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

by Melissa Foster

  He was ready to face the ghosts of his past head-on.

  After he thanked his precious angel for standing by his side. That was what she’d become to him. His angel, and he was pretty sure she was heaven sent—directly from Harvey, who seemed to always know exactly what he needed.

  Jock moved down the bed and kissed his way up the back of her legs. She made sleepy, appreciative sounds as he loved his way up her body, trailing kisses along her hamstring, over the curve of her luscious derriere, and up her spine. He was so glad she’d stopped trying to cover up and let him enjoy all of her. He perched above her and brushed her hair off her cheek, his hips resting against her bottom.

  He kissed her neck and said, “’Morning, angel.”

  “Don’t you know the number-one single-mom rule? Never wake her when there’s nobody under four feet tall in the next room.”

  She turned over beneath him, and he was surprised to see a fierce scowl on her beautiful face.

  “Aw, hell. I’m sorry, Daph.”

  He started to move away, but she grabbed his arms, her scowl morphing into a giggle.

  “I’ve been working on my Hadley scowl in case I need it today. I guess it worked.”

  “I seriously thought I messed up.” He tickled her, and she squealed, curling away from him, but he pinned her to the bed, eating up her giggles and wiggles. “You’re a cruel woman, Zablonski.”

  “I just wanted to be sure my scowl was strong enough to have your back,” she said through her laughter.

  His heart turned over in his chest at her endless support. “I want you by my side, babe, not at my back.”

  “What if I want you on my inside?” Her hips rose, her legs parting as she brushed against his hard length, and she whispered, “I promise not to scowl.”

  “God, Daph, I’m so caught up in you.”

  He lowered his lips to hers as their bodies came together, and he reveled in the feel of her tight heat and her warm, willing mouth. She felt too good to go slow. He took the kiss deeper, thrusting faster. They moved in perfect harmony, taking and giving in equal measure. He’d thought kissing Daphne was overwhelming, but making love to her took him to new heights. Her head fell back with a gasp, her fingernails marking him. That was her tell, the way he knew she was close to losing control. He lifted her leg beside his hip, taking her deeper.

  “Jock,” she pleaded.

  He felt her thighs tense. Her hands slid lower, pushing against his hips, and he quickened his pace. Heat skated down his spine as he thrust harder, dove deeper, struggling to hold back his own climax. She cried out his name, her inner muscles tightening exquisitely around his cock, and the world fell away. They spiraled over the edge together in a rush of needy moans and urgent thrusts. He clutched her shoulders, gritting out her name through every mind-blowing pulse. When the last shock rumbled through his body, he bowed his head beside hers, trying to remember how to breathe.

  “I could stay right here forever,” he panted against her neck.

  “Sounds perfect.”

  She sighed dreamily, and man, he loved that satisfied sound.

  Her cell phone rang on the nightstand. He rose onto his elbows, gazing down at her smiling eyes, and said, “So much for forever.” He pressed his lips to hers and grabbed her cell phone, handing it to her as he shifted beside her.

  “Hi, Mom,” she said as she sat up. “Oh no. Of course. No, it’s fine. Let me just get showered and I’ll be right there.”

  “Is Hadley okay?” he asked as she set her phone on the nightstand.

  “Yes, but my mom is sick. She has a fever and chills, and my father got called into work. There goes our sexy weekend.” She flopped onto her back with a disappointed sigh that made his chest ache. “I wanted to be there for you so badly. I’m sorry. Will you be okay going by yourself?”

  He leaned over her, her sad eyes slaying him. “Daph, it was never about a sexy weekend. We’ll have plenty of those, I promise.” He leaned in for a kiss and said, “Let’s pack Hadley’s bag and take her with us.”

  “Are you sure that won’t be too stressful?”

  “The three of us have been together every day for nearly three weeks. I can’t imagine a day without the two of you by my side. You’re my girls, and I want you both with me. I’m done letting the past keep me from living the life I want with you and Hadley.” The happiness in her eyes brought his lips to hers again. “I’ve got this, Daph. I promise. I would never let anything happen to either of you.”

  “I know you wouldn’t. I knew that the second you ran down to the water and crouched in your catcher’s stance the first time we were at the beach together.” She sat up and said, “You really don’t mind if she comes? This isn’t going to be an easy weekend for you. I don’t want to make it any harder.”

  He stood, bringing her up with him and into his arms. “You and Hadley center me. You make everything better. You don’t have to go if it makes you uncomfortable, but I’d be happier if you were both with me.”

  “We’d be happier with you, too.”

  “Good, then I’ll have two expert scowlers by my side.” He took her hand, leading her into the bathroom, and turned on the shower.

  “Are you hijacking my shower?”

  “I thought we’d shower together to save time.”

  They stepped into the shower, and he gathered her slick body against his. A sexy sigh slipped through her lips and she said, “It feels like this might take twice as long.”

  “I’m glad you noticed.” As he lowered his lips to hers, he said, “I’ll try to be quick.”

  DAPHNE ADDED CO-SHOWERING to her long list of things she wanted to do more of with Jock. She hadn’t expected it to be so exhilarating and fun. But they needed a lot more time in the morning if that was going to ever happen again. They got to her parents’ house to pick up Hadley with just enough time to get to the ferry—if she was fast.

  “Is this where you grew up?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said as they climbed out of his SUV. “You should stay out here. My mom is a real baby about people seeing her when she’s sick.”

  “Okay. I’ll call Levi and make sure he’s picking us up at the ferry.”

  She ran inside, almost tripping over Hadley’s backpack, and found her mother and Hadley in the kitchen. Hadley was coloring at the table, and her mother was making tea, wearing a fluffy blue robe and fuzzy slippers. Her hair was a mess, her cheeks were pink with fever, and she had dark circles under her eyes.

  “Hi, baby.” Daphne kissed the top of Hadley’s head and said, “Mom, you look awful. Why didn’t you call me last night? I would have gotten Hadley.”

  “She was asleep by the time I realized I wasn’t just tired but sick. Besides, you never get time alone with your beau.” Her mother sounded utterly exhausted. “Don’t worry, we’ve kept our distance, right sugarplum?”

  Hadley was on her knees on the chair peeking out the window, too sidetracked to respond. “Dock! Dock’s here!”

  As she scrambled off the chair, Daphne said, “Get Owly, please.”

  Daphne’s mother went to the window and peered out. “My goodness, honey. That Jock is one fine-looking young man.”

  “Do you want to meet him quick?”

  “Goodness, no. Not when I look like this. But I think your little lady is anxious to see him.” She pointed to Hadley tugging open the front door, holding Owly in one hand.

  “I see Dock!” Hadley ran outside.

  “Guess we’re off. Love you, Mom. Hope you feel better.” Daphne picked up the backpack and ran after Hadley, getting outside just in time to see her daughter run around Jock, whose back was facing the house, and attach herself to his legs.

  Jock lifted Hadley up over his head, stopping Daphne in her tracks. Hadley was beaming at him. Tears slipped down Daphne’s cheeks as he turned with her daughter in his arms. Hadley put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him smack on his lips; then she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight.

 
Jock raised his brows, his smiling eyes locked on Daphne as he said, “I told you I’ve got this.” He put a hand on Hadley’s back and said, “We’d better get Mommy in the car before she melts.”

  “Mommies don’t melt,” Hadley said.

  Jock winked at Daphne, snapping her out of her stupor, and said, “Coming, angel?” as if by picking up her daughter he hadn’t just sent her world spinning.

  Chapter Eighteen

  JOCK STOOD AT the railing of the ferry, the cool salty air brushing over his skin. His nerves were strung as tight as guitar strings as they neared the island. Colorful cottages and cedar-sided homes decorated the lush landscape. Silver Monument stood sentinel over the island, and just to the north, his parents’ winery flags waved in the morning breeze. Some people preferred the neighboring islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, but Jock had always loved the diversity of Silver Island, with its varying boroughs—ritzy Silver Haven, artistic Chaffee, and old-school New England fishing towns, Rock Harbor and Seaport. Even as a kid he’d been taken with the beauty of the island when they’d come home on the ferry from a trip to Boston or the Cape. Now harsh memories hovered over his beautiful island like storm clouds. He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake bringing Daphne and Hadley with him.

  He felt a tiny arm circle the back of his leg as Hadley and Daphne came to his side. He glanced at their bags and the car seat they’d brought and realized they’d been in such a hurry, he’d forgotten to mention to Levi that Hadley was with them. He ran a hand over Hadley’s head, thinking about how right it had felt when he’d picked her up at Daphne’s parents’ house. As he’d lifted her up, he’d felt like Superman finally overcoming his kryptonite, and Hadley had felt like she belonged in his arms, where she was protected and loved. He’d wondered if his little princess had known it all along, the way she’d stuck to him like glue and had sought him out.

  She’d been thrilled with riding on the ferry for the first half hour, and then she’d gotten busy playing with Owly. She couldn’t be cuter in her little pink top and white shorts, and Daphne took his breath away in a white ribbed blouse and blue shorts that had white blossoms on them. Her hair lifted off her shoulders with the breeze, and her contented smile told him he’d definitely done the right thing by bringing them along. He’d have felt their absence like a missing limb if he hadn’t. She must have sensed him looking at her, because she turned that killer smile on him.

  “Hey, angel.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. A little nervous about how things will go with Archer, but I’m good. I’m glad you’re both here. I just realized I forgot to mention to Levi that we were bringing this little princess.” He lifted Hadley into his arms and said, “My family is going to love both of you.”

  “I’m sure we’ll love them, too,” Daphne said.

  “Flags, Mama!” Hadley pointed to the colorful flags strung across the dock. “Pwetty.”

  “They are pretty. Is that a restaurant on the other side of the marina?” Daphne asked.

  “Yeah. Rock Bottom Bar and Grill. It’s owned by a guy I grew up with, Wells Silver. I stopped in to say hello to him during one of my last trips. It’s a nice place. Wells added that deck a few years ago for outdoor seating and hired dockside waitstaff so boaters could dock and order without ever coming ashore.”

  “That’s so cool. This looks different from when we took the ferry for Gavin and Harper’s wedding. Where’s the Silver House resort?” Daphne asked.

  “On the other side of the island. There are two marinas, the one on the Silver Harbor side and this one. This is Rock Harbor Marina, and it’s run by Roddy Remington, Rowan’s father.”

  “It’s beautiful.” Daphne smiled into the wind and said, “I can’t imagine wanting to leave this place. I’m such a small-town girl at heart. To me it looks like paradise. Even better than the Cape because it’s an island.”

  He hoped Archer wouldn’t pop his starry-eyed angel’s bubble.

  “I want to take her to the bathroom one last time.” She reached for Hadley.

  Daphne took Hadley to the bathroom and returned as the ferry was docking. Hadley reached for Jock, and he lifted her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

  “See that flag at the top of the island, Had?” Jock pointed. “That’s where we’re going. That’s where my mommy and daddy live.”

  Daphne grabbed his arm, looking warily over her shoulders at the other people on the ferry. “Jock. Is the island safe? We’re on the ferry with a criminal.” She pointed farther down the dock and said, “Look.”

  Jock followed her gaze—to Levi standing holding an enormous sign over his head that read:

  WELCOME HOME, BRO!

  CONGRATS ON YOUR PAROLE!

  REMEMBER, YOU CAN’T GO WITHIN 100 YARDS OF THE PETTING ZOO.

  Beneath the words was a picture of a goat with a red slash through it. Roddy Remington, a younger version of Jeff Bridges, with thick gray-brown hair that brushed the collar of his vibrantly colored shirt opened three buttons deep, stood beside Levi.

  “That’s Levi, and I’m going to kill him,” Jock said.

  “Levi?” Her eyes bloomed wide. “You’re on parole?”

  “No, I’m not on parole. Did you read the rest of the sign?” As she squinted in Levi’s direction, he said, “Don’t you think I would have told you if I’d been in jail? He’s pranking me, the jackass.”

  “Dackass,” Hadley mimicked.

  Daphne giggled. “Oops.”

  “Sorry.” Jock put on a serious face and softened his tone for Hadley. “Hey, princess, we shouldn’t use that word, okay? It’s not nice.”

  Hadley nodded and rested her head on his shoulder.

  “You weren’t kidding about pranking each other,” Daphne said. “Look at the other passengers; they’re scrutinizing each other, searching for the parolee.”

  “Great,” Jock mumbled.

  Holding Hadley in one arm, Jock slung his backpack over his shoulder and carried the car seat with his free hand, while Daphne pulled her suitcase as they disembarked. Levi and Roddy were looking curiously at Jock and Hadley, and the rest of the passengers were watching Jock cautiously as he headed for the guy with the shit-eating grin holding the sign. Just what he needed.

  Like Jock and Archer, Levi was tall and broad shouldered with short brown hair and dark eyes. He had tattoos down one arm and more tattoos hidden beneath his T-shirt. Levi and two of their cousins who also lived in Harborside were members of the Dark Knights motorcycle club.

  “There’s our favorite parolee,” Roddy said loudly.

  “Some role model you are,” Jock teased as he set down the car seat and embraced Roddy with one arm, meeting Levi’s curious gaze over Roddy’s shoulder. Levi gave an almost imperceptible nod, as if to say not to worry; he’d be cool about Hadley.

  “Life would get mighty boring if we didn’t have a little fun around here,” Roddy said.

  Jock narrowed his eyes at Levi and said, “If little ears weren’t listening…”

  “Good to see you, too, bro.” Levi pulled him into a manly embrace and whispered, “Does she know about you and Archer? Liam?”

  “Yes,” Jock said as they stepped back. He put a hand on Daphne’s back and said, “Daphne Zablonski, this is Roddy Remington and my younger brother, Levi. Guys, this is my girlfriend, Daphne, and her daughter, Hadley.” Damn, he liked the way girlfriend rolled off his tongue, and by the look on everyone else’s faces, they did, too.

  “Hi. It’s so nice to meet you both,” Daphne said. “Mr. Remington, I know your son Rowan and his daughter, Joni.”

  “You do? Then maybe you can drag his hippie butt back here sometime.” Roddy opened his arms and said, “Bring it on in and let me welcome you to the island properly.” As she stepped into his embrace, he said, “Any friend of Jack’s is a friend of mine.”

  “That goes for me, too,” Levi said. “But I have just one question. What’s a gorgeous woman like you doing with this schlump?�
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  “I can see you’re just as charming as your brother,” she said as Levi hugged her.

  Levi tickled Hadley’s chin, but she didn’t crack a smile. He raised his brows and said, “Looks like I’m already on the naughty list.”

  “Don’t take it personally,” Daphne said. “She doesn’t smile for many people. Although she took a liking to Jock from the moment she first saw him, just like her mama.”

  Jock put his arm around her and kissed her temple, sure he was beaming like a braggart.

  “You’re still going by Jock, huh?” Roddy asked.

  Jock nodded. “Yes, sir. Honoring Harvey’s memory.”

  “Okay, then.” Roddy clapped a hand on Levi’s shoulder and said, “I’ll see you kids tonight at Lenore’s birthday shindig. Daphne, don’t forget to send Rowan back here so I can give my granddaughter a squeeze. I’ll even sweeten the pot. You get my boy here, and I’ll let you and Jack—Jock—take my yacht out for a spin.”

  Levi chuckled.

  “You don’t need to do that,” Daphne said. “I’ll mention it the next time I see him.”

  “Still calling that fishing boat a yacht?” Jock asked.

  Roddy winked and said, “One man’s fishing boat…” He waved and headed down the dock.

  “Ready to blow this taco stand?” Levi asked as he picked up the car seat and grabbed the handle to the suitcase.

  They piled into Levi’s Durango. As Daphne strapped Hadley into her car seat, Levi said, “Boy, I remember those contraptions. What a pain in the rear.”

  “Jock told me about your daughter, Joey.” Daphne settled into her seat and said, “You must have been a very young father,”

  As Levi drove out of the parking lot, he said, “I was twenty when she was born, and I fumbled through every aspect of fatherhood.”