Help Wanted (21 page)

She sensed that Trevor wasn’t as accepting as Jim was trying to make her believe, but she was willing to give it another shot. She loved Jim and Trevor was a part of his life. She knew his son was only scared she was going to take his father away which wasn’t true at all. She would do her best to make Trevor feel like he was a part of their relationship.

“I would love to go.” Keira smiled pushing all of her worries to the side. “How about we go get something to eat? We can talk about more ideas for
Choppers
.”

“No, I don’t want to discuss anything about work or your session with Dr. Gearan for the rest of the night. I only want to spend the night enjoying your company.”

“Keep talking like that and I might end up spending the night instead of going back home,” Keira teased.

“That’s my plan, sweetheart,” Jim said before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

* * * *

 Despite the fact he tried to sweet talk Keira into staying the night with him, she decided to spend the night at her house instead. Folding his hands behind his head, Jim laid in bed thinking about how well the day had turned out between him and Keira. He left the note at her house as a last chance effort to get her back into his life and it worked ─
Thank God
!

He was slowly losing his mind without her and now that he had her back he wasn’t about to make any kind of mistake and lose Keira again. The short period of time she was away from him made him realize how much he truly loved her.

Keira was able to size up any situations with her quick wit and charm enticing him even more. She wasn’t predictable at all and he wanted her to stay that away. The more he got to know her, the more she surprised him. God, he knew nothing about Keira was ever going to be predictable while they were together.

She was so talented with everything she touched. It didn’t matter if it involved music, cooking, business or social skills. Keira blew it out of the water and he was proud to call her his woman and soon he would be calling her his wife.

None of the fear he thought he might feel about getting married again came to him when he thought about proposing to Keira. He had it all planned out including the when and where he was going to pop the question. He thought long and hard about the place and finally decided the reopening of
Choppers
would be perfect. Keira loved the shop as much as he did now. Plus it would give Keira another connection to her father which he knew would mean so much to her. It was his goal to make each and every one of her dreams come true.

She constantly presented him with something he wasn’t prepared for or counted on. He hadn’t truly lived until Keira came into his life. He couldn’t think of a better step-mother for Trevor.

“I have to make sure that the proposal is something for her to remember for the rest of her life,” Jim said to himself.  He needed to talk to Charisma and see if he could make the day any more extraordinary for her than what he already had planned.

“In less than two weeks, Keira is going to be wearing my ring on her finger and then I’ll be a step closer to making her my wife.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Jim watched as his son walked a little ahead of him and Keira eating a strawberry ice cream cone. The trip to the zoo with Keira and Trevor turned out way better than he thought it would. He wasn’t sure how things might turn out when he told Trevor he needed to sit in the backseat and give Keira the front seat next to him. Trevor had looked at him like he was going to throw a fit, but changed his mind and got in the back.

“Do you know how pretty you look in your jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes?” Jim whispered against Keira’s neck wrapping his arm around her waist. “If we weren’t out in public in the park like this I would kiss the hell out of you.”

“Oh, you have a problem kissing me in public?” Keira teased leaning away from him.

“Baby…I don’t have a problem with that at all.” Before she could move Jim captured her mouth for a long, slow, wet kiss, the kind that makes a woman’s stomach do somersaults and her heart kick up to another level.

“I’m glad my shirt is long enough to cover up the effect you’re having on me.” Jim breathed against her swollen lips.

Keira moved out of Jim’s embrace hitting him on the arm. “You are so bad. We better catch up with Trevor before he leaves us.”

Linking their fingers together, Jim walked with Keira as they followed behind Trevor who was headed for the swings. “He was so much better today with you at the zoo than he was at that horrible dinner party. I think he might be coming around to the idea of the two of us dating.”

She wasn’t as convinced as Jim that his son was into the thought of another woman in his daddy’s life, but she couldn’t be for sure so she would keep her opinion to herself.  Why ruin the day for Jim? Let him think what he wanted; however, she did notice Trevor giving her a hateful look when he didn’t think she was watching him.

“Yes, today was a lot better than the dinner we tried to share together.  Trevor seems much happier around you.  He really does love you a lot.”

“I’m glad you noticed that because I’m going to sue Kathy for full custody. I have an appointment with an attorney tomorrow.”

The news shocked Keira so badly that she stopped in her tracks. Was Jim out of his mind? There was no way in hell Kathy would let him get full custody of Trevor and lose all of the alimony and child support he was sending every month. She would fight him until both of them were old and gray.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?”

A frown marred Jim’s forehead as he paused next to her a few feet from the swing set. “You don’t think it’s a good idea for me to try to get custody of my son?”

“No, I think you’re a wonderful parent and deserve full custody, but I’ve met Kathy and she doesn’t seem like the type who’ll give up all of that money without a fight. I’m just saying you might be in for a very hard battle with her. Also, have you talked to Trevor about this? You’re going to go into court and tell a lot of people how unfit his mother is. Will he be able to handle that?”

“Keira, I know what’s going to happen. I’ve been through it before with my ex, but I want and need the two most important people in my life around me every day. I’m tired worrying if Kathy is feeding my son three meals a day and keeping his clothes clean. I have enough money from working at CCD to take care of all of us.”

“Wait a minute,” Keira cut in. “I have a good job.  I don’t need you to think I want you to ‘take care’ of me.”

“Honey, I know your independence and love it with everything in my heart, but humor me a little and let me take care of you a tiny bit…please,” Jim whispered. Wrapping his hand around her wrist, he tugged her closer to his body. “I like the idea you might have to lean on me a tiny bit.”

“Oh, I’m not sure I can give my Miss Independent card back.  The other girls in the club might disown me.” Keira laughed loving how good she felt when Jim teased her like this.

“I won’t tell them if you don’t.”

“I might need more of a persuasion than what you’re giving me.  I mean, it took me a very long time to get my membership.”

“Daddy, will you buy me a hot dog?” Trevor yelled breaking into the cocoon Jim and Keira had built for themselves.

“I can’t get into this now, but after we drop off Trevor at Kathy’s house I have a few techniques that might make you only use the card part-time,” he growled by Keira’s ear.

“Promises…promises.”

“Daddy!”

Jim gave Keira’s ass a quick tap and then quickly stepped back. “Let’s go. Trevor is acting like I haven’t fed him all day,” he joked.

“He’s a growing boy and he wants a hot dog, so let’s buy him a hot dog.”

“Will you give me what I need later?”

“Only if you’re a good boy for the rest of the day, I’ll think about it.”

“Do more than think,” Jim said before he grabbed her hand and took her in the direction of Trevor and the hot dog vendor.

Chapter Forty-Four

A week later Keira sat in the backyard next to True, Jenisha and Charisma laughing at Jim as he played with Hayward’s and Clinton’s kids in the backyard. He loved kids so much. It made her wonder how he would be with their kids if their relationship got that far.

“Are you really going to sit there like you didn’t walk into the get-together holding hands with Jim?” Charisma asked. “When did the two of you start dating…forget that. When did the two of you start doing the mattress dance? I’ve never seen Jim so relaxed and happy in my life. He’s usually nice enough and that’s about it.”

As much as she hated it Keira stopped looking at Jim and focused her attention on Charisma and the other women grinning at her with a knowing sparkle in their eyes. “We are in the getting to know you stage,” she answered.

“If the getting to know you stage in anything like I experienced with Clinton you will be married before you know it and a baby on the way before your first anniversary,” Jenisha laughed.

“I think Dave didn’t even take as long as Hayward or Clinton,” Charisma said. “Everyone knows that he kissed me the first night we met.”

“I never heard a complaint from you,” Jenisha said.

“Look at my gorgeous hunky husband.  Who would complain about being kissed by him?”

“All of you are jumping the boat here,” Keira said. “Jim and I are only having fun.  Sure I’m falling in love with him, but I haven’t thought about marriage. He has enough going on with Kathy and this new custody battle. She isn’t pleased at all that Jim wants full custody.  I swear that woman is worse than Faye Dunaway in Mommy Dearest.”

“Kathy is a piece of work,” Charisma agreed. “Dave told me once she tried to kiss him while she was still married to Jim. What kind of woman does that?”

Keira mouth fell open and she quickly snapped it closed. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah and a while back she was flirting with Dante at his own club right in front of Jim but they were divorced by then. I’m surprised she gave Dante any attention at all because he’s way older than the men she usually dates.”

“I did see her once when I was leaving Dr. Gearan’s office walking down the street with some guy young enough to be her son,” Keira said.

“Oh, how are the doctor’s visits going?  Will you be cleared to fly again soon?”

“Charisma, Dr. Gearan is thrilled with my success. I only have to see him three more times and I’m crossing my fingers he will sign the papers I need to fly again.”

“I’ve seen Dr. Gearan and he’s very attractive,” True said. “I know Hayward would have a problem with me seeing him with all those hidden jealousy issues of his.  What does Jim say about it?”

“Jim hasn’t said anything because he’s never been introduced to my doctor and if he did have a problem I wouldn’t stop seeing him. Dr. Gearan is my doctor and friend. Nothing is going on between the two of us.  Dante is my friend too and Jim doesn’t have any trouble with that.”

All three women’s eyes connected with each other and then they stared at Keira for a minute or two. “You’re friends with Dante? Lord…you can’t tell Jim. Dante is smoking hot! I know I’ve been married the longest here, but I even take a second glance at him when he walks into the room. If sex could be turned into a man and walk the earth it would be Dante,” True said.

Laughing, Keira couldn’t believe True just said that.  It was just too damn funny! “Dante doesn’t come across to me like that. Now, I know those green eyes of his are hypnotic, but I’m totally into moody ass Jim Russell. He can be a pain in my ass most of the time; however, I love the feeling I get when he’s around me.”

“What about one of you?” Keira asked Charisma and Jenisha. “Would one of you trade in your husband for Dante?”

“I might if Dave didn’t take out the trash when I asked him to,” Charisma joked.

“No, I already have one arrogant and overly protective green-eyed man. I don’t need another one in my life,” Jenisha replied. “However, the woman who lands Dante is going to be very lucky because he is one good-looking man.”

“Speaking of a good-looking man, Keira’s is headed this away,” True said seconds before a kiss was planted at the back of Keira’s neck.

“Hey baby,” Jim whispered against her skin. “I missed you. Are you ready to go? I forgot that I need to show you something at
Choppers
.”

Keira noticed the knowing grins on the women’s faces in front of her. Jim was ruining the speech she just gave them.  She wasn’t going to be able to deny anything they tossed her way now.

“Can what you have to show me wait a little longer?” she asked.

“Keira, why don’t you go ahead and leave?” Jenisha said. “I know when Clinton has to show me something it usually can’t wait that long.”

Keira’s face grew warm as her girlfriends broke out into laughter around her. God, they were embarrassing her and loving every second of it, but if the roles were reversed she would be doing the same thing to them. So she couldn’t be too mad at them.

“Okay, I’m ready to go,” Keira said standing up excited about what Jim’s little surprise might turn out to be. The last time she got swept away by Jim they ended up having sex in his front yard.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Charisma yelled at her as Jim placed his hand in the middle of her back and escorted her out the backyard.

“I think your girlfriends love the fact we are together and that they could tease you about it,” Jim said as he opened the car door for her and waited while she got inside.

“Yeah, I can say that they do.”

He slammed the door shut, ran around the front and got inside.  Before driving off he leaned across the seat and gave Keira a quick kiss on the mouth.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Keira replied surprised by the declaration, but enjoying it all the same.

“That’s really good to know,” Jim said and then drove off to the surprise he had waiting for her.

* * * *

 “What do you think?” Jim asked as he closed the door. “It’s not completely done yet, but I wanted to show you how far it’s come along. I think it’s going to look pretty good once everything is in its place. It’s not the same place I bought from your father all of those months ago.”