Page 9 of One Tough Love

Yeah BJ Ross reported paint thrown on her car – we took report – she’s picking it up Tues. for insurance purposes – won’t catch person – you know her?

Wes typed back:

Just met her - saw her car

Wes’ phone pinged again.

You know who she is right?

Wes: Yeah

Don: Not well liked around here

Wes: Yeah I figured – tks

Wes knew the girl was having a pretty bad weekend. First her purse was stolen and now her car had been vandalized. He saw her front door open and watched as she slowly walked to her car. She walked around it and stopped at the driver’s side door. He could see her slim shoulders sag as she wrapped her arms across her waist as if she was hugging herself. Just then a Mercedes pulled into the spot next to hers and Wes watched as her neighbor stepped out from the expensive foreign car.

The man took one look at Jo, quickly walked to her and pulled her into his arms where she visibly melted. Wes could see her shoulders moving up and down as her face stayed buried in the guy’s shirt. Jo was crying and he hated it. The only thing Wes hated more was the fact that a man was comforting her. Part of him, the reasonable part of him, was glad she had someone she could lean on. The unreasonable man in him wanted to rip her from the guy’s arms.

Wes watched on as she composed herself and thankfully the man took his arms off of her. They spoke for a few more minutes and then they got into his car and took off. Wes followed them. They didn’t go far. A mile down the road they pulled into a pizza place. The man got out of the car leaving Jo inside. He then ran in and came out with a pizza. He got back in his car and Wes followed them back to their townhouses. He couldn't believe he was following her like a creepy stalker. He justified his irrational behavior on the fact that he was concerned for her safety.

He observed the two neighbors enter the man's home with their pizza. She was smiling now and Wes felt better. Why was he so drawn to her? She was beautiful, but he knew many a beautiful women. She was totally unassuming and he found that refreshing. He loved that she had chased her purse-snatcher, yet he hated that she had put herself in danger. When she had grabbed the frame of the car he had been so surprised. He would never forget how determined she had been to stop him when she thought he was stealing her car. He grinned remembering how she had used his hanky on her little nose and then became embarrassed, offering to wash it. That brought a full smile to Wes’ lips.

She was intriguing that was for sure. However he was pretty certain that she was in trouble, and his gut told him that she did not even know that she was. The brick, her purse, now her car; someone was sending his little Jo a message and she probably just thought she was the victim of bad luck. Wes knew better.

He watched as Jo left her neighbors place and entered her own. A calm feeling settled through him and Wes knew it was because she wasn’t spending the night with the guy. He had to figure out a way to meet her again. He wanted to get to know her, but he also wanted to help her. Wes didn’t think her mishaps were simply accidents. He also knew they would not end until whoever was behind them had accomplished what they set out to accomplish.

Wes hated to think a cop or former cop was behind the vandalism. He knew some of the men on the force in Morgis and Summit. He’d even served with a few. When Wes had to hire additional personnel to handle certain jobs he always let the cops moonlight with his company. He paid well, they were reliable and he trusted them.

Wes wished he could just walk up to her place and have a little powwow with the pretty woman, but that was out of the question, so he headed home, thinking about the crazy week that he had ahead of him. Ginger was due in on Wednesday and he had to finalize everything and meet with the hand picked team that was going to be her security detail. As he drove home his mind replayed all the different images he had of Jo; young singing Jo, graduating Jo, crazy thief chasing Jo, tipsy Jo, and sad Jo. Yeah, he thought to himself he had to figure out a way to see her again, without her thinking he was a crazy stalker.

Chapter 7

Jo

Jo’s week had gone by ridiculously slow. She had sent out more resumes and made a few networking calls, but no one she talked to knew of anyone hiring. Her insurance company had told her to get three estimates for her car; she was thankfully covered except for the 500 dollars deductible. After driving to three auto body shops, and receiving the estimates, she contacted the auto body shop that gave her the best price. To her surprise she got an appointment for that Friday.

When Friday finally arrived Jo drove to the auto body shop, left her paint covered car there, and jogged the two miles home. To her surprise Nick came home earlier than usual, and took her food shopping with him. She was elated to knock that off her to-do list. The last dilemma she faced was getting herself to her singing gig that night. She was going to ask Nick, but when they were at the food store he told her that he was going to have to miss their Friday Happy Hour because had a date. Jo knew if she asked him that he would still take her, but he’d have his date with him, and then she knew that he would feel obligated to stay and support her. She didn’t want to mess his date up, so she remained quiet.

Jo decided she would simply take a cab. She called a local company and set the pick up time. Pleased that she had dropped her car off, food shopped, and figured out how to get to the sports bar, Jo jumped into the shower. She was starting to get nervous and she really wished her sister was going to be singing with her. She’d never sung alone before. Well in front of an audience anyway.

At precisely 9:00pm Jo got into the cab with her guitar and gave the driver the address. When she arrived at T.U.F.’s she saw that most of the patron’s were men. They were currently watching the end of the Yankee’s and the Met’s games on the numerous flat screens located around the bar.

A gorgeous, red haired woman came over to greet her, introducing herself as Jill, the bar's manager. Jill showed Jo where she could set up and then told her to meet her back at the bar when she was finished. Jo placed a bar stool in the corner and then propped her guitar case up against it. She then walked to the bar to meet up with Jill.

“Wow that was fast.” Jill said looking over at the corner where Jo had set up.

“I don’t have speakers or microphones, tonight is acoustic only so it’s a simple set up, just me and my guitar.”

“So you get that it’s for two hours, no breaks and you get 200 dollars plus tips?” Jill said drumming her nails on the wooden bar top.

“Yup, I got it.”

“I told my bosses that I had hired you. They aren’t sure this is the place for a singer.”

“Well maybe I can prove them wrong.” Jo said with a little more confidence than she was actually feeling.

“That’s the spirit girl!” Jill patted her shoulder happily. ”As soon as these games finish,” Jill said motioning to the televisions, “you’re on!”

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