Bare Essentials

by Leslie Kelly Jill Shalvis

  He shook his head. “My mother’s not coming. She wasn’t feeling well. Frankly, I think it’s driving her insane to give up the title of First Lady of Pleasantville. She doesn’t want to see her replacement holding court.”

  Kate chuckled. “But your sister will be here.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Ah, your sister, such a charming little thing,” Armand murmured from the back seat.

  Jack saw Kate shoot her friend a warning glare, but didn’t have time to question it.

  They made their way into city hall, blending into the crowd of people in the atrium. In a far corner a band played jazzy music and an area had been cleared for dancing. A bar had been set up on what was usually an information desk. Armand immediately beelined for it, offering to get a round of drinks, leaving Kate and Jack to circulate.

  He felt her tension, the stiffness of her body. Her hands were like ice, though she maintained an expression of complete calm. Jack wondered again what it must have been like for her growing up here, if it could still make her so anxious all these years later. But she never flinched, never let anyone see a single sign of nervousness, not even when one of his mother’s cronies glanced at her, sniffed rudely, and turned away.

  He saw Kate’s face grow pale. Leaning close, he brushed a kiss against her temple and whispered, “Ignore the old bat. Did you know she wears a wig?”

  At Kate’s surprised expression, he continued. “My mother told me years ago. Seems she’s got a nervous habit and pulls her own hair, so she thought it would be easier—and less painful—to just buzz-cut it and wear wigs.”

  Kate giggled. “That’s her story and she’s sticking to it, huh? I think she was rude to the wrong person and someone just snatched her bald.”

  “That’s my girl.” Right there in the middle of the crowd, he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. Her tension seemed to ease as he took her arm and continued to lead her through the crowd.

  Finally they came face-to-face with the new mayor and his wife. Kate’s eyes widened in shock. “Mr. Otis?”

  The elderly mayor, who, Jack remembered, used to teach drama at the high school, squinted and looked at her more closely. “Why, Kate Jones, how you’ve grown up!”

  The mayor then proceeded to sweep Jack’s date in his arms and give her a tight hug. “You’ve gone off to the big city and done quite well for yourself, haven’t you?”

  “Yes, I have. I had no idea you were mayor. I figured you’d retired from teaching and were off fishing somewhere.”

  “Fishing for trouble at city hall,” he said with a wink.

  While Kate and Mr. Otis chatted, Armand returned, carefully balancing three drinks. Jack took his beer, and Kate’s wine, holding one glass in each hand.

  “By the way,” Armand said, speaking in a near whisper, “I meant to give you something before we left the house.”

  “What?”

  Instead of answering, Armand removed what looked like a small black box from his jacket pocket. “You don’t have the hands, I’ll drop it in your pocket.” He did so, then said, “Just something fun to ease Kate’s tension.”

  Since Jack’s hands were still full with the drinks, he couldn’t reach in to see what Armand had put there. “You going to explain this?”

  Armand shook his head then grinned. “Remember, roll the dial slowly and never take your eyes off her.”

  Then he strolled away, leaving Jack very curious.

  Kate had never actually conceived of enjoying this evening, but as she chatted happily with her favorite high school teacher—now interim mayor of Pleasantville—she realized that she might. When she spied Diane walking around with a tall, red-haired guy who tugged at the collar of his suit as if it was itching him, she felt more certain of it.

  “Well, I suppose I have to mingle,” Mr. Otis finally said as someone tried to lead him away for a photo op. “It’s so nice to have you back here, Kate. I hope you’ll visit more often.”

  “Wow,” she said to Jack when they were once again alone in the crowd of elegantly dressed people. “I never imagined Mr. Otis would be the new mayor.”

  Diane and her husband joined them. “He’s been on the city council for a few years,” she explained. “So’s Will.” She introduced her husband. Kate instantly liked the man, who looked as though he’d rather be anywhere but here, dressed in anything but his plain brown suit.

  Jack, on the other hand, looked delicious in his dark blue one. Elegant, expertly tailored, it showed off his hard, lean form to perfection. With his thick, blond hair, vivid green eyes and sexy grin, he had the attention of every woman in the place.

  He fit in with this crowd easily. But he was just as at ease with Will and Diane, who obviously lived far from Lilac Hill.

  Throughout the next hour Diane introduced them to several other newer members of the town’s business community, all of whom went out of their way to tell Kate how happy they were about her opening a new store in the downtown area. Kate began to feel torn. Yes, she’d decided to open the store as revenge. But if that were the case, she’d be punishing these nicer people she was meeting, too.

  Or maybe not. Ever since last night at Eileen’s house, she’d had to wonder if maybe her store wasn’t exactly what this town needed. New, fresh, daring—like a lot of these younger people circulating amid the old highbrow set.

  The highbrow set increased by one when Mrs. McIntyre walked into the room. Kate, standing close to the door, had turned to throw away her cup, and nearly ran into her.

  The woman’s face went rigid enough to crack. She made a sound that was a cross between a groan and a harrumph before she turned her back on Kate and walked away.

  Taking a deep breath, Kate glanced around to see if anyone had noticed the snub. Jack stood several feet away, pretending to listen to an older woman chatting his ear off, but his attention was focused directly on Kate. His sexy smile was conspicuously absent, his eyes tender and concerned. She felt his silent support as though he’d put his arm around her.

  She gave him a little nod, trying to assure him that she was okay, knowing he’d never believe it. He murmured something to the woman, who walked away, then gave Kate a slow smile. His green eyes shone with interest as he reached into his suit pocket.

  Before she could step closer to see what he was up to, Kate’s panties came alive. “Oh,” she said with a sharp gasp.

  She froze, her mouth falling open as she focused on the sudden, completely unexpected sensations in her private area.

  “Good Lord,” she said with a breathy sigh.

  Armand had outdone himself.

  The spongy middle slowly undulated against her rapidly swelling and quickly aroused mound, while the harder nubbins began to flicker against her clitoris with incredible friction.

  She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, quite unable to move. Around her, the crowd chattered. Someone asked her a question, and she nodded dumbly. Someone else handed her a drink. She lifted it to her lips and gulped without even looking at it, only realizing it was champagne when she felt a tickling sensation in her nose and throat. Of course, that couldn’t match the tickling sensation between her legs.

  The slow vibration picked up its pace, increasing in speed. She even swore she could hear a tiny hum and almost gasped as she wondered if anyone else heard it. As she cast a quick glance around to see, she met Jack’s eyes. His pleased, boyish grin told her he was responsible for what was happening. “More?” he asked, though she couldn’t hear him. She read the word on his lips.

  She shook her head and gave him a scolding look, unable to believe he was doing this to her in a huge crowd of people.

  The look in his eyes as he reached into his suit pocket could only be called wickedly anticipatory. She shook her head again, not able to take any more, but not able to stop it. His hand kept moving, slowly, as he dragged out the tension. And, if she were to be honest, the anticipation.

  Kate shot a quick look around the lobby where the party was being held, gaugin
g the distance to the ladies’ room. Too far. No way could she make it when her legs were already weak, her breaths choppy and her heart racing out of control.

  Jack’s hand had finally reached his pocket and as it slipped inside, she sent him one more pleading glance. At this point, she really couldn’t have said what she was pleading for.

  If the vibrations got much stronger, she’d go right over the edge and have a shattering orgasm in the middle of this crowd of elegantly dressed people.

  If they stopped, she’d die.

  The heat in Jack’s stare as he cranked up the pressure was almost enough to make her come anyway. She shuddered as the intensity of vibration rose yet another notch. Reaching blindly for support, she found herself grabbing the corner of an information desk and her fingers sunk into some creamy substance. A quick glance down told her it was a slice of cheesecake topped with strawberries, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

  The waves of pleasure began to roll through her, signaling her climax, and she leaned her hip against the desk. She heard someone say her name, but couldn’t even turn her head. Her eyes were glued to Jack’s and he nodded with encouragement, knowing even from several feet away that she was close.

  “Yes,” she whispered, closing her eyes as an intense bolt of pleasure shot through her. Her hands clenched, oozing strawberries and cheesecake between her fingers. Dropping her head back, she gasped for breath as the orgasm sent electric pleasure racing through her body.

  Finally the vibrations between her legs slowed, then stopped. When she opened her eyes, she saw Jack watching her, looking hot and ready, as if watching her reach her climax had pushed him close to the edge, too. She was about to walk over to him when she heard Diane’s voice.

  “Good God, I’ve eaten cheesecake I’d consider orgasmic, but I never got off just from touching one.”

  * * *

  “THAT WAS REALLY BAD of you,” Kate whispered as Jack curled her tighter in his arms in the back of her SUV an hour later.

  They’d escaped the party as quickly as they could, after ensuring Armand could get a ride home with Diane and her husband. By silent consent, they’d avoided going back to the duplex, instead driving up to a popular lake on the outskirts of town. Their clothes had come off a minute after Jack had engaged the parking brake and they’d barely made it over the back seat into the cargo area before he was inside her.

  They’d been frenzied and ravenous. Now they lay quietly, exchanging slow, lazy kisses and caresses that were going to lead to sweet, long lovemaking. Jack didn’t know how he could want her again, already, but he did.

  “I thought it was your fantasy,” he finally answered.

  “My fantasy?”

  “Being made helpless. Having to accept pleasure because you are powerless to stop it.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, but I meant something more along the lines of being tied to the headboard, not being brought to a shattering orgasm in a room filled with a hundred people. I can’t imagine what Diane must have thought.”

  “I think she went to look for the chef to ask for the recipe for that cheesecake.”

  She giggled. “Maybe we should sell it at Bare Essentials.”

  He stretched to work a kink out of his neck. “I haven’t had sex in the back of a car in years.”

  “This is my first back seat experience ever.”

  “Uncomfortable, isn’t it?”

  She nodded. “But exciting. I keep picturing a cop knocking on the window and telling us to get our clothes on.” She arched closer, sliding her arm around his waist. “Or an ax-maniac with a hook. You know, the kind who always slaughters the teenagers when they run out of gas on lover’s lane?”

  “I’m fairly certain the parents of a teenage girl made up that story the night before her first date.”

  “So, was this your make-out spot when you were a teenager?”

  He shook his head. “No way. Everyone in town knew my father and I never dared to bring a date out here.”

  He felt her tense in his arms at the mention of his father.

  “I know what it’s like to have everyone in town know your family,” she admitted.

  Leaning down, he pressed kisses on her temple, her cheekbone, then her lips. He kissed her lazily, gently coaxing her mouth to open. When it ended, he whispered, “I’m sorry I didn’t know you then. I’m sorry I wasn’t around to stop it when you were being treated so badly. By my sister or anyone else.”

  He wished he had been. He hated like hell to think of anyone hurting her. Ever.

  “It was a long time ago, Jack. And you know, being back here has made me remember some of the better times, too. I guess I should be thankful for that. I’d been angry for a long time and let that anger color my memories. It’s good to have some of those nicer moments back.”

  He believed she meant it. Hopefully, no matter what else happened, Kate wouldn’t regret this time spent in Pleasantville. Seeing the town through adult eyes had evened out her feelings, much as it had his. “So you think you might come back someday? For a visit?”

  She shrugged. “Anything’s possible.”

  Before he could reply, they heard the sound of crunching gravel. The bright sheen of headlights washed through the windows of the SUV.

  “Oh, my God, someone else is here,” she cried.

  They scrambled for their clothes like a couple of kids caught making out by their parents. He tossed her the magical little red underwear she’d worn at the party, watching as she shimmied into her dress. She was giggling hysterically. “Please be the cops and not a guy with an ax and a hook.”

  “You got your wish. It’s the cops,” he replied.

  Jack was having as hard a time containing his laughter as Kate appeared to be. His first time going parking in more than a decade and they get caught by the town sheriff. Thank heaven it hadn’t been ten minutes before or he doubted they’d have even noticed the approach of the other car.

  He’d just zipped his pants when he heard a knock on the driver’s side window, Thankfully, it was tinted. Recognizing Sean Taggart, with whom he’d gone to high school, he slid into the back seat, then opened the door. “Hi, Tag,” he said as he jumped out. He shut the door behind him, giving Kate more time.

  “Jack,” the other man said with a nod. Tag pushed his sheriff’s hat up on his head with the tip of one finger, trying unsuccessfully to hide a grin. “You out for a late-night drive?”

  “Yep. Enjoying the view over the lake.”

  “Well, I can see why you felt the need to take off your shirt. Musta been awful hot with all that steam on the windows.” He glanced at the lake. “But wasn’t it hard to see the view considering you’re parked facing the road, instead of the water?”

  Before Jack could reply, Kate stepped out. “Hi, Sheriff,” she said, her face awash with color.

  Tag’s eyes widened as he obviously noticed her crooked dress, bare feet and wildly tangled hair. “Kate, isn’t it? Cassie’s cousin?” When Kate nodded, Tag said, “Where is she? I heard a rumor she left town for a few days, which I couldn’t believe since that’d be so incredibly stupid.”

  Sensing Tag knew about whatever trouble Cassie was in, Jack waited for her answer, as well. When Kate admitted her cousin had gone to New York for the weekend, and would fly home the next day, Tag swore under his breath. “When does her plane get in?”

  “She’s supposed to call me and let me know when she’s leaving New York so I can go pick her up at the airport.”

  “Tell you what,” Tag said, his calm tone not hiding his obvious anger. “You call me in the morning and tell me what flight she’s on so I can go pick her up, and I won’t arrest you both for public indecency.”

  “We weren’t exactly in public,” Jack said.

  “Maybe not. Then again, I’ve just heard an interesting rumor about some mighty strange behavior by the two of you at the mayor’s party, which was very public. Now, do we have a deal?”

  Kate nibbled on her lip, then finall
y nodded. “Cassie’s gonna kill me.”

  “Not if I kill her first,” Tag muttered as he turned on his heel and strode away. He got into his car, but before leaving, he rolled down his window. “Next time, cut your lights before you pass by old lady Millner’s place. She’s a quarter mile up the road and calls every time a car comes down here late at night.”

  Then he drove away, leaving them standing alone.

  “Sounds like he’s speaking from experience,” Kate said with a chuckle.

  “Tag never had much problem with the girls back in high school.”

  “With those looks and that body? I can definitely see why he’d cause a sigh or two.” She gave him a look out of the corner of her eye that screamed mischief.

  Okay, Kate wanted him jealous. No problem. He grabbed her arm and tugged her close. Lowering his voice, he whispered, “I’m surprised you can sigh, or even talk at all, considering the way you were screaming ten minutes ago. Your throat must be sore.”

  Then he caught her mouth in a hot, wet kiss designed to drive the thought of any other person on the planet out of her mind. Her gentle moans and pliant body told him he’d succeeded.

  When they parted, she sucked in a few deep breaths. “You’re definitely scream-worthy, Jack,” she said. “And you certainly know how to show a girl a good time.” She started to giggle, then to laugh out loud. “Oh, my gosh, if Tag tells Cassie about this, she’ll never let me live it down. We made a pact to never go parking with guys when we were in high school. We pinky swore and everything.”

  “You mean I was good enough to break a pinky swear for?” he said with a pleased grin. “Wow. I don’t know if anyone’s ever broken a pinky swear just for me.”

  She lightly elbowed him in the ribs. “Don’t go getting a swelled head.” She leaned back against the car, crossing her arms and letting out an audible sigh. “I’m going to be dead meat when I’m not the one who shows up tomorrow to pick Cassie up at the airport.”

  “Something’s going on between your cousin and the sheriff?”