Battle Lines. (19 page)

Chapter 20.

“I see you haven’t lost your touch.” Jake told her once he had settled her in a chair and had taken the opposite seat across the table.

“It has been a very long time.” She acknowledged. “I didn’t know that I could still do it.” She laughed.

“You can still do it.” He assured her.

“How long had you been there?” he asked him.

“Long enough.”

“How long is that?” she asked him.

He looked at her and began batting his eyelashes at her and tried to mimic her voice.

“Oh, I-I don’t know.” Then he gave a little sigh before saying. “Biting on your bottom lip like that was a nice little touch.” He applauded.

“I don’t sound like that” she complained and he laughed at her.

“Which ball do I have to hit?” He looked at her over the top of his eyebrows. “I almost fell off my chair.”

“Yes, well.” She said and giggled.

“I am surprised that you let him win four whole games though. For a moment I was wondering what you were playing at. It’s not like you to let someone win so many times.”

“I was lulling him into a false sense of security.” She told him.

“It worked, the poor kid didn’t know what hit him.” He smiled. “He’s not old enough to understand that you don’t challenge a redhead.”

“Poor thing nothing.” She said. “It serves him right. If you are going to try and sting people, then you should be pre-pared to be stung right back once in a while.”

Jake laughed. His rich tones washed over her and made her stomach do a somersault. He nodded his head and looked up at her.

“What about you? Are you prepared to be beaten at your own game?” he asked her, his voice dropping seductively.

“Not a chance in hell.” She told him.

“I thought not.” He said.

“No one could possibly beat me.”

“Oh really?”

“Really.” She agreed.

“That sounds like a challenge to me.” He said now.

“Maybe it is.” She said then realised her mistake. She grew still as she looked at Jake. She watched his eyes darken as he regarded her. She felt the colour drain from her face and she swallowed.

“Well… I accept your challenge.” He told her and then he held out his hand. “May the best man win.”

“You mean, may the best woman win.” She corrected.

“No, no. I was right the first time.”

“We’ll see.” She told him as she placed her hand in his and then gasped as, instead of shaking her hand, he slowly brought her hand to his lips and he kissed the back of it. His eyes never leaving hers. She shivered.

The waitress came then and gave them each a menu before leaving again.

“Have you played much since you’ve been gone?” Jake asked her as he looked over his menu.

“I haven’t had the time. You know how it is.” She shrugged.

“Tell me.” He coaxed softly.

“Well, it took me a while to learn the business and then setting up on my own was no picnic.”

“You’ve made a success of it though.” Jake pointed out.

“I guess. It’s modest. It keeps a roof over my head, just.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“I got the impression yesterday that things haven’t been going well recently.”

“Harry and I had a… misunderstanding. But like I said yesterday that is sorted now.”

“Mandy, I could help out.” Jake told her. “I have already told you that.”

“No thank you.” She said firmly. “I am not a charity case.”

“I never said you were Mandy. But, Michelson industries –”

“It is your company now.” She said.

“It’s our company Mandy.” He corrected.

“I am not prepared for you to use its profits to prop up my business.”

“Michelson Industries belongs to both of us. It’s how dad wanted it and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way either. You are entitled to a share of the profits.”  But Amanda was already shaking her head.

“No, Jake if I sink or swim it will be by my own doing and no one else.”

“Defiant to the bitter end. It that it.” He replied.

“It’s important that I do this myself.”

“You don’t have to do everything by yourself. Life isn’t a one-person sport it’s a team effort.”

“I just….” She sighed.

“It’s not a sign of weakness to lean on someone else.”

“Yes, it is.” She told him adamantly.

“We all need someone else to be strong for us occasionally Mandy.”

“I’ve learnt to rely on just me.” She shrugged.

“You don’t have to.”

“Yes. I do.”

“I can take on a little of the burden, I wish you would let me.”

“Jake, please.”

“I have very broad shoulders.” Amanda looked at his very broad shoulders. Yes, he did and it would be nice to lean on him for support but that would make her weak.

She looked up into his face, he was smiling at her. His features relaxed. He looked younger like this. The lines around his eyes softer.

The waitress came back then to take their order and when she had gone Jake changed the subject. Which, was fine with her. She had a feeling that it would end up in an argument and she didn’t want that.

They talked through dinner about lots of different things. Jake talked about his ideas for expanding the company further. Amanda listened finding herself interested.

Jake had worked hard to save it, she discovered. She also discovered just how bad a situation her father had been in when Jake had taken over. She had not realised that things had been so dire.

When Jake had taken over the business, it had been at the point of bankruptcy, the house she had grown up in had been close to being repossessed by the bank. Her father had been about to lose everything.

Ten years on and Michelson Industries traded globally and Jake, she discovered, was now a multi-millionaire.

“And yet you still choose to live here. In the back of beyond.” Amanda teased him as they sat drinking their glass of wine.

“I guess I am a country boy at heart. Besides the company is based here.” He shrugged a shoulder.

“You could move to bigger offices. Go to London.” She suggested.

“No, I like the company as it is. We have done well with the formula so far. And, as Dad would say…” he looked expectantly at her and she smiled.

“If it ain’t broke.” She said, it had been one of her father’s favourite sayings.

“Don’t fix it.” Jake finished for her. “Have you finished?” he asked and she nodded. Jake paid for their meal and then with a hand on her arm he ushered her out into the afternoon sun.

They walked slowly back to her home, Jake had walked to the pub, she had discovered. It was a nice warm day for a walk. They strolled hand in hand, chatting and laughing as they went, in no particular hurry to arrive anywhere.

It was nice, Amanda had enjoyed herself. In fact, the whole weekend had been nice. She did not want it to end. She even felt that she belonged. Something she had not felt in a long time. It felt nice. All too soon they arrived at her front gate.

“Well this is me.” She announced.

“What are you going to do with the rest of the day?” Jake asked her.

“I’m not sure. I will find something to do.”

“Did you want to go somewhere?” did she? Go somewhere with Jake? Spend more time with him? Silly question, yes of course she wanted to. But… she also did not want to encourage spending too much time with him.

This weekend, things had dramatically changed between them. And she was painfully aware of that.

“I umm.” She walked up the path to the front door and removed her key from her bag. “I enjoyed myself today.” She told him.

“What no invitation for coffee?” her heart beat faster and she could hear blood pounding in her ears.

“Jake, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She spoke quietly.

“Why, don’t you have decent coffee?” he asked and she giggled as she unlocked the door.

“No.”

“Are you worried that it might not be just the coffee I am after.” Truthfully that wasn’t it.

“No.”

“So then.”

“I’m frightened I will want more than just coffee.” She blurted out before she could stop herself.

She felt her cheeks grow red hot and she turned her face from him in mortification as she heard him laugh.

“One cup. I promise and then I will leave you all alone.” She felt depressed at the idea of being alone without Jake.

“Do you promise?”

“Scout’s honour.” He told her.

“Haven’t I already pointed out that you were never a scout?” She stepped over the threshold of her front door and stepped inside into the hallway.

She removed her bag and popped it on the hook as she heard Jake close the front door and she turned to go into the kitchen.

She cried out as she was suddenly turned round and she found herself up against Jake. His lips were on hers before she had time to draw breath.

His lips searched hers hungrily. She matched him, the moment she felt the electric contact on her own lips she knew that there was no way she could fight it.

Jake’s lips travelled across her cheeks, to her earlobe. Amanda gasped as he drew the lobe into his mouth. “Jake, you promised.” She managed to get out in a voice that sounded foreign to her own ears.

“I had my fingers crossed.” He told her as he started a trail down the column of her throat.

“Jake.” She moaned his name. Jake’s hand eased her cardigan off of one shoulder and his mouth kissed and tasted her skin.

“You are so perfect.” He told her hoarsely. She felt his fingers on the strip of material that held her top wrapped around her.

Her top came loose. Jake pushed the material out of the way exposing her bare breasts to his touch. He lowered his head kissing across the rounded swell and then he took one rosy nipple inside his mouth. She moaned her pleasure. Her fingers going into his hair. She threw back her head as she arched her back to allow Jake better access.

She felt his tongue scrape across the taut nipple in his mouth, felt his teeth scraping the sensitive skin.

“Jake please.” She murmured.

“Please what?” Jake asked her. She felt a hand on the back of her leg slowly tracing its way upward to the round firmness of her bottom. His fingers dipping between, skimming across the material.

“Don’t… do… this…” She said shakily. His hand came round to the front and she felt his fingers rubbing over her.

“That’s not the words I want to hear.” He said. She could feel the delicious warmth spreading out from the sensitive area that Jake was rubbing. “Say what I want to hear.” He demanded.

“Jake this is not fair.” She complained. His fingers became firmer.

“All’s fair in love and war.” He informed her, not stopping his assault on her. With his mouth or his hand.

“You… promised…” she was finding it difficult to speak. Already her muscles where beginning to tighten. It wouldn’t be long she knew.

“I know. But you are so damned irresistible. I just can’t help myself.” The wave began to build.

“Jake.” Her voice sounded so breathless, husky and deep.

“Tell me how much you want me.” He demanded hotly.

“You know I do.” She told him truthfully. The point of denying it was useless.

“Tell me you love me.”

“I lo…” she stiffened. She had just been about to tell Jake that she loved him. She needed to be careful. She was in danger of losing herself, of losing the battle.

Her body began the climb. She held her breath, this was it. She felt Jake’s arm tighten around her as he held her close as she exploded against him. Her whole body shuddering. Her breathing haggard as she clung to him as her knees gave way beneath her.

“You know you want to say it. You know you feel it.” His lips ran a torturous path back up the column of her throat.

“Jake.” This was madness. This was insane. This was heaven.

“Mandy you are a very stubborn woman. Do you know that?” Yes she did

“Jake, please.” She begged him.

“I love the way you say my name.” He rasped against her skin. “I love the feel of your skin. The way you smile, the way you kiss. The way you moan. The way you stop breathing and become still just before you come. I love the feel of that. The way it feels against my fingers. The way it feels when you are wrapped around me.”

His words were slowly undoing her. She could feel herself floating away as liquid warmth invaded her limbs. Making her feel nothing more than a rag doll in his arms. In his arms she felt safe as though nothing could hurt her. “Nothing can hurt you.” He told her, he was reading her mind again. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise.” He kissed her chin, her cheek and then finally back to her already kiss swollen mouth.

The two of them jumped as the telephone peeled loudly, interrupting the moment. Amanda felt as though someone had thrown a bucket of ice cold water on her.