by Hart, Lea
The woman looped her arms around her daughter and grimaced. “I’m sorry. We’re working on what’s appropriate to say and what isn’t.”
Laughing, David shook his head and grinned. “That’s okay.” Smiling down at the little girl, he responded solemnly. “I didn’t get these until I was all grown up. So your mom is right; pens are for paper and not your skin.” Her small fingers rubbed the tattoo covering the back of his hand, and he wondered if she was trying to make it disappear. “It doesn’t come off. It will stay on forever.”
“Does your mommy know?”
Letting out a loud chuckle, he patted her hand. “Yes. She didn’t like them very much when she first saw them, but she’s okay with them now.”
“You’re lucky. I would’ve been in time-out for a long time.”
Gently lifting her daughter’s hand away, the mom scooped her daughter into her lap. “Okay, missy, time to keep your hands to yourself.” She mouthed an apology over her daughter’s head and then gave him a half-smile.
“No problem.”
The next second, the little girl shot off of her mother’s lap and screamed, “Daddy,” at an approaching man. Her purple tutu flying around her legs as she was lifted into her father’s arms reaffirmed David’s plan. All he needed was for Jane to agree to it and get on board with his idea. After he brought it up last week during their monthly skype conversation, he hadn’t heard a word from her. There had been radio silence, so he figured that she wanted to talk about it with him face to face. Checking his watch again, he realized that was going to happen in another five minutes. His knee bounced as he tried to keep his nervous energy in check. He knew confessing his feelings to Jane was a big risk, but nothing in life worth having was easy.
Glancing up, he caught sight of his best friend walking through the doors and felt his heart kick against his chest. The moment that he’d been waiting for was finally here, and seeing her blazing smile made happiness bloom in his chest. Standing, he opened his arms wide and caught her as she flung herself against him. “J-bean, it’s been too long.” Feeling her squeeze him tight in response made him believe that all of the things that he hoped for might actually be possible. “Missed you,” he said against her soft, flaxen hair. Laughter erupted from her as he squeezed her tightly and twirled her around. “Can’t believe that you’re finally here.”
“Me neither.” Jane took a step back and gave him a thorough once over. “No new bullet holes?” she asked carefully.
“No. After I retired last year, I found that I don’t get shot at nearly as much as I used to. It’s one of the many advantages of being a private citizen. I’m just a boring civilian with a regular job.”
Snorting in response, she shook her head and waited, because the first answer he gave her was rarely the most accurate. “Does that include gunshot wounds?”
“You can’t count those.” Holding up her hands, he studied her and smiled. “A year is a long time not to see your face in person.”
Running her fingers down his cheek, she grinned. “Agreed.” Tugging his hand, she led him over to the baggage carousel. “I’ve been traveling for twelve hours, and I’m in desperate need of American food. I need a hamburger more than my next breath.”
Holding her closely against him, he kissed her head. “Your wish is my command. In-N-Out?”
“Yes, please,” she moaned. She saw her big red duffle come down the chute and was about to step forward to grab it when David stopped her. Raising her eyebrow in question, he shook his finger back and forth. “I can get my own bag, David.”
“I know. But you’re not going to, because I’m here. Step back, woman, and let me take care of you.”
“Be my guest, kind man. I’ve schlepped that thing across two airports, and I’m happy to allow you to be a gentleman.” Stepping back, she let David lift her massive duffle like it was a purse.
His muscles strained against the sleeve of his dark shirt, and she felt an unfamiliar flash of heated desire. Tilting her head from side-to-side, she tried to dislodge the thought. Why was she picturing her best friend with his shirt off? The conversation they had last week must’ve affected her more than she thought, because crazy, sexy thoughts were flying around in her brain. “Thanks.” She squeezed his hand, and they walked toward the parking structure. “I can’t wait to dip my fries into a chocolate milkshake. I’ve been dreaming about it for the last two weeks.” And you, I’ve been having sex dreams about you. That’s not weird, right? “Right.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing, just thinking about hot fried food.” Sure, that’s exactly what’s happening.
“It’s good to see that your dreams still revolve around fried food and chocolate. Nothing has changed in the twenty years we’ve known each other.” A current of electricity ran up his spine as he stared at her enormous grin. Except that everything had changed because he thought Jane might be the love of his life. Other than that, it was the same old thing, just two friends getting together. Yeah…right.
David sat across from Jane at In-N-Out and watched her consume a double-double in less than five minutes. She had always been able to eat a lot, but seeing her wolf-down the double cheeseburger was impressive, even for her. “Wow! That might be a personal best for you.”
Wiping her face and hands, she shrugged. “I know. I told you that I was hungry, and I wasn’t kidding.” She pulled the fries toward her and started eating them as she stared at him. “Were you serious the other day?”
“You want to talk about it now? Here?”
Glancing around the packed place, she waved her hand widely. “I feel like it’s the elephant in the room, and it’s making me nervous. I’ve never been nervous around you, and I don’t want to start now.”
“There is nothing to be nervous about, and yes, I’m dead serious, Jane.”
She shoved more fries into her mouth and continued to stare. “I don’t understand why you’ve started to have these feelings now. Why not five years ago or even ten years ago? Are you panicking because you’re getting old?”
“If I’m getting old, then so are you. We share a birthday, so it’s not like you have a magic time machine that allows you to age differently than me.”
“Yeah, about that…you are getting better looking as you get older, and I just look tired. Where is the fairness in that?”
“Jane, that’s not true. Don’t try and change the subject, either.”
“I’m the one who brought up the subject, so why would I change it?” Making a monkey face at him, she waited for him to laugh. When he started to crack up, some of the tension left the table. “I just didn’t want to ignore it, so I thought bringing it up here would make it a little easier.”
“Do you want to wait until we get home or should we start talking about my crazy idea now?”
“Later. I need more fries.” She stared down at her empty container and sighed. “Somebody ate mine.”
David stood up and laughed. “It must have been the same French fry fairy that’s been around since we were twelve. I’ll go get you another order. I need a shake anyway.”
“Thanks, David.” She watched him walk toward the counter, and her shoulders slumped.
It was going to be a hell of a conversation tomorrow. It wasn’t every day that your best friend confessed that he’d fallen in love with you and wanted to start a life together. Rubbing her head, she felt a headache starting to form. Was the possibility of love supposed to make you feel this way?
Half a day of travel and thoughts of getting jiggy with her best friend were obviously more than her brain could handle. Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried some yoga breaths to see if she could slow the oncoming pain in her head. When a large, warm hand touched her shoulder, she startled.
“It’s just me,” David said. He scooted into the seat next to her and set her fries in front of her. “Headache?”
“Yeah. Twelve hours of traveling has finally hit me.”
He lifted his arm an
d looped it around her shoulder. “Is that all that’s making your head hurt?”
“I may be a little tense. The idea of having sex with my best friend is frying the wiring in my brain.”
“I said that I was in love with you. I did not bring up sex during any part of our conversation.”
“So you just want to love me, but not see me naked.”
“Oh, I want to see you naked, and I definitely want to be intimate with you. A lot. As often as we can.” Rubbing his face, he peered over at her. “I just want credit for bringing up love and not sex. Let the record reflect that it was you who brought it up.”
“This is why my head hurts.”
He kissed her gently and shoved the fries closer to her. “East these and relax.” He started in on his milkshake and looked out over the room. “Did I mention every day? Because that’s what I meant earlier. Also, probably more than once a day…twice would be good.”
Shoving an elbow into his side, she smirked. “I don’t even know if you’re a good kisser. For all I know, all the things that I’ve heard about you are untrue. You could be a big dud in the hot and sexy department. I love you as my best friend, but make no mistake, I’m going to need more than that if I’m going to take you on full time.”
“I’m going to kiss the hell out of you when we get home, and then all of your concerns can be put to rest. Don’t you worry about that.” He snatched a fry from her and shook his head. “I am not a dud. In fact…I’m going to blow your mind and own your body once I kiss you. So prepare yourself to fall under my spell.”
“Your spell? That’s a lot of big talk. I hope you can back it up.” Dipping several fries into her shake, she placed them delicately in her mouth and smiled at the man who was promising to kiss her good sense right out of her. It seemed almost impossible, but she had a thing for impossible. Worst case, the whole thing blew up, and she lost her best friend.
It’s not like there was a lot at stake.
********
David pulled into his driveway and turned off the engine. “Welcome home, Jane.”
Staring out the window at his small house, she smiled proudly. He had purchased a charming California bungalow with a postage stamp-sized front yard. It was painted white and had a dark blue front door. Nice nod to his ten years in the navy. “When did you become an adult and buy a house?”
“About six months ago.”
She hopped out of his truck, grabbed her purse, and walked toward the front door. “When I decide to stop traveling, I’m going to buy a house just like this one. I love it.”
David opened the door and stood aside so she could enter. “You could just live here with me.”
Stepping in, she glanced around and admired the open room filled with light. “I had no idea that you had such good taste. I never would’ve guessed you’d buy something like this. It’s so charming.” She stood in the entryway and noticed the open arches and crown molding that gave the house some personality. The interior was painted a pale cream, and it made the inside of the house look like a shell with the warm sunlight reflecting off the dark wood floors.
Stepping up behind her, he put his hands on her shoulders and leaned his chin on the top of her head. “This last year has been the first time in my life that I’ve been home consistently for more than a couple of weeks at a time. I spent six months in an apartment, and I hated it. So that’s when I went searching for a house. I like having the space and knowing that I can make it whatever I want.” For us and the family we’re going to make together.
“I get it, David. I’ve been traveling for the last five years, and I’m finally ready to come home and settle down in one place. I think I’ve had enough adventure for a while.”
“Music to my ears.” Taking her hand, he led her down the hall toward to the room that he’d set up for her. “I bought a bed and stuff when you told me you were coming. But if you like my idea and we decide to give it a go, then this room will just be a place to put your extra clothes.”
“I like how you slip that into conversation. As though changing the fabric of one of the most important relationships in my life is no big deal.”
“It’s a gamble, Jane. I understand that. But it could give us the payoff of happiness for the rest of our lives. Not many people have the pleasure of spending their lives with their best friend. You are my favorite person in the world, and I think it would be a good idea to see if all the feelings I have rattling around are the real thing. Because if they are, then I’ve pretty much won the lottery.”
Walking into the room that he’d set up for her, a smile lit up her face. “You remembered.” A small tear slipped down her face as she studied the room. He had painted it cornflower blue and had put a white quilt on the bed. It was exactly like the room she’d had in high school. A picture of the two of them that had been taken in high school rested in a frame. She picked it up and studied it. They had their arms wrapped around each other, and they were grinning from ear to ear. It must’ve been taken after one of his basketball games, because he was in his jersey. Was it possible to meet the love of your life when you were twelve? Those were the types of stories that were meant for romance novels and not real-life. But staring at the photo of the two of them made her rethink the possibility.
“Look at us. We’ve always been connected. Maybe the thing we’ve been searching for is right under our noses. Wouldn’t it be a damn shame not to find out because we were scared?”
“I can’t risk losing our friendship. It’s the cornerstone of my life.”
“We’re not going to lose anything. We’re going to see if we can make it more.”
Setting the picture down, she turned and slumped on the bed. “I can’t take it all in.”
David flopped down next to her and rolled her into his arms. “Let’s just relax tonight. How about a movie and popcorn?”
Rolling onto her side, she grinned and buried her face in his chest. “Perfect.” He smelled the same, and she wondered why it was so comforting to her.
He held her a little more closely and knew that he was right about them. The river of connection between them was deep, and it meant that if they decided to transform their relationship into something romantic, then it was going to be fairly easy. “You pick the movie, and I promise not to complain.”
“I’ve only seen films on Netflix for the last year and half, so I don’t much care what it is.”
“How does a Bond movie sound to you?”
“If you add some martinis to it, perfect.”
“Martinis and popcorn coming up.” He rolled off the bed and held out his hand. “Come and help me make the drinks. Your martinis are always better than mine.”
“I’m out of practice, but I’ll give it a shot.” Following him down the hall, she noticed how nice his behind looked in his jeans. When had her best friend become so freaking sexy?
CHAPTER TWO
Tuesday
David knocked on Jane’s door and peeked his head in. She was sprawled across the bed with her face planted in a pillow, snoring softly. Quietly, he walked in and set the coffee cups down on the chest of drawers, calling her name. Years of experience told him it would take a small tornado to wake her up, so he lifted the quilt up and slipped in next to her.
Curling around her warm body, he felt himself react instantly. Yep, attraction and chemistry with his best friend were not going to be a problem. He scooted back a little and adjusted himself because Jane didn’t need to wake up to his enthusiasm. Taking a moment to savor the feeling of being wrapped around the warm body of the woman that he’d loved all along, he took a breath in and felt his muscles loosen up.
Jane smelled the same way she did when she moved next door to him when they were twelve. Like sunshine, oranges, and Dove soap. He’d carried the scent around in his memory for twenty years. It was the perfume that he’d been seeking in every woman he’d met since then. Only when he realized that he’d compared every woman to Jane and found them all lacking did he k
now that she’d been the one all along. Why should he settle for a sad facsimile when the original was available? Why shouldn’t the woman of his dreams be the person he met when he was twelve? Maybe he was just a lucky son of a bitch and nothing more. Hell, he’d put his life on the line in defense of this country, so maybe he had earned it. If that’s what gave him this opportunity, then he was happy to pay the price a hundred times over.
Jane started moving around, so he kissed her cheek and called a gentle good morning.
“David, do you have a hard on?”
“Jeez, is that what you open with?”
“I haven’t woken up next to a man in longer than I can remember. So, yes, that’s what I’m going to open with. I hope there is coffee in this room, because if there’s not, then I’m going to be a little miffed.”
“Yes, I brought coffee. Where is the sweet good morning and the warm snuggles?”
“They are on the other side of that conversation that we have yet to have. We are still best friends, so I get to inquire about coffee and stiffies. Who knows? Maybe tomorrow morning will bring a whole other set of questions.”
“I sure hope so. And, yes, I’m happy to see you and so is my body.” Scooting closer, he held her tightly and nestled himself against her as close as he could. “As you can tell, I’m real happy to be close to you.”
Letting out a bark of laughter, she grasped his hand that was around her waist. “I feel like I’m being naughty in my high school room with a boy.” Wiggling her hips against him, she felt him react even more. “I think I’m getting turned on.”
“I sure as hell hope so. Maybe we should just have sex and see if it’s going to be any good between us.”
“Okay…as your best friend, I need to tell you that sucked as far as seduction goes. I deserve a whole lot more than that.”
Slipping his hand up her shirt, he felt the warm skin of her back and felt her shudder as he moved it slowly over her skin. “You’re right. I was just stating an end goal. I promise to seduce the hell out of you as soon as you give me the green light. This is just my warm up act.”