Lake Magic (40 page)

“Here?”

“No duh.”

Jared grinned at the smart-aleck answer. “I didn’t bring a glove.”

“I have my dad’s you can use. Remember?”

Jared knew he should say no. The more time he spent with Cody, the harder it was becoming for Jared to stay detached. But instead of doing the smart thing, he said, “Guess I’m all set.”

After they brought the cooler and fireworks to the backyard, Cody spied a group of kids his age and took off, calling over his shoulder, “Don’t forget about the game later.”

Jared stood at the edge of the lawn and took a drink of his beer. He watched Jenny dart in and out of the house and around the yard, doing dozens of tasks. Setting out food, greeting newcomers, making sure they had something to eat and drink. When a little girl smacked her foot with a croquet mallet, Jenny was there to soothe away her tears. Not once did he see her take a break.

When Jenny’s mom called to her husband that she needed him in the house, Jared walked over to the grill. “Need me to take over?” he said to John.

“That would be great, thanks.” Jenny’s dad handed him the spatula and motioned to the tongs hanging off the side of the grill. “How about the apron?”

Jared laughed. “You better keep it.” It wasn’t long before Jenny joined him. As he cooked, she handed out red plastic plates loaded with thick hamburgers, plump hot dogs, steamed clams and corn on the cob.

“Hey, you’re starting to cook like me,” Jenny said, pointing to a charred hot dog.

He looked down, surprised he hadn’t burned everything. She was the only thing he could concentrate on. “It’s for you. I know how you like them.”

She punched his arm. “Don’t be a butt.”

He wasn’t being a butt; he was watching one. Hers to be precise. Instead of keeping his eye on the grill, he’d been keeping his eyes on Jenny’s tight ass. He should have kept the apron to hide his reaction. Her mom called, and she was off again, running. While he was helping at the barbeque, Jared found himself visiting with people as they came to dish up. Surprisingly, even surrounded by so many people, he started to relax.

As the shadows began to lengthen across the lawn, the badminton net came down and the wire croquet hoops were pulled. Tables were pushed back as the undersized baseball diamond was formed. Jared was surprised to see Cody’s mom arrive just before the start of the game.

Cody caught sight of her and ran over. They were too far away, and the music and voices from the guests were too loud to hear what was being said, but Jared could see Cody pointing to the baseball field, and then he held out a glove to his mom.

As Anna shook her head no, Jared’s temper began to rise. Cody dropped the glove at his mom’s feet and then walked away like an abandoned puppy.

Jared looked around. No one else seemed to notice the exchange. He knew it was none of his business, and he should just stay out of it, remember his philosophy to stay detached, but one look at Cody’s heartbroken face, and Jared knew what he
should
do wasn’t what he
had
to do.

He strode over to Anna.

“You don’t get it,” he said before she could say a word. “I know you have a job, but you also have a son. Stop buying him all those damn expensive gifts and do the one thing he really wants.” Jared picked up the baseball glove and held it in front of her. “Get your ass in the game.”

Jared turned and walked away, ignoring Anna’s shocked expression.

As always, the game was a blast and a blowout. Cody and all the kids (especially since he’d recruited several of his teammates) slaughtered the adults. The little pyros were celebrating winning the bet. They were setting off fireworks as fast as they could light them on the platform Jenny’s father had built years ago that hung out over the bank. Most of the parents were right there alongside their kids.

With the fireworks lighting up the sky, Jenny escaped into the kitchen. The empty house was pure peace after the hectic day. Plus, she needed time to think.

She’d refused to let herself read too much into Jared’s revelation. Instead, she’d thrown herself into her work. She’d funneled every bit of her energy into Blue Sky. She worked harder and longer than she ever had so that at night, when she crawled into bed, exhaustion would take over. But today, being here with Jared, watching him playing ball, play with Cody, mingle with their friends and neighbors, she couldn’t ignore what he had said any longer. And she also couldn’t ignore the fact that Jared hadn’t said anything about leaving in quite some time. Did that mean he wanted to stay?

Just as she finished whipping up a blender full of margaritas, Anna walked into the kitchen.

“You’re brave,” Jenny said, glad for the distraction. Her thoughts were leading her down a road better left unexplored. “Leaving Cody alone out there with all those fireworks.”

“Jared’s with him.”

Jenny tried not to react at hearing Jared’s name. “Men and explosives.” She shook her head and handed Anna a salt-rimmed glass. “You look like you could use this.”

“Thanks.” Anna took the margarita like it was the Holy Grail. “I so need this.”

“Yeah. Saw that slide into home. That has to be good for at least a double shot.”

“Minimum.”

Jenny laughed, poured herself a drink, and sat down next to her sister at the table.

They were on their third margarita when Anna said, “I saw you standing by the open kitchen window. You heard what Jared said?”

Jenny licked some salt off her lips. “Yeah. I did.”

Anna grabbed the bottle of tequila and poured some straight into her margarita. “He’s right, you know. I haven’t been in the game of late. And I’m not just talking about today.”

Jenny looked at her sister, not knowing quite what to say. She’d seen the hurt on Cody’s face but hadn’t stepped in. Anna had always seemed so in control, never taking a wrong step. But now, Jenny was seeing her sister in a new light. Anna struggled just like everyone else. “You’re a great mom with a lot on your plate. It’s impossible to be everywhere at once. Especially when you’re in the role of both mom and dad.”

Anna swirled the slushy liquid in her glass. “Remember when I dropped Cody off last time, and you said you wondered how I managed everything? Well, I don’t. I haven’t been. My job became too important.” She let out a sigh and drained her glass. “I haven’t been there for my son, and I’m pretty sure the reason Phillip left is because I pushed him away.”

“Have you called him?” Jenny asked softly.

“Yes. No.” Anna stared at her empty glass. “We’ve talked. But not about this. Not about anything important.”

“Maybe it’s time you did.”

“What if . . .”

“What if what?” Jenny prodded.

Anna looked at Jenny, and for the first time she saw real fear in her sister’s eyes. “What if he doesn’t want me?”

Jenny’s heart went out to her sister. “Of course he wants you. Phillip fell in love with you, proposed, and had a wedding all in less than six months.” Jenny couldn’t help thinking how her engagement had dragged on for six years.

Anna got up and poured herself another margarita. “You should have just gotten knocked up like I did. Then you, too, would have had to have a hasty marriage.”

Stunned, Jenny could only stare at her sister. Finally, she said. “Call him. Promise me.”

Anna looked out the kitchen to where the fireworks were going off. “I will,” she said quietly. “And I’m going to make Cody’s playoff game, no matter the consequences at work.” She turned back to Jenny. “Now you have to make me a promise. Don’t let Jared go. It’s as plain to see as that hideous tattoo on Aunt Margaret’s boob that you love him.”

Jenny was beginning to fear her sister was right.

 

 

 

 

Long after Anna, Cody, and the vast majority of the guests had left, Jenny wandered down to the beach. She hadn’t seen Jared, but then she hadn’t looked too hard for him either. Her mind kept tumbling back to her sister’s words.
You love him
. She’d wanted to tell Anna she had been wrong, Jenny hadn’t been foolish enough to fall in love with another flyboy, another man who would always want wings more than he would want her. But the denial had died on her tongue. And instead of leaving a bitter taste as she feared, all she could remember was how sweet he’d tasted when she’d kissed him and had run her open mouth along the outside of his neck.

And he wasn’t a flyboy. Not any longer.

“Hey, Cotton Tail.” So lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard him.

He sat down beside her in the sand and handed her a plate of food. “You haven’t eaten all day.”

It was true; she hadn’t. She wasn’t surprised he’d noticed. All day she’d felt his gaze on her, following her. Seeking her out.

She stared at the plate of food and realized there was only one thing she was hungry for. But did she dare?

“You’re not eating.”

She set the plate off to the side. She could either grab at this chance for happiness or live like she had been, safely cocooned away. Right then she realized she didn’t want to live that way anymore. “This isn’t what I’m hungry for. I want . . .”

Jared tipped her chin toward him. The warmth of his fingers reached all the way to her heart. “What?”

One word. One word, and there was no going back. “You. I want you.”

“Jenny.” His voice was husky with desire. He ran his thumb along her jaw then cupped the back of her neck.

He pulled her clear off the sand as his mouth came down on hers. His kiss was like the fireworks, hot and brilliant, and it made her want to
ahhh
in wonderment. Somehow she ended up on his lap. Lust and longing coiled low in her stomach, and she returned his kiss with a fervor she hadn’t known she possessed. She wanted to touch him everywhere, run her hands across his shoulders, down his hard chest, and over his hard erection pressing into her leg. She tugged at the front of his T-shirt and pulled it loose from his jeans. Running her hands underneath, she felt hard muscles and hot man. But she wanted more. She reached around his waist, grabbed a handful of soft cotton, and tugged. His shirt came free, and she broke away from their kiss. “Off,” she said with a foreign boldness.

With a low growl, he pulled her to her feet. Still holding on to her hand, he pulled her with him. She had to run to keep up. Then they were inside the Suburban and skidding out her parents’ driveway.

Only the weak glow from the dash lights illuminated Jared’s profile. Seat belt be damned, she half sat/half straddled the console between them and ran her hand along his rough jaw. She brushed her hand across his lips and felt him kiss her palm. He grabbed her around her waist moments before they took a sharp turn. Gravel spewed underneath the car as they skidded to a stop.

“You’re going to get a ticket,” she said, sliding even farther into his lap.

“Ask me if I give a damn.” He wrenched his door open, and that’s when she realized they were already back at her place. It felt as if the drive had taken mere seconds.

The steering wheel rubbed against her side, and he lifted her out of the SUV. He slammed the door shut with the bottom of his boot. Still carrying her, he headed for the house. His usual long, smooth strides were missing, and Jenny grabbed on around his neck to keep herself steady. “I can walk.”

He leaned down and gave her a kiss as he continued to walk. Their noses bumped. “And take the chance of you getting away? Not on your life.” And he meant it. He kept her in his arms as he unlocked the door. He took the stairs two at a time, and she had a moment of trepidation as they neared her bedroom door. Where? His room or hers? Her first flutter of panic started then settled to a little tingle when he headed straight for his room. His door was slightly ajar, and he used his shoulder to open it and then bumped it closed. He laid her on the bed as if she were made of porcelain.

“God. You don’t know how many times I’ve envisioned you here, in my bed.”

Her stomach clenched at his words, and her breathing grew short and choppy. He knelt down beside her, cupped her cheeks in the palms of his hands, and drew her up until his hot, insisting mouth found hers. She arched into him, wanting more, wanting it all. This time when she went to slip his T-shirt over his head, he didn’t stop her. Speechless, she stared at him. He was perfect. Beautiful. And then she did exactly what she’d wanted to earlier. She ran her hands across his rounded shoulders, down his chest. He was hard and muscular and warm to her touch.

“Turnabout is fair play.” Before she knew it, Jared had her bikini top untied. He tossed it onto the floor. His blue eyes were all but liquid with desire as he took his time looking at her, like he’d been waiting for this moment forever, and now that it was here, he was going to savor every last drop. With the tip of his index finger, he drew a straight line from the hollow of her throat to her belly button. Her stomach contracted at the intimate caress, and all she could think was,
More
. Retracing his path, he dragged his finger back up and circled the outer fullness of her breast. She sucked in a breath of air, or she thought she did, but then she wasn’t sure, because she felt like all the oxygen had suddenly left the room. His warm palm settled on top of her breast, and she gasped. Desire turned her nipples hard and heated her blood until she thought she was going to burst into flames.