Trade In (Odd Jobs Book 3) Read online

  I worked at Lee’s Auto Body for about six months until Liam floated the idea by me about starting our own garage. I have an associate’s degree in business and knew everything there was to know about motorcycle mechanics. Liam had spent most of our three years apart working in mechanic shops wrenching on cars, why not put the two together. The idea for our future together was born.

  Where we would start the business was an easy decision. Ever since we got back together, Liam and I both knew we would end up back in Shawnee. It’s where we began, it’s the best place for us to begin our story again.

  “Are you ready?” Liam’s voice startles me from my thoughts. I look around and notice we are parked in front of Noble, where all our friends have gathered to send us off on to our new adventure.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Liam quickly hops out and runs over to open my door, “You know I can do that myself?”

  “I know, but you secretly love it when I do it for you,” he grins at me before grasping my hand and pulling me toward the door.

  As soon as the door opens music fills the air as all our friends cheer!

  “Look what the cat dragged in!” Heather chirps as she wraps both of us in a hug. The two of us have gotten a lot closer since our trip to Shawnee. I wouldn’t say she is one of my best friends, but I will miss her when we leave.

  “Thanks for arranging this for us,” I whisper in her ear

  “Any excuse to throw a party.” She leans back and gives me a wink before disappearing into the crowd. Liam places a gentle kiss on my hand before heading off after Heather, more than likely in search of Wyatt.

  “You’re really Dorothy today! Red shoes and all.” Michael and Paul squeal in unison as they come over and wrap me in a big bear hug. I can’t stop the tears that come to my eyes. These two have been my rocks for my entire stay here in San Diego, through thick and thin. I have no idea what I would have done without them.

  “No water works girlfriend. I don’t have time to reapply your makeup.” Paul winks

  “I did it all by myself this time. I even picked out my own shoes too.” I hold up my leg and point at with cherry red Chuck Taylors on my feet. “They aren’t heels, but you can’t win them all,” I smile at them both.

  “Our Dorothy is all grown up.” Michael pretends to wipe tears from his eyes, “Who are we going to go shopping with now?”

  “Each other?” I question

  “But he isn’t as fun to dress as you,” Paul retorts

  “We can video shop. Plus, there is always online shopping, send me things. I promise to email or text you and bitch about it.”

  “That’s our girl,” they say in unison.

  Suddenly the entire bar goes quiet. Wanting to know the cause I turn around and look at the door, and see my Father standing there. His hands are in his pockets, shoulders slumped low. My proud father, even with our differences has comes to see me off.

  “Hi, Dad.” I whisper taking a step in his direction.

  “Hey baby,” he says, “I know that you don’t want me here after everything that has happened, but I just wanted to give you these.” He holds out his hand with a set of keys dangling from them.

  I immediately tear up, “My baby?”

  “Yup, I fixed her all up for you. I don’t want that piece of junk dirtying up my shop anymore. It’s scaring away customers.”

  I giggle, “More like bringing them in.”

  I feel Liam’s hand slide into mine, my dad’s entire demeanor changes. “Mr. Beaufort, I know you don’t like me or agree with us being together. However, I want you to know I made your son a promise and I intend to keep it until the day I die.”

  My dad stands there for a moment, staring at Liam before he nods his head. “Just wanted to give you these.” He walks toward me and places the keys in my hand before placing a kiss on my forehead.

  “Don’t be a stranger,” he whispers in my ear before turning around and heading out the door.

  “Are you alright?” Paul and Michael ask as they stand next to me.

  “Yeah, I am.” I smile at them before turning to Liam. “I don’t think things will ever be the same with my dad and me, but I think he knows that you will take care of me.”

  “I will, Roo. I will.” Liam smiles before bending down to give me a chase kiss.

  “I hate to interrupt this Hallmark moment, but I’ve been dying to ask. Why the hell do you call her Roo?” Heather chimes in from Wyatt’s lap at a near by table.

  I can’t help but bend over laughing. “Are you just going to laugh like a lunatic or tell the story?” Liam questions.

  I take a moment to calm down before responding, “It’s simple. Liam bough me a stuff lamb chop for our first valentine’s day together. On the card he wrote ‘think of me when you squeeze this.’” Everyone waits patiently for me continue, but I can barely contain my laughter. Liam notices and continues the story.

  “Once Rachel opens the card she responds with ‘Alright, Lamb. However, I am partial to Winnie the Pooh.’”

  Liam waits for everyone to figure out the punch line, but no one is catching on.

  “I don’t get it,” Addison chimes in from the other side of the room.

  Liam shakes his head, “Roo is the baby kangaroo in Winnie the Pooh.”

  Everyone lets out a collective “OOOOOOH” making Liam and I both laugh.

  “Who knew that our friends were so dense,” Liam says

  “We did, but we love them anyway.”

  “Not as much as I love you.”

  “Lamb, you are probably one of the cheesiest human beings I have ever met.” I slap his arm as he hisses in pain, “What’s the matter?”

  “Now is as good of a time as any to show you,” Liam begins to roll up his sleeve and right under the replica of the Indian logo is a small Roo. “Now I can have you with me, always.”

  I let out a watery giggle before jumping into his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a hug, “Who could have imagined after four years we would have ended up right here, together again.”

  “I always hoped, prayed that we would find our way back to each other. I have a feeling we had a little help.” Liam leans back so he can look me in the eye before placing me down on my feet. “Now let’s get this party started.”

  I don’t know what our future holds, but I know that whatever it is we can face it together and come out okay on the other side. If we can survive three years apart believing the worst about each other, we can survive anything. It also helps we have a guardian angel watching over us both.

  Excerpt from Stay

  COLE

  Bright and early Monday morning, here I’m running down Pacific Beach. This is the life, nothing better than this. Who would’ve thought that I originally wanted to spend my life in an office every day?

  As I near the end of my run, I see what I hope to be my latest conquest coming my way. Long legs, with strawberry blonde hair, jogging slowly with her chocolate lab. Poor dog; it looks miserable. She must have noticed me as well because she sticks her chest out and there’s a little more pep in her step. Slowing my pace, I go in for the kill.

  “I couldn’t help but notice you running with your dog. Hi, my name is Cole. I’m the owner of Promener Le Chien. If you’re ever in need of a dog walker, give me a call. I’d be glad to help.”

  I pull a business card out of my iPod holder. With a smile, I take a step to begin running again when I feel a soft touch. Never fails.

  “This must be fate! I recently moved to the area and have no time to walk Brownie the way she should be with my schedule. I’d love to discuss your business with you further. My apartment is a block or two away.”

  Just like that, my early morning run is cut short. I found another form of exercise.

  After my detailed discussion with Paige and a deposit to start walking Brownie tomorrow, I head toward my condo to take a shower and start my day. A little over six feet tall, washboard abs, and dark brown hair most p
eople mistake me for a model. Nothing against models; I fuck them. They make a great lay, but I have a brain between my ears. I could never be one long term.

  I tried veterinary school for a while, but all the rules were too much. Before I wasted any more of mine or my parent's money I dropped out. Instead, I took my love of animals and started my own business, no need for rules or bowing down to the masses. I was my own master, no pun intended.

  That’s where the idea of Promener Le Chien came from, which is the French way to say dog walker. These yuppies eat the name up. I put up a few fliers, and now I make roughly two grand a week walking someone else’s dogs. I’m a genius. I’m glad everyone else is finally getting on board.

  Getting closer to my door, I notice trash waiting to be taken out. “Do I need to call the police? This is getting out of hand.”

  “Cole, we were good together. Fabulous even, we should give it another shot. I can do better, I promise.”

  Just hearing Vickie speak at this point makes my blood boil. I’d count her as my one and only mistake in life. We tried to have a relationship, and everything was amazing, that’s until I caught her bent over the side of our couch with her boss balls deep in her pussy. It’s been almost six months now, but she still sporadically comes back begging to get back together.

  “I need you to go crawl back into whatever hole you crawled out of. We are through, end of story.”

  I shove past her to unlock my door. “Cole, you’ll never be done with me. You always come back for more. Even if it’s just a little taste.”

  She’s right, I always used to come sulking back to her when she was free or wanting a relationship again but looking at her now there’s nothing.

  “Things change, Vic. Right now, I have work to do which doesn’t include you.” With my door finally unlocked, I slide inside and promptly slam the door in her face.

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  Also by AJ Alexander

  Odd Job Series

  Stay

  Served

  SEAL’ed Series

  Honor

  Love

  Fate

  Power

  Faith

  Stand Alone

  Save Me

  About AJ Alexander

  AJ Alexander is a wanna be psychologist, writer, and author of the recently completed, SEAL’ed Series. AJ’s passion is writing angst filled, happily ever afters that have to be earned by her characters. Women with no backbone need not apply. AJ uses sarcasm and an unlimited supply of song lyrics to bring her romance novels to life.

  AJ lives in the angst capital of the world, Seattle Washington with her own personal knight in shining armor and her two beautiful girls.