One Sexy Ride(7)

If anyone would do a hundred percent thorough job, it would be Janey.

He kept going until he hit the living room, checking out the new hardwood underfoot. Home improvements weren’t his thing. He preferred to play around in the innards of an engine, but he could appreciate what he was seeing around the place.

And then he twisted, and all thoughts about household renovations vanished as he spotted Janey.

Considering how petite she was, her legs shouldn’t look as if they went on forever. Yet somehow that’s the impression he got at the long length revealed by the teeny skirt she’d pulled on. The fabric clung to her hips, partnered with a short-sleeved T-shirt, both jet black and skintight. Instead of pulling her hair into her usual ponytail, the mass was all bundled up at the back of her head, magically held in place as far as he could tell. A couple strands hung loosely on either side of her face, and as she walked toward him, her smile was perfectly framed. She held a sweater in her hands, a brilliant blue colour that made him think of clear winter days.

He was so busy admiring her he forgot to say anything.

The next thing he knew she was staring up, her sweet smile shifting toward mischief. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.” He helped her slip into her sweater. It was just an excuse to touch her, and he damn well knew it.

“I hope this is okay. It’s finally warm enough to wear a skirt, and I’ve been dying to wear this one.” She took a couple steps away from him, leaning over to grab a pair of low heel shoes from the dining room floor.

Len’s gaze dropped over her hips and legs. “I don’t mind.”

He didn’t mind at all, only the control he had wrestled back a few moments earlier was utterly gone. Good thing his jeans were slightly loose, because he needed every damn inch of space.

Janey finished adjusting the straps over the back of her heels, mesmerizing him with every move. She straightened then tilted her head toward the door. “I’m starving. How about you?”

He had her outside and into his truck in no time flat. Helping her up into the high seat in spite of her denial.

“I am capable of using a runner board,” she teased.

He paused in the doorframe, hanging on to the truck frame and admiring her legs as she twisted on the bench seat. “Humour me.”

As he got behind the steering wheel, the temptation was there to order her into the center seat. Fortunately, she read his mind, shuffling over and doing up her seatbelt without him saying a word.

Her thigh pressed against his, and warmth seeped through his jeans. Somehow he focused on the road ahead of them, and drove the short distance to the café parking lot.

They were through the front door before he had time to talk himself out of it. All eyes turned toward them, the same as always when people came in. But this time, instead of going back to their dinners, at least half kept staring.

He and Janey had been seen together often enough doing things for Katy, some of them probably figured that’s all this was. But the more alert townsfolk? They sensed something was different.

One of the waitresses slid forward, the ready smile she always had for him flashing bright. “Good to see you guys. You grabbing takeout for Katy and Gage?”

Janey cleared her throat. Len figured the strange noise was her hiding her amusement.

And not answering the question. She flicked her gaze to meet his, and laughter shone in the depths.

It was up to him. A dare? “Nope. We’re eating in.”

Tessa’s eyes widened. “You’re what?”

He should have known this was coming. Tessa had tried to date him before, and it had taken a lot of effort on his part to turn her down without hurting her feelings. Now? He bet her curiosity would be on high, and the inquisition would start.

“Any open booths by the window?” Janey asked before Tessa could find her voice to comment.

The waitress blinked. “Of course. Right this way.”

She led them past three or four open tables, weaving through the room to reach the exact center of the café. Len figured she’d done it on purpose. Like putting them on parade.

Tessa gestured to the table. “Here you go. And here are your menus. The specials are on the board.”

She sped away without announcing them like she usually would, darting behind the counter and vanishing into the kitchen.

Janey slipped onto the bench seat, soft laughter rising from her lips. “Tessa doesn’t want to miss out being the bearer of bad news to all your hopeful love interests.”

Len sat next to her, making Janey slide over toward the wall instead of taking the seat opposite her. “Whatever turns her on.”

Their legs were touching, and he could smell the scent of her shampoo, but the torment of being that close was better than sitting across from her and having to make eye contact.

Or worse, having to keep his eyes from eating her up.

It was right, being there with her. Didn’t mean this relationship was going to be easy, but then again…

That was one lesson he’d learned a long time ago—

The right thing to do was rarely easy.





Chapter Four





Janey played with the edge of the menu as she nonchalantly glanced around the room. They were still the topic of conversation for a lot of the evening diners, but she could handle that.

It wasn’t as if she hadn’t dated before. She knew the rules. Everyone in Rocky Mountain House seemed to know everything about…well, everything. A lack of privacy was a fact of small-town living, and attempting to keep secrets was a waste of time, especially when there was no reason for anything to be secret.

Ignoring curious glances was second nature by now, especially for the girl who had been the black sheep in her family. Not because she was bad, but she had never been as smart, as sophisticated, or as charismatic as the rest of them.

As long as she got to enjoy life, she really didn’t mind.

Right now it was more important to take full advantage of the first time in forever she’d been alone with Len Thompson. Time to do something other than chase him. She’d rarely gotten to simply sit and talk without others being a part of the conversation.

The idea of being alone with him for more intimate reasons was also on her agenda, but she hadn’t been solely fixated on his body these past years, as fine as that body was. Still, she had healthy admiration for the set of biceps accidentally caressing her arm every time he moved. He’d pulled off his jacket and hung it on the rail beside the table, and now there was nothing covering him but that faded T-shirt mercilessly stretched over curved musculature. She couldn’t wait to explore more thoroughly.

But exploring was for dessert.

“Did you ever finish the overhaul on that classic truck?” she asked.

He jumped on the topic. “Not yet. I’m waiting for a couple of parts, but I hope to have her roadworthy by the end of summer.”

“Are you going to get her painted?”

He nodded, flipping through the menu even though he had to have it memorized by now. “Still deciding what colour.”

“Candy-apple red, of course.”

Len shook his head. “Too flashy.”

She paused, and thought it through. He was right. That was a colour she’d go for. Something that would stand out on the road and make an impression. Len liked to fade into the background more.

“She’d look good in midnight black, but that’s not a great colour for driving around on dusty back roads. You’d spend more time washing her than driving her.”

Len leaned an elbow on the table and twisted to face her. His other arm stretched along the top of the backrest, warmth seeping toward her. Having his full concentration focused her direction made a spark of heat flutter through her body. “True.”

“Gray or white you wouldn’t have to wash so often.” Janey made a face. “But I don’t think a paint that bland would cut it. They would make your beautiful truck look like an albino June bug.”

Across from them, someone slid onto the bench seat, and they both turned in surprise to discover his younger brother staring innocently at them.

“You guys waiting for a pickup?” Troy went on without waiting for their answer. “I’m grabbing lasagna for me and Dad. I’ll wait with you.”

Janey stifled her amusement, tempted to nudge Len with her shoulder.

“Go away,” Len ordered.

Troy leaned back, pulling out his phone and staring at the screen. “Forget it, bro. We’re off the pay-clock, and you don’t boss me around out here.”

Len stiffened. Janey laid a hand on his thigh. Maybe if she tried the message would sink in. “Troy, go away,” she said sternly.

That was enough to help him realize something was off. He tore his gaze off his phone and glanced back and forth between the two of them, his eyes widening as he put two and two together. “Shit. You aren’t waiting for an order, are you?”

Janey blinked. Len didn’t say anything.

And then the bastard had the gall to just sit there and grin. “Well, this is a surprise.”

“What part of ‘go away’ did you not understand?” Len demanded.

“So, what can I get for you guys tonight?” Tessa was back, her notepad in hand as she eyed everyone at the table, no doubt eager for gossip.

Janey was fighting a serious case of the giggles. “Burger and fries, strawberry milkshake. Thanks, Tessa.”