He wanted to be a support system for her. He wanted to give her hope and security and love. But she’d turned him and his offer away. He didn’t know how to handle the current situation when she was dead set against a relationship with him. How did a man, who’d been rejected, help a woman who desperately needed it, without giving a piece of his heart to her to be broken?
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she cried. “Everything is gone.”
“You can stay here for as long as you need to.”
She shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
He became a bit irritated over that damn pride.
“Jenna, that’s enough,” he said firmly with a bit more bite than he intended. “I understand being independent but this is getting ridiculous. You don’t have a home. You are barely scraping by.”
He bolted up from the bed and flicked his arm in the air.
“I have a condo that remains empty most of the day because I’m always at the garage. This is a safer neighborhood than the one you were living in. This floor is owned by myself and my brothers, so each of the neighbors I know quite well. No one can gain access to this floor unless they have the security code for the elevator. I have two spare bedrooms, one for you and one for Jack. You have built in babysitters with my brothers, sister and brother-in-law, and Leila. You can finally get your feet solid on the ground. Stop being the proud martyr. It doesn’t suit you,” he spat out.
Justin admired Jenna for her inner strength but enough was enough. When did a person finally accept the help offered to her? When she did finally admit she couldn’t do it on her own. She was going to have to rebuild from scratch and Justin and his family would make sure she didn’t fall. When did a woman finally see that a man worthy of her stood before her, wanting to pick up the pieces for her? When did she see that he wanted to be there for her? When did she see that he loved her?
He stood as she gaped up at him, her mouth hanging open. “I know that your life has taken a turn you didn’t foresee. I know this seems bad. But you’ve been offered help. Do you think that I’d be so heartless to offer you help and expect something in return?”
Her eyes slid away as her cheeks pinked, confirming his words.
He gnashed his teeth and ground out, “Accept the help, Jenna.”
He stormed out of the room before he lost his temper completely, slamming the door behind him. In a way he didn’t want to admit, he understood about being rejected, but her stubbornness was just plain idiotic.
His brothers’ eyebrows raised in question. They remained silent when Justin went to the closet, grabbed his work jacket and left the apartment without a word. He heard Candace say before the door closed, “You boys are dumbassess.”
10
Justin strolled into the apartment, arms loaded down with bags of clothes his employees had brought into work. He’d forgotten some of them had boys a bit older than Jack, having collected appropriately sized clothing to give away.
He stepped into the great room and stopped. The lighting was dimmed, soft music played on the television with a mock fire roaring on the screen. The dining room table was set for three with a bottle of wine perched in the center.
“Jenna?”
Jack burst out of the kitchen with an oversized apron wrapped around him, the cloth covered in food. He grinned and thrust a piece of thin bread at him. “Ape tizers.”
“Ape tizers?” Justin laughed. The kid was something else. A personality that rocked and had him and his brothers enamored and in stitches. For the past three weeks, they’d become attached to Jack and his mom, taking them under their wings and welcoming them into the family. Even his dad visited, taking Jack on a day outing to the park and to a kid-friendly restaurant. When he’d brought Jack home, his dad had been on cloud nine. Justin knew what he saw. Another grandchild, adding to his wish list of a swarm of babies. He wanted to warn his dad not to get too close, despite the fact he wished Jenna would have a change of heart about their relationship.
“Thanks buddy.” Justin set the bags down in the hallway and took the piece of flatbread from him. Jenna stepped out of the kitchen and his heart about stopped. She was dressed in a red sheath dress, her feet bare, her hair loosely pulled up. She set a bowl in the center of the table, bending at the waist, the dress sliding up and stretching over her perfect backside. His pants tightened at the sight. He shifted, willing his body not to respond. He didn’t know how Jenna would take to a show of attraction. He’d been walking on eggshells around her, to the point where it made him uncomfortable. He found himself spending more hours at the garage. The effort protected his heart and cleared the waiting list of cars on the lot.
“What’s going on?” he asked. He was hesitant, not sure he wanted to know the answer.
Jenna smiled over her shoulder. “I just decided to make you dinner as a thank you. You’ve been working so hard and have barely been home and you’ve given Jack and me a roof over our heads. It’s the least I can do.”
“The least,” Jack repeated, dancing around.
Relief poured over him. The thought of her inviting another guy into his home rankled. He really needed to get a grip on his emotions when it came to Jenna. Why he went for the possibility of her having a date, he didn’t know? His rationale seemed to be on vacation when it came to her. Though he constantly repeated the mantra, she’s only a roommate. If only he could make himself believe those words.
“Why don’t you get a shower and by the time you’re done, dinner should be finished.” She smiled, her delicate features lighting up.
Over the past week he’d noticed a significant change in her. She finally looked relaxed and comfortable. Her brows weren’t set in a constant furrow, worry always at the forefront of her mind. She smiled more, she laughed more, her dry, witty humor began to surface. He truly believed it was because him and his family had taken a significant amount of anxiety off her.
After the fire, she’d gone back to work and school, not having a choice. But she didn’t have to concern herself with daycare or babysitters. Candace watched Jack for a few hours, with Brayden sometimes taking shifts. Leila would pick him up and take him to the daycare provided for the employees of Shane’s company. As CEO, his brother had a lot of pull and got Jack onto the childcare list. He also managed to get Jack into the pre-school program starting in a few weeks. All at zero cost to Jenna.
Her former apartment building was being stabilized for residents to go in and salvage small items, like documents and pictures. Apparently she had a fireproof safe that contained the important papers she needed and would be able to recover those that she was so concerned about.
Justin snatched another piece of the flat bread and scooped it into the dip. He moaned, the food so good. Jenna could cook. He came home nightly to a plate of food in the refrigerator waiting for him to heat up. He began to look forward to whatever nightly meal she had dished up.
After a quick shower, he found himself debating on what to wear. Jenna was dressed up and so was Jack, in a pair of khakis and button down shirt. Justin didn’t really own anything particularly dinner appropriate. His good clothes consisted of suits he wore to weddings. Those hung in garment bags in his closet.
He pulled out his best pair of jeans and one of his vintage T-shirts that he normally wore to happy hour. It was the best he could do and he was a bit embarrassed at the fact he had nothing better to look presentable in for her. She deserved a guy with a better choice in wardrobe.
He returned to the great room to find Jack seated in his chair, a big grin across his cute features that mirrored his mother’s. Jenna came out of the kitchen with a bowl of macaroni and cheese for Jack and set it in front of him. “You wait until we’re all served.”
“Awww,” Jack moaned.
“Patience,” she warned. Justin snorted. Right. Telling a four-year-old to have patience. Even he knew better and he was far from an expert. She turned those amazing hazel eyes on him and pointed to the chair across from her son
. “You sit here.”
He took the seat and watched her move about the kitchen fluidly. He snagged another piece of flatbread and dipped it, quickly handing Jack a piece. Jack shoved it into his mouth to hide the evidence. Smart kid.
She returned with two plates and set one in front of him, taking the seat beside him. A steak perfectly prepared, a twice baked potato, and broccoli. He stared at the meal, the shield around his heart that he’d feebly erected to protect himself from getting hurt by her, cracking and crumbling. He’d mentioned once, in passing, his favorite food. He was a meat eater. He loved a good steak and was a huge fan of twice baked potatoes. She’d remembered.
A lump formed in his throat. He didn’t know what to say or how to say it. He wasn’t good with words, but he knew he should express how grateful he was to the fact she paid attention to him.
“Thank you.” Her hushed tone had taken him by surprise as his eyes flicked upward. She took his hand into her warm one. “Thank you for giving Jack and me a home. Thank you for taking us in and showing us what family is truly all about. Thank you for making us a part of your life, of your family’s lives.”
She leaned over and kissed him on the lips. Like a fool, he sat stock still, unsure as to what was happening.
She brushed a hair out of his eyes. “Please forgive me for being stubborn. I’m so sorry.”
His brain finally came back online. His eyes shot to Jack who was scarfing down his meal. He wanted to kiss Jenna and carry her back to his room and lose himself in her for days. But he couldn’t when a four-year-old was present, awake and curious.
“Later,” she whispered, as if reading his mind. A sweet, but sultry smile curved the corner of her pink lips.
He inhaled, closing his eyes. Did he have the patience the wait?
11
Justin placed the last dried dish in the cupboard while Jenna carried a sleepy Jack to bed. He shut off the kitchen light and headed to his bedroom. He set the alarm on his phone and proceeded to take off his shirt when a knock on the open bedroom door caused him to spin.
Jenna leaned against the frame, her eyes raking over his naked torso. “Can I come in?”
“Yes.” He cleared the frog that got stuck in his throat. “Yes.”
His eyes didn’t leave her as she stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. Or when she slowly approached him, her hazels skimming him up and down. Or when she reached up and ran a feathery touch over his chest, down his ribs and over his abs. His stomach clenched as her fingers caressed him. His hands twitched, desperate to touch her, but he wanted to know what she was up to. Where she was going with her forwardness.
She placed a tender kiss on his chest, reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Justin.” Her voice was shaky, unsure. Her gaze raw. Her insecurity displayed out in the open for him to see. “I find myself falling in love with you.”
The remainder of the barrier guarding of his heart withered away in defeat. He took her mouth in a scorching kiss, entangling his hand into her thick tresses. He devoured her, touching every corner of her hot mouth. Their hands became frenzied as they stripped each other.
Justin broke their kiss, taking a step back, admiring the naked woman he had in his arms. She was so soft against his callused hands, he was almost afraid of hurting her.
Her hands covered her stomach and her face turned pink. “Stretch marks never go away.”
Dear God, he would have never noticed them. Yet, she felt the need to point them out, as if the marks had been a big ol’ red bullseye on her body with an arrow pointed directly at them. He moved her hands away and stroked her stomach. “I didn’t even see them and I never will.”
He kissed her again, his mouth moving down her neck to her heavy breasts, where he hung out for a bit, lavishing each one with enough attention to have the nipples standing at attention for him. She moaned and her breath became uneven as his hand slid up her toned legs to the apex of her thighs, lightly teasing her silky, wet folds. She squirmed on her feet.
“Please, Justin,” she breathed.
He flipped her onto the bed, his body blanketing hers. She arched under him, her breasts pushing against her chest. This is what he desperately wanted, her in his arms, in his bed. He wanted this nightly. He wanted to come home to a night like tonight every damn day. This was the life he coveted, and he wanted it with Jenna. Never had he desired something so badly before. Never had he wanted to build a home and a family with a woman. Start a life together. Come home to her comfort and give her the same warm feeling of knowing she was loved by him. Man, he’d turned into a lovesick fool, just like his brothers. His heart soared.
Justin kissed her, expressing all his love and devotion to her through that kiss. He freed himself from his boxers, quickly donning a condom, and slid into her warmth. He absorbed the gasp that escaped her. His head fell to the crook of her neck as he gently pulled out and pushed back in, her body tight, clamping around him.
“Relax, Jenna,” he moaned. “Let me in.”
She did as asked. Her body opening to him. He propped himself up on his elbows so he could gaze into her eyes as he slowly pulsed into her, the sensation so intense his eyes rolled a couple times as he almost let himself go too soon.
Her hands scraped down his back, her nails digging into his ass, pulling him closer to her. She moved in perfect symmetry with him. He picked up the pace at her silent urging. Her release hit her hard and fast, pushing him over the edge, black spots appearing in his vision.
Justin collapsed on top of her, fighting to get air into his lungs. Did he hold his breath the entire time?
Jenna shuddered with aftershocks that he absorbed. He finally rolled to the side, taking her with him, their sweaty bodies still connected. He brushed her hair off her shoulder, leaned over and kissed her on the lips. Her lids were heavy, a satisfied grin crossing her. His chest filled with pride.
“I love you,” he whispered. He knew it was soon. He knew they hadn’t been together long and she came with a world of baggage, but he wasn’t exactly luggage free either. He could be cankerous and just as stubborn as his brothers. He spent too many hours at the garage and had no idea how to raise a kid. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t willing to change for the better. Not only for her, but for himself and for the family that he wanted.
“I love you, too” she mumbled, falling asleep in his arms.
Justin kissed her on the forehead, wrapped her up in his arms, falling asleep, content and happy. His world had just righted.
He glanced out the window, the curtains drawn, the dark sky peeking in at them. The rain had finally stopped.
12
Justin finished moving Jack’s bed into place, the room newly painted a green color. A hue the toddler had chosen at the home store, insisting it was the color of his justinsaurus.
Jack came bounding into the room, stopped, put his hands on his hips and nodded in approval. “I like this.”
Liam walked in behind him, eight-month old Riley in a carrier over his wide chest, and snorted. “It’s a good thing.”
Uncle Liam turned out to be Jack’s favorite. Well, for the day. Yesterday, Uncle Shane had been the favorite when he took Jack shopping for new dinosaur bedding. And the day before Uncle Brayden had been Jack’s favorite when he came over with a dinosaur kid’s meal from a local restaurant. And the day before that, Uncle Michael when he’d brought in a dinosaur he’d carved out of wood and painted to hang on Jack’s new bedroom wall. And he couldn’t wait to see Uncle Aaron again, who had sent a small replica dinosaur from Canada, where he was working for an actress, carting her back and forth to Atlanta for a couple weeks.
Jenna sashayed into the room with a basket of clothes to place into the new bedroom furniture that Justin’s dad had purchased for Jack. Her diamond ring and wedding band set sparkled off the sun that shone through the open window. They didn’t have a large wedding, only family at the local magistrate’s office and then a dinner hosted by Shane afterward. Jenna
had no one but his family to invite, and Justin didn’t find the need to invite anyone but his dad, brothers and their spouses.
“I love it,” Jenna said. “Good job, Daddy.”
Yeah, he loved that term. The motions were in place for him to officially adopt Jack. Shane had contacted his company’s lawyers to file the paperwork. He couldn’t wait to sign the documents.
He kissed her and placed a hand on her flat belly that would soon grow with his biological child. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.”
Morning sickness had struck her hard the first four months, and she had to put off job hunting until she could wake without having to vomit up her insides. Meanwhile he’d brought her onto the garage payroll to take care of his books and become his admin. Her taking over that duty freed up so much of his time that he was able to increase his personal productivity by double, which increased the number of vehicles he was able to work on. And he still managed to make it home by six every evening to spend his nights with his wife and his son.
“Good.” All he cared that was she healthy and happy.
Jack climbed on to his bed and bounced, giggling.
Justin rolled his eyes while his brother laughed. He leaned down and kissed the side of Jenna’s neck, taking in her lovely floral scent.
“Love you,” he whispered into her ear. “Want to go make out?”
She laughed and elbowed him in the gut.
“Not in front of the children.” She pointedly looked at Liam and nodded.
He tossed his head back and laughed. She already knew his brothers too well. And she got along fabulously with Candace and Leila. Those three were lethal when they ganged up on the brothers. Worse, they were trying to recruit Michael.
“Ewwweee,” Jack groaned.
“Ewweeee,” Liam repeated. “Gross.”
Rain: The Quinn Brothers Story Series Book 4 (A Quinn Brothers Story) Page 4