by Mae Martini
“Yeah, and he always seems to sneak up on us while my hand is in Jake’s shorts or Jake’s hand…. Um, well, at the wrong times, let’s leave it at that.” She giggled.
“How many beers did you have, woman.” Jake grinned while shaking his head.
“She doesn’t know, I’m telling you, she doesn’t know,” Rory said hysterically.
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” Cord said.
Calista and Annie looked at each other with tears practically coming down their eyes, they were laughing so hard.
Gia looked around at everyone laughing, even Joan. She looked to Jake, who was laughing, but he was blushing too.
Gia shrugged. “It wasn’t that funny.”
“Oh, let me, let me.” Rory said all excited.
Gia looked to him.
“You’ve met Joan, yes?”
“Yes, I told you that before.”
“Do you know she is Calista’s mother?”
Gia looked from Calista to Joan then to Calista again, smiling.
“Wait for it,” Cord said laughing.
“No, I didn’t kn... oh, ohhh.” Her eyes went wide as she looked to Joan then Jake. Her face turned as red as a fire truck.
Jake put his arm around her neck and drew her to him.
She hid her face in the crook of his arm as she giggled nervously. She turned her head to Joan. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. No one told me. I do apologize.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. No need to apologize. I hadn’t laughed this hard in a long time, dear, and I didn’t think anyone could embarrass my son so much. Thanks for that.” She couldn’t stop laughing.
“What’s all the laugher about?” Luke asked as he strolled in; his aura strongly radiating a cool, calm confident person who was comfortable in his own skin.
As he walked to his daughter, his gaze swept over the gang, and he did a double take and smiled a little longer at Joan, noting her features with her neat blonde hair and her thin strapped flowered sun dress. When he reached his daughter, he gave her a kiss on her cheek as he held his hand out to Jake and shook it.
Jake introduced Luke to everyone there and then went to the grill to throw on a burger for him.
As all the guys congregated by Jake, Gia took that opportunity to sit with Joan at the umbrellaed table next to the lounge chairs.
“I want to apologize again. You must think I’m some kind of foul mouthed disresp-”
“Oh, not at all. Don’t be silly. Did you see my son’s face?” She laughed all over again. “I loved it, Ha!”
The two of them looked at Jake and caught him staring at them and blushing.
“He knows we’re talking about him,” Joan said.
Gia giggled and waved. Jake grinned and slowly shook his head as he turned his attention to the burger on the grill.
The girls let out a boisterous laugh and Joan placed her hand on Gia’s. “You can make him smile like a child again, and it reminds me of happy times. And, boy, do you know how to make him blush.”
Gia smiled. “I love making him blush, he looks so adorable.”
“Is this a private conversation or can anyone join in?” Luke said as he paused to put his plate and beer down.
“Oh, no. Please do join us.” Joan said.
Luke pulled out a chair and sat. While he ate, Joan shared her knowledge of Fredericksburg. She had mentioned that, that night was the opening of a new art show in town, showcasing a local artist.
Jake came over and stood behind Gia as Cord waited for everyone to hit a lull, with a bottle of champagne in his hand. He then told everyone that Annie and he were going to be parents and one by one everyone went over and congratulated them. He and Rory popped open two bottles of the bubbly stuff, poured it in paper cups and passed them around.
They toasted to the new parents.
“Roxy’s tonight to celebrate!” Calista yelled.
Everyone agreed, well, everyone but Joan and Luke.
After everyone helped clean up, Gia went over to her father. “You sure you don’t want to come with us, Daddy?”
He looked from Gia to Joan. “I’d rather check out that new art show in town. Joan, it would be a pleasure if you would join me.”
Gia watched Joan’s eyes grow bigger as a little smile played on her lips.
“I’d love to. Thank you, Luke.
Chapter 18
Before heading out, Luke had changed into a pair of charcoal slacks and a black button down shirt with the top two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up. He had driven Joan to her house to pick up a sweater and they walked the two and a half blocks to town from there.
A waiter with a tray of champagne in long stemmed fluted glasses passed, and Luke removed two, and handed one to Joan. They clinked glasses and drank, then they continued to walk around the art show.
There was wall to wall people in the little storefront on Main Street. It seemed like everyone came out to support the local artist, Marissa DeMorney. Joan and she were good friends, and she introduced Luke to her when they first arrived.
Marissa’s art work was ultra-modern, not at all Luke’s taste, but he was, thoroughly, enjoying Joan’s company, it didn’t bother him in the least.
They stopped in front of a painting, that save for a few red brush strokes, was stark white, and Joan noticed Luke tilting his head, slowly, from side to side. She cracked up. He turned to her with a boyish smile that reached his eyes.
“What do you see?”
She turned back to the piece of art. “Well, clearly, it’s a… um-” She looked to the little title just to the left of the picture. “-A Broken Heart.” She looked up to him, then quickly back to the title again. “A broken heart? It looks like something my kids drew when they were in kindergarten.” She cracked up laughing and he joined her.
Luke, still laughing, turned around and saw a couple staring at them. They were in earshot and they were not laughing. He brought a hand up to the small of Joan’s back and ushered her away.
Joan gasped at that little innocent gesture and flushed.
“Why do you suppose we are getting a lot of stares?” Luke asked, his hand still at her back.
Joan looked around. She knew they were getting stares, too. “Well, maybe it’s because you’re the only one not wearing a cowboy hat.”
Luke let out a quick laugh. “You think?”
“No.” She giggled as she looked up to see his charming grin. He was a, strikingly, handsome man, youthful in appearance aside from the few wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled heartily. She believed they were getting stares because she was with the most attractive man there, but she didn’t relay that to him.
“I know most everyone here and they have never seen me with anyone other than my husband. Oh, the rumor mill will be alight tomorrow.”
“Do you mind?”
They had been walking to another exhibit and she paused and looked up to him and tilted her head as in thought. “No,” she said with just a hint of a smile. Then she began to walk again, and a momentarily stunned Luke caught up with her. Momentarily stunned, because he felt something in him at that moment that he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Outside, in front of the store, and after they had said their goodbyes, Luke put a hand in his front pocket and stuck out his elbow, and Joan lightly took hold of his bicep as they walked away from the art show.
“Is there a place to grab some coffee and a piece of cake?”
“Marley’s, but it should be closing soon. I don’t mind throwing on a pot of coffee and there is always fresh cake available at the inn.”
Luke nodded. “That sounds wonderful.”
During coffee, Luke and Joan shared past stories of their kids and even shared a little insight into each other’s dearly departed spouses.
The time had grown late, and Luke had been up since four-thirty that morning, having to have caught the plane and get to his meeting by 9:00am. He helped clean the table and she walked him to the door.
“Thank you for tonight, Joan. I had a wonderful time. Your town is quite charming.”
“Yes, it is. I love it here. Thank you for allowing me to show you a bit of it.”
“I’d like to do it again.” He stared into her eyes. His smile faded as he grew serious.
“I’d like that, too.”
Usually there was a guest or two lingering in the parlor, but that night, they were alone. Luke paused by the door and turned to her. “Would it be too bold of me if I were to kiss you?”
He watched as Joan bit her bottom lip and furrowed her brows. He smiled as he grabbed the doorknob. “No worr-”
“Yes.”
Luke’s eyes shot to hers and he smiled as he reached in and gently touched her lips with his. They were soft and warm and he couldn’t help himself, he meant for it to be brief but he drew it out. “Mmm,” he murmured as he finally pulled back.
Joan had her eyes closed and she gradually opened them as she slowly swiped her tongue along her lips, savoring the taste of him.
They shared a moment, then he was gone.
****
The Jukebox had been pumping ‘Chicken Fried’. It was crowded as always at Roxy’s, and the gang met up by the pool table that Rory and Calista managed to snag when they got there. Billy the owner/bartender heard about the celebration and bought drinks for them.
By 11:30 pm, Cord and Annie had already said their goodbyes and headed home. Calista and Gia had been playing a game of pool while Jake and Rory watched, sipping beers. After Gia missed her latest shot, she turned to Jake and put on a puppy dog look, complete with pout.
Jake gave her a smile and walked over to her and put his arms around her. “You suck at this, don’t ya?”
She giggled. “Oh, no, I just don’t want to show up Calista… Of course I suck at this.”
“Come on, let me teach you, little one.” He brought her over to the table after Calista missed her shot.
Getting in back of her, he bent her forward on the table and leaned into her as he handed her the pool cue.
“Keep that stick down, boy,” She turned her head to him, giggling, when she felt his erection at her butt.
“Haha. You get me so damn excited,” he whispered as he gently grabbed both her wrists and extended her arms. He brought his arms flush against hers as he lowered his head.
She heard him breathe through his nose. “Did you just sniff me?”
“Yep. Like a dog in heat.” They shared a chuckle. “You smell so good, so fresh.”
“I am fresh.” She moved her butt into his groin and gave it a little wiggle.”
He groaned.
“Come on, you two. Make the shot already.” Calista was getting antsy.
They both looked up to her and grinned.
Jake took command of Gia’s hands, thereby giving him command of the pool cue. He lined up the cue with the cue ball, put just enough English on it, which she didn’t understand, and fired off the shot. She was sure the ball was going to go in the wrong direction. But, son-of-a-gun, it sunk the solid it was intended to. Gia got so excited she wiggled her hips from side to side and all Jake could do was moan in her ear. “You’re killing me, baby.” He snaked his arm around her waist and turned her around. Taking her lips with his and removing the pool stick from her hands, he backed her up till she had no choice but to sit on the table as he moved in between her legs.
“This is a pool table, not a bed, man,” A voice came from behind Jake. He picked his head up and turned to see his friends Logan and Richie.
“Hey, man. What are you doing here?” He turned around and shook, first Logan’s, then Richie’s hand as Gia got off the table with a pink face and stood next to him. He, absently, put his arm around her shoulders.
“We heard about Cord and Annie and wanted to come down and have a drink. Where are they?”
“Momma was tired. Cord and she left a little while ago. He’s gonna be upset he missed you.”
“We’ll catch up with him tomorrow.” Richie said as he ogled Gia. “Who do we have here?”
“Richie, this is Gia. Gia, this is Richie and Logan.”
“Ma’am.” Logan tipped his hat and smiled.
“A pleasure to meet you, sugar. But, dang, if you don’t have the prettiest eyes,” Richie said.
Jake chuckled and looked at Gia, who was blushing. “Go ahead. Tell him.”
Gia tilted her head in question. “Tell him what?”
“Richie’s family owns Pastels. Tell him what you said.”
She turned red and giggled, and noticed Richie and Logan looking at her, waiting in question.
“You have a very nice hotel there, sir.”
“Chicken,” Jake said. He reached in and hugged her and kissed the top of her head just as Rory and Calista came over.
“How’s Melanie?” Calista asked Logan.
“She’s good, darlin’,” he said as he reached in and kissed her on her cheek while shaking Rory’s hand. “She and Heath are in Florida visiting her parents. Kara’s with them, too.”
“Rack em’ up, boys?” Rory asked as he pulled the rack from the ledge under the table.
Calista pulled Gia out from Jake’s arm. “Come on, let’s go dance and leave the boys to their game,” she said as ‘Booze Cruise’ began to play on the juke.
Gia glanced back at Jake and he winked at her then he quickly turned to Rory, who was handing him a cue stick.
While the girls were on the dance floor and the boys played their games, Jake told Richie about the thin walls comment, without giving too much away about him and Gia. He had too much respect for her to talk about their sex life with anyone else.
When the song ended, Calista and Gia went up to the bar and ordered drinks. It was a bit crowded by the bar, but a couple of cowboys that Calista knew made room and struck up a conversation with them.
Jake kept an eye on Gia and when he saw the girls at the bar, he got Billy’s attention and put a hand up with fingers folded and thumb pointing to himself. Billy nodded. Jake would take care of it.
The girls were talking and joking with the two cowboys when Rory came and put his body between the cowboys and Calista, as Gia felt Jake’s arms wrap around her waist and he nuzzled her neck.
“Billy, a round, please.” Jake said. He and Rory lost and bought Logan and Richie a beer. They all bullshitted a while, then all were ready to call it a night.
They all walked out to the parking lot, and having said goodnight, Logan and Richie walked to the other end of the lot where their motorcycles were parked. Rory and Calista had just pulled out and Jake and Gia were in Jake’s truck.
“I don’t think I should drive, G. I’m feeling a bit buzzed. You think you can handle it?”
“Yes, sure.”
Jake opened the door and got out to switch sides, when Gia heard someone on Jake’s side of the truck yell, “Warner!” Then she heard a thump and felt the truck shake. She jumped out and ran around the truck, and saw a guy with his hand on Jake’s collar and had him up against the truck. He was punching Jake and Jake was trying but failing to deflect the blows.
Gia let out a scream as she tried to pry the guy off of Jake. An arm came around her waist and yanked her back just as she saw the guy punching Jake turn to her, dropping hold of Jake. She saw Jake go down. She winced as she heard a crack when his head hit the ground. She elbowed the guy holding her and at the same time came down hard on his foot with her spiked heel. He released his hold on her, muttering a curse, and she ran and bent down by Jake. The guy who had been beating on Jake took his foot and landed a blow to her stomach, shoving her out of the way. She faltered a bit, but righted herself just as a punch landed on her cheek. She actually saw a skull ring coming at her. She fell back just as another guy ran over and put his hand on the shoulder of the guy, who had just punched her, and swung him around and began a series of punches to his face.
The guy who originally grabbed her waist was being pummeled by Logan. He and Richie had heard the sc
ream and ran over to see what was happening. Richie went over to Gia and helped her as Jake moaned and tried to get up. Gia shook herself loose from Richie and scrambled over to him. His lip was split open and Gia saw a liquid stain on the ground where his head landed and even though it was dark, she knew it was blood.
Upon seeing her, he reached out and touched her cheek with his hand, then brought his hand up closer to his eyes. He couldn’t understand why Gia was bleeding. He panicked and tried to get up, but he felt dizzy just before all went black.
Logan, and the other guy who came to help, finished off the two guys who attacked Jake and Gia, and went over to help them.
Gia was too shocked to move, but Logan and Richie acted fast. Logan slapped Jake a few times to wake him up. Satisfied with a groggy Jake, they inspected him for any other wounds, as the third person went to Gia and helped her up.
Logan and Richie picked Jake up and carried him over to and into the back seat of his truck as the mystery man removed his shirt and handed it to her. “Here, use this to help stop the bleeding.”
They exchanged a few words, then she took the shirt and nodded her head. “Thank you.”
She watched as Richie loaded a motorcycle into the bed of Jake’s truck as tears came down her face, while Logan helped her into the back seat. She wrapped the shirt in a ball and placed it on her lap, then she gently picked up Jake’s head and laid it down on the shirt.
“Keep him awake.” Logan told her just before shutting the back door.
Gia watched Logan speak with the third person, shake his hand, then nod to Richie. He climbed into the driver’s seat and took off. She turned her head to see Richie on his bike, following them.
Feeling a little stronger, Jake asked Gia, “Where are we going?”
Before she could answer, Logan turned around “I’m taking you to the hospital to-”
Jake had a headache, felt dizzy and was nauseous. “No, no. Take me home, man. I’m okay.” He struggled to get up.