Chapter Four

Jessie awoke slowly, warm and cozy in the big bed. Visions what BJ had done to her in the bed, on the deck, the shower and in the bathtub still floated through her mind. Had it been a dream? She didn’t want to wake up if it was. Her body throbbed and warmth flowed through her veins. She beamed and stretched, feeling for BJ but her hand met emptiness and still-warm sheets. Sighing, she hugged his pillow and inhaled the masculine scent. It hadn’t been a dream. Her pussy tingled with delicious soreness, additional proof he’d claimed her many times yesterday.

Something tickled her toes…no…licked her toes. The tongue dipped between as teeth glided over her sensitive flesh. Pots and pans rattled in the kitchen, so it couldn’t be BJ. She squealed and jolted upright. The black lab at her feet wiggled his tail and panted.

“Bud, come here,” BJ ordered from the other room.

The dog bounced off to heed the call of his master. She eased back into the comfort of the bed and rolled to her stomach, lazy and content. The delicious smell of bacon frying assaulted her nose and made her stomach growl. She loved bacon. Covers tossed to the side, she extended her arms and rolled her naked body to the side of the bed.

“Wow, that’s a sight I could get used to seeing in the morning.” BJ leaned against the doorway.

Her heart thumped and her cheeks flushed. How could he look this gorgeous first thing in the morning? His hair was uncombed, messy, and begged to be touched. He was naked to the waist and a pair of flannel drawstring pants hung from his lean hips. She could see his cock spring to life under the soft, thin fabric. She licked her lips. He crossed the floor in bare feet and stopped near her side to drop a light kiss on her shoulder. Her pulse quickened. “I’m sorry Buddy woke you up. I wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed.”

He could cook breakfast, too? This guy was too good to be true. Her smile grew even bigger. “He licked my toes.”

“Well, obviously he thinks you taste as good as I think you do.” His finger traced a line up her arm. “I better leave now or I’ll burn the house down.” He pressed his lips to hers before heading back to the kitchen.

Jessie tried to regain her composure, willing the rapid beat of her pulse and her tortured breathing back to normal limits. She scanned the room. Her discarded clothes were nowhere to be found, so she surveyed his closet and chose a grey T-shirt to wear.

The savory smell of fresh brewed coffee enticed her to the kitchen. BJ stood at the stove, a dish towel thrown over one shoulder. “How do you like your eggs?”

“I’d love some sunny side up. I’m terrible at making eggs, mine always turn out scrambled.” She wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I can do eggs and bacon but that’s about it for breakfast food.” He cracked a brown egg one-handed and dropped it into a fry pan.

“Is that coffee I smell?” Her eyes scanned the kitchen.

“Sure, right over there.” He pointed to the coffee machine and cracked another egg into the pan.

Jessie poured herself a cup as her breakfast companion finished up the meal. BJ placed the eggs and meat on plates before carrying their servings to the patio. As they exited the house, two cardinals flew from the bird feeder. He set their dishes on the deck table while Jessie followed with their coffee and juice. They settled down to eat and enjoy the morning view.

“So, do you like baseball?” He pointed his fork at her T-shirt.

“Yes, I guess so. Why do you ask?” She bit into a piece of bacon..

“The shirt you chose. It’s the West Virginia Express team. I thought maybe you were a fan or something.”

“Oh, I never looked. I just grabbed the first one.” Jessie pulled the shirt front out and looked down. “I use to go with my brothers, but I haven’t been to a game in years.” She waved her fork and stabbed a helping of eggs. “You know how it is. They get married and have their own lives. They’re so busy I hardly ever see them. What about you? Are you a baseball enthusiast?”

“Yeah, I go once in a while and I actually have tickets for today’s game. Do you want to go?” He asked a hopeful smile on his face.

Jessie stopped chewing and watched him run a hand through his hair. Was he asking her out on a date? Her inner voice screamed yes, go for it. They would get to spend some more time together and see where things went after that.

“Sure, that would be fun.” She crossed her legs and swung her foot, unable to stop the happiness from bubbling up to her wide smile. He wanted to spend the day with her. And she wanted to spend every minute of the weekend with him. Could the day get any better?

****

BJ crossed his ankle over his knee and slid down in the stadium chair. He liked living alone, always had. So why had sharing breakfast with Jessie this morning felt so right? He inhaled a deep breath as warmth spread down his back. He wanted to wake up next to her hot body again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. Hell, they used up every condom in the house, and his balls still hurt. The sight of her in one of his shirts this morning gripped his heart like a vise.

Jessie was gorgeous, smart, fun, and yet independent. She was probably a few years older, but she seemed the perfect age for him. No one cared about age anymore unless you were a bottle of wine or a wheel of cheese. There was no way he would let her just walk out of his life.

BJ sighed. He had to slow down and think things out. He knew nothing about her. The thought hit him like a sucker punch to the stomach. BJ watched her take a bite of her hotdog, lingering as her tongue licked a smudge of ketchup from her lip. His cock stiffened and he fanned himself with the game program.

“So, how is your hotdog?” He smirked, asking the question when she had her mouth full.

“It’s delicious.” Jessie swallowed her food and laughed. “I haven’t had this much fun in ages. Thanks for bringing me here today.” She dabbed her mouth with a napkin before kissing him on the cheek.

“Jessie, how is a great person like you not married? Or is there a big boyfriend around here that I have to worry about?” He motioned to the crowd before placing his hand on her thigh.

“No boyfriend, no husband. I work a lot. I’m on the road all the time so it’s hard to keep a relationship going when you’re never in town. What about you?” Her green eyes locked onto his.

“Same here, I’m a workaholic—at least I have been in the past. I saved money for my house, which I just purchased. Now I’m finishing a project that I have been working toward for a long time. Once I get that up and running, who knows?” He did know. He wanted a partner in life, maybe even someone that would help run the business. A business they could build and pass down to their children. And he knew he wanted to get to know her better. “So do you think you will be on the road forever?” There had to be a way for them to be together.

“Well, that all depends on Bernard.” Jessie bit into her meal again.

“What did you say?” Did she want him to ask her to stay? He ran a hand through his hair and sat a little straighter.

“Your boss, Bernard Spencer. That’s who I was going to see when my car got a flat.”

Did he hear her right? What was she talking about? His palms started to sweat.

“You think my boss is Bernard?” He regarded her out of the corner of his eye.

“He owns the garage, doesn’t he?’ She took the last bite of her dog.

“Well, yes, but why were you on your way to see the owner of a garage?” Warning bells rang in his ears, why would she be coming to see him?

“I’m a salesperson for Bauer’s Auto Parts. I was just making a routine sales stop, but when I heard that he was going to be starting a business in Charleston, heck, I thought I would go for broke and ask him for a job.” She dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “I’ve saved up some money. I hoped that maybe if we got along well enough he might consider taking me on as a partner or let me invest. I could even manage it for him. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and it would give me a chance to put down some roots. Be home more.”

Jessie watched the game beside him but she spoke as if she was miles away. “I can’t even have plants as they die on me. It’s a long shot, but I thought I would give it a try.”

BJ remembered a voicemail left on the machine from someone named Jessie. Hell, with that sultry low voice of hers, she sounded like a man on the phone. If she was who she said she was it would be a miracle. He needed a manager. Hell, he hadn’t gotten around to hiring any employees yet. Then again, things just didn’t fall into his lap like this. Was this just a luck of the draw that she ended up with a flat tire or had he been set up?

He hated to mistrust people, but scam artists were everywhere. He had too much money set aside to gamble it away on someone just because they set his dick on fire. Not that it had ever happened to him but you never know. Wait, didn’t he know someone at Bauer’s? Yes, Brad Johnson, they had gone to high school together. First thing tomorrow morning he would make some calls, check her out. He curled his left hand around the armrest and crossed his fingers.

“What do you think? I hate to ask but do you know if he has hired anyone yet?” Her face looked sad and vulnerable. “I hope we aren’t up for the same job?”

“No, we aren’t up for the same job, but I have to ask. What kind of experience do you have for running an auto supply business?” BJ looked her straight in the eye and searched for answers.

“I grew up in the business. My dad owned Sparky’s Repair Shop. I knew how to change the oil in a car before I was ten.”

“Wait a second. You’re Sparky Knutson’s daughter?” His heart skipped a beat and he couldn’t catch his breath. Was she the one he remembered seeing from his dad’s pickup truck so many years ago? Could she be the one? They did have the same color hair and she hadn’t mentioned having any sisters.

“Yes, my brothers did most of the work, while I got stuck doing the paperwork and accounting. I ordered supplies, did payroll, advertising, cleaning. You name it, I did it.” She smiled before frowning. “Unfortunately my dad suffered a stroke and had to retire early. Neither of my brothers wanted to take over so he sold the business and moved to town.” Jessie took a sip of her soda and placed it in the cup holder.

“I got hired at Bauer’s and I’ve been working there ever since. This would be a great opportunity for me to use the experience I have learned and also get more women involved in the business. I would like to offer some night classes for women on general automotive maintenance and what to do in an emergency.” Jessie snuggled closer and clasped his hand in hers. “You know, in case a handsome mechanic with a wrecker doesn’t come by when you need him.”

“Well, that all sounds good. I know I would hire you on the spot.” He did want to hire her, but he had to be sure. That meant checking out a few things first. “Why don’t we just enjoy the day and see what happens tomorrow?” A loud crack of the bat sent their gazes back to the field. The players raced around the bases and the crowd rose to their feet.

“Woohoo. A triple play, we won, BJ. We won!” Jessie stood and threw her arms around him. “Thank you for bringing me here today. I had a great time.”

Her soft breasts pressing against his chest was the equivalent of hitting a home run. He crushed his lips on hers and his tongue weaved an erotic dance around hers. BJ pulled her closer to the erection growing in his jeans.

“Hey, BJ, get a room.” His passion was interrupted when a piece of popcorn hit his cheek.

“What the fuck?” He searched the crowd behind them. His gaze landed on two laughing guys in the back row he knew from the local gas station.

“Let’s finish this at home.” He whispered in her ear while giving the hecklers a one-finger salute behind her back. Oh, the harassment he’d be receiving from those two the next time he needed gas. BJ smiled, it would be worth every second of teasing.