Dirty Deeds (Mechanics of Love #3)(26)

Cal sighed and watched Jenna as she talked to a couple of lingering employees. “Yeah, we all kinda are. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Means we all care and shit.”

Alex picked at a loose nail at the edge of the table. “Yeah, I know.”

“Look, I . . . just want you to watch yourself, okay? I think you’re a tough woman, but you still have a soft heart. And I worry you’re gonna get really attached to this guy and then it’s gonna be real bad when he leaves.”

Alex turned to him. “Are you for real lecturing me on what it’s like to get attached to a man? Like I don’t have experience with that shit?”

Cal had the decency to blush and duck his head. “Yeah, guess I should keep my mouth shut.”

“No, I get that you’re just trying to watch out for me, but telling me not to get my heart involved is something I already know. And you know what? It’s my decision to give a little bit of my heart to Spencer because it’s been a long damn time since anyone made me feel like he does.”

Cal nodded. “You’re right. Can I ask you one thing, though?”

She rolled her eyes. “What?”

“That coworker of his—Nick?”

“Yeah?”

Cal squinted his eyes, watching Honeybear bark for the ball. “I dunno, there’s just something about him I don’t like. He’s squirrelly. Spencer say anything about him?”

She shook her head. “No, he hasn’t.”

Cal grunted and scratched the graying hair behind his ear. “Maybe it’s all in my head, then.”

“Want me to ask Spencer?”

Cal shook his head. “Nah, forget I said anything.”

“Okay.” But Alex was frowning now, thinking back to her conversation with Penny. While Alex didn’t want any woman in a bad relationship, it had comforted her a little that someone as poised and beautiful and successful as Penny had found herself in a similar situation as Alex. And got out.

She hoped for Penny’s sake that her second marriage was better than her first. But something told her Penny would be okay if it wasn’t. Alex was gaining confidence that she’d get there too. Because Spencer was leaving. And she had to remember that.

Jenna walked over and sat down across from them, blowing her hair out of her eyes and collapsing her head onto her folded hands on top of the table.

Cal smiled and reached out, massaging her scalp. Her groan was muffled. “You did good, Sunshine,” he said.

“I know, but these things always wear me out.” She lifted her head and rubbed her eyes. “Ready to head out? I hired a crew to clean this time. Best decision ever.”

Cal stood up and helped Jenna to her feet. “Yeah, let’s head out.” He looked back at Alex. “You all right?”

“Just peachy, Cal.” She stood up too. “And, uh, thanks for the chat.”

He winked at her, then walked toward the parking lot with his arm around Jenna’s shoulders.

When Alex looked out across the park, she saw Brent and Ivy had now joined Violet and Spencer. They all sat on the grass, Honeybear panting on the ground.

Alex walked over and came to a stop in front of them. Four heads looked up at her. “The dog tire you out?” she asked.

“I’m not tired,” Violet said.

“I am bloody wiped,” Spencer said.

Alex plopped down beside him and nudged his shoulder with hers. “Aw, got bested by a little girl and a dog, huh?”

“I’m man enough to say yes, that was indeed what happened.”

But despite his words, Spencer was smiling, his eyes were bright, and he seemed to nearly vibrate with . . . happiness.

Maybe they could . . .

No. She shut herself down before she could start on the maybes and the what-ifs. That way led to madness and heartbreak.

“Come on, Princess,” Brent said, hauling the little girl to her feet and helping Ivy to hers. “Time to go home. You can play with Honeybear more there.”

Violet launched herself into Spencer’s arms, surprising the man, who hesitated before wrapping his arms around the little girl’s back. “Thanks, Mr. Spencer.”

“Uh, it was my pleasure.” He patted her back awkwardly and looked askance at Alex, who hid a laugh.

Then Violet was off, skipping ahead of Brent and her mom, Honeybear tagging along at her heels.

“You riding with us?” Ivy called over her shoulder to Alex.

Alex shook her head. “I’ll get Spencer to give me a ride.”

“Who said I’ll give you a ride?” Spencer protested.

Alex ignored him and continued to talk to her sister. “Have a good night.”

“You too,” Ivy said, then grabbed Brent’s hand to follow her daughter and dog.

Alex turned to Spencer. “No ride, huh?”

“So presumptuous,” Spencer huffed.

She nuzzled closer to his side. “Oh my, that was a big word.”

“Yeah? Do you like that? I have more where that came from.”

“Do tell.”

“Obfuscate. Mendacious.”

She moaned. “That’s hot.”

“Ostentatious. Peccadillo.”

“Oh please, take me now,” she wailed.

Spencer squeezed her waist. “Can you wait until we get to my car? She told me she’s been feeling lonely without a naked Alex.”

She threw back her head and laughed, warmed by the easy conversation, the comfort of sitting with a man she trusted. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

“No, indeed.” They rose to their feet and Spencer tucked her arm into his. “Your red chariot awaits.”

Alex couldn’t stop laughing all the way to his car.





Chapter Thirteen

ALEX LEANED BACK in his arms where they sat against the trunk of a tree, staring at the moonlight glittering off the water.

They were at River’s Edge, a park in Tory that Alex promised him was peaceful and beautiful. She hadn’t been wrong. After the party, they’d parked and walked back to the river as the sun dipped below the horizon. Luckily they’d brought flashlights to guide them back, although Spencer was still a little concerned about breaking an ankle. Alex had laughed at him.

They’d been watching the water for the past twenty minutes in silence.

Spencer had forgotten how much he loved the absence of spoken words. Because they weren’t needed here, not with the sound of the rushing water, of the breeze blowing through the trees, birds chattering, and Alex’s breath, softly wafting over the arms he had wrapped around her.

She ran her fingers slowly up and down his thigh, the heat of her hand entering the denim of his jeans to warm his skin.

He didn’t want to get up. Ever. Maybe they’d stay like this, and two thousand years from now, someone would find their skeletons, still locked in an embrace.

Okay, that was bloody morbid.

He nuzzled his face into her hair and closed his eyes. She shifted where she sat between his legs, rubbing against him, which woke up certain parts of his anatomy. Well, one certain part.

He made a sound and she paused, then wiggled her ass again, this time on purpose. “Alex,” he warned.

“What?” Her voice was mock innocence.

“I think you can feel what.”

She made a humming sound in her throat, then turned her head and opened her mouth on his neck. He moaned and tilted his head so she had better access.

He was a thirty-five-year-old man, and he was making out under the stars like Alex was his first girlfriend.

And maybe she was. Other women had been nice and lovely and some very hot but none of them had been Alex. None of them stirred his blood and spoke to his soul and got him like Alex had. Maybe he’d been looking in the wrong places all along. The high-society women from good families weren’t enough like him, didn’t know the struggle of growing up like he had.

Alex knew, and being with her was like returning to his roots—roots he’d tossed aside carelessly when he was younger and a little less wise.

She was squirming between his legs, snuggling her ass back against his erection. He reached down and cupped her through her jeans. She stilled immediately and made a small whimper in her throat. He smiled against the back of her hair. And then with one hand, flicked open the button of her jeans and pulled down her zipper.

Alex was panting now, her chest heaving. But she wasn’t protesting or moving, not when he ran his fingers along the elastic band of her panties, not when he slipped beneath them and ran a single finger along her wet, aroused flesh.

“Spencer,” she whispered, moving her hips and clutching his knees raised on each side of her. He gritted his teeth because what he wanted to do was pull down his own pants and fuck her until she couldn’t speak, but this was too much fun—Alex in front of him, at his mercy, about ten seconds away from begging.

“What do you want, Alex?” he asked.

Her head fell back and her lips moved but no sound came out as he pressed two fingers against her clit.

She sucked in a breath. “Please.”

It wasn’t that he was turned on by hearing her beg. He was turned on when she told him what she wanted, when she was honest about what gave her pleasure. “Please what?”

“I want your fingers.”

He heaved in a breath as his cock twitched. “Where, Sprite? Where do you want them?”

She licked her lips, her eyes half-closed. “Inside me.”