“And if no one listens?”
“Speak louder.” Jenni grinned at the girl. “I have one hundred percent faith that you can make us listen—not that we’ll approve of what you’re saying, only that we will listen.” She leaned forward in the chair. “This is a major adjustment for us all, hon. I’m not used to living with your mother and you, just like you’re not used to living with me and boys.”
“Don’t forget Fred.”
She smiled. “How could I ever forget Fred? He missed you.”
“I was only gone one night.” Felicity glanced around the room as if the green reptile would be poking his head out from behind something any minute now. “He’s in his cage, isn’t he?”
“Last I saw him, he was sunning himself under his heat lamp. I do believe he was naked so he doesn’t get tan lines.”
Felicity cracked a smile.
She liked seeing the smile back in Felicity’s eyes. “So we have an understanding? You talk to me if something the boys or I do is upsetting you?”
“Yes, I’ll talk, scream, and kick my feet if need be, to get someone’s attention.”
“Good.” Now for the hard part of this conversation. “What about your mother. Doesn’t she deserve some happiness in her life?”
“What are you talking about?” Felicity sat up on the bed, and that stubborn, mulish tilt of her chin was back.
“Haven’t you noticed how happy your mother has been since Eli showed up on the scene?”
Felicity sat up straighter and looked away.
“Don’t worry, Felicity, she sent him away. Your mother chose you over Eli. It wasn’t even close. You won hands-down.”
“It wasn’t a contest.” Felicity’s lower lip pouted. “Eli is Sam’s father. My boyfriend’s father. Don’t you understand how yucky that is, Jenni? It’s freaky and disgusting, and a thousand other things.”
“It’s none of those things. It is strange and a highly unusual situation, but running away wasn’t the way to solve it. If you want to be treated as an adult, then you have to act like one. Mature, responsible adults don’t run away from their problems, they talk them out.”
“What’s to talk out? I saw them kissing in the kitchen the other night.”
“Your mother is an adult, Felicity. If she didn’t want Eli kissing her, she would have said no.” She tried to hide her smile. Felicity wouldn’t see the humor in this for years to come.
“It looked like she was the one doing most of the kissing.” Felicity sounded disgusted.
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning. “Eli’s an adult; he could have said no.” She wanted to cheer Dorothy on. “So what has you so upset, that she was kissing a man? Or that it was Eli she was kissing?”
Felicity hesitated.
“What do you think is going to happen to your mother when you go off to college in two years, or get married, or even move out on your own? Is your mother supposed to stay single and lonely while waiting patiently for you to stop in and visit her? Doesn’t she deserve a life?”
“Mom will always have you and the boys. She won’t be lonely.”
“What if I meet someone special, fall in love, and get married? What happens when the boys grow up? Why must your mother’s life revolve around everyone else? Don’t you think she should have a life of her own? It won’t mean that she will stop loving you, or me, or the boys.”
Felicity cracked a smile. “Is that someone special Coop?”
She couldn’t answer that question without giving away the fantasy running through her mind. Coop was indeed that someone special, but she hadn’t gotten around to telling him yet. She didn’t want this conversation to be about her. It was all about her sister-in-law. “What about Sam?”
“What about him?”
“Have you talked to him today?” She had heard Felicity’s cell phone going off all day long. Not once had she seen the girl answer it.
“Not yet.” Felicity started to bite one of her fingernails. “I’m not sure what to say to him.”
“You hurt him. When you ran from this family, you ran from him too.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt him.”
“Then you’d better talk to him. Call him, or at least answer his calls.” She stood and stretched the tension out of her neck. Their talk had gone better than she had dared to hope. “Hon, I have known you for nine years and love you like a sister. Never once in all that time did I ever think you were spoiled or selfish, until now. Think about it.”
She left Felicity sitting on her bed.
Coop glanced around his apartment and tried not to laugh. It looked like Santa’s workshop, and he was one of the elves. He had only himself to blame for that one. It had been he who insisted on putting together not one but two bicycles. He had argued with Jenni not to pay the extra forty-five dollars on each bike to have the store assemble them. How hard could putting a bike together possibly be?
The room filled with parts gave him his answer—impossible. The instructions were written in five languages, and one appeared to be English but he’d be damned if they made any sense to him.
“Are you sure I can’t help you with that?” Jenni stopped wrapping a present and smiled over at him.
“I’ve got it covered.” She didn’t have to know he was definitely dropping Corey’s bike over at his dad’s on the way to work tomorrow morning for his father to put together. His father would love the challenge. Tucker’s bike was scattered everywhere and if he was lucky, it might be together by Christmas Eve. “Remember our agreement—I’ll do the bikes, you do the bows.”
“The way you were frowning at the instructions, I thought maybe you had a problem.” Jenni took a long gold ribbon and wrapped it around the box. She knotted the ends and then proceeded to make a perfect bow.
“How did you do that?” He stood up and walked into his kitchen. Rolls of wrap, tape, tags, and ribbons were everywhere. “I still remember my mom making me stick my finger on top of the knot to keep it tight.”
“Ribbons improved the last decade.” Jenni grinned. “I appreciate you letting me store all the kids’ presents here, Coop. You have no idea what Tucker is capable of when there are presents in the house.”
He chuckled. “No problem. I don’t mind sharing my bedroom with them.” All the wrapped presents were stored on the floor between one side of the bed and the wall. He no longer could get out on that side of the bed. “Of course, I’d rather be sharing it with a certain someone.”
“Oh yeah, who?” Jenni wrapped a silver ribbon around his neck and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “Naughty boys don’t get anything in their stockings for Christmas. How naughty have you been?” Jenni playfully nipped at his lower lip.
“That’s it. I’ll show you how naughty I can be.” He swept her up into his arms, carried her into the bedroom, and dropped her onto the center of the bed. He followed her down and let his arms take his weight. Jenni was a tiny thing. “How long can you stay out?” He felt like he was a teenager again and his girlfriend had a curfew.
“Eleven or so.” Jenni tugged on the ribbon, bringing him closer. “Felicity’s watching the boys tonight for me.”
He nuzzled the side of her neck. “Remind me to buy her something special for Christmas, like a BMW.” His hands started unbuttoning Jenni’s blue, silky blouse. “Did I tell you today how beautiful you are?” His lips caressed warm, smooth skin as they followed his fingers. He could feel Jenni trying to tug at the buttons on his shirt.
“Twice, and one of those times was in the action-figure aisle of the toy store.” Jenni pushed her hands in between their bodies. Giving up on his buttons, she reached for his belt. “You nearly gave the stock boy a lesson he shouldn’t be getting until at least the twelfth grade.”
Jenni’s fingers weren’t playing fair. “Who’s being naughty now?”
“Me,” purred Jenni. “I already got what I wanted for Christmas—you hard and wanting me.”
“That was your Thanksgiving present.�
� His eyes crossed as her fingers started to stroke his zipper. With a flick of his fingers, he undid the front clasp of her bra. His gaze feasted on two perfectly formed breasts. He swirled his tongue over one extended nipple, then gave the other one the same treatment. He smiled at the way Jenni’s hips arched up. “Now be a good girl and tell me what you really want for Christmas.”
“You, I want you.” Jenni’s fingers wrapped around him, and he was the one to arch his hips this time.
“You already have me.” Christmas was four days away, and he hadn’t gotten her a gift yet. He had been to the mall twice, but nothing seemed special enough. He had haunted three jewelry stores with big-haired and bigger cheesy–smiling clerks, looking for that special gift. At all three jewelry stores he had ended up at the same spot, in front of the engagement rings.
How could he ask a woman he’d just met on Halloween to marry him? It was too soon. Jenni hadn’t once said she loved him, even though he was positive that she did. He could see it in her eyes.
Jenni’s fingers tightened. “I don’t have you where I want you, Coop.”
He smiled against the gentle swell of her breast. “And where would that be?” His fingers got busy on their own, unsnapping her jeans and tugging them down. He groaned when Jenni released him to help.
Coop rolled onto his back and started to yank off his own clothes. Since Jenni was already half undressed, she was naked before him. Her hands were strong and sure as they pulled his shirt over his arms and tossed it on top of the presents. He grinned. This was his Jenni, so wild, sweet, and wanting him.
Jenni captured his hands and straddled his thighs. Her grin was sexy and hot as she stared down at him. “I’m going to put you where I want you, Coop.”
His breath slammed out of his lungs as he tried reaching into the nightstand drawer. “There is a Santa Claus, and he delivered early.”
Jenni slowly shook her hair as she lowered her mouth toward his. “Santa won’t be here for another four days.” Silky dark hair teased the sides of his face. “It’s just me and you.” Jenni’s breath played across his waiting mouth.
Coop could have easily reversed their positions, but why spoil all her fun? He was rock-hard and ready for anything Jenni might want to do. “Good, because I don’t think I can wait four more days.” He’d be lucky to last four more minutes. His fingers clutched a foil packet.
Jenni’s nipped at his chin and then trailed her moist lips down his throat. “How long can you last?”
Plump breasts skimmed his chest and stomach as Jenni moved lower. His thighs started to tremble when he realized she wasn’t stopping. “I ummmm . . .”
Jenni smiled against his stomach. “That’s what I thought.” She moved lower.
With a flick of her tongue, his hips arched off the mattress and he nearly embarrassed himself. He closed his eyes and swallowed when he felt the heat of her mouth engulf him. The woman was trying to kill him.
With a loud growl, he grabbed Jenni’s shoulders, pulling her up and over onto her back. “Enough!”
Jenni wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “Not yet, it isn’t.”
He could feel the satiny smoothness of her thighs as they clutched his hips. “Now where exactly do you want me, Jen?” He positioned himself between her thighs but kept his arousal away from her. “Here?”
“No.” Jenni arched her hips, trying to bring him closer.
He barely teased her opening with the head of his penis. “What about here?”
Jenni wrapped her legs around his hips and locked her ankles. “Deeper,” came out in a hoarse plea as her head moved side to side.
“Like this?” He felt his arms tremble as he slowly started to enter her. He was using every ounce of self-control not to sink into her heat.
“More.” Jenni’s breath was fast and shallow. “Please.”
He could no more refuse her than breathe. With a groan of pure pleasure he slowly pulled out of her and then plunged.
Jenni cried her release as he thrust deeper, and then deeper still.
The sweet convulsions that tightened around him sent him over the edge. He arched his back and climaxed.
Chapter Sixteen
Jenni snuggled closer to Coop under the comforter. Lying with Coop was fantastic. Okay, the sex had been fantastic; the afterglow was warm and wondrous. She trailed her fingers over his chest and smiled. “I didn’t get all the wrapping done.”
“There’s still time left before the big day.” Coop’s fingers were toying with the ends of her hair.
“Time for you to get the bikes together?” She glanced at the bedside clock. She had an hour yet before she turned into a pumpkin.
“Right after I get my mechanical degree.” Coop chuckled softly. “How they can make something so simple so complicated is beyond me.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“You have that much faith in me?” Coop seemed curious.
She lifted her head and looked at him. “Yes, one hundred percent.” Plain, simple, and the truth.
Coop’s expression fell and his body stiffened. “Don’t keep looking at me as if I’m some type of hero, Jenni. I’m not perfect.”
“I never said you were.” She sat up, bringing the sheet with her. Something was bothering Coop; she had seen a flash of pain pass across his face. “What’s up?”
Coop wouldn’t meet her gaze. “There’s something we need to talk about.”
“Like?” She had a horrible sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“Let’s get dressed and then we’ll talk.”
“No, let’s talk now.” Coop looked like he was ready to run. Naked men usually didn’t run, and besides, Coop was on the side of the bed with all the presents. He would either have to look like a fool crawling to the bottom of the bed, get past her, or stay put.
Coop sighed but stayed where he was. “I got a feeling Sam never told you. I was a chicken by hoping that he would so I didn’t have to.”
“Told me what?” What did Sam have to do with anything? Felicity and Sam were seeing each other again, and both seemed happy. Dorothy put on a great front, but she was miserable as all get out. Eli had been out of the picture for over a week now.
“Remember I went in to the high school the one evening and talked to the football team after practice?” Coop pulled himself up into a sitting position and used the headboard as a backrest. His portion of the sheet was covering his lap, but his chest was bare.
“Vaguely.” How did Coop expect her to remember her own name when he was sitting naked less than two feet from her and looking so scrumptious?
“I go into high schools a lot to talk to the athletes.”
“That’s nice.” She frowned when she spotted a red scratch on Coop’s chest. She must have just done that while they were . . .
“Would you stop looking at my chest when I’m talking?” Coop grabbed a pillow and held it in front of him like he was protecting his virtue.
She grinned. “It’s a nice chest.”
“Thank you, but pay attention. You might not think it’s so nice when I’m done.”
Now that put an end to her wicked thoughts. “Continue.” What she wanted to say was to hurry the hell up and get to the point. Why wouldn’t she like him? Hell, she was in love with him.
“Didn’t you ever wonder why I dropped out of college, gave up football, and moved to California?”
“Sure, I just figured you’d tell me about when you were ready.” Coop couldn’t have done something really bad. His parents still loved him. Sam’s football coach had been thrilled to see him at their game. “Why did the hero worship die from Sam’s eyes? What did you tell them?” Come to think of it, when the entire football team had been at her place, the day Corey had gone missing, they all had been friendly and polite toward Coop. But they hadn’t been hanging on Coop’s every word, like they had been at that Friday-night game.
“The truth.”
“What truth?”
“I
used drugs.” Coop watched her closely.
She blinked. “Excuse me?” She couldn’t have heard right. Coop wasn’t a druggie. He was her UPS man. He was Misty Harbor’s football hero with the most receiving yards, or something like that.
“I used steroids, Jen.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“Yes.” Coop sat there and watched her.
A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind. She was sitting naked in bed with an illegal-drug user. Impossible! She looked at Coop and the resolve upon his face. Was he expecting her to leave just like that? Coop had another thing coming. She was made of stronger stuff than that. She wanted the story, the whole story, and then she would make up her mind if she would leave or not.
“Want to start at the beginning?”
“You’re not leaving?” Coop relaxed just a bit.
“I’m Tucker’s mom. You’re going to have to do better than that if you’re trying to frighten me away.”
Coop grinned and relaxed further. “You know most of it already. Local high school football star gets offered a full scholarship at a semi-decent college.”
“Semi-decent?”
“It wasn’t Ohio or Penn State, but said football star figured he would shine enough that one of the major football colleges would pick him up in his last two years.” Coop shook his head. “Said football star was a fool.”
“To be seen.” She clutched the sheet to her breasts with one hand and waved the other. “Continue.”
“Going from high school to college ball was a whole different ball game”—Coop gave her a lopsided smile—“pun not intended.”
She rolled her eyes and waited.
“Coach Rawlins took me under his wing, you could say. He was going to show me how to shine. How to improve my game. How to get to the NFL.” Coop gave a self-deprecating laugh. “How to use steroids to reach those goals, and make himself look good in the process.”
Her stomach turned. “Your coach encouraged you to take steroids?”
“Encouraged, no. To Coach Rawlins’s thinking, it was mandatory. Who do you think got us the stuff?”
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