Brewer (Dead Souls MC Book 3) Page 5

  “Take a left and get to the main road, then take a right.”

  Makenna’s hair was whipping around her as Ana giggled in the backseat. We weren’t able to find the Disney channel on my radio, but we were able to find some old eighties music Ana apparently enjoyed. I could tell Makenna was shocked as Ana started bouncing her head, and I bobbed along with her as I relaxed back into my seat.

  It had been a while since I’d had a beautiful woman in this car, and having her adorable daughter in the backseat made it all the more enjoyable. I shook my head slightly. Did I really just think of this as enjoyable?

  I looked back in the rear view mirror, and saw a concerned look on Ana’s face.

  “So, Ana, you ready for school?” I asked.

  “I’m nervous,” she said.

  “Why is that?”

  “What if they don’t like me?”

  “Why wouldn’t they like you?”

  “Because I’m weird.”

  “Do weird people ride in cool cars?” I asked.

  I looked into my rear view mirror as we turned into the driveway of the school. I could see how nervous she was. She was wringing her hands in her lap and on the verge of tears. And I felt bad for her. I really did. Adjusting to a new school like this in the middle of the school year had to be tough, and I wanted to find a way to make this better for her.

  So, when I pulled up to the entrance of the school, I revved the engine of the car.

  The kids in front of the school all gawked and pointed as I turned up the music on the radio. Makenna whipped her head over to me, watching me curiously as I bobbed my head. Ana bobbed hers too, as a sea of people began to look at us. The boys were gawking and tugging at their mother’s pants and the girls were waving and batting at the legs of their fathers. I buried a grin as Ana danced around in her car seat, soaking up the attention before Makenna got out of the vehicle.

  “Hey Ana?”

  “Yeah?”

  “If they ask you what kind of car it is, you tell them it’s an Impala. A strong car. Built only for strong people. Can you remember that?” I asked.

  “A strong Impala for a strong person. Got it,” she said with a grin.

  Then, I sat and waited as Makenna walked her daughter into school.

  I turned the radio down and pulled up so others could drop their kids off. I saw Makenna talking with someone in the doorway. A mother or a teacher or someone like that. I could see Ana through the window, already talking to a group of kids who were no doubt asking her about the car. I slid my sunglasses down my nose and caught her smile, and I noticed her eyes were no longer filled with apprehension.

  She waved at me and I waved back, then I watched her walk hand-in-hand off with another little girl.

  “Thank you.”

  Makenna’s voice ripped me from my thoughts as she slid back into the car.

  “One down, one to go,” I said.

  “Not what I was thanking you for,” she said.

  I turned and caught her beautiful gaze before I pulled us back out onto the main road.

  “Now where’s this place you’re going?” I asked.

  “Take a left at the stoplight. You’re going to travel that road for a while. Then the plant will be on your left,” she said.

  We cruised for ten miles down that road, traveling a good speed of sixty. I looked over at her every once in a while, taking in the easy way she reclined back into the leather seats I’d had installed. Her hair was whipping around her face and her sunglasses accented the beauty of her skin. Her hands rested between her thighs as she chewed on her bottom lip, nervous for her pending interview.

  “Want me to rev the engine when we get there?” I asked with a grin.

  “I think that might piss people off there, but thanks for the offer,” she said, giggling.

  “How did Ana get off to school?”

  “Really well. All the kids wanted to know about her awesome friend with the car.”

  “Good. Every kid should have something positive to start off their day.”

  “That was very kind, what you did back there for her. I’m not sure how I’m going to thank you for it.”

  “Nail this interview and that’s all you need to do,” I said.

  We cruised in a comfortable silence until a plant appeared out of nowhere. I had no idea the fucking thing existed, honestly. I pulled up to the gate and pressed the button, then Makenna leaned over me to talk into the speaker.

  Pressing her tits right against my damn body.

  “Central Casing, this is Melody speaking.”

  “Yes. Hi. I’m Makenna. I’m here for an interview for the project manager position?”

  “Buzzing you in now.”

  I let out the breath I was holding as her tits grazed by me again. I cleared my throat as we rode past the gate, winding up the cracked concrete pathway to the front of the building. Just that small dose of Makenna’s heat had my cock throbbing against my jeans. I gripped the steering wheel and tried to adjust my pants, making sure she didn’t see how badly my cock was trying to jump out at her.

  Because this certainly wasn’t the right time.

  “Need me to pick you up?” I asked. “Or stay put until you’re done?”

  “No, no. You’ve done enough. I’ll find a ride home,” she said.

  “Are you sure?” I asked. “Because it’s not a problem.”

  “Really, Brewer. You’ve done enough. Thank you so much.”

  “Then take my number. Just in case. Redding does have cabs, but if you call for one it can sometimes take an hour for someone to get to you,” I said.

  Makenna looked at me warily before she handed me her phone. I typed in my number and saved it, secretly hoping she would use it. I handed her phone back to her and she drew in a shaky breath, so I pressed down onto the gas pedal and revved the engine.

  “Stop that,” she said.

  But a smile crept across her face, so I did it again.

  “Brewer, you’re going to get me in trouble.”

  “But you’re smiling, right? Everyone smiles when they hear that sound.”

  I pressed the gas all the way down and Makenna started to belly laugh.

  “You’re a mess. Stop it.”

  “And you’ll nail this interview. Now get out,” I said.

  Makenna pushed the door open and grabbed her purse before she stepped out. My eyes lingered on her ass. How beautiful it looked in the black pants she was wearing. Fistfuls of soft skin I could use to drag her body closer to mine.

  I closed my eyes, forcing my gaze up as she shut the door.

  “Thank you. Again,” she said.

  “Stop thanking me and get out of here.”

  “I’ll let you know how it goes?”

  She held up her phone and I nodded my head.

  “I look forward to the call.”

  I watched Makenna all the way into the building before I took off towards the exit. I rode back into town, and something in my gut told me to take one more pass by Ana’s school. I slowly rode by, slowing my car down and looking out towards the playground.

  I saw her running around, being chased by some girls as her messy ponytail fluttered behind her.

  I revved my engine again and caught everyone’s attention. The kids all ran to the fence and waved at me, but I was focused on one girl. One pretty little girl whose smile was so big it closed her eyes.

  “Hi, Mr. Brewer!”

  I waved at Ana before I took off, speeding down the road as the kids gawked at me. That would surely give them something to talk about, and I knew Ana was going to be the talk of the town all day. I took the long way back to my house, reflecting on the morning and seeing if my phone would ring. Seeing if Makenna would need me at all for something. Maybe to pick up Ana after school or something like that.

  But after an hour of riding around, I made my way back to my house.

  If Makenna needed me, she would come knocking.

  Just like she had that morning. />
  Chapter 8

  Makenna

  The interview went well and I got the job, but they wanted to start training me immediately. They needed me to work odd hours for a while, which meant I would need a temporary babysitter for Ana. I stood outside of the main entrance to the plant and fumbled with my phone, debating on whether or not to call Brewer. I technically did agree to call him to let him know how the interview went.

  But I didn’t know how he would respond to my other need.

  “Hello?” he asked.

  The sound of his voice wafted through the phone and I suppressed a sigh. It was soothing. Comforting. Like the low rumble of thunder in the distance. I leaned my ear heavily into the phone and listened to the sound of his rhythmic breathing, part of me wishing he was there.

  What was this man doing to me?

  “Makenna? Is that you?”

  “Yes, sorry. Hi. It’s me,” I said.

  “Everything okay? Do you need me to come get you?”

  “No, no, no. That’s not actually why I’m calling.”

  “How’d the interview go?”

  “It went well. They gave me the job.”

  “What? That’s wonderful. Congratulations. So… why don’t you sound happier?”

  “They want to train me today, and I won’t be done in time to get Ana from school,” I said.

  “You want me to do it?” he asked.

  “Would that throw a wrench in your plans?”

  “I mean, I’ll have to postpone the swinger fetish party I’m catering to tonight, but they won’t mind. The later the better, they always say.”

  I giggled and shook my head as I tucked my hand underneath my arm.

  “Interesting party, it sounds like,” I said.

  “You meet the most interesting of people.”

  “Are you really into that kind of thing?”

  “You should see the stuff I have underneath my bed.”

  I felt a shiver ricochet up my spine. Was he joking? Was he being serious? I imagined all the things he had underneath there. Toys and chains and harnesses. I allowed my mind to wander as the breeze raked through my hair, cooling my heating body down as I swallowed hard.

  “My personal favorite is edible underwear,” Brewer said.

  “The strawberry kind?” I asked.

  “Nope. Rainbow flavors. Changes it up a bit each bite you take.”

  “I still have no idea if you’re joking or not.”

  “That’s the point.”

  I could hear his grin through the phone as another giggle fell from my lips.

  “What time does Ana get off school?” he asked.

  “Three thirty,” I said.

  “I’ll be there to pick her up in my dashing Chevy Impala. I’m sure that’ll keep the kids talking another day. Plus, the car seat’s still back there.”

  “You didn’t take it out once you got back home?”

  “I figured I might need to pick you guys up again since your car’s being hauled away.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Yeah. It kept smoking and someone called the fire department. I think they’re going to tow it away or something like that.”

  “Great. Just what I need.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll help you out as much as I can.”

  “It won’t be for long. In three or four pay periods, I can get myself another vehicle. Hell, if I dip into my savings account now, I could do it tomorrow.”

  “Whatever you choose is fine. But don’t worry about rides and shit like that. I’ve got you,” he said.

  I drew in a deep breath as I allowed those words to sink in. I’ve got you. That was a phrase I hadn’t heard in years. Not since Ana’s father was still alive. I leaned against the outside of the plant and closed my eyes, allowing the heat of the reassuring phrase to trickle down to my toes.

  “You have no idea how good it feels to hear someone say that,” I said breathlessly.

  “A hard-working woman like you should have someone she can rely on.”

  “So, you decided to step up and fill that role?”

  “You got someone better?”

  “No.”

  “‘Cause I’ll fight him if you do,” he said.

  “You’re insane, you know that?” I asked.

  “And you worry too much. I can hear it in your voice.”

  “What else do you hear?” I asked.

  “You want me to be honest?”

  “Please.”

  The silence was deafening, and it wasn’t until I heard him draw in a deep breath that I wondered what type of territory I was stepping into.

  “I hear a woman who’s been bogged down with too many real-life scenarios to enjoy things. I hear the stress of being a single mother and the relief of having a way to provide. I hear a playfulness that hasn’t been let loose in a long time and I hear the echoing desires of a woman who hasn’t felt like one in far too long.”

  I felt my nipples puckering against my bra.

  “I hear the unfulfilled passion of an animal waiting to be released. I hear the curiosity of unfulfilled exploration. I hear the argument rattling on in your head. Should you do this or shouldn’t you do this. What are you getting yourself into and you’re a mother, so why should you do this or that?”

  I leaned my head into the side of the building as I furrowed my brow.

  He was good.

  Maybe a little too good.

  “I’ll pick up Ana and watch her at my place until we can come get you,” Brewer said.

  “I can have someone from the plant bring me home,” I said.

  “You sure?”

  “Very sure.”

  “If you don’t find someone, you call me immediately. I’ll toss Ana in the car and we’ll come get you.”

  “That’s very sweet of you, thank you. And I’m sorry if this is last minute. I’ll pay you for your time.”

  “You will. But not with money.”

  Electricity shot through my veins as my eyes popped open.

  “Huh?” I asked.

  “We’ll talk about it later, okay? Right now, you need to focus on training for your new job,” he said.

  “What did you mean by that?” I asked. “Not with money?”

  “We’ll talk about it later. I don’t want your money, Makenna. You’ll need it for that car of yours.”

  “Then how will I pay you? What else would you take?”

  I realized what he was talking about the moment the question flew from my lips

  “I’ll take you,” he said.

  I felt my breath speeding up as my heart slammed against my chest. I could feel the ghostly warmth of his breath along my lips. I could feel the phantom heat of his body pressing against mine. That memory of him being so close was lodged in the corners of my memory. The glimpse of his body I’d gotten that morning was enough to put my brain into overdrive. His strong legs, bulging with veins and his thick muscles that blanketed his torso. The pads of muscles that chiseled his abs before decadent lines disappeared beyond his boxers.

  Drawing me to a place on a man I hadn’t experienced fully in so long.

  “Makenna?”

  “Yes?” I asked with a whisper.

  “Go train,” Brewer said. “I’ve got this.”

  “Thank you so much. I owe you one.”

  His chuckle rumbled through my body as my hands began to shake.

  “Talk to you soon,” he said.

  I hung up the call and wiped at the sweat on my brow. I wasn’t sure if it was the sun or the conversation, but I needed to get back inside. It was surprising to me how easy it was to ask him to watch my daughter. But more than that, it was shocking how comfortable I felt about him being around my daughter. A man no mother would ever want her daughter bringing home, and I trusted him more than the man I’d spent the last three years of my life with. Even though I only just met him.

  There was something about him I trusted. But I couldn’t put my finger on it.

 
I couldn’t identify what it was I trusted about him.

  I slid my phone into my pocket and headed back into the plant. I had a long day ahead of me, but if I could keep up with the demand of my new job it would put Ana and I in a great position. Wonderful medical benefits and more money than we had back in Texas. I could update her wardrobe a bit and take her out to see the sights. To get ice cream on the weekends and go see movies in the theater instead of waiting for them to be illegally downloaded from the internet.

  I could give my daughter the quality of life I’d always wanted for her.

  And I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Brewer.

  The stranger I seemed to trust.

  I headed back into the plant and quickly got to work. There was a two-hour seminar I had to do with a quiz at the end. Then, there was the formal tour of the place. I kept detailed notes on what every floor was specified to do and took notes on what I needed to study on to make sure I knew the ins and outs of the product being made. I was shown to an office that was apparently going to be mine and I was ecstatic. At my job in Texas, my ‘office’ was a desk in the corner of what people used as the break room.

  This place had an actual office. With a door I could close and a phone only I was designated to use.

  I was walked through all the systems they used and the responsibilities I would be taking on at the job. I flipped through the electronic files of the people in my care and tried to memorize as much about them as I could. One of the things that made a great manager was a manager’s ability to care about his or her workers.

  I wanted to make sure I did a good job caring about their lives.

  I got my credentials up and running and got my picture taken for my identification card. I was shown around the floors and shook the hands of the people I would be working with, then I was escorted back to my office. I got to work on the schedule of my workers, trying my best to abide by the times they absolutely couldn’t work. Then I added in the odd hours I would be expected to work for the next few weeks, finalized my first schedule at my new job, and was given critiques.