Chapter 12
12
It was my day off, but there was no place else I would’ve rather been than the shop. I told myself I wasn’t working Friday morning as I stepped into the garage to just take inventory and the atmosphere. I had a couple of people requesting paint jobs and rim placements, but other than that, I was free to go anytime I pleased.
Not that that was going to happen any time soon. I lived for this life, the hustle, the buzzing sound of a drill, the people from the neighborhood who only came to Rod’s because they trusted us before anyone else, the feel of grease and metal in my hands—the garage was home to me.
Chatter filled the garage of Rod’s Repair as mechanics were working away on clients’ vehicles. I stood off to the side with Armin, an old classmate of mine who’d bought a restored Chevy Nova. The rusted body was in need of something fresh, something vivid to make it really stand out like the beauty she was.
Armin scrolled through his phone’s image library, showing me several paint jobs he’d Googled to see which I liked the best for his ride.
“Whatchu think about the red, Keith?” Armin asked as he tapped the screen of his phone.
Red was a staple for some classic cars, and the Nova would look nice in that finish. Although, I was leaning elsewhere as I rubbed at my jaw. “It’s nice, but that black is clean.”
Armin whistled. “Shit, that’s where my head is at. My girl was thinkin’ the navy-blue, and that’s cool too.”
He went back to search for the navy-blue paint job.
“ Dayum ,” I heard one of the mechanics snap in the background.
My attention drew across the room, to the store entrance to the garage. Standing in the doorway, looking around, was Kennedy.
Nearly all the men in the room had their eyes on her, and I couldn’t blame them.
My eyes traveled from her black lace-up stilettos, up her oiled legs, past her white lace summer dress, to her pretty lost face. Her hair was wavy today, there was a gold necklace with some pendant on it around her neck, and I couldn’t take my eyes off where her dress ended and her thighs began.
One thing about Kennedy I’d grown to notice, she had a thing for wearing white- or cream-shaded clothing, and it worked for her.
I hadn’t heard from her all week, and despite her rules, a part of me was worried. At least about her father. Seeing her now, and the way that white dress complemented her smooth, deep brown skin tone and hugged her body, was a hell of a distraction.
And it wasn’t just me.
I didn’t run the garage, Uncle Rod did, but even I knew he wouldn’t like the sight of his men staring at the woman in the doorway rather than the vehicles in front of them. I sure as hell didn’t.
Blinking, I caught myself and focused back on Armin if only to excuse myself. “I like the black, but the navy is cool, too. Think it over and get back to me.”
I walked away before Armin could respond. Kennedy noticed me as I made my way over. She lit up, blushing it seemed, as she bit her lip and offered a timid smile and a small wave. She could feel my coworkers’ eyes on her, see their tongues practically hanging out, but it was only when she looked at me did she appear nervous.
I came to a stop in front of her, towering over her, instantly awash in that sweet-smelling perfume of hers. I wasn’t sure if I believed in Heaven or anything, but if it had a scent, it was this. Flowery rose, smooth vanilla, and an undercurrent of cedar. The essence of soft.
“Hi,” Kennedy squeaked out.
“Of course she’s here for Keith,” one of my coworkers, Ian, grumbled out before sucking his teeth.
Too aware that we held an audience, I took Kennedy by the hand and steered her back into the shop, up the back hallway into the main area. As we passed the front desk, I managed to shoot Jake a glare for allowing Kennedy out into the grit and grime of the garage, before taking her back into Rod’s office. Thank God he was out on a late breakfast run.
I closed and locked the door. There was a couch in the room, but I opted to go and stand against Rod’s desk. It wasn’t lost on me we’d returned to the scene of the crime.
Something told me Kennedy realized this too. She looked around, that blush growing, her eyes bouncing from here and there.
“Haven’t heard from you,” I spoke up.
Kennedy’s attention returned to me. “I know, I’m sorry. Shit got complicated.”
I nodded, knowing her situation was a mess. “How’s your dad?”
The wall went up and Kennedy shook her head as she came closer. “This isn’t about that.”
I perked a brow, studying her closeness. “It’s not?”
“Uh-uh.” Her voice dripped in suggestion as she slowly sank to her knees before me. With her eyes on me, her hands reached out for my jeans.
The contact made me stand straight up.
I loved me some head, but fuck if the brain up top wasn’t leading me in the moment.
“What are you doing?” I peered down at Kennedy, trying to keep my blood from rushing south.
“I wanna make it up to you for ditching you Sunday,” she said.
This was one hell of a view and I cursed myself for not going with the flow. My hands shot out before I could second-guess myself. I grabbed Kennedy’s wrists and helped her to her feet. “It’s whatever.”
Kennedy’s hands were on my zipper once again as her eyes remained locked on mine. “I came here to do something, and I’m not leaving until I do it.”
Shit .
It would take only a second to shove everything off the desk and lay her across it. Porn scenario or not, I was losing my resolve.
My fists curled at my sides. “I’m trying so hard not to fuck you right now.”
Kennedy leaned up on her toes, going and pressing a torturous kiss to my neck, making a trail to my ear. “The only thing that needs to be hard right now is?—”
“Keith?”
Fuck.
Uncle Rod was coming up the hallway toward his office, looking for me.
I moved in front of Kennedy at the first sign of her fear. With my back to her, I went and unlocked and opened the door just as Uncle Rod was reaching for the knob.
Confusion covered my uncle’s face as he took in the previously closed door and then me. “Everything okay?”
The smell of sausage and eggs wafted from his grease-stained brown paper bag. He’d more than likely hit up Sonny’s Kitchen, a local diner that served breakfast all day. Rod was a stickler for routine. His day wasn’t complete without his sausage, eggs, cheese, and bacon sandwich combo from Sonny’s. The steaming cup of coffee in his hand was another testament to the fact.
I took a step back and made room for him to enter his office, still making sure Kennedy’s presence was covered as much as possible.
Of course, Uncle Rod still noticed the feminine energy in the room.
“Is that Leila?” he asked, keeping his eyes on me curiously.
Loyal to a fault, no one in my family was rooting for me to reconcile with my ex. Not after the state of darkness I’d fallen in after our breakup.
What I “had” with Kennedy wasn’t real, but Sunday as I came to realize I was alone, I headed into the kitchen and put away my groceries. I peeled the Band-Aid from my heart and finally threw away Leila’s grocery list. It was time to move on.
“No,” I said firmly.
Rod leaned over, stealing a peek at Kennedy. I watched the surprise take his face. He was impressed, I could tell.
Uncle Rod came back to me, a proud dad-like smile on his face. “It’s your day off.”
I rolled my eyes. He wasn’t getting rid of me that easily. “I’ll take a lunch.” I extended a hand behind me. “Kennedy?”
Her soft palm met mine and I squeezed my hand shut around it. Rod let us pass him by on the way out, managing to smile and nod at Kennedy’s shy wave.
I wasn’t hungry, but I wanted to talk to Kennedy. About some ground rules. About her father’s health. About ridiculous boundaries.
I didn’t know where she was parked, but it didn’t matter as I took her over to my Tahoe.
“If we’re going to your house, let me get my car,” Kennedy said as she let my hand go and gestured across the lot where her Lexus was parked.
My house was tempting, but I needed to focus. “We’re getting lunch.”
Kennedy stood her ground. “What I’m hungry for isn’t on the menu.”
Ignoring her, I did a mental skim of what Sonny’s offered. “You eat eggs? Sonny’s has the best breakfast in the city.”
Kennedy’s lip curled up. “Are you for real?”
Little Miss Princess was used to having her way, I could tell. “Very.”
She huffed, but put up no fight as she went over to my passenger door.
I could’ve just fucked her. Given no care to the world about whatever was going on in her life. It wasn’t truly my concern, but beneath her giddiness to see me, I could spot desperation in her eyes. The sadness. Something was up.
I wasn’t dressed for work. Instead, I was casual in my T-shirt and jeans, making going out for lunch easier.
Sonny’s Kitchen wasn’t that far from Rod’s Repair. We were there in less than five minutes. Maybe it was me being protective, or maybe it was an old customary habit, but once I was out of my truck I rounded it and met Kennedy on her side and was quick to take and hold her hand as I led her into the building. The action caused Kennedy to relax into me, and for some reason, I liked that.
Sonny’s wasn’t busy as we entered the small diner, but I kept Kennedy close anyway.
Sonny’s Kitchen was an old-school, family-owned Black diner. They mostly stuck to the same radio station. As hits from the ’80s, ’90s, and early ’00s from Black artists would play throughout the establishment.
Luther Vandross could be heard singing “Never Too Much” as we made it up to the front counter. The classic record had Kennedy swaying a little against me along to the beat.
Kennedy ordered first, going and getting buttermilk pancakes with strawberry syrup. I wasn’t that hungry, so I piggybacked off Kennedy and ordered the same, except with blueberry syrup. Kennedy opted for the house’s famous mango peach lemonade, while I settled with a glass of water. When she tried to pay, I stepped in, sliding her that fifty-dollar bill she’d left on my copy of Night Changes , before paying for our meals.
Kennedy rolled her eyes as she held the money in her hands and leaned back against the front counter. “I felt bad for making you go out and not being able to eat the fish you bought.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I told her.
Kennedy folded the bill and eyed the pocket of my jeans. She didn’t attempt to give the money back as she simply put it in her purse and tapped her straw against the counter until it sprang free for her to place in her cup.
I scanned the diner, wanting a place for privacy. Sonny’s wasn’t full, but people were spread out enough to where we wouldn’t be alone in any section. No one I recognized was around, and no one was paying us any special attention. Taking a chance, I grabbed a booth in the back corner by the hallway near the restrooms. I sat on the side against the wall, allowing me to have a proper view of those in the room behind Kennedy.
“Do you always come here for your lunch break?” Kennedy wondered as she took in the décor of the restaurant. Red vinyl booths and matching stools at the front counter, marble tabletops, black tiled floor, and pictures of famous celebrities who’d eaten at Sonny’s over the years littered the walls here and there. My favorite was the photo of the late actor John Witherspoon standing side by side with the owner, Sonny Calhoun.
I shook my head, thinking of the sandwich I’d left in the mini fridge in Rod’s office. “I usually pack my lunch.”
“Aww.” Kennedy gushed. “Lunch-pail-carrying worker man.”
A corner of my mouth curled up at her taunting. I was blue-collar after all.
“I hope I didn’t get you in trouble.” Kennedy suddenly frowned as she stabbed her straw into her drink.
I watched the way her shoulders sagged and how genuinely worried she was about her arrival at the shop. Knowing Rod, he was probably just happy I was with another woman finally.
Outside of Kennedy’s visit, I was a model employee. Never late, often stayed over just to help out, and I never complained. I was sure I could afford a little leniency, not to mention, it was my day off.
“You’re fine,” I assured her. “It’s my day off anyway.”
Her gaze flickered to mine. “Good.”
I started to ask about her father, but couldn’t decide on how to go about it.
A young brunette came over balancing a large serving tray on her shoulder effortlessly. She leaned down and deposited Kennedy’s plate in front of her before setting mine in front of me. Butter and blueberry syrup was drizzled atop of my three-stack high pancakes, leaving everything drenched in a thick blueness.
“Thank you,” I told the young girl whose name tag read Hannah .
“Yes,” Kennedy was quick to echo. “That was super fast.”
Hannah looked at our two plates and bobbed her head with pride. “Sonny’s has the best pancakes in the state. Our cooks have to keep making them on rotation.”
The front doorbell went off as a couple entered the building.
I hadn’t paid too much attention to the other patrons in Sonny’s, but I did spot a couple plates of Sonny’s famous pancakes on a table or two.
Hannah went to greet the newest guests.
“Wait!”
Kennedy grabbed her purse and dug out that fifty-dollar bill and slipped it into Hannah’s hand with a kind smile.
Hannah’s cheeks turned a tint of pink and she mouthed a grateful thank you before hurrying back to her station.
The benevolence wasn’t an act as Kennedy kept her smile and demeanor as she returned to her pancakes.
She wasn’t my type. Bratty. Entitled. Prissy. But then she wasn’t some stuck-up snob either like some people could be from Hampton Hills. She didn’t even seem judgmental. At her worst, her most vexing moment so far was her not wanting to get into my tow truck for the sake of her “Valentino” dress. Considering her love for whites and creams, I didn’t blame her for being careful.
Kennedy cut neatly into her pancakes and ate a bite. “Hmm.” She ate another bite and the smile broadened across her face.
I realized I was staring when she looked up, as if aware of my stare, and ran her tongue over her lips. My eyes followed the movement, entranced.
Focus. Focus. Focus.
There were more important matters at hand than the idea of her on her knees.
Kennedy placed her fork in her mouth and slowly pulled it out. Her eyes were on me. “Not quite what I wanted, but it’ll do. I guess.”
I knew the answer, but I wanted to hear her say it. “What did you want?”
“You.”
I scratched at my neck, keeping my composure. “Thought it wasn’t your thing?”
Kennedy gave an innocent shrug. “Guess you can say I developed a taste for it.”
Just for me . “Good to know.”
“You should’ve let me do it,” Kennedy continued, bringing up her offer at the shop.
While I liked that she was willing and wanted to do it, ironically, my head wasn’t there.
“Next time,” I insisted.
Kennedy smirked. “?‘Next time.’?”
She took a glimpse over her shoulder, looking around at the front of the room and those behind her. When she came back to me, I couldn’t read the smile on her face. The mischief in her eyes. But I could feel her energy.
One moment she leaned on her right side, and then her left, doing a little shimmy. Next, she bent forward, reaching under the table and coming back up.
Before I could question what she was doing, she was handing me something over the table balled in her fist. On instinct I knew it was her panties.
I froze as I accepted them in my hand, finding them wet.
Kennedy stood from the table, stopping at my side and whispering in my ear, “Maybe you’ll change your mind.”
She walked off toward the restrooms without a look behind her.
I caught a man a few tables over watching her walk away, checking out her ass. He noticed me and tipped his head, and I scowled at him. He quickly went back to his meal.
As if I needed a sign from the universe, Fabolous and Tamia’s “Into You” came on. The melody ringing in my ears like a bell.
I studied the mesh lavender panties in my hand for a moment more before springing up and going after Kennedy.
Inside the women’s restroom she was leaning against the sink, waiting with a cheeky grin on her face. “Took you long enough.”
There was no sense of self-control left in me. I was too hard to think straight or reason about the risk of what I was about to do. I needed to be inside her.
My hand on her throat took Kennedy by surprise as her mouth fell open. I backed her against the door, my eyes zeroing in on those lips.
Click .
She still had sense left to lock the door.
I leaned close, nipping her bottom lip with my teeth.
“Ugh.” Kennedy groaned and caved against the door.
She’d poked a bear and I hated the time frame we held. I couldn’t take my time, not with a diner sparsely full of people on the other side of the door. Quickies weren’t my style. “Panties to the side” was only cute to hear about in music. Otherwise, I craved skin-on-skin contact. Mostly, I liked it slow. But that was a bad combination with Kennedy. I could just tell.
Kennedy hastily reached out, unbuckling my jeans and digging inside. The feel of her soft palm wrapping around me, pumping me up and down, was enough to make me almost lose it.
I pressed my forehead to hers, peering into her eyes, meeting her hand movement with my hips. Kennedy stared up at me, her breathing heavy, her strawberry breath fanning my face.
“You like fuckin’ in public?” I got out in a gruff voice.
Kennedy could only shake her head.
“Never?”
Again, she shook her head.
So she was a good girl.
I stepped back, reaching into my pocket and grabbing my wallet. I dug a condom out and pushed my jeans and boxers the rest of the way down.
“You only do this for me,” I told her as I rolled it on.
Desire coated her eyes as Kennedy nodded. “Only you.”
I lost it.
Picking her up, I entered her wetness until she was seated on me entirely.
“Fuck!” I’d had her before, but I could still not get used to this feeling. This paradise.
With her back against the door I thrust into her some more.
“Yes, yes, yes,” Kennedy whimpered.
As much as I loved hearing her moan for me, I covered her mouth with my hand to stifle the sound.
Another stroke had me hiding my own moan into her neck.
Kennedy clawed at my shirt and I reveled in the fact that I was growing an affinity for fucking her in dresses.
Her strangled muffles against my palm was music to my ears as the feeling of her around me had my head in the clouds.
My heart beat violently in my chest at the adrenaline of it all.
I took her deep and hard, until a whirlwind of euphoria took us both under.
Chest to chest, breath for breath, we mirrored each other’s motions as we came down together. My eyes never left hers and I never let her go.
If it could only be like this, perhaps maybe, that was enough.