Chapter Eight
Flora
Several months later
I was surprising Johnny at the construction site. I had a packed lunch on the passenger seat of my car, enough for both of us. I was hoping we could go somewhere quiet, maybe someplace to be alone where we could really enjoy that hour lunch of his.
I didn’t see him with the other guys so I assumed maybe he was in the trailer off to the side. I didn’t know the details of the development that they were working on, but I knew the office buildings would bring about two hundred new jobs to Rockbridge. I was so proud of the Ash brothers and all they’d accomplished. Not only were they the suppliers of the lumber that would construct the new development, they were also building it.
I saw Noah and Liam off to the side, even saw Mia, Noah’s girlfriend, standing on the other side of her man. Mia had become such a close friend with me over this short span of time that I couldn’t see her not being in my life now. She was funny and witty, and didn’t take any shit from anybody.
They glanced over at me and I lifted my hand in greeting. All of us had gotten together numerous times since Johnny and I had made things official. His brothers, hell, even Mia, made me feel like family, like I was welcome, part of the crew. And the love I saw between Mia and Noah made me feel like they saw the same thing between Johnny and myself.
I wasn’t going to hide my emotions anymore. I didn’t care if the PDA was too intense at times. I loved being close to him, and I knew he felt the same about me. It was obvious when he always had to have his hands on me, always had to have me pressed up against his side. And it was especially evident when he made sure to kiss me in front of a room full of people every chance he got.
Just thinking about him, about what we did, how he made me feel, had goosebumps forming all along my arms and legs. I was already getting turned on thinking about Johnny, about being pressed up against the wall of the trailer, about having him slide down my body and tear my panties away. God, I was so wet already.
I made my way over to the trailer, wanting to see Johnny, needing to see him. I walked up the ramp and thought about knocking, but instead I turned the knob and pushed the door open. Johnny was hunched over the small steel desk to my right, his big body dwarfing the piece of furniture. He had his hands on either side of his head, clearly concentrating on something in front of him. His muscles bulged underneath his plaid shirt, showing me he was all man. Papers were strewn all over the table, and the scent of coffee filled the small interior.
He’d left before the sun had even risen that morning, and I knew it had been nonstop for him since. It had been like that for everyone working on this project. These guys were working hard and tirelessly on this job, and the long hours were probably getting to them.
Johnny lifted his head, a scowl on his face, as if he were about to snap at whoever just interrupted him. But when he saw me his face softened and he smiled.
I smiled back at him, feeling my heart jackknife in my chest. “Hey,” I said softly.
“Come here, baby.”
Instantly I melted. I shut the door and walked over to him, my knees feeling a bit wobbly from the wave of emotions and adrenaline rushing though me. Once I was close enough to him he pulled me closer instantly, and I sank down onto his lap. For long seconds all I did was rest my head on his shoulder and let him hold me. He smelled good, woodsy and clean, like the soap he’d used this morning for his shower.
I was looking at the papers on his desk, saw blueprints, contracts, even phone numbers scribbled on the back of coffee-stained napkins. I could feel how tense his body was. I wanted to help him feel better, to help the stress melt away.
“You’re so stressed,” I said softly.
He grunted and held me tighter. “I feel a hell of a lot better now.”
I closed my eyes, feeling love and contentment. I also felt a hell of a lot more. “Anyone plan on coming in here?” I asked softly, seductively. I heard this rumble leave him. Good, he knew what I wanted to do.
He wrapped his hands around my waist and lifted me off of his lap and onto his desk before I even knew what he was doing. I braced my hands behind me, causing papers to scatter to the floor. He scooted closer, the wheels of his chair squeaking softly from the movement. I was forced to spread my thighs wider so he could move between them.
Looking down at him, seeing the expression of raw passion reflected back at me, had me breathing harder, faster. God, I want this so bad. And by the deep sounds coming from him, and the fact I can see, from my position, that he’s sporting major wood, that Johnny is right here with me.
“Fuck, I missed you.”
My heart gave a little lurch. “What do you want, baby?” he asked in his deep, gravelly voice.
I felt my body temperature rise. I licked my lips slowly and said, “I want you to show me how much you missed me.”
He leaned in close, right to my denim-covered pussy, and inhaled deeply. “God, you smell fucking incredible.”
I shivered in response.
And then the sound of raised voices right outside the trailer had me groaning. We were just getting to the good stuff, too. Johnny stood and gave me a long, lingering kiss, before pulling away from me and adjusting himself.
Johnny pushed open the door, and there, right in front of us, was a shiny black town car. The woman standing at the front wore a pair of stilettos, a pencil skirt, and a blouse. She looked like she had money, and a lot of it. Her red hair was up and twisted in a complicated updo.
“Who’s that?” I asked and leaned against Johnny’s side. He wrapped his arm around me and held me close.
“Andra Corletti. She’s here for the new construction. She’s taking over the production and overseeing the construction.”
I watched as Liam strutted over to her, his shirtsleeves rolled up his muscular forearms, sweat glistening off his forehead. Today was an especially hot day, and with the Ash brothers working hard to get everything ready for the foundation being poured over the next week, plus their own business workload, I was surprised one of them hadn’t already passed out from exhaustion.
We were close enough we could hear what they said, and it seemed Andra wasn’t pleased with the timeline.
“This is unacceptable,” Andra said, her tone harsh.
Liam smirked, his gaze roaming over her body. “You could always put on a hard hat, grab a chainsaw or axe, and help out if you want it to go faster.”
I almost snorted at Liam’s comment. He wasn’t one to mince his words, or to sugarcoat anything.
“This is taking longer than what was agreed.” Andra’s body was stiff, her focus on Liam.
“If you want quality then it’s got to be done right, and that takes time. We’re only a few days behind.” Liam smirked wider. “We could go out, maybe grab a drink, some food to pass the time?”
Andra slowly lifted her hand and removed her sunglasses. She narrowed her eyes at Liam, and looked him up and down. “I’m not into plaid,” she said with enough whip in her face I couldn’t help but laugh. Liam looked less than pleased by her comment. He was less pleased by my laughter, if his narrowed gaze toward me was anything to go by.
Johnny shut the door as Liam and Andra started in at each other again. “I am already calling it. Liam’s going after her, and he won’t stop until he’s got her.” I cocked an eyebrow at that.
“She’s not into him, clearly.” I grinned.
He turned and faced me, pulled me in close, and dipped down to kiss me soundlessly. “Thank God you love plaid.”
I started laughing. Yeah, I liked plaid a whole lot, especially when it was Big Johnny wearing it.