Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Awakening Aubrey (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Jack 'Em Up Book 7) (3 page)

Jude

It was long after ten o’ clock before we locked up the Charger in my garage and found ourselves at a 24-hour diner eating burgers and fries. Even in our oversized booth, I was still squished next to Aubrey, but I’d never been happier to have someone in my space while I ate.

She sipped her strawberry shake and laughed at something Fletch said. She was still in her coveralls, but they were peeled down and tied around her waist, leaving her in a tight white shirt that showed off her petite figure and gave me all kinds of dirty thoughts.

I glanced up when Fletch asked her about school.

“I’m planning to get a business degree then maybe open my own shop. Or take over Jack ‘Em Up when these geezers get too old to be under a hood.”

“Ha. Ha,” Blake quipped. “This old horse still has a few good years left in him. Just ask my wife.”

“Gross.” Aubrey feigned gagging.

Fletch ignored them, focusing his attention on Aubrey like she was an anomaly. “When do you graduate?”

“If I keep up the pace I’m going, I’ll graduate in two years.”

Fletch frowned and I watched his face as he did a quick calculation, his eyes darting quickly to me. “How old are you?”

I felt her stiffen next to me. “Nineteen.”

Fuck.

She was barely legal.

“A baby,” Blake quipped.

She smacked his arm. “Shut up. I think you were married by my age.”

“Touché.”

“Besides, I’ll be twenty next month.”

That was a little better. I swallowed the lump of meat that had lodged in my throat at the thought I was lusting after jailbait.

She slid a glance my way as talk of the car resumed, but I was too distracted by the red curl brushing her neck to discuss chassis. Her eyes still on mine, she reached between us for the salt shaker, brushing my arm. I couldn’t tell if it was intentional or not, but it shot electricity straight up my core, directly to my brain.

What. The. Hell.

After we ate, we dispersed to our cars and said goodnight after agreeing to meet first thing in the morning. We planned to get in a good weekend’s worth of work in before Fletch and I had to be back to base on Monday, and I for one couldn’t wait to see Aubrey again.

She offered me a small wave before sliding into their diesel and I tipped my head in acknowledgment.

Yup. Definitely looking forward to spending more time with her and figuring out what the heck this pull was she had on me.

~ ~

Everyone showed up bright and early Saturday morning just as I rolled my ass out of bed.

“Morning, sunshine.” Fletch grinned and smacked my chest with a bag of donuts.

I accepted them, my eyes tracking to Aubrey behind him with a carrier full of coffee in her hand. It was jeans and a Jack ‘Em Up shop T-shirt this morning, but she looked just as hot as she had in her coveralls and white shorts.

I rubbed a hand over my head and let the sight of her wake me up more than any caffeine or sugar ever could.

“Coffee?” she asked, lifting the tray toward me with a quick glance at the loose pajama pants I still wore.

I grinned and grabbed one. “Thanks.”

“Got one of those for me, Red?” Blake interrupted, making her roll her eyes and head his way.

My mouth watered as I watched her retreating form. I shook my head at my own hormones. It was like being back in high school. Sipping my hot brew, I made a quick trip to my bedroom to change then met everyone back in the garage. They’d already propped open all three doors, letting in a small breeze and someone had turned on my stereo, filling the morning with “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen.

Aubrey caught my eye over Micah’s head and tipped her head toward the radio with a grin.

I shrugged.

She laughed.

Nobody seemed to notice.

And so went the morning—Aubrey and I exchanging small looks, tiny brushes of fingers, knowing smiles. It was like we’d been flirting our whole lives without words.

About ten, a flatbed truck lumbered up the street at a snail’s pace. Aubrey’s face lit up like a flashbulb. “Jesse’s here.” She ran out to meet the guy she obviously loved and I fought the stupid, irrational surge of jealousy.

Her sister’s husband, I reminded myself. Still, I’d give anything to have her light up like that for me.

A big blond guy jumped out of the cab and collected her into a one-armed hug as they exchanged a few words. I caught something about a baby and a doctor’s appointment. I walked over when he made his way up to the garage.

“Hey.” I offered my hand. “I’m Jude. You must be Jesse.”

“Guilty.” We shook as Blake and Micah joined us and introduced him to Fletch. Once the formalities were taken care of, we got Jesse up to speed on the Charger’s status.

“The frame’s rusted and bent and about to collapse,” Blake laid out matter-of-factly. “Tell me you remembered to bring the MIG machine.”

“And the hoist. We’re good.”

Relieved noises filled the garage as we unloaded the machinery and they set about lifting the body off the frame so we could fully examine the damage.

It was fucked.

I quickly learned that these dudes were all business. By dinnertime, they were greasy and sweaty and up to their elbows in rusty frame bolts. When they fired up the welding machine, I had to tap out.

Aubrey joined me at the back workbench as I stowed away the tools we didn’t need anymore. “Welding not your thing?”

I glanced over and smiled at the smudge of grease on her cheek. “Nope. Never learned.”

“Me, either.” She handed me a wrench. “Blake promised to teach me soon though.”

I leaned against the bench. “You really love cars, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” She lifted a brow as if waiting for me to say something disparaging about a girl who loves cars. “You got a problem with that?”

“Not at all. I think it’s really cool.”

She blinked as a blush filled her face then bent to hand me a socket that had ended up on the ground.

Our fingers brushed and the now familiar bolt of lust and energy shot up my arm. Her dark eyes snared mine like she felt it too.

I spoke before I thought. “Have dinner with me.”

Her pouty pink lips opened to a surprised O then she snapped them closed. “Dinner?”

“Yeah.” I turned away and shut my toolbox. “Never mind. Bad idea.”

She ignored that. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

I faced her. “I guess I am.”

“Like a
date
, date?”

“Is there any other kind?”

Behind us, tools clanked and boisterous laughter belted out. She peered over her shoulder at her self-appointed guardians then met my gaze again, her eyes full of a strange mix of happiness and mischief. “Then yes.”

“Yes?”

She frowned. “Unless you’ve already changed your mind?”

“No. Of course not. I just thought . . .” I couldn’t help my automatic glance behind us.

She sighed. “Don’t worry about them. I’ve got this.” Spinning on her heels, she raised her voice. “Hey, guys!” It went silent as they faced her with lingering smiles from whatever they were discussing. “Jude and I are going to dinner tonight. Alone. Okay? Okay.” She pivoted back to me. “There. All set?”

My eyes were pulled yet again over her head to the now frowning faces. Fucking shit. I forced a smile and met her eyes again. “All set.”

“Great. Pick me up at the hotel in about an hour?”

I swallowed as her co-workers/guardians started our way. “Sure.”

With a grin, she kissed my cheek then spun away and sauntered up to Blake, holding out her hand. “Keys?”

Round eyes met mine and I shrugged.

“You can ride back with the other guys in the flatbed. I need to go get dressed.”

He reluctantly dropped the keys into her outstretched hand. All eyes were on me as she strolled out, fired up the diesel, and drove away.

“Dinner?” Micah quipped first, his gaze narrowed.

“Yup.”

“Alone?” Blake added.

“Uh . . .” I was a pretty strong guy, but they had me outnumbered.

Jesse threw his head back and laughed. “I’ll take care of this. Go pack up the shit and then dinner’s on me.”

The other guys stood silently for a while then finally ambled away, Fletch taking up the rear, obviously oblivious to what was going on.

I wiped my hands on a rag and stood straight when he approached, his eerie blue eyes serious now. I tossed down the greasy rag. “Look—”

“Don’t get your panties in a wad,” he interrupted. “I’m not here to play chaperone or bust your balls.”

“You’re not?”

“Nah.” He leaned on the workbench.

“It’s just dinner.” I hated that I sounded defensive. I was an MP, for God’s sake. I’d just never faced the firing squad over a girl before.

“I know.” He chipped at a loose piece of wood on the table with his thumb. “All I wanted to say is that I love Aubrey like a sister. Hell, she practically
is
my sister. Not only would it hurt my wife if Aubrey was hurt, it’d fucking piss me off.” He met my gaze in the man-to-man way that pulled no punches. “She’s a good girl. She’s entitled to a little free time and fun. But if you injure one red hair on her head or break her heart, you’ll have me to answer to. Got it?”

“Got it.” I leaned on the workbench next to him. “You have nothing to worry about. I like her, we have a lot in common. But she’s going home soon.” My throat clutched at the idea of saying goodbye to her when I’d just found her, but this wasn’t the time to admit that.

Aubrey

Thankfully, the guys didn’t call or come back to the hotel right away after my gloriously rebellious exit. They were allowing me a little freedom and I’d had very little of that since my dad died a few years ago.

After a quick shower and shave, I dressed in the nicest clothes I had with me, which happened to be clean jeans and a silky blouse the color of ripe cherries. Luckily, my toenails were painted a deep burgundy and I’d thought to throw my gold sandals in my bag. A little makeup, a dab of the newest Bath and Body Works scent, some mousse to tame the curls, and I was all set.

Then I had time to second guess myself. Why had I pushed for tonight to be a real date? Why did I feel so free to toy and flirt . . . with a virtual stranger?

Because he’s hot.

I silenced my inner voice, though she was one hundred percent right. Jude Cortez was about as delicious as they came, but he was more than that. Even though we’d just met, and he was a friend of a friend of a friend, it was obvious he was the real deal. My intuition had never led me wrong before, and I was pretty sure it wouldn’t now, even if I had crazy wild hormones where he was concerned.

I anxiously checked my cell phone. One hour and two minutes since I left . . .

I jumped at a knock on the door. I took a deep breath and peered through the peephole.

God.

Tall and strong, his body was outlined in jeans that sat just so on his hips and a charcoal gray button down over a white T-shirt. With his hands casually tucked in his front pockets, he glanced around the hall and shifted his weight.

I smiled and opened the door.

His head snapped around and the smile froze on his face as his amber eyes raked over me. Now it was my turn to fidget as I wondered what he thought.

I wiped my hands down my thighs and met his hot gaze. “Hey.”

“You look amazing.”

“Thank you.” I grabbed my purse from the bed behind me. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah.” He closed the door behind us and walked with me down the hall to the elevator at a respectable distance, but I still felt his body heat blazing up my side.

I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. “You look nice, too.”

I’d swear he blushed as he bit back a half-smile and held the elevator door for me. Inside, I had the rogue vision of him pressing me up against the cool metal of the wall and tasting my lips. Sliding his tongue along mine. Cupping my breast and . . .

“Sorry?” Guilty, I focused back on the object of my fantasy.

A knowing grin lifted his full lips. “I asked if you like Mexican?”

My eyes popped open. “Wha . . . what?”

A soft laugh escaped him. “Food?”

“Oh.” Now I know I was blushing. “Right. Mexican food. I love it.”

He waited for me to lead the way once we arrived in the lobby, but was a gentleman and didn’t say another word about Mexican anything.

Outside, the air was thick and humid and smelled like rain as we made our way to his Trans Am. A gust of wind buffeted the curls around my face and I brushed them back to find him watching me, his hand paused on the door handle.

I clutched my purse tighter. “What?”

“Nothing,” he said, but didn’t move to open the door.

I glanced away. Back. His skin glowed like melted caramel in the fading light and my fingers itched to trace the contours of every muscle and vein. My heart longed to know his.

He finally let me in the car and I took a deep breath of air that smelled of him. Dark and spicy with a hint of mint and man.

On the road, he kept the music low and the conversation light. “So, Jesse’s married to your sister?”

“Yes.”

“He seems pretty cool.”

I studied his profile. “Did he get all protective and fatherly and say something to you?”

Smiling eyes met mine momentarily. “Not at all. We talked a minute, but it was fine. No threats to my anatomy or anything.”

I laughed. “Really? Wow, how disappointing.”

“Seriously, he loves you and just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.”

“What page is that?”

“We can have some fun while you’re here, but it’s nothing serious. As long as nobody gets hurt, we’re all good.” He steered into the gravel parking lot of a tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant and parked. “And that can’t happen over dinner.” He shifted in his seat to face me. “Right?”

“Right,” I agreed, though my stomach dropped. What he said was absolutely true, but it was still disappointing somehow. Yes, I was only in town temporarily, and yes, we could have a little no strings fun, but that didn’t stop my heart from wishing for more.

Stupid heart.

Inside, the mouthwatering scents of spices and grilling meats filled the air, along with canned mariachi music from hidden speakers. The walls were bright salmon and teal with even brighter artistic renderings of sombreros and animals.

Jude smiled at the hostess. “
Está bien mi mesa de siempre
?”

“
Sí
.” Her smile was definitely appreciative. I couldn’t blame her. Hearing that accent had me swooning a bit myself.

He passed her up and led me to a corner booth.

I slid in and picked up the menu on the table. “Come here often, I take it?”

“Just once or twice a week.”

I stared at him, slack-jawed.

His chest rumbled with rich laughter. “Maybe not that much, but yeah, I come enough.”

“Enough to have your own table?”

“Busted.”

I glanced at the menu. “So, what’s good here?”

“Everything.
Mamacita’s
is as close to my mama’s cooking as you can get without going home.”

“Where’s home?”

“The Bronx.”

“Wow. Do you miss it?”

“New York? Honestly, no. I do miss my family though.”

“Especially your mother, I take it?”

“Yeah.” He paused while we were served ice water and chips and salsa and we placed our orders—him in Spanish. I followed his lead and got the tamale plate. “I miss my mom . . . most of the time.”

I dipped a chip and took a bite. “Just most of the time?”

“She’s your typical mom, I guess. She wants me to settle down and give her some grandbabies. She can be a little pushy about it sometimes. But, other than that, yeah, I miss her and my brother and sister. Family’s all you’ve got, you know?”

“Yeah.” I looked down and sipped my water as bittersweet emotion rolled through me.

“Did I say something wrong?”

I glanced up. “No. I think that’s great. I just miss my dad, is all.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I miss him, but I have a great mom and now a sister that I would’ve maybe never known about if he were still alive.”

He frowned, confused.

“Rachel’s mom was his wife. I was the product of an affair basically. His shameful secret, though he never made me feel that way. He loved me and my mom the best he could.”

“Wow. So, you found each other after he died?”

“Yes. Rachel found information in his stuff that led her to me. The rest is history.”

“No bitterness?”

I shook my head. “No. None. I think we were just happy to know each other . . . and it didn’t hurt to get a big sister who looks just like me.” I wrapped a curl around my finger. “I grew up with lots of Little Orphan Annie jokes. She got it.”

His eyes warmed like the embers of a fire on a cold night. “I don’t see Little Orphan Annie.”

My heart trilled and spilled over in a rush. “What do you see?”

Those embers flared to life in a blaze. “I see you.”

“Me?”

“I think so.”

I swallowed, overcome by his intensity and the way he drew me in like the tide to the shore. God, he could burn me, but I’d surrender to the fire willingly if it meant he’d look at me like this forever. “And what’s that?”

Our hands were suddenly linked on the table and I stared down at our interlaced fingers, large and small, rough and soft, dark and light.

“I see a beautiful, sweet, smart, sexy woman who I’m dying to get to know better.”

My eyes flew up. No one had ever spoken to me like that. No one.

Our waitress approached with our food and he drew his hand away, smiling pleasantly at her as she set steaming plates in front of us. “
Gracias.
” He picked up his fork and dug in like his world hadn’t just tilted totally off its axis.

Jude was a wonder. After spouting off words hot enough to melt my panties, he eased into friendly conversation while we ate and I found myself comfortable enough to tell him more about my dreams of owning my own shop.

“I’m thinking of calling it Red’s.” I used to hate the nickname when Blake and the guys gave it to me, but I quickly learned it was their way of showing affection so I’d embraced it.

Jude glossed right over that. “So, you just wanna do straight-up auto shop stuff, or are you going to get into restorations, too?”

Something inside me softened at how he automatically believed in my dream, as if it was a given. “I’ll probably start with basic automotive maintenance and repairs, then as it grows, move into more stuff.
If
it grows.”

“Of course it will.”

I nodded my appreciation as I finished the last bite of tamale. “You were right. That was delicious.”

“I know, right? Almost as good as Mom’s.”

“Tell me more about her.”

He sipped his drink as his eyes took on a faraway look. “She’s great.” His dimpled grin was adorable. “Pushy, but great. Our dad left when I was six so she had to work extra hard to keep us afloat and off the streets. She worked as many as three jobs at once just so we could have new winter coats and my sister, Bianca, could get dance lessons.”

“She sounds wonderful.”

“She is.” He bit his tongue as he seemed about to say something more. I fantasized he was thinking about me meeting his mother.

Too soon. Too fast. Too everything.

Slow down, Aubrey.

I killed that particular line of thought and instead told him about home and my mom’s cooking, which was sadly not anywhere near gourmet, but I never starved.

“Any brothers or sisters other than Rachel?” he asked.

“Rachel has an older brother, Weston, but we’re not really close. He’s had a hard time with our parent’s relationship. And I guess Jesse, too. He’s become like the big brother I never had. He’s taught me so much about cars and life.”

“Any good life lessons to share?”

My gaze drifted out the window to the horizon that seemed a million miles away. I debated how much of Jesse’s history to share. I didn’t want to spread his private business around, but then again, he’d never kept his past a secret. I met Jude’s eyes. “Jesse was in prison for several years for assault. He was on parole when he and Rachel got together.”

Jude’s face was slack with disbelief. “Rachel . . . the lawyer, right?”

I laughed. “That’s the one. They knew each other in high school. Mad crush. Unrequited love, and all that. To hear her tell it, she was just waiting for the chance to snatch him up. His past didn’t matter to her.” My eyes dipped. “I guess that’s the power of true love.”

He said nothing for several moments and I finally peered back up. His expression was thoughtful as he gazed out at the same horizon I’d been studying. His voice was whisper soft. “I guess you can find a whole lot of life lessons in that if you’re willing.”

I agreed. I had no idea about the angry, wounded Jesse that had nearly killed a man, but I knew the Jesse who had emerged a better person and I found myself gushing about how much I loved him and how perfect he and my sister were together with their growing family. “I can’t wait to meet their new baby in a few weeks.”

Jude’s entire body loosened and lit up like a lightbulb. “How awesome.”

It was awesome. I told him about their daughter, Avery, as he paid the bill and led me out of the restaurant.

“Do you have to get back to the hotel right away?”

“No.” My voice was breathless with the unexpected change of topic.

“Good.” He opened my door and waited for me to slide inside without elaborating.