Page 5 of Somebody To Love

“Fine, it’s a laugh riot. Still doesn’t change the fact that we need knowledgeable staff and there’s no one to choose from in this pile of come-ons.”

“I think you’d be happy with every woman in Kismet throwing themselves at you for a little hanky-panky.”

At one time in his life, sure. Five or ten years ago, he’d be more than happy to indulge in a little late-night mambo with a charming, willing woman. But he was thirty-four. Age and life had caught up with him, and he was beginning to want different things. Flings didn’t hold appeal anymore. He wanted something real, something…more.

Not saying he wanted a white picket fence and happily ever after. He wasn’t naive. He knew that didn’t exist. Hell, look at his parents. You couldn’t find two people more in love than his mother and father. They were a freaking storybook come to life. But life never gave you that fairytale ending. When he was seventeen, his father, a lifelong Marine, died overseas. The news had devastated his mother. Broken her.

It hurt all of them. Almost tore the family apart.

BJ and Ace had stepped up to the plate working any job they could to help support the family. At eighteen, the twins had followed in their father’s footsteps and joined the military. For eight years, he and his twin sent every paycheck home. Charlie had handled the family’s finances, keeping the bills paid and saving the rest so they could open Jackson Family Distillery, a lifelong dream of their father’s.

Their way of keeping his memory alive.

Eventually, his mother found her footing again, but she’d never fully recovered. The bright, bubbly woman had dimmed. Sadness crept into her eyes from time to time. He saw it and it gutted him. No way did he ever want to fall in love if that was the pain it brought. Still, he wanted something more than the going nowhere dates of his past. Something in-between love and sex. Whatever the hell that was.

“For shit’s sake, BJ. Stop looking like a pathetic puppy. I’ll go through the applications.”

Hell must have frozen over because his sister just offered to help.

“I’m not a puppy, Charlie.”

“Of course not. You’re a big bad ex-Marine who could kill me with a glance, right?”

It would be much more believable if she said it without the snide look on her face, but he answered anyway. “Oorah.”

“Fine, Mr. Big and Bad who’s afraid of a couple of females on the prowl, you’re not a puppy, but since you sent Del off and this stuff needs to get done, I am graciously offering my skills as horny poontang filter.”

Oh hell, there was a phrase he’d hoped never to hear his baby sister say.

“Filter out the serious applicants and leave them on my desk, please.” He handed over the massive stack of applications.

“Yes sir.” With a sarcastic little middle finger salute, she grabbed the papers and headed into her office in the back.

“Shit.” He rubbed his hands over his face. He could really use a drink. Good thing he sat a few steps away from Kismet’s finest distillery.

Standing, he headed toward the swinging door that connected the tasting room to the restaurant. The after-work crowd had started to trickle in. Kelley stood at the bar, making some drinks for a couple seated at the bar. She nodded to him as he came behind the bar.

“Need any help tonight?” He was swamped with a million things to do, but he wouldn’t abandon an employee if they needed him.

“Naw, I got it for now, but I’ll holler if things get too out of hand.”

She probably wouldn’t. Kelley was good. She could handle things even if they got busy. It’s why they paid her so well.

“Sounds good. I’ll be in back if you need me.” He poured himself a club soda—because as much as he wanted a drink right now, he was still working—adding a lemon twist before he headed to the back where the stills were.

The multitude of tasks weighed heavily on his mind. They had a lot to do before the restaurant opening in a few weeks. Busy, but all good to be sure. This restaurant idea Del had would be good for them in the long run, even if it was currently giving him a migraine from hell.

As he did his daily check of the stills and mash, checking temperatures and measurements, his mind wandered back through the day, landing on Penny’s visit. He still had no idea why she seemed so nervous or what she really wanted to talk to him about, but he was going to find out. He might have a ton on his plate right now, but just like with his employees, he’d never neglect a friend in need. From what he witnessed earlier Penny was in need. No matter how much she denied it.

CHAPTER 3

Today had been a complete and utter failure. Penny sighed as she finished her third—okay, fourth—bowl of ice cream. The deliciously cold and creamy dessert had done nothing to help her courage. She still shook in her zombie bunny slippers at the slightest thought of going back to Jacks and talking to BJ. This was ridiculous. She’d never had a problem asking her best friend for anything.

Then again…she’d never had to ask him for his sperm before.

Her conscience was right. She’d never asked anything this big of BJ. Her mind boggled even to this day, knowing the good-looking, strong, funny, popular guy was best friends with her. The super geek with the social skills of swamp moss. That wasn’t fair. People liked swamp moss. It was soft and pretty. She, on the other hand, was cursed with carrot orange hair and more freckles than there were stars in the Milky Way. Once in middle school some kids held her down and played connect the dots on her face and arms with magic markers.

She’d feigned sickness for a week after that. It took the possibility of missing the science fair to bring her back to school.

---