by Iris Morland
When she saw Heath’s car in his driveway and a light on inside the first-floor apartment, her heart started pounded. She almost lost her nerve right then. Taking a deep breath, she told herself to remain calm, cool, collected. She’d seen how Heath looked at her. She only had to use that desire to her advantage.
The moment Heath opened his door, Jubilee suddenly found all the words she’d imagined saying disappearing. His eyes widened in surprise, and he seemed just as speechless as she was.
“Jubilee? What is it? Has something happened?” he asked worriedly.
A nervous giggle burst from her. She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Why do you always think something terrible has happened?”
“Because you’re at my house without telling me you were coming?”
“Good point.” She shivered, her breath puffing white in the cold air.
“Jesus, it’s freezing. Come inside at least.”
Jubilee followed him into the living room, the apartment cozy and warm. A bottle of beer sat on the coffee table, jazz music on in the background. She hesitated, not sure if she should sit down. Clutching her purse, she couldn’t help but notice that Heath wore a dark green sweater that made his eyes seem brighter. A five-o’clock shadow darkened his jaw, and his hair was long enough to curl against the neckline of his sweater.
Heath was lean, but rangy. He wasn’t as big as Jubilee’s brothers, who were all too tall for their own overly inflated egos.
“So are you sure everything’s okay?” Heath asked her. He looked tired, dark circles smudging the skin under his eyes.
Jubilee chewed on the inside of her cheek. Just say it. Don’t be a scaredy-cat!
“I wanted to start our lessons tonight,” she finally blurted.
Silence filled the room, except for the dulcet tones of a cello playing from the stereo. Heath didn’t react, except Jubilee could make out how tense his shoulders suddenly were. How, if she squinted, she could see his jaw tightening.
“I shouldn’t have agreed to anything like that. It was a mistake,” he said, not looking at her.
Her heart fell, but despite wanting to run back home like a terrified bunny rabbit, she forced herself not to back down.
“Why not?” She moved closer to him, looking up at him from underneath her eyelashes. Megan had told her about that trick, and based on Heath’s jaw tightening further, it worked. “We’re both adults. We can do what we want.”
“It’s not that simple. And anyway, I’m not some playboy. I’m a fifth-grade teacher, for God’s sake.”
“You’re saying I should go ask someone else?”
His fists clenched, but he finally shrugged. “If you’d like.”
“All right. Well, I’ll call Ash. He gave me his number, before you so rudely interrupted us. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to take me up on my offer.” Taking out her phone, she dialed his number. They both heard it ringing—once, twice—then Ash’s voice: “Hello?”
Heath took the phone from her hand and ended the call. “Not him. Anyone but him.”
Jubilee rolled her eyes, taking her phone back. “Now you’re being an idiot. What do you want, Heath? That’s the real question here.”
“I know that if you get involved with Ash Younger, you’ll regret it.”
“Then fulfill your end of the bargain. You can vet the guys, but you have to give me lessons. Simple.”
“It’s not—” He blew out a breath before laughing softly. “How did I ever think you were sweeter than your brothers? You’re worse than them.”
She smiled at the somewhat backhanded compliment. “If you think they’re stubborn, you have no idea.”
Groaning, Heath collapsed onto the couch before patting the cushion next to him. “Sit down, then. I’m not doing this standing up. I’ll get a crick in my neck.”
“I’m not that short!” Jubilee sat down beside him, keeping a few inches between them despite what they were about to do. Her palms became sweaty, her breathing coming faster and faster.
“Don’t be nervous. Here, take a deep breath for me. In, and then out.” Heath’s gaze searched hers. “We don’t have to do anything, you know.”
“It’s not about having to do it; it’s about wanting to do it. That doesn’t mean I can’t still be nervous.”
His lips twitched. “Fair enough.”
Jubilee suddenly became overly aware of her own body. Where did she put her hands? On her lap? She crossed her arms, but that seemed even more awkward. She finally put her hands down by her sides and tried not to fidget like a kid bored in school.
“Where should we start?” Heath asked.
“I want to know how to attract men. How to flirt. What do you find attractive in a woman?”
“You didn’t seem like you needed help the other night.”
“And yet I ended up going home alone.” She pursed her lips. “So, answer the question.”
“Okay, well…” He considered. “I guess any guy will say they like women who are confident. Who can take charge, who know who they are.”
“And have big breasts?”
Heath coughed a laugh. “A nice rack is great, but not a requirement. And anyway, I prefer to call myself a breast connoisseur.”
Jubilee felt her cheeks heating up. Rifling around in her purse, she pulled out a notepad and started taking notes.
“Are you really writing this down?” Heath asked, incredulous.
“Yes, because I’ll forget everything. Now, keep going. I want to know everything.” She pointed her pen at him. “Don’t hold back. I’m not some delicate flower.”
“Beauty is one thing in a woman, but it’s that extra something that attracts me. Any man,” he added hastily. “A woman who has her life together, who can have a conversation.”
Jubilee clucked her tongue. “That’s boring. Are you really telling me some eighty-year-old crone with a mustache and bad breath would be attractive to you if she were witty and had a decent retirement fund?”
Heath laughed, and the sound filled Jubilee with delight. “Okay, fine, I’m not sure I could do bad breath. The mustache could maybe be overlooked.”
“You’re such a liar. Go on. How should a woman flirt with you? Make you want her?” Jubilee realized she sounded breathless as she asked the question, and she stared down at her notepad so Heath wouldn’t see her expression.
“I like when a woman teases. I also like when she touches me—nothing overt, but in small ways. And cleavage helps, too, although I prefer nice legs and long hair.”
Jubilee wanted to ask if he hated short hair—considering she’d just cut hers into a bob—but she bit her lip. “And what she should talk about?”
“Anything but her exes.” He smiled wryly. “That goes for the guy, too. Run away from guys who can’t stop talking about their exes.”
“Is that it? Just be pretty and touchy-feely, and you get a guy?” Jubilee was skeptical.
“Pretty much. Men are easy.” He leaned toward her slightly, making her catch her breath. “I’ll tell you a secret, though.”
She licked her lips. “What?”
“I love a woman’s neck. The pale curve of it. I love to kiss a woman right…here…” He pushed her hair to the side to expose the soft skin right below her ear. He blew a stream of air right there, making her shiver, but he didn’t kiss her. When he moved away, disappointment filled her.
Do you really want to attract men? Or do you just want to attract Heath?
“Well, this is helpful. I’ll use this when I go out this weekend.”
Heath’s heated expression turned cold within an instant. “Will you be trying to get Ash Younger again?”
“Maybe. He seemed interested, until you pulled me away from him.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need someone to protect me. I’ve had people trying to keep me in a bubble my entire life. I don’t need a fifth older brother, thank you very much.” As she bent down to get her things, Heath stopped h
er with a touch on her arm.
“Just so you know, I’ve never thought of you as a sister.” His voice was low and warm.
“Not even when you first met me?” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe you.”
“Okay, maybe then. How old were you? Sixteen?”
“Eighteen. But I’m not that kid anymore. I haven’t been for a long time.” She rose and slung her purse over her shoulder. “I should head out. I’ll see you later.”
Before she could leave, though, Heath stopped her again. “Wait. Before you go flirting with any guy in town, I should give you my list.”
“Oh, that’s right. Of suitable men.” Her lips quirked. “How about you text me? I’m sure you’ll want to be thorough.”
His gaze scanned her face, his eyes inscrutable behind his glasses. Jubilee could smell his scent, a warm and spicy aroma that made her want to bury her nose in the crook of his neck. It didn’t help that his sweater hugged his muscular arms and pecs, leaving little to the imagination.
Desire made her mouth water. Her heart pounded until she felt dizzy.
“I just want you to be careful, all right?” he said quietly. “You know what I mean?”
She was tempted to ask him if he really meant that he didn’t want her with any man but him. But then why would he go to all of this trouble to set her up with someone else? It made no sense.
Without thinking, she pushed her hair away from her neck. Heath tracked the movement, and in that moment, she could feel his lips sliding down the pale curve of her neck to her collarbone, kissing a path toward her heart.
“Bye, Heath,” she whispered.
He opened his mouth to reply when a knock sounded on the front door. His expression turned to a frown before hearing Rose’s voice.
“Heath, it’s freezing out here! Let me in!”
Heath moved to open the door when Rose came inside with a breathless laugh.
“I guess I could’ve checked to see if it was unlocked.” Her eyes widened when she noticed Jubilee. With her dark hair tipped with blue and her blue eyes, Rose was a beautiful woman. She and Heath didn’t look much alike, although Jubilee sometimes noticed a resemblance in their smiles. Their eyes both wrinkled when they smiled.
“Jubi, hey, what are you doing here?” Rose looked at Heath. “Am I interrupting?”
“No, I was just leaving. Bye, Heath, Rose.”
Jubilee didn’t wait for a response from either before hurrying to her car and driving away, trying to tell herself she wasn’t making a huge mistake getting mixed up in this absurd scheme.
* * *
Heath watched Jubilee practically sprint from his place before turning to his sister. Rose had her hands on her hips, a what-is-going-on expression on her face.
He sighed. “Come on in. Want a drink?”
“Sure. Then you can tell me what that was all about.”
What had that been all about? He’d gotten so close to kissing Jubilee a second time. It hadn’t helped imagining her flirting with him, smiling, touching him. Letting him touch her, too. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and handed it to Rose, who had sat down on the couch where Jubilee had just been.
“I didn’t realize you two were having—what? Dinner? A date?”
“It wasn’t either of those things.”
“Huh.” Rose opened her beer and took a drink. “Then tell me why Jubilee looked so flustered when I came in.”
He growled. “Leave it alone, Rose. It’s none of your business.”
She sighed. “I’m not trying to be nosy”—he snorted at that—“but I know when you’re being a dumbass. If you like her, why not ask her out? She’s clearly interested.”
“Who says I like her? Like that, anyway.”
“Now you’re being stupid.” Rose rolled her eyes, setting her beer down on a coaster. “I know about the lock of hair. I know it was Jubilee’s.”
Heath froze. How would Rose know about that…? Then he put two and two together. “Johnny,” he said with a groan.
“Johnny. He tricked me into going with him because I thought he had Jubilee. He had her hair, you see.” Rose smiled sadly. “But I realized later he’d stolen it from you. Why did you have it at all?”
Heath considered telling his sister to go away, that this was none of her business, but she would never let it go. Besides, he was tired of secrets. He couldn’t tell her everything—not about Rich’s threats if Heath testified against Johnny, or Heath’s own darker secrets—but he could tell her this.
He told her the story of how Jubilee had cut her hair on her birthday and given him the lock. Since then, Jubilee seemingly had forgotten all about the incident, but he’d kept the memento anyway.
“I don’t know why I kept it,” he said with a shrug. “I should’ve given it back. Or thrown it away.”
“I think you know exactly why you kept it. So the real question is: why not act on your own feelings?”
Because she’s too young. Because she’s my best friend’s little sister. Because I’ve done things that she would hate. Because I’m not the man for her.
“She’s interested in dating someone else,” he said finally. “It’s a moot point now.”
“That’s why she stopped by? To tell you she’s dating someone else?” Rose shook her head. “Fine, keep your secrets. I’ll get them out of you eventually.”
They chatted for a little while longer, Rose updating him on her classes, about Seth’s woodworking. Heath loved seeing his sister so happy. Seth Thornton had brought her out of her own shame and darkness and into a life that she’d always deserved.
Seeing his sister, though, always filled Heath with both joy and guilt. Joy, because he’d missed her when she’d essentially disappeared from his life years ago, and now they lived in the same town. Guilt, because she’d made a deal with the devil to save him, and now he feared it wouldn’t be enough, if Johnny and his cronies had their way.
“Don’t let Jubilee go,” Rose said seriously as she was about to leave. Heath had offered to drive her, but she’d borrowed Seth’s car since she’d yet to get her own. “If you really care about her. You’ll regret it if you do.”
“How did you get so wise?” He kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry about me.”
“I’m serious. I know what it’s like to be alone.” Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she brushed them away. “Oh geez, it’s late. I better get going. I’ll see you later.”
He told her goodbye and then returned to the living room, wondering if his little sister really was wiser than him this time.
5
“Here you go,” Jubilee said as she handed the Americano and blueberry muffin to a woman not much younger than her. “Is that all?”
“I haven’t had a muffin in six months.” The girl inhaled the scent of sugar and blueberries and moaned aloud. “I’m tempted to buy all of them and eat them in one go.”
Jubilee laughed. “Maybe just start with one. Although our pumpkin spice muffin is really good, too.”
The girl groaned, paid for her food, and left before she could be tempted further. It was midmorning, and the early-morning rush had petered out.
Jubilee drummed her fingers against the counter. She’d already wiped down all the tables and organized the baked goods in the glass case after the usual morning depletion. Megan was currently in the back finishing up a batch of bread, and Jubilee could smell it baking. Even though she’d been working here for two years now, her stomach still rumbled at how amazing it always smelled.
Had it really been two years since she’d moved out of her parents’ house and started this job? It was hard to believe sometimes, while other times, Jubilee itched to do something else. Go somewhere else.
And maybe leave someone behind once and for all.
She blew out a breath. Her acceptance to Avila College remained a secret. She had until the week before Christmas to commit. She hadn’t even chosen a major yet, since she’d be taking general education classes at first. Jubilee ha
d considered going into marketing or business, but neither had appealed to her very much.
When she’d been a child, Jubilee had dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. She’d loved animals—dogs, cats, birds, even snakes, to her mother’s horror—but when she’d relapsed at age thirteen with another bout of leukemia, that dream had been set aside. Lisa had also never allowed any animals in the home, and by the time Jubilee had moved out, she’d thought that that dream had been put to rest.
But why couldn’t she go to veterinary school? The very thought of it sent a thrill through her. To be doing something real, to do something that would truly help animals and the people who loved them?
Maybe I should adopt an animal, at least to start. She wasn’t home enough for a dog, but maybe she could adopt a cat.
The bell by the front door of the bakery jingled, and in walked a man Jubilee had seen a few times in town recently. He was tall, with sandy-blond hair and a nice smile, although his hair was already thinning on top. He also tended to wear shirts that were a size too small, to the point that if you looked at him from the side, you could see his undershirt through the gaps in between the placket of buttons on his shirt.
“Hi there,” Jubilee said. “How can I help you?”
“I’ve never been here before. What do you recommend?” The man had a bit of a twang, his vowels elongated with each word.
“What do you like? Our cinnamon rolls are pretty amazing, I have to say.”
“That’s not the only thing amazing in here, I’m thinking.”
Jubilee blushed. She thought of Heath’s “lesson” a few days ago, and she knew she’d be a fool not to put his advice to good use right now. Didn’t she want to date around? Maybe find a boyfriend?
She smiled, making a point to keep eye contact with this latest possible date. “What’s your name?” she asked him. It felt strange to flirt with someone whose name you didn’t know. “I’m Jubilee.”
“That’s a pretty name. Mine’s not that interesting, I’m afraid. I’m Brian.” His eyes gleamed as they scanned her face before landing on her breasts for a long moment.