by Tina Holland
She shot up like a springboard.
“I’ll be right there!” She fell to the floor with a loud thud trying to run to the door. While she slept, Lexi’s usual thrashing tangled her up in the afghan. “Are you okay?” Jake called from the other side.
“Fine.” She started to pull the afghan off her feet, but the knots were stuck through her fishnets. Great, just great. She managed to raise herself up and shuffle to the door like a penguin. She threw the door open, but the action propelled her forward. Lexi lost her balance and collapsed once again.
Jake looked down at Lexi sprawled on the floor, “Are you alright?” he lowered himself to help Lexi get to her feet.
“Sorry, I’m all tangled. The knots of the afghan got caught up in my fishnets.”
“Why are you still wearing last night’s clothes?”
Lexi turned red, “I wanted to get some cleaning done before you came over. Guess I fell asleep.” She teetered forward, while motioning her hand around the house. Jake caught her along her back and under her knees, lifting her against his chest.
“Where do you want to go?”
“The bedroom.”
“Lexi, I do love your line of thought.” He winked at her.
“I need to shower and change, of course,” she hit his chest playfully, “Go that way,” Lexi pointed to the opposite wall. Jake started in the direction, “Turn right.”
Jake took in the surroundings of the room, soft green walls, dark brown wood furniture and sheer off-white curtains. It suited Lexi and more to the point, him. He could seduce her in this room. At least it wasn’t pink with stuffed animals everywhere. He shuddered remembering his first time with his high-school sweetheart, Fran Something. Jake never was good at names.
“Do you need anything else?” Jake asked with anticipation, depositing Lexi on the bed.
“I don’t think so.”
“Alright I’ll go wait in the living room.”
“Okay.”
Jake no sooner closed the door than a loud THUMP came from the other side of it, “Are you okay?” he peeked back into Lexi’s bedroom.
Lexi was face-first on the floor trying to get back up. She looked like a bright caterpillar inching its way along the wooden floor. “It seems I need help taking of these stockings,” she said without even looking up.
Jake smiled wide. “My pleasure.” He helped Lexi back up onto the bed and looked into her sea-green eyes. She seemed to stare at him mesmerized, mouth agape. Lexi darted her pink tongue out to lick her lips. Jake let out a guttural exhale.
“The afghan,” she spoke at last.
“Of course.” Jake looked down at her black stockings and wondered how to accomplish the task at hand without seducing Lexi. Why not seduce her? It was good practice, and really, what was the worst that could happen? She might say ‘no’. Jake could live with a ‘no’. He wondered if he would regret not touching her.
Jake ran his hand up the inside of Lexi’s thigh. He paused at her sharp intake of breath, “I need to find the waist band.”
She gulped loud, “Sure.”
When his hands skimmed along her feminine mound, Lexi sighed. He reached the top and put his hands on either side of her hips.
“Lay back, Lexi.”
She complied. In one smooth motion, the fishnets glided over her hips and thighs, but stopped at her knees. Jake took the opportunity to touch Lexi’s exposed skin. She shivered as his fingers tickled along her legs. He pulled one stocking down and off her foot. When he repeated with the other leg, Jake parted her thighs and pressed a kiss to her knee.
“What are you doing?” Lexi sat up.
“Exploring.” Jake whispered against her soft skin. He darted his tongue out and ran it up her thigh. “Do you want me to stop?”
“Um. I don’t think this is wise.”
“Do you want me to stop?” He kissed the inside of her other knee and planted tiny kisses against her inner thigh working his way up to the juncture.
Lexi worried her lip between her teeth, “No.”
“Relax, Lexi.” Jake kissed along her thigh until he drew closer to her black thong. He traced his fingers along the lace edge, his knuckles brushing against her silk-covered sex. Jake pressed his knuckles into the damp fabric, “You’re wet, my dear.”
“I know.” She panted.
Jake leaned down and pressed a butterfly kiss to her abdomen, “Should we take these off?”
“Yes.” Lexi answered.
Jake heard a throat clear and swung his head toward the doorway. Outlined in the frame stood a tall man in a cowboy hat who spoke up, “You must be Jake.”
Chapter Four
Of all the times for Buck to show up, now was not the most convenient.
“Buck, go!” Lexi commanded Buck the same way she used to tell Schnitzee, her family’s German Shepard, to do her business.
“Why? I’m admiring the view. I’d like to see if surfer-boy has any talent.”
“Get out!” Lexi rose from the bed, she swayed as much from the image of having Buck watch as well as still having one foot tangled. Jake caught her with ease and got right up with her. Jake smoothed her skirt down over her hips, so she didn’t reveal quiet as much.
Buck put his hands up in surrender, “Okay, I’m goin’. I’ll be down the hall if you need a third.”
“Ugh!” She groaned and collapsed back onto the bed.
“Are you okay?” Jake’s striking face loomed above hers.
Lexi reached up and traced his jaw. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. Who is that guy?”
“Buck’s a friend of the family and a very old boyfriend.”
“How old?”
“High-school,” she sat up, “you want to take the other stocking off for me?”
“Sure.” Jake made short work of the stocking, but his hand lingered on her thigh, “Anything else?”
“Not with Buck here. I’m gonna shower.”
Jake got to his feet and started toward the door.
“Jake, the kitchen is on the south corner of the house. Coffee maker is plugged in and ready to go, cups in the rack are for everyday use. Bread is in the cupboard above the toaster. All condiments are in the fridge.”
He looked puzzled.
“Act like you own the place.” She suggested.
“Why?”
“Cause Buck can smell fresh meat.”
Act like you own the place. Jake walked with confidence he didn’t feel down the hall. He barely glanced at Buck, the cowboy, as he made his way to the kitchen.
“Lexi wants coffee. Do you want any?”
“Sure do. That sissy stuff they make on the plane don’t hardly wake a guy up.”
Jake heard the boots clicking on the wood floor behind him, “Yeah.” He started the coffee, “You hungry?”
“What are you makin?”
“Nothing. We were going out for breakfast but…” Jake let the sentence trail off.
“Is that what you kids call it now-a-days?”
Jake shrugged, “What can I say? I’m easy to distract. We’ve got some bread up here though.” He opened the cupboard above the toaster. He got the bread down and put two slices in the small toaster.
“So how long you been sleepin’ with my Lexi?”
“She’s not your Lexi.”
“Is she yours?”
“Lexi is not anyone’s unless she wants to be.” Jake stiffened that Buck thought of Lexi as some kind of possession. Jake was not fighting over her. Well, maybe a little bit. She was worth a little competition.
The cowboy let out a hoot and smacked his thigh, “She sure does have you wrapped around her little finger, huh? Got you makin’ coffee, breakfast, sweet love.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“True. But I like makin’ stuff my business.” Buck drawled with a smirk.
“Well, you can butt the hell out Buckingham Caulfield!” Lexi stood in the doorway; hair wet, skin clean, wearing an old college s
weatshirt, jeans that hugged her slender hips and a frown marring her otherwise pretty face.
“Lexi-girl, you look fit to be tied.” The cowboy started toward her with his arms ready to wrap around Lexi.
She raised her arms, palms out. “Forget about it. I’m pretty pissed at you right now.” Lexi pushed past Buck into the kitchen, grabbed a cup off the rack and filled it. She sauntered over to Jake, put one arm around his neck and kissed his jaw, “Thanks for makin’ the java, babe.” She pulled away and winked at him.
“No problem. I know how you need the jump start.” He smiled and hoped the statement was true.
“Ain’t that the truth? She’s a regular bear without a cup-a-Joe.”
“Not these days. I have other morning routines.” Lexi’s grin and wink extended to Buck.
“No lovin’ gets you ornery these days? Girl, I told you, you were repressed.”
“What I am is none of your business,” she leaned over the counter and poked the large cowboy in the chest, poking her round derriere in Jakes direction. It took tremendous will power not to pull her back against him.
“I’m hearin’ that a lot today.” Buck looked like a child getting a lecture from a parent.
“Besides which, what are you doing here?”
“I told you last night, I’m meeting with pa’s broker.”
“No.” Lexi shook her head, “Here,” she pointed at the floor, “at my house.” Lexi straightened back up.
“I was bored.”
“I wasn’t.” Lexi leaned back against Jake. He folded his arms around her. Lexi’s butt nestled against him, and he pressed forward.
“Well I can always go meet Jackson.”
“No!” Lexi broke free and rushed forward to stop Buck from getting up.
“Who’s Jackson?” Jake asked
“You’re shaggin’ some nobody and he hasn’t met Jackson and Caroline?”
“Not yet.” Lexi shuffled her feet.
“Look, I’m gonna go. I’ll talk to you later.” The cowboy was leaving.
“Buck, wait!” Lexi called after him.
“Yep.” He turned toward her
She held out her hand, “Gimme my key.”
Jake suppressed a chuckle at the dumb-found look that crossed Buck Caulfield’s face as he rifled through his pockets and gave Lexi a single key.
After Buck left, Lexi turned to him, holding the key up, “I can see I need to find a new hiding place.”
“Who’s Caroline?” Jake was not letting her off easy.
Lexi sighed, “Colonel Jackson and Caroline Andrews.”
“Your parents.”
“Yeppers. You did great by the way. Buck thinks we’ve been dating for quite some time.”
“Lexi, didn’t we just break one of your rules?”
“I don’t think so.” She tilted her head at him.
“I don’t think that was very discreet.”
“It wasn’t. Oh boy, there’s gonna be trouble.”
“Are we dating?” Not that Jake cared, he was curious.
“For Buck we are. He’ll be less trouble that way.”
Jake wondered why but didn’t question it. He liked the facade that Lexi belonged to him in front of the arrogant cowboy. Jake silenced the inner voice that screamed he was being possessive.
“I think I like pretend-dating you. Does it have any benefits?” Jake crossed the room and closed his arms around Lexi.
“Such as?” She settled into him.
“What we started before we were interrupted.”
“Maybe?” she toyed with the button on his shirt, “Don’t we have a museum to go to?”
“I’m sure it will be there when we’re finished.”
“Perhaps, but I admit Buck kind of killed the mood for me.” Lexi stared at the buttons on his shirt.
Jake hid his disappointment, “Well, let’s go then.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure I want you in the mood.”
Lexi was pleased with his answer as she wriggled free of Jake’s arms and strode over to the table to grab her purse. She turned the coffee pot off and noticed the toast. Her stomach growled, “Jake?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He was right behind her, “What’s up?”
“Do you mind if we grab breakfast?”
“That sounds good.”
“I know a great place.” She grabbed her keys off the hook by the door and locked up the house. “I think you’ll like it.”
“Okay.”
She let Jake open his car door on his Aston Martin and slid into the leather seat with ease. A car wasn’t allowed to be this cushy. The way it cradled her body despite the hard lines was incredible.
“Where are we going?” Jake started up the car.
“Pierre’s Pancake House on South Eighth.”
“I haven’t been there.”
“Man, they have the best selection of pancakes.”
“Not a pancake fan.”
“That’s okay. Pierre’s has muffins, omelets, and all the usual breakfast stuff.”
The drive to the restaurant was quiet. Lexi observed Jake’s taste in automobiles, and saw how the car seemed to be more of an extension of the man than a machine. Jake was turning out to be an ever-changing mystery. He was strong, supportive and sensitive. Lexi was falling for his subtle charm. If Jake put on just a little more pressure this morning, she would have given in. The fact he wanted her ready as well made him all the more attractive. Lexi almost changed her mind. She didn’t want to look like a total flake and the moment slipped away.
When they arrived at Pierre’s Pancake House, Jake opened the passenger door before her seatbelt was undone. Lexi wasn’t used to the gentleman treatment. She dated a string of guys more into themselves and what they wanted and less about her needs. Jake’s concern and attention was a nice change and a dangerous temptation.
Upon entering the restaurant, they were greeted with the fast-paced morning rush when a young blond hostess dressed in French maid garb came to greet them. Lexi waited for some ogling on Jake’s part. All the servers were dressed in different costumes, which added to the charm, but he seemed more entranced with the celebrity wall off to the back. The wall contained North Dakota’s hometown heroes and a few celebrities who passed through the area.
When the hostess managed to grab his attention he asked, “Can we sit over there?” and pointed to the one booth beneath the attraction.
“Sure.” She responded with a slender smirk. The Hostess nodded to Lexi. “It’s nice to see you again, Miss Andrews.”
“You too, Rose.”
After they sat down, Jake looked at her, his head tilted slightly as he leaned forward, “Do you come here a lot?”
“Maybe, a couple times a month at the most.”
“Fans?”
“Not mine. Over there?” Lexi nodded to the picture right behind him on the wall.
Jake turned and read the plaque beneath the photo, “Colonel Jackson Andrews, American Hero.”
“He’d beg to differ with that statement.”
“Oh.” Jake was curious, “What did he do?”
“Survive.” Tension darkened her features as she spoke the single word.
“What looks good?” Jake sensed Lexi didn’t want to talk about her father. He changed the subject.
“I always get the German pancakes, they’re scrumptious. They have twenty plus syrups here too. My favorite is plum.”
“Yuck.”
“Don’t knock it until you try it. What do you like?”
“Maple. It’s a classic.”
“Of course, why doesn’t that surprise me? Classic style, clothes and car.”
“Classic moves?” He smiled at her.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t seen a wide variety.”
He winked at her.
“Stop that.”
“Sorry. Couldn’t help but be flattered with such an off the cuff compliment.”
“I’m glad you took it that wa
y. I must admit I find your technique—”
“Are you ready to order?” A waitress dressed like a naughty little Dutch girl interrupted.
Jake wasn’t ready. He wanted to know what Lexi thought of his technique. Was it good? Bad? Ugly?
“I’ll have the German pancakes with plum syrup and a pot of coffee.”
“And you, sir?”
“French toast with maple syrup.”
“Anything to drink?”
“Orange juice.”
The waitress left. “You were saying?”
“What?”
“About my technique?”
“Oh. Never mind, it’s not important.” Lexi began rearranging her silverware on her napkin. The fork, knife and spoon were now spaced in an even way.
Not important! Jake’s sexual prowess was hanging in the balance, “That bad, huh?”
“Of course not. What makes you say that?”
“I thought maybe you wouldn’t want to share bad news.”
“Jake, don’t assume something just because I didn’t say it. Your technique was fine but you shouldn’t ask a lady these things.”
“You like my technique?”
“Yes.” She clipped out when the waitress arrived with coffee and OJ.
Let her be his inner voice pricked at him. He’d settle with ‘fine’, for now. As he looked at Lexi, a moment of brilliance overtook him. Jake took out a pen and jotted down a couple notes on his napkin.
“Inspired by something?”
“Sort of.”
“I have a notepad in my purse you can borrow.”
“I’m good. Do you mind if we stop by my apartment on the way back to your place?”
“No. What do you have in store?”
“I was thinking we skip the museum and spend the day writing if that’s okay.”
“Sure.”
“Great. I’ll pick up my laptop and then we’ll head to your house.”
“Let’s go to the grocery store too. I need to pick up a few things.”
“Sounds good.”
The pancakes arrived and Jake admitted that they were some of the best he experienced aside from his Grandma Gina’s. Once they finished breakfast, they drove to his apartment. Jake left Lexi in the car while he ran in to grab his laptop and a reference book off his shelf. He made it back in record time. Just a quick trip to the store, and then off to create the rest of the afternoon. Jake stopped at a grocer’s around the corner from his place. It was a mom and pop operation but the store included everything he needed. He looked at Lexi after he parked, “This okay?”