Authors: Susan Mallery
Bailey looked at her daughter and sighed. “You don’t have to. It’s going to happen, anyway.”
They reached the park and started along the path. The morning was warm and clear. Larissa was spending her days doing work she loved and her nights in Jack’s bed. Percy was excited about studying for his GED, and she’d helped rescue dogs in need. How could anything be better?
“Tell me about the house you’re buying,” Larissa said. “You’d said you were thinking about it but I didn’t know it had gone further.”
Bailey smiled. “It’s so cool. There’s a program in town where people can apply for a grant that gives them the money for a down payment. I had to fill out a bunch of paperwork and then be interviewed by this lady at the bank. The amount of the down payment depends on my salary and credit history. Chloe and I qualified.”
“That’s great,” Larissa told her. “So you’ve found a house you like?”
“Maybe. There’s a cute little Craftsman in the older part of town. It needs fixing up, but I’m okay with that. There’s a darling upstairs bedroom that Chloe completely loves, and there’s a small study for us to share as an office.”
“Congratulations.”
“Don’t congratulate me yet. I’m still thinking about it. A mortgage is a big thing to take on by myself. It’s scary to think about.”
“It’s a lot of responsibility,” Larissa said, impressed by her friend’s willingness to handle so much on her own. For a second Larissa wondered when she’d been inclined to take on anything close. Her involvements tended to be fleeting. She gave intensely, then moved on. Dyna was her first ever pet. She certainly didn’t have a child to care for and her family’s needs were minimal. The only person she really had to worry about was herself.
The realization took a little joy from the day.
“Ladies.”
She turned and saw Kenny jogging toward them. Her pleasure at seeing him was tempered by the memory of what he’d done to Jack. Of course, he’d done it for her, so could she really be mad at him?
“Hi, Kenny,” Chloe called and hurried toward him. “I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
“Hey, munchkin. How’s your knot tying?”
“Excellent. I have my bead. I can show you.”
He stopped and squatted down to pat the dog. “I’d like to see it.”
Bailey cleared her throat. “Hi. Chloe told me you helped her last spring. With the knots. Thanks for that.”
He waved away her words. “No problem. So who’s this pretty girl?”
“She’s one of Larissa’s chiweenies. We’re walking them today. They don’t have homes.” Chloe stared at her mother. “It’s sad when puppies don’t have a home.”
Larissa winced. “Sorry,” she muttered.
Bailey shrugged. “I’ll deal.”
Kenny stood. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”
“Are you going to help with the walking?” Larissa asked, thinking that Bailey and Kenny looked good together. And he was great around children. Now that she thought about it, he’d never been married. Maybe it was time for that to change.
Kenny glanced at the little dogs sniffing his running shoes. “Not if I don’t have to. They’re not exactly my size.”
“They’d be a chick magnet,” Bailey said, then flushed. “Not that you need help with that sort of thing, I’m sure.”
Was that flirting? Interest? Larissa was frustrated to realize she was much better at finding stray animals a home than figuring out random boy-girl attraction.
“Bailey’s thinking of buying a house,” she blurted.
Both Bailey and Kenny stared at her.
“Okay,” he said slowly. “Congratulations.”
“She’s worried about all the responsibility, what with being a single mom and all. You could help.”
Bailey frowned. “Larissa, I’m fine. You don’t need to get him involved.”
“Kenny’s bought a lot of property. You could ask him questions.”
“Our situations couldn’t be more different.”
“Still—”
Bailey shook her head and faced Kenny. “There’s nothing for you to do. I’m fine. It was nice to see you. Run while you can.”
Kenny glanced between them, nodded once and took off. Larissa watched him go. The man really did have some speed on him.
She turned to Bailey. “Sorry. Was I meddling too much?”
“Yes, but I know it comes from love so I forgive you.”
They started walking again. Chloe and her dog ran ahead.
“So Kenny,” Larissa began.
“No,” Bailey said firmly.
“But he’s—”
“No. He’s gorgeous—I’ll admit that. But so out of my league. Trust me on this. I have a beautiful daughter and maybe a new house, not to mention the possibility of a dog. The last thing I need is a man.”
* * *
L
ARISSA
WROTE
DOWN
item numbers for some new oils she wanted to try. She’d been doing some reading about their healing properties and thought the guys would like them. She closed the browser window just as Kenny walked into her office.
He’d showered after his run and dressed in work clothes. He crossed to her desk and stared at her. As Kenny was well over six feet, it was a long way to look down.
“Don’t do that,” he said firmly. “Don’t set me up. Don’t try to get involved in my personal life.”
She blinked at him. “Okay,” she said slowly. “I thought—”
“No.”
“But Bailey is—”
He raised a single eyebrow. “Larissa.” His voice was a warning growl. Not a tone he usually took with her.
The message was really clear, she thought. Back off.
“Okay, I won’t set you up and I won’t throw you at Bailey anymore, even though she’s really nice and pretty and better than you deserve.”
One corner of his mouth twitched, as if he were holding in a smile. That made her feel a little better.
“Thanks,” he said, and then he was gone.
She was still staring at where he’d been when Taryn walked in.
“What?” the other woman asked. “You have the strangest look on your face.”
“I feel strange. Kenny just warned me off setting him up with Bailey.”
Taryn took the chair in front of the desk. “He’s right about that. Bailey’s not for him.”
“How can you know that? I thought you were her friend.”
“I am. I’m also Kenny’s friend. Trust me, they’re not right for each other.”
Larissa started to protest, but Taryn leaned toward her and shook her head.
“You’re going to have to trust me on this,” her friend said softly. “I know on the surface they seem well matched, but the truth is Bailey is the last woman Kenny should be with.”
Larissa started to ask why, then reminded herself there were things from his past she didn’t know. While Jack and Taryn had talked about their previous relationships, Kenny and Sam weren’t so forthcoming.
“Okay,” she said slowly. “I won’t try to get them together.”
“Good.” Taryn crossed her legs and smiled. “So, you had sex with Jack. How was that?”
The casual question had Larissa nearly choking. “How did you... Did Jack...” She cleared her throat. “It was nice.”
Taryn didn’t smile. “No one told me. No one had to. I figured it out the second I saw you after you got back from San Francisco.” She hesitated.
“You think it’s a bad idea.”
Taryn raised one shoulder. “I’m not sure. I think it’s great that you’re focusing on your own life instead of always distracting yourself with your causes. But I worry about how all this is going to end. You know Jack isn’t looking for the same things you are, right?”
Larissa nodded. “He’s been very clear and it’s not like I haven’t seen him go through hordes of women over the years.”
“But?”
“I want to get over him. What’s that old saying? The only way over is through?”
“You need to go through a relationship with Jack to move on.” Taryn sighed. “I hope you’re right. That you’re going to be able to move on and not just get more involved.”
“I’m open to suggestions,” Larissa told her. “If you can think of another way to deal with this.”
“Sorry, no.”
“Then I’m going to move forward with the plan and hope for the best.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
L
ARISSA
SAT
UP
and stared at the clock beside her bed. The numbers weren’t very different from the last time she’d looked. Instead of 3:15 it now read 3:18. At this rate, she was in for an extra shot of espresso come morning.
She flopped back on her mattress and tried to clear her brain. Turning the same thoughts over and over wasn’t helping her get sleep. Yet she couldn’t get Taryn’s words out of her head.
Nor could she forget her conversation with Bailey. Sure Larissa made sure the latest tree moth or chiweenie was rescued, but that was all short-term. Bailey was dealing with so much more. She was raising a kid on her own. Talk about having to pull it all together. Larissa wondered if her own personal resources and character would rise to the occasion.
Dyna jumped onto the bed and walked toward her.
“Hey, pretty girl,” Larissa said as she rolled onto her side and stroked the cat. “Am I keeping you awake? Sorry. I have too much on my mind.”
Dyna sank down next to her and purred while Larissa continued to stroke her. She rested her head on her arm and wondered when everything had gotten so complicated.
She’d always had a desire to take care of animals in need. But once she got to know Jack and had access to his resources, the sphere had grown. She liked being able to make a difference. She liked coordinating with families who were waiting for a transplant and helping them find temporary housing. She liked knowing that she’d found homes for cats or chiweenies or even owls. Helping wasn’t bad.
Except when it was something to hide behind, she thought slowly. Except when it offered a way to hide from her real life.
Had she done that? Had she be so busy rescuing everything in her path that she’d forgotten about herself? She wanted to say no but the fact that it took her mother to point out that she was in love with Jack sort of said she very well might have lost her way.
So what was she going to do about it? How was she going to reclaim her life?
“What do you think I should do?” she asked aloud.
Dyna turned to gaze at her. The cat’s blue eyes closed slowly.
“You’re right,” Larissa told her. “It’s my problem and therefore the solution is in me. But maybe you could give me a hint?”
Dyna continued to purr. Larissa closed her own eyes and felt herself start to relax. The answer would be there, she told herself. All she had to do was keep looking for it.
* * *
“I
CAN
’
T
TASTE
anymore truffles,” Taryn said. “If I do, I won’t fit in my dress. You and Angel can decide. But I do want the larger sprays of flowers for the ceremony.”
She paused, then groaned. “Is that right? Are they too big?”
Dellina took notes as Taryn spoke. “Either size will be beautiful.”
Her voice was calm, almost soothing. Jack figured it was a trick she’d picked up, given her line of business. Psycho brides would go with the territory. He’d heard rumors about them but until recently, he’d thought they were an urban myth. Now he knew better. He would never have guessed he would hear Taryn worrying about flower arrangements for any reason. Or tuxedo truffles or tulle, whatever the hell that was.
Accompanying their very female conversation was the steady beat from Percy’s speakers. Despite the fact that the kid was upstairs, the throbbing of his music’s bass vibrated through the house. The front door opened and the two chiweenies Larissa hadn’t taken with her to walk started barking. Jack looked around his living room and thought longingly of escape.
“We come carrying beer,” Sam said as he walked into the living room. “It’s nearly time.”
Kenny held up two giant bags of takeout. “I don’t know if I got enough.”
“You’re fine,” Taryn said before Jack could speak. “Angel will be by shortly with chips, dip and nuts.” She bent down and scooped up one of the dogs. The other one ran to Jack and began scratching at his knee, trying to get Jack to pick him up.
Sam and Kenny disappeared into the kitchen with the food and the beer, Angel walked in with more shopping bags. Taryn called to him while Dellina went to sort through all the food. Kenny stuck his head back into the living room.
“Hey,” he said. “It’s starting. We need the TV on.”
Jack stood in the middle of the chaos and wondered why he’d thought this was a good idea. Sure watching the first game of the season together was a tradition, but it wasn’t as if it was a good one. He would prefer a little peace and quiet. Right now his house felt like a war zone.
The front door opened again and both dogs started barking. The sound intensified when Larissa came in with the three dogs she’d taken out. There were barks and yips and calls for quiet and the theme music for the NFL game. Jack was about to grab his car keys and run when his gaze locked on Larissa.
She was bent over, releasing the three chiweenies from their leashes. Nothing about the moment was all that special, yet seeing her allowed him to breathe again. He scooped up a couple of the dogs and told them to be quiet. Everyone found their way to the sofas to watch the game and he went in the other direction. Toward Larissa.
“They’re all walked,” she told him, absently taking one of the dogs he held. “They should be good for the rest of the day. They can use the backyard for their potty breaks.”
He drew her into the kitchen. There was an open twelve-pack of beer, several covered dishes that probably needed to be put in the refrigerator. Chips and nuts had to be put into bowls. But he didn’t care about that.
He set his dog down, took hers from her and did the same, then pulled her close and kissed her.
Her mouth was soft and warm. She moved against him, her tongue tangling with his until all he could think about was taking her upstairs and having his way with her. Only they had a house full of company and there was a teenager awake and dogs to worry about. When had his life gotten so complicated?
She drew back and smiled at him. “Nice greeting. So I should leave more often?”
“Not really. I just missed you.”
She looked at the mess in the kitchen. “Too many people going in too many directions?”
“Taryn and Dellina were discussing tulle.”
She laughed. “Do you know what that is?”
“It’s something to do with the wedding, so no.”
She hugged him. “You’re such a guy.”
“That should make you happy.”
“It does.”
* * *
T
HE
L.A. S
TALLIONS
won their season opener, which put everyone in a good mood. Larissa enjoyed watching football with the guys. Not because she cared about the sport, but because they did. Plus, when they complained about a bad call or sloppy play, they knew exactly what they were talking about. She’d worked with them for so long she sometimes forgot that expertise was fun.
After everyone had left and the kitchen was clean, Percy returned to his room. She let out the chiweenies one last time, then herded them all upstairs where they collapsed together on a huge dog bed in the corner. She gave each of them a quick pat, then followed the sound of running water into the giant master bath.
Jack had water flowing into the tub. The scent of jasmine and vanilla drifted through the steam. He had already kicked off his shoes and removed his socks. She leaned against the door frame to watch him remove the rest of his clothing.
It was a good show. No matter how many times she saw Jack naked, she never got tired of looking. Maybe it was the way his muscles moved. Muscles she knew intimately. Maybe it was because she was in love with him and therefore couldn’t get enough of him. Maybe it was a combination. But whatever the reason, she stood and watched as Jack undressed, then walked into his embrace.
He pulled her close, then touched her face. His hands cupped her cheeks as he pressed his mouth to hers. His lips claimed with heady passion. She parted for him and welcomed the erotic feel of his tongue against hers.
With the first stroke, she felt electric tingles moving through her torso. With the second, those tingles settled in her breasts and between her legs. He hadn’t even touched her anywhere and she was already squirming to get closer, to be taken and to take. But first there would be the journey.
He dropped his hands to her waist and began to tug on her T-shirt. She reluctantly drew back so he could pull off the shirt. Her bra followed and then his hands were on her breasts.
He cupped her curves before bending over and sucking on her left nipple. She arched against him, wanting him to take her in deeper. She touched his hair, his bare shoulders. As his teeth lightly rubbed against her sensitive nipple, his hands reached for her jeans.
She fumbled in her attempts to help him undress her. Jeans and panties were pushed to the ground, then his mouth was on her other breast and she was having a little trouble keeping her breathing steady.
He broke away and turned off the faucets, then dimmed the lights. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s see how big a mess we can make.”
She laughed and reached for a clip. After securing her hair on top of her head, she stepped into the hot water. He got in, as well, then sat down in the tub and held out his arms. She got in, her back to his front. His erection poked her in the small of her back. She tried to turn, but he wouldn’t let her.
“We’re going to play first,” he told her. “You’ll like it.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re right,” she said, relaxing against him. The water was exactly the right temperature and the sensual fragrance surrounded them.
Jack wrapped both arms around her. He rested one hand across her breasts and the other on her belly. At the same time he began to lick and kiss the back of her neck.
Shivers rippled through her. Her nipples tightened and he squeezed first one, then the other. She waited for the other hand to move lower. Instead, he raised his arm and flipped a switch. Seconds later the motor started and the tub jets began to spray hot water.
She laughed. “Seriously? You’re turning on the Jacuzzi?”
“Trust me,” he said and slipped his hand between her thighs.
He found her core right away. She was already swollen. When he rubbed her, she let her legs fall open and relaxed into the pleasure.
He’d already learned how she liked it. The speed, the pressure. He used that knowledge now to take her from interested to aroused in only a couple of minutes—aided by his magical stroking of her breasts. But just when she thought he was going to turn her toward him and make things really fun, he instead shifted her closer to one of the jets.
She started to sit up. “Wait,” she said. “You can’t expect me to do that.”
“Why not? It’ll be fun.”
She looked at him, at the face of the man she loved, then nodded tentatively. “I don’t think it’s going to work.”
“It’s going to work great.”
He helped her slide forward, moving with her so she could lean against him and stay above water. She planted her feet on the edge of the tub and bent her legs so the jet blew directly on her swollen center. At the same time Jack put both his hands on her breasts and rubbed them.
The bubbling water felt good, she thought, shifting to find the right position, but not as good as him. She liked the feel of his hands on her breasts, she thought, pulsing her hips slightly. When he rubbed and squeezed, she began to breathe more quickly. She could feel herself getting close, but realized it wasn’t going to happen.
“It’s too weird,” she told him as she turned toward him.
“No problem.”
He lifted her onto the flat side of the tub. He knelt between her thighs and pressed his mouth directly against her aroused center.
Apparently the jets had done more than she’d thought because the second time he ran his tongue over her clitoris, she began to come.
The orgasm was unexpected and she gasped out her pleasure. Jack immediately plunged two fingers inside of her, which made her tremble. She had to hang on to him to keep from slipping back into the tub. She drew her legs apart wider and pressed into him as her release rippled through her over and over.
When she was finished, she opened her eyes and saw him smiling at her.
“So, about the jets,” he began.
She laughed. “Maybe they’re not so weird.”
She slipped back into the water. He pulled her close and gently touched her between her legs. She shuddered at the feel of him.
“Your turn,” she whispered and patted the edge of the tub.
He sat where she had. He was already hard and when she bent to take him in her mouth, he groaned.
She shifted to brace herself on the tub, anchoring her knees and her feet, then drew him into her mouth again. At that moment, Jack shifted her so that one of the jets was pointed directly at the apex of her thighs. The bubbling water caressed her exactly where she was most swollen.
“This way it’s good for both of us,” Jack told her.
And it was.
* * *
T
HE
LAST
THING
Jack was looking for was another meeting, but here he was, back at Cal U Fool’s Gold for another go-round with Tad, the athletic director, on the subject of the university starting a football program. Normally he would have been looking for an excuse to cancel. He could claim a last-minute meeting with a client. But he didn’t—for two reasons. First, he was kind of excited about the thought of watching a team being built from the ground up. Second, these days he was nice and mellow most of the time. He knew the cause and was looking forward to having his way with her later that night.
He walked into the conference room three minutes before the start of the meeting and nodded at everyone. University president Newham was there, across from Tad. There was also a guy Jack didn’t recognize. He was tall enough and built, but if Jack had to guess, he would say the other man worked hard for a living. His muscles were more from labor than sports.
The man in question nodded at him, then reached across the table to shake hands.
“Zane Nicholson.”