Maybe This Time

by Jennifer Snow

  Feeling his annoyance start to climb to an unhealthy level, Jackson forced a breath as he approached.

  “Hey, man. What are you doing here?” Dean asked, looking not as surprised as he should.

  “Can we talk for a sec?” he asked, nodding away from the group of adoring admirers.

  “Sure. Have a seat,” Dean said, gesturing to the other side of the booth.

  “In private.”

  Dean’s stare was hard. “I’m with friends, Jackson. You’re welcome to join us.”

  Friends. Right. The people who were here today, gone tomorrow. The ones who only cared about his MVP status on the team and the money in his wallet. One day hockey wouldn’t be there for his “friend,” and neither would these people.

  And neither would he anymore.

  But, if that’s the way Dean wanted it—Fine. He sat in the booth and leaned across the table. “I’m here with Abby.”

  Dean’s expression turned steely. “What?”

  “Abby, your ex-wife,” he said pointedly, shooting a glance toward the blonde who looked annoyed at the sudden mention of another woman.

  “I know who Abby is. Why the hell are you two here?” he asked, removing his arm from the woman and leaning on his elbows.

  The smell of beer on his breath made Jackson even more determined to set him in his place. What had his plan been? To get completely wasted and then drag this woman back to his room, where his daughter slept?

  He didn’t know this guy anymore. Any loyalty or guilt he may have been struggling with over his feelings and intentions with Abby disappeared. Any question in his mind about who the better man for her was vanished. “We came to pick up Dani. She called, said you’d left her in the hotel room alone.”

  Dean’s eyes narrowed.

  The blonde looked confused. “Dani? Isn’t that your daughter?”

  Well, fangirl had done her research at least. And to her credit, she moved away from him, looking disgusted.

  “Yes. My daughter is staying with me tonight, which is why I told you we couldn’t go up there,” Dean said, shooting the words directly at Jackson.

  Okay, so half a point for having that much common sense at least. He still was a jerk for leaving the little girl alone. “Well, you can soon enough. We are taking Dani home.”

  Dean climbed out of the booth and Jackson stood to block his way out of the lounge. “What do you mean, we? What does any of this have to do with you, friend?” Dean spat the word, stabbing his finger into his chest.

  Jackson didn’t flinch. “I care about Dani and Abby.”

  Dean laughed. “That’s right, I forgot. You’ve had a hard-on for my wife since junior high.”

  Elementary school. “Ex-wife.”

  “Well, man, she’s all yours, but Dani is still my daughter.”

  “A daughter you wanted nothing to do with. You still don’t. This dad of the year bullshit—arriving at the last minute to take her to the dance, looking like a hero—save it. No one’s buying it. You only did it to impress Abby, and she’s not fooled by you.”

  “No? She’s moved on to you, huh?”

  “It’s none of your business anymore,” she said, behind him.

  Jackson turned to see her and a tearful Dani, holding her mother’s hand.

  He hesitated. There was so much more he wanted to say to Dean, but it wasn’t worth it. The guy wasn’t worth it.

  “Let’s go,” he said to them.

  Abigail too looked ready to tear Dean’s smug expression from his face, but she nodded. “Come on, Dani.”

  “I’m going back to court, Abigail. I want time with Dani—she wants that, too,” Dean said behind them.

  Abby turned and Jackson placed a hand on her arm, glancing quickly at Dani. There was nothing he’d rather do than take the guy out, but the little girl had already had a crappy evening and she didn’t deserve to be seeing, hearing, or witnessing any of this. “It’s not worth it,” he said quietly.

  At her side, Dani let go of her hand and walked back toward her father.

  Oh no. She couldn’t possibly be changing her mind about leaving, was she?

  “Dad, I used to think you were the greatest hockey player ever, and I wanted to be just like you, but Mom’s the real hero. She’d never put anything else before me,” she said.

  Tears gathered in Abby’s eyes as Dani turned and headed back toward them. “Can we go home now?” Dani asked.

  Abby nodded, and Jackson shot one final look at his former best friend before following the girls out of the lounge.

  * * *

  Abigail closed Dani’s bedroom door quietly an hour later, after Jackson had carried the exhausted little girl into the house.

  “She okay?” he asked.

  “She’s asleep,” Abby said with a nod, smothering a yawn with her hand. “Thank you again. I’m glad you were here tonight. I wasn’t thinking straight, and I would have driven out there to get her.”

  “Of course you would have. You might have also punched Dean in the face,” he said, rubbing her arms.

  She managed a weak smile. “It was certainly tempting.”

  He pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her. She didn’t fight; she was too tired to keep fighting the feelings she had for him. She was finally seeing him exactly for who he was, and the excuse that she wasn’t ready for another relationship was falling short the harder she fell for him. The way Dani had hugged Jackson tight and thanked him for being there that evening made it obvious the little girl was no longer annoyed by their growing attraction, either.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered in her hair.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “I do. I was so quick to judge the situation, to believe Dean and not give you any credit. And then tonight, after seeing you both at the dance with Dani, I thought maybe I needed to back away, that maybe you still had feelings for him.” He smoothed her hair back from her face. “But I just couldn’t do it. This time I was fighting for you, fighting for us.”

  “I’m glad you had a change of heart,” she said, leaning on tiptoes to reach his mouth.

  “That’s the thing, Abby. I’ve never had a change of heart. It’s always been you.”

  “Make love to me, Jackson,” she whispered against his lips.

  This time there was no questioning whether or not she was sure. Pushing open the bedroom door, they stumbled inside and Jackson fell back against it as it closed, drawing Abigail’s body toward his, his hands gripping her ribs as he kissed her exposed neck.

  She shivered and pushed her hips back against his already full erection and turned her face toward him, claiming his mouth with her own. Her hips rocked forward and backward, teasing his cock, forcing his grip on her waist to tighten even more. “If you don’t stop moving that way, I can’t be held responsible for the bruising your ribs may suffer,” he murmured.

  She bit his lower lip and he swung her body around until her breasts were pressed firmly against his chest as he deepened the kiss. His hands slid down the length of her back and cupped her ass, lifting her slightly until his cock pushed against the fabric of her yoga pants between her legs.

  God, she could barely contain her desire for him. That evening she’d felt so many different emotions, and they all cumulated in this crazy need.

  Unzipping his jeans, she lowered herself to her knees. Tugging his underwear down over his hips, she gently slid her tongue from the base of his cock all the way to the tip, licking the pre-cum that glistened at the head. He groaned and she continued the flicking and licking, circling his cock slowly, massaging his balls with her right hand.

  “Abigail, you are driving me insane,” he growled.

  “That’s the point,” she said with a teasing smile at him.

  Gripping the back of her head with one hand, he separated her lips with the other, forcing the length of himself into her accepting mouth.

  Immediately, she closed her lips over him and began sucking and licking hungrily. He
tasted so good, and she felt her own body ache with desire as she dared to glance up at him. The look of pleasure on his face as he leaned his head back against the door made her even more eager to make him feel incredible.

  But placing his hands on her shoulders, he reluctantly and gently stopped her. “I’m going to come. Let’s slow things down,” he said, his voice strained. Pulling away, he helped her to her feet and carried her to her bed.

  “What if I don’t want to take things slow anymore?” she asked, cupping his face with her hands and staring into his eyes. She didn’t. She was ready to be with him. She couldn’t stand not being with him anymore.

  “We will go fast tomorrow. Tonight, I’m savoring this.” Setting her down gently, he lowered himself on top of her and, starting at the base of her neck, he rained kisses and soft little bites from her ear, over her neck and across her shoulder. Shivers danced down her spine and she trembled. It felt amazing being with him with no reservations, no doubts, no fears.

  His hands cupped her breasts, squeezing her erect nipples until she moaned in a mix of pleasure and pain. He was far too sexy, and everything he was doing felt far too amazing to take it slow the way he wanted. Her body craved his touch everywhere, all at once.

  Removing one of his hands from her breast, she forced it down, inside her pants, and between her legs. “Touch me, please,” she begged as she spread her legs and arched her body toward him.

  “I can do better than that,” he said with a slow smile. Moving downward, he knelt between her legs and removed her pants and the thin white thong, tossing it aside.

  Exposed and completely vulnerable, her legs trembled on either side of him, and the anticipation of his touch was almost too much. She needed him, wanted him. “Jackson…”

  He gently touched her, opening her folds, tracing the shape of her and licking the wetness from his fingers. “You taste so good, Abby,” he said, continuing to tease and torment her throbbing, aching body.

  She whimpered as she stroked her own breasts. “Please, Jackson, I need you inside me…please,” she begged.

  When he slid two fingers inside her at once, pressing the palm of his other hand to her pelvis, she cried out.

  “Shhhh…” he whispered, leaning forward to kiss her flat stomach. “Think you can take another one?”

  She bit her lower lip as she nodded. “Yes, please…” she said, tightening her interior muscles around his fingers as he inserted the third. The pressure was so intense, she knew she wouldn’t last much longer. “Jackson, Jackson, Jackson…” she repeated his name over and over, clutching at his shoulders.

  He left her then, and she trembled, her breath labored as she watched him remove a condom from his wallet. Returning to the bed, he ripped it open and slid it on quickly before lying back down between her legs. He paused briefly before entering her. “Ready?” he asked.

  Oh God yes. She nodded eagerly, lifting her hips as he plunged deep inside her. His moan of satisfaction as his hips pressed against hers drove her close to the edge. She gripped his shoulders as she rocked her pelvis back and forth, searching, fighting desperately for release. “You’re so incredible,” she whispered, as a whirlwind of emotions brought her to climax. Her body shuddered and she held him tight, enjoying the intense sensations rippling through her. Jackson Westmore was perfect.

  “You’re the incredible one,” he said, raising his body to look at her. He touched her cheek softly. “I’ve loved you for so long, Abby.”

  Her breath caught as his lips crushed hers, preventing her from answering. He loved her. He’d always loved her. Happiness filled her heart and because she couldn’t say it, she poured every emotion she had for him into the kiss.

  He held her against him as he pushed deeper, faster, quickening the motions with his hips, his lips never leaving hers, his heart beating in rhythm with hers.

  She loved making love to him. Loved watching him make love to her.

  She wrapped her legs around him and pressed her body closer, until every inch of him was touching every inch of her.

  He groaned as he came, and she moaned in pleasure as she felt him throb inside her. Resting his head against her forehead, he struggled to catch his breath. “Okay, so maybe that wasn’t exactly slow,” he said with a smile.

  “Slow is completely overrated,” she said, as she hugged him tighter, never wanting to let go, terrified by what that meant, but ready to trust her heart, which was leading her to him.

  * * *

  Jackson lay wide awake in the dark room, his arms wrapped around Abby as she snuggled closer. He kissed her forehead and she glanced up at him with sleepy eyes. “Thank you again for everything tonight,” she said quietly.

  “Thank you, pretty girl. That sex was pretty awesome,” he said kissing her nose.

  She hit his arm. “Yes, it was, but I actually meant for everything else.”

  He nodded. “Of course, Abby. I’m glad I was here.” He knew she was strong enough to have dealt with the situation herself, but he hoped his support had shown her just how much he cared about her and Dani. How much he wanted to be there for them—always.

  “Do you ever wish you had that life—the one Dean has—with all the women and partying, being a local god to the sports fanatics?”

  He traced a hand along her bare arm. “The only life of Dean’s I envied was his life with you.” The scene in the hotel bar that evening had been empty and meaningless. These guys never knew if the women liked them for who they were or if they liked the idea of being with a star athlete.

  “Do you still wish you were playing hockey?”

  That was a tougher question to answer. “Some days I do. Other days I don’t. I quit the Eagles for a lot of reasons. But mainly, it was because when Dad got sick I couldn’t deal with not being here. Even just a couple hours away, it was impossible to get back here to see him or to help Mom often enough. The training and game schedules were exhausting, and my mind wasn’t in it anymore after I’d gotten sent back down from the majors. I was starting to wonder if chasing the dream was worth missing out on the last few months with him.” He’d decided they weren’t.

  “Dean missed a lot: birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas…I never let him see how much it bothered me, but it was tough. Nine months a year, Dani and I were essentially on our own, and then when he was home, it was hard to integrate him back into our routines, our schedules…”

  “Ben says that’s why he’s never settled down, and Asher is so caught up in the game, I’m not sure he even realizes there’s more to life,” he said, playing with a strand of her hair. “So, I guess the answer to your question is I think everything happens for a reason, and there was a reason I didn’t make it as far as my brothers and Dean.”

  She kissed his chest. “Well, I can’t say I’m disappointed. I really don’t think I could ever live that life again…love another pro hockey player,” she said through a yawn, snuggling closer, her eyes closing.

  He held her tight, replaying her words in his mind as she drifted off to sleep. Everything happened for a reason, and maybe he’d finally discovered the reason he’d never made it to the NHL—life had other plans. Plans that suited him just fine.

  Chapter 19

  The sound of voices woke her the next morning. Abby blinked several times before her eyes flew open, the events of the evening before flashing like a flipbook in her mind—the dance, the bar, the drive to Denver, and the night of passion with Jackson that had continued until the first signs of morning had cracked through the bedroom window.

  Rolling over, she saw he was no longer in the bed, and the clock on the table said 9:35. She lay still, listening once more as she heard his voice, coming from outside on the deck.

  Who was he talking to? Dani? She cringed, wondering how this all looked to her daughter. Sure, she’d been grateful to see him the night before, but having him there in her house when she woke up might be a different story.

  But then she heard the toilet flushing in the bathroom
down the hall.

  Must not be Dani he was talking to.

  “I really do appreciate the invite,” he was saying. “But I don’t think I’m going to try out.”

  Try out? For what? Getting out of bed, she moved closer to the window. Standing with her back to the wall, she listened, feeling guilty for eavesdropping on his conversation, but desperate to hear.

  “Yes, I realize that there will be limited spaces…I’m just not sure I want to play professional hockey anymore,” he said.

  Her mouth went dry. Who was on the phone? Obviously someone presenting him with an opportunity to try out for a team…And he was turning it down?

  A mixture of panic and relief made it difficult to breathe. She should be happy he was saying no to whatever opportunity he was discussing, but she just felt sick. She’d assumed hockey was a thing of the past for him. He was twenty-nine, and he seemed happy with coaching and his business. Hadn’t he said a hockey career wasn’t something he’d consider anymore?

  That was certainly the impression he’d given her the night before.

  “Yes…I know what I’m turning down,” he was saying and her heart shattered at the sound of disappointment in his voice.

  He could say what he wanted, but he still wanted to play.

  “Thank you, Coach Turner…if I change my mind, you’ll be the first to know. Thank you again, sir.”

  Coach Turner—the head coach for the Colorado Eagles. Jackson had just turned down an opportunity to try out for his old team. She’d heard Dani talking about minor league players being called up to play a lot recently…but truthfully, she paid very little attention to the sport anymore.

  Her mind raced. Was this the first call from Coach Turner, or had Jackson been mulling this decision around for a while? If so, why hadn’t he said anything? And if not, why was he making such a hasty decision?

  Hearing the front door open, she moved away from the window quickly and sat on the edge of the bed. Her emotions were a whirlwind as a million thoughts ran through her mind. He couldn’t not take this chance on his dream, not when she knew deep down he still wanted to play. But yet, she knew if he did follow his dream, she wasn’t ready to follow it with him. She had a new life here in Glenwood Falls with Dani. And she’d just gotten her full-time position with the school.