Finally getting a handle on my hysterics, I clue him in. “Let’s just say, I was very…inventive…on how I cursed you out during Kevin’s delivery.” I wet my lips and wait for Jennings to piece it together.
It doesn’t take him long. Horrified, he yells, “You wished for me to fall on the log?”
Shoving up to my knees, I crawl over to where he’s sitting. Resting my hands on his clenched legs, I remind him, “I was pushing an eight-pound human out between mine, the last stage of which lasted for two hours. Let’s talk levels of pain, Ace.”
Jennings blanches before he reaches down and pulls me onto his lap. “Why don’t you rewind that section, son?” he offers.
Even as Maris and Kevin cackle with glee, I lean down and kiss Jennings. Today was about as perfect a day as we could have, but even if we spent it doing just this, I hope he knows I don’t take for granted any moment we get to spend together. Every second is precious because our idyllic summer won’t last forever.
Jennings
About a week after we went to Skagway, I walk up behind Kara, who’s frowning at her laptop. “What are you doing?” I massage her neck gently. If she’s writing to her brother—something she hasn’t done in a while—I don’t want to interrupt her.
“Paying bills. I’m trying to figure out how my electric bill for our apartment went up while we haven’t been there,” she grouses. Tipping her head back, her lips twist. “You must know how it is. One month the water or heat is up, the next it’s the electric or there’s some odd bank charge that’s never been there before.”
“Is it always this bad?”
She shakes her head. “Summers are always a bit tricky,” she admits on a small moan when I rub the knot at the base of her neck. “God, I’ll give you a million of my nonexistent dollars not to stop.”
“How about I exchange it for kisses?” I suggest.
She laughs before turning back to her laptop. “Better currency anyway.”
My eyes bug out at the minuscule amount in her checking account. “I’ve got to ping Reg about the holdup,” I mutter aloud.
“Who’s that?” she murmurs, distracted.
“I’ll tell you later. Jesus, Kara. What bills do you have each month?” I demand.
As Kara details her monthly expenses, she includes a college tuition payment. “Kevin’s only taking one course, you said,” I interrupt, reminding her of what she told me when I first came back to Alaska.
“True, but I enrolled him into the prepaid college plan, Jennings. I locked in his tuition when he was a baby, so it’s affordable and gives him a solid degree with no student loans,” she patiently explains, when I’m anything but that. “Look,” she urges. A few quick clicks of her fingers pulls up Kevin’s payment schedule for a four-year state university including room and board. “I started this months after he was born.” Her finger trails alongside the screen reverently. “It was worth everything to give him this start in life,” she assures me.
“Even putting your dream of a house on hold?” I ask gruffly. Kara keeps devastating me. Between giving up on being a scientist and what should be a more attainable goal of owning a home, I’m shook to the core once again by her selflessness.
Her hand comes up to rest on mine, giving it a quick squeeze. “Jennings, aspirations can be accomplished no matter the age. Men and women run marathons in their eighties. People who are physically challenged climb mountains. Dreams are meant to shift, and we’re meant to adapt along with them. Otherwise”—a wicked expression lights her face—“I’d still be dreaming of boy bands instead of pilots.”
I reward her with a kiss to the forehead. “What do you want now?” I ask, and not just because I’m curious but because my world is contingent upon the answer.
“Building a home filled with love. It doesn’t matter if it’s an apartment or a house,” she declares resolutely, shoving her laptop aside. “Now, bill paying always depresses me. I feel like chocolate; you in?”
I nod, even though the last thing I feel like doing is swallowing the silver foil-wrapped drops she places into my hand. That is until she murmurs, “I can’t wait to taste your lips after you’ve eaten those.”
Immediately tearing into the foil, I shove the bite between my teeth and chomp down much to Kara’s amusement. Standing, she tugs my head down and keeps her promise to taste the candy off my lips. “Tastes so much better this way,” she decides, before walking away calling out to Kevin. “Sweetheart, there’s chocolate if you want some!”
“Later, Mom! Brooks and I are…ah, no! Go left!”
“And on that note, I’m going to curl up in front of the TV. Want to join me?”
“In just a minute,” I agree. Kara smiles before heading into the living room to command control of the remote.
I want to pick up the laptop and hurl it across the room, my frustration is so great. But I exhale knowing soon, she won’t be worried about things like electric bills, I think in disgust. Kevin’s college payments will be a thing of the past.
And once Kara understands this isn’t because she hasn’t done a phenomenal job providing for our son but because I want to protect the family we’re building, maybe she’ll actually understand why I did it without finishing our conversation. Because the prideful woman who just sat at that table is going to kill me.
But like Reg warned me, once the money hits her account, there’s no way to reverse it.
Shoving that thought aside, I lower the lid on her laptop and turn. Then I groan aloud. “No, Kara. Really? We’re not watching Building Alaska when we’re in Alaska, are we?”
“Sure we are. I love watching people who have no clue how to build a house try to put one up on an island with no hardware store nearby.” She pats the seat next to her.
Who am I to resist such an offer?
Kara
The last three days have been nothing but crappy weather, leaving me with a sense of impending doom. I haven’t been able to put my finger on why. It must be because we’ve all been housebound. Maybe it’s because we haven’t seen Jennings today, I muse. Since the breakthrough between Kevin and Jennings, their bond has grown so much stronger. And every half hour, he keeps asking me when his father is coming by. With an aggravated sigh, I understand now why Jed and Dean encouraged him in sports. “Poor kid. He’s trapped without remembering what the sun feels like.”
Just then, I get a text from Jennings. Got caught up with a conference call. How are things?
I type, I think Kevin’s about to morph into Margaret from Ray Bradbury’s poem.
All Summer In a Day? God, I haven’t thought of that in ages. Do they still teach that in school?
I’m about to reply when my phone vibrates in my hand with a 904 area code. Frowning, I answer it. “Hello?”
“Hello. I’m trying to reach Kara Malone,” an unrecognizable voice says. “This is Amanda with Teachers First Credit Union in Jacksonville. How are you today?”
I grit my teeth and politely answer, “This is she. How are you, Amanda?
“Well, thank you, Ms. Malone. I’m calling today because—”
Suspecting this is likely a telemarketing call, I interrupt. “I’m out of state traveling. Is there a problem with my account?”
“Actually, yes. Before we discuss the specifics, would you mind verifying a few pieces of information for me?”
After jumping through a few hoops, I panic slightly. “I just paid my bills online the other day. Did those go through? Has there been a hack of some sort?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Malone. Please let me assure you there is nothing negatively wrong with your account. There has been no inappropriate attempts to access your account, nor any funds transferred out without your explicit authorization.”
I sag against the island counter. “Well, that’s a relief.” Even I hear the anxiety drain from my voice.
“Indeed,” she agrees. “Normally I’m making these calls for a different reason entirely.”
“I can imagine,” I
reply wryly. We share a laugh that eases the tension. “Then what’s the issue?”
“Let me get right to the point. Our bank manager wanted me to give you a courtesy call to inform you we normally don’t accept large electronic transfers of this amount without advance notice, but since everyone in the Jacksonville metropolitan area is aware of the circumstances of your brother’s passing—”
I stop her polite rambling. “I’m confused. What are you talking about? I wasn’t aware of any funds being transferred into my account.” Certainly Maris would have told me if she planned on doing so. Wouldn’t she?
Her voice becomes cautious. “Ms. Malone, do you have access to a computer?”
“Yes, of course. Give me just a moment.” I walk over to the kitchen counter where my laptop has taken up residence. Impatiently waiting for it to connect to the internet, I log in to my banking application. “One more moment, Amanda,” I plead.
“Take your time,” she reassures me.
And the moment my dashboard appears, I understand why my bank’s calling. “Wh-Where did this money come from?” I whisper. There’s been a deposit for close to a quarter of a million dollars made into my savings account. My head is spinning with the possibilities, but there’s really only two.
“I wouldn’t be able to do that unless you want to open up an investigation into the deposit.”
I find it difficult to swallow. “If you can’t determine the account holder, can you tell me the bank where the money originated from?” That will tell me if it was Maris giving me Kevin’s inheritance or Jennings.
And what I need to do.
“Yes. That I can do. If you give me just a moment…” Amanda does this annoying click with her teeth through the phone while she types that makes me want to dive through it. But my frustration is redirected to anger when she says, “It appears the routing number originates from a bank in Seattle, Washington. Do you wish for me to open up an investigation?” she asks me.
“No.” I grip the counter behind me, holding myself up. I can’t believe he did this without talking with me first. “I know who the sender is. Please apologize to the bank manager on my behalf. I can assure you, it will not happen again.”
Probably because I’m going to skin Jennings alive the moment I see him.
I’m debating the ways how when Amanda lets out a sigh of relief. “Not a problem at all, Ms. Malone. And again, on behalf of everyone at Teachers First Credit Union in Jacksonville, we’re sorry for your recent loss.”
“Thank you, Amanda.” I disconnect the phone, crushing it between my fingers.
I wonder how Amanda and Teachers First Credit Union in Jacksonville is going to feel when they see I’ve been brought up on charges, I think fleetingly as I stomp over to the basement door. “Kevin!” I yell at the top of my lungs.
A few seconds later, he edges toward the bottom of the stairs with his “uh-oh” face on. When the first words out of his mouth are “It wasn’t me; I swear,” I relax slightly.
“I know, sweetheart. Maris ran to the store. She’ll be back soon; I have to go see your father.”
“Okay. Tell him I said hey.” I hear the sounds of things blowing up before he yells, “Oh, yeah! That’s how you do it!”
Briefly, I wish I could go downstairs and join him, but sadly, I have to go hurt his father.
Badly.
Closing the door, I pull out my phone and text Jennings. Is your call done?
He responds right away. Just finished. Why? What’s up.
I’m on my way.
His concerned Are you sure you should be driving in this? doesn’t get a response. Neither does the phone call he makes as I’m dashing to my car.
Jennings is just going to have to wait until he can deal with my temper face-to-face.
What’s normally a ten-minute drive takes thirty in the pouring rain. By then, I’m in a complete state. How dare he do this without talking to me? I throw my car door wide, uncaring my jacket’s open, and dash through the rain and up the steps.
Just as I open it, the heavy front door is flung back on its hinges as the wind picks up at just the wrong moment. Expecting to dash up the stairs to his room, I pull up short. There he is—my target for my anger. He’s leaning negligently against the counter talking with an older gentleman. As soon as he spots me, the conversation dies abruptly.
He gently mocks as I stalk toward him, “Owl, it helps if you close your coat up so you don’t get wet.” His fingers toy with the wet zipper as soon as I’m close enough for him to touch it.
I slap his hand away. His brows shoot skyward. I emit a feral sound before hissing, “How dare you?”
“Well, when it’s raining, I often take the time to—”
“I don’t need your goddamned money!” I shout.
“Ahh,” he hums, fanning the flame inside of me. “I see Reg got it done.”
“I have no idea who Reg is, nor do I care. Just tell me how to give it back.”
Jennings interrupts me to say to the man behind him, “If you’ll excuse us, Ron, the things Kara and I need to say to one another are likely not fit for your other guests’ ears.”
My head barely jerks in the direction of the other man even as Jennings yanks me toward the direction of the stairs leading upstairs. Increasing my stride, I manage to keep pace with his long legs as we hit the landing.
I’m burning up with the intensity of my emotions when he lets go of my fingers to reach for his keys once we reach his door. “Don’t you dare move,” he snarls, green eyes burning.
I’m about ready to snap by the time he fumbles the key into the lock and shoves the door open. Storming past him without waiting for an invitation, I don’t notice a damn thing about the rest of the energy around me until the door slams.
The lock snicks. Immediately, Jennings hurls his keys. “We’re not leaving this room until you understand one simple concept,” he growls as he approaches me.
“What’s that?” I ask. The anger is still pulsating through me, making my voice come out rough as sandpaper, but so is something else.
Desire.
“By the time you walk out that door, you’re going to realize I will do anything I damn well please for my family.” He’s so close I can feel the waves of tension coming off him.
My outrage overrides my urgency to jump him. Hands slamming into his chest, I shout, “Not by dumping a bunch of money I neither want nor need into my account!”
He laughs darkly before hauling me against him. Spinning me to face the wall, he presses me up against it. “By doing anything I feel necessary. Don’t you get it, Kara? I would give up the sky, if you asked.” His voice cracks when he adds, “My money, my life, what does it matter when you can ask me for my soul and I’d hand it to you?” At that confession, Jennings lays his forehead against the back of my neck.
Our breaths tangle thickly. I quickly lose all the fight inside me as I struggle to stay upright.
Inhale. One hand slides into my hair, yanking my head to the side.
Exhale. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. Including a love that I never thought I could have.
Tipping my head around, I capture Jennings’s lips with mine. He groans, one of his hands wrapping around my chin, pulling my face closer. I tangle my fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, along the side of his face, anything I can touch so I’m not to be spun into oblivion as his tongue seizes mine. A moan escapes from deep within my throat as Jennings’s fingers travel over the collar of my button-down and give it a hard yank.
I gasp. My knees give way. If it weren’t for his hard body behind me, I’d be a puddle on the floor.
Every millimeter of my skin is sensitized. I arch my back, which only serves to press my breasts against the wall, but Jennings just grips me tighter.
“You’re not going anywhere. I’m not letting you go ever again.”
“Then give me that. I don’t need your money. All I want is—” I bite back before his mouth silences mine.
The kiss sends chills racing through me.
“You. The right way to end that sentence is with the word ‘you,’” Jennings finishes when he breaks our kiss. “Because that’s the only thing I need.”
Following up his words with actions, Jennings slides his hands up to cup my breasts, rolling the already turgid nipples tighter. A long moan escapes. I can feel the anger that drove me here slide into something wild and mysterious, something unknown.
Something we’ve never shared.
Leaning forward, air whooshes out as Jennings braces his chest against my back, forcing the air from my lungs. He drags both hands down over my stomach, causing my stomach muscles to contract. Quickly reaching my waistband, his fingers deftly undo the snap and zipper of my jeans.
Panting, Jennings whispers, “Kick off your shoes, Owl,” as he drags his bearded chin down the length of my spine while pulling my jeans and panties down.
I shiver uncontrollably, but I do as he asks, my tennis shoes going skidding across the room with a thunk. Soon, I’m naked except for my socks, and my back is still toward him. Jennings is on his knees behind me, smoothing his hands over and over my skin. Tapping my leg, he murmurs, “Part your legs.”
“Jennings.” I move to spin around, but he grabs my hips.
“Let me, my love.” All frustration is gone from his voice, but I’m suddenly trembling. While my heart’s trying to assimilate what he said, Jennings parts my the folds between my legs.
The next thing I feel is his lips surround my clit. And I almost explode right then and there. “Jennings!” I gasp.
He smooths his hands up and over the backs of my thighs all the while alternating between lapping at my juices and sucking the little bud over and over again. He flicks it like it’s my nipple, then ducks down to lap up the effects of his actions, before starting all over.
Meanwhile I’m clutching the wall, the doorjamb, anything in hopes of staying on my feet especially when he slides his fingers inside me.
Return by Air (Glacier Adventure Series Book 1) Page 24