Page 5 of Man of the Month Club: January
Finally, she turns to me and says, “It’s lovely.”
I nod before saying, “I’ve worked really hard for it and can’t wait for my stuff to arrive, so I can begin turning this empty shell of a house into a home.”
It’s far too big for just one person, but Maggie politely refrains from pointing that out. I’d love to have her move in here with me, but have enough sense not to bring that up so soon.
When she reaches for her door handle, I say, “I’m coming around to open that for you.”
I hop down from the truck and round the back of it before opening her door. As I’m holding a hand out to help her down, she says, “I can do this myself.”
“Oh, I know,” I assure her before giving her an ornery grin and adding, “But it gives me a great excuse to hold your hand.”
She shakes her head at me, but her lips are turned up into the hint of a smile. It provides a glimmer of hope that I might someday be able to win her over. I lead her around the side of the house toward the water.
She gasps at the sight of the inky water shimmering in the near-darkness. I hold her hand to steady her as she daintily steps onto the boat before I say, “You are the first person to climb aboard this vessel since I’ve bought it.”
“You have a fabulous boat like this, and you’ve never even stepped foot on it?” She doesn’t bother to hide the judgment in her tone.
“It’s only been mine for a couple of days,” I assure her.
“Well, it’s high-time you climbed aboard,” she tells me as she turns and holds a hand out to help me.
I gladly accept her offered hand and keep ahold of it as I walk to the front of the boat. Deciding to be completely honest, even if it makes me look like less of a man to her, I admit, “I’ve never driven a boat before. I may have to hire a captain to ferry me around the reservoir.”
Her chuckle is throaty and sexy. My cock swells in my jeans in response to it. When her laughter subsides, she says, “It turns out that I’m in need of a job, and that sounds like a pretty cushy one.”
Without hesitating for an instant, I say only half-joking, “You’re hired.”
5
Maggie
Iknow the ridiculous man is teasing me. The idea of needing a boat captain on this small reservoir is preposterous, but it is fun to think about. I could get used to cruising around on the water for a living, but the ever-changing weather in Indianapolis isn’t conducive to a full-time job on a boat.
With my looming medical bills, I need to find something to make some serious cash. Squared, the donut shop where I used to work burned to the ground. My rent and other bills are quickly whittling away at my meager savings. But the thought of working in the public eye with these scars has me holing up in my apartment and hoping all of my problems will just magically go away. It’s probably not the best plan of action––or rather inaction––but it’s all I seem to have at the moment.
Showing the first chink in his cocky armor, Jett seems a bit awkward when he sits down on one of the boat’s bench seats and says, “I wish I had an air mattress or something comfortable for us to lean back on.”
I grin at his obvious lack of familiarity with boats. Walking to another bench, I turn to him and ask, “May I?”
He nods, even though his face seems perplexed about what I’m asking to do. I lift the seat cushion and root around. When I emerge with a couple of life vests and a soft blanket, Jett gives me a wide grin before saying, “Perfect.”
I hand him one and move to sit on another bench. He stops me by grabbing my hand and saying, “I’ll be your cushion.”
He reinforces the invitation by holding his arms open for me. Even though I am aware it would be in my own best interest to decline his offer and sit on my own bench. The temptation of snuggling into his embrace is irresistible.
I sink back into his warmth, cover us both with the blanket, and have to force myself to refrain from letting out the satisfied groan that wants to emerge from my lips. It has been far too long since I’ve had this type of close contact with another human. I didn’t realize how much my body craved it.
He wraps his arms around me, and I feel safe in his embrace. We tip our heads back and look up at the emerging, twinkling stars. It would be chilly out here without the heat of his body against mine and the warm blanket.
“It’s a beautiful, clear night,” he murmurs so near my ear that the tiny hairs along the back of my neck stand at attention.
“Mm-hmm,” I agree, feeling as close to happy as I’ve been since the fire forever changed my life.
We sit in silence for a long time. I like it that he doesn’t feel the need to chatter, and that we can be quiet together without any awkwardness.
Eventually, he speaks, and I’m surprised where his mind has gone. “You mentioned needing a job. I have connections in many industries and may be able to help you find something. What are you interested in doing?”
I’m touched that he would be willing to vouch for me, even though we barely know each other. After pondering his question for a long moment, I finally say, “I wish I knew the answer to that question, but I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.”
