Chapter 12 Making It Clear
MAKING IT CLEAR
Sunday afternoon, Jocelyn left her building when Chance texted he was outside.
She hadn’t expected him to want to get together again so soon. There was a huge part of her that felt he was testing her with this date.
Going for a ride in his car that she’d admired, then out to a pub in public.
She had no problem with it and he almost seemed shocked she’d agreed.
The joke would be on him. She liked things that went fast.
He admitted she could handle it, so might as well prove it some more.
Even if she was positive he had another meaning in there.
Yes, please!
She got off the elevator, then waved to Marcel manning the desk.
Chance’s black muscle car was off to the side, the engine running, rumbling louder than any other vehicle around. She didn’t even care it drew eyes to them.
She opened the heavy door, then jumped in the stiff leather seat. Yep, the luxuries of modern cars were gone.
He had his window down and she went to do the same, looking for the button, and realized she had to crank it manually.
“Takes some getting used to,” he said.
“Totally worth it,” she said, buckling up. “Is this the only vehicle you’ve got?”
“No,” he said. “I’ve got a truck. When the weather is iffy I park this. I don’t drive it much in the winter either.”
“You never said where you lived. Only that you didn’t live above the bar.”
“A few miles from here in an apartment,” he said. “Like you, I pay for a garage and keep this in there. Ready?”
“You betcha,” she said. “If I get a kiss first.”
She’d been thinking about that kiss all night, and the anticipation of another was building fast.
She leaned across the seat, and he met her halfway, like they’d done it a hundred times before. His hand found her neck again. Firm, possessive, and completely in control. God, she loved that move. Even if the kiss was brief, it lit her up like a live wire. Short, hot, and full of promise.
He returned to his side, put the car in gear and took off. Not the way she remembered him doing in high school in a beat-up old Camaro. Guess his love of muscle cars carried over into adulthood.
“I thought we’d take a ride if you’re cool with it, then get some food. I’ve got to cover at the bar tonight and be there by four.”
“Oh,” she said. “We didn’t have to do this today if you had plans.”
“I’ve always got stuff to do,” he said, turning to look at her. They were driving through town and had to speak louder than normal, not just because of the windows being down, but the sound of the car.
“A warning?”
“Just making it clear. Is that a problem?”
“No,” she said. “No one knows what this is. I’m not putting a label on it. We’ll figure it out the best we can. I can always stop into the bar for dinner or will that be a problem for you?”
He grinned, his dark eyes lighting some, his hair blowing in the breeze. Not as crazy as hers. She should put it back but enjoyed the freedom of it slapping around her face like fingers gone wild.
“You’re more than welcome to pop in any time you want.”
“I might do that,” she said.
They got to the outskirts of town, him hitting the gas and getting the car up to speed, taking turns on a country road, her hair now cascading behind her and over the seat.
He took a curve at a higher speed, her arm going to the doorframe to brace her, then her hand out the window, a squeal along with it.
“Okay over there?”
“This is aweeeesssssommmme,” she yelled.
He laughed, his voice loud. “It’s nice to unwind like this.”
“Need both hands on the steering wheel, huh? Bet it’s difficult to drive.”
“It’s power steering,” he said. “I upgraded it too, but the car is heavy in the turns. Just built differently.”
He was on the straightaway now, one hand on the wheel, the other coming over to rub her thigh.
She winked at him.
She wasn’t sure she’d ever been on a date like this before. Would have never considered it either.
Most times she was dressing up and going to dinner, a movie, maybe a play, a game. Some activity that was meant to impress.
This cost little but was more valuable.
It brought her back to high school some. That wicked side of her she’d hid from her family and friends.
The one who would have loved to have hopped in Chance’s car and asked for a ride back then.
It’s not the ride she was thinking of as an adult. As a teen, she was a good girl in actions, just not always in thoughts.
Her little secret.
An hour later, they were at a gas station and he was filling his tank, then climbing back in.
“I bet you burn a lot of gas in this.”
“I get about ten miles a gallon around the city.” Her jaw dropped. “Wasteful, I know. But it’s too fun to not use it.”
“Damn,” she said. “Do you drive it every day?”
“No,” he said. “If it’s too hot I don’t want it baking in the sun at the firehouse, or if it’s raining, things like that. I might take it out a few times a week to run errands, but don’t always like it sitting at the bar all the time either.”
“Makes sense. How long have you had it?”
“About ten years,” he said. “It barely ran when I got it. I put a lot of work into it and then had it painted and the interior fixed some.”
It looked aged but in great condition. “This is a fun toy. Much better than a modern sports car to me.”
“Ready for some food?”
“Sure. What do you have in mind?”
“Boxcar Bar and Arcade. Pizza and beer.”
“Perfect,” she said. “And I can beat your butt at games.”
“You play video games?”
She smirked at him. She could lower her voice some now that they were back in town. “I have two brothers. Of course I can. And I practiced all the time so I could come in like a sleeper and take them down when they least expected it.”
He laughed. “There is a lot more to you than I thought, Jocelyn.”
“The same,” she said, patting his thigh in return, just testing the movement, watching the heat flicker to a flame in his eyes.
They pulled into the parking lot, found a spot and walked in.
“Pizza first. Got to get nourishment for me to wipe the floor with you.”
“Oh, you’re on!” she said.
They ordered their pizza, got their drinks, and then found a seat outside. “Have you been here before?”
“No. I’ve wanted to,” she said.
“Why haven’t you?”
She shrugged. Because none of the guys she dated or went on a date with would find this on their level. Her brothers had come here before though.
“Just haven’t had the time.”
“Or the right people in your life,” he said, smirking.
“That too.”
She sipped her beer. It called for it. The server brought out their pizza quickly. “It’s a nice day. I wish I had space for outdoor seating, but just don’t.”
“This is different. It’s like hanging out in your backyard.”
They were at a picnic table where many could join them. She wondered if they’d run into anyone they knew, but it was early yet. There were more families here than anything.
“Not to mention keeping an eye on the customers outside, weather changes, the wind, things like that. I’ve got enough to handle inside.”
“And you’ve got help,” she said.
“My grandmother. One day she’ll slow down.”
“When she wants to,” she said. “I had this conversation with my mother recently. Which I know isn’t the same thing, as she’s younger, but I’d like her to step back some.”
“So you can be in control?” he asked, lifting his eyebrow as he chewed.
“There is nothing wrong with being the boss,” she said, putting her hand on her hip.
“Nope,” he said. “It’s got its pros and cons. I like going in and doing my job and someone else is responsible at the firehouse. At the bar, I’m the one who worries all the time.”
“I understand that. My parents have built and expanded everything so much, but anything could happen. The cost of steel rises, which it is. Companies, hotels, businesses might not have the money to put up more buildings. Not as many businesses were in offices for a long time and now it’s coming back. ”
“Everything goes around in moderated forms.”
“It does. Just need to adapt. Kind of like this,” she said, her hand going back and forth between them.
He squinted. “Not sure it’s what I meant.”
“But it can apply and I’m going to take it as that.” She took another bite of her pizza and looked around some while she contemplated the next words. “Not to be clingy.”
“I don’t think you’re the clingy type.”
“Nope. It annoys some. Just not me.”
“There is nothing wrong with it. You be you.”
“I have been since I hit adulthood. But as I was saying, just curious of your schedule. I know you told me a rough idea of it, but not sure when you’re back at the firehouse.”
“Tomorrow,” he said. “Starts my rotation.”
“And you work at the pub on your off days,” she said.
“Not always. If I do, it’s at night or midday. I have to sleep. We sleep little at the firehouse. Or when we try to, calls come in and interrupt it.”
“I’m not sure I could handle that,” she said. “I like my sleep too much. At least seven straight hours, eight would be better.”
He coughed. “Not sure the last time I got seven straight hours of sleep. I’m normally aiming for five on average.”
“Ugh. No. I’m in bed a little after nine, watching TV for an hour, but normally fall asleep before it shuts off. I’m up around five thirty, though my alarm is set at six. Need my beauty sleep.”
“Seems to be working for you,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows. “What time do you start work?”
“The office opens at eight, but I’m there a little after seven. We close at five. It’s rare for me to leave right then, though I try. I’m not much later than six.”
Too much to do and lots of interruptions.
The other part was proving herself. Which was stupid since it was her parents and they had trust and faith in her to do the job.
Just not enough for her mother to cut back.
She was getting there though.
“Damn, you were right. You’re a sleeper,” Chance said thirty minutes later when they were playing foosball. She was kicking his butt, her body getting into it the way she was spinning the bars and leaning on the table, the weight of it shifting the game on the floor.
“Game two to me,” she said. She looked at her watch. “I’m having a blast, but it’s almost two and you’ve got to work in two hours.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I need to go home, shower, and change still.” Her eyes moved over his body, and the image of him naked in the shower popped in front of her eyes. “I can read your thoughts.” His voice husky.
“I doubt that.”
He moved closer to her, his hand on her lower back. “I think of you in the shower too. But in my mind, I’m right there with you.”