“Go,” Mia’s father, Neal ordered.
“But Dad—” she started.
“Not another word, Mia,” he warned. “Told you, stay away from Conner Spear. Told you, you act like a decent person, you’d win folks back around. You didn’t listen to me. Now, we’re gonna find out if I can find other ways to make you listen to me.”
We were standing outside the high school and apparently, spoiled Mia had pushed her father too far.
Finally.
Mia had been suspended for three days.
Sofie had been suspended for one.
Conner had been released early seeing as, after the situation finally got sorted out, it was the last period of the day and there was no point in him going back and disturbing class. Especially after the ruckus that many in the school had seen and probably now all of the school had heard about.
The truth had outed, all of it, including the past bullying which Conner had stared intently at Sofie all the while she’d recounted it (in a rather adorable stammer, I might add).
It also included the lie about the pregnancy, something Mia’s father shared himself by saying, “First you lie about Con knockin’ you up, spreadin’ that crap around, and now this? God, what am I gonna do with you?”
Apparently the principal was rather hands on and had seen Mia at work, knew Sofie was an honor roll student and the belle of the choir, and thus understood the situation.
Therefore Sofie got suspended for pushing and kicking Mia but Mia bore the brunt of the punishment for starting the situation, not backing down, getting physical right back with Sofie and hurling rather unladylike profanities at Conner, then Sofie, doing this at the top of her lungs.
We watched Neal march Mia to his car and the minute they were out of earshot, Alyssa turned to her daughter.
“You…so...rock,” she stated and pulled Sofie into a tight hug. “So proud of you, not takin’ any shit.”
I saw Sofie’s tentative proud smile as she hugged her mother back. However, this hug was prematurely ended when Conner wrapped his fingers around Sofie’s bicep and gently pulled her from her mother’s embrace.
Alyssa’s arms dropped and her eyes moved to Conner.
“Takin’ Sofie home, Mrs. Harper,” he declared.
Oh dear.
“But, I—” Sofie began but she snapped her mouth shut when Conner cut his eyes to her.
“Takin’ you home,” he repeated a lot more firmly this time and considering his earlier declaration was very firm, this was rock-solid.
Oh my.
Sofie looked terrified. But then her eyes drifted to the red mark on Conner’s cheekbone, one she put there. Accidentally, of course, but she’d done it.
Then she whispered, “I…okay,” though she didn’t really have a choice.
Conner continued not to give her one.
He did this by sliding his hand down to hers, grabbing hold and dragging her down the sidewalk.
We all watched until they turned the corner toward the student parking area, Sofie looking back at us with an expression I couldn’t make out due to the distance, before they disappeared.
The instant they did, Alyssa turned happy eyes to me.
“Figure, she gets home, my girl’s gonna have the taste of Spear on her lips,” she announced ecstatically.
I pressed my lips together in order not to smile.
Jake muttered, “Jesus.”
Alyssa looked at Jake.
“Jake, babe, you do not get this but I’ll let you in the know,” she started. “See, a girl never forgets her first kiss. And this may not go anywhere with our two, but that doesn’t matter. I figure he’s got enough experience to give her a good one. He’s smart. Cute. Sweet. And very into her. So all her life she’ll look back at that and smile. And for a mom, well, a mom knows her girl got that, she thinks that’s a little bit of all right.”
“Can we stop talking about this?” Jake asked.
Alyssa smiled big and looked to me. “For a dad, the thought of his daughter’s first kiss is when latent murderous tendencies wake up. The thought of his boy kissing a girl, that’s when he starts buying stock in Babies ‘R’ Us.”
“I’m seeing we can’t stop talking about this,” Jake murmured.
“Okay,” Alyssa said. “We’ll talk about you two and how I’m freakin’ thrilled you sorted your shit. So this means we’re on for a barbeque on Saturday. This bein’ because I know my Sofie and if she feels like buildin’ a wall back up after Con spends the next hour tearin’ it down, she will.” She raised a hand and pointed a finger at Jake. “You get your son there. I’ll forget to buy somethin’ at the grocery store. I’ll ask Sofie to go get it. You get your boy to take her.” She looked to me. “’Course, I’ll already have it ‘cause I hope Con’ll take a very long time gettin’ her back home and we don’t wanna do without.”
“Are you honestly standing here plotting to get my boy alone with your girl?” Jake asked disbelievingly and Alyssa shrugged.
“He’s got the goods this afternoon, won’t have to bother and they’ll be cozy by Saturday anyway,” she replied.
“I’ll ask again. Can we stop talking about this?” Jake repeated.
Alyssa looked him in the eyes. “Yeah, Jake. But I’m gonna tell you one more thing. I know your never forget your first kiss and, you get a good one, you never forget your first boyfriend.” She then turned to me. “And landing a Spear as your man is bound to be unforgettable.”
That was sweet.
And so very true.
Jake said nothing.
I didn’t either.
“Right, gotta dash,” she announced. “I left a client in foils and hope like f*ck Lindsey got her sorted out like I asked or she’s not going to have any hair left when I get back,” She gave us a finger wave and then jogged gracefully on the toes of her high-heeled boots to her car.
I watched her do this until I couldn’t watch anymore because Jake’s chest was in my vision.
This was it.
Either he was angry or something else.
I held my breath and looked up.
“Got your call when I was in the principal’s office, honey. Couldn’t take it.”
I let out my breath.
He was something else.
That something else being Jake.
“That’s okay,” I replied.
“You ready to talk?” he asked.
Good God.
I so…f*cking…loved him.
That was why I said, “No.”
His brows knit even as I saw his frame stiffen.
“It’s important that you don’t share,” I stated. “What’s important to you is important to me so if you don’t wish to share, you don’t have to. However, if you’re not talking about that but instead want to talk about what I’m making for din—”
I didn’t finish.
And I didn’t finish because Jake was kissing me.
There were classrooms facing where we were on the sidewalk so it was likely students and teachers could see us.
This was unseemly.
But I didn’t care.
I kissed him back with everything I had.
This went on for some time before Jake lifted his head nary an inch and stated, “You know I’d make out with you anywhere, anytime for as long as I can get that mouth. But my son needs to be picked up from school. Now, who’s gonna be doin’ that, you or me?”
“Me,” I answered immediately.
And that was when I got Jake’s smile back.
It had only been two days.
But, goodness, how I missed it.
* * * * *
Amber, who had arrived home ten minutes ago after doing her homework at girl Taylor’s, walked into the kitchen and when she did, I looked at her.
When she’d come home, she’d come in from the garage, saw me cooking, gave me a look of surprise, then hope, then something I couldn’t read that was not nearly as good as the former two before she’d mumbled, “Gotta dump my bags,” and rushed to the stairs.
In the last two days it had not been lost on me that in having my drama and carrying it out to its ridiculous and inappropriate fullest, the consequences were not simply mine and Jake’s but also the children’s.
Ethan, when I showed up at his school to pick him up, had simply climbed into the Cayenne, looked at me and declared, “Lunch sucked. I need pizza.”
So that was good.
And Conner had seen me with his father in the principal’s office. He’d shown signs of relief when he did, but he was more interested in what was going on with Sofie than his father and me.
Conner had not returned. Then again, he had a shift at Wayfarer’s and wasn’t due to return for half an hour.
Now, with one look at her, I knew I had to deal with whatever consequences I’d earned with Amber.
“Dinner’s done. And there is no way Ethan can wait for it to be served and your brother isn’t going to be home for a bit,” I told her quietly. “So could you do me a favor and prepare a plate for him, put foil on it and put it in the oven to keep warm?”
Not looking at me, she muttered, “Sure.”
I did not take this as a good sign. She had not been muttering or mumbling since we made our deal weeks ago.
I went to the cupboard to get plates, wondering how to handle this situation.
I stopped wondering when Amber instigated the discussion herself.
She did this by saying, “Don’t screw Dad over.”
I looked to her to see her standing at the other side of the island, her eyes on me, her pretty face slightly pale. I could also see she was struggling.
I did that to her and my heart took a beating in knowing it.
“Sweetheart—” I started.
“I love you, Josie,” she declared and my heart stopped beating altogether when she did. “You’re awesome. We all think you’re the bomb. Me, Con, Eath. We do. You’re cool. You’re cool with us. But the most important of all that is you make Dad happy.”
I held her gaze, loving what she said but hating the look in her eyes.
She kept speaking.
“The last couple of days, Dad wasn’t happy.”
“Amber—”
“That stupid skank Mandy took off on him. Ethan’s stupid mom Sloane took off on both Dad and Ethan. Crazy. Dad’s the best guy there is. But we know. Me and Con, we know the reason they did is because of us.”
“That may not be true,” I told her gently.
“It’s true,” she returned swiftly. “They wanted Dad. They didn’t want us.”
I closed my mouth for I knew from Jake this was not wrong.
It just pained me to know Amber and Conner knew it.
“But we all come together,” she stated.
“I know that, my lovely.”
She didn’t nod. She didn’t give any indication she believed me.
She just repeated, “Don’t screw Dad over, Josie.”
I drew in a breath, pulled up my courage and walked to her.
She didn’t draw away so I lifted my hands, framed her face and moved mine close to hers.
“Your father and I had an unpleasant discussion,” I shared carefully. “I reacted to this badly. I have not had a good deal of experience with relationships, my lovely girl, but that’s no excuse. When I say I reacted to it badly, what I mean is that I overreacted. But I’ve thought things through since then and I love your father, I love you kids, and I’ve learned not to do that again.”
She didn’t touch me, didn’t say anything, but she did keep her gaze steady on mine so I felt it safe to continue.
“Things will not be smooth sailing, Amber. Life is life and we’ll all have issues crop up out there as well as amongst ourselves. But I’m hoping we’re building a foundation where we’ll weather all those storms. The last two days, I learned that I need to stand strong and weather those storms. I’m so sorry I went away. It was the wrong thing to do. The only thing I can promise is that I won’t do it again.”
“Ever?” she asked.
And when she did, I thought about it for I knew my answer was crucial and it also had to be completely honest.
But even as I thought about it, I knew.
I knew Jake would not hit me. Jake would not wound me with words. Jake would not cheat on me. Jake would not lie to me. Jake would not gamble or steal or throw away money or go out and rape and pillage.
So I knew.
“Ever,” I promised her.
When I did, she closed her eyes and dropped her head forward so her forehead rested on my mouth, her hands coming up so she could wrap her fingers around my wrists.
“I love you, my sweet girl,” I whispered against her skin, pressing in with my hands.
She pulled away, caught my eyes and squeezed my wrists. “Back at cha, Josie.”
I smiled.
She smiled back.
Thank goodness.
We let each other go and I went back to the plates. I handed her one and she got down to the business of preparing it for Conner as I went to the drawer to get the cutlery.
I was counting out forks and knives when her phone in her back pocket sounded the alert she had a text.
I looked to her and saw her pull out her phone, look at it, then shove it back into her pocket.
Unusual.
Amber usually responded to texts immediately unless she was at school.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Yep,” she answered.
“Amber,” I called, seeing the stiffness in her frame.
She looked to me.
“Is everything okay?” I repeated.
“Mom keeps bugging me,” she told me.
I was uncertain how to proceed so I did it cautiously, “Bugging you how?”
“Wants to go to a movie this weekend.”
“Ah,” I murmured.
“Said no and it’s like she doesn’t get it. But she hasn’t asked about the movie again. She just texts and asks how it’s going. Wants to know if I wanna get a coffee. She even sent me a picture of a sweater at Lucky she thought would look good on me and asked if I’d like to have it.”
“You said?” I prompted when she spoke no more.
“I texted back, ‘whatever,’” she shared.
“Did you like the sweater?”
She focused on preparing Conner’s plate and answered, “It was kind of kick-butt.”
I grinned as I moved to the pantry to get napkins.
“She’s bugging Con too,” she told me while I was on the move.
“Is that so?” I asked from inside the pantry.
It was when I came out that I felt her eyes on me so I looked to her.
“You did this,” she stated.
It wasn’t an accusation even when it kind of was.
“Yes,” I confirmed honestly.
Her face set stubbornly. “I’ll take the sweater, Josie, because it was cool. But I’m not goin’ to a movie with her or coffee or whatever.”
“Your choice, my lovely,” I replied, moving back to the island.
“You see her, you can tell her that,” she said.
I would do no such thing.
Therefore, I didn’t answer.
“Josie?” she called.
I looked to her.
“Love you, but you can be a pain in the butt.”
I smiled.
Amber stared at me a moment.
Then she smiled back.
* * * * *
Jake’s voice was low and gruff in a way I liked very much when he warned, “You don’t want the results of that work in your mouth, baby, you best get up here.”
My eyes lifted to him as I slid my mouth up his cock, sucking as I went, then rolling the underside of the rim of the head with the tip of my tongue.
I felt his legs tense at my sides as I saw a muscle jump in his jaw, his heated eyes that were on me firing.
I knew these signs very well, so I released him with my mouth, gliding my fist that was wrapped around it up after I did so. I let him go and then moved. Crawling on all fours over him, I took my time at the ridges of his stomach. I took more time at his nipples. I then moved to take time at his throat, his neck and behind his ears.
By the time I got to the last, I was straddling him so I worked at his ear as I felt him glide the tip of his cock in the wet between my legs.
He rubbed it over my * and I gasped against his skin just as he wrapped an arm around my waist, slid his cock back and pushed me down, filling me.
My neck arched.
Jake’s other hand sifted into my hair at the back of my head and he kept us connected as he rolled.
Then he was on me, thrusting slow and sweet, his mouth to mine, his tongue inside, tasting, drinking, but giving…slower and sweeter.
My hands moved over his skin and I wrapped a leg around his hip, the other one around his thigh as I kissed him back.
His thrusts started to get faster, but no less sweeter, building it beautifully as he broke our kiss but didn’t lift away, his lips brushing mine, his breaths mingling with mine, his eyes holding mine.
I held his gaze and I saw it smoldering there, the heat he was creating, what he was building in me, what I was building in him, but there was more. A flame that would never extinguish.
The love he had for me.
Seeing it, I tightened my legs around him, tipped my hips for him and glided a hand into his hair.
“I love you, Jake,” I whispered and the instant I did, his thrusts got even faster, much sweeter, our breath coming heavier.
“F*ck, baby,” he whispered back.
“I love everything about you.”
“F*ck, Josie,” he groaned.
It was building higher and my body tensed all around him, my eyes going unfocused as it started to engulf me and I was ready to feel the burn.
“Josie,” he called.
I tried to focus but found it hard. I wanted to give in. I wanted what he could give me, every time, some harder, some faster, some slower, some sweeter, some longer, but I always got it because Jake always gave it to me.
And I wanted it now.
“Darling,” I whimpered.
“Look at me when I tell you I love you,” he ordered.
I focused on the man I loved who loved me in a return for an instant before he said the words.
“I love you, baby.”
I heard them in a way so profound, I felt them, the feeling taking me there and I cried out, the sound drowned when his mouth took mine in a deep kiss.
Minutes later, he drove deep, planted himself and smothered his groan in the same fashion.
I knew when it left him because he again started kissing me.
And again, I kissed him back.
It was slow. It was lazy. It went on for a long time, even after Jake slid out. Then he branched out, kissing my neck, my collarbone, between my breasts, my ribs, my midriff, my belly.
Showering me with kisses. Spreading his love everywhere.
I closed my eyes and did my best to stay connected, my fingers in his hair, my hand at his neck, as he gave me everything.
Finally, he covered me with his big body and looked into my eyes.
“I gotta tell you something,” he said, his voice thick but firm and I knew what he was going to say.
I knew what he was going to give me.
And I knew I didn’t need it.
“No you don’t,” I told him quickly.
“Babe.—”
“You don’t, Jake.”
“Right now, you under me, your hair spread on my pillow, your clothes on my floor, I’ve had it time and again and I still can’t believe it.”
My mouth closed, my throat closed and my eyes stung with tears.
“It was me who refused to meet you,” he stated.
Oh God.
“Darling—”
“Lydie asked me…f*ck, don’t know how many times. Every time you came to visit, for certain. And she’d even make up shit to get you to visit so we could meet. Tried everything she could to make it happen. She gave me your email. She even gave me your Skype account and said she’d introduce us on the f*ckin’ computer.”
“Darling, you don’t have to—”
“First time I walked into Lavender House, looked left, saw that photo of you behind the couch…” He shook his head. “I was with Sloane, shit was not good with her, but it still makes me a dick because I took one look at that picture and fell in love with you.”
Oh…my…
God.
A tear slid out of the corner of my eye and Jake caught it with his thumb but he didn’t quit talking.
“Every word Lydie said about you, it got worse. I fell further. ‘Cause of that, I knew, if I saw you, shook your hand, you didn’t want what I could offer, it’d gut me. So I couldn’t let that happen.”
I slid my hands up his back, in and up his chest and further to curl them around his jaw.
“She pushed,” he went on. “But she didn’t force it. She got me. I knew it. I also knew it bothered her. So she didn’t give up. She gave me your picture. Then she gave me your letters.”
“Jake—”
“I got you. I knew you. She gave me all of you. And having it, I wanted you to find better.”
Oh God.
“Please, darling,” I begged.
“I wanted you to have what you wanted. Someone gentle, patient, sophisticated, successful. And that was not me.”
I closed my eyes and tears escaped both sides, rolling down my temples.
Jake caught them with his thumbs and I opened my eyes.
“I wasted years,” he whispered, his voice now hoarse, regret etched in every feature.
“Don’t,” I whispered back.
“I didn’t f*ck that up, coulda tried to make a baby with you.”
“Don’t,” I pleaded, pressing into his jaws with my hands.
“Had no clue you’d want me.”
“You’re everything,” I told him.
He shook his head. “I’m not everything. I got three kids by two women, three ex-wives, a gym that struggles to stay in the black, and a f*ckin’ strip club that makes it so I can breathe easy, my kids can have cars and clothes and shit. I know from experience not a lotta women want to buy into any of that. Me, yeah, they’ll take me. The rest of it, they want nothin’ to do with. But with you, it was more. I can’t put your ass in a first class seat on a plane and take you wherever you wanna go, whenever you wanna go there.”
“Why would I need to go anywhere when I can be here with you?”
He blinked.
“I never wanted anything but you, Jake,” I told him and he simply stared at me so I went on. “And I wanted you before I even knew you. Someone handsome and strong and protective and fierce. You’re everything I ever wanted, darling.”
“Baby,” he dropped his forehead to mine, lifted it and continued, “Look at your life the way it was. Look at mine the way it is. Can you see how that’s where my head would be at?”
“Definitely,” I agreed. “But can you see that the person who knew you were right for me was the only person who knew the true me, knew what I wanted, knew what I needed, and picked you for me?”
He said nothing so I took that as a yes.
“You did what you had to do,” I said quietly. “And it’s done. And in the end, I have my dream. And I’m hoping since you love me that you have what you want too. Now can we let it go and move on?”
“I know you wanted kids, Josie.”
“And now I have them, Jake.”
I felt his body lock on mine so I took that opportunity to use my hands at his jaws and pull him down to me. I lifted my head at the same time and touched my mouth to his before I dropped back to the pillow.
“I thank you for giving that to me, darling. You didn’t need to but now I have it, I’ll treasure it. All of it. But seriously, can we let this go and move on?”
“It’s gonna sting, baby, havin’ you, havin’ what we got, knowin’ I coulda had it longer, givin’ it to you longer, givin’ you even more, all of that if I got my head outta my ass.”
I smiled at him and replied, “I’ll make it better.”
He stared into my eyes and whispered, “F*ck, I love you.”
I’d never tire hearing that.
Never.
Even with the expletive.
“And I you,” I shared. “And now I’d love it if you’d get off me so I can clean up and we can sleep. Six o’clock rolls around fast and tomorrow, I’ve got to hire some interior decorators. We’re moving into Gran’s room upstairs. It has its own bathroom and as it is, it’s kind of a pain to tiptoe down the hall so I don’t wake up the kids when I have to go clean up after you make love to me.”
Finally, his eyes smiled.
“We movin’ to Lavender House?” he asked.
“Your house is wonderful, Jake, and you fixed it up. The kids love it here. As do I. But we’d all love it more being with Gran.”
His thumb swept my temple and he whispered, “Yeah.”
“But only after I redecorate the master suite. All those flowers…” I trailed off as I shook my head on the pillow.
That got me another smile and another, “Yeah.”
“Now, are you going to get off me?” I asked.
“Yeah and no.”
This confused me so I tipped my head to the side. “Pardon?”
“This is the no part,” he stated right before he kissed me, long, deep, wet and sweet. When he lifted his head, he finished, ‘Now you get the yeah.”
I laughed softly as he rolled off.
Then I rolled into him, bent and kissed his stomach, his midriff, his ribs, between his pectorals, his collarbone, his neck, under his ear.
Showering him with kisses. Spreading my love everywhere.
When I finished and looked into his eyes, I knew he’d felt it.
And he liked it.
So I kissed his lips, rolled off the bed and went to the bathroom.
I cleaned up and tugged on a nightie before sliding into bed beside him.
He reached out to turn out the light and cuddled me close as he settled us in.
I cuddled closer, murmuring, “Definitely need to move to Gran’s room just for the master bath.”
“Yeah,” he replied.
I nestled deeper.
Jake gave me a squeeze.
“Love you, darling,” I whispered into his skin.
“Right back at cha, Slick,” he did not whisper back.
I smiled.
And mere minutes later, tucked tight to my man, I fell asleep.
* * * * *