Screwdriver Read online

  Screwdriver

  Mari Carr

  Cocktales, Book Two

  When Jordan Lance isn’t poring over spreadsheets for Books and Brew, she’s fantasizing about the store’s landlord. Too bad she’s squarely in Gabriel’s “just friends” column. Jordan’s prepared to pine forever—until she meets Casey. The handyman is hot, handsome, charming…and Gabriel’s best friend. Suddenly her wicked fantasies are porntastic times two.

  Casey has suspected his friend’s interest in Jordan. If he can push them together, he might get Gabriel off the bimbo train he’s been riding. The plan? Jealousy. And it’s working. It’s not long before Gabriel’s deeper feelings for Jordan emerge. Problem is…so do Casey’s. What happens when two friends want the same woman? Red-hot ménage, baby.

  Two gorgeous men exploring every inch of her body? Um, yes please! Jordan doesn’t know if threesomes are considered acceptable, but she’s sure of one thing—being this bad feels far too good.

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing

  www.ellorascave.com

  Screwdriver

  ISBN 9781419935688

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Screwdriver Copyright © 2012 Mari Carr

  Edited by Kelli Collins

  Cover design by Syneca

  Photography by Bart72/Shutterstock.com and Romancenovelcovers.com

  Electronic book publication March 2012

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.

  The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  Screwdriver

  Mari Carr

  Dedication

  This story is dedicated to Mary D., a good friend who is always willing to share her vodka…and a laugh.

  Screwdriver

  1½ oz. vodka

  6 oz. pulp-free orange juice

  Pour the orange juice into a glass with ice, then pour in the shot of vodka.

  Stir and serve.

  Chapter One

  GLaw: So it’s really that hot?

  JLan: You have no idea. My sweat is sweating.

  GLaw: Wouldn’t mind seeing that trick.

  JLan: LOL. Help!

  GLaw: I’ll make a couple calls. In the meantime, maybe B&B could adopt a clothing-optional policy.

  JLan: You’re only saying that because you want to see Sophie topless.

  GLaw: No comment.

  JLan: What? So unlike you to plead the Fifth. How was your date last night?

  GLaw: Eternal.

  JLan: Thought you liked this woman?

  GLaw: I did. First couple of dates. Then we decided to stop screwing and start talking. It went downhill fast.

  JLan: Gross. You’re a pig. Remind me again. Why are we friends?

  GLaw: You find me irresistible.

  JLan: No comment.

  GLaw: Got a meeting in ten. Doing lunch again next week?

  JLan: Of course. Every Monday.

  GLaw: Keep cool, Jordy. And let me know if you take me up on the topless idea.

  JLan: Go to your meeting.

  GLaw: LOL. Later.

  Jordan Lance signed off IM then stared at her screen saver. It was a picture of her and Gabriel taken at an impromptu picnic Stephanie had thrown in May to celebrate spring and the return of warm weather. Jayne had caught them unaware as they chatted, sitting in lawn chairs. Neither of them faced the camera and they weren’t even smiling, but it was still Jordan’s favorite picture. Not because it was a particularly good shot of her, but because of the expression on Gabriel’s face.

  For that brief moment in time, he was completely focused on her. His gaze was intent, interested and maybe even attracted.

  She scoffed. Yeah, right. Attracted. In your dreams, Jordan.

  She clicked on an Excel spreadsheet and decided it was time to focus on work and real life.

  Unfortunately, her distraction was too strong.

  In my dreams.

  She gave in to the inevitable and closed her eyes.

  “Do that again. Oh yeah. Right there. God, right there.”

  She looked down at the top of his head, seeing only the sea of chestnut hair. He was currently driving her to madness, doing all sorts of beautiful things between her legs. She thrashed against her desk chair, throwing her head back.

  His tongue flicked against her clit once more and she squealed with delight, more moisture flooding her already soaked pussy. A trickle of sweat ran down the side of her face, but she didn’t bother to flick it away. She could take the heat in stride when it felt this damn good.

  She reached out, ran her fingers through his thick, soft hair and let her eyes drift shut. She was so close. So fucking close.

  “Please,” she whispered.

  He didn’t speak. He never did. He simply walked into her office, dropped to his knees and gave her the hottest orgasms in history.

  His mouth moved harder against her sensitive flesh, his teeth nipping lightly, causing the most incredible sensation. She couldn’t decide if it hurt or felt good, but she’d be damned if she’d tell him to stop.

  “More,” she pleaded. His mouth wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. She needed his cock, but he held back, never offering her that last bit of paradise.

  He responded to her request by slowly pushing two fingers inside her pussy.

  She tightened her hands in his hair. She must be hurting him, but he never complained, never sought release. Then she realized he wasn’t sweating. Apparently, she was the only one suffering from the increase in temperature.

  He was cool as a cucumber as he increased the speed, his fingers fucking her faster, deeper.

  She thrust her hips toward him, unable to control the movements of her body. He had her thrashing around like a flag in a hurricane. Powerless to resist him. Putty in his hands. She needed so much more than this.

  “You.” She gripped his wrist, trying to pull his hand away from her pussy. She wouldn’t be denied. Not again. While his mouth and hands did glorious things to her, she was determined that this time—today—she’d get it all. She had to. Perspiration dampened her shirt, the cotton clinging to her breasts. She was on the verge of bursting into flames but she didn’t care. She’d gladly stand on the pyre as long as he was here with her.

  He remained silent, ignoring her pleas, her grip on his arm. He continued to push his thick fingers inside her, adding another to the dance. God dammit. She’d never make it. Never be able to hold on.

  “I need you.”
Her voice was hoarse from her cries but he didn’t respond. When he sucked her clit into his mouth, she knew it was game over.

  She released his hair and her hand flew to the arm of the chair, gripping it tightly as she bucked toward him, toward his tormenting mouth, his gorgeous fingers.

  “Ahhh…” She saw spots. Her body tingled from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. She imagined even her hair felt the pulse of her orgasm. Trembling, she let it consume her, take her to the peak and toss her over.

  Free-falling back to earth, she wondered if there could be anything more wonderful than this.

  As the sensations subsided, she kept her eyes shut, unwilling to return to reality. The image of her lover faded, then disappeared. No matter how hard she tried, Jordan couldn’t keep him with her.

  “Please, Gabriel,” she whispered. “Don’t go.”

  When she couldn’t ignore the truth any longer, she slowly lifted her eyelids.

  A quick glance confirmed it was her own fingers that had driven her to madness.

  Her fantasy was over and she was alone.

  Again.

  Chapter Two

  “Okay,” Jordan said as she hit the bottom step, walking into the stifling humidity of Books and Brew. “I just IM’d Gabriel to tell him the AC is on the fritz.”

  Stephanie, one of Jordan’s BFFs, fanned herself with a drink menu. “Good. I’m fucking dying in here.”

  The bell over the front door jingled as a prospective customer walked in. The older woman paused after only one step and then glanced their way.

  Jordan gave the woman an apologetic smile. “Sorry. We’re having some problems with our air-conditioning.”

  The woman nodded. “Yes. I can feel that.” Turning, she left the store, obviously deciding the brutal heat wave pummeling Portland was preferable to remaining in their ovenlike business.

  “Hope the repair guy gets here fast. Otherwise we may as well close up shop. That’s the third customer to walk in and right back out. Sort of pointless to stay open.” Stephanie picked up a napkin and wiped the perspiration from her forehead.

  Jayne joined them at the bar and grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler behind Stephanie. “I suspect the only reason people are out shopping at all today is to find cool air in the stores. There’s no way anyone would come in here to browse. It must be pushing eighty already.”

  Jordan glanced at the clock. It was barely eleven a.m. What would the store feel like by midafternoon? “Should we close? Call today a wash? Even if the repair guy does show up, chances are good he won’t get the air fixed immediately.”

  Stephanie hooted. “Hell yeah! Let’s do it. I’m thinking Grant Pool.”

  Jordan shook her head. “Are you nuts? It’ll be packed bumper to butt with bodies.”

  Stephanie shrugged. “Who cares? I’m claiming a lounge chair and soaking up some rays. Tired of looking like a vampire.”

  Jordan looked at Stephanie’s lightly tanned complexion and sun-streaked brunette hair and rolled her eyes. Her friend was gorgeous. A quick glance at Jayne’s petite figure and blonde hair drove home the fact—once again—that both of her friends were very attractive. Jordan didn’t even let her mind drift to the fourth in their gang of friends. Sophie, the other joint owner of Books and Brew, was breathtakingly beautiful and a social butterfly, which left shy, average Jordan the odd guy out. As always.

  She didn’t think she was unattractive, just plain. Brown hair, brown eyes, medium height, medium build. There wasn’t a single feature on her boring body that stood out, that stopped traffic or that made men glance in her direction.

  Stephanie reached beneath the bar for her purse. “I need to run home and grab a swimsuit. You guys in?”

  Jayne nodded. “Yeah. The pool sounds like fun. Want to take one car and stop at my place on the way to yours?”

  Stephanie pulled her car keys out of her handbag. “Sure. I’ll drive. How about you, Jordan?”

  Jordan crinkled her nose. City pools weren’t her thing. “No thanks. I might hang out here for a bit in case Gabriel emails or calls.”

  Stephanie gave her a wicked grin. “If he does call, why not be bold for once and ask the guy out?”

  Jayne stepped closer. “I agree with Steph. I mean, if you’re destined to be all hot and sticky today, you might as well get there the fun way. With Gabriel.”

  Jordan tried to fight back the blush the mere mention of Gabriel’s name inspired, recalling the red-hot fantasy she had played out in her office this morning. It was a lost cause. Her friends loved to tease her about her fruitless crush on their landlord. Gabriel Lawson was richer than Midas, more handsome than Gerard Butler and the ultimate ladies’ man.

  He’d also held her heart in his hand since the first day they met. She’d long ago resigned herself to the idea she and Gabriel would never be more than friends. Gabriel had come to count on her as the one woman who would never hit on him. He was oblivious to her true desires. While being “just friends” was an annoying position, she didn’t intend to give it up anytime soon. Gabriel had a permanent revolving door when it came to girlfriends. The masochistic part of her took some sick pride in the fact that she was the only one still standing.

  Besides, she’d seen the beauties on Gabriel’s arm over the years and the old Sesame Street song drifted through her mind. She was definitely the one thing unlike all the others. She didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell at capturing his attention, so she maintained her Gabriel worship in secret. Instead of upsetting the norm, she offered him friendly conversation and advice, while casting him as the star in all her masturbation daydreams.

  Jordan feigned a yawn. “Oh thank God, you managed to get in your Gabriel dig today. And it’s early. Not even noon. That may be a new record for the two of you.”

  Stephanie narrowed her eyes. “Nice dodge, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re shortchanging the both of you. The guy’s perfect for you. You’re both number freaks. You listen to the same crap jazz music and actually choose to go to art museums during your free time. Think of all the pretty, nerdy babies you could bring into the world.”

  “Gabriel is hardly a nerd.” Gabriel was male perfection incarnate, with dark eyes, soft brown hair, a chiseled jaw and a toned body that begged to be touched. In addition to that, he was alpha, intelligent, handsome, suave. Jordan had a never-ending list of descriptions for him and “nerd” was nowhere on it.

  Jayne, the bookworm of the group, placed her hands on her hips. “It’s a good thing we keep you trapped behind that bar slinging drinks, Steph. You have no culture in your soul. Poor Jared.”

  Stephanie was six months into the longest relationship of her life, with the man Jordan truly hoped her friend would eventually marry. Jared, a local police detective, had given Stephanie a ticket for double-parking and, after a few tumultuous dates, the key to his house. “Jared and I see eye to eye on what’s fun. Rock concerts. Check. A day at the beach. Check. Walking around a museum looking at indecipherable paintings for hours on end. No thanks.”

  Jordan raised her hand, cutting off the familiar argument. “This entire conversation is pointless. Gabriel doesn’t know I’m interested and I’m not about to ask him out on a date. There’s no way I’d risk our friendship just to be his flavor of the month.”

  Stephanie crinkled her nose. “Let’s be serious. With Gabe, it’s more like flavor of the week.”

  Jordan tilted her head in annoyance. “Thanks for the distinction.”

  Stephanie’s face showed no remorse. “The difference is you wouldn’t be a short-term deal. You have the advantage.”

  “What’s that?” Jordan asked.

  “You’re pretty and smart, the two of you have tons in common and you’re already friends, which I’ve heard is how you’re supposed to start a relationship.”

  Jayne laughed. “I think that may be an old wives’ tale. God knows you and Jared skipped straight to the good part and you’re still going strong.”


  Stephanie nodded. “Good point, but I’d say it’s already too late for Jordan to sleep with Gabriel the first night they meet.”

  Jordan leaned on the bar. “God. I wish I had your nerve. I miss sex.”

  Stephanie lifted her hair off her neck and fanned in an attempt to cool off. “This is exactly what I’m trying to say. Next time Gabe comes around, I want you to flirt. Drop some hints that you wouldn’t be opposed to getting horizontal with him. I mean, what’s the most horrible thing that could happen?”

  Sadly, Jordan had let herself imagine the worst along with the sex fantasies. He could treat her like all the others, take her out for a few dates, maybe have some sex and then the grand dumping scene or—the most frightening idea of all—he could refuse her advances point-blank.

  “I just can’t make myself go there. Not with Gabe.”

  Jayne placed a comforting hand on Jordan’s shoulder. “I can understand that. Honestly. His handsomeness is a bit intimidating. We’re just worried about you. You haven’t had a date in a very long time.”

  Two and a half years. She’d had a somewhat serious boyfriend in college, but they’d split up after graduation when he’d taken a job on the East Coast. He’d asked her to come with him, but Jordan had known almost from the start their relationship wasn’t destined to last. She’d broken things off and gone into the bookstore-slash-bar business with Steph, Jayne and Sophie instead.

  She’d met Gabriel when they were looking for a space to rent and, since then, she’d avoided dating, opting instead for his friendship and fantasizing from afar. It wasn’t a healthy mind-set, but she couldn’t seem to conjure an attraction to anyone except Gabriel.

  Besides, dating had never been very high on her list of fun things to do. It was one of the reasons she’d stayed in the relationship with Chris for so long. He was like a comfortable pair of shoes she’d managed to break in. Sure, they weren’t sexy or even very pretty, but they didn’t hurt her feet. So what if Chris hadn’t set her pulse racing or rocked her world in bed?