Chapter 28 - Jensen
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Jensen
“Hey, Boss Man? That Chevy Silverado is all finished up. Want me to get Sarah to ready the paperwork?”
“Go for it,” I yell back, not bothering to look up from the cracked serpentine belt I’m replacing on an old Tahoe. “Make sure she gives the client a discount for having to wait so long.”
“Roger that.”
I swipe at the sweat beading across my forehead and grimace at the grease on my hands that I’ve likely just smeared on my face.
Saturdays are always pretty busy at the auto shop, but two of my mechanics called out this morning leaving us short-staffed with a full schedule just a few days before spring break.
We’re already behind on appointments and our clients are having to wait longer than usual, which frustrates me to no end.
Kasey worked hard to create a strong reputation of quality customer service for the shop, and I’ve made it my mission to maintain that.
But damn, days like today make it difficult.
It’s not quite noon, but the day is already turning out to be uncomfortably warm.
We’ve got all the bay doors open and the windows too, but the humidity is thick and unyielding.
Gray clouds have started rolling in and there’s thunder rumbling in the west. A good rain might cut the heat, but if these clouds get any darker, we’ll be getting more than a spring shower.
There’s no operating electrical equipment during a lightning storm, so we need to get our clients out the door before the weather hits.
Classic rock pumps out over the loudspeaker, and I use the rhythm of the drumbeats to pace myself, humming along as I work as fast as I can. I’m on the second chorus of Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’ when I spot Callie walking toward me, the keys to her 4Runner dangling from one hand.
The sight of her sun-kissed shoulders in a green tank top that matches her eyes, golden hair cascading down her back, and strawberry lips that I’m already aching to taste nearly sends me to my knees.
It doesn’t matter that we’ve spent nearly every second of the last few days together, I can’t seem to get enough of her.
Of her laughter, the softness of her skin, and the way she wraps her arms around me and holds me in the quiet stillness of night.
If I thought she filled my head before, now it’s like she owns every thought in my brain.
And god, just being around her makes me feel so alive.
It’s like I’ve been living underground for years and now that I’ve emerged, I can’t soak up enough of her sunlight.
The old shadows still lurk in corners, but I haven’t felt as much of their pull these last few days. For the first time in four years, I’m starting to believe there might just be a time when I won’t feel them at all.
“Hey, pretty girl,” I wipe my hands on a rag then wrap them around her waist, pulling her closer. “What are you doing here?”
She presses her lips against mine in a kiss that’s over entirely too quickly. “I wanted to see you. I hope that’s okay?”
“Of course, you can come by anytime you want.” I tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “How are you?”
“I’m good. I just came from the diner. Mabel asked me to stop by so she could tell me the news in person.” She pulls her phone out of her pocket. “Looks like we broke the internet again.”
Callie shows me Mabel’s post about the second photoshoot, and there are so many people reacting to it, it’s almost impossible to get to the bottom of the comment section .
“And how’s Mabel handling it?”
“Oh, she’s as happy as a lark, and already planning to offer more blind date sessions in the future. She’s gotten a couple of calls about it already. She even told Joe at the diner that she needed to work less hours, so she can give the photography business more of her attention.”
“Good for her, that’s really great.”
“It is,” Callie smiles. “It’s what she’s always wanted. I’m just really happy for her, you know? She deserves this.”
“And what do you think our adoring public would do if they discovered that we’re officially together?” I tug her even closer.
“Oh, I think they would go absolutely nuts over us.”
“Want to make a post or something? To help Mabel?”
“I think we’ve done enough for Mabel. And besides, now that I have you, I want to keep you all to myself.” She gives me a soft, lingering kiss that nearly makes me moan. I cup her cheeks and kiss her back.
I don’t want to let her go, but the business-minded side of my brain reminds me that making out with Callie in the middle of the shop probably isn’t exactly professional behavior. Especially when you’re the boss. I pull back with a sigh. “Best not to give the customers a show.”
“Yeah, you know how quickly rumors tend to fly around these parts. Wouldn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea about us,” Callie says with a teasing smile.
“The wrong idea, huh?”
“If we’re not careful, people are going to think you like me. That you like, like me.”
I almost open my mouth to argue with her— Like, like you? No, Callie. I’m in love with you. Instead, I play along.
“Is that so? Well then, I guess I better not do this anymore.” I lean in and press a kiss to the sensitive spot just below her ear.
“Or this,” I whisper, my mouth ghosting across the hollow of her throat.
Callie’s fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt. “You definitely shouldn’t do that.” Her voice is breathy.
I lift my head, grinning.
I’m in love with you. I’m in love with you. I’m in love with you.
The words echo in my head in time with my heartbeat. I want to tell her, want to whisper the words against her mouth, but not here in the middle of the auto shop. So, I lean in, settling for a kiss instead.
Our lips have barely brushed when Frank comes barreling around the corner.
“The Bronco Sport in bay two—whoa, sorry about that, Boss!” He whirls around covering his eyes, which makes Callie giggle.
“It’s fine, Frank,” I groan. “Callie just stopped by to say hello. ”
Frank gives her a smile and a salute. “Right, well, whenever you get a second, I need your opinion on the Bronco.” He turns on his heel and hurries away without waiting for a reply.
“We’re short-staffed today,” I explain, “and way behind schedule.”
“I should go then. I’m distracting you.”
Callie starts to pull away, but I tighten my hold on her, not quite ready to let her go yet. “Don’t go, not yet.”
“I don’t want to keep you from work.”
“Give me one more minute. There’s something in my office for you.” I interlock my fingers with hers and lead her down the hallway. I pass the door to my office and turn down another hallway, stopping at a door near the end. I push it open and step into the dark room, pulling Callie in behind me.
“Um, this doesn’t look like your office.”
I fumble for the light switch on the wall, flipping it on to reveal the supply closet. “There are windows in there,” I explain, pulling her flush against me. “And before you go, I just have to do this.”
I capture her lips with mine, walking us backward until her back is up against the metal shelving.
This kiss isn’t like the one out in the bay, slow and unhurried. It’s like wildfire—all-consuming. Blazing heat.
Callie’s fingers tunnel into my hair as her tongue caresses mine and I yank her even closer as she lets me claim her mouth, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other gripping her hip.
God, she feels so good pressed up against me, and the vanilla scent coming off her skin floods my senses. She’s everywhere—underneath my hands, in my every thought.
“Jensen,” Callie breathes as my mouth moves to the sensitive spot just below her jaw. The sound of my name of her lips makes me shiver, and I scrape my teeth gently against her collarbone.
Her hands land on my shoulders, fingertips digging in as she lets out a soft sigh. My fingers curl around the strap of her tank top, sliding it to the side so I can kiss the soft skin of her shoulder.
I swear, I could live a thousand lifetimes with Callie and never get tired of this euphoric rush, the high that consumes me every time I’m near her. I never want it to end. I crash my lips against hers again, my heart beating wildly and uncontrollably.
I’m in love with you. I’m in love with you. I’m in love with you.
“I really should let you get back to work,” Callie pulls away, breathless, though her head is tilted back, granting me me better access.
I kiss my way up the column of her neck, not ready to relinquish the feel of her skin underneath my hands. “Stay.”
“As much as I want to, and believe me, I want to, I don’t want to distract you any more than I already have. Especially when you’re already behind and super busy.” She pushes me gently away. “You have to get back out there, Boss.”
“Stay,” I give her my best puppy dog expression, and she laughs.
“Stay here in the supply closet?”
“No, with me.” I pick up her hand and place it across my heart. “Stay with me.” It’s not exactly what I want to say, but it’s close enough.
Callie smiles sweetly, leaning in to give me one last kiss. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I reluctantly open the door and lead her out into the hallway. We pass Frank, who’s whistling along to the music and pretending very hard that he didn’t just notice us emerge from the supply closet, hair all mussed and lips swollen.
We walk hand and hand back through the shop and out to where her 4Runner is parked on the curb.
The wind has picked up and there’s a loud rumble of thunder, closer than before.
The clouds are moving rapidly across the sky, and it looks like the storm is going to hit sooner rather than later.
I grimace thinking of how much work we still have to get done.
“I don’t like the looks of that sky,” Callie says. Her brows are scrunched as her hair whips around in the wind. “I saw on the news this morning that we’re under a severe weather watch. Think it’s going to get bad? ”
“If it does, sounds like it will be north of here.” I’m not an expert on storms, but we keep the local station on in the waiting room for our clients. “Your boyfriend’s been on the air quite a bit today. He said the worst of it will probably hit Madison and Huntsville.”
Callie swats me in the stomach with a laugh. “Well, in Jim Bann we trust.”
I open the driver’s side door for her just as fat droplets of rain begin to fall. “Are you heading straight home?”
“I was thinking of going to Mabel’s. She’s supposed to be getting off soon, and I’ve been promising her some hangout time. Why? Need something?”
“I was just going to ask if you could stop by the farmhouse and check on Peaches? She hates storms and I try not to leave her alone if I can help it. But don’t worry about it. We’ll probably have to close up shop early, and she’ll be okay until I get there.”
“That’s right, poor baby. You know what? Why don’t I just go hang out with her? I can hang with Mabel another day.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Besides, I hear some hot mechanic might be getting off early and will be available for couch snuggling.”
“I better get back in there then. I wouldn’t want to leave Peaches without a couch snuggling partner.”
Callie’s laugh makes my own bubble up in my throat. I lean in and give her a quick kiss .
“I’ll see you at home, then?”
Hearing her call my farmhouse home makes my chest tighten.
She has no idea the effect she has on me, how much life she breathes into me.
After four of the worst years of my life, she’s made me whole again.
I never thought I could have this, this overwhelming love that I feel for her, but because of her, I do.
And tonight, when I get home, I’m going to tell her.
“Yeah, see you at home.”