It seemed that he and Angel were both stuck.
~ ~ ~
Two days later, Jared showed up for his Saturday morning Captain Huddle duty with no clear plan other than a step forward. He wanted Emily to know he was interested, but didn’t want to rush to the bedroom. She meant more to him than that. Yes, that was what he’d do. He gave himself a mental pat on the back for that brilliant idea. He was looking for more than a good time, and if by some freak chance she was too (despite his gut feeling to the contrary), maybe they’d have something…real good.
Delusional thinking, that was all he had left in his pitiful arsenal.
“Hi, Jared,” Emily said with a big smile as she handed him the goody bag.
He was instantly relieved to see her looking happy again. “Hey. How’re you doing after, you know, that thing with—”
“I’m fine. I took care of the problem.” She beamed. “And I’m ready for excitement and fun.”
He studied her for a moment, unsure what that meant. Just a blanket statement? She wasn’t giving him any kind of signal that he could read. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Like what?”
She put a hand on his arm and his hopes rose, along with an important body part, as she went up on tiptoe to whisper, “I’m going free jumping.”
He scowled. She was deliberately antagonizing him with this shit. He pushed his eye mask up to glower at her. “It’s freebase jumping, not free jumping, and I told you you’re not doing that.”
She lifted one shoulder. “I can if I want.”
He ground his teeth and slammed the eye mask back in place. “After your shift, we’re going to the mall.”
“We are?”
“Yeah. You can do the bungee jump there.” The Eastman mall had recently set up a bungee trampoline. You could jump as high as the second floor all while safely attached to a harness tethered to multiple bungee cords. That was both exciting and fun.
A big smile spread across her face. “Awesome!”
He grunted. She smiled some more, twirling a long lock of glossy brown hair.
He turned and headed for Chris’s room, unexpectedly smiling.
Four hours later, on the drive to the mall, Jared was still smiling because Emily was bubbling with excitement over her first bungee jump. Also, she’d changed out of her scrubs and into a sweater and jeans that showed off an hourglass figure with a narrow waist and curvy hips. She’d added some perfume with hints of cinnamon and vanilla that made him want to lick her all over. Down, boy.
He parked the truck and took in her sparkling brown eyes and flushed cheeks with a bemused smile. “Ready?” he asked.
“Let’s go!” She hopped out of his truck, and he led the way to the wing of the mall where they’d set up the bungee trampoline. There was a kid on it flying through the air, bounding up again, and doing somersaults. It looked like a lot of fun. And very safe with several bungee ropes, a harness, and that huge trampoline to land on. He’d never cared so much about safety until he met Emily. He hoped he wasn’t losing his edge. Nah. He was still a risk-taking adrenaline junkie. Someone had to look out for Emily, that was all. The woman was on the hunt for excitement. He just happened to be the one close at hand.
“You’re next,” he said, helping her out of her jacket.
She frowned. “This isn’t a bungee jump. It’s just a trampoline.” She pointed accusingly. “There’s a kid on it. He can’t be more than eight years old!”
“What’d you think, I was going to let you leap off the roof of the mall?”
She crossed her arms. “You said it was exciting. This is for kids.”
“Adults can go on it too. Besides, look how high you can jump. This isn’t a regular old trampoline. It’s supercharged.”
She looked at the trampoline skeptically. “Are you going on it too?”
“Nah. I don’t need any more excitement.” All of his energy had to go toward reeling in his lust for her.
“What kind of excitement are you getting?”
“Plenty.” Not really.
She pursed her lips in a sexy pout.
He bit back a groan. “Don’t do that.”
“What?” she asked, her brown eyes sparkling mischievously.
“Get in line, missy,” he said. “You’re up next.”
She sauntered over to the entrance of the attraction, working those hips. She stopped and looked at him over her shoulder with a smile. He shook his head. She knew what she was doing to him. This getting-to-know-you stuff without the getting-to-touch-you stuff took self-restraint to the level of extreme sport.
No one else was waiting in line, so a few minutes later Emily took off her sneakers and was strapped in. She started at a small jump, hardly going anywhere.
“Higher!” he hollered. “Push off.”
She did. “Ah!” she yelped as she flew up really high, nearly to the second floor.
He grinned. “More. Do a flip!”
She raised her arms as she jumped. “I don’t know how to do a flip!” she hollered back.
“Try!”
She leaped a while more, getting higher and higher, squealing and laughing. It looked like a ton of fun. Then she tucked and managed a somersault before landing. “I did it!” she hollered, jumping some more.
The guy running it announced her time was up and pulled her back down with the bungee cords. She stepped out of the harness and threw herself unexpectedly in Jared’s arms, making him stagger back.
She smiled up at him, flushed and happy. “That was so fun! Do you think it was as exciting as free jumping?”
His lips twitched. “More.”
She glanced at his mouth and then met his eyes. He stifled a groan and stepped out of her embrace. He couldn’t take things slow if she kept throwing herself at him. “Let’s get lunch at the food court.”
This was the absolute last time he would be alone with her, he promised himself as they stood in line for pizza. He could only take so much temptation. He’d keep it to texts and phone calls for a while so they could get to know each other better. If he gave in to lust, she’d be out the door before he got any words out about feelings stuff. Maybe he should ask Mr. Feelings Talker to write him a script to follow. No, that was too weird given Angel and Emily’s history.
Luckily next weekend he was heading up to Vermont for a ski weekend with Angel. They went every year the first weekend of December. They both loved the rush of the black diamond slopes. Maybe he could figure out a way to get some advice on the long drive without coming right out and admitting he needed help with a woman. A hypothetical situation for a friend. Yeah, that could work.
They settled at a table in the food court with slices of pepperoni pizza and bottled water. They dug into their food and ate in companionable silence. The mall speakers were already blaring Christmas carols. The cheerful “Feliz Navidad” added a festive note to their lunch date. Was it a date? He hadn’t actually asked her out. More like told her they were doing this. His head was starting to hurt. It was damn difficult to move things to the next level with their clothes on.
Emily took a sip of water. “We should go skydiving next.”
He stiffened. She wouldn’t be doing anything that dangerous on his watch. He ignored the fact that he’d gone skydiving on plenty of occasions. This was exactly why he needed to bubble wrap her. She was hell bent on adventure, and he couldn’t bear the thought of her getting hurt in any way. “You’re not ready.”
“Of course I am! I just bungee jumped.”
“That was a trampoline.”
She smacked his arm. “I told you that wasn’t a real bungee jump.”
“You know what’s real exciting? Porn.”
“Okay, let’s do that.”
“I was kidding!”
She leaned in, smiling her seductive smile. “You’re pushing me to extreme measures.”
He leaned back. “I’m not pushing you to anything!”
She lowered her voice. “
You know how long it’s been since I’ve had sex?”
“Yes. You told me when you were passed out on my sofa. I quizzed you and you mumbled all your secrets.”
“I did not!” She paused, her brows scrunched down. “Wait, did I?”
He chuckled. “I also know the last time you flipped your mattress, that you’re overdue for a physical, and your favorite toothpaste.” Not really, but she was fun to tease.
“Ha! When was the last time you had sex?”
He went back to his pizza. He hadn’t been with anyone since he met her. That fact was too embarrassing to admit. She’d think he was pining for her. Which he was.
“Well?” she pressed.
“Eat your pizza.”
She smirked and took a bite of pizza. After she chewed, she said, “Dr. One-and-Done is a prude! I never would’ve guessed.”
He set down his pizza. “That’s it.”
She wiggled her fingers at him. “Ooh, what’re you going to do? Wave bye-bye? That’s what you do. Run and hide, hunk-a-nator.”
He snorted. “I can’t decide if I’m mad at you or about to laugh.”
She leaned across the table. “Kiss me.”
“Em—”
She grabbed him by the collar, hauled him close and kissed him. He reacted without thought, sliding his hand into her silky hair, deepening the kiss. She tasted a little spicy like pizza and also intoxicating Emily. He needed to get closer, feel more of her pressed against more of him. Someone hollered, “Go for it, man!” He pulled away.
They went back to their lunch. Her lips curled into a small smirky smile of triumph. He was torn between bolting and grabbing her for more. Cool it.
“You done?” he asked after they’d both finished their slice. He stood with his tray.
“Yup,” she said.
They tossed the trash and headed for the exit in silence. His only thought was that he had to get her home and away from him. Keeping his hands off was too much to ask any man in serious like/lust.
He stopped at the passenger-side door of his truck, unlocked it, and opened it for her. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again. He couldn’t help himself. He dove into sweet insanity. She tasted amazing, she smelled amazing, she felt amazing. He lost control. The kiss got hot and heavy real fast, right there in the mall parking lot. He pulled away first, resting his forehead against hers, breathing hard and trying to get control again. “Emily, I’m—”
Her fingers covered his lips. “Shh, don’t say anything. Just let it be.”
They slammed together again.
“Come to my place,” she said against his mouth, kissing him again. “Please.”
“Yes, okay.”
She beamed. “Okay!”
He drove her back to her apartment in Clover Park, but by the time he got there, he was having second thoughts. What if she thought one fun time was enough? What if he was the one left behind? He hadn’t worked up a game plan yet, and he couldn’t afford to fumble this.
He walked her to her door and gave her a chaste kiss on the forehead. “Bye, Emily.”
“Bye! After all that kissing?” She put her hands on her hips. “Come on!”
He stepped back. “Sorry. It’s just—”
She held up a hand. “You know what? Fine! Obviously it’s never going to happen!”
“What’re you so mad about? I’m just being a good guy.”
She threw up her hands. “I can’t believe I got the one player who won’t play!”
“Sorry to disappoint you!” he barked as too much emotion and lust tangled up, messing with his head. “You can stop accidentally running into me in the cafeteria.”
“I haven’t run into you in the cafeteria in a week! Argh!” She went inside and slammed the door.
He wanted to kick something, and, at the same time, he wanted to barge into her apartment and finish what they started. She was making him insane.
He drove straight to Angel’s place. He was the only one who could help him with this bizarre situation. Angel did this kind of thing for a living, untangling emotion and turning it into a plan. He was dimly aware that he was bringing the woman they’d both lusted over between them again and that it was wrong to rub Angel’s face in it, given he was so stuck with Julia, and how Emily used to love him, but all Jared cared about was getting a game plan. He couldn’t live like this, not knowing what to do, fighting his own lusty instincts.
“What’s the matter?” Angel asked when he opened the door. “You look crazed.”
He stepped inside. “I feel crazed. I kissed Emily, all right? More than once.” He shoved both hands in his hair. “I screwed up.”
“How did you screw up?”
Jared fumbled around for how to explain. He really, really liked her. He really, really lusted for her. He really, really didn’t want to be the one left behind.
“Did you sleep with her?” Angel asked.
Jared was quiet because he nearly had.
“You have my blessing,” Angel said like the saintly priest he was. Dammit.
“I don’t need your blessing!” He shoved Angel, and Angel shoved him back. “You know, I’m really sick of this whole saintly thing you’ve got going on! You say you’re not a saint, but you act like it, going around blessing people to sleep with the woman who fell in love with you.” He raised a hand to slap Angel, but his brother moved quick, blocking him.
“Hey, cool it,” Angel snapped.
“Stop being a damned saint.”
Angel shook his head. “She’s all yours, Dr. Bozo.”
His gut churned. He wished he never knew that Emily had loved Angel. After her history in the love department, she just wanted some fun. He didn’t know how to move things to where he wanted them, and that pissed him off because Angel knew the secret to getting Emily there and he didn’t.
“You want to talk?” Angel asked.
“How did you…what did you…” He raked a hand through his hair. “Never mind. It’s stupid.”
“Give her a chance.” Angel socked his arm a little harder than usual. Jared rubbed the spot. “What’re you afraid will happen?”
He started pacing the living room. “Nothing. I’m not afraid of anything. And nothing’s going to happen.”
“But it already did. You kissed her more than once.”
Jared stopped pacing and glared at Angel. “Shut up, idiot. You have no clue what I’m up against here.”
“You’re a little freaked because you actually feel something for her.” Angel raised his brows. “Maybe something a little deeper than your usual hookup.”
Jared couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud. The thought that ran in circles around his head. What if Emily just wanted him for one fun time? Or worse, what if Jared ended up hurting her?
“Only one way to find out,” Angel said like he was a damned mind reader.
Jared slammed his hands on his hips. “How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“Social worker training. All I do is listen, listen, listen.” He raised a finger. “To what’s being said and not said.”
“How can you know what’s not said!” Jared exclaimed.
Angel ignored that. “And I know you probably as well as I know myself. You’re afraid of what might happen, but there’s only one way to find out what will happen.”
He stopped pacing as his gut churned over all the many ways this could go wrong. The stakes felt too high.
He held up a hand. “I can’t do this.”
“So don’t,” Angel said.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he snarled. It didn’t matter that Angel loved Julia. He’d been with Emily, and that still pissed Jared off. More so because Jared hadn’t been, and for a good cause, a real relation—was that what he wanted? A relation—he couldn’t even think the word when it came to actually having one. Man up! Okay, yes. That was what he wanted. A relation—more than a good time. Who was he kidding? He couldn’t even think the word. Maybe he was just t
he good-time guy. And maybe that meant sticking to women who didn’t cause so much emotion that he couldn’t think straight.
Angel studied him for a minute. “I want you to be happy, bro. Grab a little happiness for me, wouldja?”
“See? This is why I tried to give Emily to you before. I knew you weren’t happy.” He sucked in air and blurted, “Do you think there’s just one person out there for you?”
“Yes,” Angel said quietly.
“But then…” He didn’t want to say Angel was fucked, but he clearly was.
“I know,” Angel said, meeting his eyes unflinchingly. “I wish I could let go of Julia, but I can’t.”
Jared shook his head in silent commiseration.
Angel slapped him on the back. “It’ll be good to get away next weekend. Beer?”
Jared felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He really needed this annual ski weekend. “Yeah. Can’t wait. Let’s watch the game.”
He didn’t have to be tempted next Saturday because he wouldn’t be doing his usual visit to the pediatric ward. By the time he got back, surely he’d have a good game plan. Yes, this was just what he needed—the cold, crisp air, skiing the black diamonds, and some excitement that did not involve the woman who made him crazed.
But as he settled on the sofa, he couldn’t focus on the game. All he could think about was her soft lips, her scent, her curves that fit against him perfectly. Stop it. He shifted uncomfortably and took a long pull on his beer. Just focus on the game.
He glanced at Angel, who jerked his chin at him. “Good game, huh? Close one.”
“Yeah.”
Next weekend would be easier. Just two bros and no chicks.
Chapter Nine
Jared whistled as he headed outside early on Saturday morning, skis and gear in hand to load into the bed of his pickup truck. Angel would show up at any minute, and then they were off. Vince said he’d step in for the Captain Huddle visit while Jared was away. Vince had roped their mom into Sophia-babysitting duty (literally babysitting, he wanted someone to watch out for the baby and make sure Sophia didn’t starve him). Unfortunately, the two women had no plans to sit quietly at home as Vince had instructed, but instead planned a trip to the mall for maternity clothes. Jared knew all this because Vince had bitched about it over the phone last night, hoping Jared would give some medical advice that kept Sophia home. No can do.
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