She’d met the girls Monday night for dinner and had told them about their weekend and their confessions of love. They’d been as floored and elated as she was. Those three perfect words came so easily when they talked now. Jett even put ILY at the end of some of his texts, which made her giddy every time.
“He’s supportive of the idea. Why?”
“Because he flew you to LA, spent a fortune on romancing you in a helicopter, told you he loves you, and we all know how he feels about the Cape,” Chloe explained. “I know he’s changing, and that’s a huge deal. But knowing you’ll be here year-round might worry him a little. He’s spent so long avoiding coming back to this place.”
“And what about Jett and Dean’s fight at the wedding?” Daphne said carefully. “They seemed more at ease with each other afterward, but what was all that about?”
“I’m kind of pissed that I missed it,” Chloe said. “The thought of seeing those two delicious men fighting is a total turn-on.”
Daphne looked at Chloe like she was crazy. “You hate bad boys, and I don’t understand why fighting would turn anyone on.”
“You also think your bootylicious body isn’t hot as hell, so I’m not surprised.” Chloe smacked Daphne’s butt, making her blush again. “You’re hot as eff, Daph. One day I’ll school you in the difference between a bad boy, like Justin, Dwayne, or Zander, and a gentleman who is rugged and stands up for his convictions and battles it out, like Jett and Dean.”
Tegan pointed at Chloe and said, “Don’t drool over mine and Emery’s men. There are plenty of single fish in the sea.”
“Isn’t she cute when she’s jealous?” Chloe teased as she put a pink bathing suit over her arm and continued fishing through the rack. “I was kidding. They are hot, but you know I don’t want either of them.”
“I know, but it was fun warning you off. I’m a girlfriend now. I have all sorts of new attitudes.” She wiggled her shoulders, making the girls chuckle. “But in all seriousness, Jett’s okay with me being here, and he’s obviously trying to make things right with his family, since we’re spending the day with them tomorrow. He told me last night that he’s a little anxious about it. But he’s a confident man who succeeds at whatever he puts his mind to, so I’m hoping for the best.” She held up three white bikinis and said, “I’m also hoping one of these might help ease that anxiety.”
“Does this mean you’re finally going to tell us why you needed a virginal white bikini by tonight?” Chloe asked.
Tegan tried to stifle her smile, but it was a lost cause. She’d thought of nothing else but her sexy surprise since she decided to do it. “It’s kind of embarrassing, but Jett had this teenage fantasy that involves a hot chick in a white bikini and a little tying-up action in the bedroom. I want to surprise him when he gets in tonight and make it come true. I’ve got it all planned with silk rose petals and scented candles. He should get in around eight, and I’m going to answer the door wearing a white bikini and high heels.” Her belly fluttered, and she said, “If I don’t chicken out.”
“Holy crap, Teg. I want to be your boyfriend,” Chloe said. “There’s no way Jett will be anxious with all that naughtiness going on.”
“That’s it. I need a boyfriend.” Daphne lowered her voice and said, “Everyone has an adventurous sex life except me. I have been married and divorced, and I have a little girl, but I’ve never had that. Don’t chicken out, Tegan. He’s going to be so happy.”
“I hope so. I love him so much, you guys. I want this to be really special and intimate. Ever since that first night we were together, we just clicked, in and out of the bedroom, and it’s only gotten better and…I’m rambling. I’m sorry.” She laughed nervously, but she couldn’t keep it all in. “But when we text, my heart races, and when I see him on FaceTime, I fall in love all over again. I know I sound ridiculous, but I’ve never felt like this before, and I’ve definitely never done anything like what I’m planning. What if he’s tired when he gets there? Or too stressed? What if he thinks I’m trying too hard and that I look ridiculous?”
“If he’s half as in love with you as you are with him, you could wear baggy sweats and shave your head and he’d still want to love you all night long,” Daphne said.
“Seriously, Teg? I would not worry about that. One look at you and he is going to be sporting an iron rod.” Chloe pointed to the bikinis Tegan was holding and said, “Now we need to get your head out of the clouds and your body into those bikinis so we can pick out the perfect one for your night of seduction. And while we’re at it, Daph, what size do you wear?”
“I don’t know,” Daphne said. “I hate bathing suits.”
“Rough guess?” Chloe urged as she picked through a rack of swimsuits.
“Fourteen? Sixteen? Maybe bigger after all the crap I’ve been eating.”
Chloe grabbed a black one-piece in three sizes, and they headed into the dressing area. She handed Daphne the black suits and said, “Try these on.”
“I just said I hate bathing suits,” Daphne complained. “I look awful in them.”
“Our previous conversations have taught me not to trust your judgment.” Chloe gave Daphne a nudge toward a dressing-room curtain. “Get in there and change. We’ll tell you if they look horrible.”
Daphne swatted the curtain open and said, “I’m only doing this because I know you’ll bug me until I do.”
“Whatever it takes,” Chloe said as she and Tegan slipped into their own dressing rooms. “Meet you at the three-way.”
“That’s what he said,” Tegan said, making them all cackle.
A few minutes later, Tegan was standing in front of the three-way mirror admiring herself in a simple white string bikini that tied on her hips when Chloe came out of her dressing room wearing a pink one-piece with high-cut hips and a plunging neckline.
“Wow, Chloe. That’s a great color on you.”
“Thanks. You look gorgeous.” Chloe touched the ties on Tegan’s hips and said, “These are nice for easy access.”
“Good point. I think I’m going to buy this one.”
Chloe turned around, looking at her own butt in the mirror. “My butt is so blah. I would kill for some of Daphne’s curves. Maybe I need to eat more bacon. I need to find one of those cover-up skirts.”
“You have a great butt, and if you don’t believe me, ask Justin. He’s always looking at it.” Tegan looked toward Daphne’s dressing room and said, “Come on. I think she’s hiding.”
They went to Daphne’s dressing room and Tegan said, “Daph? How does it look?”
“I look all dimply, like Hadley with cleavage.”
Tegan and Chloe exchanged a disbelieving glance, and they peeked behind the curtain. She looked sexy and beautiful, and it saddened Tegan that her friend could see anything but what she saw. The solid bottom flattered her full hips, setting off the natural dip of her waist, and the laced-up bodice showed just enough skin to draw the eye.
Daphne covered her stomach and said, “See? Hadley, right?”
Tegan and Chloe stepped into her dressing room, and Tegan said, “If Hadley grows up to look like you, I’d lock her up. That suit is absolutely perfect on you. I promise you, if I thought you didn’t look your best in it, I’d tell you, because I’m that big-mouth friend who always tells it like it is.”
“What don’t you like about it?” Chloe asked.
“I love the suit. It’s beautiful, and it’s really comfortable. But I feel a little self-conscious in any bathing suit. My ex always encouraged me to wear shorts over them.”
“Is that why you do that?” Chloe asked. “Guess what, gorgeous? Your ex was an asshole who never deserved you in the first place.”
“True, but there is a lot of me.” She ran her hand over her thigh, looking embarrassed.
“So?” Chloe said. “There’s not enough of me.”
Tegan looked at the three of them in the mirror and said, “You think you’re heavy, Chloe thinks she’s too skinny. I could use bigger
boobs and a more pronounced waist, but I’m not getting implants or removing a rib. My mom always told me that if I had those things, I’d want something else to be different. I’m sure she’s right. I’ve never met a girl who loved everything about herself. At this point, I just figure I am who I am, and try to embrace myself, flaws and all. I wish you would, too, because all I see are three beautiful women who have better things to worry about than if we’re eating too much or our butts are too big or too small.”
“You know what? You’re right. Forget the butt cover-up,” Chloe said. “My scrawny ass will be on full display this summer.”
Daphne ran her hand over her butt and said, “I agree with the idea, but it’s still going to be hard to ditch my shorts.”
“That’s okay. You need to be you any which way you’re comfortable,” Tegan said. “But just remember, we think you look like a million bucks.”
“Thank you.” Daphne’s eyes drifted down Tegan’s body. “And you look like Jett’s teenage fantasy come true.”
Chloe scoffed. “Forget his teenage fantasy. She looks like his next meal.”
AT SIX THIRTY that evening, Tegan was dancing to music as she set scented candles out in the bedroom. She put a few in the living room, too, and lit them all so the cottage would smell nice when Jett arrived. Then she set to work creating a trail of silk rose petals from the front door to the bedroom, getting more nervous with every step toward her grand seduction scheme. She knew Daphne was right when she’d said that she could wear baggy sweats and shave her head and Jett would still want to love her all night long. She had no doubts about his feelings for her. That was just one of the reasons she wanted tonight to be special for him. She’d had an incredible time in LA, but she’d paid the price. She’d been flat-out exhausted Monday, and she’d been hustling all week to make up for the work she’d put off. That had given her a better appreciation for the time Jett spent with her and with his family. His work was far busier than hers, with much higher stakes, and the constant travel these last few weeks had to take a toll on him. She wondered if his family ever thought about that, since it seemed like they never made the effort to go see him.
She spread rose petals over the comforter and placed the silk ties she’d bought on the pillow. Then she set out her white bikini and heels and stepped back to take it all in, trying to imagine how it would look to Jett. Would he see the romance she’d tried to inspire, or would he be too focused on sex? She shivered just thinking about his eyes darkening with desire, and she knew the answer to her own question. Jett would definitely be focused on sex, but even when he was animalistic, there was no escaping the love between them, and that in and of itself created romance.
The roses and candles just made it even more perfect.
It was almost seven o’clock. How would she survive being this nervous for the next hour? She headed into the kitchen to have one of the Mike’s Hard Lemonades she’d bought on the way home. She hoped Jett would remember that it was what they’d had the night of the storm. Her phone rang as she was opening the bottle. She hurried into the living room and snagged it from the coffee table. She was surprised to see Jett’s name on the screen and hoped maybe he’d caught an earlier flight.
“Hi.”
“Hey, sunshine. We’ve run into some legal issues with Carlisle. I’m really sorry, but I need to stay until we get this worked out.”
“You haven’t left LA?” She instantly regretting the shock in her voice. She knew he didn’t need more pressure, especially after all he’d done to accommodate their relationship, but she’d been on a high all week anticipating the surprise, waiting to be in his arms again. She closed her eyes against the sadness welling inside her and reminded herself how important that deal was to him.
“No. I’m sorry, babe. I would have called earlier, but I’ve been tied up in meetings and lost track of time.” His voice was laced with regret and frustration. “It could take a few more hours. I’m going to have to catch a flight out in the morning.”
She looked around the room at the flickering candles, feeling sad for them both, but she vowed not to make him feel worse for having to work. “That’s okay. At least you’ll still be here in time to see your parents. Are you flying into Hyannis? Should I just meet you at their place tomorrow?”
“Yes, that’s probably best. I’m sorry. I’ll try to leave at the crack of dawn. We won’t have much time. My flight leaves Hyannis at six tomorrow evening, and I catch a connecting flight at eight thirty for London.”
She swallowed hard. London. Three more weeks apart.
His voice softened and he said, “Baby, I miss you so much. I’ll make this up to you. After London we’ll take a few days just for us.”
“It’s okay. I understand. But I won’t be able to leave town, remember? I’ve got to run the children’s program.”
“I know. You won’t have to. We’ll stay there. I just want to be with you.”
He didn’t know about the surprise she had waiting for him, and he was already trying to make up for a few hours of missed time together. She fell a little deeper in love with him right then. She thought of her uncle and his love for Adele. Life was full of ups and downs, tragedies and celebrations, and she knew the love she and Jett shared could weather all of them.
She heard a male voice in the background, and then Jett said, “I’ve got to go. I love you, Tegs.”
“I love you, too. But, Jett?”
“Yeah?”
“I just want you to know that even though it sucks that we’ll miss out on tonight, I’m really proud of you for what you’re doing. I know how important this deal is to you, so don’t worry about me, okay?”
“God, Tegs. You’re amazing. Thank you for understanding.”
After they ended the call, she sank down to the couch, feeling like a golf ball was lodged in her throat. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared absently into space, missing him.
She sat there until her tears stopped falling and her cheeks dried. She was a little surprised she wasn’t angry or resentful about her spoiled plans. But how could she be either of those things when she knew Jett felt just as bad as she did? No, those weren’t the emotions pushing her to her feet to blow out all the candles or carrying her into the kitchen to retrieve the rest of the six-pack. There was no room for anger or resentment when the heart-crushing sadness of missing a man who was thousands of miles away had already consumed her.
Chapter Thirty-Three
JETT WAS DEAD on his feet as he climbed the porch steps to Tegan’s cottage Saturday morning. It had killed him to call her last night, and as the meeting wore on and it had become clear that he would need to remain in London longer than he’d originally anticipated, he’d gotten even more agitated. He didn’t want to waste another minute waiting to see Tegan. He’d chartered a plane, bringing the key team members with him to finish the meeting in the air. The team was now on their way back to LA.
He knocked on Tegan’s door and rolled his shoulders back, stretching his neck from side to side. It was only five in the morning, and with the news he had to deliver, it was already the shittiest day of his life.
The curtains on the window next to the door shifted, and Tegan’s sleepy face appeared. He heard the rapid click of the lock and the slide of a chain, and then his sunshine was in his arms, putting the cracked pieces of him back together.
“God, I missed you.” As he kissed her, he realized she was fully dressed in jeans and a sweater. Her cheek was pink and imprinted with the upholstery design of her couch.
“What time is it? I thought you were coming later.” Her words ran together, and she wrapped her arms around his waist, sinking into him as if she’d used up all her energy. “Did you sleep on the plane?”
“No. I couldn’t wait to see you.”
“Bed.” She took his hand, leading him into the cottage.
In the space of a few quick seconds, his shitty day got even worse. There were rose petals scattered on the floor, candles
on every surface, and six empty bottles of Mike’s Hard Lemonade on the coffee table. A blanket was balled up on the couch. His gut twisted. Had she done all that for him?
Tegan led him into the bedroom, where more pretty petals decorated the bed. Black silk ties were lined up on one pillow, and a tiny white bikini lay on the bedside table.
A white fucking bikini.
Christ.
What had he done?
“Baby? You did all this for us?” he asked as she climbed onto the bed, lying on top of the rose petals.
“Mm-hm. Hold me.” She reached for him.
He toed off his shoes and climbed beside her, gathering her in his arms, his heart breaking. “I’m sorry, sunshine. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I’m not just sorry for last night. I’m sorry because I’m going to have to extend my stay in London. I’ll probably be there six to eight weeks, not three. There’s no way—”
She pressed her lips to his, silencing him. Her sleepy eyes implored him to listen to her groggy voice. “You’re here now. We’ll figure it out.”
“I feel so fucking guilty, baby,” he confessed.
“It’s work, not an affair.” She snugged closer and whispered, “Hold me, close your eyes, rest. We’ve got a big day planned with your family.”
He held her, and eventually he even closed his eyes. But there was no rest for a man whose whole world was right there in his arms, when in less than twenty-four hours he’d be thousands of miles away again.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED at his parents’ house later that morning, Jett braced himself against the tightening in his chest. He waited for the anger to stir and the need to flee to grip him. But as he parked the rental car behind Dean’s truck, he realized that for the first time ever, the discomfort in his chest didn’t stem from the ghosts of his past pushing him to leave. It was born from the urge to fight those ghosts, to stick around and try to make things better. And the person who helped make that possible was sitting beside him, reaching for his hand.
Bayside Fantasies (Bayside Summers Book 6) Page 38