Page 7 of JoJo

“Yeah, it sucks, but what are you going to do?” I sighed. “Two more weeks and my jerk-off brother will get to sell the place out from under me to the highest bidder.”

Eddie was fluttering his eyes back and forth between Steel and I again. I was surprised to finally realize Steel still had his beefy hand on my shoulder. Of course, it took his other hand being placed on my other side and massaging the tension knotted in the muscles there for my awareness to kick in. “So, um,” Eddie cleared his throat. “Why aren’t you two running off to get married to stop it then?” My laughter burst free of me without any thought as Steel’s grip tightened on my shoulders.

“What’s so funny?” Eddie questioned as he continued to glance over my shoulder at the big wall of a man who stood there.

“We’re not together like that,” I managed to get out through my laughter. “Hell, we just met recently and don’t even like each other.”

“Oh, I thought,” Eddie pointed to where Steel was touching me.

“”Nah, man.” Steel finally stated. “You seemed a little too interested though, and after meeting your wife last time…” his vice tailed off.

“We’re not married,” Eddie was quick to clarify.

Steel made a sound of pure annoyance at the back of his throat. “She’s your baby momma, and you’re together. Your regrets shouldn’t complicate that shit for JoJo, or your current woman.”

“Ah, so you don’t want her, but you’re protecting her from other men, huh?” Eddie’s voice rang out in humor before he turned to me. “Let me guess, he’s one of them?” I nodded in affirmation. Ed knew of the trouble I’d had dating before him. The men who thought I had too much mouth for such a little girl or that I had a man’s job when I needed to be sitting behind a computer ordering parts for the boys instead. “Dumb fuckers!” Eddie sighed the words out. “All of them,” he was eyeballing me hard then. “I was a dumb fucker too, just for different reasons.”

“Yeah, time to start batting for the team, I guess.” My joke sent off a spike of heat through Eddie’s eyes and that reaction caused Steel to flex his fingers down hard on my shoulders.

“What’s the meaning behind ‘one of them’?” Steel asked. “The other chicks in your club don’t seem to have issues with the Aces High MC members.”

It was my turn to scoff. “He means the assholes who can’t handle all the attitude I have packed into my tiny frame.”

“Before I came along, she’d never made it past a second date. The guys where we’re from expected her to be a submissive push over because she’s such a tiny thing. They weren’t man enough to handle that she could take care of herself and wouldn’t bow down to their every whim.”

“I don’t like my women weak. Sure as shit don’t want a slave. You have me pegged way fucking wrong.” Everyone grew quiet for a minute. “If she only lasted two dates with the others, how long were you two together?”

“Six months,” we both chorused together.

“So, you walked away from her after six months, knowing she was going through hell being the caretaker of a sick parent?” The admonishing tone in Steel’s voice couldn’t be missed.

Eddie flinched and took a step back. “You were seriously trying to flirt with her after that, and knowing you have a pregnant woman at home?” Steel continued on.

“Steel, stop!” I hissed out.

“No, he’s right, Jo. I fucked up, again. Hell, I probably would have let myself take it too far if he hadn’t been here.” He shook his head then looked at me again. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

“For what? Being an asshole now, or leaving when she obviously needed you before?” Steel’s tone had gone from condescending to downright enraged while protecting my honor. I thought that ironic considering he’d all but told me I wasn’t worthy just a few moments ago in the cab.

“I think we should go,” I said as I turned and placed my dainty little hands on Steel’s massive chest. I tried and failed to get him to back up. “Eddie, it was good to see you. Do yourself a favor and try to stick it out and be happy.”

“Yeah, I hope you work things out too, Jo.” He turned to walk back over to the guy at the counter, who he’d been talking to when I walked in. The man did not appear to be happy with Eddie. It made me wonder if he knew Eddie’s girlfriend. “Too bad you two aren’t together though. What would be more perfect than another mechanic involved in the garage?” His comment caught me off guard and I stumbled a step. Steel also stopped walking as his gaze fell to my face.

“Later, Eddie!” I called out before resuming my flight from the tattoo shop and further embarrassment.

“He has a point, you know.” Steel finally said as he attempted to snag a passing cab.

“What point would that be?” I asked before ducking into the car and telling the cabbie which hotel to take me back to.

“I’m a mechanic in need of garage space. You are a garage owner in need of a man to help run the business.” When I bristled, he amended his statement. “Not that you need the help, just to appease the stipulation of ownership.” When I didn’t reply he pushed on again. “So, here we are in Vegas. I think opportunity is knocking.”

My jaw seriously needed to be picked up off the floor. He couldn’t have offered what I think he just did. “You don’t know what you’re asking. I have to be married a minimum of five years before my business is out from under any pursuit of action against my ownership.”

He was quiet for a few moments, seemingly working out extensive mathematical computations or something. “Okay, well, in five years I’ll only be 33 years old. Still plenty young enough to start a family if it doesn’t work out and that’s what I decide I want.”

“You can’t be serious,” I managed to choke out.

“Why not? I went there with Quickshot to work a deal for garage bay space anyway. You need someone to keep the garage. It’s a win-win scenario.”

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