“Sure.” He lowered his massive frame to the carpeted floor in front of the sofa and leaned back on the furniture. Jo-Jo crawled over and patted his large thigh with her tiny hand. He hoisted the tyke up and settled her into his lap. Jessica sat on the couch and snuggled with the other girls. It was a picture of pure bliss and Tim was happier than he’d been in years.
Five minutes into the animated Disney Jr. show, a familiar voice hollered from the hallway.
“Julia! Oh,Julia! Look what you left in Granddaddy’s car…” Mrs. Southers stopped abruptly in the open kitchen, her face displaying shock.
Jessica was on her feet in a millisecond, positioning herself to block her mother’s line of sight. “Hey, Mama. Thanks for bringing this back.”
The old woman’s coral-painted lips made a thin line, and her eyes zoned in on Tim. He was already on his feet and cautiously came toward them with baby Jo-Jo in his arms.
“Mama, I’d like you to meet my friend. This is Tim. Tim… McGill.” She eyed him knowingly, and his gaze softened knowing she was protecting him.
“Tim McGill,” she said unemotionally, the disapproval evident in her high-pitched Southern twang. “Do I know you?”
By this time, the girls’ focus was off the movie and on them. Jennifer yelled out, “He’s our friend too, Grandma!”
Mrs. Southers eyebrow arched as she watched Julia approach and snatch the blanket out of her hand. The quiet little girl proceeded to stand next to Tim and raised her hand up to hold his as if showing her allegiance. Baby Jo-Jo lay her head on his broad shoulder. Tim stared back at Mrs. Southers, determined not to let his nerves show. It was comical how the tiny, old woman intimidated him.
“Hi, Mrs. Southers. It’s very nice to meet you. I was doing some work in the area and stopped by to say hello to the girls—”
“And why would you do that?” she interrupted, her voice dripping with haughty disdain as she tilted her head to look up at him.
“Mama!” Jessica chastised.
Tim cleared his throat and handed Jo-Jo to Jessica. “As I said, I stopped by to say hello to the girls. Make sure they didn’t need anything after that storm blew through. I’ll be on my way now.”
“No!” the little girls bemoaned. Jessica immediately corralled her children and urged them back to the living room to resume their show quietly. Tim patted each one on the head, stooping down low to Julia.
“Glad you got your blankie back,” he whispered. Julia nodded and offered a shy smile. “I’ll see you later. You take care of your mama, okay?” She nodded again.
Mrs. Southers stood erect in the hallway with her chin held high and didn’t say a word as Tim passed her on his way to the front door with Jessica trailing behind.
“Thanks for stopping by, Tim. You’re always welcome around here.” Her sunny smile made his heart flip in his chest. His grin turned into a frown when his eyes met Mrs. Southers again.
“It was nice meeting you. I’ll be on my way now.”
“Where are your shoes, Mr. McGill?”
Tim stopped in his tracks and glanced at Jessica who was behind her mother frantically waving her hand across her throat and shaking her head.
“Uhh, I took them off outside before I came in from the rain. Didn’t want to ruin these nice floors. Take care.” He darted outside into the downpour and nearly slipped on the drenched Bermuda grass as he ran swiftly barefoot down the steep front lawn to his truck. He could see the Cadillac idling in the drive closest to the garage and wondered how Jessica was handling her mama at the moment. He sat in the cab of the truck, his chest rising and falling as water dripped from his head. His keys were back in the master bedroom on the side table—and his shoes and hoodie were somewhere in the house, images of him and Jessica skin on skin causing his manhood to flinch. His fib might have fooled Mrs. Southers, but if he couldn’t start his truck and get out of there quick, he’d be found out for sure.
Through the deluge of rain coming down in sheets, Tim watched the red taillights of the Cadillac slowly back down the driveway. He flicked on his lights and hoped the old couple wouldn’t wait to find out his next move. Lucky for him, they sped past with a whoosh, the fancy car hitting a puddle of rainwater that cascaded over his truck like a waterfall. Sighing with relief, he gripped the steering wheel with both hands and closed his eyes, hating himself for allowing Jessica to lie on his behalf. He knew that condescending look her mother had given him. Not even knowing who he was, she disapproved immediately because of the way he looked, he was sure of it. He didn’t want to cause a rift in their relationship and hoped Jessica had come up with a plan to appease her.
The sound of knuckles on his passenger window startled him, and his eyes popped open to see Jessica smiling in at him, the torrential downpour falling all around her. He gasped and leaned across the space to open the door.
“Get in before you drown!”
She was giggling and shivering at the same time as she held up his keys and dangled them in front of his face. “I thought you might need these,” she said. “And these.” She handed him his shoes that were wrapped up in his hoodie from earlier.
Water dripped from the ends of her long hair and lashes, her ample bosom and bra outlined in the soaked tee, her nipples displaying a full-on salute. She was fucking gorgeous.
Tim palmed the sides of her head and aggressively pulled her forward, locking his lips with hers. They were a tangle of wet arms and hair and tongues, the heat from their skin, the humidity and heavy breathing fogging up the cab interior.
“Are the girls okay unsupervised?” Tim managed to gasp in between carnal kisses.
“Yes,” Jessica exhaled, frantically kissing him back.
“Is your mother okay?”
