around after you sell or are you heading back to work in Boston?”
I shrugged, wondering what all he knew about me and how careful I needed to be lest I had guessed right and?—
My thoughts cut off.
If Jamie had hired Zack, he was definitely aware what I’d done for a living up until a few weeks ago. Which also meant Sutton probably did too since there was no way Jamie would hide from the chief what Pippen Creek’s long-term visitor had been up to in his absence.
Was my being a sex worker Sutton’s reason for turning me down?
Shit.
Talk about making me feel like even more of a worthless worm.
Was that how Sutton saw me? A whore with a used up hole good only for a cum dump and run? Soiled goods?
God, my heart hurt to even consider what he might think of me.
“You okay?”
I shook myself off the depressing train of my brain and tried for a smile. Definitely failed. “Yeah—sure,” I lied, swallowing hard.
“So—are you going to stay?” Jamie pushed.
“There’s nothing for me back in Boston, but it depends.”
“On?” That one-worded question definitely held some suspicion, but with my current mind frame, I probably read too much into every tiny inflection and twitch of his eyelid.
I shrugged again, my feet itchy to get me the hell out of there. “Waiting to see how the winds of change blow.”
He studied me like his dad often did, searching for something I would never allow him to see. A calculated glint filled his navy-blue eyes.
“My dad is having a cookout on Sunday afternoon—the last of the season before it gets too cold,” Jamie said. “You ought to come.”
I stared at him. No fucking way would he invite me if he was aware of the work I’d done while in Boston.
“I…wouldn’t want to impose.” My words were hesitant as fuck as I glanced between the two men.
Chaz smiled at Jamie like the younger Forrester hung the moon in the night sky. I could understand the sentiment.
While I hated letting anyone past my walls protecting me from criticism or judgment, this unspoken shit between us needed to be aired out or I would fret and worry myself to a stomach ulcer.
“Do you, um…you were in Boston for a few years.” I made the statement while rubbing my palms over my jeans.
“Yeah,” Jamie said.
“You, um…ever heard of EEMM?”
Chaz chuckled as Jamie’s face flamed.
I blew out a heavy exhale. “Guess that answers my question.”
Jamie rubbed a hand over his face while checking out the floor. “Yeah, I’m well aware of what EEMM stands for.”
“You can tell Zack my fiancé says hi,” Chaz said with a satisfied chuckle.
Good to know there was no jealousy, but Jamie’s obvious unease hardened my stomach and caused me to stiffen in the chair.
“There’s nothing wrong with sex work,” I said, my tone low and somewhat haggard.
Jamie’s head jerked up, his eyes wide. “No—I’m not judging you.” He grimaced. “Fuck—I’m not ashamed about what I did. What you do—did. Whatever. Doesn’t matter to me.”
“Then why get all uncomfortable when I brought up Elite?”
Chaz chuckled again. “Because I love to give him shit about being so damned desperate for me he was a cam boy in order to afford your friend.”
Relief caused me to finally relax a little.
“Asshole,” Jamie hissed, crossing his arms, making the muscles of his arms bulge in his uniform as his fiancé barked a laugh.
“You love me.” Chaz tossed a dirty rag at him, which Jamie batted away.
“Fucking right, I do,” Jamie grumbled, but he couldn’t hide his smile.
They shared a heated stare, the air in the office zapping with sexual energy enough that my own dick twitched even though giddiness over the entire exchange had allowed my guts to settle.
I glanced between the two men, jealous of their connection and ability to find joy in each other’s pasts that weren’t exactly…savory. An ache spread over my chest, and I rubbed at it.
“About that invite.” I spoke quietly, not wanting to interrupt their hot moment but desperation for a chance to be in Sutton’s space spurred me on, and their non-judgment offered me a little hope the chief might be of the same mind as they were.
“A handful of friends usually show up—it’s not a family thing,” Jamie said, giving me his attention again. “The door is always open, and you’re welcome to join us.”
Even with the lack of judgment, why was Jamie being so nice to me? Pity was the first thought I had, causing me to frown, but I was starved for attention and inclusion, a sense of belonging.
“You sure?”
“Yeah,” Jamie replied to my hesitant question.
“Maybe you ought to run it by your dad first,” I suggested, my tone still wary in wondering if the chief knew about my past.
Jamie huffed a laugh. “I’m sure he’d love to see you.”
I wasn’t so sure, but I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to step inside Sutton’s home and breathe in the scent of him that doubtless covered every inch of the house. Just daydreaming about it made me half hard.
“Does he know about…” I waved a hand, too damned worked up to ask outright.
Jamie’s gaze softened. “Yeah. He’s been stalking you ever since you left.”
“He—” I snapped my jaw shut, blinking hard.
Sutton’s son chuckled. “Yeah.”
“Holy fuck,” I whispered, my heart racing at the possibilities… “Why?”
“ That , you’ll have to ask my dad.”
“I’ll be there,” I stated, hopping up, my pulse thrumming, limbs twitchy as fuck. “What time, and what can I bring?”
“Two and a six-pack of beer—Dad likes Stella.”
I bid the guys a good rest of the day and headed into the reception area on light feet.
“What are you doing?” Chaz asked Jamie quietly, but I had ears like a hawk and slowed my steps because I needed the answer to that question too.
“Dad has been saying since I got home that he wants someone to take care of. According to him, Jimmy’s always been a needy handful, and considering he’s been pining for the guy for a few years…”
I could imagine Jamie’s shrug as his voice trailed off.
But was I the one he’d said pined, or did he mean Sutton?
“They kinda makes sense,” Chaz mused while I stood on the edge of hyperventilating.
“Yeah,” Jamie agreed without a hint of judgment in his voice.
Butterflies fluttered in my belly.
Sutton was looking for a man to “take care of”, and he wouldn’t find someone better than my desperate ass.
Hope like I’d never experienced flooded through me as I snuck out the shop’s door.
Sunday afternoon couldn’t come soon enough.