One Long Embrace (Eternal Bachelors Club #5)

“You must be hungry. Why don’t I go and get us a pizza?” Jay asked, desperately looking for an excuse to get off the boat. After a leisurely lunch, the three of them had returned to the dock Jay was renting for the summer, and Zach had left.

Alone, Jay and Tara had lounged on the deck, taking in the sun, which was now hanging low over the horizon.

“That sounds great,” Tara replied. “I can come with you.”

He waved her off quickly. He couldn’t have her tag along for what he was planning. “Stay here and make yourself comfortable.” He dipped his face to press a kiss to her cheek, wanting to distract her. “Feel free to do whatever you want. Maybe you want to get out of those clothes and wait for me wearing nothing but a smile.”

She chuckled. “Do you ever think of anything else besides sex?”

“It’s hard not to think of sex when I’m in the presence of such a hot woman.” And unfortunately he wasn’t the only man who thought that. “So, what would you like on your pizza?”

“Sausage and artichoke. Oh, and extra cheese.”

He smiled and snatched his wallet off the sideboard. “Coming right up.”

Jay left the boat, walking casually, knowing that Tara was probably watching him. The moment he reached the path that lay between two houses near the dock, he turned left, bushes and trees shielding him from Tara’s view. Instead of heading out to the street, he walked along the back of the properties until he reached his destination: the Gilbert family residence.

He stepped onto the path along the pool house and surveyed the area. Two people were sitting on the terrace. Well, he’d hoped for just one person, but maybe it was a good thing that Quentin wasn’t on his own. His wife, Olivia, who Jay knew from before she’d gotten married, sat on a lounge chair, reading a book. Maybe having Olivia there would help Jay keep his anger at a reasonable level and not beat the jerk to pulp.

He marched past the pool house and the pool, knowing Quentin would spot him at any moment. When Quentin’s gaze fell on him, he turned his head to his wife, saying something Jay couldn’t hear. Olivia looked up from her book.

Jay nodded to her. “Hi Olivia.”

She set the book aside, but didn’t get up. Heavily pregnant, she probably didn’t move as swiftly as usual. “Oh, hi Jay. This is a surprise. Where are you coming from?”

He ignored the question and looked at Quentin instead. He’d seen him a few times, but he couldn’t recall having been formally introduced. Just to be sure he was not mistaking him for somebody else, he asked, “Quentin, right?” He walked up the stairs, reaching the terrace.

The man nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

“If you’re here to see Paul, he’s gone. He went back to New York,” Olivia offered.

Jay didn’t turn his head, but instead glared at Quentin. “I didn’t come for Paul. I came to talk to your husband.”

Quentin put down his glass and rose, his forehead furrowing. “Is there a problem?”

“You could say that.”

“I don’t recall that we’ve ever done business together—”

“Nor will we ever,” Jay cut him off. “I don’t do business with slimy bastards like you.”

“What the fuck? You have no right to show up here uninvited and attack—”

“Jay, what’s going on?” Olivia interrupted, having jumped up from the lounge chair.

“This is between Quentin and me.”

“Don’t you talk to my wife like that!”

“Oh, so suddenly you’re on her side?” He hesitated, tossing a sideways glance at Olivia. But he couldn’t stop now. “Where was all that chivalry when you came on to Tara, huh?”

A flicker of recognition sparked in Quentin’s eyes. He clenched his teeth and took a step toward Jay, hands braced at his hips. “You’d better leave now or I’ll have my father-in-law remove you from the property.”

Jay scoffed. “So you’re hiding behind him now? No balls! Just like I thought.”

“Tara? This is about Tara?” Olivia pressed out, her voice sounding awfully close to tears.

Jay turned his head for a moment, regretting that she had to hear this. But maybe it was better she found out what her husband was up to. Olivia’s lips trembled, and her gaze shot past him to Quentin.

“Fucking liar!” Quentin hissed. “Get lost!”

Jay pivoted and snatched Quentin by his shirt. “Let’s take this somewhere else. Just you and me.” Then at least Olivia wouldn’t have to watch how he beat the shit out of her husband.

“Not a chance.”

“Fine.” Clearly the idiot couldn’t take a hint. “You groped Tara, you fucking asshole! You tried to kiss her, even though she said no.”

“Quentin?” Olivia’s voice was high-pitched, but her husband didn’t turn his head to look at her.

Instead, Quentin puffed up his chest and pushed Jay off him. “I did no such thing. She’s lying. That little bitch. She couldn’t land Paul, so she tried it with me.”