Page 2 of Just a Little Crush
I hold out the card reader for him and I’m grateful it takes a while to connect because it gives me longer to stare at his hands. Those beautiful long fingers, the underside of his wrists I dream of licking because I am an insane woman with an out-of-control libido.
“How are the kids today?” I ask. Not content with being a superhero firefighter, Rennie also spends his spare time teaching self-defence classes, and volunteering to host Rhyme Time at our local library. It used to be run by the librarians, but it was so poorly attended that they decided to cancel it.
I can’tpossiblyimagine why Renn taking over turned things around. On Wednesdays, every toddler in a thirty-mile radius is dragged along to sit on the floor and listen to him while their mums bat their eyelashes and twirl their hair.
I shouldn’t complain, it’s great for local businesses and who am I to judge other women for having a little crush? Lord knows I’ve been horny for this man since the day I hit puberty.
“They are as precious as ever, although I think Amanda’s kid has eaten way too much broccoli this week.” His nose wrinkles at some rancid memory. “And Stacey’s boy needs to learn a thing or two about personal space. She kept having to rescue him from my lap while I read‘Guess How Much I Love You?’”
“Oh, I bet she was so disappointed about that,” I smile and raise an eyebrow. He knows all the women around here will use any excuse to hit on him.
The sizzle of the hot grill calls me back to his sandwiches, and I carefully lift them with tongs and slide them into their waxed paper bag.
“You got a wedding this weekend?” he asks.
“Two. One up at Fenwick’s and one in a family garden.”
“A garden wedding with this forecast? I hope that marquee is extra secure. I don’t want to get a call about anything taking flight.”
“I know. Hopefully the only person getting blown is the groom.”
Oh god, why am I like this?I force a laugh but groan inwardly when he just stares at me blankly. I pick up a cloth to wipe the counter clear of crumbs that don’t exist, desperate for something to look at that isn’t him. He clears his throat to break the awkward silence.
“Well, good luck with it all,” he says, heading for the door. “See you when I see you.”
All I can do is watch that perfect, juicy, squeezable, biteable ass walk away from me and wish I could reach out and touch it. When he turns without warning, I forget he’s actually in the room with me, and take far too long to look back up to his eyeline.
“Hey Bec, are you dating anyone right now?”Me? Dating? Why is he asking?I don’t date. I wouldn’t be able to show my face in this town if I went out with someone, got to know them, told them what I was into, and got dumped. Again.
“No, why?”
“We have a new guy who just joined the station. Our age, single. You looking to get set up?”
Perfect. Another nice guy with a nice job in a nice town. If I wanted a nice guy I’d probably be married by now, but I don’t want a nice guy. I want a bad guy, a rough guy, a guy who’ll give me what I need before I even know I need it. I want Rennie. Hard, naked, pinning me to the mattress while he—
“Bec?”
Shit. Fantasising, again.“That’s OK, I don’t need to be set up. Send him to see the tennis mums.”
He laughs with his whole, broad chest. “OK. Well, I’m sure you’ll meet him eventually. You take care.”
I wait for him to disappear from my view before flipping over the ‘Back in 5 Minutes’ sign and locking the door. Rushing through the Staff Only door at the rear of the shop, I take the stairs two at a time, up to the little flat I call home.
As if 5 minutes with my vibrator will ever be enough to get my mind out of the gutter, or this guy out of my mind.
2
Rennie
Ablowjobjoke?Is she seriously cracking blow job jokes in front of me like I’m not going to be affected by that? I couldn’t think of anything else the entire walk home, which thankfully wasn’t far, despite taking the longer route along the lane by the riverbank. I’m keeping an eye on a wall I’ve noticed is crumbling away. I submitted a report to the council weeks ago, but I know the maintenance department is a man down and stretched. Once this stormy weather passes, I reckon I’ll just sort it myself.
I’m pretty relieved Bec said she’s not looking to get set up. When Leon joined our crew and mentioned he was hoping to meet someone, it didn’t take long for her name to come up. It took every ounce of restraint not to shout “No, mine,” but she’s not mine, and she never will be.
I asked her if she was dating so she’d have fair warning if he does approach her, though my motives were hardly innocent. I never see her with anyone, but that doesn’t mean I know every detail of her private life. For all I know, she could have some guy in the city, or a long distance thing on the go.
In truth, I asked because I want to know for myself, and thank fuck I got the answer I was looking for. At least now she’s prepped to say no when Leon asks her out, rather than having something sprung on her.
And he will ask, because you’d have to be out of your mind not to want to try to get her out on a date.
