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When Julie got into the car, the seats were uncomfortably hot. She turned on the AC, hoping it would work quickly. She'd just had an interview with the Lodi Gazette. She thought it went well.

She glanced over into the passenger seat where her bright red phone alerted her to the fact that she had a voicemail. She picked it up, typed in her code and listened to the message.

"Hi Baby…I … I'm not going to be able to take you out for your Birthday. I'm sorry, honey, it's just the boys have me up to my neck in shit work… you know being the prospect and all. Anyways baby I really am sorry! You could come hang out with me. I'm here alone so no one will interrupt us…unless you'd just rather be mad at me that is fine too…" He chuckled "I love you and happy birthday Jules…"

Apparently Julie was spending her birthday at Teller-Morrow. She put her car in drive and headed that way.


"Timmy!" Julie called out.

"Over here, babe." He replied, his head under the hood of a Toyota 4Runner.

She walked over, heels clicking on the concrete.

"Hiya baby!"

He took a sidelong glance at her purple and black plaid shirt with black pearl snaps and black lace cut outs at the shoulders. Black high waisted pants and her black suede boots finished off the look.

"Hey Birthday Girl. You been raidin' my closet?"

"Plaid's the in thing now… you're en vogue now baby."

Tim's laugh rang off the cinder block walls. "Yeah right."

"How was your day?" She asked.

"Let's see... I had to change the oil on three cars, sweep and mop the clubhouse, wash everyone's bikes, and now I'm fixing a transmission. The fact that it was the lowly prospect's girlfriend's birthday was lost on all of them."

Julie shrugged. "I'll have another one next year, so no big deal."

He stood up straight wiping his greasy hands on a soiled red bandana. "Well, I plan to make it the best birthday I can, despite our unusual circumstances tonight and I promise you next year will be better."

She walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist. Resting her head on his chest she murmured, "I like this just fine."

He stood stock-still, careful not touch her and get her dirty.

"I need you to stand right here and close your eyes. Don't move." He unraveled himself from her.

"Tim, this is the part of the movie when the axe murderer kills the pretty but ditzy blonde and you never see the body again."

"You're not ditzy and I'm not going far. " Julie heard water running then shut off. The whirring clang of some machinery then Tim walking toward her. "Okay open!"

There on a paper plate was a bright pink Hostess Snoball with a lit candle in the center. Julie melted a little.

"Happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday Dear Julie happy birthday to you." Tim sang to her. He wasn't Josh Groban but it wasn't terrible. Man did she love him. She smiled brightly at him.

"Go on make a wish." She closed her eyes making her wish and blew it out.

"I wouldn't actually eat that …I have no idea how long it's been in the vending machine…I just liked the symbolism…one more thing." Tim said.

He fished in his pocket pulling out one of the little plastic egg things containing some piece of jewelry that you could get out of the little quarter toy dispenser in Gemma's office. Julie smiled as he handed it to her. She opened it. A simple silver heart on a matching thin chain.

"I love it. I like simple things."

"Your real present is at my place."

"No worries, I like this one just as much. How many quarters it take to get the one you wanted?"

"Like fifty." he grinned

"Help me put it on?"

As he did, he kissed the back of her neck.

"Happy Birthday, Julie. Don't wear that too long it'll turn your neck green."

"You know Tim, this may be one of my best birthdays yet. You surprised me. I thought it would involve a spanking and sex on the pool table in the club."

"That could be arranged." He grinned like the Cheshire cat "Is there anything else you'd like?"

"Dance with me?" She held out her hand. "No one's here to see."

Tim turned and found the song on his iPod he wanted as it set in its dock on the tool cart. Adele's version of "To Make You Feel My Love" poured out the speakers. Tim gathered Julie to him. They didn't dance, really, they just kind of swayed to the music in each other's arms.

"Why is that song on your IPod?"

Tim shrugged. "You like it."


Jax pulled up to the club. He intended to tell Tim he could leave for the night. As he shut off his bike he heard the last notes of a slow song coming from the shop.

Why was Tim listening to girly music? Then he saw them as he walked in. They were in their own little world now, trying to make their way through what he thought to be a two–step to some tinny old country music.

"Baby, how did you manage to make all those moves on the field but a simple quick-quick-slow rhythm messes you up?" Julie teased, her eyes glittering.

Jax knew he was invading a private moment and should leave, but he couldn't make himself. He was too enamored with Julie, mesmerized by the way she moved, to want to leave.

"Yeah wel,l I can't be good looking and a great dancer that would be asking too much of God," he replied. She laughed again and Jax's insides clinched.

"I like watching you do those spinney things though," said Tim.

"You mean pirouettes. I can't do those in these heels but…"

She backed away from him. Her left leg shot up parallel to her head as she spun in a tight circle.

"I like that one." Tim smirked.

"Pervert!" Julie retorted.


Julie's eyes landed on Jax and she blushed a pretty pink. She brought her leg down standing still.

"Nice moves, Pixie, but your man is severely lacking. Happy Birthday, by the way." He smiled at her.

"Thank you."

"Yeah, well, if you think you can do better by all means."

Tim laid out the challenge and the sharp spark in Jax's eyes should have been a warning to Julie, but it went over her head.

"Can you two-step?" asked Julie.

He shook his head no.

"I'll teach you it's simple and fun…"

She took his hand and felt an instant spark, the warmth curling up into her arm. She tried to shrug off the feeling and teach him the steps.

In his arms ,she realized that where Tim's touch was soft and gently possessive, Jax's touch belied entitlement to whatever he wanted. It belied toughness and confidence. He terrified her and yet… she liked it.

He wanted her, she knew....bookish, geeky Julie. She shouldn't want him back but she did.

God, she had to get away from him. Put some distance between them. His phone rang and she nearly sighed in relief. He broke from her looking apologetic.

"Stopped at the garage to tell Abercrombie he could leave. Be right there,Tara."

Julie went back over to Tim. He wrapped himself around her and she was safe again.