Chapter 2
TWO
I think it’s disrespectful that a handful of almonds have six million calories.
—Beau to Boone
BEAU
My last day as a science teacher was a bittersweet one.
I’d miss my life, my students, and the staff at Jesper County High School.
But I was also kind of excited about a new venture.
I’d never thought that I would be taking over as CEO of my father’s company, but who was I to not stick it to my sister.
I’d been drinking a celebratory beer in the parking lot of the post office with Black and Gentry, a couple of club brothers from the MC I was a member of, when she’d crashed in front of us.
I’d clocked her driving from a quarter of a mile away.
She was in a black Jeep Cherokee with the windows rolled down.
Her long, black hair had been flying every which way, swirling like a cyclone above her head.
But it’d been her small smile that’d caught my attention at first.
Her car tire had yanked free, and I’d watched it roll across the street into the tall grass before I’d looked back at her face.
She looked horrified.
It was the cutest thing I’d ever witnessed.
Then she’d turned and spotted us, witnessing the carnage, and she’d flushed the prettiest of pinks.
Then she’d stepped out of the car in her short blue jean shorts, white tank top, and matching Samba shoes, and I’d fallen into instant lust.
Her body was to die for.
Not super tall, but she had toned, tanned thighs. Athletic build. And the features that spoke of some Asian heritage. Her brown eyes were incredibly expressive.
But it was the scowl on her face as she glared at us as if we were the ones who ripped her tire off and flung it away that had me pushing off the seat of my bike and walking toward her.
Now, I was holding out my hand to help her onto the back of my bike, and the anticipation of having her arms wrapped around me was killing me.
She placed her soft hands into mine, and I watched as the muscles in her forearm played while she gripped my hand tightly to steady herself as she swung onto my bike.
“You ever ridden before?” I asked.
“Nope,” she agreed. “But you won’t go fast, right?”
“Not if you don’t want me to.”
She smiled. “I have too many responsibilities to die.”
“Maybe when you don’t have those responsibilities, I can take you fast,” I teased.
She scooted up slightly, and I said, “All the way up. Wrap your arms around me and don’t let go.”
I wasn’t going to be going fast enough for her to need to hold on tight, but I just wanted her close.
She smelled like cherry and vanilla cake.
It was an intoxicating combination, and it wrapped around my lungs like a vise.
I wondered if I buried my nose in her hair, would it be more potent?
Instead of finding out, I started the bike and gently guided us out of Court’s parking lot and to the main drag through town again. “Are you hungry for some really good deli sandwiches? Or something that’ll clog your arteries?”
She leaned forward so that I could hear her over the rumble of my bike combined with the wind and said, “I should probably go with the healthier option.”
I steered us toward The Mercantile and pulled into the closest spot to the door that I could find.
When I had the bike shut down, she let go of my chest and then hopped off with surprising athleticism.
I walked with her to the front door and grabbed it for her, holding it open with my hand so that she could travel under my arm.
She did so easily, and I wondered how tall she was.
Probably around five-five or five-six, if I had to guess.
“Thanks.” She smiled.
I nodded. “No problem.”
She stopped just inside the front door and said, “Thank you for the ride.”
Did she think that I was leaving?
No way.
I was staying until Court was done with her car and even then maybe I’d spend the rest of my night with her, too.
It’d be one hell of a way to celebrate the summer and my new job.
If she was willing, anyway.
I sure the fuck hoped she was willing.
“Can I join you for lunch?” I asked.
Say yes.
Please, for the love of God, say yes.
Her cheeks pinked. “Oh, sure. I’d love for you to join me. I’d love to get to know a little more about this town.”
“Seeing as I’ve lived here most of my life, I’d be happy to share that information with you.”
She peppered me with questions as we waited in line to order. Those questions continued as we took our little number to the table as far away from anyone else as we could get.
She asked about the school and the climate. She asked about town gatherings and after-school programs.
Then she started talking about how she was a nurse anesthetist and asked about the hospital.
Since that was one area of expertise I had no knowledge in, I said, “I could phone in a friend.”
Her lips tipped up at the corner. “I’d like that.”
I texted Lysander, who was a radiologist at the county hospital in town.
He didn’t answer right away, which worked out okay because our food was delivered before she could get to asking any more questions.
She took a bite of the sandwich and gasped. “Whoa. This is good.”
“The owner has worked at a steel mill for going on forty years. This is his side project. The deli part is only open three days a week but they have hired a five-star chef. That’s why there was a line out the door.”
“Interesting,” she said. “I’d wait in line for a sandwich like this.”
I watched her eat, fast and efficiently.
She had impeccable manners, too.
Which I commented on.
She flushed.
“My dad was Japanese and my mom was Georgian royalty. Savannah, Georgia royalty,” she teased.
“My parents died at a young age, but my aunt Daisy picked up the mantle and made sure we were well adept at manners and all that jazz. She’d roll over in her grave if she knew that I had my elbows on the table or my napkin not in my lap. ”
“Southern charm.” I snapped my fingers. “That’s what I noticed.”
She smiled, and it was so unguarded that I had trouble staring at her while she aimed it my way.
The rest of lunch went great, and we stayed there talking well into the evening hours.
It was around seven when I got the call from Court that the car wasn’t going to be done that day.
I offered to give her a ride outside The Mercantile but she shook her head.
When she stretched up onto her tiptoes to kiss my cheek, I turned my mouth into the kiss.
She gasped against my lips, her fingers digging into my pecs.
I took advantage, deepening the kiss until we both pulled away breathlessly.
Our eyes locked, and there was an exchange of understanding. Need.
I caught her by the hip and brought her back into my body. “I’m not usually so forward but…”
“Yes, I’ll go home with you.”