“What does Adam do?” Will asked.
“He’s a math teacher,” Steve said, enjoying the big man’s obvious jealousy. This was not Jessica’s usual sort. Will didn’t look like he’d be so easily managed by flirtatious charm. “Adam has been dating her for a while now, but I would say he’s gotten about as far with her as you have.”
“Really?” Will said, wondering why it hadn’t occurred to him Jessica might have already met someone new. “How long have they been dating?”
Steve shrugged. “Let me think. Probably for six months now—something like that. It was after Jessica and I broke up. I think it was before Sam the councilman, and after George the electrician. There were a couple other guys in there, too, but I forget their names. Jessica likes men, and she dates a lot.”
Steve laughed openly at the shock on Will’s face. “I see you don’t know Jessica.”
“Why are you here if you broke up with her?” Will asked, not fully believing the man’s story. Though he was reconciled to his wife’s new relationship, he wasn’t rushing over to the cabin on the lake to help Ellen and Luke work on it any time soon. Steve Lipton had to be exaggerating.
Then Steve pointed at the boy Jessica was currently patting on the shoulder.
“My son adores her, and she encourages his art. And she’s a great person, like what she’s doing today for Melanie and Brent Madison. Jessica and I are friends, Will. Once you know her, you always care about her. She’s just that kind of person. I’m engaged but still planning to invite Jessica to the wedding. What we had was great, but is no more.”
Will looked at Steve, and then looked at the math teacher hovering over Jessica’s arm. If the man had looked at Will, he’d have found him scowling again. If the man put his hand possessively on Jessica Daniels, Will wasn’t sure what he would do. Breaking the math teacher’s fingers held a certain appeal, but it would only be another show of the same aggressiveness he’d displayed in Berea. Aggression was not going to net him the result he wanted.
“So what kind of work do you do, Will?” Steve said, trying to distract the giant guy and save Adam’s butt from violence. Whatever was between Will and Jessica, it was something Adam needed to steer clear of until it had run its course, which knowing Jessica wouldn’t be long. This giant man with brooding eyes didn’t look like the kind of person to willingly share a woman with anyone.
“I’m an artist—a stone sculptor,” Will said.
Steve raised his eyebrows. “An artist? Have you seen any of Jessica’s work?”
“No,” Will said, fully intending now to find out what it was as soon as he could. “Where can I find some? It may be a while before I get a personal invitation. I messed up with Jessica on our first date.”
Steve laughed. “I doubt you go any place where you would ever see Jessica’s art. It doesn’t really end up in art shows or museums. It’s best you just let her show you sometime. Her art is very personal. She doesn’t show it to many of her dates.”
“So I’ve heard,” Will said, frowning. “She showed it to you?”
Steve smiled, narrowed his gaze. “Jessica and I were very close. I would have married her if I thought she would have ever loved me. I never found a permanent place in her heart.”
Will wondered how many other old lovers he was going to have to wade through, and asked himself if Jessica Daniels was really worth it.
Then the young woman, who was nearly as tall as Jessica, whispered something to her after the math teacher stepped away. Jessica’s peal of laughter rang out, and every man, regardless of age, looked up grinning to see if he could take credit for her amusement.
When Jessica’s laughing gaze reluctantly met Will’s, he saw the enthusiastic girl in the woman again. He saw the woman he’d messed up with and the one he wanted. And even though Will could hear both his sons laughing at him now, it looked like he wasn’t going to have to worry about dating anymore. He’d found the woman he ached for already.
“You friends with the math teacher?” Will asked roughly.
Steve’s laughter was low and conspiratorially male. “Not really, but he’s an okay guy. Why? Is it time I go distract him to keep you from pounding on him?”
Will smiled, all wickedness and determination. He shook his head from side to side. “No, I’ll take care of discouraging him. I just wondered if you cared. You seem like a nice enough guy.”
“I am a nice guy. That’s why I’m giving you all this free advice. Jessica doesn’t like to be chased,” Steve warned him, grinning. “She likes to do the chasing, and you have to pretend to let her.”
“That’s going to be a problem then because I’m not good at pretending,” Will said, reaching out a hand again, “but I appreciate the advice, Steve.”
Steve laughed and shook his head. “Good luck, Mr. Williams. You’re going to need it if you’re interested in Jessica Daniels.”
Will grinned and walked off to join the group where Jessica now stood.
***
“Mom, who is the hot biker guy who keeps glaring at your math teacher?” Brooke asked.
“He’s not hot,” Jessica asked. “He’s as cold as the stone he carves.”
“Cold? I don’t think so,” Brooke said smartly in a sing-song tone. “And just how do you know?”
Jessica looked at her daughter and raised one eyebrow. “I went for a ride with him. Trust me—I know.”
“I can tell he makes you nervous,” Brooke commented, seeing the slight quiver in her mother’s hands as she worked. She tried to remember if there had ever been any relationship that rocked her mother’s world, but she couldn’t recall one. Her gaze returned to Will, who was looking at her mother like a starving man who hadn’t eaten in months.
“He looks older than the math teacher, Mom. How old is he?” Brooke asked, curious as he continued slowly toward them. He certainly had a nice body for an older guy.
“Down, daughter. He’s too old for you,” Jessica replied, making Brooke laugh.
“So if I made a play for him, what would you do? Glare at me like he’s glaring at the other men here? You two sleeping together?” Brooke taunted, already knowing the answer. She just wanted to torture her mother into talking about it so she could figure out what was going on.
“God no,” Jessica said. “Everett Williams is still hung up on his ex-wife. I’m not that desperate.”
“Doesn’t look like he’s interested in anyone other than you. And I already know you’re not desperate,” Brooke teased, “if you were, you’d be sleeping with the math teacher. I mean math—really, Mom? Never go for a man who thinks everything in life is a formula. Their brains don’t have room for the more interesting stuff.”
The laughter burst out of Jessica. “Says the woman working her way through her fair share of handsome law school candidates who quote cases and objections every five seconds.”
Brooke pretended to shiver. “I can’t help it. They drive me crazy. I like to see how long it takes for them to stop talking about cases in the middle of sex. Being my mother’s daughter, I’ve broken my own record for distraction several times.”
Jessica laughed harder and smiled more broadly. “I’m pretty sure even a thirty-year-old daughter is never supposed to tell her mother that much information.”
Brooke shrugged. “I think a thirty-year-old daughter can say pretty much anything to a mother who makes the most beautiful vagina art in the world. You’re the world’s most honest woman.”
Jessica stood, hands on hips, and contemplated Brooke’s statement.
“I see you’ve learned the art of arguing from your lovers. I have no rebuttal to that, counselor,” she teased. “You fall in love with any of those legal bozos yet?”
“No,” Brooke said, “but I haven’t been looking for love. I’m waiting until I decide on a college to teach at next year. Then I’ll settle down and marry some tenured professor at thirty-two, have my two beautiful babies eighteen months apart, and write a best-selling novel. Once I’ve accomplished my life�
��s work, I will then enjoy my old age when I turn forty.”
Jessica just looked at her daughter. “Old age at forty, huh? I hope you’re teasing. I hope you know forty is not that old.”
Brooke laughed. “Yes, I’m teasing. I love you, Mom.” She looked again at the man who was still moving slowly and very deliberately toward her mother. “So what does the biker guy do?”
“Absolutely nothing for me,” Jessica said archly, turning to see Will step up really close to her. She backed up a step and heard Brooke laugh.
Brooke stuck out her hand to the man. “I’m Brooke Daniels—Jessica’s daughter.”
Will snorted, grinned, and took the girl’s hand. “Explains the red hair. Your mother calls me trouble, but you can call me Will.”
Will smiled at her laugh and Jessica’s glare.
“This is Everett Williams,” Jessica said to her daughter, her haughty tone making Will’s eyebrows raise, but she didn’t really care what he thought.
“Call me Will,” he repeated, dropping Brooke’s hand to look at Jessica full on. “I’m glad to finally have a chance to apologize for the other day, Jessica. I should have followed your advice when you told me to do it the first time.”
“What advice?” Jessica asked.
“When I was adjusting your bike helmet before we took our ride,” Will reminded her. “When you told me to just kiss you because we were both curious, I should have. I’ve regretted not kissing you in that moment ever since.”
“It was just craziness. I was teasing you,” Jessica said, shaking her head.
“I’m still curious,” Will said boldly, his gaze never leaving Jessica’s. “Aren’t you?”
“Not after what happened in Berea,” Jessica denied loudly, then flushed when Brooke covered her mouth with her hand. “I didn’t mean that so emphatically. I mean it’s obvious from what happened that we’re not compatible. So no, I don’t want you to kiss me anymore.”
“You’re lying,” Will said gently, an easy smile on his face. “I panicked and got upset. Then I got carried away. I shouldn’t have been so rough with you, You have every right to be mad about the way I treated you, but for God’s sake, Jessica, you’re too honest a woman to lie about the chemistry between us.”
“You have no idea what kind of woman I am,” Jessica said, crossing her arms.
“No, but I’m learning. I know you’re dating other men, and I’m about to show the math teacher how much more compatible you are with me than him,” Will threatened.
He took a tiny step closer to her, reaching out to cup her elbow in his hand. “Besides, your daughter likes me.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Jessica denied, taken aback by his confident assertion.
“Yes, she does,” Brooke agreed, smiling. “Kiss her, Will. She’s dying for it. Trust me.”
“Brooke Renee Daniels,” Jessica said sternly, swinging her startled gaze to her daughter’s laughing one.
“Well since I at least have one woman’s permission this time,” Will said, stepping fully into the now vibrating Jessica. For me, he assured himself, feeling the energy emanating from her. This is not for the math teacher or for Steve. This is mine.
He moved as quickly, but also as gently as possible, pulling a protesting Jessica’s arms down, and then put his mouth lightly, but firmly over hers before she had time to step away from him.
Unable to stop himself, Will moaned against the warmth of her lips and ran his tongue lightly over her bottom one. He made no attempt to sneak his tongue inside, even though he badly wanted to taste her. Jessica moaned against his mouth in response, and opened her lips beneath his. His heart started beating again when he finally knew for certain she wanted the soft, exploring kiss as much he did. He allowed himself a moment more then pulled his lips from hers.
Will couldn’t wait now until Jessica let him do it right without an audience. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on the rest of her.
But he had to wait, had to give the math teacher and her time to adjust to it. Maybe he even still needed the time himself.
Will moved his lips to Jessica’s forehead, not caring that his profound relief was obvious to everyone watching the show. He folded her into his arms for a friendly but possessive hug, and then just as quickly let her go.
“Thank you,” Will said softly, where mostly only Jessica and her daughter could hear. “I needed you to know how special I thought you were, and to know how much I wanted to kiss you despite the fact you scare the hell out of me. I hope I haven’t embarrassed you too much in front of your students. I’ll see you soon, Jessica.”
He looked at Brooke and winked, liking the way she bit her lip to keep from laughing. His boys would love her sense of humor.
As he walked back to his bike, Will saluted the math teacher, who was openly glaring at him now. He waved to the boys who were giving him thumbs-up signs and laughed at Steve shaking his head as he put on his riding gear.
Will rolled away on his bike with an idiot grin plastered to his face because Jessica had kissed him back and moaned.
That was enough for today.
He was suddenly looking forward to tomorrow.
***
“Yeah, I can see the guy doesn’t do anything for you,” Brooke told her mother, who had yet to close her mouth or tear her gaze from the man rolling away on the biggest black bike Brook had ever seen.
Jessica sighed and cursed Everett Williams for kissing her sweetly. “He hurt me, Brooke. I’m not letting him get a chance to do it again.”
“Are you being a chicken?” Brooke squeaked the question, honestly shocked at her mother. “That’s so not like you, Mom.”
Jessica sighed again. “No, it’s not. I hurt him, too. I don’t want to do it again, Brooke. Will and I are not good for each other. We see too deeply into each other’s souls.”
Brooke nodded at the longing in her mother’s face, a longing she wondered if Everett Williams was going to fill. She didn’t like the idea of her mother growing older alone. She absolutely hated the fact that no man ever made her mother smile for more than a few days, even Jack The Jerk who had lasted way too long.
“Who are you—you big coward—and what did you do with my mother? You’re never going to get over the biker guy until you get him out of your system. You’re going to have to follow up on your attraction,” Brooke ordered quietly. “The math teacher doesn’t even stand a chance until then.”
Jessica nodded. “Will’s still in love with his ex-wife. It’s only been a year. I’m the first woman he’s has gone out with in all that time.”
Brooke remembered the profound relief on the man’s face when he kissed her mother’s forehead, and knew fear of the ex-wife was just an excuse her mother was using. Everybody in hearing distance had heard them both moan when Will kissed her, though that little lip brush could hardly be called a real kiss to Brooke’s mind.
Brooke shook her head as she thought about the obvious chemistry between her mother and Will. What was it that worried her mother about the guy? He seemed like a big teddy bear to her, and she liked the way he glared at Adam whatever-his-name-was.
“Well, okay. You at least have to admit he’s hot,” Brooke said, laughing and hooking an arm around her mother’s waist.
Jessica nodded. “Yes, okay. Will is hot. And evidently he can kiss as good as he looks, when he’s not pissed off about something,” she admitted, wincing as she looked around to see if any of the kids had heard her swear. “Will makes me crazy, and I forget who I am.”
Brooke giggled. “Mom, you are getting old if you don’t see that as a plus. That’s the best kind of guy.”
“Maybe when you’re thirty,” Jessica said, hugging her daughter back. “At my age, you just want consistent talent in the bedroom and to be left alone the rest of the time.”
Brooke shook her head and laughed. “Who are you trying to convince? Me or you? You can’t flirt with yourself, Mom,” Brooke said wisely. “You’re not the kind of woman who’s mea
nt to be alone. You’re too much fun. You need a man in your life.”
“Oh, I agree with that,” Jessica said, gathering up her paints and brushes to go touch up the sign. “I just don’t think Will is the right man.”
“Being a sculptor, he would probably understand your art,” Brooke said quietly.
Jessica thought about that for a minute and finally answered her daughter as neutrally as she could. “Yes. Will probably would.”
But to understand, he would first have to find out. Will finding out about her art was a possibility that worried Jessica much more than the way her body was still humming from his kiss. As long as she was sexually interested in the man, Jessica hoped he never saw anything she had created.
Chapter 5
When she walked into the café, Jessica looked at the full tables and smiled. It was Saturday lunch. The booths and tables were filled, the bar stools were busy, and there was no place for Jessica to sit. She couldn’t have been happier.
“I guess I need to come back later,” Jessica said, laughing, as Melanie rounded the bar with several plates in her hand. “Or are you running a wait list?”
“You could pop back into the kitchen and give Brent a hand. We’ll feed you for free,” Melanie offered, face flushed but happy.
Jessica sighed, always a sucker for the hard working girl who reminded her of her own daughter. “Sure, but don’t tell anyone else I work for food.”
Melanie laughed and walked off to deliver what she carried.
In the kitchen, a nicely built young man was lining up chicken salad on beds of lettuce and mixed greens.
“Now there’s a task I can probably do,” Jessica said.
“Hey, Ms. Daniels,” Brent said, smiling. “All that art brought them in, didn’t it? I think we’re actually going to have to hire real help if this keeps up.”
“Are you slamming on my kitchen skills just because I let your wife talk me into helping for a free lunch?” Jessica said, arching an eyebrow at him.
“No, ma’am. They don’t get any better than you, but you need to be free to follow your creative pursuits. It would be criminal to tie you to a cash register,” Brent said, smiling at her. “Melanie ask you to help?”
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