Ride With Me (3 page)

5.

              Jake would have laughed at the expression on Elle's face if it hadn't been such a serious situation. In fact, he almost did laugh. Just before her eyes filled with tears.

              He'd just gotten the girl fired.

              Damn it all to hell.

              There was no way she was going to sleep with him now.

              He wasn't sure which one of them was more distraught in that moment.

              He was debating whether or not he should go after Mr. Peabody or try and kiss her again. Both seemed equally fruitless. He licked his lips and decided to go for the second option.

              She smacked his shoulder. Hard.

             
Damn but the girl could throw a hit!

              "Get. Off. Of. Me."

              Jake eased back regretfully. She'd felt so good in his arms. But she looked angrier than a wild cat and just as dangerous. He stood up and offered her a hand. She took it, but not without snarling at him as he pulled her up.

              "Great. Now I'm back to eating crackers for dinner."

              His stomach dropped. Was she really that destitute? He glanced down at her shoes. They were ancient looking. Beat up and held together with duct tape. Shit, maybe she was.

              "Don't look at me like that."

              "Like what?"

              "I don't want your damn pity. I'll figure something out. I always do.

              "I'm sorry Elle. I didn't mean to-"

              She brushed herself off and started walking past him down the driveway out of the country club. Jesus, didn't she even have a car? He'd really screwed the pooch this time.

              "Elle, wait!"             

              He ran after her but she kept walking, completely ignoring him.

              "Forget it. I'll be fine. No thanks to you."

              "Are you seriously going to walk home?"

              She stopped walking finally and stared at him. She was fighting back tears, he could tell. A strange feeling twisted in his insides. It was something like regret. And worry.

              "Yeah well my roommate is my ride and she's still in there. So it's me and my feet."

              "I'll give you a ride."

              She rolled her eyes at him.

              "Yeah, right. I'll just bet you will."

              She started walking again. This was insane, he couldn't let her walk around in the dark! It wasn't safe. Especially looking the way she did.

              He ran in front of her and held his hand out.

              "I'll get you a job. Give me your phone."

              She stared at him in exasperation. Then she chewed on her lip, considering her options. She must have come to the same conclusion he had: she didn't have much of a choice.

              She pulled out her phone and held it up.

              "Fine. But don't be calling me for booty calls. This is strictly business."

              "Yes, absolutely. You got it."

              She sighed deeply and handed her ancient looking phone to him. Jake felt triumphant suddenly as he typed in his number and texted himself. Then he texted her back with an address.

              "Be there tomorrow morning. 8 am. Now come on, let me drive you home."

              He grinned at her and held out his helmet.

**********

              Elle was trying her best to hold herself at a respectable distance from Jake Delancey's broad back and shoulders. And his bum. A very tight, very cute little bum.

              He was riding fast on a winding road. Faster than she would have liked, but he seemed to know what he was doing. The way he handled the bike was sending thrills through her body.

              He took a sharp turn and she gasped, gripping him more tightly. She was pressed up against him now, her breasts mashing against the thin cotton of his shirt. He'd insisted she wear his jacket and helmet. Which meant that right now she was getting a really good whiff of Jake Delancey.

              And he smelled good.

             
Really good.

              Her inner thighs were pressed up against his jeans. And since she'd been wearing her uniform, the skirt was pushed up to the top of her thighs. She felt very exposed and more than a little bit naughty.

              If he was facing the other way, they'd practically be… doing the deed.

             
Oh dear.

              She shook herself and tried to pay attention to holding on. Her cheek kept brushing his shoulder. Finally, she gave in and rested her cheek against his back. Now she could really smell him. He was so warm and manly.

             
Sweet Mary and Joseph!

              He must have gone the long way because it was another twenty minutes or so before she recognized any of the streets near her apartment building. It was nothing fancy, that was for sure. But her apartment was clean and safe. It was more than she could have asked for really.

              So what if all the neighbors were geriatrics? At least they were quiet. Well, not during The Price Is Right or BINGO. But usually.

              Jake pulled into the lot and parked the bike. He was off in a flash, forcing her to hastily yank her skirt down over her thighs. He grinned at her, making her positive that he'd done it on purpose. He'd been trying to catch a look up her skirt, damn him.

              The man was incorrigible.

              Bloody gorgeous, but incorrigible.

              She pulled off his soft leather jacket and handed it to him.

              "I suppose I should thank you for the ride."

              He leaned back against his bike as he slid the jacket on. Somehow the man made even that look sexy. It'd be hard to imagine how good it would look if he was taking his clothes
off.

              "No need. I'm more than happy to give you a ride whenever you want."

              She narrowed her eyes at him. She just knew he was offering more than a ride on his bike. He was talking about taking a ride
on him.

              Too bad he'd had so many other riders.

              "I meant what I said- don't be showing up here late at night."

              "I know, I know. No booty calls. You told me."

              He was laughing at her again.

              "What's so funny then?"

              "You are. Nobody says that anymore."

              "Oh well, what do they say then?"

              "They say 'fucking', Elle."

              He let his eyes drop down low as he blatantly checked out her body. He shook his head wryly in appreciation and pulled his helmet on.

              "Have a nice night."

              Then he drove off, leaving her with her jaw hanging open.

             
Damn it all to hell.

              Jake Delancey was going to be difficult to resist indeed.

6.

              Jake was whistling as he jogged down the stairs. It was just after 6 am. He was hungry as hell. At least that's what he told himself when he woke up so damn early.

              It wasn't because he was excited to see
her.

              Damn if that hot little waitress wasn't going to drive him insane with lust.

              There was just something about her. Her looks would have been enough to get his attention in the first place, but her sassy ways were holding it. Much longer than usual.

              Normally he'd already have moved on by now. With or without a night in her bed. Bed, hell, he'd do her anywhere. Gladly. He wasn't going to be picky about the details when she finally came around.

              And she
would
come around. It didn't matter how long it took. Jake was going to get his hands on that girl.

              He grinned.

             
More than just his hands.

              Daniel and Jackson were just filling up their plates from the breakfast buffet. A big breakfast was a daily ritual on the estate. Had been for eighty years. When you had animals to tend to, you got up early.

              Jake usually skipped it. Thus, the surprise.

              "What are you doing up so early?”              "Oh come Daniel. He's probably still up from last night. Run out of bourbon little brother?"

              He smiled pleasantly, ignoring the stab of pain that came from Jackson's barb. Didn't they ever let up? He supposed on some level he deserved it, but he'd like to forget his sordid once in a while. Especially when he was turning over a new leaf.

              Sort of.

              "Good morning Daniel."

              He nodded cooley at his eldest brother.

              "Jackson."

              Jackson just raised an eyebrow and sipped his coffee.

              The door bell rang.

             
She was here.

              He got up to meet her.

              "Are you expecting someone Jake?"

              "Yes. A friend. I promised her a job."

              "You did what?"

              Daniel and Jackson followed him to the front entry hall. Kemper, their butler, had already opened the door. A big eyed beauty stood there, looking around in wonder.

             
His big eyed beauty.

             
He smiled at her, trying not to look love sick. Even if he was. Nobody else had to know how bad he had it.

              Especially not Elle.

              "You made it."

              She just blinked at him, looking a little shell shocked. He knew his house could be pretty intimidating. Maybe he should have warned her.

              "Now look Jake you can't just bring one of your trashy girlfriends here."

              She stiffened up and gave Jackson a look that could have frozen boiling water. He remembered how hard she'd slapped him. He could only hope he never pissed her off when there was a weapon around.

              "Shut up Jackson."

              "Jacks- that's our waitress from the club remember?"

              He silently thanked Daniel for his memory. Daniel had a way of smoothing things over. But it was too late to stop Elle from stomping her little foot in aggravation. It was too cute for words.

              "I am not his girlfriend! I was told there was a job here. I guess I was mistaken. Good day."

              She nodded and turned to the door, yanking it open. Jake ran to stop her from leaving.

              "I got you a job. Here."

              She gave him a glare and stepped out of the house onto the front portico.

**********

              "Elle, wait!"

              Jake was behind her, not leaving her alone. The taxi that brought her here had already left. And it was starting to rain.

              Fantastic.

              Oh well, might as well have it out before she got sopping wet. That would happen soon enough. She turned to look at Jake.

              "You live here."

              He leaned against one of the columns and smiled at her.

              "Uh huh. Sometimes, anyway."

              Sweet Mary. Jake wasn't just rich. He was
rich rich
.

              And he was having an awful lot of fun at her expense!

              "What is this? Did you bring me here to humiliate me then?"

              "No! I promised you a job. We're always looking for good people. Isn't that right Jackson?"

              She turned. His brothers were watching the whole exchange through the open door. This kept getting better.

              They looked so rich and handsome standing there in their fine clothes. It made her feel like a sad sack of potatoes in her second hand skirt and blouse. She glared at Jake again, wishing she had stronger shoes on.

              If she did, she could kick him.

              "We
are
always looking for good people actually. If you are looking."

              She narrowed her eyes and took in Jake's older brother. Jackson Delaney was the shrewdest business man in the state of Tennessee. He was known for being cold and decisive. He wouldn't offer her a job out of pity.

              She pulled herself up straight, lifting her chin.

              "I see nothing wrong with a hard day’s work."

              She glared at Jake who was watching her with a look of pure fascination.

              "But I don't work nights."

              Jackson let out a sharp bark of laughter. Daniel was smiling too when she glanced at him. She relaxed a little.

              "I like her already. Come on Eleanor. Let's introduce you to Mrs. Garretty, our housekeeper."

              She followed Jackson into the house, ignoring Jake completely. She could feel him behind her, hovering like a mother hen.

              It was with supreme satisfaction that she watched Jackson close the door to the housekeeper's office in his face.