by Codi Gary
Fifteen
Jared held the door for Anna Beth as she stepped inside, Rip hot on her heels. He kicked off his boots and slid them with one foot under the bench behind the door and hung his jacket up on the hooks against the wall.
It took everything he had not to pull her to him and kiss her as she passed. He’d promised to take this at her pace and he’d meant it, so jumping her as soon as she made it inside his house would send her running for the hills.
“I’ll head upstairs and grab some dry clothes. Feel free to look around. It’s my Mona Lisa.”
“My aunt said you did all the renovations yourself.”
“I had some help from friends and family, but most of it was just me.”
“Impressive.”
Jared followed her gaze around his living room. His floors were a marbled laminate with accents of gray and red. With the exception of the gray accent wall, the rest of the living room sported walls in a clean eggshell white. His fireplace recessed into the gray wall, while his brown leather couches ran adjacent with each side of the fireplace. Gray and red plaid throw blankets hung over the backs of the couches and in the center sat a dark wood coffee table, with wagon wheel accents on the end.
“I’m surprised you don’t have a TV in here,” Anna Beth said.
“It’s usually just me and I watch in bed, so…”
Why did you mention your bed? Now she’s going to think that’s what’s on your mind.
Not that being intimate with Anna Beth hadn’t crossed his mind, but he wasn’t thinking of that now.
Anna Beth cleared her throat. “I like it.”
“Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
He jogged up the stairs and pulled two pairs of sweatpants, two t-shirts, and a sweatshirt from his drawers and closet. When he got back downstairs, Anna Beth’s coat lay over the back of his couch. He found her in his kitchen, looking through his cupboards.
“Whatcha searching for?”
“Hot chocolate. Or tea.”
Jared set the clothes down on the island and walked over to the corner by the sink. “I have some K-cups over here in the polar bear cookie jar.”
The white chubby bear wore a pink and red hat and a scarf of the same color scheme. “Cute.”
Jared rolled his eyes. “Mom got it for me. Said my house was too sterile and needed something cute.”
“I agree. It really brings something to the room.”
“Yeah, a place to store my coffee.” Jared rummaged through the leftover K-cups from the variety pack he’d bought a few weeks ago and pulled out two hot chocolate. “Here we go.”
“Got any mini marshmallows?”
“I doubt it, but I’ll look. Why don’t you go change? I can hear your teeth chattering and it’s kind of annoying.”
“Rude.” Anna Beth stuck her tongue out at him.
“Says the grown-ass woman making faces.”
Anna Beth giggled as she picked up half of the clothes and walked out of the kitchen. Jared waited until he heard the bathroom door close before he slid his jeans down. The skin of his legs had darkened to an irritated shade of pink from the wet material rubbing on it and he’d love nothing more than to stay only in his boxers, but he didn’t want to alarm Anna Beth. Jared slipped into a pair of baggy sweatpants, thankful for the soft inside.
Jared could just imagine Anna Beth’s reaction if she came out to find him in his underwear would look like a cartoon character running through his front door, leaving a human shaped hole in the wood. He chuckled at the image.
The bathroom door opened and Anna Beth came back into the kitchen. She slowed in the entryway when she saw him shirtless, wearing only a pair of sweat pants. Jared picked the dry t-shirt off the counter, swiftly sliding it over his head.
To his surprise, she set her wet clothes on the counter and leaned against it with a grin. “There was no hurry. I was enjoying the view.”
His cheeks warmed. “Your teasing is gonna get me into trouble.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I’m trying to take it slow, and I really don’t want to.”
This time, she blushed. Instead of razzing her about it, he turned away to open the cabinet. “No marshmallows.”
“Where is your dryer? I’ll put the clothes in.”
Jared pointed. “Through there.”
She came around beside him, picking his clothes up off the floor. He reached down to stop her and her head bumped into his chin.
“Shit! Are you okay?” Her hand pressed along the side of his face and he covered it with his own.
“Yeah, I’m good,” he said. “I was just going to say, you don’t have to dry mine. I’ll wash them later.”
Her thumb stroked along his cheek. “Alright.”
Jared kissed her palm, then nibbled her wrist. “You smell good.”
“Jared?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you kiss me, please?”
Her words shot through his body like lightning. Forgetting all about the hot chocolate and clothes, Jared hooked his other arm around her waist and pulled her against him. His head dipped, but instead of taking her parted lips, his mouth pressed just below her jawline. Her sharp intake of breath told him everything he needed to know and he trailed kisses along her throat until he reached the tender point under her earlobe.
The delicious vanilla scent of her skin drew him in and he wanted to kiss every inch of her body. She moaned when he took her lobe between his lips and nibbled gently, his cock hardened against the cotton sweats when she rubbed her body against his.
Jared finally took her lips in a hard, hot kiss, losing himself in the scent and taste of her. For years he’d imagined what it would feel like to have Anna Beth in his arms and now that he’d experienced the reality, he didn’t want to stop.
But he also didn’t want to move too fast. Despite every part of him protesting, he broke the kiss, breathing rapidly.
“Sorry.”
Anna Beth was panting, her wide green eyes glued on his face. “I’m not.”
“Wrong thing to say.”
“What do you me—oof!”
Jared picked her up against him and carried her into the living room. Rip barked in circles around them until Jared sat down on the couch, Anna Beth straddling his lap.
Anna Beth giggled as Rip jumped up next to them, going for her face.
“Agh, he doesn’t like it when we’re too close,” she said.
“Rip, off.”
The lab jumped down with a whimper, still watching them. Jared’s focus returned to Anna Beth as he held her, his hands slipping under the t-shirt she wore and slid along the bare skin of her back.
She closed her eyes, her full lips parting as she breathed his name. “Jared.”
Anna Beth leaned over, wrapping her arms around his neck. He met her kiss and continued massaging her back, taking in her moans every time their lips met. Jared longed to move his hands around and cup her breasts, but he kept himself in check.
Even if it killed him.
Anna Beth’s hands on his chest slid south. When she stopped moving, he almost howled in frustration, until he heard the distant ringtone.
“Shit, that’s my phone.” She smiled apologetically. “I’ll be right back.”
Jared sat there, staring down at his tented erection and trying to get a handle on himself.
He heard Anna Beth speaking and climbed painfully to his feet. He stopped in the doorway and listened.
“Is she okay? Alright, I’ll meet you a home. No, she’s my responsibility, I should be there. Are you sure? Okay. Thanks, Sarah.”
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Not really.” Anna Beth grabbed his sweatshirt and pulled it over her head before answering. “That was Sarah. She’s took Mitten’s to the vet because she was wheezing when she breathed and Sarah thought she had a fever. The Vet said she has pneumonia, so she needs antibiotics.” Anna Beth padded over and slipped her arms around him. “I know we
were in the middle of something, but can we pick this up later?”
“Yeah, of course. Let me get my keys and jacket.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and she released him.
“Thanks, Jared.”
“Of course. We should get your tree in some water, anyway.”
“Right. I almost forgot about that.”
“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
Anna Beth laughed. “You should.”
Jared headed upstairs to grab his jacket and two pairs of socks for him and Anna Beth. He hated to cut his time with her short, but maybe it was better. A few more minutes of her straddling him, and he’d have forgotten all about going slow.
When he reached into his sock drawer, his hand closed around the letter at the bottom. He didn’t want to think about Ian Crawford right now. Making out on his couch with Anna Beth probably wasn’t what Ian had in mind by helping her.
He put the letter back, covering it with his folded socks once more.
“Jared? What are you doing?”
“Just grabbing socks. Be right there.”
Jared closed the door and took the stairs two at a time. He’d give Anna Beth her letter when she finished her list and hopefully, whatever was inside didn’t destroy whatever they were feeling.
“Here’s some socks.”
“Thanks. Is there a bag I can put my wet clothes in?”
Jared grabbed a plastic grocery bag from the top of the fridge. “Here you go. I can dry them and get them back to you.”
“No, it’s okay. I appreciate the offer though.” She stood up on her tip toes and kissed him. “You’re sweet.”
“I know, but my willpower can only take so much. Let’s get you home.” Jared took her hand and led her through the front door. He closed it on Rip, who barked with outrage through the thick wood.
“Sorry, buddy. I still love you.”
Anna Beth laughed. “It’s so funny the way you talk to him.”
“He’s my only company most of the time.”
Jared turned the keys in the ignition and cranked the heat on high.
“Hey,” Anna Beth said.
Jared turned in time for her to slide across the seat and kiss him. “Thank you. This is the best day I’ve had in a long time.”
“It won’t be the last, A.B. I promise you that.”
Jared cupped her cheek, his heart aching like crazy. Before she’d come to town, he’d been so sure he was over her, but the truth was, he’d never stopped wanting Anna Beth Howard and he had less than three weeks to convince her to stay.
Sixteen
Cycling through several emotions as they made the drive back to her aunt’s house, Anna Beth stared out the window trying to make sense of them all. Frustration that they’d been interrupted. Worry over Mittens. Happiness as Jared drove with one hand and held hers with the other.
And below all that, the niggling sense they were making a colossal mistake.
As good as it felt being with him, something could just as easily go wrong and then they’d be right back where they started, only worse. The two of them not talking and Anna Beth missing him like crazy.
Whenever she’d slipped and mentioned Jared to Ian, he’d always urged her to call him to work things out, but Anna Beth could never work up the courage. A few days ago, she’d thought they could rebuild their friendship again, but there was no way they could go back to being platonic even if she wanted to.
She’d never be able to forget the way his kiss made her burst into flames.
Jared parked along the street in front of her aunt’s house and killed the engine. There was a blue pickup in the driveway next to Anna Beth’s car.
“Wonder why Ernie’s here,” Jared said.
“Ernie? From The Peaks?”
“Yeah, that’s his truck.”
Anna Beth smiled, the potential of solving the mystery of her aunt’s special friend pushing back her deep, emotional dilemma. “Let’s go find out.”
Jared squeezed her hand. “Should we get the tree first?”
“Absolutely. And I’m helping this time.
Anna Beth let go of his hand and climbed out of the truck. She caught her aunt watching them from the window and wondered if she was upset to see her. Sarah told her on the phone she didn’t need to come home, but Anna Beth didn’t feel right leaving her aunt alone with a sick kitten. Mittens was her responsibility, but if she’d known her aunt wanted her to stay away because she wasn’t ready to introduce Anna Beth to her company, she probably would have stayed at Jared’s despite her concern for her kitty. They’d made so much headway in their relationship, Anna Beth didn’t want to ruin it by pissing Sarah off now.
Even if she was dying to meet the person who had made Sarah so emphatically happy.
Jared climbed into the back of the truck while Anna Beth took the skinny end of the tree and lifted. A rusty old truck slowed next to them and the passenger rolled down their window. It was Rachel Walsh, Bianca Price, and Linda Richards, three of her aunts sewing circle friends. Anna Beth had a fondness for them, as they tended to be more laid back than the other women Sarah collaborated with.
“Anna Beth, it is so good to see you,” Bianca called from the driver’s seat. A thin woman in her fifties, Bianca wore her blonde hair in a sleek a-line.
“You too. What are you ladies up to?”
“We are going by the community center to work on stockings for the festival. Are you two going?” Rachel asked.
Anna Beth glanced at Jared, who shrugged. “I’m not sure yet.”
“We hope to see you there!” Bianca said with a wave. “I must say it’s nice to see you two together. I always thought you would make a handsome couple.”
Anna Beth blushed. “We aren’t a couple. Just friends.”
“Oh well. I am sorry to assume. Good luck getting that tree inside. Tell Sarah we said hello.”
“Will do.”
Once they were out of sight, Anna Beth snorted. “Man, people really can’t mind their business, can they?”
“Not here.”
His tone of voice was cool and clipped.
Anna Beth frowned. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just cold and tired. I want to get this tree set up so I can get home and go to bed.”
“Of course. Sorry.” Anna Beth’s stomach knotted. Where had this shift in mood come from? Five minutes ago, he’d been so sweet and tender.
When they reached the door, Anna Beth turned the knob and pushed her way in. “We’re here.”
She turned the corner into the living room and found Sarah and Ernie sitting next to each other on the couch. Mittens padded out of the kitchen and meowed at her feet.
“Hey, baby. I’ll pick you up in just a minute.” She carried the tree further into the living room so Jared could get inside.
Ernie stood up. “Sarah, do you have a bucket for the tree?”
“I put it in the kitchen. It’s already filled in the corner.”
“Great. We’ll be right back, then,” Anna Beth said.
Jared led the way into the kitchen and stuck the bottom in the bucket of water.
“You’re going to have to keep this filled.”
“Thank you.”
“Yeah, of course. I’m just going to say good-bye to your aunt and Ernie before I take off.”
Anna Beth frowned as he left the kitchen. Mittens wound her way between her legs and she finally picked up the tabby.
“What do you think is wrong with him?”
Mittens rubbed against her chin in response, her purr a rattling sound in her chest.
“Poor baby. At least you’re still in a good mood.”
She heard the front door open and rushed into the entryway. Jared was in the doorway with one foot on the porch.
“Hey. Were you going to leave without saying good-bye?”
“No, I was just going to grab your bag of clothes.”
“I’ll go with you.” She kissed Mittens and set her down on the
ground. She waved at Ernie and Sarah. “I’ll be right back.”
She closed the door behind her, following a silent Jared down the walkway.
“What’s up with you?”
“Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“I was thinking about today. It was a really good day, one of the best I’ve had in awhile.”
Anna Beth softened. “Me too.”
“But you’re going to leave and the more people who see us, the more they’ll suspect there's something going on.”
“True.” Anna Beth didn’t like the tone in his voice.
“And I’m not sure I want the attention.”
His words landed like a ton of bricks in the pit of her stomach. “Earlier you didn’t seem to care.”
“I was caught up in the moment before. Now I’ve had some clarity. I need to think.”
“Think about?”
“About whether I’m prepared to keep things casual between you and me. Because that’s what we’re doing right? If we keep going the way we are, we’re together until you leave and that’s it.”
Anna Beth didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to promise him she’d stay because she wasn’t sure she wanted to. But she didn’t want to just hook up with Jared either.
Maybe she needed time to sort through her feelings, too.
“I don’t know what you want me to say? I’m okay if you need a few days, but you were the one who started this.”
“I know and I’m not trying to send you mixed signals and I don’t need you to say anything. I think we both need a day or two to consider what we’re doing and the repercussions of our actions.”
“I agree,” she whispered.
He opened the passenger door and pulled out her back of clothes, handing it to her.
“I’ll text you.”
A lump formed in Anna Beth’s throat and she couldn’t speak as she watched him walk around his truck and climb inside.
As she trudged back up to the house, tears spilled over onto her cheeks.
When she shut the front door behind her, she ducked her head so Sarah and Ernie wouldn’t see her crying. “Hey, I’m not feeling so great. I think I’m going to carry Mittens upstairs and take a nap. You two enjoy your visit.”