Jayce dunked a fry in his chocolate shake. His eyes gleamed with mischief, and that adorable dimple appeared when he smiled. “You know the whole town’s going to be there?”
“I do.”
“And you know what they’re going to think?” He took a bite off the end of his French fry.
“Pretty sure they already think it.”
“So, you’re ready for that?”
I’d been ready for it since I was a seven-year-old girl sitting in a field of clovers. I stole a fry from his red plastic basket. “I’m ready if you are.”
“I’ve been ready since the minute you opened your parents’ front door.”
It was just like old times. Then it happened. Mr. Miller left the kitchen to tell Jayce that he was sorry to hear that Jared’s condition had gotten worse. That’s when the sadness settled around us like a heavy black mist until Jayce paid the check and we left. He sat in the driver’s seat and stared across the parking lot without ever moving to start the engine. And I let him. He needed this. Thirteen years of pain and regret shadowed his face. I knew what he felt because I felt it too, every time I looked at Gram. We’d both spent so much time running from ourselves that we lost what really mattered, and now we lived on borrowed time. We all knew it wasn’t a matter of if we would lose the ones we loved most. It was a matter of when.
Outside the SUV, the lights in the parking lot speckled the darkness. Inside, they highlighted the worry in Jayce’s eyes. I reached across the console and held his hand while we sat in silence.
Finally, he ran his thumb across the back of my hand and spoke. “Stay with me.”
Every inch of my flesh felt the meaning behind his words. Goosebumps lined my skin at the memory of all the things Jayce did to my body. His hand shifted to my leg and slowly ran up my thigh, moving the bottom of my dress up with it.
His pinky grazed my center. He swallowed hard and met my eyes. “I need to get lost in you.”
A soft gasp escaped my lips when he inched his hand even farther. “I need that too.”
He pressed “start” and the engine came to life. Kind of like my hormones right now.
“Your screams are only for my ears to hear,” he said when he noted the confusion on my face as he crossed the Clover Creek town line.
No Gram. No Mrs. Abraham. No Jayce’s dad. I knew where he was taking us. He wanted to be alone. So did I.
An hour later we pulled into the parking garage at his condo in Houston. There was no lobby. No doorman. No brick sidewalk leading up to a big front porch. Just an elevator hidden in the nook of a concrete wall.
The doors opened and Jayce punched a four-digit code into a keypad. The moment the doors closed again, he had me pressed against the wall with my hands locked above my head. His hot breath danced across the skin of my throat followed by a gentle nip of his teeth.
His hips pressed into mine as his hand ran down the side of my body then up between my thighs. “I love how wet I make you.”
Jayce fell to his knees and hooked my leg over his shoulder.
“Wait,” I tried stopping him, but he held my hips against the wall. “What if someone sees?”
“Then they’ll know exactly how fucking beautiful you are when you come.”
He slid his tongue across my clit and my entire body vibrated. I locked my fingers in his hair and he parted my lips with his thumbs. His tongue ran along my slit—up… then back down. Slowly. Gently. Like he was savoring every last drop. He teased my clit with a flick. Then he plunged his tongue inside of me, fucking me, torturing me until my legs were shaking and I could hardly stand. He kept his hands on my hips when he stood and brought his mouth to mine.
He tasted like the perfect mixture of heaven and sin. He tasted like me.
The doors parted and I was terrified of what—or who—I’d find looking in on us when I opened my eyes. Thankfully, they opened directly into his condo. He tore the black T-shirt over his head as he walked backwards into the foyer then tossed it to the side.
I couldn’t wait another second to touch him. My hands found the silver button at the top of his jeans then tugged at the zipper. I shoved the denim from his hips and cupped my hand over his stiff cock. Good God. Jayce was substantial as a teenage boy, but as a man he could rip me in two. My walls clenched and throbbed at the thought of him inside me.
He fisted his hand in my hair and pulled my head toward him until our mouths touched. “This is your last chance to say no,” he said. His voice was rough and low… and primal. And I wanted more of it, more of him.
I hooked a finger into the elastic waistband of his underwear, tugging them off and watching them fall to his ankles with his jeans. My thumb rubbed circles over the tip of his thick head, spreading the dewy drops of his arousal all over him. He threw his head back and sucked a hiss through his teeth. I wanted to drop to my knees and taste him. I wanted it so badly my mouth watered at the thought. But before my body had a chance to follow my mind, Jayce had stepped out of his jeans and had me backed against the wall.
“These need to go,” he said as he yanked my panties off and shoved my dress up around my waist.
Jayce leaned into my neck and the tip of his nose grazed the sensitive skin there just before he skimmed it with his tongue. Moaning, I tilted my head to the side and quickly felt the sharp nip of his teeth against my skin as his fingertips dug deep into my hips.
“I don’t think I can be gentle,” he said, almost apologetically.
I hooked my arms around his neck. “I don’t want gentle.”
“Tell me you’re safe.” His words were breathless, short, and full of need.
Safe? What? Ohhhh… It took me a moment, but I knew what he was asking. A month ago, that question would’ve terrified me. Now, I wasn’t sure what I felt. I just knew I wanted him. I didn’t care about the rest.
I nodded. “I’m on the pill.”
He lifted me off the ground and hooked my legs around his waist. “Good. Because I need to feel you.”
Jayce slid his cock inside of me and I thought I would cry, it felt so good. So full. So… right. I leaned my head against his shoulder and moaned. That was all it took, that small sound from my lips. He slid out slowly then thrust back into me, pounding me against the wall. Hard. Raw. Hungry. He ground into my body until every inch of my flesh tingled with pleasure.
“I’m never letting you go,” he grunted between thrusts.
Fuck.
He thrust harder and harder until it became difficult to breathe. So close. I was so close. He slammed one palm against the wall and let out a growl so feral, so fierce I swore the neighbors could hear. My hips bucked to meet every pump of his own. Deeper. I wanted him deeper. Harder. Faster. Oh God. I felt my walls clench around him and I cried out when I came undone.
I saw why he wanted to be alone.
He carried me to his bed then disappeared into his bathroom. A minute later he returned with a wet washcloth. He pulled my knees apart and climbed between my legs.
He looked up at me and smiled. “This was always my favorite part.”
Seriously? Ew. “Why?” I questioned.
He ran the warm cloth over my still throbbing clit and my body trembled. The heat felt so good against my sensitive flesh.
He ran the cloth over me again then tossed it to the ground. “I love seeing what I do to you.” He licked his lips then swept his tongue over my pussy. “I love looking at you so wet, swollen from a fresh fuck, and knowing I did that. That this…” He thrust a finger inside me, and my back came off the bed in response, arching into his touch. “This is mine. It’s always been mine.”
Jayce was right. It didn’t matter how far I’d run or how much time had passed. I was his—all of me. I always had been.
Jayce and I spent the rest of that night wrapped in each other’s arms, legs tangled, mouths kissing, hands searching. Making up for lost time. I was so sore that I didn’t think I’d be able to pull off the Fourth of July festival a few days later, but I
managed to surprise myself.
I stood next to Mrs. Abraham on the sidewalk facing the Clover Creek B&B. Mrs. Abraham clasped her hands together in front of her and took it all in with wide eyes. “Oh Claire, you did a fantastic job.”
“Thank you. But I’m pretty sure it was a team effort.”
If I was honest, Pinterest really should get half the credit. Who knew there were at least seven hundred things people could make out of pallets? And George down at the hardware store had stacks of them out by his dumpster. Thanks to Jayce, and his newly acquired handyman skills, I was able to create a patriotic wonderland.
We’d hung patriotic banners from the second-floor balcony. The backyard was filled to capacity with large round tables covered with white linen tablecloths. In the front yard, we had set up red, white, and blue canopy tents with face painting, games like pick-a-duck, and a great American chili cook-off. The cook-off winner would walk home with one of Thomas Abraham’s original paintings, and the entry fees would be added to Mrs. Abraham’s yearly donation to A Soldier’s Child foundation.
The whole thing made me feel like I should’ve walked around with a sash over my shoulder. Miss Patriotic Party Planner USA. I’d just thought I was excited when I’d won the Back to School Door Decorating Contest of 2017. That was nothing compared to this. This was a hell of a lot bigger than a classroom door.
I’d asked the mayor for permission to use the empty lot next door to set up a stage and dance floor. Bennett actually used his charismatic persuasion powers for good and booked a popular band, and Jayce was more than happy to sponsor the fireworks.
Not too shabby, Claire. Not too shabby at all.
Neighborhood children had begun to make their way to the B&B with their parents. It was starting. This was it.
Mrs. Abraham wrapped me in a hug, then stepped back and took hold of both of my hands. “You know, I’m not getting any younger,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to see what’s outside of these city limits. And the B&B could really use a fresh pair of eyes. Someone with a new lease on life. Someone with a bigger reason to stay in Clover Creek…” The older woman gave me a wink. “Just something to think about as the night goes on.” Then she turned to greet the quickly growing crowd.
Couples were dancing. Children were running from booth to booth with painted faces and bags of prizes. Every table in the back yard was occupied. I would say it was a success. I wished Gram could be here to see it all. She’d always loved going to the town’s events. But as much as I begged her, Gram insisted on sitting this one out. “Maybe next time,” she had told me.
I stood and smiled to myself as I watched my father debate the winner of the chili cook-off. I wasn’t sure if I could still call Georgia home after all this. Mrs. Abraham had asked me to stay and help with the B&B. And as scary as that was, it was also exciting. What did I have waiting for me back home? A cheating ex-husband and an undecorated classroom door.
I thought about Jared, and what would’ve happened if I hadn’t been there when he called. I thought about Gram and how she smiled like a kid on Christmas while we replanted her flower beds. Then I looked around at all the smiling faces and bursts of laughter. I did that. Then I thought about Jayce. Maybe it was time to say goodbye to Hickory Falls.
I smelled my mother’s Chanel No. 5 before she ever said a word. “Well, I have to admit, I didn’t think you could pull it off, but this is amazing,” she said over my shoulder.
“Thank you, Mother. I’m so glad I didn’t disappoint you.” I turned to face her. And why in the world would you wear high heels to the equivalent of a neighborhood barbeque? I kept my thoughts to myself but smiled in relief when I saw Jayce walking toward us.
“You think you could take that cape off for a minute and give a guy a dance?” he asked.
I could look at that smile a hundred times a day and never get tired of it. “Well, I’ll have to check with the boss.” I teased then took his outstretched hand.
My mother shot daggers at Jayce with her eyes. She straightened her shoulders then glared at me. “You might want to also check with David,” she spit.
Of course my mother went there. A three-day trip turned into a life-altering change, and I’d never once mentioned the divorce to my parents. If I could’ve punched myself in the face without looking like a mental patient, I would have. Dirty looks and I told you so’s would have been so much easier to deal with than the confusion that was written on Jayce’s face.
“David? Who is David?” he questioned.
My mother’s lips curled into a sadistic grin as she pointed at something across the lawn. My eyes followed her line of vision to the man walking in our direction.
No. No, no, no.
“Claire…” Mom hooked her arm around David’s bicep. What the fuck is he doing here? “Shouldn’t you introduce Jayce to your husband?”
The earth might as well have opened up and swallowed me whole. Her husband.
She was married.
Fucking married.
To the douchebag standing in front of me.
That meant she had lied to me. Everything she’d said, every kiss, every touch… letting me fuck her… It was all a lie.
I dropped her hand and took a step back.
“I warned you to stay away from my daughter.” Abigail snickered.
Claire reached for my hand again, but I pulled it away. “Jayce, don’t listen to her. Let me explain,” she pleaded.
There was a fear in her voice I’d never heard before. It made my blood run cold. Why would Claire need to explain something that wasn’t true?
“There’s nothing to explain. It’s really pretty simple.” My voice was as hard as stone. “Are. You. Married?”
She let out a heavy breath then looked at her mother then at the tall blond motherfucker with the fucked-up hair.
“No. I’m not,” she answered firmly.
“Then why did your mother—”
“Claire Olivia, that’s enough with the lies,” her mother cut me off.
“It’s not a lie.” Claire focused her attention on the douchebag. “David, why are you here?”
I hated the fact that she was even talking to that dude right now. Hearing his name spill from her perfect fucking lips made me want to vomit.
He stepped forward and reached for her hand. She pulled back before I could punch him in the face.
“Your mom called and said you needed me here. I thought—”
Claire spun around to face her mother and cut him off. “You did this? You brought him here?”
Dr. Cunningham approached us and draped a protective arm around his wife.
“You were about to make a huge mistake,” Abigail spewed.
Oh, Mommy Dearest, if you only knew.
“A mistake?” Claire pointed at David. “He was a mistake.”
The sappy son of a bitch almost looked hurt by her words. I held back a laugh.
She glared at her mother. “Being with Jayce isn’t a mistake. But butting into my life when I never asked you to is.” Claire moved closer to me, ignoring her parents and the dickwad. “David is my ex-husband.” She emphasized the ex, and the piece of shit actually flinched as though she’d hit him.
“We’re divorced. As in not married. And I should’ve told you. I was going to tell you.” She grabbed my hand and took another step closer. “I made a mistake, and I’m sorry. Can we please talk about this somewhere else?”
“Him? You’re worried about him? Why didn’t you tell your father and me? When did this happen? Why didn’t you ask for help?” Abigail shot a loaded gun full of questions at Claire.
Claire threw her head back and closed her eyes as though she were meditating on her next words. When she opened them again, she locked her gaze on her mother. “Because words like failure and divorce don’t fit into your perfect designer box. Because I’ve spent my entire adult life running from expectations I’ll never live up to. No more mistakes, not in the Cunningham house, not on my watch, right Mom?
And because the last thing on earth I ever wanted to hear is how you told me I never should have left Clover Creek.”
Abigail startled backwards. As if Claire’s words were stones and she’d just been hit by them. Dr. Cunningham held her steady. “Is that really how you feel? That I’ve suffocated you? That you aren’t good enough?” she asked Claire.
Claire drew in a staggered breath, and I immediately felt protective of her. She had kept something from me, and I had questions. Starting with why she didn’t trust me enough to be honest. But this thing with her mother had been brewing Claire’s whole life, and it was time to put it to rest. I pulled her against my side and wrapped my arm around her shoulder. Dickwad clenched his jaw. I pulled her closer and flashed him a grin.
“Yes,” she finally answered.
Tears welled in Abigail’s eyes. It was the first time I had ever seen her show any emotion other than spite. “I’m sorry. I never meant for you to feel any of that. I just wanted what was best for you.”
“Whose best, Mom? Yours? Or mine?”
Abigail wiped a fallen tear from her cheek then nodded her head. “You’re right. And I’m sorry. I never thought of how it was affecting you. When you disappeared that day, I’d never been more terrified in my life. After we got you home, I went to your room every night for a year just to make sure you were still in there sleeping. I didn’t sleep for months.”
“You might as well have stuck me in a castle and surrounded me with a moat. I know you were trying to protect me. But, from what? A confused old woman? Come on, Mom. Take a look at Gram. Yeah, she’s sick. She might even be a little bit scared sometimes. But she’s not dangerous. Jayce’s nana wasn’t either. I was never in any danger. You just wanted an excuse to control me.”
Abigail’s eyes grew wide and her mouth fell at the mention of my nana. She obviously wasn’t expecting me to tell Claire the truth.
“Yes, Mom. I know who the woman was. Jayce told me everything.”
Claire’s mother swallowed hard then straightened her shoulders and stood tall. “I never wanted to control you. I just wanted to keep you safe. Why didn’t you tell me about this?” She glanced toward David.
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