Page 34 of Moving to Love

Joci opened her mouth to say something, but Sandi and Jon walked up right at that moment. “Hey, what’s going on?”

JT turned to Sandi. “Well…”

“Never mind, JT. Go somewhere…you, too, Gunnar,” Jeremiah chided.

Jeremiah looked down at Joci and squeezed her shoulders. She was mortified, grunted an unintelligible word, and rubbed her forehead with her fingers. God, what was she thinking? She knew both their kids were there. Crap. She assumed their kids would figure out that she and Jeremiah were having sex. It’s quite another thing to be caught in the act or close to the act. She liked that he told her what he wanted, but she was acting like a silly teenage girl.

Yesterday, when he told her they were going to be together, she was so turned on she couldn’t concentrate all day.

The boys walked away chuckling. Sandi looked at Joci and raised her eyebrows.

“Never mind…kid stuff.” Jeremiah chuckled.

Sandi smiled at her and looked at Jon, who had a smirk on his face.

“Let’s go get a drink, shall we?” Jeremiah told the group.

He grabbed Joci’s hand and walked toward the drink tent.

As they walked, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “They assumed anyway, Joci. Don’t let it bother you.”

She looked up at him and frowned. “I should be setting a better example.”

Jeremiah laughed out loud. “Joci, you’re a beautiful woman. Our boys know that, and they know how much I want you. Being boys, I think they have a clue as to how it works.”

Sandi gasped at his words. “Did they just catch you two--?”

“Stop. No. God, Sandi, don’t say it.” Joci’s face stained bright red.

“Oh. My. God. They did catch you!”

Jeremiah and Jon laughed. Joci covered her face with her hands. Jeremiah squeezed her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Not really, Sandi. They assumed, and the looks on our faces made them think it was more than it was.”

They got their drinks and turned to listen to the fabulous local band that was playing. Joci was happy for the distraction.

As the night wore on, a steady stream of people came up to Jeremiah to tell him what a great turnout they thought today was and how much they had enjoyed the ride. The veterans in attendance made sure to come by and thank Jeremiah for all of his help in bringing attention to the plight of so many veterans. They told him how much it meant to them. His face was a sight to behold. He looked so happy and proud. And he should be. What he had created here was amazing. It tugged at her heart that this day had almost been ruined for him.

Around ten o’clock, Jeremiah wrapped his arms around Joci and asked, “Are you ready to go?”

She nodded. “I was ready to go while we were still in the garage!”

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Are you wet, Joci? Have you been thinking about me?”

She chuckled and whispered, “I’ve been wet all night.”

Jeremiah hissed out his breath. “Fuck, I’m hard as a rock. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Her brows furrowed. “Don’t you have to stay until the end?”

He shook his head. “That’s another perk of being in charge. I can tell someone else to be the last man standing. Deacon is in charge of the final curtain.”

He grabbed Joci’s hand and pulled her toward the garage. LuAnn came running over just then. “Dog, I’m ready for the dance you promised me.”

She shimmied for effect.

“LuAnn, I didn’t promise to dance with you. I believe I’ve already told you this today but let me tell you again. I’m with Joci. Only Joci. Do you understand?”

LuAnn shrugged and pushed her bottom lip out in a pout as she turned and walked away.