My Grumpy Old Bear - Jayda Marx Page 0,13

beat the shit out of someone. “Not too long after, Ron came into my office and said that he’d heard I was a miracle worker with sore muscles. He said the stress of his job was getting to him and he needed his shoulder tension worked out. I told him it was no problem and worked him into my schedule. Well, twenty minutes into the massage, Ron was hard as a brick. I didn’t mention anything, though; sometimes that happens. It’s a physical response to getting better blood flow. It was when he started moaning and thrusting against the blanket covering him that I told him the massage was over.”

Brooks released my thigh to fold his fingers together and cracked his knuckles. His jaw clenched as he swallowed hard. He looked thirsty for blood. “He told me he knew I wanted him; that he’d heard from my mom I preferred older men and that he could tell from our first meeting at the party we had chemistry. He said he’d keep whatever we did as our little secret. Then he began touching himself with one hand through the sheet and reached out with his other hand to grab my dick.”

“Does he live around here?” Brooks growled. “I don’t know if I could physically kick his ass, but I own a gun.”

I snorted a laugh even though I wasn’t entirely sure if he was joking. “Anyway, I bolted from the room and hid in the back of the office until he left. I told my mom everything that happened, but she didn’t believe me. She said that Ron was too much of a gentleman to do what I’d claimed; that I must have done something to arouse him or tease him, and then over exaggerated his reaction. He of course claimed his innocence, and since then, my mom and I haven’t spoken much. I tried to go on working, but every time I went into my office and saw a man on my table, I just remembered what Ron did and it freaked me out, worrying me it might happen again. I thought about making it a policy that I’d only take female clients, but I didn’t want to get sued. Finally, I just left the business altogether. Jess told me the café where she worked was hiring, and I guess the rest is history.”

“Fuck, Noah.” I peeked over to see him scrubbing both hands over his face, looking like he was trying to calm himself down. “I’m so sorry. I hate Ron for what he did to you and that he forced you out of a career you enjoyed. And I hate that your mom didn’t believe you; that she took some asshole’s word over her own son’s.” He shook his head and looked out the window. He was quiet for several minutes. “Thank you for telling me. I never would have guessed you’d been through something so shitty with how positive you are.”

“It took a while to become positive again,” I confessed. “I visited a therapist several times to talk through everything. Finally, I was able to put everything behind me and move forward. It hurts that my mom and I don’t have the relationship we used to, but I just can’t do it when she blames me for the whole thing.”

“I understand,” he replied quietly. He took my hand and held it gently as we rode on in silence.

Finally, I blew out a breath. “Okay, so we’ve told each other our sob stories. I’m glad it’s all out in the open, but I want us to be in a better mood by the time we reach where we’re going. So, tell me something I don’t know about you; something good.”

“Hmm…” Brooks scratched through his bristly beard as he thought. “I like to carve.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “I started playing around with it when I was younger. I’d carve designs into cool sticks I found while I was out hiking. Then a few years ago, it turned into something to entertain me during the winter when I was just sitting around on my ass. I make little figures or boxes; I enjoy it.”

“I’d love to see some stuff you made. Why don’t you have anything around your house?” Realization dawned on me. “Brooks, did you carve the designs in your bedroom?” He nodded again. “Holy shit! I didn’t get a close-up look at them, but they were gorgeous! You’re so talented! And you taught yourself?”

Brooks’ chest visibly puffed up. “Thanks, Sunshine.