by Lori Ryan
In that moment she felt gorgeous.
She reached toward her nightstand and grabbed a condom, tearing it open. She stared up at him.
Before she could move, Jake took the condom from her hands and rolled it on, moving to align their bodies. He stopped and stared down at her. “Just sex?” he asked, waiting.
She could do this. Remove her heart from the equation. She’d done it plenty of times before. Only this time she hesitated.
“Lina, I’m dying here.”
Her gaze rolled up to meet his and she smirked. “Just sex.”
He moved, pressing closer.
She placed a hand on his chest and he growled. “But very good sex, right?” she asked. “I don’t want to waste these globos.”
“Only the best sex for you.” He winked and without another word, sank into her.
Lina moaned at the exquisite intrusion, her legs falling open as he pressed in even further. God, he felt amazing, moving inside her. Tilting her hips with one hand he angled her to the perfect position, hitting her right where every girl dreams.
“Jake,” she sighed.
“This isn’t going to take long,” he said with a note of apology in his voice.
Lina glanced at the globo box. “We have all night.” She smirked.
“Good answer.” He pulled back then pushed in even further, his hips moving faster now. “Raise your legs,” he demanded, “wrap them around my waist.”
“Bossy much?” she smiled but did as he said. Her eyes widened and she cried out, all traces of humor gone when he filled her completely. Sparks of desire ignited at the point where they were joined and rippled down to her toes.
He caressed her, deep within, in a way she’d never been touched before. She watched his chiseled chest and arms flex above her, his jaw set tight as his release ebbed closer. She felt her own orgasm building, spiraling down her spine, an intense ache building between her legs. “Jake,” she begged.
“Let go, Lina,” he said in a husky voice that pushed her over the edge.
Unable to wait for him, she detonated, her heart beating wildly, body clenching around him as she flew higher than she ever had.
Still soaring from her climax, she felt him grow inside.
“Oh, God” she moaned, something deep inside coiling again. The ache was back. She was on the precipice, pushed over by a storm of desire so intense she thought she might pass out.
With one final thrust, he roared with his own release, setting off another storm of lust and longing inside her.
She gasped, her body tightening around him, drawing him in even deeper.
He clutched her to him as she squeezed her legs tight around him, riding out another orgasm, her body humming, her chest heaving from the exertion. As the pulsating throb eased, she sank back onto the mattress, Jake falling on top of her, breathing roughly in her ear.
“Jesus, Lina, that was…”
She understood, she couldn’t find words either.
Just sex. Just sex. Just sex. She reminded herself.
But something deep inside said it had been more.
So much more.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Lina stood against the back wall of the small auditorium, head down, reading her notes. The room was filling fast with concerned citizens of Canyon Creek as they awaited the start of the Town Council meeting. She swallowed down the lump in her throat, trying to calm her racing heart.
It wasn’t just the fact she was going to speak in front nearly every business owner in town, and many of its citizens. Now, she was actually fearful of her own safety.
This morning when Dak and Cam had returned home they’d noticed Lina’s passenger side window had been knocked out with a brick and two tires slashed. Maybe it was just a random act of vandalism, mischievous teens. She’d done stupid things like that at one time. But Lina couldn’t shake the feeling that it was much more menacing, a warning of some kind. The close timing of the act, just a few hours before the Town Council meeting was too much of a coincidence to calm her nerves.
“You okay?” Jake asked, sliding up next to her.
Just the smell of his cologne eased her fears. She glanced up into his eyes, eyes that had held hers half the night as they’d made love.
Okay, not made love. Had sex. Just sex.
“Hey,” he nudged her again, rousing her from her thoughts.
“Yeah, just nervous.”
“You’ll be fine.” He smiled but she couldn’t quite seem to muster the same enthusiasm.
“What’s wrong?” His brows furrowed in genuine concern.
“Hey,” Dak said to Jake as he walked toward them. He turned his attention toward her. “Terri is going to have your car ready first thing in the morning so don’t worry.”
“Thanks, Dak.” She smiled but it didn’t meet her eyes.
“Terri?” Jake asked. “Who’s Terri?”
“Theresa Voss,” Lina said. “She owns one of the garages in town. Her shop does great bodywork.”
“What’s wrong with your car?” Jake’s gaze went from her to Dak when she didn’t answer.
“You didn’t tell him?” Cam asked, walking up beside Dak.
God, these guys were like nosy brothers.
“I didn’t tell anyone. I don’t want them to worry. Especially my parents.” Her eyes went wide, staring at Dak. “You didn’t tell my parents, did you?”
Dak shook his head. “But Terri has a big mouth.”
“Shit.” She hung her head.
“What’s wrong with your car, Lina?” Jake asked again, this time with less patience.
“Someone threw a rock through my passenger side window and slashed two tires.”
Jake stepped in front of her, grabbing both her shoulders. “Are you serious?”
Her eyes met his gaze and she nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She shrugged. “The fewer people who know, the better.”
“Did you call the police?” he asked. When she didn’t answer he stared up at Dak. “Did she call the police?”
Dak raised his hands and shook his head. “She wouldn’t let me.”
“Why not?” Jake asked.
“It was probably just some random kids having fun.” Lina tried to play off the violent act.
“Yeah, at your expense.”
Lina didn’t add that it was probably karma. She and her friends had done way worse stuff in high school.
“Lina, you need to tell someone,” Jake said.
She shrugged out of his hold. “It’s fine. My car will be fine. No one was injured.”
“This time,” Jake said.
“Hey girl,” a familiar voice called out to her.
Lina turned and smiled—a real smile, but one partly born from relief at the interruption—when she saw Maggie, Lily, and Kayleigh standing in front of her.
“Hey, guys. I’m so glad you’re here,” she said. “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course,” Maggie said, “we’re as opposed to this as you are.”
Jake raised a brow. “Even though my brother is on the other side of the aisle?”
They all glanced behind Maggie and saw Jake’s brother Ben seated with some others, awaiting the meeting.
“He’ll come around,” Maggie said, never taking her eyes off him. The steely edge to her tone said she was determined to change his mind.
As if hearing her words, Ben glanced up, staring at her.
They held each other’s gaze for several seconds and Lina could feel the tension between them.
“I hate that I’m causing problems between you two,” Lina said quietly.
Maggie turned back around and stared up at Lina. “This isn’t your fault, honey.”
“I know, but still.”
A woman with multi-colored hair and the brightest blue eyes Lina had ever seen scooted up next to Maggie. “Hey, toots,” she said. “Where should I park the old lady?”
Maggie laughed and waved her hand in f
ront of the small but very curvy woman. “Everyone this is Mia, Sally’s daughter. Mia, this is everyone.” Maggie swung her hand around the small group.
“I know him,” Mia said, pointing to Jake, scrunching up her nose as if she wished she didn’t.
Lina felt a stab of jealousy until Maggie’s words rang through her head again. Mia was Sally’s daughter. Jake’s cousin. Oh, God, had she really just gotten jealous over Jake’s cousin?
“Unfortunately I know you, too,” Jake laughed, pulling Mia into a tight embrace. “How is the old lady?”
“Being a royal pain-in-my-ass,” Mia huffed.
“Who’s the pain-in-the-ass?” Lina asked.
“My mom,” Mia sighed, at the same time that Jake said, “my aunt.”
Mia grinned. “She won’t sit still and refuses to stay in bed as her doctor ordered. She has a friggin’ concussion and a busted-up knee that she’s supposed to stay off of for Christ’s sake, but she’s dragging me out to town meetings.”
“Sounds like Sally,” Lina said. They all laughed. “So where do you live, Mia?” she asked. She knew Sally had six daughters but didn’t know much more than that, except for her friend Lily.
“I live in Chicago but when mom and Aunt Valerie had their car accident I flew down as soon as I could. Lily had a conference in Denver so I’ve stayed on a few more days. That old bat scared the shit out of all of us.”
“What do you do in Chicago?” Cam asked, a familiar twinkle in his eyes. It was the expression he always donned when trying to lure in a woman. Although honestly, he didn’t really have to try hard most days.
Mia’s eyes raked over him as if sensing his interest. She held up a hand. “Easy tiger,” she laughed.
Jake chuckled. “Trust me, Cam. This girl is way more than you want to handle. You know my aunt, right?”
Cam nodded.
“Tree,” he pointed toward Sally, “meet apple.” His hand waved back to Mia.
Cam stepped back, but there was a playful grin on his face.
Mia shoved Jake’s hand away. “Whatever.”
“I like your aunt,” Dak said in an unusual display of voluntary conversation.
“Why thank you,” Mia smiled. “I like her, too, but she can be a handful.”
“And you’re not?” Maggie laughed.
“Oh suck it,” Mia brushed them off.
“I like your hair,” Dak said.
Lina turned and stared at him. Dak rarely gave compliments, and certainly not to a perfect stranger with multi-colored hair.
“You do?” Mia asked, tugging at a purple strand.
Mia’s hair was hot pink at the top then transitioned into varying shades of purple and blue all the way to the ends in a chambre-style technique. It really was beautiful and Lina envied her. She’d only been brave enough to color the ends of her hair, not her entire head. Maybe she would change that.
“Most guys are intimidated by my wild hair color,” Mia said.
“Why?” Dak asked.
Mia shrugged. “Beats me.”
“I’m not intimidated by it,” he said.
It wasn’t only Lina who noticed the exchange now. The group’s collective gaze traveled from Dak to Mia then back to Dak again. Her roommate was one of the most conservative, conventional guys she knew. And he’d spoken more words to a stranger in the last two minutes than he usually did in a year.
“What?” he said, glaring at all of them.
Mia stared at Dak with genuine gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you.” She smiled, revealing two dimples on either cheek.
“Why my goodness,” Cam said in a high-pitched voice, “did I just see Dakota Bryan Hansen blush?”
“Screw you, Delgado.” Dak shot him the bird then turned to leave.
“Wow,” Mia said, smiling as she stared at Dak’s ass as he walked away.
“Double wow,” Kayleigh said.
“Triple wow,” Maggie added.
Jake groaned and rolled his eyes.
“My ass is just as tight and firm as his, ladies,” Cam said, lifting his shirt and turning to stick out his butt.
“Nice,” Kayleigh laughed, swatting it.
“Oh, hell yeah.” Cam circled his hand in the air.
“Please don’t encourage them,” Jake said.
“Which one?” Kayleigh asked.
“All of you,” Jake and Lina said in unison.
Someone rapped a wooden gavel at the front of the room and Lina was reminded that she’d be speaking in front of a room of people in minutes. Her stomach felt like she’d swallowed a bag of rocks and she thought she might actually throw up.
“We better go take our seats,” Maggie said.
Lina nodded, watching all of them make their way to the seating area.
“Aren’t you going to sit down?” Jake asked.
“No,” she shook her head. “I’m too nervous.”
“I’ll stand with you,” he said, sliding his hand into hers.
She glanced down at their joined hands. “What are you doing?” she asked, trying to pull away.
He laughed but let her go, leaning in closer. “That’s right, it’s just sex. Sorry, I forget.”
Lina thought she heard playfulness in his tone, but she might have heard disappointment there, too.
“Who are those people in the front row?” Lina asked, not recognizing the two men and one woman with briefcases and long pieces of rolled up paper.
“They’re reps from the Federal Highway Commission.”
Lina whipped her head around to stare at Jake. “Why are they here? This is just a preliminary meeting for the town to discuss the issues.”
“They’re from the Planning, Environment, and Realty Research department. I thought it would be a good idea for them to hear the concerns and opposition from the beginning, not half-way to a decision that’s been railroaded without letting the opposition be heard.”
She stared at him, brows furrowed, lips pressed in a hard line.
“What?”
“You called them?” she whispered through clenched teeth.
“Yes. Todd has worked with the Federal Highway Administration for a long time. I had connections.” His eyes went from the front of the room back to her. “Why do you sound upset?”
“I’m already a nervous wreck,” she breathed in rapid breaths, “and now…now there are federal agents here, too.”
He laughed. “Federal agents?”
She cut a hand in front of her in the air. “Reps, people … investigators, whatever they are.”
He stilled and turned his whole body this time, to look at her full on. Then his hands came to her shoulders. “Don’t be nervous, Lina. You’ll do fine.”
“Good evening,” Suzi Aguilar, the mayor of Canyon Creek, spoke into her microphone. “I want to welcome everyone here to the Canyon Creek Town Council meeting.” She surveyed the room and Lina followed her gaze. It was standing-room-only tonight, a fact that didn’t do anything to slow her erratic heartbeat.
A hand slid into hers and squeezed once, then pulled away. She didn’t have the guts to look at Jake. Getting up and speaking in front of him was one of the major reasons she was so scared.
“It looks like we’ve got quite a crowd tonight,” Mayor Aguilar said. “And a few extra guests as well.” She stared directly at the two men and one woman sitting off to the side in the front row. “I would like to thank you for coming but I remind you, this is a town council meeting for residents only. We won’t be presenting anything except the testimony and concerns of our citizens.”
“Understood,” one of the men in a navy-blue suit said.
“I can’t believe you brought them here,” Lina hissed. When Jake remained silent, she turned.
His eyes, which were normally bright green, were darker now, dulled with what looked like defeat “I’m sorry,” he said, “I just thought—”
Someone from the back row shushed him as the mayor continued speaking. Ms. Parker, the town librarian. Of course she w
ould be shushing them. But considering the fact she hadn’t yet voiced her opinion either for or against the expansion, Lina didn’t want to piss her off.
Mayor Aguilar went through the standard introductions and opening statements of business before the town council. Lina had been to one or two of these kinds of meetings before. Her stomach twisted in knots she was so nervous. She thought about what her mother said, about being angry, and maybe part of that was true.
There was a time she’d been angry they had to move and leave friends behind in New Jersey. But that was years ago and she’d grown up since then. She knew she had no one to blame but herself for their decision to leave her home.
Of course, she still had things she was upset about. She was angry her mother didn’t understand her.
She was angry that Jake had invited these federal representatives without telling her.
But most of all, she was angry with herself. It was something that had been dawning on her gradually, the realization she’d done very little with her life.
She looked around the room at all the people with careers they’d worked hard for, businesses they owned and were proud of, families they were raising to be a part of Canyon Creek for years to come.
What had she done? She worked odd jobs and she liked to think she was a good person, but really, what more could she say about herself than that? She was nice. That about summed it up.
“Next on our agenda is citizens’ communication about the proposed I-70 East Canyon Pass project,” the mayor said, “or ECP as the Colorado Department of Transportation has nicknamed it. Before we open the floor, I would like to remind everyone that this is a discussion, not a debate. I would ask that you keep your statements concise and geared only to the ECP project. This is not a time to air your political agendas.”
Lina watched as Mayor Aguilar commanded the room. She’d always been a fair-minded mayor, serving one term on the council before running for the position. She’d won two years ago in a virtual landslide. She was the wife of Leo Aguilar and together they ran the Artisan’s Gallery, a local business that provided a showroom for artists around the area. The small gallery hosted everything from paintings to sculptures to jewelry and more. The only requirement was that the products be hand-made by local artists in the area.