“He didn’t say much.” She scrunches her nose. “He was too busy with other things.” She grimaces.
And there it is. The final blow to my severely marred heart. I really don’t want to hear anymore. I put my hands up, signaling that I’ve had enough for one night. There is no doubt who he was busy with. I hate him.
I wouldn’t trade my time with Travis for anything because it resulted in the birth of my girls, but if not for that, every second I spent with Travis Stone was hell. He beat me down emotionally. I stayed because he had me convinced I couldn’t do better. I was broken way before he left me.
I chug the rest of my beer and head back to the bar. I ask the bartender to pour me a shot of something strong, no froufrou shit. When he hands me the shot glass I put it to my lips without smelling it, tip my head back, and gulp the liquid. It burns all the way down my throat and I can’t help but gag afterward.
“What the hell was that? Lighter fluid?” I say in between chocking and coughing. The guy looks at me and laughs.
“That, my dear, would be a Kickin’ Chicken.”
I continue to gag. “That was straight ethanol I just consumed.”
As much as I want to forget this night, life in general, I don’t currently have a death wish. So I skip on the second Kickin’ Chicken and order myself a vodka tonic. Right now I’m having a hard time remembering, is it beer before liquor or liquor before beer?
I’m about to grab my current drink and walk back for what should be the last time tonight when I feel a hand on the small of my back. Without looking, I know who it is. I have to grab the edge of the counter to keep from falling on my face. My legs have officially given out and my stomach feels like it’s housing butterflies. How is it possible to have so much electricity flow between two strangers?
“Hasn’t anybody ever told you beer before liquor, never sicker?” Ah, I knew it. I’m totally screwed.
“Well, I’m exempt from that little rule by way of age.” I try my hardest to act like I’m unaffected by him. I’m failing miserably. Seriously? Did I have to bring up the age bit? God, I’m a loser.
“Age makes that law even more accurate. We tend to not bounce back as quickly as we did when we were younger.” He smirks at me and it takes everything in me not to openly drool all over him.
“I don’t think we are in the same age bracket and you don’t know how experienced I am.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I blush ten shades of red, knowing that last sentence sounded like something else entirely. A proposition I am not even close to being able to hold up.
“We’re still talking about alcohol, right?” He can’t contain the laugh. “And besides,” he adds as he leans in conspiratorially, “I know exactly how experienced you are.” I turn crimson at the reminder.
“Are you going to tell me your name?”
I bite my lip. I want to say something cocky, but all the fight leaves me as I take him in.
“Kate.” I breathe. “Kate…Cooper.” He smiles wide.
“Your name, it fits you.” I can’t help but blush at his comment. “I’m Jack.” The syrupy way he says Jack has my knees going wobbly. If I don’t walk away, I’m going to force him against this bar and wrap my legs around him. He’s staring at my mouth and I can’t help but rake my teeth over the bottom lip. His chin drops slightly and I can hardly contain myself. I want his mouth on me, now.
“Follow me.” It comes out commanding as I walk Jack toward my friends. What the hell am I doing? I don’t want to introduce Jack to Andy and Jamie. They’ll know what we’ve done just seconds after talking to him. I’m an idiot, but I really can’t care. A giggle escapes my lips as I watch both of my girls swoon.
“Andy is a recent UC grad. Did you go to school around here?” I say to Jack, making the intro to Andy.
Andy is looking at me like I just said the dumbest thing she’s ever heard. She mouths What the fuck? to me.
What? I just figured since he seems to be closer to her age, I might be able to ascertain more about him this way.
“I went to Ball State for a few years, but it wasn’t for me,” Jack says.
I continue to make the conversation all about everyone else at the table, artfully keeping me out of it.
“Ladies, you’ll have to excuse me for a moment. I need to hit the restroom.” Jack excuses himself and Andy and Jamie both glare at me with their what-the-hell-are-you-doing looks.
“Why do you keep talking about me?” Andy demands. “Are you insane? He is not even remotely into me and it is so obvious, you dumbass. Get your butt back there to those restrooms and make your move right now.”
I start to object, having already made my move, when Andy jabs her finger toward the hall where the restrooms are and says one final time, “Now.”
I’m not going to fight with her. It will just cause a scene. I know Andy, and she won’t let this go. It’s only one night. I never have to see this guy again. Might as well go for round two. Without thinking any further, I head to the hall and wait outside of the men’s room, right where we were before.
I’m twisting my fingers, trying to decide if this is a good idea. I didn’t think this through. Where will we go? We can’t go to my house. Even though the girls aren’t home, I can’t bring him there. And his place...what if he has roommates? I’m just about to bolt when the door opens and Jack stalks across the hallway, closing the space between us.
Planting his hands on either side of my head, he pins me to the wall once more. I look up into his eyes and everything in me melts, staring into those blue gems. The room is on a violent spin and I can’t figure out if it’s from the alcohol or because this gorgeous man is leaning over me.
All my reservations float away. I want him in the worst way. I close my eyes and lean into him, hoping he’ll take the bait.
His lips crash over mine. His eager tongue invades my mouth and flicks against my teeth. He tastes like mint and beer, a combination that on any other person wouldn’t be so intoxicating. But I cannot get enough of him.
I feel his hands run up my legs, cupping my butt under my dress. Any other time I would be humiliated if someone were to see this, but at this very moment, I couldn’t care less if he took me right here.
He pulls away, leaving me reeling. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “Let’s get out of here.”
I don’t argue.
8
Jack
I can’t get her out of this bar fast enough. Round two with her is what I want more than any other fuck with any other girl I’ve ever had before and I don’t understand it. She is clearly older.
Maybe that’s it. She’s more mature?
Whatever it is, she’s hot as hell and fuck if her pussy doesn’t fit my cock like a glove. I get Kate to my truck and realize that she is struggling to get in on her own. I head around to help her up. I’ve got my hands on her ass, lifting her into the truck, and I just keep telling myself:
Not here. Not in the truck.
I’ve just about got her in when I catch a peek of her black g-string and I lose my cool. Sliding her onto the seat, I pile in beside her and start stripping her down to nothing. I pull her dress over her head effortlessly, chucking it into the back seat.
Our limbs are entangled and we’re hardly coming up for air. I can’t get enough of her and I know she’s feeling the same way. I can feel the heat coming from between her legs. She wants me so bad and I feel the same way.
I run my hands over her breasts still covered by her lace bra and down her flat stomach, eliciting a soft moan from her. I’m inching my way to her panties when she starts mumbling
“Ash will be so disappointed in me,” she mumbles. “Stop. No, don’t. Ash can’t know, though, it would be bad.”
What the hell?
I pull my hand away and look out the window at the dark sky. The alcohol has definitely caught up with her. I groan, knowing that I shouldn’t take this any further. In the bar, she knew full well what she was doing, but I won’t take ad
vantage if she’s not all in…and who the fuck is Ash?
I’m about to ask when I realize she has passed out. One minute she’s spewing out her interpersonal conflicts and the next she’s snoring? Just as fast as I was turned on, my ego is deflated. This has got to be a first. I would’ve bet my damn truck on the fact she wasn’t that drunk. What the hell happened in ten minutes?
I’ve had girls pass out on me in college, but surely not until after we’d sealed the deal, done the deed. I’m usually pretty good at distinguishing who’s to the point of passing out. I don’t make it a habit of fucking comatose girls.
Shit. Now what?
I’ve got to get back in the bar and find her friends. I have no idea where she lives to get her home. I don’t know anything about this woman other than her name is Kate Cooper and she’s smokin’ hot.
I haul ass to the table where we left Jamie and…
Shit, what was the blond girl’s name… A something?
It hits me and all comes together. The blonde had to be Ash. That’s who she was talking about. From what I was seeing, this Ash chick was all about Kate’s foray into sexual debauchery. In fact, I think she’d applaud it.
Just perfect, they’re gone. My mind is on overdrive, trying to figure out what I’m going to do. I can’t just leave her out in the car.
What if she pukes?
Oh hell no. I just had the damn interior detailed last week. I spin around to head back out the door and sigh with relief when I see the blonde cuddling up to my boy Parker. She looks up and must see the annoyed look on my face.
“Where is Kate?” she asks.
“Passed out in my truck. She started talking about how you’d be disappointed in her and the next thing I know she’s sawin’ logs.”
“Oh God. She’s not used to drinking this much.” She bites the inside of her cheek, looking up at Parker. “I better get Kate’s ass home and in bed because it sounds like she’s already turned into a pumpkin.” She huffs out a sigh of irritation. I’m sure this is putting a kink in her night as well.
But she gets this wide grin on her face and walks over to Parker, leans down, and whispers something into his ear. Asshole will probably still get laid tonight. It’s not looking like Blondie is ready to call it a night. Kate will probably get thrown in her door headfirst so these sexual deviants can have their quick roll in the hay, sure to be a one-night stand. Parker is known for that, but who am I to judge?
I hear Parker call out to his impending playmate, “Andy, I’ll leave the door unlocked.”
Andy?
“I thought your name was Ash.”
She looks at me with this clear look of confusion.
“Why would you think that?”
“Kate was rambling about how Ash would be so disappointed or something along those lines. I just assumed that was you.”
At that, Andy lets out a hearty laugh and shakes her head. “No. Ash is Kate’s daughter.”
Fuck. She has a kid? I do not mess with moms. All sorts of complications come with that.
Take Parker, Andy’s “date” for the night. Last month, he wound up taking some mom home and a month later he was still trying to shake her. The term “stalker” has nothing on that woman. She was crazy. All because having sex was more to her than one night.
I can tell Andy is amused as she watches me work this all out. I really want to slap that shit-eating grin off her face.
“Can you just get her home safely? I’d do it myself, but I have no idea where she lives.”
“What? You don’t want her to be your MILF for the night?” Andy laughs again.
Her lack of appreciation for my delicate situation is starting to grate on my nerves, and what the fuck. Kate is more than just a joke.
“She’s your friend, isn’t she? Why are you laughing at her expense?”
Andy sobers at my words.
“You’re right. She’s been through a lot lately. I need to get her home.” She quickly moves into action, walking toward my truck. I’m developing the world’s worst headache and I have a serious case of blue balls that need attended to.
When we get to the car and open the door, it is immediately obvious Kate used my seat and driver’s side window as her own barf bag. The smell of puke is heavy and I can’t help but turn away and start dry heaving. I do not have the stomach for this shit. Now I’m going to have to drive home with this smell all around me.
“Fuck.”
“Calm down, it’s mostly on her. You just laid her dress on top of her? God, Jack, you’re an ass. Do you have anything in this car that I can throw on her?”
I search the back under the seat for a T-shirt. Luckily, I still have a couple spares for those days on the job that I need to change. I hold her up so Andy can slip a shirt over her body. I help put Kate in Andy’s car and watch them drive off. Andy gives me the middle finger as she drives away. Classy.
I guarantee that’s one girl I won’t be seeing again. She’ll be mortified in the morning when she learns that she desecrated my truck and passed out cold in the middle of our hot and heavy attempted exchange of bodily fluids. The thought makes me…sad. I feel her loss immediately and it’s no fucking good.
9
Kate
Positive.
That one word was enough to stop my breathing. I stare up at the nurse in shock.
“Wh-wha?”
“It’s positive, sweetheart. You’re gonna be a momma.” The southern lilt of this petite brunette isn’t endearing like it usually would be.
“I’m already a momma.” I start to cry. “This can’t be happening.”
Her smile disappears and worry lines crease her forehead.
“There now, don’t cry.” She rubs my back soothingly.
“Are you sure? Like sure, sure?” I ask, my eyes pleading with hers for just a small glimmer of hope.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but the test came back positive.” She chews her lip. “It’s very unlikely that’ll change.” She walks to the door. “You’ll need to make an appointment for your seven-week checkup at the front desk.” With that, she disappears.
I sit in shock for what feels like hours before I finally will my legs to move. I’d been feeling sick lately, vomiting and extremely tired. I thought it was due to the stress of things around the house. The girls’ grades, my lack of work, just about anything would’ve explained how I felt…but not this.
It’s been three weeks since that night. Andy painted me a picture of the embarrassing debacle. At the time, I had prayed she was embellishing. Now, I have no doubt that it was every bit as bad as she said. Only a night from hell would result in this.
I’m pregnant.
Despite the embarrassment, I mourned the loss of him. It was completely ridiculous as he is a stranger, but the chemistry we had was more than I have ever experienced with anyone else, ever. I wanted to find him.
I shake my head. Jack, with no last name, probably hasn’t even thought about me since that night, of that I am sure. The need to crawl into my bed and die a slow death is real. How am I going to explain this to Ashlyn? Thankfully, Mandy is often too distracted to ask questions or maybe she just doesn’t care for details, but not Ash. She will want to know everything. What will my mother think?
Oh God. Mom.
Tears begin to blind my vision. I try to swipe away at them but soon they are pouring down my face and my whole body is shaking with sobs. My phone pings.
Mom: Just a reminder, you have a meeting with one of Travis’s men over at the site today at noon. Good luck, sweetheart! Knock em’ dead
I cringe at my mother’s insistence on being my secretary, calendar, and alarm clock, all in one. She forgets that I’m an adult capable of keeping track of my own schedule. As annoyed as I am, I do appreciate the text, though. It reminds me that I must put on my game face. I’ve got some major work to do today. Travis called and asked if I’d be interested in designing the interiors of the homes he’s building for this year’s parade of homes
. These are million-dollar-plus houses for the rich and in some cases famous of the area.
I know my mother has something to do with this. There is no way little Miss Bleached Goddess would be all right with Travis and me working side by side. Travis owes my family big time. If not for their help financially at the beginning of his career, he wouldn’t have the money that he does.
It pisses me off to high hell. You’d think after so many years I would’ve gotten a piece of it all in the divorce. Nope, Travis has always been a shrewd businessman. He has a silent partner who has controlling interest, with everything in his or her name.
He’d never reveal to me who it was. Probably some mistress he had before Carly. Regardless of who it is, they hold all the cards. Ashlyn and Mandy overheard Travis talking to Carly about trying to buy off his partner. Apparently, this person is seeing the worth of the company and is holding out. Good for them.
I wonder if they have any idea the role they played in the big “FU ode to my ex-wife” that Travis serenaded me with the day I found out that I wouldn’t receive even half the amount I had originally thought I would in our settlement.
Apparently more than half of the many companies he’s acquired are really owned in total by this other individual. I don’t understand the legal bull, I just know what it means for me, and that’s I’m getting squat.
Rumor has it that Travis was approached to buy out the company during our divorce. The silent partner wanted him to take out a loan and square things off. Travis wouldn’t do it. He knew what he was doing by not buying it back before the divorce. He was keeping my hands out of his proverbial cookie jar. And now, he was stuck.
Regardless of my pure hatred toward my ex-husband, I do need this job, and it could open up some fantastic opportunities for me. There is no way I am passing this up because of my pride.
Thankfully I’ve been apprised of the fact that today I will not have to stomach Travis. I’m meeting one of his assistants. I swear to God if said assistant is Miss I-Slept-With-Your-Husband-And-Am-Taking-Your-Place, I will flip my lid and burn the place down. There has to be some get out of jail free card by way of temporary ex insanity, right?
Sex, Vows & Babies: Claim Me, Baby (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 4