Tempted by Love: Jack Jock Steele (The Steeles at Silver Island Book 1)

by Melissa Foster

  Resisting Jules over the phone was one thing, but he’d never been able to deny her anything when they were face-to-face because he would forever see her as his baby sister lying in a hospital bed. “Fine. Let me place our order first,” he relented. “P and P?” Pepperoni and pineapple pizza had always been her favorite.

  Her face lit up. “You know it.”

  He ordered their pizza, giving himself a few minutes to think about how much to divulge about his and Daphne’s relationship. Just thinking about Daphne made him want to tell Jules everything about her, but he knew that once she heard about Hadley, she’d have dozens of questions, and he didn’t want to deal with that. He decided not to mention Hadley. His decision came with a hefty dose of guilt, but for now he’d rather err on the side of sanity.

  “How long have you been seeing her?” Jules asked as he sat down.

  “We met last year at a party. It feels like we’ve been seeing each other for months, but it’s pretty recent.” He sipped his drink, thinking about how much had changed since they’d started seeing each other.

  Jules tapped her fingernails on the table. “She really does have you twisted up, doesn’t she?”

  “You could say that, but it’d probably be more accurate to say she’s untwisting me. She took me by surprise. I haven’t ever been drawn to anyone like I am to her.”

  “So, my brother the hookup artist is taming his wild ways?”

  Jock shook his head. “You know me better than that.”

  “No one really knows you anymore, Jack. I remember you as a cocky guy who all the girls loved when you lived at home, but I don’t know if you’re a hookup artist or what now. I only know what you tell me, which I could recite in my sleep—you’re fine, you’re trying to write, you’re not coming home. So please tell me who you are, because I want to know.”

  Emotions stacked up inside him at the plea in her voice. Had he really been that closed off? “I’m not an asshole, Jules. I used to be cocky—you’re right about that. But I was never a hookup artist, and after losing Kayla and Liam, women were the last thing on my mind. But shortly after Harvey died, I met Daphne, and for more than a year, I couldn’t get her off my mind.”

  “Then why did you leave the Cape and travel? Why not stay and ask her out?”

  “Because I was messed up. I’m still messed up, Jules. This crap between me and Archer isn’t right, and I’m dealing with a hell of a lot of other stuff, too. I left to travel in an effort to clear my head. I thought I could figure out how to fix things with Archer, and forget Daphne, because I didn’t think she needed a guy like me in her life. But there was no forgetting her. She’s one of the reasons I’m here.”

  “Well, first of all, you’re a great guy, Jack. You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. You’re creative, and you’re funny, and you’re kind, which is hard to find in guys these days. But I thought you came back to the Cape to help Tegan.”

  “I did. But Tegan doesn’t need my help anymore. I stayed, and I’m renting at Bayside, because Daphne is there. I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s obviously gorgeous, but she’s also sweet, strong, and smart. She makes me laugh, and she makes me feel things I haven’t felt in a long time. She’s incredibly insightful, and she’s interested in who I am as a person. I’ve never been with a woman who was interested in me in that way. I was so young when I was with Kayla, everything was different. We lived together, but we were in a whole different place in our lives. We were out having fun, living the high of my good fortune.” Though Jock had never admitted that he wasn’t in love with Kayla to any of his siblings, now he wanted Jules to know the truth, if only to show her the difference in how he felt about Daphne. “You were so young when Kayla and I were together, I’m sure you never thought about my feelings for her. This might come as a shock—you might not want to hear it, and I’m pretty sure you won’t understand it—but I wasn’t in love with Kayla. I never felt for her what I already feel for Daphne.”

  She studied his face for a moment, her brow furrowed. “I didn’t know that, but why wouldn’t I understand it?”

  “Because she was pregnant, and we lived together.”

  “A baby doesn’t equate to love, Jack. But you always did the right thing, so it doesn’t surprise me that you stayed with her. Does Archer know? Is that why he’s still so angry with you?”

  “No. I never told him. He’s angry because she’s gone, and she was his best friend.”

  “Was she in love with you?” Jules asked.

  “No. But you need to keep all this to yourself.”

  “You already told me that.”

  He raised his brows.

  “Okay. I get it. But I’d never say anything about this. Getting you to come home is one thing, but what you went through with Kayla is totally different. I know how private that is. Thank you for trusting me.”

  “Things were different with me and Kayla. We were friends who were going to have a baby together and try to make it work. I wanted to love her, for the baby’s sake, but I never really knew what was missing. I’m starting to understand it now. I’ve only been with Daphne a little while, and I care about everything she does, what she’s been through, what she dreams of. When she told me about her past and how she’d been hurt, I hurt for her. Kayla and I never had that kind of relationship. We didn’t talk about anything of substance, not my writing, her job, our lives outside of our apartment. Daphne and I share everything—the good, the bad, and the boring.” He laughed softly and said, “She’s so supportive. She tried to brainstorm horror stories with me even though the mere thought of them terrifies her. The point is, we already care about each other. I’m starting to think Daphne and I were meant to meet.”

  “Oh, Jack.” Jules reached across the table and put her hand over his. “I’m thrilled for you.”

  “Thanks. Me too, and I kind of can’t believe I just told you all of that.”

  She pretended to lock her mouth shut and throw away the key. “You should bring her home and let everyone be happy for you. You deserve that.”

  The woman at the order window called Jock’s name. He pushed to his feet and said, “I’ll get the food, and you forget everything you just heard.”

  When he returned with the pizza, he served them each a piece and said, “Can we change the subject now?”

  “Yes, and I promise I won’t say a word to anyone, but just keep this in mind. You always say you’re staying away because the island is Archer’s home. But, Jack, it’s mine, too, and it’s Mom’s and Dad’s, and many of your friends’.” She took a bite of pizza and said, “You belong there as much as Archer does.”

  He’d been thinking about that a lot more lately. “I’ll keep that in mind. Now fill me in. How are Mom and Dad?”

  “As ridiculous as ever. I swear every time I go to their house, Dad is grabbing Mom’s butt or they’re making out in the kitchen.”

  Jock laughed. “Good for them. We’re lucky, you know. Look at the Silvers. They can’t even live in the same house.” Their friends’ parents, Alexander and Margot Silver, ran the Silver House. They were best friends and they were married, but they had lived in separate houses for as long as Jock could remember. They acted more like friends with benefits than a true couple.

  “True,” she said. “Did Levi tell you about Archer’s latest prank?”

  “No. What did he do?”

  Jules giggled and said, “He met a woman at the vineyard who had just bought a house in Harborside and was looking for a handyman. She was complaining to Archer that between work and whatever else she did, she had a hard time meeting eligible bachelors. I think she was hitting on Archer, but he told her that Husbands for Hire was a front for a high-class escort service and to ask for Levi.” Levi owned one of many branches of Husbands for Hire, which was not an escort service. They handled handyman work, renovations, mechanics, and other odd jobs.

  “No shit? That’s classic.”

  “Yes, and according to Levi, she did not w
ant to take no for an answer. But Archer warned her that Levi would pretend not to offer that kind of service in case she was an undercover policewoman.” She laughed and said, “You guys always think up the best pranks.”

  They enjoyed many more laughs as they finished lunch. She caught him up on each of his siblings, and when they got back to the resort, Jock showed her his cottage, which she absolutely loved, except she said it was missing one thing. She pulled a framed family photograph out of her bag and put it on a bookshelf, just like she had when he’d lived at Harvey’s.

  He draped an arm around her shoulder and walked her to her car, which was still by the office. “I’m really glad you came, sis.”

  “I know,” she said sassily. “You can’t go too long without seeing me or you’ll have withdrawals. I almost forgot to tell you—Grant is back, and boy does he need you.”

  Grant Silver had been one of Jock’s closest friends when they were growing up. When Jock went to college, Grant had joined the military, and then he’d gone to work for Darkbird, a civilian company that carried out covert missions for the military. Grant had lost a leg during a mission almost a year ago, and he hadn’t been back to the island since.

  “I’m glad he’s back. After what he’s been through, it’s good for him to be near family. Why does he need me? I’ve barely seen him since I moved away.”

  “Because you were one of his closest friends. Belly feels like she lost the brother she’s known for all these years. He puts Archer’s broodiness to shame.” Grant’s younger sister Bellamy, who Jules called Belly, worked for her at the gift shop.

  “Sounds like Bellamy needs you more than Grant needs me. I’m still working out my own shit. But Grant’s been through hell—cut him some slack. I’m sure he’ll come around.”

  “That’s what everyone said about you.” She rested her head on his shoulder and said, “Promise me you’ll think about coming to the party? You know more than anyone that there’s no guarantee of tomorrow. Grandma’s getting old.”

  Jock gritted his teeth. “That was low.”

  “At least I didn’t pull the cancer card,” she teased.

  She’d pulled the stress-causes-cancer card on him many times during the first year he’d lived with Harvey. It had almost worked, but Archer’s hatred had overshadowed her pleas.

  “I promise,” he said.

  “Yay!” She hugged him and headed up the office steps. “I want to say goodbye to Daphne.”

  “She’s working,” he reminded her, following her to the office.

  “I’ll be quick.” Jules darted inside and gave Daphne a hug. She said she hoped to see her at the party and whispered something Jock couldn’t hear. Whatever she’d said made Daphne laugh.

  Jock had never brought a girl home from college to meet his family, and they’d already known Kayla. It was strange, and nice, to see Daphne and Jules forging a friendship.

  He embraced Jules, thanked her for coming, and held the door open for her. She strutted down to her Jeep and waved as she drove away. Jock closed the distance between him and Daphne, glad she was alone in the office.

  “She’s so nice,” she said as he drew her into his arms.

  “Yeah, she’s a good egg. See you tonight? Should I bring anything?”

  “Just yourself. Thank you for lunch. I put your sandwich in the fridge. Mine was delicious.”

  He kissed her, letting his lips linger on hers. His hands slid down to her ass, giving it a little squeeze, and heat sparked in her eyes. “You can thank me properly later.”

  Her cheeks pinked up, and she whispered, “I bought new lingerie. I hope you like black lace.”

  He touched his forehead to hers, holding her tighter. She’d been coming out of her shell these last few days, touching him more openly. He loved seeing her confidence blossom. “How am I supposed to write for the rest of the day with that image in my mind?”

  She rubbed against his erection and said, “I think you have bigger problems than that to worry about right now.”

  He kissed her again and stepped back, tugging his shirt down. “You’re a dangerous woman, Daphne Zablonski.” Dangerous to my body and my heart.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “DON’T EAT IT.” Hadley thrust her hand toward Jock with a palm full of peas and a scowl on her face.

  Jock eyed Daphne with a coy smile, and she melted for the hundredth time since he’d come over. They were eating dinner, and when Hadley had refused to eat her peas, Jock had made a game out of it.

  He moved his mouth toward Hadley’s hand and exclaimed, “My peas!”

  She squealed and threw the peas into her mouth, giggling as she gobbled them down, making them all laugh.

  Daphne couldn’t remember ever having so much fun during dinner. Just like at the pier when Jock had traded ice cream cones with Hadley, Daphne imagined how easily being with children probably would have been for him had he not lost Liam. She was sad for the son he’d missed out on raising and for the imprint it had left behind. But Jock was proving to be one of the strongest men she’d ever known.

  “You do it,” Hadley said.

  Jock dutifully put peas in his hand.

  “Mine!” Hadley shouted, leaning forward.

  Jock threw the peas into his mouth, making growling and chewing noises behind his hand. Hadley cracked up, and they continued playing until Hadley had finished all of her peas and asked for more. Daphne had never heard Hadley laugh so hard, and it filled her with joy. She loved having this time with the three of them, talking about their days and sharing laughs. She and Jock had talked about his writing, and she’d enjoyed learning about his writing process. He still wasn’t divulging story line specifics, but his enthusiasm bled into everything he said and did. Except, she’d noticed, for his lunch with Jules, which he’d been tight-lipped about.

  As Daphne dished more peas onto Hadley’s plate, she said, “I really liked Jules.”

  “Jules is pretty great.”

  “She seems to really want you to go to your grandmother’s party.”

  “I know she does. It’s a complicated situation.”

  “All of life is complicated,” Daphne said. “Look what it takes to make Hadley eat peas.”

  He gave her one of those wanting smiles that sent prickles over her skin and played another round of the pea game with Hadley.

  Daphne knew this was a touchy subject, but now that she’d met Jules, his family no longer felt like faceless strangers in the way that people she’d heard about but had not met sometimes did. Seeing Jules light up at the sight of him and hearing her begging him to go to the party made Daphne think about her relationships with her own siblings. She took their closeness for granted, and now she realized how lucky she was to be able to do that. She had so many questions. What was the rest of his family like? Had they taken sides between him and Archer? Did they all accept the distance Jock put between them, or were some of them actively trying to get him to go the party, too?

  Choosing her words carefully, she said, “I can’t imagine what it would have been like if my brother wouldn’t come to see me when I lived in North Carolina. Even if I knew he wasn’t staying away because of me, I would have been sad. Heartbroken, really.”

  Jock’s expression turned serious. “She said as much to me today.”

  “I know it’s none of my business, and I’m not saying this because Jules asked me to help her get you to the island, but I think you should consider going.”

  “You and Hadley are in my life, babe. That makes it your business.” He sat back and said, “I’m thinking about it. I might go for an hour or two. Make an appearance, then take off.”

  “Down,” Hadley said as she climbed out of her chair.

  “Bath time, sticky-hand girl.” Daphne lifted Hadley into her arms, and Jock carried their plates to the sink. “Just leave those there. I’ll take care of them after I get her down.”

  “You cooked. The least I can do is a few dishes.” He eyed the peas on the floor arou
nd Hadley’s chair and said, “I think you need a dog.”

  “I like dogs,” Hadley chimed in.

  Daphne touched Hadley’s nose and said, “I have all I can handle keeping up with you.” She turned to Jock, clearing the remaining dishes like he’d studied a mama-porn book and knew all the right chords to strike, and said, “Seriously, Jock. Pasta and veggies are hardly considered cooking. You don’t have to do the dishes. Just relax. I won’t be long.”

  “I hear ya,” he said, and blew her a kiss.

  She gave Hadley a bath and got her ready for bed.

  “One. Two. Three. Takeoff!” Hadley’s arms shot through the sleeves of her pajamas, and then she was on her feet, running out of the bedroom.

  Daphne hurried after her just in time to see Hadley fling her arms around Jock’s legs as he dried a pot. She no longer felt a bloom of panic when Hadley clung to him. He was done with the cringing and bolting. The kitchen was spotless, not a pea in sight, and the cushion from Hadley’s chair was on the counter beside the sink, already wiped clean. He’d told her he was raised to be a gentleman, and every day he proved it all over again. If she ever met his parents, she was going to have to thank them.

  Hadley tipped her face up and said, “Wead a story?”

  Jock hadn’t read her a bedtime story yet, though he’d sat in Hadley’s bedroom while Daphne had read and sang to her each night. He set down the dish towel and looked at Daphne, seeking her approval before accepting Hadley’s invitation. She nodded, loving that he allowed her to continue holding the reins where Hadley was concerned.

  “I’d love to read you a story.” He took Hadley’s hand and said, “Lead me to your bookshelf, princess.”

  Daphne followed them down the hall, feeling all melty inside.

  Jock crouched beside Hadley as they picked out a book, and then he sat on the bed beside her and said, “Make room for Mama,” as he scooted over, bringing Hadley with him.

  Daphne sat on Hadley’s other side, and although Jock had his arm around Hadley’s waist, he hooked his index finger around Daphne’s thumb. How could something so small feel so big? As he read to Hadley, it was easy to imagine spending every night like this and enjoying days when Jules showed up to visit and they all went to lunch or dinner. Jules was so easygoing, she wondered what the rest of his family was like. She also wondered what Jock had been like before the accident. Had he been that easygoing, too?