A muscle fluttered along his jaw. He’d always taught us boys that the leader of any army was the glue that held the troops together. Take out the source, and the problem was usually solved.
Donovan touched his lip ring with his tongue. “Mm. I guess you have a point there. After Sullivan landed in a coma, Stockman and I did lay low.”
I spotted my mom and Jessie heading down the stairs of the deck. Jessie’s tight features contrasted with my mom’s smile.
My dad followed my line of sight.
“You need to apologize to my mom,” I said with no emotion.
“I agree with my son,” Dad added. “Frankly, you’re lucky I didn’t knock your ass into the hospital that day.”
My mom’s blue gaze bounced from me to Donovan then to my dad as she approached. “Have you settled your differences?”
Donovan and I hopped to our feet.
Jessie pressed her lips into a thin line, seemingly holding her breath.
Donovan cupped his hands in front of him. “Mrs. Maxwell, I’m terribly sorry for what I did to you.” It was the first time I’d heard sincerity in his voice.
Mom glided over to him and placed a palm on his rough-looking face. “Dear, sweet boy. Thank you. I was more worried about you. Please tell me you won’t drink and get on a motorcycle, or behind the wheel of a car for that matter.”
He shook his head vigorously. “I won’t.”
The change in Donovan from rough to sweet, as though he were getting a talking to from his own mom, was shocking. But my mom had a way of getting anyone to do anything she asked, particularly her sons.
Jessie’s delicate jaw opened.
My dad just grinned lovingly at Mom.
“Good,” Mom said. “Are you two friends?” She set her vibrant gaze on me.
Donovan and I were far from friends. However, I didn’t feel the need to drive my fist into him. That was progress.
“Baby steps, Mom,” I said.
She laughed, a sound that was music to my ears. “I’m glad to hear that. If Jessie is going to be in your life, then Mack will be too.”
My eyes went wide, and I didn’t know whether to turn my head left toward Jessie or right to see if Donovan had reacted in some way. It sounded as though Jessie had told my mom how she felt about me. I checked on Donovan, who was staring at Jessie. They exchanged a silent message. My stomach lurched. Yet if I wanted her happy, I would have to bite the bullet and accept her friendship with Donovan.
Then Donovan said, “I need to go. Jessie, you’ll drive my car back to your house while I take my Harley?”
She nodded.
I might have made a breakthrough with Donovan, but I had some tension to break between Jessie and me.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jessie
Mack handed me his car keys then kissed me on the cheek before he got his Harley keys from Mr. Maxwell. I stole a look out of the corner of my eye at Kody. His posture was ramrod straight. I suspected he was jealous of that peck on the cheek from Mack. I couldn’t blame him. If I knew a woman had strong feelings for Kody as Mack had for me, I would be super irked if the tables were turned.
Mack straddled his bike. “Mr. Maxwell, thank you.” He glanced at Mrs. Maxwell, who was the epitome of a graceful woman, and a super awesome individual. “Again, I’m sorry.”
Despite all Mack’s flaws, he could be sweet and a gentleman when he wanted to be. Regardless, I had no idea what Mr. Maxwell had said or done, but when Mack and Mr. Maxwell had been inspecting the engine of the Chevelle, I’d noticed the connection that Mack had made with Mr. Maxwell. I only hoped that Kody and Mack could do the same.
In the car on the way to Kody’s house, I hadn’t asked him to settle his differences with Kody. I hadn’t even asked him to apologize to Mrs. Maxwell. Mack had to do all the above on his terms. I knew he’d put off getting his bike because he was embarrassed over his actions of pushing a woman. He would’ve never done that to my mom or his, even when drunk. I wasn’t making excuses for him. However, I believed everyone deserved the chance to redeem himself.
Still, the car ride had been uncomfortable when he’d broached the subject of him and me.
“I’ve been in love with you from the moment I met you,” he’d said. “I know you don’t love me. I can see you have feelings for Maxwell. That has made me a bit insane this last month.”
I’d had no response for him. I wasn’t about to throw gasoline on the fire. Instead, I had listened until he asked me if he was right about my feelings for Kody. I couldn’t and wouldn’t lie.
“Of all people, Jess, why him?” he’d asked.
“A person can’t help who they fall in love with,” I’d said.
He’d gone quiet before he spoke. “I guess I can’t argue with you on that point.”
The engine roared to life, jolting me out of my memory.
Mrs. Maxwell covered her ears. I smiled for the first time since I’d gotten there. Mr. Maxwell swung his arm around his wife, while Kody and I kept our distance from each other. I’d wanted to run into his arms the moment I’d gotten out of the car. But Mack’s wound was fresh, and I hadn’t wanted to ruin a potential cease-fire between Mack and Kody.
After Mack rode away, Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell sighed. I did too, although Kody was still frozen like a statue. Somehow, I had to figure out a way to get him to thaw out.
“Jessie,” Mr. Maxwell said. “Do you and I need to talk?”
After our first session, we’d never made plans to talk again. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t keep taking advantage of the free sessions. Nevertheless, my main goal before I got into Mack’s car was to spend a minute with Kody and make sure he and I were okay. Actually, more than a minute, but if he wasn’t going to let go of his ire, then maybe I would follow Mack back to my house.
I held on to the back of my neck. “No, sir. I talked to Mrs. Maxwell.” Not that I’d asked for her advice.
Yet she’d been extremely candid about her son as though she had been itching to get her thoughts off her chest. “Kody is scared to let his guard down. It’s extremely difficult for him to be reminded of his past. But I think you were brought into his life to help him overcome his fears of opening his heart and coming to terms with what those boys did to him. But don’t string him along. I can’t bear to see him hurt again.”
Maybe Kody and I had met for those reasons and more. At least I hoped I wasn’t in his life only to help him but to share a mutual love and respect for each other.
“Are you taking over my job?” Mr. Maxwell teased.
Her cheeks reddened. “Of course not. Let’s leave them alone, Martin.”
“Kody,” his dad said. “We’ll talk more later.”
Kody finally thawed, dipping his chin at his dad.
His parents walked out, talking about dinner and a shower. As their voices faded, my pulse grew louder in my ears. The air in the garage hadn’t thinned out. So I marched the few feet up to Kody and poked him in the chest, hoping to break the barrier around him. My finger only met hard muscle.
“Say something,” I demanded in a tone that was usually reserved for my brother when we got into an argument.
He inhaled deeply then exhaled, his beer breath breezing over me. “I’m not sure what has happened in the last hour or so. But the one thing that is bothering me is you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop being jealous.”
He let out a laugh, and it was one that grated on me. “You want me to get along with Donovan, yet you don’t want to come near me when he’s around us. That’s not how it’s going to work, Jess. You can’t be on edge every time he’s with us. Otherwise, you and me won’t work. I’m not going to sneak around. I’m not going to feel bad because you’re mine. Above all, I’m not going to apologize for having feelings for you.”
I’d never thought about any of that. “I wanted to make sure you two weren’t going for each other’s throat. If I would’ve run to you, like I’d wanted, then Mack m
ight have gone crazy. I didn’t want to take that chance. I’m tired of all the fighting. I’m tired of worrying if one of you is going to end up in the ER. I have my brother to worry about. I don’t need to play Mom to my boyfriend and my friend.”
Kody’s jaw loosened. “Boyfriend, huh?”
I pushed out a shoulder. “Maybe.”
“I like the sound of that,” he said in his raspy voice before he captured my lips in his and kissed me like a man possessed. “All I thought about this past week was tasting you. But now that I have, I want more.”
I glanced at Mack’s car then up to the house.
“Do you have to go back to work?” he asked.
I shook my head. “I told Lowell I would cook tonight.”
Disappointment colored his face.
“But there are leftovers in the fridge. I’ll text him.” I had to start cutting the apron strings. Lowell was a big boy and self-sufficient and could whip up his own meal, and he was eating better now that he’d come clean about our depressing financial situation.
Kody sized me up as a slow grin emerged. “Are you wearing a bra and panties underneath those scrubs?”
I felt a crease form in between my eyebrows. “Where did that come from?”
“We’re going swimming, and if you’re naked under your scrubs, then so be it.”
He didn’t give me time to answer. He grabbed my hand, leading me down to the lake. I could use a refreshing dip in the cool water. With as hot as the weather had been, I was banking on the water being cold.
I texted Lowell.
Kody, on the other hand, took off his shirt and started stripping along the way.
I giggled as he unbuckled his belt. “Aren’t you afraid your parents will come down?” I hadn’t thought of that until I asked him. “Maybe I’ll just go in with my scrubs on.”
“Nonsense,” he said. “They just got home from a long trip. They know you’re here. They know we want privacy, as do they. So no worries. Besides, a bra and panties is like wearing a bathing suit, anyway.”
He had a point on the bra and panties. Good thing I was wearing a matching set that had a sexy combination of lace and bows.
As I was about to pocket my phone, Lowell texted back, saying no problem on dinner.
How did it go with Mack? Lowell asked.
I tapped out, Better than expected. I’ll tell you everything later.
How much later, I wasn’t sure. I did have an early shift in the morning then my mammogram in the afternoon.
No sooner had I hit the send button, than my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number. “Hello.”
“Jessie, this is James Robinson. Do you have a minute?”
My eyes went wide at Kody. “Sure, Mr. Robinson.”
“Please, call me James. We’ll be working together, or at least I hope we will. So James is best.”
I blew out a breath. “Okay,” was all I could say. Or maybe I couldn’t speak because Kody was in nothing but his boxer briefs, showing off his muscled body, with a sexy grin on his face.
“Jessie, are you all right?” Mr. Robinson asked.
I shook off the thoughts of touching Kody’s abs. “Yes. I’m here.”
“Can you come by The Cave tomorrow around five?” he asked.
Kody watched me intently.
“Um. Sure.” My mammogram was scheduled for two, so he had perfect timing.
“I need to call Kody. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Wait, James. Kody is standing right here.” I handed the phone to Kody.
“Hey, Mr. Robinson,” Kody said. “Sure. Sure. I’ll be there.” Kody pressed the end button then handed the phone back to me. “He’s going to offer you a deal.” He lifted me in the air.
I didn’t know how I felt about that, or even what that meant. “What about you?”
“He’ll pay me for my song, but he wants me to be part of the band.” Kody set me down. “He’s also offering Jake a role. It’s time to celebrate. Time to strip.” No sooner had he said the word “strip,” than his penis started to grow.
Suddenly, band, deal, singing, contract, and everything else on my mind vanished as I inhaled a sharp breath. I’d seen Kody naked, but that was a month ago, and I’d been quite nervous. Not to say my pulse wasn’t freaking out as I raked my gaze over his sweat-sheened body. I followed the line of hair from his navel down to the waistband of his bright-yellow boxer briefs.
I licked my lips. “You’re leaving those on, right?” I pointed at his briefs. Not that I would mind him taking them off, but it was broad daylight, and I didn’t want to risk his parents seeing us.
One of his eyebrows winged up. “I can take them off.”
I was tempted to look around to see if anyone was watching, but I couldn’t take my eyes off his muscular thighs or his full-on erection.
“Baby doll, if you keep salivating like that, I will get naked and then strip off your clothes.”
Please do.
His eyes darkened to a deep blue, or maybe it was the cloud that passed over the sun. He inched backward into the water. “The water feels good, but you’ll feel better against me. What are you waiting for?”
To get the courage to strip down. I peeked over my shoulder. The garage blocked the house. So his parents couldn’t see us unless we walked down the shore, and even then, the view would have been obscured by the trees. I set my phone in my pocket, lifted my flowered top over my head, then removed my shoes and pants. When I was standing in my light-pink panties and matching bra, Kody snaked out his tongue as though he was ready to attack me.
I dipped my toes into the clear water and squealed. The water was far from warm or cool. The icy sting sent shivers up my legs and arms.
“Jump in quickly,” he said.
I crossed my arms over my breasts. “I don’t see you diving in.”
On my statement, he did exactly that. I waded in farther until the water came up to my waist, but before I had a chance to take the plunge, Kody swam up and snaked his hands around my waist. I latched onto his neck as he treaded backward. The more the water covered my body, the more I squealed until I was completely submerged up to my neck.
“I take it you know how to swim,” he said.
“Yes.” My parents had made sure Lowell and I learned how at a young age since my dad had a boat.
Kody kissed my cleavage. “Follow me.” He let go and started swimming up and away from civilization. “I know a spot where we can hang for a little while.”
I bet he knew all the hiding holes around the lake. I would’ve given anything to have grown up there. The area was a secluded getaway with no other homes or properties for miles, I would guess. I took my time, enjoying the view of the tall trees, the birds singing, and absorbing the late-afternoon sun as I swam behind Kody. At first, I thought he was headed to that spot his dad had taken me where they had the memorial for Karen. But Kody was heading away from that area, although to the same side of the lake as the memorial.
I stopped midstream to tread water and take a breath. I was in good shape, but I didn’t work out every day. When Kody reached the shore, I doggie paddled for a bit until I was close to him, then I swam the rest of the way. By the time I got out of the water, my arms felt like saltwater taffy.
“Please tell me we can walk back.” I laughed but was completely serious.
He shook his head like a wet dog then ran his hands through his locks. “There’s a trail that will take us around the lake back to my place. Don’t worry. I won’t let the bears get ahold of you.” He grabbed my hand and led the way through a cluster of trees.
My antenna was up, mainly to ensure I didn’t step on a rock or branch as I followed Kody deeper into the wooded forest. Before long, we came to a spot that had a tent, four chairs, and a small fire pit surrounded by thicket and dense trees.
“Do you bring all your women here?” I teased… mostly.
“Not at all. This is a spot where my brothers and I hang out sometimes in the summer. Well
, not as much as we used to when we were in high school.”
I shivered until his warm hands went around my waist and traveled up until he reached the clasp of my bra. Within a flash, my bra fell to the ground. My nipples stood at attention. My mind wandered for a brief second as I thought about my breasts, then I tossed any depressing thoughts aside. I was with a gorgeous man in the middle of nowhere, and this wasn’t the time to dwell on the future or what lay ahead for me.
“You’re fucking beautiful.”
My heart beat against my ribcage. Boom. Boom. Boom. Any shyness or concern over who could have been watching had completely evaporated, especially when I began feeling my way around every dip and valley of Kody’s abs and chest.
Biting my lip, I dragged a nail down his abs, slow and steady, and when my finger landed on the waistband of his briefs, I stopped.
His eyelids became heavy as his chest rose and fell.
For a long beat, I didn’t move, and neither did he. It was as though we were waiting to see what the other would do. Or maybe he was trying to convince himself to be gentle.
Screw gentle.
I latched onto his erection through his briefs and squeezed.
His eyes rolled back in his head as he growled.
Heat, hot and urgent, flew down my body and settled between my legs. To say I was wet was an understatement. I peppered kisses down his rock hard body, not letting up on playing with his erection.
His hands dove in my hair as he continued to spew moans. The light around us grew dark as I found myself in another world with the man I wanted to be with forever.
He bent over slightly, capturing a nipple into his mouth. He teased and tugged then gave my other nipple equal attention.
I arched into him, gripping onto his biceps before I dug my nails in.
“That’s it, baby doll. Harder. Dig into me harder.” He sucked on my breasts, his tongue swirling before he nibbled. Then he repeated the process over and over again. The sensation was driving me to squirm and moan.
The Maxwell Series Boxed Set - Books 4-6 Page 50