Tim grimaced. “I guess shorts weren’t my best idea.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “Not for leather seats.” I lowered my voice. “Not all our ideas can be winners. My advice? Let people choose between shorts and pants. Denice won’t mind.” I saw Tim swallow at the mention of the Country Club’s manager. Denice was known for being a ballbuster. “But if she gives you grief, I’d bring up worker’s comp and heatstroke.”
Tim nodded in response as I clapped him on the shoulder. I’d just started to turn toward the employee entrance when I heard Tim squeak, “Uh, Jace?”
I quirked an eyebrow.
“Actually, you mind staying out here for a few more minutes? I gotta take a leak.”
Dipping my chin, I walked back to the podium as he hurried away. Poor kid. He tried hard. Denice had offered me Tim’s job at least once every three months, but I was happy where I was. It was midmorning in early June and the weather was perfect: clear sky, cool breeze, and eighty degrees. I took a deep cleansing breath, the smell of the freshly mowed grass filling my lungs. I loved being outside at this time of day. It beat being cooped up in an office somewhere.
A buzz of my watch alerted me that my buddy Sam had texted me, so I dug my phone out of my pocket.
Sam:Have you ever trapped an armadillo?
Laughing at my best friend’s ridiculous question, I typed out my response.
Jace: Not a hobby of mine
Sam: We had a request
Jace: It sounds illegal
Sam: They signed the waiver
Jace: I hear they carry leprosy
Sam: What’s leprosy?
Shortly after Sam had finished college, he started a company called Jack of All Trades, with the slogan “We do the DIY jobs you hate.” People asked for the typical stuff, cleaning gutters, emptying out a garage, laying mulch. But sometimes, he’d get strange requests. And being his best friend and most frequently used independent contractor, I was privy to the really weird shit. Like wrangling an armadillo.
Sam and I were the same age at twenty-four. Growing up, we both disliked school, but for different reasons. For Sam, it was because of issues with focus and organization; for me, it was because I wasn’t a fan of doing things that seemed pointless. But unlike me, Sam actually finished his degree at a local community college. I dropped out after a year of higher education because I never found a career I could picture myself doing for the rest of my life. Why would I waste money on a four-year degree studying something I hated? I would much rather have a handful of small jobs I liked than be miserable in a career that looked good on paper. And yet, I was made to feel, mostly by my momma, and ok, yes, my older brother, and a few folks in town too, that I was going nowhere in life.
But at least I wouldn’t be going through a painful, disfiguring disease process.
Jace: Don’t find out. Say no
Seeing a black Tesla approach, I pocketed my phone and walked to the other side of the portico. My mind was still preoccupied on saving my friend from himself as I made out the outline of a woman in the driver’s seat. Once the car parked, the driver’s door opened and I grabbed it by rote, starting my typical spiel.
“Hi, I’m from the valet service. . .”
My words trailed off as a sexy red high heel touched the pavement. My eyes trailed up the bona fide blonde knockout in front of me as she smoothly rose from the driver’s seat. She stood tall in heels, only a few inches shorter than my six-two frame. Her clear skin shone in the morning sun, sunglasses hiding her eyes. My hand twitched with a strange urge to remove them, curious to discover the eye color hidden beneath. Suddenly, a ghost of a sound left her lips, and she whipped back around, bending over to lean into the driver’s seat.
A sleek black dress covered her from neck to knees. For all intents and purposes, it would be considered conservative. It even had pearl buttons down the back.
But that’s not what got my attention.
I was singularly focused on one very prominent asset in front of me. Her dress was tight and stretched with her, highlighting every dip and curve of her truly delectable body as she bent forward into her car.
Remembering I was at my place of employment and staring inappropriately at a patron, I averted my eyes. But they darted back to her quickly as I heard a soft feminine exhale. She’d leaned further into the car, causing her backside to turn up all the more. I tried again not to notice. I mean, I really tried. But then her left heel lifted out of her shoe as she stretched, causing me to reflexively shift closer to her, as if I was going to what? Wrap my hands around her waist and steady her?
Chastising myself, I shuffled two steps away just as she rocked back into her heel and stood. For a moment, it seemed like one of those slow-motion movie montages was playing out in front of me. As she turned, she gave a flick of her head to the left, deftly removing her sunglasses in one go. Her blonde hair waved like a shining curtain in front of her as she quickly snapped her head back to center. Bright green eyes fixed to mine as her silky hair tumbled past her shoulders.
Have mercy.
I had no choice but to stare at the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. She was older than me. I had no idea how much older, and at that moment, I didn’t care. Tall and graceful, full pink lips, I noted a few strands of hair were stuck on her kissable lips. I once again had the reflexive urge to reach for her, to take that lock of hair between my fingers, wondering if it felt as soft as it looked. Her gaze held mine as she gave me a slight smile, making me feel as if I’d been punched in the gut.
I’d always been an unrufflable, easygoing type of guy. But this woman, with her stunning eyes and pretty mouth, was my undoing. Despite clearing my throat, my voice still came out rough.
