Page 67 of Moving to Love
He hung up and rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry you had to endure that. She’s a crass bitch. Always has been.”
“So, that was Barbara.”
“Hey, you know she was just trying to get to you. Don’t let her.”
She looked up into his handsome face. Worry etched his brow; his mouth, moments ago so soft and demanding, now took on a hard line. “You good?”
She swallowed. “It’s not her comment as much as it is how she looks. LuAnn looks just like her. Clearly, that’s the look you go for.”
He let out a pent-up breath. “When I hooked up with Barbara twenty-seven years ago, I just wanted to get laid. She looked like someone who wouldn’t want anything more than that. I told you, no commitments, just fucking. LuAnn dresses like she dresses. I don’t know why. What I like…love is this beautiful woman standing right here in front of me, with sandy brown hair and eyes like a stormy sky. I think you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
She ran her hands over her face. An effort to wipe away the worry. “I’m sorry.” She smiled at him. “Are we finished dealing with shit this week, because, honestly, I’m not sure I can handle any more.”
He kissed the top of her head and hugged her close. “I sure hope so.”
Jeremiah pulled back and smiled. “The best part about Barbara coming around is that it’s usually only once a year. We won’t have to see her for another year now.”
Joci giggled.
“Okay, come on. I was just reading the menu that the restaurant emailed over. Let’s get this ironed out and go for some lunch.”
They finished up the plans for the staff party. The menu was set, the DJ selected, and the gifts were taken care of. Jeremiah gave each employee a bonus every year, based on their performance and the shop’s numbers. This year, the bonuses were very generous. He had also put a little extra in the checks for Deacon, Gunnar, JT, and Ryder for all of the additional work they’d done on the Veteran’s Ride.
After they ordered their meals, and while they waited, Jeremiah took a deep breath.
“Joci, don’t make any plans this weekend. I just want to spend the weekend alone with you. Just the two of us. Maybe we’ll tell everyone we’re going somewhere, so they don’t come over.”
Joci sighed. “That sounds fantastic.”
“Let’s just tuck in at home and hide.”
She smiled. “I would love that.”
He chuckled. “Great. I was worried you wouldn’t want to. Friday too. Three days, just us. I think we need it.”
Joci giggled. “You can see how hard it was to talk me into it. I’m looking forward to not having to share you with anyone for a few days, no exes, no pretend baby mommas, no one.”
Chapter 28
Friday morning came slowly. They were lying in bed, enjoying a cup of coffee, when he said, “Today, no clothes. Just you and me naked all day, okay?”
Joci laughed. “Really? What if someone comes over?”
“No one’s coming over. The boys think we flew out this morning for a weekend getaway, and everyone else is busy with their own lives. It’s just us, alone here, all weekend.” He leaned over and touched his lips to hers. Kissing her was tantamount to making love to her in so many ways. The prelude, the beginning of good things.
She hummed, and his heart soared. “Okay. No clothes.” She giggled.
He smirked. “Okay, now stay right here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He slid out of bed and walked out to the kitchen.
They needed this—time together to heal their wounded hearts. A weekend alone wouldn’t fix everything they needed to sort out with Deborah being the black cloud hanging over their heads. He had to resolve that issue, but was at a loss as to how, since she was refusing a paternity test.
He prepared a tray of breakfast foods: sliced strawberries, cheeses, Danish, coffee, and yogurt. Carrying the tray back to the bedroom, he shook the dark thoughts from his mind and thought only of the life he was making with Joci. Entering the bedroom, he said, “Breakfast in bed.”
He slid in beside her and set the tray between them.
Joci’s brows raised. “When did you find the time to pick this up?” She bit into a strawberry and closed her eyes as she hummed appreciation.
“On my way home last night. I left work a little early, so I could shop. Wait till you see what I got us for dinner tonight.” He waggled his eyebrows.
