by AJ Renee
Jake sat next to her and turned his body to face her. “I would really like to pick this up where we left off. Do you think you could give me another chance?”
Searching his face, Michelle found sincerity in his words. What was the worst that could happen?
He stands me up, he dies, he’s married, murder…
Michelle halted her line of thoughts, making a memo to herself that she needed to stop watching crime shows. Closing her eyes for a second, she rearranged her thoughts.
“Is that a no?” Jake asked when she took a moment too long to answer. “I’d be willing to beg if you’re into that sort of thing.”
Her eyes popped open when he shifted his weight next to her. “What? No, you don’t—sorry. Yes, we can try this again.”
“Oh, good! That’s a relief. The last woman I ran over called the cops—”
“What?” Michelle squeaked.
Jake chuckled, throwing his head back for full effect. “Oh man, your face. I’m teasing you, sweetheart.”
His hand covered hers, and his face became serious. “I really would like to go out again. Preferably on purpose and without interruptions.”
“I would like that too—”
“Here you kids go,” Annie said, putting their plates on the table.
“Actually, Annie, it looks like I have to leave earlier than I wanted. Any way you can wrap that up to go and add a chicken salad sub with extra pickles to my bag?” Jake smiled sweetly at the older woman.
Annie looked between them, and her brows furrowed. “I may not be young, but I know a promising kiss. What the hell did you do, Jacob?”
“Hey!” Jake cried, his hand shooting to his chest in outrage.
“He didn’t do anything. Something’s come up. Can you wrap up mine too?” Michelle told her.
Annie looked between them one more time before lifting the two plates and mumbling to herself. “Kids these days… have to knock some sense into them.”
Michelle and Jake laughed at Annie’s retreating frame. He turned toward her, and the sweetest sad sigh she’d heard escaped his lips. Her heart beat rapidly at the look he gave her. She met this man barely an hour ago, but something about it all made her feel like she’d known him all her life.
It really was the strangest thing.
“Where were you off to when you fell over?”
“I fell over?”
Jake rubbed his rough cheek. “Well, you took one look at me and toppled over.”
“Wow, aren’t we just full of ourselves?” Michelle chuckled.
He brushed nonexistent lint off his chest. “I can’t help it if women just fall at my feet.”
Michelle watched as Jake’s head jerked toward her with the impact of Annie’s hand.
“Ow! What was that for?” Jake asked Annie as she dropped the bags and walked away.
He never got a response. The woman shook her head and shot him an annoyed look as she took her place behind the counter once again.
“Do you make friends with women everywhere you go?” Michelle teased.
“I must be losing my touch.” He glanced down to look at the text preview that lit up his phone. “Big baby,” he mumbled at the screen before his eyes met hers. “May I walk you to your car? Or were you going home on foot?”
Michelle pointed at his phone. “Sounds like you’re being beckoned.”
“He can wait however long it will take me to walk you somewhere.”
Her stomach flipped and flopped at those words. So simple, and yet the sweetness of it all caused her to feel special. Something a man hadn’t made her feel in way too long. “My car is a couple blocks in the direction we just came from.”
Jake put cash on the table to cover the food and offered her his hand. She placed hers in it, and he helped her from the booth. He refused to let her carry her own food and led her past the curious eyes in the diner.
The snow came down once again, and the icy flakes fell on her warm skin. After releasing his hand, she adjusted her scarf and he flipped up the collar to his coat. With a shy smile, she slipped her bare hand back into his. She knew it was too cold to go without gloves, but she wanted to feel his warm skin against hers.
“You probably won’t agree with me, and it’s a crappy thing to say, but—”
“But?” Michelle asked.
His smile lit up his face as he looked over at her. “I’m really glad I ran you over.”
She leaned her head on his arm and laughed. “Yeah, you’re right. That is crappy, and trust me, my wrist doesn’t agree with you at all, but—”
“But?” he teased.
Michelle sighed and playfully rolled her eyes at him. “I’m glad you tackled me to the ground too.”
Jake chuckled. “That was not a tackle.”
She raised her eyebrow in disbelief. “You’re so full of it.”
Jake only laughed. He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Butterflies made their home in her stomach at his touch.
“That your car?” he asked of the only vehicle left in the lot.
“Yup,” she whispered. Michelle couldn’t help but feel sad that the night was coming to an end. She was used to the routine of her life, and tonight was far from the norm. She could get accustomed to this norm, and that scared her a bit.
Jake waited patiently by her car as she searched for her keys. “Give me your phone?”
Michelle handed it to him as she dug farther into her bag. This was a daily problem for her. She really needed to stop throwing them in here or find a smaller purse. Glancing up after her fingers felt the cold metal, she found Jake inputting his number into her phone. A moment later, his own began to ring.
“There you go. Now our wrists are safe from falls. What’s your last name, Michelle with a sprained wrist?”
She shook her head and smiled. “Harper, what’s yours? Defensive Tackle?”
“Smith.”
“Nuh uh… you’re lying!” Michelle playfully swatted his arm.
“Cross my heart, hope to—”
“Don’t say that! That’s bad luck!” Michelle yelled.
It was Jake’s turn to look at her like she’d lost her mind. “Says who? It’s just a kid phrase.”
“Just don’t!” Michelle looked at the ground and sighed. She couldn’t help but feel silly for being superstitious.
“Okay, sweetheart, I won’t. My last name really is Smith. Why don’t you believe me?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry… it’s just so generic.”
Jake put his finger under her chin and tipped it up to face him. “It’s probably one of the lamest last names, but it’s mine. I’m not sure what some previous douchebag has said or done to make you feel like I’m making it up, but it’s not how I roll. I really did have fun tonight, and I really do want to see you again.”
Flakes of snow stuck in his hair, and she found herself falling into his eyes at his reassurance. If this night happened during a warm summer night, it wouldn’t feel as magical as it did in that moment.
“Save for the obvious, I really enjoyed myself too.”
Jake pressed her against the cold car. His hands dove into the hair at the base of her head, and his mouth met hers. This kiss was more forceful than the last. His lips were firmer and yet gentle. The feel of his tongue along the seam of her mouth felt great. Michelle parted her lips, and Jake deepened their kiss. He caressed her tongue with his. He explored her taste, moaning in satisfaction. He nibbled on her lips.
It was an onslaught of feelings and by far the best kiss Michelle had experienced in her life. The man knew how to kiss, and he wasn’t afraid to take charge. She melted in his touch and was grateful for the car holding her up.
The longer the kiss went, the more daring she became. Michelle slid her tongue along his and sucked on the smooth, sweet muscle. When Jake’s answering moan reached her ears, her nipples puckered.
His hands hadn’t left their spot on her head, holding her in place for his c
onsumption, and she was seconds from begging him to explore her body.
The night was quiet, only their labored breathing could be heard. It was as if time froze for this moment. The passionate kiss warmed her to the core and left her aching to learn if their explosive chemistry would follow them under the sheets.
Buzz. Buzz.
The sound was so out of place that Michelle froze until she heard it again. “Jake?”
“Ugh… I need to go.”
Jake rubbed his lips against hers once more before pulling back and opening the door. He waited until she was settled and promised her he would call or text later that night with plans to meet soon.
Michelle put the clean plate in the drying rack, grabbed her glass of pinot noir, and headed out of the kitchen. After setting the glass down, she made herself comfortable on her spot on the couch. With her warm snowflake throw over her lap, and the fire lighting up the living room, she reached for her book.
With her book in one hand and wine in the other, she made herself focus on the words in front of her. A useless feat. Two hours passed since she drove away from Jake, and she had a huge problem.
She couldn’t stop herself from smiling.
It didn’t matter that he hadn’t called or texted yet. She wasn’t quite at the point of freaking out, but the smiling needed to stop. If she couldn’t get it under control, Janey would interrogate her. She wasn’t ready to share her magical night with anyone.
Not Janey, not her mom, not even her sister.
She felt this need to protect and cherish those memories. Sure, eventually she would tell them. Michelle didn’t know if tonight would become more or if it was just one magical moment among a series of normal ones.
Her stomach still fluttered when she remembered the kisses Jake and her shared. They were perfect. A perfect balance of lips, tongue, and nibbles. What she couldn’t get past was the feeling of coming home. It was the strangest thing she’d experienced in the night… in her life really.
She lifted the pages and read a few more sentences before she envisioned Jake’s eyes searching her own. “Damn it, Michelle! Get it together!” she scolded herself.
She needed to relax, to come down from all the excitement. After tossing the snowflakes throw from her lap, she gathered the book and wine and headed to her bathroom. After setting them down, she turned the tub’s faucet to hot water and stripped from her clothes.
Whenever she came home wound up with stress from work, she would draw herself a bath. She wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but she even took her dinner to the bathtub a time or two. The hot water had a way of soothing her and easing her troubles.
Not tonight…
Thirty minutes later, she poured herself another glass of wine, to the brim this time, and curled up in her comfy armchair. Her belly was warm from the alcohol, and her mind began to slow down. “Finally.” She sighed and took another gulp.
The words on the page became unfocused once more. Not from her mind’s wandering, but from her wine-induced state. Within minutes, she found herself in Jake’s arms.
His facial hair tickled her neck, making her shiver with need. Michelle ran her fingers through his too-long, short hair as he placed whisper-soft kisses along the column of her neck. Her body was on fire for this man. She wanted to feel his muscles under her hands and explore his body with her mouth. She needed his hands to meet her own skin.
The level of want and need she felt overwhelmed her senses. A hum of desire wrapped around their bodies. Their shared touches were sweet and rather innocent, quite unlike the tendrils attempting to ensnare the other.
Jake slipped an arm under her knees and swept her into his arms. He captured her lips, open with surprise, and held her close to him. Wrapping her arms around him, she tilted her head and deepened their kiss.
“More…” she begged between kisses.
Just when Jake walked her to her bed with the intent to give her what she wanted, a ringing pulled them apart.
Michelle pried her dry eyes open and stared at the glowing embers of her dying fire. A quick glance at the clock told her it was well past midnight. The firetruck sirens, that woke her from her dream and stopped her from getting to the good stuff, could barely be heard now.
Exhausted, Michelle tossed the blanket to the side in a heap, grabbed her phone, and walked to bed. She plugged her phone in and saw the missed messages when it lit up.
Jake Smith: Hey beautiful! It was great running into you today. I’d like to meet up again, this time without causing you bodily harm.
Jake Smith: Unless of course you changed your mind?
Jake Smith: ???
The three texts were spaced about thirty minutes apart. Groggy with sleep, she ignored the time and tapped in a reply.
Michelle Harper: Hi! I’m sorry, I fell asleep. What do you suggest that doesn’t involve a trip to the ER?
She set the phone down and climbed in bed. This time, sleep came slowly as she replayed her evening, memorizing details she didn’t want to forget.
When she awoke a few hours later, she sighed at the knowledge that she never finished her dream. Lifting her hand, she tested her wrist and was relieved to find it only a little tender. Michelle grabbed her phone and pushed aside the disappointment that Jake hadn’t texted her back. After looking at the time, she told herself he was still asleep.
She tossed her phone into her purse and walked outside. The snow-covered ground was beautiful, and it was perfect for Christmas shopping. Thanks to the plows, she could drive into town. She had a godson coming any day now that she needed to spoil.
Halfway into town, the Bluetooth in her car began to ring. “Hey!”
“Please tell me you’re still going shopping?” Janey’s desperate voice filled the car. “I need to get out of here.”
“I’m on my way now.” Michelle’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel and when her wrist reminded her it was still a little tender, she released the firm grip. “What’s the matter, honey?”
“Assholes… all of them are assholes,” she muttered.
Michelle swallowed her laugh. “Who?”
“All of them!”
“Honey, put Eric on the phone.”
From the sounds of it, Janey had directed her words at whoever was in the room with her. Muffled voices in the background blended with other noises.
“Chelle?” Eric’s voice came through.
“What’s going on, Eric?” Michelle asked.
“Can I bring her to you?” he asked, sounding exhausted. “I don’t want her driving.”
Michelle looked around and found a parking spot. “Of course. I’ll be at Le Boutique. She knows where it’s at.”
“Okay. We’ll be there soon,” Eric said. “Hey, Chelle?”
She was a second from hitting the end call button on her steering wheel and almost missed his last words. “Yeah?”
“Thank you!” he whispered and ended the call.
Michelle wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but she knew she needed to hurry. Her first stop was to buy Janey’s gift, and now she only had a little time to do it.
She grabbed her purse and hurried across the sidewalk to the store. The bell on the door announced her, and she waved at the owner’s teen daughter. Michelle found the bangles and sifted through them until she found the one she was looking for.
“Hey, Colleen,” she told the teen.
“Hi, Ms. Harper!”
Michelle chuckled. “Call me Michelle. You’re making me feel old.”
The girl laughed and grabbed the bangle. “Oh! This one is one of my favorites!”
“It’s a gift for Janey. Can you wrap it quickly? Janey is on her way, and I don’t want her to see it.” Michelle glanced out the front windows.
“Of course!”
Michelle paid for the gift and put the small box in her purse, away from prying eyes. She moved to one of the displays when her purse vibrated. Thinking of Eric and Janey, she searched for it in her large bag.
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Jake Smith: Good morning, beautiful! How’s your wrist feeling today?
A smile split her face, and her stomach flipped and flopped at the simple and yet exciting text. She chewed on her lower lip as she tapped out a reply.
Michelle Harper: Morning! It’s fine, just a little sore.
Jake Smith: I’m sorry I missed your messages last night. Would you like to grab dinner tonight, say around 6?
Michelle Harper: It depends…
Jake Smith: On what?
Michelle Harper: Will it involve a trip to the ER?
Jake Smith: I don’t know. Maybe it’s your turn to tackle me?
She burst into a fit of giggles as her sex-deprived mind considered tackling him in other ways.
Michelle Harper: I make no promises Jake Smith.
Jake Smith: I can’t stop thinking of you Michelle Harper…
Joy filled her at his confession. She jumped up and down on the inside, away from prying eyes.
Michelle Harper: Where should I meet you?
Jake Smith: I can pick you up if you’d like. How does A Hoppy Place sound? They have food and it’s a local brewery?
Michelle Harper: Oh, they make a mean burger! If it’s okay with you, I will meet you there… this time.
Jake Smith: Oh, I like the way that sounds. See you at 6!
Michelle Harper: See you later!
Janey waved her hand in Michelle’s direction. “Earth to Chelle!”
Michelle felt her face flush at being caught off guard while texting Jake.
“What’s going on?” Janey squinted her eyes and waddled a few feet closer. “Did you meet someone?”
The phone in Michelle’s hand vibrated once again. Ignoring her friend, she looked down and noted the text’s preview on her lock screen.
Jake Smith: Is it 6 yet?
“Oh my God! You did meet someone! Tell me all about him!” Janey squealed, causing the couple of patrons that entered after her to turn and stare.
“No. First you need to tell me what the hell is going on. I thought you decided you would stay home and finish putting the nursery together?” Michelle asked, evading the interrogation.
Janey narrowed her eyes on her. “I was kicked out of the nursery. Now tell me who he is.”