Authors: Cher Carson
“Oh my God,” she whispered, kissing his shoulder. “That was definitely worth waiting for.”
He chuckled as he tried to rally the strength to move. “I’m glad you think so.” He realized he’d been waiting for this a long time, too. Ever since his wife left him, maybe even before.
On the night Diane left, she told him she was sick and tired of competing with that “little bitch.” Maybe without even realizing it, he had been comparing his wife to Jessica. Not that he would have acted on his feelings for Jess back then. Being unfaithful wasn’t in his DNA. He had a kid to think about, and Jared was always his first priority.
He glanced at the framed photo on his nightstand. How would his little boy react if he walked in on them now? He grimaced as he withdrew from Jess. “I need a minute.”
Jake walked in to the adjoining bathroom and discarded the condom. He turned the faucet on and washed his hands. He cupped cold water in his hands, splashing his face before bracing his hands on the granite countertop and staring at his reflection in the mirror. He wanted to be a man his little boy could be proud of, but giving into impulses that could potentially hurt someone his son adored wasn’t the way to earn Jared’s respect.
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered as he sat on the edge of the tub.
“Hey,” Jessica said quietly, pushing the door open. “I’m gonna head out now.” She was already dressed and clutching her purse and car keys in her hand.
“What? Why?” Shit, he’d really messed this up. “You don’t have to leave. I just needed a second to…”
She smiled, but it never quite reached her eyes. “We’ve known each other a long time. I know how you’re feeling without being told. I saw you look at Jared’s picture. You feel guilty about what we did.”
“Jess, I…” He would never regret making love to her, even though he knew it could never happen again.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.” She set her purse on her shoulder. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Jess, wait…”
She turned around, looking him in the eye. “Don’t you think I’ve been waiting for you long enough, Jake?”
Jessica walked into the kitchen the following afternoon just in time to hear Tucker tell their mother that he’d invited a friend to Sunday dinner.
Lorna smiled and patted his cheek. “You know your friends are always welcome here, honey.” She laughed. “But if you’re referring to Jake, that’s hardly a surprise. He has a standing invitation. Heck, he’s one of the family. It wouldn’t be the same without him.”
Jessica’s stomach clenched at the mention of his name. No, nothing would be the same without Jake, but she’d have to adjust.
“Yeah, Jake will be here, but I’m talking about Phil.”
“Oh, he’s more than welcome.” She wiped her damp hands on the front of her apron. “The more, the merrier, I always say.”
Jessica glared at her brother. She knew what he was up to, and it wasn’t going to work. “Tucker, I…” The doorbell rang before she could issue the warning.
“Hey, that must be Phil now.” He checked his watch. “Look at that, right on time.” He winked at Jessica. “You got to love a guy who’s punctual.”
No, she didn’t. Her brother’s pathetic matchmaking would inevitably backfire and he would be the one to look foolish, not her.
Her mother, obviously sensing her bad mood, pointed a finger at her. “He’s a guest in our home, and I expect you to be polite.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she muttered, lifting a handful of grapes off a glass platter.
Tucker led Phil into the kitchen as they chatted about some football game.
Jessica took a moment to observe Phil. He really was cute, in a boy next door kind of way. He had cropped sandy blond hair, green eyes, and a swimmer’s physique. He was polite, kind, and painfully boring. She forced a smile when she caught him looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
“I think I’ll see if Dad needs a hand with the grill,” Tucker said, winking at her.
“Real subtle,” she whispered as he brushed past her. She was going to kill her over-protective big brother once she got him alone.
Phil handed Lorna a bottle of wine. “I hope white wine will work with dinner?”
“It’s perfect, thank you.” She brushed a kiss across his cheek. “It’s so nice to see you, Phil. How are your folks? I haven’t seen them in town in quite a while.”
“They’re good, thanks. Dad had that hip replacement surgery a while back, so Mom’s been stuck at home waiting on him. He’s as grumpy as a bear, but the doctor said it won’t be long before he’s up and around again.”
Lorna smiled. “That’s good. Excuse me; I have to finish setting the table.” She turned to Jessica. “Honey, get Phil something to drink, will you?”
“Sure.” Their house was always full of people, especially Sunday afternoon, so she was used to playing hostess. It would be nice when she moved into her own place and could decide when and if she entertained guests. “What can I get you, Phil?”
He smiled. “A cold beer would be great, if you have it?”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding? Tucker and Daddy wouldn’t be without it, especially on football Sunday.”
“We missed you at church today,” he said, claiming one of the heavy oak chairs at the kitchen table.
She didn’t feel much like giving thanks after last night. “I was kind of tired after the party yesterday. You weren’t able to make it?”
“No, I had to work.”
In truth, she hadn’t even missed him, but she tried to be polite. “That’s too bad.” She popped the top on a longneck and handed it to him.
“Yeah, I was disappointed. I was hoping we could spend a little time together.”
She heard her mother talking to someone in the dining room. Jake, no doubt. If only she could feign some mysterious illness to avoid him.
“Hey there,” Jake said, crowding the doorway. Phil’s back was turned, so he had all the time in the world to survey her from head to toe. “How are you, Jess?”
She refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing she was devastated. It was painfully obvious when he looked at Jared’s picture last night that he would never want his son to know what they’d done, and she’d be damned if she would consent to being his dirty little secret. She deserved a man who would be proud to call her his woman. “I’m fine, great, couldn’t be better.”
He frowned. “Good to hear.”
Phil stood up, extending his hand to Jake. “Hey, buddy, good to see you.”
Jake’s lips tightened into a firm line as he accepted Phil’s outstretched hand. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
Phil laughed. “I couldn’t pass up Mrs. Carlton’s cooking. You know how it is, living alone.”
“Yeah, I sure do.” His eyes drifted to Jessica. “Being alone sucks sometimes.”
She wanted to tell him that he was alone and miserable because he chose to be, but she kept her mouth shut to avoid an awkward scene. “Can I get you a beer, Jake?”
“Don’t trouble yourself, sweetness. I know where it is.”
She clenched her teeth at the term of endearment. He’d called her that since she was a pre-teen, and she was getting tired of it. Even after last night, he still didn’t seem ready to accept her as a woman. Determined to prove him wrong, she claimed the seat next to Phil.
Jake kept one eye on her as he made his way to the fridge. “Where’s Tucker?”
“He’s outside helping Daddy with the grill. Why don’t you head on out there? I’d like to have a little quiet time with Phil anyways.”
Phil grinned. “You would?”
“I sure would.”
She was wearing short white shorts and a pink halter top, too risqué for Sunday dinner according to her daddy, but she wasn’t dressing to impress him, or even Jake for that matter. After last night, the only person she intended to please from now on was herself.
Jake’s eyes traveled the length of her legs as he brought the beer bottle to his lips. “Can I have a word with you in private, Jessica?”
He didn’t call her by her full name unless he was mad at her. Too bad, he created this situation by ignoring her for years and brushing her off when he finally had the chance to make up for his past mistakes. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m not asking you. I’m telling you I want to see you outside, now.”
“Who the hell do you think you are? Ordering me around like I’m your…”
His eyes darkened and she knew he was thinking about interjecting with a suggestive word like “lover.”
Tucker walked in the back door and slapped Jake on the back. “Hey, man, I didn’t know you were here. How’s it goin’?”
“Not bad,” Jake said, clenching the beer bottle in his fist. “You?”
Tucker chuckled. “Okay, someone gonna tell me what the hell’s goin’ on here?”
“Nothing,” Jessica said as she stood. She held her hand out to Phil. “How would you like to go for a walk, get to know each other a little better?”
He glanced at Jake, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “Um, yeah, sure.”
Jake moved to block the doorway. “I’d like to have a word with you first, if you don’t mind?”
She glared at him. “I do mind. Kindly get out of the way.”
Jake considered hoisting her over his shoulder and dragging her outside kicking and screaming, but this would give him a chance to set things straight with Tucker. “Fine,” he said, stepping aside. “But we will talk.”
He waited for them to slam the screen door before he turned on his best friend. “What the hell is he doing here?”
Tucker took a pull from his beer bottle. “I told you, he’s got it bad for my little sister. I thought she should give him a chance.”
Jake shoved his hands in his pockets as he scowled at his friend. “Yeah? Well, who the fuck says you get to decide?” He knew his foul mood had everything to do with Jess walking out on him last night and refusing to take his calls since. She was behaving like a petulant little brat and he was tempted to put her over his knee and teach her a lesson once he finally got her alone.
Tucker raised his hands, grinning. “Why are you so pissed off today? Is Diane giving you grief again?”
“No, this has nothing to do with her. This is about you sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong. Jess is a grown woman for fuck’s sake. Why can’t you let her find her own man? In fact, how do you know she hasn’t already?”
Tucker rolled his eyes as he straddled the oak chair. “Please, she wouldn’t be going out with the loser parade if she had a decent guy.”
How the hell was Jake going to get her brother to back off without telling him the truth about last night? In all their years of friendship, this was the first time he’d ever felt compelled to keep a secret from Tucker. “You mean like that guy last night? Tell me what happened.” Jake claimed a chair across from his friend. “I want to hear everything.” He whipped his phone out. “And I want that little bastard’s contact info.”
Tucker laughed. “Take it easy. I took care of it. He won’t be bothering Jess again.”
“She said he got a little carried away because he was drinking too much. You think there was more to it than that?” What Jake really wanted to know was whether Tucker thought the guy might come back to finish what he started when Jess was alone and defenseless. The thought made his blood run cold. He wouldn’t let her out of his sight until he knew, for certain, that that dirtbag wouldn’t be back.
Tucker leaned forward. “If you’re asking me whether I think he would have raped her, had they been alone here, then the answer is yes. Hell, he was stupid enough to pull that shit knowing I was less than a hundred feet away.”
Jake clenched his fists. He didn’t want to hear this, but he had no choice. If he wanted to protect Jess, he needed all the facts. “Why didn’t you throw his ass in jail?”
Tucker scrubbed his face with his hands. “Believe me, I wanted to, but he didn’t break any laws, technically. If I’d walked in five minutes later, that would have been a whole different story.”
“Thank God you got there when you did.” It made Jake crazy to think about some animal taking from her what she’d willingly given him last night.
“Yeah, just in time to teach that shithead a lesson he won’t soon forget.”