15. Jones

CHAPTER 15

Jones

I t's been a full week of non-stop Mia. And I still can't get enough. Our schedules don't align but we make it work. When I'm not working, I'm helping out where I can at Base Camp Sports. And when she's not working, she's hanging out at the bar, being the most beautiful fucking distraction. As soon as I close The Pines at 2 a.m., I can't get my dick in her fast enough. Sometimes we don't even make it up to my apartment.

The countdown of our summer together is like an invisible clock with a continuous tick-tock blaring in my brain. Maybe it's the same for her. But we don't talk about it.

Instead, each time we're together, we fuck like it's our last time.

Unfortunately, even though we both have the day off work, today is not about fucking. Today is vendor day. This is the day I have to go to each participating vendor from last year and ask them to commit again this year. This has always been my job, not Carlo's. He always says I'm more of a smooth talker than he is. It's ironic how the only business on my list that has me concerned is Brew Box. I wish Mia could come with me to meet the vendors, especially Rosie, but she's accompanying her mom on a doctor's visit for her dad.

Rosie has set up a booth at Bikes and Beers for the last two years, but each time she likes to give me shit until I'm practically begging. And it's not typical for me to beg. For anything.

But the event needs Brew Box there. So I suck it up and play her childish game. Taking a deep breath, I yank open the door of Brew Box and step inside. The cool draft from the whirling air conditioner hits my body and calms my apprehensions. This is fucking ridiculous. I'm not nervous. I shouldn't be nervous.

"Hey, Jonesy," Rosie calls from her usual table in the corner of the coffee shop.

I blow out a breath and shuffle toward her.

"What brings you in?" she asks, but the sinister smile stretching on her lips tells me she already knows exactly what I'm doing here.

I pull out a chair and drop onto it. "Why don't you cut the shit and save both of us the trouble and just agree right from the start."

"And where's the fun in that?" she teases.

I groan and stretch my elbows across the table. "I don't know why we gotta go through this every year. Bikes and Beers is the biggest event in Maple Ridge, why should I have to talk you into having a booth there? It would be good for your business. It just makes sense."

"I don't know, Jones," she says, leaning back in her chair and narrowing her eyes at me. "I feel like you're losing your touch. I think Mr. C. would be better at this?"

Grumbling, I glare right back at her. "Then tell me why, I've already convinced the last six vendors I've met with? You're the last one."

"Because you know I've got to see you actually work for it. I want to see the passion."

Rosie is wasting time I could be spending with Mia. It's the only day we have off together for the next week. Rosie's being a childish dick.

I bite the inside of my cheek, so I don't say what I'm thinking. Instead, I don't talk to her like she's a friend—if I can even call her that right now—but rather, I talk to her like I did the last six vendors I met with.

"Having a booth at Bikes and Beers is good business sense. You'll not only make your presence known and bring in extra profit, but you'll also be helping charity. The money raised from the entrance fees goes to protecting our local bike riders, making it safer for them not only on the trails but on the streets of Maple Ridge. It also goes toward cleaning up the trails. What better way to bring in even more business, than to say you support local charities?"

Rosie's eyes go round, and she begins slow clapping. "There it is, the passion."

My face heats with annoyance and I grit my teeth so hard my jaw pops. "Rosie," I growl.

"Don't get your panties in a wad, put Brew Box down as a ‘yes'," she finally says as she stands. She pats me on the back. "Always a pleasure doing business with you, Jonesy."

I exhale a grumbled puff of air. I swear, if she wasn't Cammie's best friend, I would've stopped associating with Rosie years ago. Now doing so would be impossible. She's somehow weaseled her way onto my list of favorite people. And these days, it's a small list. We give each other shit, that's just what we do.

I shake my head; a grin pulling at my lips, and I tug my phone from my pocket. There's nothing from Mia. My gut twists in instant worry. Fear that maybe she got roped into working today. Fear that she doesn't want to see me. Fear that she's left Maple Ridge again without saying goodbye.

My nerve endings tingle as uneasiness fills my limbs. I send her a text.

Me

Done at Brew Box. Rosie is in.

Mia

As if there was a question.

My exhale is shaky as relief sinks in. Mia is okay. And she's still here.

Me

How'd it go with your dad's appointment?

Mia

Good. Dr. says the progress he's been making is good.

Me

That's great. Tell him I'll swing by tomorrow afternoon before my shift. He owes me a fist bump.

Mia

You're going to come all the way here just for a fist bump? What about to see me?

Me

That's a given, Peaches. I don't gotta give you a warning for that.

Speaking of…you free now? I need some help with band tryouts for the live concert at Bikes and Beers.

Mia

I'd love to help!

Me

I'll pick you up in 10.

Band tryouts are stretching it. We only have two local bands in Maple Ridge, and one consists of three men who live in the retirement condo and play accordions. It's no competition for the indie rock/country band. But we let the accordion guys at least feel like they've got a shot and listen to them play three songs.

The entire time, Mia sits on a barstool across from me with her chin resting in her hands and watching the men play. She has a wide smile stretched on her face and her eyes are amused. It's adorable how sweet she is. The men must think so too, because when they leave, one slips Mia his phone number and another one gives her a kiss on the cheek.

After they shuffle out the door, and Mia turns to me, I can't resist. I stand and yank her up, pulling her into my arms.

"That was sweet," I whisper, looking down at her and interlocking my hands behind her back.

"I couldn't help it, they were so cute. And old. And horny," she adds, snorting a laugh.

Chuckling into her neck, I say, "Very horny. But can you blame them? Just look at their audience. They got to play for the most beautiful girl in the world."

She bumps her shoulder into my chest.

"I thought that little guy was gonna try to cop a feel," I muse.

Mischief sparkles in her eyes. "Are you jealous, Jones?"

"A little." I give her a light kiss on her nose. "But then I remembered that I'm the one who gets to touch your ass."

"Along with other things," she banters.

And my dick goes hard instantly.

The door opens to The Pines but I'm too distracted to care. I lean down and kiss Mia, reaching my hands around to squeeze her butt cheeks. My fantasies run wild, in them I've already got her half-naked and bent over my bed.

"Okayyy, that's enough of that," my sister's voice sounds out, and now that's enough to turtle my cock.

Rearing back, I catch the sight of Mia's mouth wet with my saliva. I swipe the pad of my thumb across her lips, and she inhales a sharp breath. The sound causes my gut to tighten. The restrain it's taking me to not throw this woman over my shoulders and take her upstairs into my apartment and fuck her good and hard is remarkable.

"We're closed," I grumble, my vision wavering from Mia to Cammie and the rest of the Scooby Doo gang following behind her.

"You could've fooled me," Cammie says in singsong.

Mia pats me on the chest before moving around me. "Aw, leave them alone."

"As long as they're paying customers tonight, they're welcome," Ben grunts.

Rosie shoots a scowl at Ben. "If I have to pay, I'm outta here."

"I hate to break it to ya, Rosalie, but you're always supposed to be a paying customer," Ben says.

Nico throws his arm around Rosie's shoulder. "Don't worry, pretty lady, I've got your drinks covered tonight."

Rosie plucks Nico's cowboy hat from his head and stuffs it on her own. "My hero." She holds it while pushing up on tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek.

Seeing Rosie like this is still something I'm getting used to. But mostly, I'm happy for her. Even if I did wish she saved all this cutesy shit when they were alone.

"Since you're both off tonight, we thought we could finally all hang out. Shoot some pool, play some cornhole?" Maverick says.

"Sounds fun?" Mia replies in question, glancing at me.

It's strange how she's only been back in my life for a few weeks and already, we're like a couple again. She's checking to see if this is how I want to spend our only evening off together. I love my friends, but they can't compete with a naked Mia in my bed. Or in my shower. Or my truck. Or really, anywhere, I'm not picky.

But I can tell she wants me to say yes. While I've been hanging out with these guys for years, she's been missing them. I give Mia a nod and she grins.

"Just what I wanted to do on my night off, hang out where I work," I grumble.

"Don't be such a grump, it'll be fun," Mia assures me, flashing me a smile.

It's the kind of smile that causes my breath to hitch. A smile that forces me to smile along with her. And a smile that teases me and makes my imagination run wild with sexual fantasies.

"Hey, hey, hey," A man's voice greets at the open doorway. Designated Dean steps inside The Pines.

"And now it's a party," Rosie whoops.

Dean makes his way around our group, giving hugs and fist bumps. He's been out of town for the last few weeks. He stops in front of Mia and his jaw drops.

"Mia Cappella? Holy shit."

"Hey, Dean. It's good to see you," she says and goes in for a hug.

Jealousy snakes up my back. Nothing ever happened between Mia and Dean as far as I can recall. But Dean did have a thing for her when we were teenagers. And the fact that he is now dating my ex-girlfriend, does make me wary. I have yet to see the two of them together since I heard the rumor, but it doesn't surprise me after how well they got along at Gigi's cabin last New Year's.

Dean puts his hands on his hips, his gaze raking over Mia's body from head to toe and back up again. "How've you been?"

"So, Dean? Where's Sabrina tonight?" I interrupt, glaring at him and stepping closer.

"Uhh," he drawls out, scratching at the back of his neck. "I think she might be by later."

"It's true then, guess you don't mind my sloppy seconds," I bite out, my nostrils flaring.

He takes a stance in front of me, puffing out his chest. "I'd have one hell of a time trying to find anyone in this town to date that wasn't your sloppy seconds," he quips back, a smug grin on his face.

I clench my teeth until my jaw pops. Honestly, I didn't think Designated Dean had it in him to wrangle with me. But I'm ready. I've got no problem punching that shit-eating grin off his pretty boy face.

"That's enough," Maverick grumbles, coming in between the two of us. "We're here to have a good time. So, for Mia's sake, we're all gonna get along. Got it?" His brows lift in question first at me, then at Dean.

We both nod. Maverick is right. I shouldn't have beef with Dean. I'm the one who broke up with Sabrina after all. And I'm with Mia now.

Shit. Mia.

I slide a weary glance in her direction and her expression causes my gut to tighten. She's upset. Or sad. I'm not sure which. But either one is not okay. And I'm to blame.

"Great. Now that that's settled, it's summer and it's hot outside. It's time to get a margarita made up in my face," Rosie says, walking backward toward the bar.

"I'm on it," Nico heads that way too.

"You read my mind." Cammie follows, turning to Mia on her way. "You in?"

Mia glances back and forth between me and Cammie, ultimately giving in and joining Cammie and my heart lurches in my chest.

I watch her walk away from me, a lump in my throat. How am I going to recover from this? In a matter of seconds, Mia witnessed me getting jealous over an ex-girlfriend while also learning just how much of a man-whore I've been since she left.

Cammie always warned me it would come back to bite me in the ass. I just never expected it would be Mia who was doing the biting.