Chapter 22
Victor
Our patio night, or the aftermath rather, set the tone for the rest of the week. Gabbi and I talked about a lot over the last week. It felt like we were getting to know each other again, like when we first became close friends in junior high.
The tension has started to ease a bit in the house, and our daughters are picking up on it.
Working at the garage is good. Getting to know the guys and having a mission, though different from what I’m used to, is helping me adjust better to life on the outside.
“Hey, Vic.” Jessi sings-songs as I walk into the customer service area of the shop.
She’s wearing cut-off jean shorts that barely cover her, well, anything, and a tiny t-shirt that ends about two inches above her belly button.
Why Tony lets her come to work like that, I will never understand.
I would lock Kerri and Abby in the basement if I saw them wearing shit like that.
Jessi throws her hand on her hip and pops it out to the side when she sees me. Her smile is huge, and her eyes are flirty. Ugh. I guess Ty’s right, she’s going to be a pain in my ass.
“Hey Jessi. How’s it going?” I ask out of courtesy. Averting my eyes, I step around her, careful not to get too close. I’m hoping that my non-interest is clear, as I half ignore whatever she says in response.
I continue walking into the back storage room to grab a couple of brake pads for the Mercedes I’m working on. Reaching up on the shelf to grab them, I hear the door close and smell a strong waft of vanilla musk, like the gas station body spray.
Jessi.
Grabbing the box, I turn around in time to snatch Jessi’s wrist before she touches me. Though I have no idea what she was reaching for. “Jessi. What the fuck are you doing?” Her look of shock quickly fades into a Cheshire cat grin.
“Come on, Vic,” she purrs, “I see how you look at me.” Since my other hand is occupied, holding the six-hundred-dollar brake pads, I can’t stop her when she reaches up with her free hand and runs a finger down my chest. She starts with her index finger at my sternum and stops at my belt buckle.
This is fucking uncomfortable. I haven’t been touched like this in a long time, and yet it doesn’t stop me from wanting to vomit all over this chick. The fact that she thinks she can do this brings out the petty, vindictive feeling that comes over me.
Dropping her other wrist, I encircle the wrist of the assaulting hand and pull her body closer to me. Jessi’s grin turns sultry, and her eyelids look heavy.
I lean in closer to her face, our lips centimeters apart. Staring her in the eyes, “You think you can handle me, little girl?” Jessi’s eyes widen, and she nods vigorously. “What would you let me do?”
“Anything you want, Vic.” Her voice is husky. Wow, that’s interesting. I let my eyes slowly prowl over her face, and I can feel her breath quicken as she closes her eyes.
Speaking slowly, I lean into her ear, “Anything, huh?”
“Mmhmm.” Jessi wriggles her body against mine.
I run my nose up her throat, trying not to gag at the smell. “You know what I want from you, Jessi?” She moans and tilts her head sideways to give me more access to her neck. I press my lips to her ear and drop my voice an octave. “I want you…”
“Mmhmm.” She purrs.
“To...” I let out a breath.
“Yes,” Jessi smiles her encouragement.
I jerk her closer to me, and her eyes fly open, “Leave. Me. The. Fuck. Alone.” With that, I yank her away from me by her wrist and walk out of the storage room door, only to meet a set of beautiful brown eyes staring at me.
Gabbi’s eyes flare wide when she sees Jessi following me out of the room, breathing heavily, with a flushed face. All the air is sucked out of my lungs. Fuck!