The ice creams were big and a multitude of colors. They had chosen exotic flavors like blueberry coconut and rainbow swirl, and they had walked back to the garage with big grins on their faces as Jacob carried his own and Jessica’s, and Jess carried the ones for her father and Tank. Ella slurped away happily on her own and when they turned the corner to head back to Durrett’s, her father was already rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

“Now look at those!” he bellowed as he stepped toward them and collected one from Jess.

She turned to Tank and he looked into her eyes. She smiled shyly and passed him the tub, full of mint choc chip and a drizzle of raspberry sauce.

“I hope that’s okay,” she said, trying not to let herself blush. “Jacob and Ella said it’s your favorite.”

Tank smiled and nodded his head as he thanked her and dug in the little spoon.

“They would be right,” he winked as he caught her eye again.

She felt her entire body tremble. His wink had been cocky and confident, but it had made her react. She liked it. It was sexy and intriguing.

“Come on then guys, let’s leave the men to it,” Jess said as she put her hand on their shoulders and steered them toward the office. “We’ll just be inside.”

She could feel Tank’s eyes on her as she walked away and her heart was pounding. He made her so nervous, it was almost addictive.

In the office, the kids jumped up onto some of the dusty old chairs and ate their ice cream in silence. They were so happy and content with them that Jess almost didn’t want to interrupt their flow or spoil the moment, but at the same time, her curiosity was getting the better of her and she wanted to know more about them all.

“It’s so nice to meet you guys,” she said gently as she looked across to them. “And your dad, he seems like a great guy.”

“He is,” Jacob said in-between spoonfuls. “He’s the best dad there is.”

It warmed Jessica’s heart to hear it, and she knew she was smiling from ear to ear.

“Daddy says that we have to always look after each other,” Ella suddenly spoke up. “He says that’s what makes us a family.”

Jess looked across at the little girl and at all her innocence. She truly was a delight and she couldn’t believe how intelligent and confident she was, it was lovely to see.

“He’s right,” Jess smiled. “Families do look after each other, that’s the best thing about them.”

Ella nodded her head as she spooned in some more of her rainbow swirl, the colors all now mixing together to look a dirty shade of turquoise and purple.

“Where do you guys live?” Jess asked as she sat down next to them on the floor and looked up to them in their seats.

“We have a house on the other side of Main Street,” Jacob answered. “It’s big and old.”

“It creaks at night,” Ella said as she momentarily looked scared. “It has a wooden staircase.”

“Wow,” Jess smiled. “That sounds like a pretty cool house to me.”

“It is,” Jacob nodded. “I like it anyway, but Ella says it’s scary.”

“It is scary, Jacob,” Ella said with exasperation. “It’s old and there could be a ghost.”

“There isn’t a ghost,” Jacob said with an eye roll.

Ella pouted and dipped her spoon into her tub to scoop up some more ice cream and she shrugged her shoulders.

“Hey, guys,” Tank said as he walked through the garage and in toward the office. “I’m all done.”

“Aww!” Ella said as she got to her feet and stomped a little on the ground. “But I like it here, I want to stay.”

“Mr. Durrett is closing up now,” he said as he ruffled her hair. “And I’m sure Jessica has plenty of things she needs to get done too.”

His eyes traveled up to hers from her waist onwards. As he looked at her she felt her nipples stiffen.

What was this man doing to her?

He smiled at her warmly, and she got to her feet.

“It’s been a pleasure,” she smiled. “And honestly, if you ever need any help… you know where I am.”

Tank settled his gaze on her again as he put his hands on his kids shoulders and smiled.

“Thank you,” he said genuinely. “I really appreciate that.”

He turned and the three of them moved toward the doorway. Ella and Jacob both looked back over their shoulders and waved with wide smiles.

“Bye, Jess,” Ella grinned. “Thank you for taking us for ice cream! Let’s do it again tomorrow!”

Tank looked back over his shoulder and smiled too, and Jess felt so warm inside, it was hard to believe she too had just eaten something so frozen and cold.

She watched them leave and wander out the main big sliding door at the front of the garage and she finally let herself breathe. She was so worked up and excited, and she couldn’t wait to get home and for Kiara to come over and tell her everything.

“That was kind of you,” her pop said as he appeared in the doorway. “For offering to look after the children.”

“It was my absolute pleasure,” she said as she threw her empty ice cream tub into the trash. “They’re great kids.”

“I don’t think he has it easy,” her pop said with a look of concern. “He may be overcommitted, but he said he needs the extra money to help put away for the kids’ futures.”

Jessica felt her heart melt all over again.

“But he’s a Forsaken Rider,” she said. “Isn’t he?”

Her pop smiled and nodded his head.

“That doesn’t mean he’s rolling in dough, though, does it? And with two little mouths to feed and keep safe, well, I guess he is just glad of another steady income.”

Jess nodded her head and reached for her purse.

“They seem like a lovely little family,” she said. “And there’s no mom in the picture?”

She knew her father would be suspicious now for asking, but if he was, he didn’t show it.

“Nope,” he said. “Not by the sounds of it. Looks like it’s just the three of them trying to make it in this crazy world.”

Jess held his eye for a moment and could see a similar sort of sadness pass through her father. He knew what it was like to be a man on his own raising a child, and it was clear that he had a lot of affection for Tank for this exact reason.

“I better get going, Pop,” she smiled as she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Kiara is coming over this evening and I’ve only got an hour to make sure the house is tidy.”

“I’m sure Kiara wouldn’t care if you were tidy or not,” her dad laughed.

“I know but that isn’t the point,” she smiled. “I like to always keep a tidy home. Tidy home, tidy mind and all that…”

Her dad nodded and hugged her before he shooed her away.

“Thanks again for the help,” he said. “With the accounts and the kids.”

“Like I said,” Jess called back to him as she headed out the front door. “It was no problem. Catch you later, Dad!”

She wandered out of the courtyard where all the vehicles and bikes were stationed, and she made her way back out of the alleys and onto Main Street. It had been such a strange couple of days, but she was finally feeling as if something big was about to happen.

She raced home with a spring in her step and a fire in her heart. She had such a good feeling rippling through her that she felt on top of the world. It was a feeling that she hadn’t experienced in some time, and it was making her smile wider than she ever had, while also making her feel ready for anything.

As she pushed open the door to her house and stepped inside, all she could think about was the way Tank’s eyes had taken her all in. The way he had looked at her hungrily, from the waist right up to her own eyes. When he had locked in on her, a spark had fired between them. It wasn’t just her who was feeling it, she could tell. He could sense it too, and it was making him intrigued.

She flicked on the lights and wandered through to the kitchen where she uncorked a bottle of Rioja and poured herself a big, hearty glass. Kiara would be with her soon, and she was going to enjoy listening to music while she pottered around the house and lit some candles. She had so much to talk about that it was practically ready to burst out of her.

“Have patience, Jess,” she coached herself. “All good things come to those who wait.”

 

“So, come on, the suspense is killing me. What is all this stuff you have to tell me then?” Kiara said as she popped a cashew nut into her mouth and chewed before she took a great big slug of her wine.

The two girls were sitting out back in Jessica’s yard, lounging on sun beds and enjoying the last couple hours of the summer sun.

“Oh man,” Jess began. “This has just come out of nowhere, but I’m really excited about it.”

Kiara leaned up on her elbows and stared at her, as she waited for an explanation.

“Do you remember when we went out for my birthday and my pop said something about hiring a new guy?”

Kiara thought on it for a moment as she sipped her wine and then slowly nodded her head.

“Vaguely,” she said. “Did it have something to do with your car breaking down?”

Jess nodded.

“He’s worried that a stranger broke in and tampered with it so it spurred him on to find an extra set of hands that he’s really needed for as long as I can remember.”

“Okay….” Kiara said with a smirk. “And have you met this new guy?”

Jessica raised her eyebrows and took a deep breath.

“I have,” she confirmed.

“And I take it he’s hot?” Kiara laughed with a glint in her eye.

“Devastatingly hot,” Jess exhaled.

“I love it!” Kiara squealed as she clapped her hands together. “Okay, who is he? Where’s he from? Do we know him already? What’s his story? Come on spill, I need to know everything.”

Jessica scrunched up her nose and gritted her teeth and shrugged.

“This is where it gets complicated,” she said as she closed her eyes and covered them with her hands. “He’s a little bit older…”

“How much older?” Kiara asked as she popped another nut into her mouth and chewed loudly.

“I’m not sure, maybe late thirties, early forties?” Jess tested the water.

“That’s hot… and also, nothing wrong with it. Carry on.”

“You think?” Jess asked as she sat forward on her own lounger. “I was worried you would think he was too old for me?”

“He’s in his late thirties or early forties… he’s not exactly seventy! Plus, men at that age are in their prime! Oh, I can imagine it now… he’ll be so sexy and rugged, and he’ll be mature and grounded.”

She looked off into the distance and moaned a little, as if she were thinking she would quite like to meet someone who fit that description herself.

“He is,” she smiled. “He’s great… a little guarded, but great.”

“Guarded?” Kiara asked. “Oh no, he isn’t married, is he?”

She closed her eyes and shook her head furiously.

“No, he isn’t married,” Jess reassured her. “But he does have extras…”

She smiled as she remembered the children and how lovely and sweet they were. They had had such a good afternoon wandering down Main Street and buying ice cream, and then back at the car shop. It was as if they had all clicked instantly and everything felt very natural and normal.

“He has two kids,” Jess finally said, and she waited for Kiara’s reaction with baited breath.

Her eyes widened momentarily, but then she leaned back against the back rest of the sun lounger and shrugged before she took another sip of her wine.

“Well, that sounds like a nice couple of extras to have,” she said with a smile.

“They really are,” Jess said.

“What? So, you’ve met them!?” now Kiara’s interest had piqued again.

“Oh yes, literally just this afternoon. Their nursery closed, and he was stuck for someone to look after them while he finished up some work at the shop with my dad, so I offered.”

“Yikes!” Kiara said with a wide grin. “This is all pretty full-on.”

“Well, it isn’t,” Jessica reassured her. “I don’t even know if he likes me. It’s just me crushing on him and finding his kids totally adorable.”

“How does he look at you?” Kiara asked with a cheeky grin.

Jessica took a deep breath and bit her lip.

“Like he wants to rip my clothes off,” she admitted.

Kiara squealed with delight and clapped her hands together.

“Oh my god, I love this so much!” she said with glee. “I want to meet him! When the hell do I get to meet him?”

“Jesus!” Jessica flapped. “Calm down! You won’t be meeting him until I know what the hell is going on and I know I’m just going to have to play it cool. Plus, I don’t know what happened to the mom of these kids… what if she is still in the picture?”

“We need to do some investigations,” Kiara said as she raised her eyebrows. “It’s time to go full-on FBI.”

Jessica laughed and shook her head.

“No way,” she said. “I’m sure if I get to know him any better then I’ll learn all I need to know in good time.”

Kiara looked momentarily disappointed, but she reluctantly nodded and agreed.

“Okay, spoil sport,” she said with a pout. “I will follow your lead.”

“Thank you,” Jess said as she rolled onto her side and looked out across the yard. “I do like him, though,” she said warmly. “I don’t know what it is about him, he just has this pull. It’s intoxicating.”

Kiara smiled and sighed.

“It sounds like love at first sight to me,” she said.

Jessica felt warm inside and she knew more than anything that she wanted to agree with her but didn’t dare.

“Oh, and there is one more thing,” she said nervously.

Kiara leaned up and looked down at her with a stern expression. Jessica let the statement hang for a moment between them and Kiara raised her eyebrows with frustration.

“Well? Come on then?” she demanded.

Jessica bit her lip and tried to hide her grin.

“The kids aren’t the only extras,” she said almost in a whisper. “He’s also a Forsaken Rider…”

Kiara’s eyes widened even further, and she raised her glass to her lips and took a big glug of wine.

“Holy shit,” she exhaled. “You really do like to make things complicated, don’t you?”

Jessica shrugged her shoulders before the two girls looked at each other and started laughing.

She sure as hell did… But this time, she knew it was going to be worth it.