Jared (12 page)

“We can go again if you want?” Jill threw that out on the table. Jeff just gave her a hard glare
,
stomping back to his chair where he plopped down holding his arm.

“Well I guess my point was proven. Size or sex doesn’t matter. It’s what’s in here…” He pointed to
Matt’s
head. “and here.” He pointed just above his heart.

Tessa was so excited she wanted to give Jill a knuckle bump when she passed but she just smiled at her. “Good job Jill.”

“Thanks.” Jill headed back to her
chair
to start doodling again.

“
Tessa
hasn’t gone yet.” Adam announced with a huge grin.

“Oh no.” Tessa stood
grabbing dirty dishes
,
ignoring the urging from the
kids
. “I’m too competitive to take on a sure loss.”

“Ah come on Tessa
”
Matt
pouted. “You gotta do it.”

“Yeah,
Tessa
.” Jared teased. “You gotta.”

“Uhm, I can’t compete with any of you.” Tessa rolled her eyes. “I’m not a vampire and like I said there is no way I’m competing on a sure loss.
I’m w
ay too competitive.”

“Come on.” Jared sat down putting his arm up on the table. “You can use both hands.”

Tessa snorted sounding like one of
the kids
. “Oh and that will make a difference.”

“What kind of example are you setting for them?” Jared smiled at the look she threw his way. “Remember it’s not the size or sex if you want it bad enough.”

Her eyes flew to his in shock, but his innocent look made her think her mind was the only one in the gutter. “
Everybody scrape your plates and set them in the sink.”

“Chicken.” Jared teased
,
then laughed out loud when someone made a clucking noise.

Tessa slammed the
dishes in the sink
, rolled up her sh
ir
t sleeve and headed toward Jared. “Adam.” She nodded toward Jared’s large hand that swallowed hers.

Cheers and bets were already bouncing around the room. Tessa looked up at Jared who gave her a smirk. Taking a glance around to make sure everyone’s attention was up on their hands Tessa toed her shoe off. As soon as Adam lifted his hand Tessa found Jared’s leg with her bare foot running it up the inside calf heading toward his knee
and higher
. His eyes shot to hers as she slammed his hand down on the table. Screams and shouts echoed throughout the room.

Jared’s head snapped back
,
his laughter
booming
in the
small kitchen
. When he finished laughing he shook his head. “You cheated.” He whispered across the table.

“You bet I did.” Tessa grinned not feeling the least bit embarrassed. “Told you I was competitive.”

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 n
ot 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 fe
lt
his heated gaze.
“You’re a big boy
.
I’m sure you can train without me there.”

“But they want you there to
o
.” 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 g
ives
a woman he desire
s
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
o
n the back of
t
he head. “Be respect
ful
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 hid
e
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 fuck
,
is Bobby Rodgers?” Jared’
s mood went downhill fast.

“Her boss and he’s an asshole.” 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 fac
e
. “Who’s riding with
me?”

“Why is this guy an asshole 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 wel
l, I work with him and yeah
,
he’
s an asshole, 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 no
where 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
.
T
he 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.
”

A
n
inhuman roar sounded through the house and before Tessa could do anything
s
he 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 trip
ping 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 step
s
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.

“You
r
worst fucking 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 feel
ing
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 don
e was try to get her to go out on a date.