Page 1 of JoJo

Chapter 1

~Present Day~

Desperation never looked good on anyone, least of all me. Yet there I was, watching Chuck Winston fumble with a ratchet before dropping it with a loud metallic clunk and some mumbled swear words. He looked like what I’d imagine my grandfather would look like and, no doubt, he’d expect me to actually consummate the marriage with him. Not that I thought it would take him all that long to finish, but damn if it didn’t skeeve me out just to think about it. Chuck actually had a pretty willowy frame for an older guy. He was a little over six feet tall and, while he had to have at least some muscle on his frame, I wasn’t sure where he hid it. He was that thin. I had joked about him being in his sixties before, but according to our employment records he was really only 48.

That’s how desperate I was getting to keep my garage out of my brother’s greedy little paws. I was contemplating Chuck’s offer. My brother was a vulture though, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he swooped in and tried to take over early, knowing I had a little over two weeks left before time ran out. I wasn’t ready to give up, play the obedient little girl, and allow my shark of a brother to show up for the feeding frenzy that my garage going on the market would cause.

“You can’t seriously be considering that, can you?” Keys asked as she shuddered visibly from where she was perched on the window frame, looking down at the same sight I was taking in. My office was on the upper level of the garage with a window open to the garage bays below.

“Hey, at least he still has a head full of hair and most of his teeth, unlike Clyde over there.” I nodded my head to the other aging mechanic in the bay.

“I thought Clyde was married?”

“He said he’d divorce Shelly for me, and she begged me to take him.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I told them both I couldn’t be a home wrecker like that since they have kids. Honest to God, they both looked disappointed.”

Keys snickered. “Well, that’s probably the most honest depiction of long-lived marriages I’ve heard of.” Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on me. For the past three weeks I’d been pointing out shitty relationships where people entered into marriage because they were ‘in love,’ only to end up hating one another and being miserable. Keys had taken to playing along with me whenever our dear friend Angel Girl wasn’t around. No one wanted to burst her bubble. She was in love with the President of the local chapter of the Aces High MC, even if they were already having their own difficulties during the honeymoon stage. I sincerely hoped they would work it out though, because if anyone deserved a shot after a long hard road taken to end up together, it was those two.

“There has to be a better way, JoJo. I refuse to watch you marry that.” I could only nod as we both watched Chuck unabashedly pick his nose and flick a booger across the bay.

“Gross,” I muttered before getting up. “Come on, I want to show you the Camaro I’m working on down there. This guy came up from Atlanta because I’d worked on his buddy’s car and he said it’s never run better. Could you imagine if these hillbillies got some culture like those Atlanta guys? I might be able to stay in business without having a dick.” I rolled my eyes as I said it and continued walking down the metal stairs. As I did, I noted a few spots where the rubber treading was starting to wear away, and reminded myself once more that I needed to get that taken care of before I broke my neck.

“That’s slick,” Keys gasped as she hit one of the spots and clutched the handrail to keep from sliding right down the rest of the stairs.

“Yeah, it’s on my priority list to fix, assuming I get to keep the place.

“Hey, what about that new guy that transferred into Aces High?” Keys asked.

“What about him?”

“Quick says the man can fix any engine handed to him.” A hazy gleam settled in Keys’ eyes as she mentioned her boyfriend, Quickshot. He was the Vice President of the local Aces High Motorcycle Club. He was also a big clown, always making everyone laugh. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably never attend any of their functions. I refused to pass up the possibility of seeing Quickshot and Angel Girl go head to head in their infamous air hockey tournaments though. The winner always sufficiently humiliated the loser in the most public manner possible. It was a spectacle worthy of all the horrible pick up lines I had to endure from their other members.

“So, he’s a hot shot mechanic?” I questioned.

“Yeah. Can’t remember his name, if anyone ever said it. Quickshot said something about bringing him by this week once he got settled in.” She paused a moment, deliberating what she was about to say. “I think they want to talk to you about leasing space for fixing their bikes so that they don’t have the overhead of starting their own garage. Plus, Sweet promised not to cut in on any S.H.E.’s businesses, you know?”

“This isn’t a S.H.E. business though,” I reminded her.

“No, I know. I think he was just being extra cautious.”

Now, Keys had my interest peaked. Business had definitely slumped a bit since my father died. Never mind the fact that I’d been the one running the place since he was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, and we had the same mechanic staff. Knowing that a woman was running the place was a problem for the good old country boys around here. Renting out a bay in the garage would allow me to keep both Clyde and Chuck on staff, at least until my brother swooped in and sold the place out from under me. I sighed. “Well, the place might not be mine much longer, but I’m willing to talk rent on a bay if they come around, and I can get along with this mechanic of theirs.”

The sympathetic look on Keys’ face was about to drive me to tears. “You know what you need?”

“Apparently a husband,” I quipped.

“Well, yeah, but besides that. You need a vacation.”

“I might not have a job two weeks from now, Keys. The last thing I need is a vacation.”

“No, it’s exactly what you need, one long weekend, just the girls. Let’s go to Vegas! We can even check out that new all male – Magic Mike style - review.” Keys had her phone out, texting away as she continued to speak. “Yeah, see, Tash is in and she said she’s working to convince Angel Girl. Three days. Vegas. My treat.”

“Keys, I can’t.” My shoulders slumped as the words left my mouth.

“You can.” She pointed toward the garage bay where Chuck was sucking on the thumb he’d just accidentally hurt with a wrench. How does that even happen? I would never understand why my father hired that man. “You’re thinking of getting hitched to that!” Keys spat at me. “Clearly, a couple days away are in order.” Chuck’s finger was back in his nose again as he tossed the offending wrench with the other hand. Was I seriously considering a marriage with that old, incompetent asshole in order to save me business? Jesus, help me!

“Okay,” I nodded my head as an involuntary shudder worked its way through my body. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Maybe I can get a job as a show girl while I’m there.” I thought about that for a minute and changed my mind. “On second thought, I’m not Legs so that won’t work, but maybe I can swing the job as towel-girl for that all-male review.” I waggled my eyebrows at Keys making her laugh.

“Hey, now there’s a career goal! Excuse me, I’d like to apply to hand dry, or even blow dry, all the Channing Tatum look-alike dancers!” Keys laughed and I joined her as the mental image of blow drying Channing Tatum with my mouth worked its way into my imagination.

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