Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology)

by Ali Parker

  She swatted at him again. "Anyway, I'm not interested in finding someone new. This stuff with Frank just went down a few weeks ago. I figure I need six months to a year to redefine myself and really get over the nagging sensation that I'm just not worth someone's efforts."

  Marc pushed at her shoulder. "I think you should be careful."

  She looked up at him, warmth filling her chest at how much she cared for her little brother. If happiness could be anyone's, she'd want it to be his. "How so?"

  "I think that sometimes we let the pain or tragedy in our lives live on far too long. It not only hurts us in the moment, but continues to steal our joy or douse our dreams in flames for years to come. You need to realize that everything that happened with Frank was all about him being a dick. It has nothing to do with you not being enough or good or beautiful. If you keep thinking those things, then you miss the next great love perhaps."

  Kari smiled. "When did you become the great love doctor?"

  He shrugged. "I don't know. Living the life of a sexy, well-to-do bachelor gets lonely sometimes. Just trying to grow up a little."

  "Who's the sexy, well-to-do bachelor we're talking about?"

  He slipped down and moved to grab her into a bear hug, turning around the porch as she screamed. "Me, you dirty, biker vampire chick."

  He finally stopped and they both reached for the edge of the porch, too dizzy to do anything but laugh together. She finally got her bearings and sat down in the small plastic chair in the middle of swing pieces.

  He looked over at her, his hand firmly grasping the edge of the deck. "You should ask the guy who the blond is. If he's someone you're interested in then maybe it isn't a coincidence that you ran into him today. I believe things happen for a reason."

  "It wasn't just today." Kari shrugged, looking up at her brother. The sun moved behind him as it slipped past the edge of the world, darkness moving in fast.

  "You've seen him before?"

  "Yeah," Kari muttered, her thoughts slipping to the night before, Jake in his gray hoodie, a smile on his perfect lips as he helped her pick out wine. He probably didn't even drink wine. "I saw him at the grocery store last night and then his picture at the newspaper today on the wall."

  "Three times in two days?"

  She nodded and smiled as her brother's eyes grew wide.

  "That's not a coincidence. That's fate."

  Chapter 13

  His morning was off. His thoughts were scattered and he could've sworn he could still smell Kari's perfume in his office. He walked to the restroom, kids yelling and having far too much fun in his gym, but he couldn't focus. He pushed the door to the men's restroom open and walked in, stopping at the mirror and reaching down to splash cold water on his face.

  "Get it together. What's wrong with you?" He looked up at himself, reaching for a paper towel to wipe across his face. "One good looking woman stops by your office and you act like you haven't been around them in years."

  He hadn't. Bethany had done a number on him, and after her he'd sworn them off, hoping to one day get back in the game. He ran his hand down his chest, patting the firm muscle of his pec as he closed his eyes, trying to hold onto the reason for giving up on love. This girl didn't even seem interested and yet he knew quite well that seeing her twice in two days was more than coincidence.

  He exhaled slowly, opening his eyes and grimacing at himself in the mirror. "Get your shit together. She's probably not even available, and even if she was... you’re jaded as hell and she's way outta your league."

  He turned and walked out of the restroom, his mind calming a little, his heart still racing. It was the damn color of her hair, the soft look of acceptance in her gaze, the way that sweater dress clung to her. He ran his hands through his hair, the vein in his neck throbbing like crazy. A basketball was lobbed his way and he caught it and threw it back without paying much attention.

  He needed to know who she was. Had he met her before? Something almost felt familiar - right - about her and yet he knew that was absurd. He walked toward his office, turning as the bell rang. "Clean up and head to class. Good job today, guys."

  Brian, a seventh grader, ran up and pulled at his arm. "Coach. We having practice tomorrow morning? You didn't show this morning, so we just ran drills on our own."

  "Oh man... I totally forgot."

  Brian smirked. "It's okay, coach. You haven't ever forgotten. I think one time is excusable."

  Jake pressed the boy’s shoulder, pushing a little as if antagonizing him playfully. "Oh yeah? Well, thanks for the free-pass. I'll be there tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder."

  The boy smiled and jogged off as Jake slipped into his office, his off period coming at the moment he needed it most. Sitting down at his desk, he picked up his phone and dialed the number for the paper and hating himself for doing it.

  Martha answered the phone, her voice three octaves too loud. "Martha Wittington."

  "Hi, Ms. Wittington, it's Jake Isaac. How are you?"

  She squealed as Jake shook his head. "Coach Isaac. How are you? Did the interview go okay yesterday? Kari is new to all of this, but I thought she would just be perfect for our staff. Please tell me what you thought."

  He moved the phone from his ear as she spoke rapidly, waiting until the sound of silence followed her. He leaned in and closed his eyes. "I'm good, and she was wonderful. Very professional and did a great job for all of us here at the school. Is she there by chance?"

  "No, not yet. Did you need her to give you a call?"

  "No, that's okay. I just have the lens cover for her camera. I think she left it in one of the other teacher's rooms and I was talking to the secretary today when they discovered it. I'll bring it by to her later today. Be nice to see you anyway." He smiled at the thought of seeing Kari, the innocent desire to succeed and be good at her job sitting on her perfectly yesterday.

  "That sounds great. She should be in any minute. Do you want me to let her know you're coming by?"

  "No. I'd rather not just in case I don't make it over there. I'll try my best though. Oops... class time. Gotta run."

  "Okay, Coach! Go get 'em!"

  He laughed and hung up, his smile dropping as he leaned back in his chair and growled. "What are you doing? Just let her come get the lens from the front desk. You go over there and she's going to know that you're interested and you're not supposed to be interested!"

  A knock on his door caused him to jump, his knees plowing into the underside of his desk.

  "Come in," he groaned and reached to rub them as the door opened.

  "You talking to yourself again, coach?" The high school basketball coach, an attractive woman in her forties walked into the room and pointed to an empty chair. "May I?"

  He nodded. "Of course. You guys don't have class right now?"

  "Off period." She took a seat, leaning back and crossing her legs in a very manly way as she started in on the reason for her visit. "I need some help with a tournament next weekend. It's all day Saturday and it's in the next town over. We're headed to a girl's tournament that same weekend in Philly for the championship game. Any way I can pay you to go on Saturday and help with the boys?"

  Jake was used to these requests with the high school seriously understaffed. "This coming Saturday?"

  "Yeah, are you on shift at the fire station?"

  "On Friday, but I can head out Saturday morning and meet the boys there. Where are they going?"

  "Up to Winterville, so not too far of a trip for you. You just need to be there by nine on Saturday morning." She shrugged, tilting her head as if studying him.

  "Yeah I can do that. It's an all-day tournament?"

  "Yeah, the boys are staying Friday and Saturday night, so you can stay with them Saturday night if you want. I'll get you a room. They are selling out fast, but we reserved an extra."

  "For me, I'm sure." He smirked and leaned back as she laughed, confirming his suspicions. He hardly ever said no to anyone in need. The high school boys�
�� basketball team was on fire too. He'd been coaching them in a few years, but he knew that proving himself was part of the deal. This was another chance to do just that.

  "So, you in?" The coach stood and walked toward the door, looking over her shoulder and waggling her eyebrows. "A win would look awesome under your direction and we're assured it."

  He nodded. "Yeah, as long as there are parents going with me."

  "All dads, just like you like. The crazy moms will be staying at home hopefully."

  He laughed and turned back to his computer as if he had something to do. "Good. I don't need any momma drama in my weekend."

  "Amen," she yelled behind her as the door closed.

  Sicily was in the kitchen when Kari woke up, her alarm not set to go off for another few hours. The night before had been short, and after a hot bath and a peanut butter sandwich, she'd dozed off on the couch watching Seinfeld reruns. Sometime during the night she'd made her way back to her room, but when or how she couldn't recall.

  "You look nice." Sicily turned, her hands coated in flour. "Gray is your color."

  "Thanks." Kari smoothed down the gray cashmere sweater that laid perfect over her black slacks. She hated wearing heels and yet the outfit she'd chosen only looked good with those shoes. She slipped them off and padded across the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, a loud yawn leaving her lips.

  "You passed out fast last night."

  "Yeah, I guess it was from getting a new job and meeting the man of my dreams - again." She laughed, fixed her coffee and sat down as Sicily turned around with a mixing bowl in her hands.

  "About that... I somehow missed the update on Mr. Hot-stuff as I was helping Mr. Fix-it with the swing." She stopped by the kitchen table, her arm working fast to beat the cake batter looking stuff in her large bowl.

  "What are you making?"

  "Trying out a new type of muffin. We're going to work on painting the new shop later this week, maybe Sunday. You think you can help?"

  Kari nodded. "Yeah, unless Martha calls me out to do something over the weekend I should be good. You know the colors you're wanting?"

  "That conversation can wait. Tell me about the boy!"

  Kari took a tentative sip of her coffee and jerked back. "Hot."

  "He's hot?"

  "No, the damn coffee's hot."

  "So he's not hot?" Sicily's lovely smile faded.

  Kari shook her head. "He's insanely hot and the coffee is too."

  "Oh good. I was getting worried."

  "No, he's honestly one of the best... wait - you were in the grocery store with me the other night. The wine guy - you said he was the best looking guys you'd seen."

  Sicily walked to the counter, grabbing a handful of chocolate chips from a bowl and putting it into her batter as she turned. "He's hot like that guy? Does he have a brother?"

  Kari sighed. "He is that guy."

  Sicily stopped stirring. "Wait. You're telling me that your prince charming is the fine-ass guy from the grocery store the other night?"

  "With the gray hoodie."

  "No matter the hoodie. With the dark spiky hair to run your hands through."

  "Yes and those demanding brown eyes."

  "Mmmm and that brooding, 'I could bend you over the balcony and you'd love it' gaze."

  "Yes and those beautiful muscles."

  "And his tanned skin. Oh he must be Mexican or Italian."

  Kari held up her hands and laughed. "Wait, he's not my prince charming. He's just the coach at the junior high. I had to interview him."

  "He's a coach? Oh I knew it. He looks like a guy who scores all the time." Sicily laughed at her own joke as Kari chuckled and turned her attention back to her coffee.

  "You saw him twice in two days?"

  Kari nodded. "I know... seems creepy, right?"

  "Creepy wasn't the word I was looking for. I was thinking more like it was meant to be."

  Kari turned as her friend threw a handful of nuts into the bowl and started to stir again. "I don't believe in fate, to be honest. When are the muffins going to be done?"

  "It will be a while. The batter has to sit in the laundry room for a little while. Secret family trick to make them rise really high." Sicily set the bowl down and walked over to the table, sitting down beside Kari. "How can you not believe in fate? Fate led us to the center of the club the other night and helped us see Frank for who he really was. Fate led you here with us. You would not have come otherwise. Fate had you meet the man of your dreams at the grocery store the other night and again at the school yesterday. I think you and fate need to talk."

  Kari scoffed. "You believe in fate. I'm alone and heartbroken, so fate can suck it."

  "Well, I think you'd better open your eyes. Seems like things are about to change."

  "I hope so. Jake is certainly the man of my dreams - at least the naughty ones."

  *

  "Martha? I'm here." Kari walked down the long hall of the newspaper building, her camera heavy on her shoulder. Martha mumbled something about donuts in the kitchen and Kari deposited her stuff on her desk and walked down the hall. Her lack of breakfast was catching up fast and Sicily's muffins wouldn't be ready until lunch.

  She walked into the kitchen, and a guy a few years older turned and walked toward her. His shirt was a little too wrinkly and his glasses were crooked, but other than that, he was cute, like an older version of her brother.

  "Hi, I'm Cliff. You must be Kari?"

  She extended her hand, glad to notice the wedding ring on his other hand as she greeted him. "Yes, nice to meet you. You feeling better?"

  He laughed and moved toward the table, picking up his donut and motioning for her to get one. "Much better. I get migraines every so often and it's just better for me and the world if I just shut myself in the bedroom."

  She smiled and moved to get a sugary treat, the first bite good enough to make her want to groan. Sicily was going to have some competition if this was the bakery in town. She leaned over and pulled the top of the box down, the small engraved name read, 'Judy's.'

  "Hey, thanks for covering for me yesterday. Everyone at the school good to you?" He spoke softly as Kari turned back to him.

  "Oh yeah, no problem at all. I'm the worst interviewer in the universe, but the teachers were great." She lifted her donut in the air. "This has to be the most delicious thing I've eaten in weeks. Who is Judy and where is her shop?"

  He laughed and popped the last bit of his donut in his mouth, mumbling around it. "Oh yeah, her pastries are a town jewel. She's on the square in town and she's not all the type of lady you'd expect to own a pastry shop. We all joke about the fact that she has elves running around behind the closed doors making her treats. She's far too wealthy to roll dough."

  Kari smiled, trying to understand his comments. "So she's rich?"

  "Oh yeah, like filthy rich, and I think she's sleeping with the mayor, but don't tell them I told you." He shrugged and reached for another donut, smiling up at Kari. "Alright... I'm off to work up the boys’ basketball story at the high school this year. Eighth year in a row that they'll be headed to the district playoffs this weekend. They are on fire!"

  Martha's voice reached them just before she walked in. "Speaking of. I just got off the phone with Coach Armstrong. She needs one of us to cover the game from a hometown perspective."

  Cliff held up his hands. "Not me... the wife is expecting our first little one any day now. I'm not allowed to go anywhere but work and home."

  Martha turned to Kari. "What's your weekend look like?"

  She smiled and looked from Cliff to Martha. "Looks like I'll be hanging with sweaty boys and lots of balls."

  They all laughed, Cliff shaking his head as she quickly grabbed another donut. "Just one more..."

  Chapter 14

  Jake walked to his truck, his hand rubbing absently at the old wound on his left shoulder, his football days rough and still wearing on him years later. He hated that he'd never actually made it by the new
spaper earlier, the day getting far too busy due to a few fights and having to talk with the fire department guys about taking his on-call shift on Saturday and Sunday. Getting in his truck, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes for a moment.

  The sudden rapping of knuckles on his window caused him to jump. He smiled and started the truck, rolling down the window to talk with the pretty fifth grade math teacher who'd just joined them.

  "Hi, coach. Sorry to bother you. A few of us were going to grab a drink and I thought maybe you'd like to join us?" The hopeful look in her eyes almost made him flinch, but he just smiled and shook his head.

  "I wish I could. I have to deal with a few rental properties and then need to get to the gym sometime this week." He looked past her at the other three teachers who were giggling and looking his way. "You ladies have fun. Thanks for the invite."

  She pouted a little, but moved back as he rolled up the window and headed toward the old Manner property. He'd loved that house the minute he saw it, the upstairs bedrooms wrapped in windows. There was nothing like hovering over the backyard and watching the sun rise and set every day, but he had to rent it out. It was too expensive for his salary, and honestly, the house was made for a family with kids.

  He'd leased it to a beautiful redhead, the girl ballsy as hell as she tried to get into his gym shorts the first time he'd met her. She had money and must've had a family or friends, because they cleared his background checks. He’d leased the place with only one stipulation: he'd be the one to do the upkeep on the yard and the maintenance on the house, because he was picky.

  Jake pulled into the convenience store, needing to get something to drink and a bag of chips before heading out there. His body screamed for dinner, but it would have to wait. He walked in and grabbed an orange juice and stood in front of the chips, trying to talk himself into a piece of fruit instead. He'd not be fit forever, and keeping himself in the condition he was currently in was taking more and more time in the gym. He growled at himself and reached for a bag of Cheetos, the chips his absolute favorite from childhood.