Dating Delaney (8 page)

Jake

“How’s it going up here?” Sue greets me.

“Hi, Sue. It’s coming right along,” I reply, hoping she
doesn't stay long. I’m not in the mood for chitchat at the moment.

“Where’s Laney? I need her help with something.”

“She’s out with Gavin,” I tell her through gritted teeth.

“Gavin’s home! That’s great!”

“Yeah,” I mutter.

“Ahh…great for Gavin, but not for you. I’m on to Gavin.
Don't you worry, he’ll be back to California before you know it and Laney has
no
idea
how he feels about her. She’s blissfully unaware that they are
anything but friends. You have nothing to worry about,” she informs me.

Geez. Who said I was worried? Everyone seems to need to talk
about Laney today. Is there a full moon tonight because today feels like today
has bitch-slapped me and it’s only noon.

“Ah, thanks Sue,” I say. She pats my arm and walks away.

“Hey Sue!?” I call.

“Yes?”

“Do you think Laney would mind if I build in a closet on her
side? I noticed the plans for the room don't include a closet.”

“She didn't think there would be enough room for it so she
was willing to forgo one, but I’m sure no woman would ever be mad at you for
giving them a well-placed closet.” She smiles at me and continues down the
stairs.

Then a closet she will get.

* * * * *

Molly blows up my phone and I’m not sure after the
inquisition I’ve already sustained that I can take any more.:

Gavin’s back?

Yup.
I reply.

He’s not staying at your place right?

What the hell people?

You have a soft spot for him

I’m dropping him at his moms soon
I inform her so she
can stop badgering me.

Phew! Good

Why is it good? Explain please

Duh, Cause Mr Attractive is not the kind of guy to share you
with Gavin

Share me?

What do you think everyone else you’ve ever dated has had to
do?

I repeat... share me? Did they all share me with you too?

Totally different. Gavin has a penis and is hot

I hate all of you today.

What did I do?

Nothing never mind. Dropping Gavin off, getting Claire
and going home.

Bye

What is it with everyone? Granted, the last two times Gavin
came home I wasn’t seeing anyone, so what would it matter, but why is everyone
getting all worked up now that I’ve had one date with an attractive man? I must
be in an alternate universe. Honestly, do they know something I don't? Why all
of a sudden is Gavin the bad guy? I really don't have the time or conviction to
deal with all this. I want my date with Jake and Gavin will just have to butt
out if he doesn't like it.

My phone chirps and I have the urge to throw it at the wall
versus look at the message waiting for me.:

Gavin can kiss Mr Attractive’s balls

Oh my shit! What is going on with people today? I respond to
Ame as fast as possible.

What?

You’d better keep them apart.

WTF Ame

Love you! Xoxox

Delaney

“Gavin, what is going on?!” I look at him, bewildered.
“Everyone has a bone to pick with you. What did you do?” I squeal with
irritation.

He shrugs at me. “I don't know. They’re just jealous that I
haven't visited them yet because I’m busy with you,” he mumbles adorably.

“As if,” I huff and pull into his mom's driveway.

“Hey, what’re we doing here?” he questions, his brows
drawing together.

I turn in my seat and poke his chest. “You are staying with
your mom while you’re home,” I state. He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind and
I kinda feel like I have.

“Princess…” he starts.

“Nope. Don't ‘Princess’ me. You are staying with your mom
this time. I have too much going on at my house,” I say and then hold firm. He
looks hurt. “But I’ll still see you,” I add. “We’re doing dinner Friday night,
right?”

“Yeah,” he sneers at me, “dinner.”

Unbelievable. He’s mad at me. He gets out of the car and
slams the door behind him. I smack my head on the steering wheel in frustration
before backing out. By the time I pick up Claire and get home, Jake has closed
up shop for the day. I blow out a deep breath and silently curse at myself. Is
he avoiding me? Or did he really think Gavin would come back with me and is
avoiding him? Is it really about sharing me? I just don't have the capacity to
deal with any of this right now.

* * * * *

By the time I get home I’m feeling lonely and bored. I tap
out a text to Jake since he was already gone by the time I got back.

Hey

What’s up?

Nothing. Got home and you were gone already

Early dinner with O

*Snort* I read a book where the main character referred to
her missing Orgasm

as O. Every time you call him that I think orgasm.

You think about Owen’s orgasm?

Not willingly

I’d prefer you not too under any cirCUMstances

Ha!
Nice.

We can’t all be as clever as you

I snicker as I read his text.

Watch it or I'll have to re-nickname you

What will it be?

Hmmmm

Well?

Hairsniffer

Noooo!

Ha

But... your hair does smell nice. Like vanilla and
peppermint

Anyone ever tell you you’re creeptastic?

Just once

Really?

Yeah, you.

Haha. Crap, gotta go.

Hey wait.
His response comes on the heels of mine.

Yeah?

Will I find any strange half-dressed men in the kitchen
tomorrow?

Ugh! No. Gavin’s staying at his moms. Happy?

Very. Bye.

* * * * *

“Wow, Jake, these are beautiful,” I tell him as I take a
gorgeous flower arrangement from his outstretched hands. He looks beautiful,
well, as beautiful as a man can be. He’s wearing dark, well-fitted jeans with a
striped button-up shirt that hugs all his muscles just right. His hair was
styled, I think, until he ran a hand through it, but the slightly haphazard
look works for him. His dark eyes are shining and his dimples are out. He has a
slight five o’clock shadow that somehow makes his chiseled face look even
sexier. I suppress the urge to mount him immediately.

“Let me put these in water before we go.”

He follows me into the kitchen.

“You look amazing,” he whispers in my ear and I almost drop
the vase. “And I love that, by the way,” he says, still dangerously close to my
neck. If I tilt my head just a little his lips would be on it.

“What’s that?” I breathe.

“The way you respond to me.” His voice is husky and deep. An
electric current shoots straight between my legs. I suck in a deep breath and
exhale slowly as he lingers behind me while I finish arranging the flowers in
water. Super Panties Activate! Dammit, they don't make those, do they? If they
did, mine wouldn't be drenched right now.

“Ready?” he asks after I set the vase on the counter.

“Yeah. Let’s go,” I tell him.

Always the gentleman, he walks me out of the house, opening
all the doors for me, including at the truck. He helps me in, closes the door,
and quickly moves around to his side and starts it up.

“So what
are
we doing tonight? You were pretty
elusive with details,” I ask.

“Dinner first…you like boats right?”

“Yup. Love boats...why?” I answer.

“Don't make me ruin the surprise,” he jests.

“Fine,” I feign irritation but I really love surprises.

He starts driving north on 295 and when he takes the
Brunswick exit my mouth starts watering. I love almost all the restaurants on
Maine Street, but he bypasses them all and heads out past the medical center.

“Wait. Are we going to your house?” I start, putting the
pieces together.

“Damn, I was hoping you wouldn't remember where I lived.”

“No such luck,” I tease. He drives almost all the way to the
end of Mere Point before finally making a right into his driveway. As soon as
he opens my door for me the smell of the ocean comes wafting in. It’s heaven.

“Mmm, I love the ocean,” I murmur. I open my eyes to his on
me. Admiring me. The air between us is thick with sexual tension. I take his
hand and let him lead me inside. The house is small but clean and open on the
inside. The entire back of the house is floor-to-ceiling windows and the view
is astounding. The light plays off the ocean, glittering like jewels.

“I can't believe you wake up to this every morning. It’s
gorgeous,” I tell him.

“I’m pretty lucky. The house needed major rehab when I
bought it so the price was reduced,” he explains.

“Still. Even reduced price waterfront property is
expensive.”

“I got lucky.” He shrugs. “Wine or beer?” he asks.

“Do you have white?”

“Yup,” he answers.

“I'll have that then,” I state.

He pours me a glass of wine and I sit at the kitchen table
while he prepares dinner. He’s set the table for two and has candles and
flowers at the center. I can tell he put a lot of effort into making it look
just right and I love that he even bothered. Within the hour he sets our plates
on the table. “Hope you like Italian,” he says as he puts a plate of fettuccine
alfredo in front of me.

“Love it. It smells good.”

“It should, it’s the one thing I can make well,” he laughs.

The sunset has started and from the kitchen table we have
front row seats. The view is amazing and the colors washing over the ocean
mesmerize me. The whole thing oozes romance and like the girly idiot I am, I’m
eating it up. He even has soft music playing from somewhere in the house.

“So, I don't really know a lot about you,” I venture.

“There’s not a ton to tell, really. I’ve known Owen my whole
life, which you know. My parents died when I was five in a car accident and I
don't really remember them at all.”

“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry, Jake.”

“It’s okay, I was really too young to remember. My uncle
raised me. He was a great guy.”

“Was? He’s dead too?” I question.

“He passed away two years ago, yeah.” He looks sad for a
moment.

“I’m really sorry, Jake.”

“He was old. It was only a matter of time. But, I went to USC
for architecture and then found out I was happier at being active and building
rather than drawing the buildings,” he says, changing the subject.

“Gotcha. Well at least you figured that out early and
actually do something you love.”

“You don't love writing?” His brows shoot up and somehow
it’s sexy.

“No…no…I do…I have a degree in marketing and had a ten-year
career in it, too. I was good at it and I liked it mostly…but writing just
makes me happier. I never actually thought I’d make a living at it but I’m
happy to report that I do.”

“What made you write
Smashed
?” he asks.

“Well, that one was pretty close to my heart. I basically
wrote about myself, my marriage, and my life, and just gave myself the dream
happy ending. Of course my marriage didn’t end as well as the book’s did and
obviously I wasn’t swept off my feet by some hunky cowboy,” I ramble.
Wait...how did he know the title?

“I have a confession,” he states, looking sheepish. “I read
it.”

“You WHAT?” I squeal.

“Read your book. I liked it,” he says honestly. My cheeks
flame red. Of all the books, that one was as close to my deepest darkest
desires as anyone would ever get and he’d asked why I wrote it. For crap’s
sake, why that one? I know I must look like a deer caught in headlights right
now.

“Laney, relax. I really enjoyed it. You write some seriously
hot love scenes,” he winks.

“Yeah, well, I’m
seriously
embarrassed right now
knowing that you read them.”

“Stop. Please. You should be proud of what you do. I think
the book was good and that what you do is amazing.”

Now I was blushing for another reason.

“That’s really kind of you to say. Thanks,” I manage through
my embarrassment.

After dinner I help him clean up even though he insists that
I not. I’m drying dishes while he puts some leftovers in the fridge. I hear the
fridge door close and then two hands came around my middle.

“Dance with me,” he quietly demands. I turn in his arms and
look up into his handsome face.

“Come on, you don't dance, do you?”

“I definitely do,” he smiles.

He pulls me into his torso and both of his hands slide to my
lower back, keeping me tight against him. I reach up and put my arms around his
neck and rest my head on his chest as he sways us around the kitchen to the
soft music playing. It feels so good, so…comfortable.

When he squeezes me a little tighter, my insides turn to
mush. When the song finally ends, he leans back to look down at me without
letting go. His eyes are warm and soft but hungry too. I stare up at him
looking like a lovesick fool I’m sure, but everything feels perfect.

“Will you come for a boat ride with me, Laney?” he asks.

“You have a boat?” I whisper back. He nods.

“Cool.” He chuckles a little then laces the fingers of one
hand through mine and leads us outside. It’s dark now but he has solar lights
illuminating a long path leading to the dock. It’s picturesque.

“Holy crap. That’s a real boat!” I stammer at him.

“What kind of boat were you picturing?” he asks.

“I don't know, like a ten-foot motor boat or something, not
a twenty-one foot.”

“Twenty five,” he corrects me.

“Oh so sorry...” I laugh. “Come on! Let’s go!” I climb
excitedly on to the boat and he follows behind, admiring my ass.

“I saw that! Quit being pervy,” I joke.

“Since when is it pervy to check out your date’s butt?” he
says, craning his neck around to get another look.

“Since now?” I tease.

“You’re beautiful, Laney, it’s hard not to look.” The
sincerity in his voice makes me gasp.

He brushes a flyaway hair from my face and then brushes his
lips on mine. When he stands back up he fishes the key out of his pocket and
starts the boat. A few miles out he kills the engine and lets the boat bob and
float with the tide. There’s a slight breeze and the moon makes the water
sparkle. Jake comes over and sits down and wraps an arm around me. I snuggle into
his side and get comfortable.

“It’s so peaceful out here,” he says on an exhale.

“And gorgeous,” I add. We sit for a spell in silence just
taking in the smell of the ocean and listening to the rippling water lap the
sides of the boat. His arms are tightly wrapped around me and it feels
heavenly. I haven't felt this secure and comfortable in a man’s arms in years
and currently I don't ever want it to end.

“Are you enjoying yourself or did you want to get back?” he
asks, breaking the silence.

“Let’s stay a little longer.” I look up at him and as his
eyes meet mine I swear they change from brown to black. I bite my lip and he
runs a hand through his hair while his other hand traces a tiny circle on the
outside of my arm. The sound of his breathing is warring with my own. His head
comes down towards mine and his lips linger on my earlobe before slowly moving
down my jaw to my lips. When his mouth finally takes mine, I’m breathless. His
tongue dances with mine and his hands move me to his lap.

My dress is hitched up where my thighs meet my hips and I
can feel his erection pressing between my legs. He bites and nibbles a trail
from my mouth, to my ear, and down my neck to my collarbone. A low moan forms
in my throat and slips out. His dick twitches under me. His hands are holding
my hands now behind my back, forcing me to arch my chest towards his mouth.
“You taste so good,” he growls into the crook of my neck as he tugs my hands a
little, making my breasts strain towards him. When his mouth comes to my left breast,
he bites down gently through the fabric and my hips buck involuntarily on his
lap inciting a strangled, rough moan from him.

He brings his mouth back to mine and releases a hand. I wrap
it around his neck and hold him to me, slowly rolling my hips back and forth
across his lap. The friction from his jeans against my underwear has me so
turned on I can feel the beginnings of my orgasm. Without warning, he pulls
away from me, panting, and places his hands on my hips to still them. “If you
keep doing that, Laney, I’ll be forced to take you right here.”

“Okay,” I breathe. He chuckles at me.