Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (22 page)

She laughed and swatted his butt as he walked in ahead of her. Sicily and Lisa were arguing over the placement of the tables as they approached, Jake moving past them and staying out of it. Kari moved between them and wrapped an arm around each of them.

"We're here to paint. We can argue later, but let's not waste the muscle we have here helping us."

Jake turned around and flexed. "Oh, I invited a buddy of mine to come help too. He owns the local gym in town and volunteers at the fire department with me."

Kari's eyebrow lifted. "That sounds great."

"Is he hot?" Lisa asked as Sicily sighed and walked to the back of the small shop.

Jake's eyes narrowed playfully as he tilted his head. "Hmmm... is he hot? You know I'm not sure. My kinda hot is Kari, so if we're judging by that, um no."

Kari and Lisa laughed, Kari reaching over and squeezing her friend's shoulder. "You had that coming."

"Yep... story of my life." Lisa smirked and reached for a roller brush.

Chapter 26

They all hushed after Kari turned on music using her phone, their paint brushes coating the wall in a muted teal. Jake stayed close to Kari, making small talk here and there, loving the concentration on her face as she painted. He looked up as Drake walked in, the closest friend in Bar Harbor he’d made at the small gym where he'd spent many nights trying to purge the memories of Bethany from his mind.

"Someone call for a help?" Drake stopped at the door, his hands on his hips as he looked around.

Jake moved to extend his hand to him. "Hey, buddy. Thanks for coming." He turned and pointed to Kari. "This is my girlfriend, Kari. Her friends Sicily and Lisa."

Lisa smiled and waved flirtatiously, forever a redhead. Sicily stared a bit longer than she might have realized. Jake moved Drake over to the pile of supplies and picked up a brush.

"We're just doing the base coat now. Pick a place to get rolling and let's go. We'll try and do two coats before we break for the day."

Drake took the brush and leaned over, picking up a large can of paint. "What's this going to be?"

"A bakery," Sicily called over her shoulder as she worked to cover the wall in front of her. "Do you like sweets?"

Drake laughed. "Um no. I like staying in shape and sugar is the devil."

Sicily turned and stuck her tongue out as Jake chuckled. He walked back over to Kari, stopping beside her and brushing his hand along the small of her back. "I think I should have thought twice about inviting the owner of the only gym in town to help us paint a bakery for opening day."

"I heard that," Drake muttered as he walked by, his grumbles over sugar and the need to purge it causing Sicily to growl.

Jake laughed as Kari looked over her shoulder and gave them a warning. "Hush and let's get done. It's supposed to be nice outside tonight and I'm looking forward to dinner on the patio."

"We'll need to hurry then. The sun has already started to set." Lisa walked toward the front of the small shop, the doors and windows open to keep the airflow moving. "What are we having?"

"Chicken." Sicily turned and wiped her hair from her face, teal paint smearing across her cheek. Kari moved toward her as Drake turned and offered her a small rag.

"I like chicken." He smiled as Sicily awarded him a deadpan stare. "You have paint on your cheek."

She tried to wipe at it and only smeared it further. Jake reached out and pulled Kari back, diverting her attention back to him as Drake helped get the paint off the pretty baker. It would be fun to see what might happen, but Jake knew one thing for sure - change was in the air.

Kari stopped in front of him and looked up. "What?"

"Nothing. Just want you close to me."

"Scared your gym friend will mistake me for a single girl?"

Jake growled and put an arm around her, pulling her closer and leaning down to nip at her lips. "I'd kick his ass and remind you who's you are."

She carefully wrapped her arms around him, her brush somewhere in the air behind him. She leaned in and kissed him, Jake pressing against her.

"You have nothing to worry about. You're everything I've ever wanted." She kissed him again and Lisa muttered for them to 'get a room'. Kari wagged her eyebrows and Jake laughed, moving back to his post.

"I wish."

*

Another hour of painting and the whole place had a base coat, the room large and open. The color shrunk the appearance of its size, but it ushered in a quaint, hometown feeling. Kari looked around the room, her friends looking worn. She walked to the small sink, rinsing her brush and offering to rinse everyone else's, too.

"I thought we were doing another coat?" Drake asked, walking over to the sink and extending his brush to Kari.

He was tall like Jake, but his skin was much darker, his hair black and his features exotic like Sicily's. He had to be from Spain or somewhere in South America perhaps. He smiled at her and she smiled back, shrugging.

"It's been a long weekend, so one coat will have to do. We'll get the other one in later this week, I'm sure."

Jake moved in beside her, slipping his brush under the running water. "I'm thinking dinner and sleep sound great. I'm beat."

"Weak." Drake winked and walked off, grabbing his keys. "I guess call me later this week if you need me again, Isaac."

"You're not coming to dinner with us?" Jake turned around, working to dry the brushes as Kari kept washing them.

"Didn't know I was invited."

Kari looked over her shoulder as Lisa and Sicily joined the conversation, Sicily speaking up.

"Of course you are. You came to help us, so let me feed you."

A smile brushed across his lips and he looked toward Jake, who nodded.

"Okay, as long as there is something healthy for me to eat, I'm good." Drake looked back to Sicily, who nodded and walked to grab her keys. "I'll pick up a few more veggies and meet you guys at home.

Lisa handed her brush to Kari. "I'll go with her. Kari, you ride with Jake?"

Jake nodded and turned back to Kari. "We can close up here and meet them there."

"Okay," Kari responded, turning away from the conversation and finishing up her task. She wiped her hands on the small towel Jake left beside her before he walked Drake to the door. Kari turned and watched the two men talk, their laughter and joking with one another warming her heart. It was going to be interesting getting to know Jake's friends and family in the near future.

Wonder if his mom and dad will like me?

She shook her head, chiding herself for thinking too far in advance. They had to build the foundation of a relationship before parents got involved, but her mom would be coming in the next weekend, so the building needed to move quickly. She'd had her mom reschedule as she was supposed to come in that weekend, but going to the basketball tournament for work trumped the trip.

She walked toward Jake as he turned back into the small shop. Her heart swelled at the sight of him. Going on the basketball trip was the best decision she'd made in ages. He stopped in front of her and pulled her into his arms, her hands pressing against the firm muscles of his chest as he leaned down to kiss her softly.

"What're you thinking?"

She moved back and reached up to cover her mouth as she yawned loudly. "I'm thinking that the next time we have an all-night love fest I need to have the next day off to sleep."

He smirked. "You off tomorrow?"

She laughed and moved around him, turning off lights as she walked through the bakery. "No, but I suppose I can sleep when I die."

"That's my girl." He moved up and turned off the last light as Kari walked into the chilly evening air. Jake turned and extended his hand as she slipped a key in it. He locked up and they walked together to his truck, Jake opening her door.

He got in and started the truck as Kari looked over at him.

"What's the story with Drake?"

Jake shrugged. "I don't know his whole story really. He's lived here a few years longer than me and he comes from a really big family. He owns the gym in town and is crazy about his eating habits and taking care of his body. Don't know much more than that."

"Is he married or dating anyone?"

"I don't think so. Why?" Jake pulled out into the street, his eyebrow lifting as Kari laughed.

"I was thinking about him and Sicily. They would make beautiful babies."

Jake coughed loudly into his hand. "Beautiful babies? How about a date first?"

Kari shrugged and buckled up. "Just saying."

"Yes, well, don't say that to him. He has ten siblings and isn't at all interested in marriage or kids I don't think. They were dirt-floor poor and he blames that on his parents overpopulating the world."

"Sicily has a big family too."

Jake reached over and took her hand, the smile on his face causing her heart to beat faster.

"That's awesome, but no playing matchmaker."

"Why?"

"It never turns out good. If something is meant to happen between them it will. Fate doesn't need your help, baby."

She scoffed. "I don't believe in fate. It's a myth, a fairy tale of sorts."

"I do."

"Tell me one time fate has shown up and caused something good to happen in your life?"

He pulled her fingers to his mouth, gently kissing her knuckles as she groaned. The soft wet warmth of his mouth would be something that would always undo her from the inside out.

"Fate showed up a week ago and brought the most beautiful creature in the universe to my town. It dropped her in the aisle of a grocery store I was in. Moved her into the house I take care of and own. It placed her beneath me last night so I could finally share my heart, my body, my soul with someone worthy of it."

He looked over at her as she teared up, a smile on his lips.

"Okay," was all she could utter before looking out the far window, realizing how much
fate
had done for her too in retrospect.

*

They arrived at the house a few minutes later, Jake opening her door and offering his hand as she slipped out. Drake was already there and got out as they walked to the front. He jogged to catch up, looking over at Kari.

"How did this rascal talk a beautiful girl like you into giving him a chance?" He winked at her and she laughed, fishing in her purse for the keys.

"Money. He's loaded if you didn't know." She winked back and worked to get the door opened, the boys following her into the warmth of the house. Drake's laugh was deep and warm, rich like good wine.

"That's hilarious. I know him and he's broke most of the time."

Jake popped his friend in the chest and pointed to the sofa. "Go sit down and stop killing the mystery of my character."

Drake shook his head and walked to the living room, turning on the sports channel and sinking down into the couch. Kari laughed as she watched them, Jake walking up and letting his eyes drag over her.

"Money... who needs money when you have passion?"

"I'd take passion any day of the week," Kari whispered as he stopped in front of her, sliding his hands around her waist and squeezing her butt, a growl on his lips.

"Guys... I'm fucking right here," Drake yelled from the living room.

Kari looked around Jake and laughed. "Sorry. We just started dating, so..."

"So we're likely to be gross tonight on more than one occasion," Jake finished for her, Lisa and Sicily walking in as they pulled apart.

"Alright... let's get dinner together." Sicily held up a small plastic bag and moved to the kitchen, Kari following as Jake joined his friend on the couch.

"What can I do to help?" Kari asked as Lisa started pulling items from the fridge.

"Chop the salad stuff." Sicily leaned back, looking toward the living room before looking at Kari. "God he's hot."

"Jake?" Kari whispered.

"No, his friend." Sicily shook her head as Kari leaned back to give him the once over again. He was extremely good looking, but a little leaner than she liked. Kari shrugged and busied herself with chopping. Love was in the air - it wouldn't be a surprise at all if Sicily and Drake ended up together.

Dinner was fantastic and yet the company that filled the room made it all the more perfect. Jake stood and stretched, thanking Sicily again for the tenth time. Drake had unfortunately offended the poor girl on more than one occasion throughout dinner due to his health concerns for everyone.

Jake smoothed things over as best he could and found relief that the night was drawing to a close and he would have time with his new obsession. He walked Drake to the door, thanking his friend for his help before returning to the kitchen.

"Can I help wash dishes or something?"

Lisa looked over her shoulder from the sink and nodded. "Hell yeah. Come take my spot."

"No," Sicily responded and pulled Lisa back. "You and Kari go spend some time together. Enjoy the newness for a while. It's always over far too fast."

Jake smiled and walked down the hall, stopping by the back door to see Kari leaning over the railing. He smiled at the sight of her, moving out onto the porch as she turned around. He rubbed his stomach and groaned.

"Dating you is going to make me fat."

She laughed, the sound of it causing his heart to flutter.

"Then we need to start jogging. You promised me a tour around the city on foot anyway."

"I did?" he asked, reaching her and pulling her into his arms. He bent down and kissed her, Kari rising up on her toes to return the gesture. He took his time, his hand coming up to touch the sides of her neck as he made love to her mouth slowly.

She broke the kiss, moving away breathless, her cheeks stained light pink. He leaned down for one more kiss before turning her around and pressing himself behind her, his arms encircling her as they looked out at the moon on the bay.