Chapter 9
Tessa tiptoed downstairs wearing her teal colored sundress. She was hoping that everyone would be gone, but from the sounds coming from the kitchen her hopes were dashed. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself with what was about to come.
“Little overdressed to go to watch us train, aren’t you?” Adam frowned staring at Tessa.
“I’m not going to watch you train.” Tessa replied glancing at the clock uncomfortable with everyone’s eyes trained on her. Okay, that was a total lie. She was totally uncomfortable with the burning stare Jared was giving her. She actually felt his heated gaze. “You’re a big boy. I’m sure you can train without me there.”
“But they want you there too.” Adam looked at Jared for confirmation.
“Well, I can’t tonight.” Tessa finally looked at Jared whose eyes were traveling back up to her face. The heated look a man gives a woman he desires made her knees wobbly.
“Why not?” Jared’s golden eyes blazed when they met hers.
“I have….” Tessa cleared her throat. “a date.”
Adam snorted shaking his head. “With who? You haven’t dated since Sheriff Bowman left you for Marcy.”
Jared smacked Adam on the back of the head. “Be respectful to your sister.”
“That isn’t disrespectful, just the truth.” Rubbing the back of his head Adam’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me it’s Bobby Rodgers.”
Hurt hit Tessa hard, but she did her best to hide it. Her only date since her fiancé had dumped her for her best friend was the guy who had bedded every female in the county. God she was pathetic. “I don’t answer to you Adam.” Tessa also narrowed her eyes.
“Who, the f*ck, is Bobby Rodgers?” Jared’s mood went downhill fast.
“Her boss and he’s an a*shole.” Adam slammed his hand on the counter. “I knew he wasn’t going to just hand over those keys.”
Sid walked in at that moment. “What’s up?”
“Well if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have had to make the deal.” Tessa flipped her hand toward Sid and Jared.
“Uh, okay.” Sid had no clue what the hell was going on and it showed on his face. “Who’s riding with me?”
“Why is this guy an a*shole Adam?” Jared didn’t take his eyes off Tessa.
“You got a while cause it’s a long list.” Adam snorted shaking his head.
“You really ain’t gonna go out with Bobby are you?” Matt frowned. “The guy is a total jerk. He went out with my sister and made her walk home because she wouldn’t….you know.” He looked away embarrassed.
“It’s just dinner for letting me use his car.” Tessa threw her hands up. “I know Bobby well, I work with him and yeah, he’s an a*shole, but I made a deal. I’ll be fine. He doesn’t look at me that way.” She lied, knowing Adam wasn’t going to fall for it.
“Give me a break Tessa.” Adam rolled his eyes. “He looks at you that way…believe me. You’re his last conquest in the county.”
A horn beeped outside and everyone including Sid who still didn’t know what was going on looked toward the front door.
“Don’t go Tessa.” Jill whispered from behind her.
“You guys are being ridiculous.” Tessa picked up her purse heading toward the door, but stopped when Jared stepped in front of her.
“The only reason you’re going is because of this deal you made with him to get away from us?” Jared’s eyes burned into hers. “And do not lie to me.”
Tessa stared up at him feeling that yearning again. “Yes….but..”
With a nod, Jared turned heading toward the front door.
“Hey.” Tessa rushed to catch up with him. “What are you doing?”
“Telling him the deal is off.” Jared stopped when she grabbed his arm.
“You can’t do that. I’ll lose my job.” Tessa felt panicked. She couldn’t lose her job.
Jared snapped his arm away from her. “Your job is that important to you?”
Tessa glanced at the small table in the corner of the room piled with bills, unpaid bills. Jobs, she knew first hand were hard to come by. There was nowhere else she could bring in the tips she made working at the Sand Trap. If she lost her job they would lose everything and her grandfather would be put out of the nursing home. His monthly check didn’t cover everything there. “Yeah, it is.” Tessa frowned when the horn blared again. “I can’t lose my job.”
A low growl escaped his lips as his eyes darkened. “But do you really want to go?”
“No!” Tessa wanted to scream, but didn’t. There were so many things lately that she didn’t want to do, but she pulled up her big girl panties and did them anyway. She was saved from answering when loud persistent pounding rattled the door. Tessa’s eyes met Jared’s. The look on his face was enough to make her step back.
“Tessa!” Bobby shouted from outside the door. “If you think you’re backing out you better think again woman, I’m starving. I know you’re in there.” He pounded again.
“Need me to get that?” Sid growled next to them, his eyes almost as dark as Jared’s.
No one said a word. Tessa couldn’t seem to pull her eyes off of Jared’s, his intense gaze held her hostage. “No.” Tessa finally looked away heading to the door.
“It’s about time.” Bobby leaned against the frame looking her up and down. “But well worth the wait. Damn you clean up real nice. Think I’ll make that dress mandatory uniform attire.”
Tessa decided then and there she really didn’t want to go out with the slime. The way he was looking at her turned her stomach and she knew she would spend the night avoiding his advances. “Listen Bobby, I….”
Bobby sighed grabbing her shoulders, turned her around with a slap on the ass. “Deal’s a deal.” Bobby’s tone no longer held amusement. “Now come on. I’m hungry and you look good enough to eat.”
An inhuman roar sounded through the house and before Tessa could do anything she was pulled out of the way by Sid as Jared rushed past grabbing Bobby by the shirt hauling him out to the front yard.
“This is going to be so freakin awesome!” Adam rushed past with everyone tripping over one another to get outside.
Tessa started to follow, but Sid stopped her. “Let me go Sid.” Tessa struggled to get away.
“I think Jared would rather you stay in here.” Sid was craning his neck trying to see out the door.
“He won’t kill him will he?” Tessa struggled to see out the door.
“Probably.” Sid grinned in delight. “He’d deserve it.”
Tessa pulled away enough to see Bobby on the ground with Jared raining punches to his face. “Oh my God!” Tessa cried out. “Stop him Sid. He’s going to kill him.”
Sid looked over top of her head, his smile still in place. “Ah, he isn’t going to kill him. He’s just teaching him a lesson on how to treat a lady.”
Not believing it Tessa ran down the steps to where Jared was beating the holy hell out of her boss. “Please stop Jared. I’m not worth you killing someone over. My God this is crazy.”
Tessa’s panicked voice broke through his fury stopping his fist in mid swing. “If you ever lay a hand on her again this beating will not even compare to what I will do to you.” Jared pulled Bobby up by the front of the shirt, their faces inches apart. “Do you understand me?”
Bobby nodded before turning his head to the side to spit out blood and what looked like a tooth. “Who the hell are you?” Bobby shook his head trying to get his brain to function.
“Your worst f*cking nightmare, pal.” Jared hissed standing, pulling Bobby up with one hand keeping a firm hold on him. “Now apologize.”
With one eye already swelling shut Bobby glanced down at Tessa. “I’m sorry, Tessa.” His words sounded sincere. “I really didn’t mean anything by it. I shouldn’t have done what I did.”
Nodding, Tessa couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for Bobby. She had known him her whole life and though she knew how he was with women he had never touched her before. Actually the only thing he had ever done was try to get her to go out on a date.
Jared let go of him shoving him toward his car which had a body sized dent on the hood. “Don’t let it ever happen again.” Jared spat out watching Bobby closely just in case the dumbass had second thoughts and came back for more of an ass kicking.
After Bobby pulled out, everyone headed into the house excited about the fight, even Sid was pumped. Tessa was left standing in the yard with Jared whose hands were still balled in fists, his face a cold mask.
“Are you okay?” Jared finally looked down at her. “He smacked you pretty hard.”
Face flaming red, Tessa kept her gaze on his. “I’m fine.” She nodded not knowing what else to say. Saying thanks for kicking the crap out of somebody just didn’t sound right.
He walked up to her, so close they were almost touching. His hand reached lifting her face up to his as he leaned down slightly. “Never doubt that you are worth it.” He leaned closer taking a long deep breath then let go, walking away leaving her breathing hard and once again yearning for something more.
Tessa caressed where his fingers touched her face, watching him walk away. Glancing back at the house she knew that was the safest way to go, but when had she ever played the safe card. Slowly she made her way over to where he stopped by the edge of the driveway.
“I really need a minute Tessa.” Jared’s voice was stern yet his words were spoken softly.
Ignoring his warning Tessa circled around and stood in front of him. Reaching up she clasped his chin gently turning his face to hers. Looking into his angry black eyes she swore she could feel his anger, pain and soul in that one look. Never had she felt more connected to anyone than at that moment. It felt so good…it felt right. “I’m sorry.” She whispered, her eyes searching his.
“Tessa, you have nothing to be sorry for.” He leaned into her touch instead of pulling away.
“Yeah, I do.” Her lips curved into a small shaky smile. “I have caused you nothing but trouble since you laid eyes on me and you have done nothing but help my brother and now me.”
He caught her hand as she pulled away placing a kiss on the palm. “Best damn trouble I’ve had in years.” His smile beamed bright in the dusk of the night, his eyes turning back to their normal golden hue.
“What color are your eyes?” Tessa stared deeply into them.
“Gold unless I’m….”
“I know what color they are now, but what color were they?”
Jared felt his throat knot up. No one had ever asked him that question, no one had cared enough. “Blue.” He leaned his head slowly toward her. “They were blue.”
Leaning up, Tessa didn’t look away. “Light or dark?” She whispered, her tongue snaking out to slowly moisten her lips, ready for the kiss she hoped with all her heart was coming.
“Just blue, Tessa.” His words blew across her wet lips causing her to shiver from head to the tips of her toes.
Jared didn’t move as she lifted her other hand to touch the side of his face feeling the hardness in his features. Her eyes shifted from his to his lips wondering if they were as soft as they looked. Her stomach swirled and dipped in anticipation of that answer. His hand slid to the back of her neck then up to the back of her head through her hair cupping her gently. Tessa ran her thumb across his lips before she closed her eyes to lean in closer. He was letting her make the decision and waited patiently, giving her the lead. Before touching her lips to his, her sexy little tongue moistened her lush lips again.
Holding back a growl of desire was the hardest thing Jared had ever done. He wanted her to make this choice no matter how badly he wanted to grab her so he could lick, kiss and look at every inch of her. Finally her lips touched his and he knew without a doubt this was as close to heaven as he would ever be. Using the hand that cupped the back of her head he tilted her so he could slowly devour that lush mouth he had dreamed about since the first moment he saw her. When her tongue touched his lips he wanted to shout a war cry of victory. Opening his mouth their tongues touched and it was like a flood gate of passion poured out of her. Both her hands grabbed the back of his head trying to get closer. Pulling his lips away from hers, he kissed and licked his way down her neck.
“We’re about to get company.” His whispered words tickled her neck.
Tilting her head back to give him easier access she sighed. “They’re not welcome.”
Both of his large hands cupped her cheeks bringing her face to his. “We will finish this later.” Placing a kiss on her forehead he smiled down at her before placing her a safe distance away.
“You ready yet?” Sid yelled with the rest following him. “We’re already late and Duncan has been a bitch lately. He reamed my ass already today and I really want to avoid another bitch session.”
“Do I have time to change?” Tessa glanced up at Jared. “I really don’t want to wear this.”
“I really don’t want you wearing it either.” Jared frowned down at the dress clinging to every curve like a caress. Seeing the hurt look on her face when she turned to go change he grabbed her arm. “Only because you were wearing it for another man. I will warn you now Tessa, I don’t share. So if it was up to me I would burn that damn dress and buy you one that you would wear only for me.”
Tessa stared at him shocked before a slight smile curved her swollen kissed lips. Turning away her wobbly legs made their way past Sid.
“Where are you going?” Sid threw his hands in the air. “You’re going to get me in trouble with the boss man if you guys don’t hurry up.”
“I’ll be right back.” Tessa ran past him laughing when he rolled his eyes. “I promise.”
Tessa slammed into her room pulling the dress over her head. Wiggling her way into a pair of jeans and shirt she slipped on her sandals. Stopping suddenly she took a deep breath and slapped her hand on her cheeks. What in the world was wrong with her? She had been kissed before. Hell, who was she kidding? No man had kissed her like Jared Kincaid had just kissed her. A sigh escaped her lips.
“Come on! We got to go! You look fine!” Sid shouted from downstairs. “Women!”
Tessa rolled her eyes before walking out the door. Running down the steps she stopped in the middle. How could she have forgotten what was under her mattress? Without a doubt she trusted them now. Before she could turn around to run back into her room Sid was there pulling her arm.
“Duncan just called and said if I didn’t get my ass back and soon he was going to….” Sid stopped in mid sentence as he led her down the steps. “Well let’s just say it won’t be pleasant.”
Letting him lead her out of the house Tessa decided to wait until they got home to tell Jared. Looking around she saw everyone was split up in two cars with Jared leaning against one talking on his phone. Tossing her a wink he walked around and opened the door for her. Her mattress and what was under it forgotten.