by Taylor Dean
“No, I’m pretty sure he could seduce a rock with his voice.”
Jack sighed. “I hate this.”
“What do you mean?”
“I hate that we’re in this situation. I hate that I feel jealous of you and Mark, and I hate that I’ve never kissed you.”
“I feel the same, Jack. But you know what consoles me?”
“What?”
“They are miserable together—and we are not. There’s something very satisfying about that.”
He raised his eyebrows at her. “If they hadn’t run off together, we wouldn’t have met. We should be thanking them.”
“I bet that’d go over well.”
The wild laughter started again, echoing off the walls and bouncing through the house.
Jack and Chloe. It was meant to be.
Jack’s mom called and begged Jack to come to the family dinner on Sunday. He’d missed several in a row as they’d both been working feverishly on the house.
“Will you come with me, Chloe?”
They hadn’t told his family of their newfound love, opting to keep it between themselves for the moment—and like everything else, it could wait until after their divorces were final. “Sure.” She loved Jack’s huge family. Visiting his mother’s house made her imagination blossom and take flight. Her head filled with images of her and Jack, someday bringing all of their blond children—she had no doubt they’d be blond—to Sunday dinner. They were silly little fantasies, but they had the potential to become real in the very near future.
This time they had a huge barbeque out on the screened-in porch, while Jack and the girls swam in the pool. It was Jack in his element. He tossed the girls around in the water as they squealed and begged for more. He did funny dives off the diving board, and he watched over the littlest ones, making sure they were safe in the water. Chloe watched from her lounge chair, Amelie clutched in her arms—and she had no plans of letting her go either.
“You two look happy,” Sydney remarked. “And don’t tell me you’re just friends because I don’t believe you. Jack has already reminded me twice that both of you are still married. I can read between the lines. I get it. I really do.”
Chloe simply smiled at her.
Sydney sipped her lemonade. “The two of you are glowing. It’s disgusting.”
Harper sighed dreamily. “I think it’s sweet.”
They ate dinner on the screened porch, sitting on two barbeque tables that had been pushed together, everyone still in their dripping wet bathing suits. It was another casual and relaxed visit with Jack’s family. They lingered at the table long after dinner was finished. The children all retired to the poolside, lounging on damp towels, sucking on popsicles, and making each other giggle with their silly banter. The conversation turned lively as Kayla began to tell a funny story from her daughter’s first day of school.
“It was Marlee’s first day of third grade this week and she was a nervous wreck. I sent her upstairs to brush her teeth and she moved slower than molasses, I swear. I think she was deliberately trying to miss the bus or something.”
Her husband, David, shook his head and chuckled. “This is so embarrassing.”
Kayla scowled, “Really? You weren’t even there. You didn’t endure the humiliation I did.” Then she laughed, taking the sting away from her words.
“I’m her father. That’s enough.”
“What happened?” Leann asked curiously.
Gwen set a plate of cupcakes on the table and took her place. “Are you telling the toothbrush story, Kayla?”
“Yes,” she confirmed as Gwen snickered. “So, Marlee finally comes downstairs and she says to me, ‘Mom, help, I have toothbrush bristles stuck in my throat.’ And I’m like, ‘What? No, you don’t. They can’t come out of the toothbrush.’ She kept insisting that her throat hurt and that she was positive some of the toothbrush bristles were stuck in her throat. The bus was about to arrive, so I told her to drink a glass of water and go to school.”
David held his head in his hands as if mortified and Gwen said, “This is so funny.”
“So I get a call from the school nurse about two hours later,” Kayla continued. “She says that Marlee is in her office saying that she has toothbrush bristles stuck in her throat. I’m so embarrassed that I’m not even sure what to say. I can’t believe Marlee is still insisting that she has toothbrush bristles in her throat. But I figure her throat must really be hurting her, so I go to the school to pick her up and I’m feeling kind of annoyed that Marlee is going to miss her first day of school.”
Grady peeled the cupcake paper off his cupcake and licked off the frosting. “They can come out, you know.”
“No, they can’t, Grady. I’ve never had toothbrush bristles come out,” Brian told him. “Don’t let the kids hear you say that. They’ll be scared to brush their teeth.”
“Anyway,” Kayla continued, ignoring them, “I arrive at the school office and as I walk in, there is Marlee and the principal—not the nurse, but the principal—and he’s shining a flashlight in her mouth as Marlee is pointing to her throat and mumbling, ‘They’re right there, in the back of my throat. They’re toothbrush bristles and they’re stuck in my throat. I can feel them. I know they’re there.’ The principal is seriously looking in her throat, searching for toothbrush bristles.”
The chuckling that had started midway through her story turned into all out laughter.
“Then when she sees me, she says, ‘I told you, Mom. I have toothbrush bristles stuck in my throat.’ It was awful. Everyone stared at me like I was a horrible mother.”
The laughter continued.
“So, did she get them out?” Grady asked.
“No, Grady, there wasn’t anything stuck in her throat,” Kayla chastised. “I took her to the doctor and her throat was a little red, but that’s it. It was just first day of school jitters. But now I’m known as the mother of the child who had toothbrush bristles stuck in her throat,” Kayla groaned loudly.
“Mother of the Year, coming your way,” Brian teased.
Kayla held up her hand in a “talk to the hand” position and said, “Brian, you are dismissed.”
The entire table burst into riotous laughter and Chloe didn’t understand what was so funny.
Sydney enlightened her. “When one of the girls annoyed Taryn, that was her reaction. She’d hold up her hand and tell them they were dismissed.”
Chloe was shocked at Taryn’s behavior. No wonder no one liked her.
“Did she ever pull that stunt on you, Jack?” Kayla asked.
There was a moment of silence and at first, Chloe wasn’t sure Jack was going to answer. “Once, when we were having a disagreement. It didn’t turn out well.”
“What did you do?” Sydney asked with intense curiosity.
“Let’s just say I let her know that I wasn’t okay with being dismissed and leave it at that,” Jack answered, decidedly uncomfortable.
“That little…” Leann started and Gwen quickly changed the subject.
It made Chloe realize that Jack had been through a much harder time with Taryn than he’d let on. It must have taken great patience on his part to put up with that kind of behavior.
The rest of the afternoon was lazy and quiet as they lounged on the porch, ceiling fans and patio misters keeping them surprisingly comfortable from the heat.
Chloe could imagine spending time with these people every Sunday of her life—and feeling quite happy in the process.
≈
The downstairs walls were nearly finished in Jack’s house. The concrete flooring had been stained and it was even more stunning than Chloe had imagined. It shined like glass and was truly a sight to behold. Once the brick archways and doors were installed, the downstairs would nearly match the upstairs. The house had become quite the showpiece. At least, that’s what Jack said and Chloe was pleased with his reaction. Chloe had nearly completed furnishing the upstairs bedrooms, but spent most of her time working on the downst
airs walls. Once complete, the downstairs would finally be ready for the same finishing touches the upstairs had already received and Jack was chomping at the bit.
Work on the backyard had begun. The yard had been torn out and the pool was well on its way, as was the patio cover on the rooftop deck. Jack nicknamed his backyard “Scorpionland Demolished.” He still found an occasional scorpion during his nightly black light escapades, but for the most part, they didn’t have a problem with them.
Chloe would have had more of the house completed by now, but she was distracted by Jack. He began to invite her to do things with him, things that made her feel as though she was being properly courted by a gentleman who had come calling. They went on a day hike amongst the pines of Prescott, they spent a day at a water park, floating on the lazy river together for the majority of the afternoon, and they enjoyed long drives in Jack’s jeep, exploring different parts of the city and trying out new restaurants. Jack took her on a train ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad where they observed the beautiful scenery and interesting wildlife. They enjoyed a visit to Jerome, nicknamed the “city in the sky” because of its elevation. In its day, it was a booming copper mine and was now one of the largest ghost towns in America—and quite the tourist magnet.
Having grown up in Arizona, Jack knew all the fun things to do and places to go. Chloe had never done much in the way of sightseeing and loved discovering Arizona with Jack. He took her to the Gilbert Historical Museum, the Botanical Gardens, and to go see a great local band that had made it big, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers.
The time flew by as they, in essence, dated and got to know each other better. They were both waiting for the day they would be set free, and it couldn’t come soon enough.
≈
Chloe smoothed the brand new comforter on Jack’s bed and fluffed the pillows. His master bedroom was her favorite room in the entire house. It was a true retreat from the world with a cushy seating area and soft lighting, a Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom, and a huge natural stone walk-in shower.
Would it be her room one day soon? Their room?
She was positive it would be. She couldn’t deny that things between her and Jack were amazing. His casual, cheery nature appealed to her and she felt as though he was her best friend. She couldn’t think of a better foundation for a burgeoning relationship. They’d known each other for two and a half months now, but it certainly felt like longer. They were waiting, waiting for life to begin for them. They were on hold for the time being, placed on pause. Chloe was ready to push play.
She’d spent the day finishing the upstairs with essential little details; a shelf, a framed photograph, a vase on an end table, candles here and there, mirrors, sconces, and strategically placed books on bookshelves. It was in the fine details where she excelled at decorating, the kind of things that made a house look like a home.
Chloe stood back, taking in the room, and felt satisfied.
Next task: finish the downstairs with the same attention to fine details. Then she’d be done. She would no longer have a reason to spend her days in Jack’s home, unless he invited her.
He would. She knew he would.
“Chloe.”
Startled, Chloe jumped. “Jack, I didn’t hear you come home.” It was all the noise in the backyard—the sounds of the workmen as they finished the pool, the rooftop deck, and the fence. It was going to be amazing, a backyard paradise.
Chloe studied Jack. He was silent and still, looking at her oddly…intensely. “Jack, is something wrong?”
He shook his head in the negative, but didn’t move.
“Jack?” she said again. “What is it?”
From behind his back, he held up papers, one stack in each hand. “It’s official,” he said, his voice soft.
Chloe gasped. She didn’t need to ask what the papers were. She knew. Their divorces were final. They were both free.
She couldn’t speak. She knew what was coming next. All at once, Jack tossed the papers behind him and without hesitation, began to move towards her, intent on his aim.
Chloe met him in the middle, just as eager for this moment. Their bodies met with a hard smack as their arms wrapped around each other and their lips found each other in a hard and fast kiss that was at once both exhilarating and fierce. There was nothing soft or tentative about their embrace, nothing akin to a sweet and gentle first kiss. It was demanding, almost harsh and ruthless in its strength. It was the kiss of two people who had waited for each other, who had longed for each other, who had yearned for one another.
The tempo didn’t change; one did not release the other. Chloe matched his insistence with a resolve of her own as their lips meshed together with searing intensity. He held her tightly, his arms pulling her against his body as his lips explored hers. Chloe gave herself to him fully, letting him kiss her with unrestrained passion, a passion that was now unleashed on her and she reveled in being loved by Jack.
Jack, the man who hadn’t left her alone, the man who had listened to her cry without complaint, the man who’d patiently brought her back to life, the man who understood her past and admired her for it.
She loved him. She loved Jack Alexander.
The kiss only intensified. Chloe’s hands crept up and buried themselves in his hair, pushing him closer, almost painfully, their mouths opening to each other. He tasted good, his breath sweet and minty. His aftershave tickled her senses and the kiss renewed itself, fast, hard, and wild. They gasped for air, breathing in each other’s breath, and then sealed their lips together in a deep, committed kiss, unswerving in their objective. There was no doubt how they felt about one another. If either one had questioned their relationship for even a second, those qualms were now dispelled. Chloe felt the sheer assertion in his kiss, the undying declaration that he wanted her, that she was his. She’d never been kissed like this, never once been branded with such unshakable purpose. He pulled her closer and her head fell back, her lips his for the taking. And he took, drinking from her as though a man dying of thirst. He consumed and devoured her, touching the deepest part of her soul, making her feel a part of him, as though they were already one. If one kiss could do this to her, she couldn’t imagine what more would be like. They’d sink into each other and become one, the lines would blur and they’d never know where she ended and he began, because they’d merge together so effortlessly, so easily. They’d disappear and combine, and emerge as one.
When the kiss finally ended, they were both breathless.
“Wow,” Jack said. “Just wow.”
“Ditto,” Chloe whispered.
And in true Jack fashion, he said, “Ghost.”
It was only a couple of weeks later that the house was finished. Chloe had taken her time with the downstairs decorating. She’d even completed Jack’s kitchen for him—happy to engage in details that were usually not her responsibility. This job was unlike any she’d ever encountered. She’d meticulously placed contact paper on all of the shelves. She’d chosen his new dishes, to include the glasses and the flatware. She even went so far as to go grocery shopping, stocking his cupboards with the essentials.
The house was now a home.
There was no doubt that the entire house was stunning and Jack was extremely pleased. However, the backyard looked like a disaster zone and was definitely still a work in progress, but the majority of the labor had been done. Although the pool did not as yet have water in it, it was complete. Even amidst all the chaos, Chloe could tell it would soon be an amazing outdoor space.
As promised, Jack held his “housewarming party” with just the two of them and they stayed true to their original plans.
“Jack, it’s me,” Chloe hollered as she entered the house. Maybe now that she didn’t work here anymore she shouldn’t just barge in. Jack came to greet her, taking her in his arms and kissing her soundly—and she figured he was okay with her barging in. His lips explored hers and she ran one hand through his blond hair. It seemed they spent more time kissing than an
ything else lately, but that was all right with her.
“Mmmmm, you taste good. What’s this?” he asked when he noticed the gift in her hand.
“A personal touch for your marvelously decorated home.”
“Is this my housewarming gift?”
“Yep.” It wasn’t anything fancy, just sentimental. Sydney had snapped a picture of them during their last visit and had emailed it to Chloe. She agreed that it was an exceptionally good picture of them. It was just their faces, cheeks pressed together, huge goofy smiles—one of those great impromptu photos that made you reminisce over the moment. They both looked ecstatically happy.
Jack was appropriately surprised as he hadn’t seen the picture before. “I love it. I’ll put it on my nightstand and dream of you all night.” He pulled her close. “As if I need help in that department.”
Their relationship had escalated quickly after that first incredible kiss. Things might be moving fast between them, but they’d waited for so long it felt as though they were simply making up for lost time.
It was odd, the way they’d simply fallen into their new relationship without any awkwardness or nervousness. It just felt natural, as if they were meant to be together. Nothing felt forced and Chloe didn’t feel as though she had to try very hard to get Jack to like her.
He just did.
It was a good feeling.
Jack and Chloe filled their plates from the selection of appetizers Jack had purchased for the evening. There was enough food for a much larger party, and Chloe loved that he’d gone all out for just the two of them. Chloe contributed by bringing a plate of homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
They snuggled up on the couch, and settled in for the evening.
“Okay, how many times do you think Rose says the name ‘Jack’ in Titanic?”
“Are you serious?” Chloe held a cookie to his lips and he took a bite.
“That was the plan for my housewarming party. Remember? C’mon, take a guess.”
Chloe pretended as though his plans were eye-roll worthy, but really she was just as stoked over the idea as he was. “Only Rose? Not anyone else?”