Chapter Seven
Lane
My laughter at Kayla’s exuberant greeting dies instantly when I twirl her and see the expressionless face of Jessa.
A lump the size of Texas forms in my stomach.
I hadn’t considered what this might look like to someone who has no idea who Kayla is.
I put some distance between the two of us before gesturing to Jessa.
“Kayla, this is Jessa. She just started at Masterson’s last week. Jessa, this is Kayla, the bartender here and one of my sister’s friends.”
Kayla sticks out her hand. “Great to meet you. Are you really a mechanic? That’s so badass.”
Jessa nods, taking Kayla’s offered hand. My lungs deflate with the exhale of the breath I’m holding at the gesture.
“I am.”
“Too cool. I’d love to hear more about it sometime, but I’d better get back. Lane, you tell Alana she owes me a call or six. It’s been radio silence since she left.”
His eyebrows pinch. “Yeah, I haven’t heard from her much either. I’ll be sure to let her know the next time we talk though.”
“Great. I’ll grab a draft for you. What would you like Jessa?”
“I’ll take one also,” she confirms.
“We’ll be over at that table,” I point to an open one along the back wall.
“Where did your sister move to?” Jessa asks as we sit.
“She moved to Coyote Creek. It’s a small town in the mountains of Southwest Idaho.”
Her eyebrows raise. “That’s quite the move. What prompted that?”
“Yeah, I wasn’t too happy about her going so far away by herself. She said she wanted to experience somewhere new. I worry about her. Fortunately, it just so happens a buddy from my army days lives there too. So he’s keeping an eye on her for me.”
Kayla sets our drinks and menus down with one of her quick smiles. “Here you go. Let me know when you’re ready to order.”
“Thanks Kayla.
Jessa frowns. “How old is she?”
“She’s thirty-five, three years younger than me.”
“Isn’t that a little old for you to be worrying about her so much?”
“She was only seventeen when our aunt, who raised us, passed away. I was headed overseas, so she couldn’t live with me.
A neighbor was her guardian on paper until she turned eighteen.
It killed me she went through all that alone.
Now she has a tendency to bounce from one thing to the next without settling. ”
Jessa sets her drink down after taking a swallow. “That’s a pretty shitty hand you guys were dealt.”
I shrug my shoulder. “As you said, it is what it is. It’s also the reason I tend to look for the good in things. Life’s too fucking short not to be happy. Though Alana is the same way. I remember my mom being perpetually cheery, so we probably inherited the inclination from her.”
Jessa’s belly rumbles again. “God, I better get some food ordered before my stomach starts eating itself.”
She scans the menu briefly before making a decision. I go place our order for bacon cheeseburgers and fries with Kayla.
When I return to the table the conversation flows easily between Jessa and me. I get to know her more. We’ve kept conversations at work superficial and about the job.
When we’re done, Jessa settles the bill, even if it does grate on me to let her.
She needs to understand I respect her and won’t try to override her.
This isn’t a date, though I had hoped it would be.
But it would be a pretty shitty first date considering we’re coming straight from work and we’re both dirty and tired.
I want this woman with every fiber of my being. The fact we work together and I’m technically her supervisor is a huge fucking obstacle. Her prickly exterior is another hurdle between us. I’m going to have to bide my time and let her lead.
Outside, an idea comes to me as we get to our vehicles. “When are you going to let me get behind the wheel of this beauty?” I ask, running my hand along the hood of the car.
Her eyes narrow on me. “You want to drive Carla?”
A grin breaks across my face. “Carla?”
Her lips turn down and her head cocks to the side. “What? Only men can name their cars?”
I give a shake of my head. “Nope. A car like this should have a regal name though. Catarina maybe.”
“She’s not a cat. Shelley was a consideration since she’s a Chevelle and all, but my uncle Jackson is the one who started calling her Carla when we began working on her.”
“You restored her with him?” The idea of her turning wrenches on this machine is fucking hot. Watching her work on the heavy equipment is more of a turn-on than it should be, but thinking about her bent over the engine of this sleek vehicle has my dick pulsing.
The barest of smiles appears on her beautiful face.
Those blue-gray eyes soften as they follow her hand lovingly stroking along the roof.
“Yeah. He helped my mom raise me. I probably spent more time with him than with her. Had me sitting on his lap from the beginning, running controls on all types of equipment. Showing me how they worked.”
“Sounds like a great guy. I’d love to meet him.”
Her head jerks in my direction, brow pinched. “Really? Jerome never wanted to meet him.” She mutters the second part almost as if she’s talking to herself.
“Hell yeah. A guy who taught a little blue-eyed, blonde haired girl skills most men don’t have? I’d absolutely want to make his acquaintance. Besides, he’s important to you, and that’s reason enough.”
She bites down on her bottom lip, watching me as if I’m a puzzle to be solved. The next thing I know keys are flying towards me. Luckily, I’ve got stellar reflexes and snatch them neatly before they smash into my face.
A little smirk graces her mouth. “Good catch, guess you can take her for a spin.”
I hustle around the hood and unlock the car before sliding in. Leaning over, I pop the lock on the passenger door so she can climb in too. Inserting the key, I start the engine.
The rumble of the machine has my balls tingling. Getting behind the wheel of this stellar vehicle has my blood rushing. Doing it with the woman sitting next to me, knowing she’s the one who got the car running like this, has me harder than fuck.
I shift through the gears, and they’re as smooth as a hot knife through butter. Heading out of town, I know just where I’m going to take us. The sun is sinking closer to the horizon, and we should make it there at the perfect time.