Page 15 of JoJo

“Another reason to be grateful for your offer. CJ is my brother. The one that wants to sell this place.”

“How many brothers do you have?”

“Just the one. He’s trying to make it on Broadway. He’s actually been pretty successful off Broadway, but the lulls between parts have him scrambling for cash and waiting tables in between. If he sold this place, and didn’t bother sharing the profits – which was his intent – then he could afford a house outside the city or fund his current living situation a little longer without the need of a regular job.”

“And it means nothing to him that this is your job, and your livelihood?”

“Sadly, no, it doesn’t. I’m not sure why CJ turned out to be the selfish bastard he is, but he did.” I tossed my shoulders up in a quick shrug. “If you’re still on board with this whole marriage thing, I’ll take the marriage certificate and video to Mr. Alexander, the lawyer, in the morning.”

Steel seemed confused for a minute. “Why wouldn’t I be on board with it?”

I shrugged again and tried to hide my embarrassment. “I don’t know. You were avoiding me this morning and then there’s Sweet not wanting you to do this, and him making Quickshot step in this morning to keep us from talking. I just want you to be sure that you want to do this, since it seems like a bit of trouble for you.”

“I told you I was sorry about Quick’s behavior. I didn’t even think about the fact that it was a directive from Sweet, so I will be addressing him in person when he gets back. That shit should not have happened. As for me avoiding you, I just didn’t know where you stood this morning. I actually thought you might join me in the shower, but you didn’t and then you ran in when I got out. I kind of took the hint and thought you regretted our time spent together last night.”

“Well, shit. For two people who agreed to be blunt and honest, we got our signals all mixed up, huh?” He laughed with me then.

“I’m going to chalk this up to the strangeness of the situation,” he glanced around the office then. “So, do you live here, or at your clubhouse?”

“No. I have a room at the club, but I’m rarely there overnight. I bought a little fixer-upper just up the road. I planned on just fixing it and flipping it. Until that happens, I am living in it.

His eyes lit up as I spoke. “Oh yeah? I could help you. I’m an excellent carpenter, and not too shabby with brick and block work if you need any.”

My smile warmed as I spoke. “Do you want to see the place?” As I asked the question, my stomach joined the conversation. “I could make us something to eat there. I don’t think the vending machines here will hit the spot at this point.”

“I’d love to see it. Besides, it’s probably more comfortable than talking here.”

“Yeah, okay. You can just follow behind me then.” I moved to leave, after grabbing my purse, but his hand reached out and took hold of my arm to stop me.

“Wait, before anything else pops up, what’s your number?” I rattled off my digits and he shot me a text with his number to be sure I had it.

“Just remember cell service is shotty around here.”

“I’m used to that, actually. I spent a lot of time in secluded locations up north.”

When we got to our bikes after locking up, I nodded to his. “My dad would have been fawning all over your Panhead.”

“Yeah?” He smiled widely as he let her flood a bit with gas. “She’s a beauty. Belonged to my dad for years. When he had to give up riding as much because of his bum leg, he passed her on to me. He has a weekend warrior bike now,” he tossed in at the end with a chuckle.

“Sorry to hear about your dad’s leg.”

“I’m not!” He laughed. “I got the bike, and besides, he’s still flying helos and small jets for the club, when needed, so he gets to keep an active patch.”

“Oh, wow. I’d like to hear more about that sometime. I bet flying in a helicopter is an experience.”

“Never been?”

“Nope. This trip to Vegas was actually my first time in an plane too.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. I’ve been a homebody, always taking care of my dad, working, or going to school. Never had time to travel beyond where I could get on two or four wheels.” With that I started up my engine, and walked my bike backwards a bit before I had the clearance to toss her in gear and take off. Steel kicked his bike to start it and the rumble it emitted immediately was something an enthusiast would be proud of. He kept up and followed me all the way to my house, where a rental car sat idling in the driveway.

I was barely off my bike before the car door was flung open and my drama queen of a brother came flying out. “Where have you been?” I had to stay in the Sierra High Budget Inn last night, because you never came home and didn’t answer your phone.” My brother was in my face, yelling like a damn lunatic, which is probably what triggered Steel to step forward, grab my brother by his scruff like a dog and fling him backwards away from me. “Agh,” my brother screamed out as he stumbled back into the side of his rental. “What in the hell? JoJo you better call your damn dog off.”

“I would if you weren’t being a jerk.” CJ attempted to move in close again only to be stopped by a giant palm to his chest.

“I don’t know who you are, but if you get in JoJo’s face like that one more time, you’ll be missing teeth before you’re tossed away again.”

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