by Lacey Thorn
She just had to put last night behind her. Hell, the last few months behind her when it came to her love life. Or, more accurately, her sex life. She would just focus ahead and leave the past in the past. Especially the more recent past.
She sighed as she stepped into the shower. Who was she kidding? Mike, she could handle. One night with Jack and she knew that Mike was a mistake. She shouldn’t have slept with him. The sex had been good, but there hadn’t been a connection between them. He’d just realized it a lot sooner than she had. Jack on the other hand… Her nipples tightened, thinking about the feel of his mouth, his hands stroking over her flesh.
She couldn’t think about Jack right now. Not now. She would focus on work and on enjoying this trip. It couldn’t have come at a better time. If she was lucky, Grun would have some new trip for her to set up. One that would require her to travel with him for a while. That was just what she needed.
* * * * *
Jack walked into Jonas’ kitchen to find his sister Jacey sitting at the table. Jonas was nowhere to be found. Curious. But he had other things on his mind. Other people, or more specifically one blonde bombshell he couldn’t track down at the moment.
“Have you heard from Dee?” Jack asked his sister. “Or have any idea where she might be this afternoon?” He was tired and cranky and not being able to locate Dee wasn’t helping.
It had taken everything he had to leave Dee alone when he’d walked out of the bathroom and found her sound asleep on her bed. He’d wanted to wake her, take her again. And honestly, that had scared the hell out of him. So he’d used the excuse of letting her rest to run. He regretted that choice more and more with each moment he couldn’t find her.
“Ummm, about thirty thousand feet in the air or however high airplanes go,” Jacey said. “Have a good night, lover boy?”
“Shut up, Jacey,” he muttered. “Why’s she on a plane? Where’s she going? I thought she was a virtual secretary for some big writer?”
“So not much time for talking last night, huh?” she asked with a laugh. “Hope that’s a good thing.”
“Just answer my question, please.”
“She’s on her way to Chicago for a meeting with her boss. She’s his personal assistant and all-around girl Friday, not a secretary. He’s just back from Europe and some tour she scheduled for him over there. She’s been looking forward to seeing him and finding out how things went. The details he doesn’t share over the phone or email.”
“When does she get back?”
“Not until Friday,” Jacey said, but her expression wasn’t so carefree and relaxed now. “Why? What’s going on, Jack?”
“I just didn’t get a chance to talk to her this morning and I was trying to find her.”
“Didn’t get a chance to talk to her?” She shook her head and glared. “Please tell me that you didn’t just screw my friend and leave. Tell me my brother isn’t that big of an ass.”
“She wanted to show us that she could have a one-night stand,” he said, the only thing he could think of in his defense.
“That’s bullshit and you know it, Jack.”
“I’m not getting into this with you. Do you have her number?”
“Of course I have her number, but I’m not giving it to you until I talk to her.” She stood up and pocketed her phone to keep it out of his reach. “If you hurt her, Jack, I’ll never forgive you.”
“If I hurt her it wasn’t intentional.”
“What happened last night?”
“That’s really none of your business, Jacey. Just suffice it to say that she was sleeping when I left and I was hoping to catch her today and talk. I didn’t know she was going to be flying to Chicago.”
“You fucked her and left? No note or anything. My god, you are an asshole.”
“Don’t be crude with me, Jacey. What’s between Dee and me is between us.”
“Well, she’ll be gone until Friday so I hope you didn’t screw up too badly. That’s a long time for a girl to stew and analyze an event. Enough time to move past it if she wants to.”
“Are you going to give me her number or not?”
“Not. I’ll call her and see what she says. If she wants you to have her number then I’ll give it to you. If not…” She shrugged her shoulders at him. “Well, if not, you’ll just have to wait until she gets back. But, Jack, when you leave a woman in bed, if she’s important to you, if she matters at all, then you should always leave a note.”
With those parting words his sister walked out, leaving him to stew over everything. Fuck! He’d messed up without meaning to. Of course, this whole thing had caught him off guard. His only long-term plan was to come home and find a job, get settled into civilian life. He’d never counted on Dee, all grown-up and still wanting him.
He should have ignored it when his sister called and invited him out to have a drink at the bar. He’d thought it was a nice gesture even though Jonas had shaken his head and told him to beware. Then he’d walked in to hear those words come out of Dee’s mouth. He’d thought it cute until he’d gotten a good look at her. He hadn’t seen her much in the last five years, just pictures but she was never clearly visible.
Dee had grown up. Nicely. Incredibly. She was no longer the skinny little girl who looked at him with stars in her eyes. No, she’d looked at him with a woman’s appreciation last night. He’d been teasing and joking around with her. Then she’d said something about hooking up with a guy and going home for sex and he’d seen red. He’d told himself he was taking her home to protect her from herself. Yeah, right.
He’d been a goner the moment she’d put her feet in his lap and he’d taken them in his hands. So small and fragile and so soft his hands had ached to touch more of her. She’d turned and for a second he’d gotten a peek at her creamy thighs and a glimpse of black panties. At that point his dick had started fighting to do his thinking for him.
He hadn’t meant to have sex with her. Dee, for all her talk, was not a one-night-stand type of girl. Jacey was right. He’d known that. But he’d wanted her. She’d wanted him. And damn it, it had been a long dry spell for him. No excuse. He was stupid for touching her, tasting her. He’d been doomed the moment he’d slipped his dick in her hot little cunt.
He hadn’t lied when he’d told her how amazing her tits were. The woman was built. He could have spent hours worshipping her. Hell, he’d almost come with her the first time she’d exploded from just his mouth on her breasts. And again when he’d made her come with his mouth and fingers. She’d tasted so sweet. He could’ve licked her for hours. If his dick hadn’t been hurting with the need to come at that point.
Then she’d put her mouth on him and it had taken everything he had to hold back, to rein in the desire to just fuck that mouth of hers. He reached down and adjusted his hard-on in his jeans. Hell, just thinking about what they’d done last night was making him horny as hell.
He’d wanted more. Wanted to fuck her in every position possible and try some that might not be. He wanted to come in her mouth and then taste her orgasm on his tongue again. He’d wanted to see if she was into letting him take her anally. Christ, the woman’s ass was as spectacular as her tits. Dee was all lush curves that made a man’s thoughts head straight to the carnal. Hell, he could even understand why the gay guy had wanted her.
But when he’d walked out of her bathroom and found her sound asleep, it had snapped him out of his sex haze. On the bed, her body soft with slumber, her lips curved up with what he hoped were thoughts of him and what they’d shared, she was perfection. He’d felt a stutter in his heart. And that stutter had scared the hell out of him.
He wasn’t looking for forever. Not yet. He wasn’t ready for a wife and kids and dogs and all that stuff his mother was hoping for. Since he’d graduated from high school at seventeen he’d been a Marine. And he’d loved every moment of it. Wouldn’t change a thing. But he spent a lot of time overseas in some not so great places. There’d been women here and there but nothing that
mattered.
Seeing Dee lying there had scared him because it was Dee. And, damn it, she mattered. Just the thought of her now made him hard. He wasn’t a one-night stand for her. He wasn’t sure what he was, what they were, but he knew he didn’t want to only have one night. He wasn’t ready for forever. But he was ready for right now. And right now the only woman he wanted was Dee. Now all he had to do was find a way to get hold of her. Then he’d have to figure out how to find out exactly what Dee wanted. Or more accurately what she was willing to accept from him.
He sighed. “Fuck, I’d rather be in a warzone.”
“That bad a night, huh,” Jonas said and Jack looked up.
“Where the hell have you been?” Jack asked. “And what the hell is going on between you and my sister?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely nothing,” Jonas said and Jack almost laughed at the look on his best friend’s face. If he didn’t know better, he’d think his friend was wishing differently.
* * * * *
Jacey pulled her phone out as soon as she reached her car. She sent Dee the first text.
Hey Dee! Have fun in Chicago with the G-man! Call me when you get a chance.
The second was to Mischa.
Something’s up. Lunch?
What had happened between Dee and Jack? What had she been thinking to set her friend up that way? What kind of friend was she? She leaned her head forward to rest on the steering wheel, wanting to beat against it instead. If Dee was hurt then Jacey was ultimately the one to blame. Jonas had told her to stop messing with other people’s lives and start fixing her own fucked-up life. She’d glared at him and told him to kiss her ass. What was wrong with him lately?
Her phone buzzed.
Café at 1?
C u there, Jacey texted back.
Maybe she’d hear from Dee before then. Hopefully she would. It was going to be a long morning. With a sigh she started her car and pulled out, deciding to head to the gym where she worked even though it was her day off. She often told her clients that hard exercise was a great way to clear your mind. Maybe she should take her own advice for a change.
Chapter Five
Dee spent a crazy week in Chicago. Grun had met a new woman in Europe—a younger one—and he wanted her help with a younger wardrobe and all that. Of course, he did what he wanted anyways, buying whatever tripped his fancy. Which was exactly what she encouraged anyways. If the woman was interested in him, then she was interested in him, not some younger version of him. He’d sneaked in a couple of things here and there for Dee as well, claiming he’d forgotten her birthday.
They’d gone over his upcoming schedule, the where and when of events. He had several new requests for speaking engagements and she needed to update his press packet to include the newest book that would release in another month. She’d meant to call Jacey but by the time she was done in the evenings, she was exhausted. Grun had the energy of a roomful of preschoolers. She, on the other hand, didn’t.
Then, there was the fact that he’d fired two of his house staff for taking advantage of his mother’s kindness. And rightly so, as they’d tried to steal several items. They’d been caught red-handed by the “old, crazy bitch” of the house though. Grun was more furious at the vulgarity his mother had endured than the attempted theft. Honestly, Dee was as well. Needless to say, part of the week was spent with her interviewing possible new hires, though Grun would have the final word.
So when she got up Friday morning and started packing for her flight back home she finally remembered to give Jacey a call.
“Finally, I hear from you. I was worried that Grun had finally talked you into running away with him forever.”
Dee laughed. “Never. He’d kill me, or I’d kill him. Whichever. One of us wouldn’t survive a long-term arrangement.”
“So you back in town?”
“Nope, just packing to head home. Sorry I didn’t call sooner. It’s been a crazy week.”
“G-man kept you busy, huh?” Jacey’s laugh trickled over the line.
“Exhaustingly busy,” Dee agreed. “I should be home from the airport around four, four thirty.”
“Good then you can meet Mischa and me for a late dinner and drinks tonight and tell us about your glamorous week. Say around seven?”
Dee snorted. “If I can still move when I get home, I will. As long as I don’t fall down somewhere and go to sleep.” She laughed.
“We could do lunch tomorrow if you want instead,” Jacey suggested.
“Is everything okay?” Dee asked. “Nothing happened while I was gone, did it?”
“No.” Jacey laughed it off but Dee didn’t think it rang quite true. “You know how much we look forward to hearing about your week with him. And seeing what cool gifts he bought you this time.”
“A new pair of fabulous heels,” Dee said, looking down at her feet and admiring her newest pair. Everyone knew that heels were her weakness. Her alarm beeped on her phone, reminding her that she had two hours before her flight.
“I hear your alarm,” Jacey said with a laugh.
“I have to head to the airport now,” Dee said, putting her on speakerphone while she turned the alarm off. She left Jacey on speaker, tossing her phone on the bed while she finished stowing her stuff in her bag.
“Dee, darling, can you bring me a towel?” Grun’s called from the bathroom. Her shower had been leaking this morning and of course Grun was sure he could fix it. She’d already called a repair guy and he was set to arrive in another thirty minutes, by which time she would be safely at the airport and out of Grun’s yelling range.
“Just a sec, Jacey,” Dee said. “Grun’s in the shower.” She raced to grab a handful of towels to take to him.
Grun was soaked. His shirt plastered to his chest and water dripping down his face and off his hair. Dee couldn’t contain her giggles. He looked like a drowned bear.
“If you weren’t already so deliciously dressed, I’d pull you in hear and give you a good soaking as well,” Grun told her with a shake of his head.
She tossed the towels to him. “Maybe next time,” she said and ran back into the bedroom to pick her phone up. Hitting the button to take Jacey off speakerphone, she grabbed her luggage and headed out of the room. She was down to the wire if she was going to be gone before the repair guy showed up.
“Ummm, Dee, everything okay?” Jacey asked.
“Yep, just Grun trying to persuade me to stay,” Dee said with a laugh. “I’m heading out the door now.”
“Call or text when you get in,” Jacey said.
“Will do,” Dee promised and hung up. Grun’s driver was already at the door waiting for her.
“Repairman just got here, Ms. Dee,” he told her with a wicked grin.
“Crap! He’s early. We better hurry then,” she said and gladly gave her bag over to him. Both of them practically ran out the door to the car but she swore she heard Grun’s furious bellow when they hit the end of the driveway.
* * * * *
Jacey hung the phone up with a haunted look. She would not jump to conclusions but, oh my god! Grun had been in Dee’s shower? She’d told Dee that she needed to sleep around, have sex, but not with her boss! And certainly not after watching her brother mope around for a week, looking more miserable by the day. Was it possible that Jack had feelings for Dee? Like romantic feelings?
She glanced at the clock. She had an hour before she had to be at work. She really wanted to talk to Jonas but that was complicated lately with her brother staying with him. Plus Jonas was being really weird. Something was up with him and she’d have to pry it out of him soon. But she had to think about Dee first. Besides she already knew what Jonas would tell her, to keep her nosy nose out of things. But this was different. She couldn’t help but feel as if the current situation was her fault.
She’d set them up, Jack and Dee. She’d meant for them to laugh, joke and, yeah, maybe have a little medicinal sex to get Mike off Dee’s mind. Plus, she’d thought maybe a night
with Jack would wash Dee’s crush away. Jacey knew her brother was a love-‘em-and-leave-‘em type of guy. But he was always kind. She hadn’t doubted that he’d make Dee feel special before he moved on. So what had changed that? Jack hadn’t gone out once during the week Dee was gone. Maybe she shouldn’t have lied and told him that she’d given Dee his number. But, hell, he wouldn’t back off. So she’d lied.
Shit, maybe Jonas was right. She should just keep her nosy nose out of things. Of course, she probably should have done that from the beginning. Her mind churning, her stomach doing the same, Jacey headed out of her apartment. She’d go for a ride before work, put the windows down and let the fresh air clear her head. And pray. She definitely needed to say a prayer.
* * * * *
Dee pulled into her driveway and heaved a sigh of relief. She loved the occasional trip but she always missed her house, her bed. She wanted a shower, and if she timed it right, a little nap before she needed to meet Jacey and Mischa for dinner. She had six missed calls from Grun and that many voice messages as well. She knew what they were about. First he would have fired her for calling the repairman. Then he would have told her never mind, her punishment was that she would have to keep working for him. Then he would tell her to call him back. By the sixth he’d be groveling and apologetic, wanting to make sure she’d gotten home safe and that everything was fine.
She’d just let him stew for a bit longer before calling him back. Or maybe she’d just text him. She really was tired. Sitting in her car, she stared at her front door, remembering standing there with Jack. It brought her last night home back to the forefront of her mind. She wondered what he was doing? How many women he’d gone out with during the week she’d been gone?
She’d done a good job of putting him out of her mind for long periods of time while she’d been in Chicago but her heart had jumped every time her phone rang or beeped with a text. Part of her had secretly hoped he’d wanted to get her number from Jacey and would call or text her. But apparently their night together hadn’t meant all that much to him.