It definitely was not the day I’d expected when I was awoken by Jessa’s deafening rust bucket this morning, but seeing what we accomplished at her dad’s soon-to-open shop, it feels really satisfying. It made me feel purposeful.
The Robson’s locked up the building and took off in their two-seater pickup truck just a few minutes ago, leaving Jessa and me to follow behind them. Mrs. Robson invited me over for a home cooked meal tonight, but I need to get back to Crescent Harbor and pick up Callie from my parents’ house. Jessa is still off work the rest of the night and tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to a little alone time to bond with my daughter. I just hope she doesn’t have any meltdowns while the nanny is away.
The plan for right now is that I’ll drop the woman off at her parents’ place and she’ll find a ride back to Crescent Harbor tomorrow. Maybe I’ll take a peak at her car and see if I can figure out what’s wrong while she’s gone.
As we walk side by side toward my car, I drop my attention to my phone. I have another missed call from Jude and a text message inviting me to grab a couple beers with him at the bar. I’ll text him some excuse later, when my whole body isn’t on edge from being in proximity to Jessa.
The energy between us has been charged all day. I liked the way she looked at me as I worked alongside her father, the way she blushed when her mother spilled her most embarrassing childhood stories.
Distractedly, I rotate my shoulder, moving around the bones and sockets and whatever else is going on in there. I think I may have pulled something while helping Mr. Robson lift a particularly heavy box of machine parts.
“You okay?” Jessa speaks softly, looking at me from beneath her lashes.
Immediately, I drop my shoulder and straighten my back. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I’m sure, woman.”
I know it’s dumb, trying to play off my pain when it hurts like a son-of-a-bitch, but when she looks at me like that, there’s no way I want to come off as weak. I want her to look at me like a man. Strong and infallible.
She doesn’t seem convinced, though. But she doesn’t get the chance to question me further because as we step off the curb, headed to my car, someone calls out Jessa’s name. We both turn around to find a preppy, somewhat gangly guy on the sidewalk headed straight for us.
“Michael!” she exclaims, eyes widening before she rushes over to hug the man. She wears the brightest smile.
I don’t like it.
When they slip apart, he pulls off his gold-rimmed sunglasses and glides them into his breast pocket. His eyes move up and down her body with an approving glint. “You look so good, Jessa.” He licks his lips. "What are you up to these days?"
His emphasis on how great she looks makes my blood crawl.
Standing a little taller, I stride forward, eyes narrowed on the stranger who’s checking out my nanny. I stop right at Jessa’s side. “Oh, this is my boss, Eli,” she tells the douchebag. She glances at me, “And this is Michael, my, uh, well…We used to date.”
I force a small nod in his direction, but the ex in the three-piece suit pays me no mind. He thrusts his arm forward, absently shaking my hand while his gaze stays on Jessa. The way the asshole’s eyes slide over her body tells me he just deemed her single and available. I’m no longer the threat. I’m just the boss.
“I’m babysitting Eli’s daughter at the moment, while I wait for a kindergarten teaching opening,” she goes on to tell him, and I don’t like that, either. What the hell? She’s looking for another job? How come I didn’t know this?
Michael reaches into his pocket and hands over a crisp business card, letting his hand linger against her fingers. “Give me a call sometime, Jessie Babe.” He wipes his nose with his fist. “I can help you find your teaching job. And anything else you need,” he adds, his lips curving into a smirk. One that I’d like to punch off his pretentious little face.
Jessa clutches the card, smiling sweetly as she always does. But I don’t miss the way she takes a half-step closer to me. For protection? “Michael’s a headhunter. A recruiter,” she says as she looks up at me, obviously feeling the need to explain his behavior.
My jaw clenches. The asshole seems to be recruiting for more than just gainful employment, if you ask me. And that pisses me off to no end.
The guy grins at me and starts babbling, clearly pleased with himself. “I only work with the top employers in the state. Top dollar, man. I love to spread that around, too. I don’t mind giving you the friends and family discount.” He pauses to give Jessa a wink.
Is this fucker for real?
The fast-talker drones on. “Hey, where do you work at, Eli? Are you satisfied with your salary? Open to a change? I could definitely help you out.”
I lift a brow, struggling to hide my amusement. I used to run a multi-million dollar corporation and eat whiney headhunters like this for breakfast. This kid thinks he can help me? “Doubt it,” I bite out.
Michael grins and puffs out his little chest. “Oh, I work in all of the big midwest industries out there. I know I’ve got you covered, man. What are you in? Construction? Retail?”
Boy, what a prick. What the hell did Jessa see in this kid?
A huff of laughter escapes my lips. “I was just released from federal prison a couple weeks ago. You got a program for ex-convicts?”
At first he seems to think I’m just bullshitting him. But as his nervous eyes flicker over my tattoos and my stony expression, he finally catches up. The way the loser’s face falls is priceless. His grin
