Mrs R (Mrs R & Mr V #1) (44 page)

Rachel’s leg stopped swinging. Joe just revealed something very
personal with her and she had a feeling there was much more to it than that.
She was awed by him; his character had so many layers she feared it would take
an eternity to get to know him properly.

“Joe – I do indeed think you are hunky! Now please can
you and your obliques go find me some coffee while I get dressed?”

Laughing, Joe pointed to his wardrobe and told Rachel to help
herself to one of his t-shirts. Puzzled, Rachel thanked him. “I think I’ll be
ok with my blouse though.”

“Umm, yeah – let me know how that works out for you” he
called walking away from her towards the kitchen.

Frowning at his comments, Rachel finally located her blouse
from the floor by Joe’s side of the bed. It was a bit creased but that didn’t
matter; she was going straight home; however the lack of buttons would
definitely be a problem. Groaning, Rachel had a fleeting memory of Joe ripping
it off her last night and conceded that she would need to borrow a top from him
after all.

**********

“Hmm, coffee smells divine.”

Joe looked up as Rachel entered the kitchen and gracefully
hopped on to one of his barstools. She was wearing her tight skinny jeans from
last night paired with one of his old grey polo shirts with the collar turned
up and the buttons undone. It was still huge on her but she’d managed to make
it look sexy; or maybe that was just his reaction to seeing her in his clothes.
His dick agreed, twitching in approval. Her cleavage was just visible and she’d
piled her hair up into a messy bun and Joe had the urge to spread her over the
granite counter top and eat her for his breakfast instead of the omelettes he’d
prepared.

Rachel was beginning to get a little shifty under Joe’s
scrutiny. She hadn’t put any make up on yet and she probably looked every
single one of her 42 years in the cold light of day. She was nervously fiddling
with a strand of hair that had come loose and was worrying her bottom lip at
the same time.

“I, um, hope this one is ok.”

“It’s ok.” He was still staring at her. If she didn’t stop with
all the twiddling he was going to have hard job restraining himself.

“Er, sorry I haven’t got my face on yet; must look pretty
scary…” Rachel patted her cheeks by way of explanation.

 
Joe was still
staring at her but now his forehead had crinkled into a frown. “Pretty yes;
scary no. Didn’t understand the bit about ‘face on’”

Rachel laughed. “Why use whole sentences when you can just
grunt out a response eh Joe? But thanks for the compliment – I think….”

Joe sighed as he dished out the eggs but remained stubbornly
silent. The truth was that he didn’t know what to say. Most of the women he
bedded didn’t usually stay for breakfast; in fact they barely stayed the night.
Conversation had never been a priority as he had very little in common with
them anyway and he got bored very quickly by anything to do with the
Kardashians or other such inane topics. Rachel, however, was witty and
intelligent and definitely did not take him too seriously; teasing him
endlessly with her funny British terminology she knew would perplex him.

He needed to make more of an effort so he struck up
conversation keeping to safe topics such as favourite holiday destinations and
places they’d still like to travel to. Rachel mentioned in passing that
although she’d been all over the world, she’d still never been to Rome and that
she was going to treat herself to a long weekend there later in the year. She
hadn’t meant it as a hint but Joe filed it away for future reference; the
wheels of his mind already formulating a plan for them to go together.

“Joe, I don’t want to put a dampener on things, but I don’t
think it would be a good idea for us to be all pda at work do you?”

“PDA?”

“Public display of affection – I thought everyone knew
that.”

“Must have passed me by…I agree. For the moment anyway.”
Rachel’s stomach flipped at his last comment and she was dying to ask what he’d
meant by it. Was he implying they might have a future?

“For the moment?”

“Let’s just see how this pans out Rachel – I hope after
last night you agree we definitely have something going on.”

“That was just sex, Joe.” Rachel wanted to take the words back as
soon as they were out. Hurt flashed across Joe’s face and his eyes darkened and
she realised she’d read the situation all wrong.

“Say what you want Rachel – it was not just sex. Believe
me, I should know.” Joe sighed and placed his coffee cup in the sink. “I’m
going to get dressed – finish up and I’ll take you home.”

**********

“Forget it mate; so not happening.” Rachel declined Joe’s offer
of a helmet and walked over to the Range Rover making her feelings more than
clear. Joe laughed and eased himself on to his Harley; the one thing he could
not leave in New York. He loved his bike and even though the roads in England
were nothing in comparison to home, he still enjoyed the freedom that came with
riding it.

Rachel watched him bring the bike to life. It suited him of
course. The bike was big and macho and Joe looked like he was born to ride it
filling out his leather jacket more than superbly. Contrary to refusing to get
on she couldn’t help but imagine how thrilling it would be to plaster herself to
Joe’s back with all that machinery vibrating under her.

“You can stare all you want, or you can climb on behind me and
slide your arms round my waist and feel the hum of the engine between your
thighs. I know that’s what you’re thinking.”

Rachel snorted, “Oh quit all the macho bullshit sweet talk.
That thing is angry and dangerous and I’m not getting on it.”

Joe rode the bike slowly nearer trapping her up against the
Range Rover. He had that look she was becoming all too familiar when he wasn’t
going to take ‘no’ for an answer. His brows were knitted and he’d come over all
menacing turning her instantly wet. “Don’t insult my bike babe. And you
are
getting on it.”

Tutting and crossing her arms over her chest, Rachel scowled at
Joe. Why couldn’t he just behave like a normal person and listen to reason. Her
predicament however, was that he was so deliciously sexy in his tight jeans and
leather jacket she couldn’t resist him for long. So much for the strong
independent woman façade. Rachel grabbed the helmet from his outstretched hand;
let down her hair and plonked it rather inelegantly over her head. Joe got off
the bike and secured Rachel’s excess belongings in some sort of storage thing
at the side, then did her jacket up for her. He helped her on to the bike
predictably copping a feel at every opportunity making them both laugh and then
settled himself in front of her.

“Go slow Joe” she begged knowing full well the man did
everything at top speed. Rachel was completely petrified and gripped on to him
hard as the engine roared to life beneath her. The thrill of the vibration
between her legs was drowned out by the noise and blur of actually moving and
she lay her helmeted head on Joe’s back shutting her eyes tightly as they
emerged on to the street.

By virtue of the fact they were on the ring road of Regent’s
Park, there was no way Joe could open up the Harley like he wanted to and
really wasn’t going very fast. He felt Rachel slowly relax her vice like grip
round his waist and sit up a bit. He mourned the loss of her tits squashed
against his back, but was glad she was gradually overcoming her fear. He
reached behind and squeezed her thigh and she cuddled him harder in response.
He suspected Rachel wouldn’t take too long to come around – she was so
determined not to let him get one over on her and so far it had worked out to
his advantage.

Joe reflected on her comments about not going public with their
relationship just yet and he had to agree it seemed sensible but he didn’t know
how he was going to restrain himself around her all day long at work. It was
going to kill him not being able to touch her and he had a sneaky feeling
Rachel wouldn’t make it any easier for him. She obviously got a kick out of
tormenting him; but he had to admit he loved it. Joe realised he was happy and
it felt good; not only that it felt right. Despite what she said about it just
being about sex, he wasn’t convinced Rachel was oblivious to the obvious
electric chemistry between them. He would have to keep working on her.

**********

“Whoa Mum!!!” the twins came tearing out the house as the roar
of the Harley alerted them to her arrival. They were literally jumping up and
down with glee at the sight of their mother sitting astride the iconic machine.
Joe pulled up in front of them and removed his helmet.

“Hi girls” he drawled flashing them his mega watt grin.

“Hi Joe” they cooed at him. Rachel rolled her eyes; she
couldn’t recall either of them being so girly and pathetic, ever.

“Er hello!” she called “some help here please.” Joe made no
move to get off so Jess and Lucy rushed over to help her instead. Feeling a
little unsteady on her feet due to the rush of the bike ride, Rachel leaned
into to Jess while Lucy fumbled with the helmet.
 
Joe watched the twins fussing over Rachel
and he was glad she had such attentive and loving daughters. It made him pine
for his own kids and he made a mental note to call them both later.

“Joe, are you coming in for a cuppa?” Jess asked innocently.
Rachel suddenly remembered Luc and panicked wondering if he was still inside.
She still hadn’t told Joe about her liaison with Luc and the last thing she
needed was for him to suspect anything before she got a chance to explain. She
didn’t yet trust herself with both of them in the same room together; she was
bound to do or say something to raise suspicion. Joe already had an uncanny
skill at reading her mind.

“No – Joe has to go, girls” she chirped. Joe looked at
her slightly puzzled by her adamant refusal on his behalf. “And we have to get
you packed.” She turned to him with an apologetic expression that seemed
totally false to him. He couldn’t figure out why she wanted to get away from
him so quickly but he would certainly be bringing it up in their next
conversation.

Lucy handed the helmet back to Joe. “Luc said to tell you
goodbye and sorry he couldn’t hang around to see you Mum. If I didn’t know
better I’d say that boy has a crush on you for sure!” Jess thumped Lucy on the
arm and dragged her into the house. “Nice one sis! Way to go in front of the
new boyfriend.” “What did I say?” Lucy wailed and Rachel sighed as the
bickering started. The noise dulled thankfully as the girls moved further into
the house.

Joe was very interested in the particular shade of red Rachel
had turned. For the life of him he had no idea what was going on but the remark
about Luc having a crush on her had definitely made her blush. He was about to
ask her why the comment had affected her so much but she started speaking
first.

“Thank you so much for a wonderful evening Joe; I really
enjoyed dinner…and everything that came after.” She placed a hand on his arm
and shifted slightly closer so she was leaning against his leg. He twisted his
body on the bike so he was facing her searching her face for any indication she
wasn’t being honest but he was met with her soft smile and warm expression. “I
mean it Joe. I can’t wait to be alone with you again.” Joe made some sort of
manly noise in agreement feeling inordinately ecstatic that she wanted to be
with him again with no hint of her usual sarcasm.
 
He wasn’t sure what to say; he didn’t
want to screw things up so he reached up and cupped the back of her head
pulling her mouth down to his and kissing her with all the emotion he couldn’t
verbalise.

“See you at work tomorrow, Rachel. Leave your car at home and
I’ll give you a lift back. You can make me dinner.”

Not waiting for an answer, Joe donned his helmet and roared off
leaving Rachel stunned in his wake. Make him dinner indeed – bloody
cheek! Smiling and already planning the menu she entered her home to sort out
her kids.

**********