He staggered at the news, leaned a hand against the brick to keep his balance. Jill had returned to Woodstock. He’d been prepared to move to Fort Worth if she wanted him to. But she’d gone back to Woodstock on her own, of her own free will. Hope surged through his body almost making him lightheaded.
“Jerrod? Did you hear me?”
“Yes, Mother. I’ll get on the first flight heading east. Don’t let her leave.” He tore down the stairs, jumped in the rental, and headed for the airport. God, he hoped he wasn’t too late to catch the next flight. He ran into the airport like a crazy person. A happy, crazy person. Purchased a ticket. The agent wasn’t certain Jerrod could make the flight, but he got through security with a minimum of delay and made the four twenty-five from DFW going through Chicago. He prayed he’d be able to catch the close connecting flight, a mere thirty minutes, between his arrival in the Windy City and departure for Hartford. As soon as he deplaned, he sprinted.
“Excuse me. Pardon me.” He jumped over a piece of luggage in his way and carefully, slid a man to the side. Amazingly, the authorities didn’t question him. He slowed when he finally reached the gate. He tucked his shirt in his pants and straightened his coat, trying to exhibit a semblance of normalcy. No other passengers were in sight. He handed his boarding pass to the older male ticket taker.
“Mr. Phillips.” He smiled at Jerrod. “You nearly missed this plane. Get on down the gateway now. You’re the last person to board.”
Jerrod nodded and followed the man’s instructions rushing toward the plane door, which the flight attendant closed behind him. He shoved his bag in the overhead and dropped into his seat. Better grab a few winks. He still had the drive to Woodstock after the plane landed in Hartford at ten thirty-five. It would be at least one a.m. before he got to Woodstock and Jill. Of course, that was only if the weather held.
After he landed, he drove his car to a late-night drive-through where he bought a large coffee to help him stay awake on the drive home.
His desire to see her overwhelmed his normal, sane manner. Exceeding the speed limit, his car ate up the miles before the forecast snow hit. It was likely he’d lost his mind. He’d get hold of himself before he arrived on her doorstep in the middle of the night. Wouldn’t he?
The rasp from his hand rubbing through his beard filled the car. Home and shower first. He’d been traveling for more than twenty-four hours. Maybe sleep some. No. He needed to see Jill, so he pushed on through the lightly falling snow, confident his vehicle could handle the roads. Only heavy snow would force him to slow down. His hands clasped and released the steering wheel. His fingers drummed the wheel in time with his heart.
JILL STOPPED UNPACKING long enough to heat up soup. She set out French bread, Vermont cheddar cheese, sliced an apple, and opened a bottle of her favorite Merlot. Jerrod still hadn’t returned her call. Why hadn’t she heard back from him yet? She sipped her wine and worried.
If she didn’t hear from him by morning, she’d call Anne. Would she think Jill was a crazy woman? Maybe, but she didn’t care. She nibbled on her lip, forgetting to eat. Surely, he was just busy, and nothing was wrong.
She cleaned up her dishes and went back to unpacking and putting away. It was such a small house without nearly enough storage. She’d loaded her bags down so much she’d paid extra for all three of them. Finally, she stopped and wheeled them into the room she used for her office. The bedroom needed to be somewhat neat, or she wouldn’t be able to sleep.
Though the hour was late, and her muscles ached, sleep didn’t come. She rolled one way and then the other. She punched her pillow. She plopped one on top of the other. A warm bath hadn’t helped. Jill recognized the churned-up and excited feeling for the one she got in Fort Worth when the weather forecasters first mentioned the possibility of snow. Snow that came so seldom, she never wanted to chance being asleep and not see it fall.
Was she nuts? Snow had been coming down steadily in Woodstock for some time. Double-checking the security system before getting ready for bed, she’d stood by a front window and stared at the large white flakes floating through the air. Only the chill had forced her upstairs. A glance in the hall mirror had shown the silly, snow-induced smile she always got in Fort Worth.
The clock said almost one-thirty. One-thirty, and she lay awake, staring at the ceiling. She checked her phone for the hundredth time to make sure the battery was charged. No word from Jerrod.
He probably wouldn’t try to get hold of her now until morning. Maybe another glass of wine would help her get to sleep. Maybe she was just nuts.
She slid on her fluffy house shoes and pulled on the royal blue chenille robe she’d found to be the best defense against the cold. Her plaid flannel pajamas, a long way from the silk nightgowns she’d always worn in Fort Worth, kept her toasty under the down comforter.
The unexpected ringing of the doorbell startled her into sloshing the wine she poured. Adrenaline kicked through her system—lightening shot down her arms. Her stomach knotted, and she fought the urge to throw up. She barely held in the scream clawing at the back of her throat. She reached in her robe pocket. Damn. She’d left her phone upstairs.
Hold it.
She drew in several deep breaths. Calm down. Overreacting here, to say the least. Everyone who’d been involved with the scary stuff in Texas was dead or in prison. Nevertheless, she shuffled toward the front of the house, her hand securely grasping a rolling pin.
The bell sounded again. “Jill, it’s me. I saw the lights were on, or I wouldn’t have stopped.”
The voice sent electricity through her body, but for an entirely different reason. “Jerrod,” she whispered.
She hurried through the living room, turned off the security system, struggled with the lock, and flung open the door. Cold air swirled in. Along with Jerrod. Snow coated his uncovered head and his coat. Dark circles surrounded his bloodshot eyes. His beard was a scraggly mess.
He looked wonderful.
He stepped in and shoved the door closed with his foot. Grabbing her around the waist, he lifted her off the floor and out of her slippers for a kiss that stole her breath.
Both her arms went around his shoulders. The rolling pin slid from her fingers, making a loud crash on the hardwood floor. She groaned when he pushed his tongue into her mouth deepening the kiss, sending flashes of fire to her core. Her hands barely registered the bite from the snow covering him. Finally, he lowered her until her bare feet touched the cold floor.
“God, I’ve missed you.” He set her less than an arms-length away, as if he couldn’t stand to separate completely from her.
“I’ve missed you.” She ran her hand along his bearded cheek. “Did you get my messages? When you didn’t call back, I worried.”
“I haven’t looked at my cell. I drove directly here from the airport in Hartford.”
She brushed at his snow-covered coat. “Let me take this.” He shuffled it off, and she hung it on the hall coat tree. “Come into the kitchen. Would you like a bowl of soup? And I have a bottle of wine open.” She shivered. Snowflakes had traveled from Jerrod’s coat and hair to her. She tied the belt on her robe more securely. Lipstick would help her looks, but the tube was upstairs. She ran fingers through her tangled hair, hoping to help her cause.
He took her hand. “Don’t.” He pressed a kiss to her palm. “You’re beautiful the way you are. And wine sounds great.”
She sent him ahead of her into the living room with the bottle. She carried the glasses and savored the look of him. “Will you light the fire?” The emptiness in her middle grew smaller with each glance or touch from him.
Jerrod got the fire going quickly, while Jill lit the candles she kept handy. With only one lamp on, the atmosphere was warm, subtle, and seductive. He settled on the sofa beside her.
“I thought you’d be tied up in Montpelier.”
“We have a three-day weekend because of President’s Day.”
“Oh. Well, I left Fort Worth this morning and
arrived around mid-day.”
“Yeah. I bet our planes passed each other in the air. Mother called me right after she ran into you at the store. I caught the next available plane out of DFW this afternoon.”
Jill clenched the stem so hard, she feared she’d break the glass. Could he possibly have gone for her? Her heart rate increased with hope for the desired answer.
He looked away from her, took a sip of his wine then placed their glasses on the coffee table. He gathered both of her hands in his, pulling her around toward him. “Mother said something that set me to thinking. I couldn’t take a chance she was right.”
“About what?”
“I couldn’t take a chance on whether you’d return.”
“What in the world did she tell you? I’ve been talking about coming back.”
He didn’t answer but stared into her eyes. Then he feathered a finger gently across
her cheek, tracing the area where his brother had hit her, and where later the knife sliced through her skin. Her mirror told her only a hint of the wound still showed, but maybe it was too much of a reminder to him of all that had happened. Her role in his brother’s death.
“She told me about Mike Riley.”
“Mike?” She frowned. What was this about?
“Mother suspected he was interested in you. Said I’d be stupid to let you get away. I’d decided if I couldn’t convince you to come here, I’d stay with you in Texas.”
“Oh.” The word left her mouth on a sigh. Jill’s gaze dropped, and warmth spread from her neck upwards. She licked her lips before she spoke. “Even if Mike cared for me, Jerrod, it takes two.”
AT HER WORDS, HIS HEART leapt in his chest before taking a nose dive, making him almost light-headed. Because she wasn’t interested in Riley didn’t mean he had a done deal here by any means. Groveling time.
“I’ve been a real jerk where you’re concerned, Jill. Right from the beginning. I can’t apologize enough for...” Shit. Bile rolled up in the back of his throat. He hated to repeat what he’d accused her of in his mind and said to her with his words. She helped him out.
“Are you referring to the time you accused me of murdering my husband and father?”
He shifted away, ashamed to look at her. His stomach twisted into a corkscrew.
“Or the time when you first heard of your brother’s death.” She reached up and pulled his face around to her. “You didn’t use the words, but I saw your expression. For that one moment, you thought I’d shot him.”
Jerrod dropped to his knees. His arms tightened around her waist, his head buried in her lap. “God, I’m sorry, Jill. I’ll do anything if you’ll forgive me. I want—no—I need you in my life.”
Her hand touched him on the cheek, and then she raised his head. “Jerrod, can you forgive me for causing Mitch’s death? How can your mother stand to be in the same room with me?”
“Honey, we can’t control other people’s decisions. Mitch made many bad ones before you ever came to Woodstock. I’m so sorry he hurt you.” He touched her cheek. His chest ached for her pain.
He stood and pulled her from the sofa into his arms, kissing her deeply, with everything he had in him. He loved the way she melted into his arms and the low moan coming from deep within her. He pushed the robe from her shoulders, burying his face in her neck. Her breath hitched in a gasp. Jill’s hands flowed over his body, pushing the sweater up and touching his skin. His stomach quivered under her fingers.
“Let’s go upstairs.” He reluctantly pulled her robe back over her tempting body. She kissed him and nodded.
She slid an arm around his waist. One of his went across her shoulders. When he was away from her, he forgot she was so small. His heart swelled in his chest at the chance he had with this woman. They made their way up the stairs, stopping every couple of steps to kiss. Each kiss longer and more heart stopping.
By the time, they reached her bedroom, Jerrod’s desire for her had heated his blood, and he wanted to make love to her at once. But he loved her so much, he wanted to take his time showing her.
Kissing every inch of her face and neck, he walked her back to the bed and gently lowered her. He paused to kick off his boots.
“Wish I’d known you were coming I’d have put on something nicer.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He quickly had the buttons of her top undone to reveal her breasts. He stopped. The angry red scar from her bullet wound drew his focus. “Does it still hurt?”
“Occasional twinges.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to the mark. “I’m sorry you had to experience all of this. I should’ve been able to keep you safe.”
“Jerrod, we did what we had to do. I’m sorry it’s ugly, but I’m fine, and you were and are wonderful.” She pulled his sweater over his head.
Her hot gaze seemed to devour him.
“Never doubt that,” she said in a breathy whisper.
He kissed the wound again and then let his hands roam freely over her breasts and followed with his mouth. First one nipple then the other, letting his tongue roam over each one. They perked beneath his touch. She moaned. Her reaction made him catch his breath. She moved beneath him as though to get closer. He slid one hand down her stomach reaching lower to her mound.
She arched against him and writhed beneath the pressure. “Oh, my God, Jerrod.”
He slid her bottoms off and delved his fingers into her warm, moist center. Then his mouth quickly followed his hand. He toyed with her nub before his tongue plunged in and out, followed again by two fingers while he searched for and found her hot spot. She bucked off the bed, her cries a deep explosion of ecstasy. He let her slide down and held close her trembling body. He couldn’t keep a smile from spreading across his face. Pleasuring her made him feel like he was a young stud.
Jill rolled and leaned forward to kiss his nipples each in turn. Each one pebbled beneath the tip of her tongue. Fire shot through his whole body.
He’d never seen anything more beautiful than this woman. She unhooked his pants, never taking her gaze from his, while she searched for and found a condom in his pocket. She placed it on the table and completed her task of getting off his clothes. Then she moved her attention to his tented boxers, where his erection strained for release.
With a feather-soft touch, she ran her fingers across his penis from the bottom to the top and then the boxers were gone.
“Let me keep you warm, Jerrod.” She chuckled deep in her throat.
He moaned when she snaked her way up his body touching and tasting every part of him. She took him in her mouth, and he flew into a whirlwind of fire and ice. When she rolled the condom on, he went out of his mind. He pulled her up, kissed her, tasting himself in her mouth. His breathing hitched. Inside. He needed to get inside.
He positioned her, and with his hands on her hips, pulled her down bit by torturous bit. His hands shook, fighting for control on the heart-pounding journey.
“Oh, God.” He held still while her warm glove squeezed him. He pulsed and quivered. His heart might explode he loved her so much. “Don’t move.”
“I kind of thought you liked it when I moved,” she whispered in a husky voice. Her head thrown back, her eyes closed.
He placed both hands on either side of her head. “Look at me.”
Her lids flew open.
“I love you, Jill Barlow.”
From her beautiful brown eyes, one tear escaped. He caught it with his thumb, and a smile trembled its way onto her face.
“I love you, too.”
Joy. Absolutely no other word described the feeling washing over him. Everything in the world fell into its proper place. He kissed her lips, her eyelids, and her cheeks. Then he flipped her underneath him and proceeded to drive them both out of their minds.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18
The next morning Jill awoke tucked next to Jerrod, her rear against his growing erection. An arm draped across her middle, his hand on a breast. One of his legs was across hers. She smi
rked. Did he think she’d try to get away? Truth was if she died right here, she’d be happy. She was the luckiest of women to have this second chance for love. And with such a wonderful man. She gently moved his hand, bringing it to her mouth, tickling the dark hairs on the back with a kiss.
“You ready to start again, woman?”
She reached a hand behind her to touch the bulge pushing against her backside. She knew she’d never get too much of this man, who made her feel every inch a desirable woman.
“If you are...” She stroked him, and he jumped in her hand. “I’ll take that for a yes.”
He rolled her over and showed her he was indeed ready.
“I’M STARVING. We should consider getting up, Jerrod.” Her stomach growled to
make her point. “See. Besides, we don’t want anyone to worry.”
He leaned on one elbow and looked down at her, a finger trailing across her middle. “Tell you what, let’s hop in the shower, and then we’ll go see Mother. She can cook us something fantastic, and we can tell her we’re getting married.”
“Are we?”
“God, I hope so. How soon will you let me make an honest woman of you? I want you living in my house—our house. I want us to share the rest of our lives.”
“What about Don and Liz? I mean, have you ever brought anyone but their mother to that house?”
“No, and they don’t remember her. She left when they were hardly more than toddlers. Mother’s been more to them than Janice ever was.” He trailed his thumb lightly across her cheek and down her nose before he sat up and leaned against the headboard. “If you can tolerate it for several more months, I’ll get out of politics at the end of this session. I’d leave now, but I have an obligation to my constituents.”
“I couldn’t, wouldn’t ask you to do that. My father helped lot of people while he served in the Texas House. Yes. Bad people devastated our lives, because they hated Dad’s actions. But good stuff resulted from his service, too.”
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