Page 7 of Moving to Love
Joci jumped back. Fucking LuAnn! What a buzzkill. All those warm, fuzzy feelings flew right out the window when she was around.
“Last time I checked, I didn’t have to explain myself to you. Still don’t.” Jeremiah’s snarl caused LuAnn to take a step back.
“Well…I thought we were supposed to be having a meeting, not making out.”
Jeremiah looked at Joci, “We’ll talk after the meeting. Yeah?”
Hesitating briefly, Joci said, “Yeah.” She nodded and turned to walk down the hall to the conference room.
* * *
She stepped through the doorway, fighting the urge to turn her head and see what was happening between Jeremiah and LuAnn. Then she felt someone behind her and felt his lips close to her ear say, “Tonight.” Oh, lordy. Her stomach flipped, and she became instantly wet. Her breathing felt constricted.
He walked around her, took a seat at the head of the table, and looked at her with a smirk on his face. He motioned with his head for her to take the seat next to his and immediately said, “Okay, let’s get started. We have a ton of stuff to cover.”
* * *
Standing to leave, Gunnar looked at his mom. “Mom, you want to ride a little before the meeting tonight? We haven’t ridden for a while. I thought I could take you to eat somewhere and then we’ll ride over here.”
Joci chanced a quick look at Jeremiah. He grinned and nodded slightly. “That sounds like a great idea. But after the meeting, she’s mine.”
Gunnar looked at his mom, eyes wide, a broad smile spread across his face. “Yeah? Awesome.”
Jeremiah’s smile grew, “Yeah. Awesome. I’ll see you two later. I have a few things to get ready before the meeting tonight.”
Joci’s face flamed bright red as she watched Jeremiah walk out of the room.
Gunnar snickered. “It’s about time, Mom. He’s a great guy, and he’s been hung up on you for a long time. I’ll swing by your house around four-thirty, and we can ride a little before we eat. Good?”
She nodded, “Yeah. Good. I’ll see you then, honey.”
Joci walked out of the conference room in a daze. What just happened in here? First, Jeremiah told her how it was going to be; then he told Gunnar she was his! Holy shit!
Chapter 6
“Mom, what’s taking you so long?”
Joci looked up to see Gunnar waiting for her at the end of the row. Joci had been daydreaming about Jeremiah again and didn’t even notice she was just standing there looking lost.
“Sorry. Coming!”
She quickly walked down the row of bikes to Gunnar and, together, they walked to a group of her friends. Joci’s best friend, Sandi, and Sandi’s husband, Jon, were standing in the group, as well as a few others. Sandi was a beautiful woman with long, brown hair pulled back in a braid. She was the most vivacious person Joci knew, with a personality that rivaled the sun.
“Hey, there! How are you guys?” Joci asked as she hugged Sandi.
“We’re good. I haven’t seen you this week. Busy?”
Joci nodded. “You know, getting all the items needed for tomorrow and the tickets and such ready, I had to keep at it so I could finish on time and enjoy tonight.”
Joci hugged Jon. “Hey, big guy. How are you?”
Jon was a great-looking man, about six feet tall, with short dark brown hair and laughing blue eyes. Sandi was madly in love with Jon, and Jon was madly in love with Sandi. Joci envied their relationship. She had always hoped for a relationship like theirs.
“Doin’ good, Joci, but you have to stop being too busy to have lunch with Sandi. She likes her girl time!”
Jon leaned in a little closer to Joci. “She drove me crazy wondering where you were and how you were doing.”
Joci laughed. “Sorry, Jon, I promise to keep in better touch with Sandi.”
