Chapter 2: Jocelyn
I couldn’t believe Devyn had ridden home with two bikers. When I heard those bikes coming up my drive, I felt a moment of panic. Living out here alone, we were always on alert. As two women alone, we couldn’t help but be cautious. Then to find my daughter on the back of one of those bikes had scared me to death. I had to admit, Bull and Ace had seemed like okay guys. Or at least they hadn’t taken advantage of her or me.
As we had talked, I couldn’t help but notice how attractive and, dare I say, hot Bull was. He looked maybe to be in his early forties. His hair was shorter, thick, and had silver in it. His eyes were a piercing dark chocolate color. A closely clipped silver beard and mustache covered his lower face. He stood well over six feet tall. His shoulders were huge, and his upper arms bulged in his short sleeves. He’d made me tingle. I hadn’t had a guy make me even want to look his way since Devyn’s dad, and he’d turned out to be a total asshole.
I’d learned from him to never trust a guy. He’d been eighteen, and I had just turned sixteen when we met. I thought he loved me, so I gave him my virginity. He’d given me Devyn and walked away. I found out later, he’d hooked up with me because the other guys at our school had bet him, he couldn’t get in my pants. It had devastated me. My parents had disowned me when I refused to have an abortion. So, I went to a home for unwed teenage mothers in a town a few hours away. They had helped me until I was eighteen. I’d gotten my GED and then a job as a waitress. I worked hard to take care of my baby and myself, no matter what. For the next several years, I worked, took care of her, and put myself through school. It took me longer than I wanted, but five years ago, I’d finished and was now working as a paralegal. I would have loved to go to law school, but that wasn’t doable right now. Devyn was in college and I was determined to help her as much as possible. I didn’t want her to struggle like I had.
We’d moved from Louisville, Kentucky to Hunters Creek, Tennessee, a little over a year ago when Devyn started college. While she could go to school online, there were some classes she wanted to take in-person and a school close to us had the program she wanted. I enjoyed living in a quiet town. I was lucky a local law office was looking for a paralegal. It had been fate. I didn’t have to drive far to work. The house was just a rental, but it met our needs. It was the nicest place we’d ever lived.
I sat down at the kitchen table with Devyn. She gave me a sheepish look. “I know, Mom. I should have made sure I charged my phone before I left. I swear I won’t forget again. And before you say it, I don’t plan to hang out with Tess again. She just left me when I refused to go into the bar with her. She wanted to hook up with some guy she met. I told her even if I wanted to go in, I wasn’t old enough. She didn’t care. And I know you’re not happy I got a ride from bikers, but they turned out to be okay. Bull made me feel safe or I wouldn’t have gone with them.”
“I’m glad you didn’t let Tess pressure you to go into that bar, but it was still dangerous for you to walk and take those bikers up on their offer for a ride! Devyn, they could have raped or killed you. If you ever get stranded, I don’t care what you have to do to find a phone, but you call me. I couldn’t live if something were to happen to you. Promise me.” My heart was still fluttering from thinking about what could have happened to her. If I ever saw Tess again, I’d give her a piece of my mind. I knew she was twenty-one already, but she knew Devyn wasn’t.
She got up and came around the table to hug me. “I promise, Mom. I’ll never accept a ride from someone I don’t know, and to call if I get stranded. But something good came out of it.”
I looked at her questioningly. “What was that?”
“We both got to meet a super sexy guy. I mean, Ace was hot as hell. And Bull, even if he is an older guy, I could see he was hot too.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me, and I laughed. She was always trying to get me to go out on dates. I just didn’t want to waste time going out with guys who didn’t interest me or ones I knew would just want one thing, sex.
“Dev, stop trying to get me to go out. Yes, Ace and Bull were both hot, but they’re bikers, honey. Bikers are only looking for a quick lay then on to the next woman. You don’t want to hook up with one of them and get used, do you?” I asked her, worriedly. I’d always been open with her about sex and guys. I didn’t want her to be hurt like I was.
“No, I don’t want to get used. But I can still admire him, can’t I?” she asked with a teasing note in her voice. I nodded. Yeah, we both could admire them, just not go near them. If I would go after a man, Bull would be the one. I was still feeling tingles going through my body.
“Fine. It’s late, and we need to get to bed. Tomorrow, we need to get up and go to the mall to get your shoes. It’ll be Monday before you know it.” She gave me another hug and kiss before heading off to her room. I locked up and turned out all the lights.
As I slid under the covers, I couldn’t help but think about Bull. He had grabbed my attention. Now, why couldn’t a pleasant man who was looking to settle down make me tingle like he did? I felt so damn horny sometimes that I could scream. I never wanted to have sex with a guy just to scratch an itch. My vibrator would have to do. Speaking of vibrators, I looked at my nightstand and took mine out of my drawer. I was all wet from thinking about Bull. I would never get to sleep unless I did something about it. Easing down my panties, I turned it on and teased my clit and then inserted it slowly into my pussy. I closed my eyes and pictured him doing all the things I’d ever imagined or read about. It took me less than five minutes to come. I buried my head in my pillow so Devyn couldn’t hear my moans. As the tension drained from my body, I rolled over to sleep. Even after my orgasm, Bull was still on my mind.
?????
Monday morning came too soon. Devyn and I had run to the mall as planned on Sunday. After finding the shoes she wanted, we spent some time window shopping and then had lunch. We spent the afternoon doing laundry and a little housecleaning, so we could start the week out fresh.
I hated to hear the alarm go off this morning. Though I loved my job, I didn’t like the other lawyer who worked in my office. Jonathan Burk had been after me for months to go out with him. I’d repeatedly, though nicely told him no, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Initially, I’d said no because I felt absolutely nothing when I looked at him. Later, I was glad I’d said no. He was a creep. He was always undressing me with his eyes. He knew better than to say anything sexual or inappropriate to me at work, but he seemed to “accidentally” touch or bump into me a lot. He was a pain to put up with every day. I had thought about saying something to the senior lawyer and owner, Mr. Sanders, but I didn’t want to risk losing my job.
Mr. Sanders, or Lloyd, as he insisted I call him, was an older gentleman in his early sixties. He was a joy to work with. Just in the time I’d been here, he’d taught me so much. I wish I could only deal with him, but he and Jonathan were the only two lawyers in the office. And I was their only paralegal.
I steeled myself before going through the door to the office. I breathed a sigh of relief when I noted the only ones in were the receptionist, Meg, and Mr. Sanders. I greeted them and grabbed my coffee before sitting down at my desk. I had research to do on a case Mr. Sanders would present in court next week, then I had another case to work on for Jonathan that was due to start two weeks later.
As the morning progressed, I became immersed in my research. Luckily, Jonathan seemed absent today. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch. Meg had to run out on her lunch hour early. I saw Mr. Sanders was still at his desk. Meg usually ran out to get him something. I went to his open office door.
“Lloyd, I know Meg is out. Is she bringing you back lunch?”
“No, she isn’t. She’s taking the rest of the afternoon off. I’m sorry. I forgot to mention it. I’ll get something, maybe later.”
“I plan to run out to get something. I didn’t have time this morning to pack my lunch. Tell me what you’d like, and I’ll go get it.” He tried to insist he was fine, but I wouldn’t let him. He gave me a smile.
“You won’t take no for an answer, will you?” I shook my head and smiled. “Fine, I’d love it if you would drop by The Dark Angel and pick up a club sandwich for me. And get something for yourself.” He handed me forty dollars. I told him it wasn’t necessary. “No, if you insist on getting me lunch, then I will pay for yours. It’s the least I can do.”
“Thank you. I didn’t know The Dark Angel had food. I mean, other than maybe bar food.”
“No, they have a small restaurant attached. They make the best club sandwich I’ve ever had. I try not to go there too often, but I’m craving one today. They can get busy, so don’t worry if it takes more than your lunch hour.” I thanked him again and grabbed my purse.
I knew where The Dark Angel was from passing it on my way to work every day. When Devyn and I first moved here, someone had mentioned it was a bar. Since I don’t go to bars, I’d never gone in there. Pulling into the parking lot, I saw it was busy. I guess I’d be waiting for a while. Inside, the hostess directed me to one end of the long bar to place my to-go order. I stood in line behind three others and looked at the menu to see what I would order. I heard a man clear his throat behind me. I turned. There stood Bull, dressed in jeans, boots, a t-shirt and a leather vest like he had been on Saturday night. He was just as mouthwatering today. He smiled at me. I felt my knees go weak.
“Well, hello, darlin’. Imagine running into you. How’s Devyn doing? Any more issues with that supposed friend of hers?”
His deep, smokey voice made my stomach flutter. “She’s fine. And no, Tess hasn’t contacted her. Not even to check if she got home alright. If I see her again, she won’t like me very much.” I knew my face had a pissed look on it as I said it.
He laughed. “I’d love to see that momma tiger. So, you’re obviously here for lunch. What’re you getting? Why don’t we have a seat, and we can eat together?”