Page 66 of Unexpected Love
He shoots me a wink because he knows I’m right. But that wink? Between it and the ball cap, my mood has done a complete one-eighty. I’ve gone from angry, despondent businesswoman in peril to horndog college girl in a matter of minutes.
I peer at the bed of hoses on the top of the engine. “I saw a TV show once where a couple got caught on the bed of hoses. That ever happen to anyone you know?”
“That shit doesn’t happen in real life.” Cal scoffs.
“Huh, too bad,” I say matter-of-factly. His gaze shoots to me, and that wicked smirk tilts the corner of his mouth. He drops my hand and spins the baseball cap backward as Charlie tries to do a head bump.
Fuck. The backward cap does me in.
“Sorry I was bitchy earlier,” I blurt, and he freezes. “Itfeels like every step of this process has been made unnecessarily hard. Today was the last straw.”
He’s so strong and proud, with Charlie in his arms. It’s hella attractive.He’shella attractive.
His eyes dance between mine, and I try to hold his gaze, but I’m not sure I want him to see everything I’m feeling, so I look away.
“We’ll figure it out.” He takes my hand again and gives it a squeeze. “Everything is going to be okay. It just feels overwhelming right now. We’re going to get that CO, and Daily Brew Two is going to open. Keep the faith in me, okay, Jules?”
I lean up on tiptoe and kiss his jaw. “Okay.”
“But thanks for that visual of me and you on the hose bed. That’ll be a good fantasy to fall asleep to tonight.” He kisses my cheek, then spins away, off to show Charlie more of the truck.
I follow, watching the way his ass fills out his uniform pants. And when he catches me gawking, I get another wink, accompanied by a smirk.
It’s the full package. The uniform, the backward cap. The precious toddler he’s doting on. The tender way he’s smiling at her—and at me.
Heat pools low between my hips. I’m not usually a horny person, and it’s damned inconvenient that my libido has decided to perk up now, when I’m faced with sleeping alone.
At least I can get myself off in his bed, wrapped in his scent later.
“Whatever it is you’re thinking about, you need to stop before you make me push you into a corner and take care of the job.” I swear his voice has dropped an octave.
This is not the time or the place. But I step closer and surreptitiously grab his ass. “Sorry. It’s the uniform.”
A gruff sound rises from his chest. And Charlie bops him right on the nose.
I laugh, the sudden sound foreign to my ears.
Charlie giggles and bops him again. Cal goes for her neck, acting like he’s going to eat her up.
“Awe. How sweet. Is this your family, Cal?” a husky female voice says from behind me.
Cal pops up from his tickling of Charlie, still smiling. At me, at Charlie, at the woman behind me.
“Yeah.”
We’re not truly a family, but then again, I guess we’re as close to one as Cal has ever had. And despite the toughness of the day, I find myself smiling as I turn and come face-to-face with a gorgeous young redhead.
She’s wearing the same uniform as Cal, but on her, it becomes something entirely different. Underneath the generic clothing, she’s curvy and lush.
I’m immediately jealous. Or maybe it’s my insecurities raising their ferocious little voices. Heck, maybe it’s both.
“Kate, this is Jules and Charlie.” He tickles Charlie, earning another childlike squeal.
Kate flashes a perfect blinding-white smile. She could be in an ad for teeth whiteners or toothbrushes and toothpaste. She’s like a walking advertisement for excellent dental care. She’s even got a freaking dimple.
In my boxy dress and cardigan, with my tea-stained smile, I feel like an old, overweight has-been caught flirting with a younger man.
“Kate and Leo are the medics on our shift,” Cal explains.
