by Lacey Black
After dinner, Avery gives me a tour of their new home. It’s definitely a great house and I can hear her excitement in her voice as she shows me each room. My favorite part is the back patio. When Avery goes off to tend to Brooklyn, I slip outside for a moment to enjoy the perfect backyard space. Though it’s January, freezing outside, and I don’t have a coat on, I want to pull up a chair and start a fire in the big outdoor fire pit.
“What are you doing out here?” Jake asks as I hear the click of the door latching shut behind him.
“Just enjoying this spot. It’s stunning.”
“It is stunning.”
I turn around and look at him, but he’s not looking at the fire pit or the patio. He’s looking at me. He never breaks eye contact as he walks up and stands a breath away. “I was talking about the patio.”
“I know. I wasn’t.” Jake leans forward as if he’s going to kiss me, but stops a mere whisper away from my mouth. “I want to kiss you so bad.”
I close my eyes and don’t say anything. Is that permission? He must think so because he leans in and ever so gently places his lips on mine. My mind goes completely blank at the contact of his lush lips on mine. Heat and energy thunder through my body as our lips touch for the first time. They’re surprisingly soft and gentle as he slowly begins to move his lips over mine. I let out a sigh as I reach up and grab onto his shoulders. My knees feel weak and I start to sway where I stand. Jake wraps his arm around my back, pulling me against his hard body.
Just as Jake starts to deepen the kiss, the back door opens and we hear a throat clear. “Sorry to interrupt, but Brooklyn is looking for her Uncle Jake before she goes to bed.”
“Damn it,” Jake mumbles under his breath. I pull away quickly and try my best to look un-phased by the interruption. Or maybe by the kiss. Oh, I don’t know. Maddox chuckles as he walks back into the living room.
“We should go in. You don’t have a coat on.” Jake says as he places his hand on my lower back, guiding me towards the back door. “We’ll finish this later.”
“No, we won’t. There will be no more of that. It shouldn’t have happened.”
“Oh but it did happen, and I can’t forget that now. I really, really enjoyed it. And I think you really did, too,” he says with another self-satisfying smile. I can’t stop the blush that takes root in my neck and face. “I love your blush. It’s kinda hot,” he says as he pushes open the door.
“It’s because it’s cold outside,” I retort with a lift of my chin.
He laughs, and says, “Sure it is. Twenty degrees outside and you’re blushing because of the temperature. I think the only temperature you feel right now is hot.” Jake all but whispers that last word, drawing it out and making it sound all sexy and dirty. Oh, who am I fooling, anyway? I am hot. Jake makes me feel that way. Being around him makes my temperature rise to feverish levels. I am so screwed - figuratively.
After Jake goes upstairs to help get Brooklyn to bed, I head into the kitchen. “Can I help you clean up in here?” I offer to Avery.
“Nope. I’m all done. You can stay and have a drink with me though. The guys are all upstairs trying to get a very excited three year old to lie down and go to sleep. They’ll be up there for awhile,” she answers with a laugh.
“Maddox seems like a great dad,” I say before I can stop the words from spilling from my mouth. I recall hearing that Maddox isn’t Brooklyn’s real father, so why I said that, I’m not sure.
“He’s the best. We want to get married quickly so he can adopt her as soon as possible. He’s everything I’ve always wanted in a father for her. He’ll be just as great with his own,” she says with a distant look in her eyes.
“Oh…are you…are you pregnant?”
She laughs. “No. I’m just thinking out loud. I can’t help it sometimes.” She gives me a sheepish grin. “So, you and Jake, huh?”
“No. There is no me and Jake.”
“So that wasn’t you kissing him on my back patio just a little bit ago?” she smarts back with another big grin on her face.
“Oh my gosh, you saw that?” I throw my forehead down on my folded arms on the island top.
“Honey, everybody saw that. We sent Maddox out there to break it up before it went from PG-13 to rated R, and we’d have to turn on the sprinklers.”
“I am so embarrassed. I can’t believe I just made out with him in front of his entire family!”
Avery laughs again. “It’s okay. Actually, it’s really nice to see him kiss someone that he didn’t meet at Jack’s.”
“Jack’s? The pub?”
“Yeah, sorry. Jake doesn’t exactly do long term or commitment. He just seems to want to play for a little bit. Not that he won’t change for the right girl or anything. Heck, Maddox was the same way before we started seeing each other.”
I don’t really know what to say to that. Is Jake just interested in hooking up with me just for the sake of hooking up? Before I can ask Avery any further questions, the guys all come down the stairs and decent upon the kitchen.
“Where’s Maddox?” Avery asks her brothers.
“Trying to bribe Bean into going to sleep,” Will says.
“We’ve read six books so far and still nothing,” Travis adds.
“Well, it’s because you were all up there at the same time. She was too excited to sleep,” Avery replies. “I better go up and check on them.”
“No, don’t. Maddox was actually making headway with her,” Jake adds. He turns towards me sitting at the bar. “You ready to head out?”
“Yes.” I stand up and we make our way to the front door. Jake holds up my coat for me in a very gentlemanly manner. But I can’t help but wonder if he’s just doing it to score.
I turn my attention back to Avery. She leans in to give me a hug. As an only child, I’ve obviously never had a sister. But if I did, I imagine good-byes to go something like our exchange. A warm hug and maybe a peck on the cheek. “I’m so glad you could come tonight. Don’t let Jake scare you off again,” she says in a low voice.
“Thank you for having me. You have a lovely home.”
I turn my attention back to the guys all gathering around. Nate leans in and gives me a big hug, too. “Good to see you again, Erin.”
“Hey, keep your hands to yourself,” Jake growls behind me.
“I was just saying good-bye,” he replies with a cocky smile.
“Next time, try a handshake, douchebag.”
Nate laughs at Jake and throws me a little wink as he turns away. Jake places his hand on the small of my back and leads me out the front door. Even through layers of clothes and a coat, I can feel the heat from his hand on my lower back. It sends lightning-like sensations straight through me. If someone were to hand me a light bulb, I’d probably make it glow from the amount of energy and electricity racing through my body right now.
We’re both fairly quiet on the ride back to my place. I’m lost in my own thoughts of work, home improvement projects, and of course, Jake. I wish I knew what his agenda was. If seventh grade has taught me anything, it’s that history has a way of repeating itself, and I shouldn’t trust the sweet talking, charming smile of Jake Stevens.
“So, why don’t you have a boyfriend?” Jake asks, breaking into my thoughts.
“Who says I don’t have one?”
“I’d say that kiss said you don’t. No way would you kiss me like that if you had a boyfriend.”
“I didn’t kiss you. You kissed me,” I fire back.
“Does it matter who kissed who? The point is you enjoyed it whether I started it or you started it.”
“Whatever. You just caught me off guard. Like I said before, it’ll never happen again.”
Jake takes his eyes off the road for just a moment. “Oh, it’ll happen again.” When he returns his attention back to the road, I take the opportunity to change the subject.
“So, why did you become a cop?”
“It seemed like a great fit. After I got out of the M
arines, I craved the discipline and the toughness that came along with it. Plus, I like the idea of helping people and taking the perps off the streets. Rivers Edge doesn’t have the high crime like the bigger cities does, but we still have enough that you need to make sure you lock your doors at night and be careful.”
“That’s very honorable. I’m sure you make a good cop.”
“I try. What about you? Why a librarian?”
I stare out the passenger window as I consider his question. “I’ve always liked to read. When I was growing up and moving from place to place, books were my constant. I spend more time at libraries than any other place. There’s just something magical about them.”
“You sound very passionate about it. I’m glad you found your calling.”
“Me too.” Before the conversation can get too much heavier, Jake’s pulling into my driveway. As I start to open the passenger door, he tells me to “wait” and gets out and walks around to my side. As he opens the door, he extends a hand to help me down from his truck.
“Thank you for the ride,” I say as I walk up my front steps.
“No problem. Thanks for coming with me.”
“Well, thanks for fixing my sink. I really appreciate it.”
“Give me your phone,” Jake says as he holds out his hand.
“Why?” I ask, hands firmly planted on my hips.
“I want to program my number in it so you can call me if you have any more trouble.”
“Can you ask or does everything have to be an order with you, Jake?”
He sighs and his frustration is evident. “Erin, can I please see your phone so I can program my number in it. I would like you to have it in case you have any more troubles like the sink. Please.” He has so much sugar in his voice, I practically have a toothache.
“That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” I ask as I dig in my purse and pull out my phone.
“You are the most difficult woman I know,” he mumbles as he types his name and number into my phone.
“What are you doing now?” I ask as I see him continue to type long after what it would have taken to put in his name.
“I’m sending myself a text so I have your number. See?” He reaches out and displays my screen so I can see the text message.
I can’t stop thinking about you and wanting your hot body, Erin
“Nice. Very mature, Jake.” I say with a roll of my eyes as I turn to head towards my door.
As I start to walk through my door, Jake grabs my arm and turns me around. “Wait. Don’t you want to kiss me goodnight?”
“Seriously?”
“I don’t want you to cry yourself to sleep tonight because you didn’t get one.”
“You are impossible.”
“I prefer fabulous.”
“I prefer infuriating.”
Jake chuckles as he leans towards me. I can smell him. It’s a heady mix of aftershave and soap. If I were a weaker person, I would lean in and lick his neck. I almost do it.
He kisses me on the corner of the mouth lightly as if testing the waters. When I don’t pull back, he brings his full lips to kiss me square on the mouth. His tongue slides along the seam of my lips causing me to gasp and open my mouth. Jake’s tongue dives into my mouth, kissing me like he’s a dying man and I am the only thing keeping him alive. His tongue duels my tongue, sliding against each other in the most delicious way. My entire body goes up in flames.
I’ve never had a kiss like this one before in my entire life. I always thought kisses from past boyfriends were great, but compared to this kiss - to Jake’s kiss – they were nothing if not completely lacking. Jake is exciting and intoxicating and I want more.
I lean forward and plaster myself against him. He’s hard and firm in all the right places – and I do mean the right places. A moan escapes as I slide my body up and down against him like a cat.
“Darlin’, we need to slow this down before I throw you over my shoulder and take you upstairs right now.” His words come out in pants, his breathing hard, and I realize it mimics my own.
Reality sets back in and I pull back. “I can’t believe I’m acting like this,” I say breathlessly.
“If it makes you feel any better, I lose my fucking mind whenever I’m around you, too.”
I grab a hold of what dignity and self-respect I can muster, and walk through the door. “Thanks again, Jake. I’ll see you around.”
“Yes, you will. Sweet dreams, Erin.”
As I shut the door, my entire body seems to go limp. I slide down the door and sit on my entryway floor as I listen to Jake’s truck start and back out of my driveway. What have I gotten myself into?
Chapter Five
Jake
I’m hanging the last of the beer signs in the man cave at Maddox’s place when he comes over with a cold one from the beer fridge.
“This place is so damn sweet, man.”
“Isn’t it? This room is one of the major reasons I wanted it. Well, that and more space for Brooklyn to run around. I can’t wait until the weather warms up so we can try out the backyard.”
Maddox and I are both standing in the middle of the room, taking it all in. “We’ll have plenty of barbeques back there.”
“So, while I have you here, I have something I need to discuss with you.” Maddox’s tone turns serious and no-nonsense.
“What’s up?”
“So, Avery and I have been talking a lot these past few days about getting married. I think we want to do it sooner rather than later. I want to adopt Brooklyn as soon as we’re married.”
“That’s awesome, man.”
“Well, it looks like we might be getting married on March first.”
“Really? As in this March? Wow, that’s great…and soon.”
“Yeah, I want to get the adoption ball rolling the Monday after the wedding. We’ve already met with the attorney who will handle the process. The problem is that Avery actually put Drake’s name on the birth certificate so we have to go through the process of posting it and giving him a chance to respond. It pisses me off that he could have any say or input in this.”
“I should have just killed him and buried his body in the timber when I had the chance,” I reply, my body tense and filled with anger. Drake Connor doesn’t deserve to have any say in this matter. He lost that right the day he abandoned my pregnant sister.
“I agree with you completely. That brings us back to the wedding. I need a best man. You interested?”
I’m humbled by the thought of standing next to my best friend as he gets married to my little sister. “I’d be honored, man.” Maddox slaps my shoulder in a gesture of appreciation.
“Thanks. I couldn’t imagine doing it without you next to me.”
My best friend’s words hit me hard in the chest and it’s hard to swallow over the lump in my throat. “You know back when I found out that you and Avery were dating behind my back? I said that you didn’t deserve her. I’ve never been more wrong about something before in my life.”
“You weren’t wrong, Jake. I didn’t deserve her. She’s, frankly, the best person I’ve ever met, and I had some growing up to do. But, even though I may not deserve her, no one will love her the way I do. She makes me want to be the man who does deserve her. She is my heart and my life; her and Brooklyn.”
Without even thinking, I step in and give my best friend a hug. Not that tough-slap-your-hand-on-the-back kind of hug, but a full blown hug.
“You’re a good man, Maddox Jackson. Make my sister happy and shit.” We both laugh as we step out of the embrace. “So does that mean I get to plan a kick-ass bachelor party?” I ask with a huge smile on my face.
“Of course, but no strippers. I don’t want to piss off Avery.”
“Ohhhhhh, my friend, there will be strippers!”
“I’ll remember this for when it’s your turn,” he throws back at me with a laugh.
“Well, you’ll be waiting for a long time because I’m never getting married.”
/>
“You say that now. Just wait. It’ll happen.”
My mind instantly fills with images of Erin. If I ever decided to settle down, I could entertain the idea of settling down with her. Good thing that’ll never happen for me. Though, the thought of Erin settling down with someone else doesn’t set well either. It actually kind of pisses me off.
Where is this jealousy coming from? I’ve never been jealous of anyone. If a woman I’m with wants to flirt and talk with someone else, let her. There’s another one just like her waiting in the wing. But the thought of Erin touching, laughing with, or marrying another man sends me into a funk I’ve never experienced before.
“Wow, what just happened there? You just had the weirdest look come over your face and now you look like you could punch a puppy,” Maddox asks as he takes another pull of his beer.
“Nothing,” I say as I take another big drink of my beer.
“Whatever. Something just happened. If I had to guess, I’d say it had something to do with a hot little redhead?”
“Shut up. I wasn’t even thinking about her,” I say as I walk over to fridge to get another beer.
“It’s okay if you were. I’m just giving you a hard time. I do believe you deserve a little harassment back after the hell you gave me over Avery.”
“You deserved all of that. I deserve nothing. There’s nothing going on,” I say as I turn back around to face him.
“I might actually believe that if I didn’t bear witness to the kiss in my backyard. I thought I was going to have to turn on the sprinklers to cool you both down,” he mouths off with a chuckle.
We stand there for a few moments doing the stare-down, both of us knowing that I’m completely full of shit. “Fine. I like her. End of story.”
“If you say so. I’ll let it go for now, but I have a feeling we’ll be talking about Miss Erin Anderson a bunch more in the future. Come on, let’s go see if my daughter’s up from her nap so we can hang those book shelves in her room.” And with that, we walk out of the man cave and head in the house.