Page 6 of Moving to Love
Gunnar smiled at JT and nodded, while JT wrinkled his face.
Jeremiah looked around the room at this group of people. He was a very fortunate man. Though he hadn’t enjoyed the company of a good woman as a constant in his life, he had this. Last year, Gunnar joined his shop, and this year, Joci started helping with the ride and marketing. When he first met Gunnar, there was something about him that instantly clicked with Jeremiah. He had hired Gunnar on the spot and had been proven right a number of times. His boys loved Gunnar, and Gunnar loved them back. They went out together, teased, cajoled, and enjoyed each other.
Now he had to get Joci to come completely into the fold. He wanted her to be that constant in his life. He looked forward to days when he would see her. He went to bed most nights thinking of her.
“Okay. Two weeks back here. The ride is less than three months away. Thanks, everyone.”
All the staff members got up and started throwing garbage away and filtering out of the room. “Joci, I’d like a word, please.”
Joci looked at him, and his breath caught. “How can I help?” She had a little smile on her face, which created those irresistible dimples, and his cock jerked in his pants.
Jeremiah looked up and noticed everyone else had left the room. “I want to start over.”
Joci’s brows furrowed. “Start over?”
Extending his hand, Jeremiah’s grin spread across his face. “My name is Jeremiah. I’m single with two grown boys. I work hard, and I’m honest. I ride motorcycles and eat hamburgers and brats. I drink beer, and I love my parents. And you are?”
Joci laughed. Start over, okay. She laid her palm against his and looked him in the eye. “Hi. My name is Joci. I’m a single mother with a grown son. I’m a graphic designer and often have my head in my latest project. I’m honest and dependable. I ride motorcycles, eat hamburgers, drink wine coolers, and love my son and my sister. Nice to meet you, Jeremiah.”
With their hands still linked together, Jeremiah’s eyes never left Joci’s. Great start over.
Chapter 5
Jeremiah burst out laughing.
“That’s not funny,” Joci grumbled.
“Joci, the look on your face is priceless. And, yes, it is funny.” Jeremiah grabbed a paper towel from the counter and handed it to her. She had walked into the break room at Rolling Thunder to grab a bottle of water before the meeting when she interrupted a beer fight between Chase, one of the parts guys, and Deacon. She hadn’t gotten hit with any beer, or very much anyway, but she squealed as she saw the beer flying, causing Jeremiah and the boys to laugh at her.
She grabbed the towel from Jeremiah as the guys all muttered “Sorry” and started cleaning up the room.
“Do you always squeal like a little girl?” Jeremiah teased.
“What does that mean? I didn’t squeal.” Joci feigned irritation, but the smirk on her face gave her away. As she stood here now, even she realized she did squeal like a little girl.
He stepped close. Very close. “I thought it was cute. Actually, I thought it was sexy.”
Joci’s breath caught in her throat. He thought she was sexy? Gawd, she thought he was sexy. Every time she looked at him, her core tightened and tingled. She grew wet and wanting. The past ten months she’d grown to know him, and she liked what she saw, physically and on a deeper level.
She loved watching him with the boys. He was a great boss, a great father, and more and more, she saw how he was with Gunnar. It took her breath away.
Her voice breathy, all she could say was, “Jeremiah.”
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Jesus. She whispered his name, and his dick ached. Ten months. Ten fucking months, he had wanted her. Now that he had gotten to know her a little more, he needed her. His body wanted her, but he needed her in his life. She was great with his boys. She laughed and joked with them. Ryder gravitated to her in an inexplicable way. Jeremiah noticed that on meeting nights, Ryder would watch the door for Joci to come in.
He was done waiting. The Veteran’s Ride was tomorrow. They were having an afternoon meeting for the core group and again later that evening with all the volunteers. Then, she was going to be his.
“Here’s how this is gonna go, Joci. We’re going to finish this meeting. Tonight, after we meet with the volunteers, we’re going home together. No more of you avoiding me. I want you, Joci, and you want me. I don’t want to hear ‘you can’t’ because you sure as hell can. We can. We will.”
She looked into his eyes. Her throat was dry, and she didn’t think she could speak. Jeremiah reached up and touched her cheek with the back of his fingers, neither of them breaking eye contact. Neither of them wanting to move.
“What the hell is going on here?”
