Jesse's Soul (2) (21 page)

~

Reid was the type of guy who was just easy to be around, quick with a joke and patient to a fault. Jesse had never been nervous to be around Reid. Not even his first week as the new guy on the team years ago.

There was a first time for everything.

His anxiety heightened as his boss headed his direction.

“They all seem to be taking the changes okay,” Reid mentioned casually as he walked in the door of the semi, brushing Jesse’s shoulder as he passed by. “Well, except for
Taylor. He’s young and thinks he’s a hot rod. I’m impressed with Nick, though. He’ll work out well.”

Her team had gelled around her, but it was easy to see that Mike and the new guy, Nick, were her go-to men. Most of the guys didn’t seem to give it a second thought that she was a woman, or mind following her lead. Except for
Taylor. Reid was right. The slider was open, leaning on the door frame, Jesse held a bottle of water to his lips, watching that mechanic in particular. The guy was digging his own grave.

There wasn’t any reason for him to tattle to Emery about the nasty eye-rolls and the
whatever the fuck you say
sneers Taylor flashed her when her back was turned. She knew. It bothered the hell out of him, though, and although it would totally be stepping on her toes for Jesse to say something to the prick, that didn’t stop him from
accidentally
kicking the doorframe with his riding boot, making a loud enough noise that Taylor looked up. Making eye contact with the guy was enough to let him know he was being watched.

Turning back to Reid, he nodded. “Yeah, I heard them all telling Nick the story about Anthony. It’s funny, he’s almost scared to say too much now to us as riders.” He flashed a shit-eating grin at his boss then turned back, his focus on Emery.

“She looks better this morning. Not as pale, huh?” Reid said.

Jesse hesitated to answer that. He wanted to be optimistic, but she was so tired. “Yeah.”

“You really like her don’t you, Jess?”

Shit.

Heat rushed through him. He’d been dreading this conversation, and Jesse knew his boss well enough to know Reid wasn’t making small talk. He was gearing up for the talk. Turning, he took a fortifying breath and feigned calm until he saw the smug expression on Reid’s face. The raised eyebrow was a nice touch.

Fuck. Oh, yeah. He knows.

“You really think I’m an idiot, son? I know exactly where she was last night, and I know exactly how long she was there.”

“Um…ah.” He was at a loss for words and only a nervous chuckle came out making him appear not only guilty, but stupid as well.

“Did she tell you she’s been sick?”

Jesse blinked a couple of times at the switch up in conversation. “Yeah.” He ran his hand through his hair. “She told me everything.”

“Including what that asshole did to her?”

“Yeah.” Jesse’s eyes shut for a moment and he shook his head. “How the hell do you leave someone like that?”

“God if I know.”

“He needs the piss knocked out of him.
Still, and it’s been over two years.”

“Well don’t tell Em, but Riley already did that.”

Jesse’s shoulder jerked. “She knows.”

“How?”

“She said she didn’t know for sure, but that she’d heard rumors around your hometown. And knowing how close she and Riley are, she just assumes they’re true.”

“Yeah, you can’t pull anything over on her. So about last night?”

Jesse took a deep breath. As he blew it out, he shook his head again and shrugged. “Reid, I can’t apologize to you. I know she’s your daughter and you’re my boss, but I really think we have something.”

“Like I said, I’m not an idiot. But she’s been through a lot and you’re going to have to be extra careful with her. And you’re right, she is my daughter, and I’ll kill you if you hurt her. I love you like a son, and I respect you and your family, but make no bones about it, I’ll kill you just the same.”

Just like that, things were back to normal and he could relax.

“I know, Reid. I won’t do anything to hurt her. Like I told her, if something happens and we don’t work out, it’ll be because she’s sick of me. But it
won’t be because of children, and I’ll tell you now, it sure as hell won’t be because I cheated on her or did some asshole thing like Collin did. I promise you.”

“I know you well enough to know you’re not made like that. You’re a good man and she needs
good. She needs an honest man to show her how to live again. She’s been so shutoff from the world and even us, her own family. Being sick and dependent on other people changed her…but what Collin did to her…a piece of her died that day in the hospital. I hope she can get halfway back to the person she used to be, and if you can do that for her, I’ll be forever grateful to you, Jess.”

“I’m trying, sir.”

“I know you are. I can see she’s come a long way in just the short time you two have known each other.” Reid nodded at Jesse.

He hadn’t heard anyone approach until Emery stepped inside the trailer. With his be
st faked smile, he hoped like hell she could read minds.  Never one to believe in telepathy, Jesse tilted his head with his gaze fixed on her, and willed her to figure out their current subject at hand. Broadening his already embellished smile even more.

“Great. The two of you alone together. This can’t be good.”

“Em, I talk to Jesse alone all the time.” Reid raised his eyebrow at her.

“After he’s had sex with me?”

Both men’s faces dropped in astonishment.

“That’s what I thought.” Emery grinned. “I could feel the tension before I even got both feet in the door.”

Reid coughed. “Well, we’ve discussed it. Not in any detail, but I told him I wasn’t blind, that I knew. Then I threatened to kill him if he hurts you.”

“Well then, I’ll leave you two alone again to finish discussing my sex life.” She turned on her heel, heading back toward the door.

“Wait. Where you going?” Jesse asked, holding his hand out, trying anything to stop her from leaving. “Come here.”

Jerking her shoulder and glancing back over it as she stepped off the bottom step, she smirked. “Some of us have to work.” She wiggled her fingers at them. “Carry on boys. I won’t interrupt your important conversation again. You have my word.” With that she shut the door, with a smile a mile wide.

On freaking purpose. She shut that door. Oh...just you wait, girl.

“
Oh my God,” Jesse said loudly after she shut the door to leave him standing alone with her father once again.

They could not only see, but could hear her giggling on the other side.

That little shit!

He knocked on the trailer door, hoping to get her attention. All it did was send her into a hysterical fit of laughter.

“So is that the personality you meant she’d lost?” Jesse looked at Reid, completely red and embarrassed, but saw Reid was just as flushed.

“Um, well, no. The laughing and giggling? Yes. The embarrassing her own father with the hints to her having sex? No. Definitely no. And really, I would much rather you two keep that private…please.”

Jesse ran his palms over his face and up into his short brown hair. He was mortified as he blew out a breath. “So are we okay?”

“I’m as good as any father can be, knowing his daughter is having sex. It’ll still bother me when’s she’s forty-five. But yeah, we’re okay. You’re a good man
, and I know you’ll take care of her.”

“I will, Reid. I promise. Speaking of which, she didn’t eat anything this morning. And now her lunch is still sitting where I left it, untouched.” He shrugged and shook his head. “I’m going to go beat her.”

“Okay, son, I appreciate it.”

Jesse stepped out of the semi, thankful to have that conversation over with. He shouldn’t have assumed Reid would have blissfully ignored the elephant in the room, but it was over with. His boss didn’t seem ready to kill him, which was a good thing. A very good thing. Other than the whole having sex with his daughter issue, he seemed like he was supportive of them getting together.

Putting his palm on her waist, with his fingers lightly pressing into her skin, he whispered in her ear, respecting her privacy in front of her team, “Honey, come eat with me.”

He wasn’t hungry, but he knew he needed to state it in a way that she wouldn’t turn him down. It was two hours past lunch. Although he would never have thought twice about it before, with her, little things like watching if she ate and slept were becoming part of him.

Chapter Nine

Jesse stepped down off the podium, not able to contain his excitement as he locked eyes with the woman who’d helped him make it up on that ever elusive podium the last four weeks in a row. He hadn’t snagged Carter’s first place spot yet, but second and thirds were a hell of a long way from the fifth place spot that he had barely even been able to hang on to before Emery came along.

With a casual arm around her shoulders, he hugged her to him, always conscious of her need to remain professional in front of everyone else. With a quick squeeze, he let go and grabbed his bike from Nick.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Hey, just glad I had to hang on to it for you so you could go up there.”
Nick motioned toward the podium with a jerk of his head. “Great job on second place.”

“Team effort, bud.”

“Hop on, honey, we’ll ride to at least the entrance.”

Emery pulled on the second strap of her backpack and then climbed on the bike behind him.

“Hold on tight.”

With the sound of the bike and a little distance away from others, Emery smarted, “You’re not going to go fast enough to need to hang on. You just want to feel my boobs pressed against your back.”

“You’ve got the most perfect boobs ever, do you blame me?”

“You’re a dork.”

“And you’re hot.”

“Just go, before I beat you.”

“Now see, Em, you’re just turning me on.”

“It’s barely been twenty-four hours.”

“I know and it’s all I’ve thought about today.” He rode slowly through the hall to the rider entrance. Once there, they got off and walked the bike the rest of the way. “Do you have any idea how incredibly dangerous it is to ride with a hard-on?”

“If you’re out there thinking about anything other than winning, we’re going to have a problem, Frost.” Emery snorted, her eyebrow raised.

Jesse had to admit, he got a thrill off trying to get a rise out of her. What he loved was that she gave back as good as she got.

Pressing down with his boot, the lift shifted, taking on the weight of his bike. “But you’re there lap after lap, holding up my times.”

“Do us both a favor and keep your eyes on the dirt, hot shot.”

“It’s your fault.” He pulled the Velcro of his gloves loose so he could remove them. “That shirt is perfectly low cut.”

No one had made it to their trailer yet. Thankfully. He had been turned on, but going back and forth with her made him so hard he hurt. Walking seductively toward her, Jesse quirked his brow, then kept his eye on his finger as he traced the line of her shirt. Feeling the front hook of her bra against her skin, he let her know just exactly how low cut her shirt was, then grinned as he continued up the fabric.

Emery brushed his finger aside, wrestling the shirt closed. “It’s not my fault. All my uniform shirts are exactly the same. I just keep forgetting to put this one aside until I can find a damn button to sew back on it.” Her mouth turned up, wicked in every meaning of the word. “Unless,” she said as she opened the black camp shirt back
up, “you prefer my boobs hanging out for all to see.”

“Nobody but me, baby”—he shook his head
possessively—“and no, you make it too hard to concentrate looking like that.”

Emery tipped her chin. “Hmm. Good to know.”

Jesse tugged on his jersey, pulling it out of his pants, then off completely. Stalling. Needing a second to build up his courage. “So, Em, I’ve been dying to ask you. Would you want to spend the night with me tonight?”

He kept his face neutral and continued on, unclasping his chest protector to remove it. Offering her low-key, no expectations and no pressure would be the only way to go, knowing her fears would put a grinding halt to his progress if he pushed too fast.

“I don’t know, Jesse,” she said, the hesitation obvious as she unzipped her backpack and started pulling one item at a time, her eyes down.

Bending around her, he could tell by her face she was completely unsure of how to proceed. It was a unique situation, Jesse could admit that much. It wasn’t the fear of one night that scared her. He wanted more, he wanted the future. She knew that, and
that scared the hell out of her.

“It seems kind of quick for that, don’t you think?” She tipped her head to her shoulder.

“No, not at all. I wouldn’t have asked you if I thought it was too soon.”

“But then”—she shrugged—“I don’t know…with us traveling together for the next several months, it could get weird.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well how do I spend one night, and then what about then next? Do I just go back and forth? It could get sticky. See, weird.”

Two things were happening. She had been thinking about it, a very good thing in his mind. However, she was talking herself around the subject, and circling back to the wrong answer in his opinion. It would all work out great, if she’d just let herself try.

“Okay, yeah I guess I see what you mean. If you spend one night, then the next, and then all of a sudden you might as well be living with me. And if you don’t spend some nights with me, is it because one of us is mad at the other. I get it.”

“See, exactly. You do understand me. That’s kind of scary.”

From behind, he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

“How about this, honey.” He rested his chin on her shoulder, lowering his voice near her ear. “I want you with me as much as possible, but I’d at least like to know you’re going to sleep with me at night. I’d love you to drive with me during the week, but I understand you might want to ride with your dad sometimes, too. But I’d really like to have you to myself at night. It’ll all be up to you, but I’m telling you what I want so you never have to question it. What do you say?”

“You like making things hard for me, huh?”

“I’m making it easy. It’s all up to you. You just take it one day at a time, okay?” He turned her around in his arms to face him. “Look, Em, I know you’ve been here before and you got really hurt. We’ve become really close, really fast. We’re already in about the same place you and Collin were a couple of years ago, so you’re scared. But I’m not Collin, and I will never, ever hurt you. I promise. You don’t have to look at it like it’s all or nothing, okay? I’d just like to wake up with you as often as you’d like to spend the night. No pressure.” He winked. “Well, maybe a little pressure, but I’m a man and I want you.” He ran his knuckles over her cheek and then tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Emery rolled her eyes. “I don’t like that you can read my mind.”

“I do.” Jesse leaned in, meeting her lips for a quick stolen kiss.

She gazed at his mouth for a long moment after, then looked up at his eyes. “I’d like to spend the night with you tonight and ride with you tomorrow. After that, can we just play the rest of the week by ear?” she asked, her voice smaller than normal.

“Yep. See? That wasn’t that hard was it?”

“Don’t be a smartass.”

She was back. He’d been able to persuade her to stay with him, and although she’d been reluctant at first, and almost shy about it, his girl was resilient and bounced back to her fiery self.

Sneerin
g, he taunted back. “What are you going do about it, Em?”

“Hey, mister, I have tools, don’t make me throw them at you.”

“You always threaten, but”—he shook his head and stuck his chin out in defiance—“I’m starting to think you’re just all talk.” Jesse over-enunciated the last few words for her enjoyment.

“Oh really?” She raised her eyebrow, but a snicker escaped. “I just don’t want to have to explain to my dad why you have stitches in your forehead.” She crossed her arms.

“You’re cute, Em.”

“Uh-huh.”

Jesse pulled her tight and leaned to kiss her again. She ran her hands up to his face, softly stroking his jaw with her thumbs as he slid his tongue over hers. He rubbed her back, keeping her close to him.

“Whatcha ya guys doin’?” Molly teased with an exaggerated cutesy voice, then started to chuckle as Carter covered her mouth.

Jesse and Emery stopped mid-kiss and both turned wide-eyed toward Carter, Molly, and Reid.

Oh. My. God.

Emery felt her cheeks instantly start burning. Smacking at Jesse’s chest, she pinned him. “I’m going to kill you.”

His face went wild, eyes wide, grin beaming. “Can’t wait.”

“Oh my God.” She rolled her eyes.

“You be nice, Gorgeous, you don’t want to embarrass them. We only want to embarrass Frost.” Carter uncovered her mouth and Molly began laughing, enough that Emery could see the tears forming in her eyes.

Molly gasped between fits of laughter. “Sorry, Emery. It’s just that…Jesse so deserves this.”

“Oh, I see. So I’m just collateral damage, huh?” She tried not to
join in with Molly, but couldn’t hold the chuckle in.

“I’d get even if I were you, Emery.” Carter winked.

“No. I will.” Jesse started toward Molly.

“Back, Cowboy.” She began to back up away from him, her pointer fingers in the sign of an
X
directed at Jesse in an attempt to keep him away. Instead he lunged at her. She spun and ran with him chasing after her. Molly squealed and giggled, zigzagging around the bike trailers. “You can’t catch me, Cowboy. You’re too slow. That’s why I won’t race against you.”

He hollered back, “Oh yeah? Is that right?”

“Yep. Don’t want to hurt your fragile male ego. So there, ha ha.”

Emery could hear them yelling, even though she couldn’t see either one. She shook her head, listening to them taunt each other, proud that they were her friends, and secretly hoping Molly would win this round, that whole girl power thing.

Her dad had been right that first night. The four boys were mischievous when it came to Molly, and sometimes it was a toss-up between which guy was the worst. From what Emery had seen, it was usually Molly’s own brother. It was all in fun, but it was all the two of them could do to keep the guys in line. They were unfairly outnumbered. Except in this case—her friend was a runner.

“It’s not fair I still have riding boots on, you can’t run in these. D, where are you, you little brat?”

“You big baby,” Molly shouted back, “I still have my boots on, too. You’re just slow.”

Emery
started laughing hysterically. She’d always loved being in the pits, working on bikes, and being around the crowds. There was just something different about this group of people that made it more special than before. Emery was excited to have this new group of friends. They’d accepted her with open arms and included her in the jokes and fun. She loved every minute of it. It was moments like this, when all felt right with the world, when for a brief few minutes, everything was normal.

Carter looked at Emery. “Don’t ever be jealous, sweetheart. They’re just like brother and sister, and ornery as all hell.”

“I may be the new kid on the block, Sterling, but I’ve been around long enough. Call him ornery”—Emery clicked her tongue— “you’re just as bad.” She shook her head, grinning when Jesse walked back without Molly.

“You’re right. I’m slow. I give
and you win, D,” he yelled in defeat.

“When you gonna learn, boy? You’ll never catch her.” Reid laughed.

Jesse put his hands out like he was explaining a big advantage. “But see, if I can just get her at the start, then she’s mine
and
—“

Molly
returned riding on Eli’s back. “Won’t happen, Frost,” Molly interrupted. “I’ve got cat-like reflexes and I can anticipate your every move.” She patted Eli’s shoulder. “Look who I found. You can put me down now, E.”

He bent to the side and helped her slide off. “Hey, I’m setting up. You boys all hurry up. Emery, you too. Put those tools away later, they’re not going anywhere, girl. Reid, let’s go. Hey, Lance, great job tonight, bud.”

Eli nodded at the new rookie and turned to Carter. “Let’s just order pizza again. I know we just had it, but I feel like being lazy tonight.”

“Oh thank God,” Jesse replied and shot her a quick glance.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out why he didn’t want to spend extra time sitting in a restaurant. Especially with this group, they could talk, laugh, and joke till all hours of the night. She knew from more than one experience. Emery quickly looked back at Molly so Jesse wouldn’t be able to read her reaction.

“Sounds like a plan. I’ve still got that one place’s phone number on our counter. Let’s go, Gorgeous. I’m just going to call in the same thing we had, if that’s all right with everyone?” Carter asked, pulling Molly into his side.

“That’s good with me.” Eli nodded.

“Us too,” Jesse replied.

Emery’s pulse sped at his very simple, very standard, and very common two word answer. Molly and Carter didn’t flinch at the admission, Eli didn’t seem to notice, and neither did her dad. Those two words together were loud and clear to her though. Daring a look in his direction, Emery slowly turned her head toward him.

Damn it. Shouldn’t have done that.