by T Gephart
Dave shook his head, fighting his own grin. “Hello? Did you not see the commercial that apparently everyone in this goddamn city has seen? You think it’s easy to stand around with no shirt on and not look as ridiculous as you feel? That’s real talent there. Also, this place is doing wonders for my ego.”
“Give me the keys, wiseass. Let’s get out of here before the paparazzi show up.” I held my hand out and waited for the keys.
He didn’t argue, tossing the key fob to me as he walked over to the passenger side door. “No country,” he said, giving me the sexiest smile as he slid into his seat.
“No country,” I agreed, getting into the car. Hell, with a smile like that he could have put on the Christian rock channel and I wouldn’t have cared.
We pulled out of the parking garage and got on the main road, driving a little faster than the speed limit. With the top down and the wind blowing in our hair it felt good as we drove, no one watching us and not needing to worry about what I said or did. We didn’t even talk, not feeling the pressure to fill the silence.
It wasn’t until we stopped that Dave spoke, looking at the building with interest. “A trampoline park?”
“You scared to get a little sweaty?” I cut the engine and grabbed my purse. “I figured I’d put you through your paces and make you jump through hoops . . . literally.”
He laughed, getting out of the car and walking to the driver’s side. “I’m not scared of anything. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
The excitement traveled up my spine as we made our way to the front desk. We purchased the special socks, paid our admission and then moved into the jumping area like a pair of teenagers on a date.
He dragged me on the trampoline, bouncing wildly as he held my hand. I couldn’t stop laughing, each of my jumps slightly out of time. He didn’t seem to mind, grinning at me while we moved across the black mats, jumping like lunatics.
With the skill of an Olympic gymnast he tucked into a perfect frontward roll, diving into the sponge pit. I followed him in with a less graceful dive of my own, sinking into the green and blue squares.
He grabbed me, pulling me onto him as I fought against the spongy quicksand, hugging me tightly around the waist as he helped me out. “Sweaty enough for you?” he whispered in my ear, his hot breath tickling my skin.
“Maybe.” I breathed against him. “You want to go get something to eat? I’m worried if you get any hotter you’re going to need to take off your shirt and our cover will be blown.” I looked around suspiciously.
He rolled his eyes, putting his hands on my waist as he guided me off the trampolines. “We wouldn’t want that now, would we? And I have definitely worked up an appetite.”
We put our shoes on and got back into the car only this time there was no silence, both of us laughing and chatting until we pulled up to a restaurant that looked more like a rundown old shack. The tables were covered in cheap, brightly colored plastic tablecloths, with candles stuffed into empty beer bottles as centerpieces.
Most out-of-towners wouldn’t have even stopped at Jax Corner, let alone eaten at it. But there was nowhere in town better to get a Po’ Boy, and I’d missed them since I’d left.
“Oh my goodness, Jessica Dawson.” Miss Holly wiped her hands on her apron before leaning down to give me a hug. “I’d have thought you’d be at your cousin’s BBQ dinner. I hear even the mayor got invited.”
“We decided to skip it.” I smiled at Dave. “Dave, this is Miss Holly, she runs the place with her husband, Mr. Jackson. Miss Holly, I’d like you to meet my friend, Dave.”
Miss Holly was in her fifties but hadn’t missed a day of work in almost a decade. It was her secret family recipes that made the place a success, and even though the restaurant had been profitable for years, they hadn’t changed a thing since the day it opened. They were firm believers of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, the worn inside décor a testimony to their theory.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She held out her hand but didn’t give him any undue attention. “I haven’t seen you here before, are you new in town?”
I smiled at him, looking at how comfortable he’d fit into my world. There weren’t many guys I knew who could have integrated so seamlessly, and who wouldn’t have complained at least once. “No, Dave lives in L.A, it’s his first visit here.”
“Oh, well welcome. Big change from L.A. I bet.” Miss Holly’s smile widened, glancing at our interlocked fingers across the table. I hadn’t even noticed he’d been holding my hand. “So y’all ready to order?”
I nodded, ordering our Po’ Boys and beer as zydeco music played through the speakers. My hand stayed right where it was, comfortable with the contact and more importantly, liking it.
“It’s like a sandwich.” Dave looked at his basket of food, inspecting it with a smile after Miss Holly brought our order.
I shook my head, lowering my head and allowed the amazing smell to waft up my nose. “It’s like a sandwich but a million times better.”
He took a bite, his eyes rolling back as he savored the mouthful. “Oh my God, this is amazing.”
“Yep,” I agreed taking a bite of my own. “I’m pretty sure Miss Holly adds crack to her secret spice mix. I ate so many of these my first year of college, I gained like twenty pounds.”
“Only twenty pounds? I’d have gained at least fifty, these are so good.” He took another bite. “Wonder if there is some way we can get these delivered back home? I’d seriously pay whatever they asked.”
We finished our dinner and ordered another beer, Miss Holly bringing out some peach cobbler with ice cream before we could decline her offer of dessert.
It was almost nine by the time we walked back out to the car, the night air crackling between us. “Tonight was fun.” He pulled me closer and brushed his lips against mine. “Thanks for taking me out.”
My eyes fixed on his, my body heating with him being so close. “It was my pleasure. I just didn’t have it in me to pretend tonight.”
“So don’t pretend.”
He kissed me, not softly like he had that morning before I’d left for the day, but deeper, more intense. His hands moved over me, bringing me closer as one curled around my neck and locked me in place. He didn’t have to bother; I wasn’t going anywhere.
It was hot, yet unhurried, his lips on a quest to discover every inch of mine as he pressed me against the driver’s side door. My body melded to his, loving the feel of him as we devoured each other.
“No one was watching.” The words came out in a breathless whisper. “You didn’t have to kiss me.”
He shook his head, nibbling my lips. “No one was watching us this morning in bed either.”
Earlier I had chosen ignorance, not wanting to question or even deal with what us having sex had meant. We were in a strange situation, both of us red-blooded adults who had found ourselves naked in bed together. It wasn’t shocking that we’d slept together. In fact, I’d have been more surprised if we hadn’t. He was gorgeous and I wasn’t unattractive, so of course if you put gasoline next to a fire it was going to burn.
I wasn’t even sorry, the release it had given me far out weighing the confusion that came after.
But the kiss had been different.
We weren’t naked, alone in the dark and fighting against the primal urges of our human sexual nature. The kiss had been a choice.
One where he chose to kiss me.
And I’d chosen to kiss him back.
God.
What the hell did that mean?
“Dave . . .” I couldn’t finish the sentence, not even sure I knew what was going on in my head let alone able to say it out loud.
He kissed me again, slower as he leaned against me. He was hard, pressing the ridge of his cock along my body and leaving no confusion as to what he was feeling. “Don’t think about it, Jess,” he breathed against my mouth. “Just be here now, and don’t think.”
I didn’t argue, letting myself get l
ost with him as my body responded, arching against him with an urgency I had no hope of controlling. My fingernails clawed at him, wanting him closer as I fused my lips to his, his tongue stroking mine.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he groaned, moving his mouth to my neck as his hands grabbed my ass. His control seemed as desperately unhinged as mine was, our bodies dry humping each other against the side of the car.
My skin was on fire, the ache between my legs almost unbearable as I swallowed a groan. I wanted him, wanted him to invade every single part of me, and screw the consequences.
“Get a room,” someone shouted, followed by a laugh that pulled us back to the present.
He lifted his body, the sweet friction of his weight stolen from me as my eyes stared at his beautiful mouth stained with my lipstick. “Sound advice,” I panted.
“Is that where you want to go? Back to our room?” he asked, bringing his lips as close as they could get without touching me.
Yes!
At least that was what I wanted to say, beg him to take me back to our room and make love to me fifty different ways. I wanted it to be more than just one time, to prove it hadn’t been a fluke, but as I looked at him I shook my head.
“We should go make an appearance at this BBQ. As much as I would rather go back to the hotel, we’re only here until Sunday afternoon and then who knows when I’ll be back.”
I’d told myself it was because I was really in a good mood so putting up with the third degree didn’t seem so bad. If we’d played our cards right, by the time we got to my uncle and aunt’s house everyone would be drinking and not even notice us. But part of me knew it was a cop out.
I was confused about my feelings, and was worried about our new intimacy. I had no idea if he felt the same way, or if I was just another girl he occasionally had sex with. And I had absolutely no clue as to what we were actually doing.
It was good to be cautious, to have a good time but not get in too deep.
At least not yet.
He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me as he kissed me one last time. “BBQ it is then. But I’m driving.”
There wasn’t an argument, dropping the keys into his hands as I kissed him back. “She’s all yours.”
He winked popping open the door. “Just the way I like it.”
It was the way I liked it too.
“JESSICA!” MY COUSIN LANA SCREAMED, throwing herself at me the minute we’d walked in the door. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming, we tried calling you but you didn’t pick up.”
I frowned, pretending to be surprised that the phone I’d put on silent hadn’t delivered any of her calls. “I must be having issues with the service. You think if they can put a rover on Mars we should at least be able to get decent cell reception.”
“Right? It’s just the worst.” She hugged me again before turning to Dave. “And you, we have heard so much about you.”
The glassy eyes were the first clue Lana had been drinking, as was her relaxed posture and overenthusiastic smile. She wasn’t drunk by any means, but she was well and truly relaxed.
He grinned, ignoring how creepy it sounded as he pulled me closer. “I’ve heard a lot about you too. Where’s the lucky guy?”
“Getting last minute warnings to treat me right by every member of our family, he’ll be glad you’re here to take some of the heat.” She blushed, giggling as she pulled us into the house. There were people in every room, the house looking like it had been invaded by an army of human ants.
“Wow, there are a lot of people here.” Waving to the many hellos we got, not stopping as we pushed through the crowd to the backyard.
Lana shouted over her shoulder, her voice having difficulty carrying over the noise. “Yeah, Mom got a little carried away with the guest list. Tomorrow is insane, I’m not even sure I’m going to know half the people at my own wedding.”
While my dad’s family hadn’t come from money, my mom’s family was a different story. And while each of my aunts—my mother was one of four girls—had married and continued to add to their wealth, they had been given an incredibly generous helping hand by my grandparents.
“Do you know all the people here?” I looked around, a few faces looking familiar. “It’s like the whole neighborhood is inside your house.
My mom was sipping wine with her sisters, MaryAnn—Lana’s mom, KerriAnn, and JoAnn. There was a theme in case anyone missed it.
“There she is!” Aunt MaryAnn quickly put down her wine and rushed over to us. “Look at you. You just keep getting more stunning every time I see you.”
I cringed, feeling far from stunning. My hair was a mess from bouncing, my make up half worn off from sweat, and my lipstick was history from the making out we’d done after dinner.
“Thanks, Aunt MaryAnn, I’m sorry we’re late. We got tied up and lost track of time.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Psh, now don’t worry about that, I’m just glad you came. Terry,” she hollered for my uncle, “get Jessica and her man a drink.”
Uncle Terry was at the opposite end of the yard, holding court with a bunch of men who looked like they were probably important. He owned a group of car dealerships so he loved being in the middle of the crowd. Even in the hottest part of summer he wore his uniform of Wranglers, checked shirts and cowboy boots, and tonight was no exception. He tipped his head to his wife, excusing himself before grabbing drinks out of the cooler and making his way over to us.
“Jessie.” He nodded, the deep lines of his face cracking as he smiled. “It’s so good to have you home.”
He was the only person who was able to get away with calling me Jessie. Anyone else would have got the stink eye followed by a string of expletives, but with him I didn’t mind it so much. And he was too sweet to be mad at.
“Thanks, Uncle Terry, this is my boyfriend Dave.” I introduced them as we accepted our beers. “He’s an actor.”
My uncle looked skeptical, sizing him up as he took a step back. “You’re from California?”
“Yes, sir.” Dave nodded, extending his hand.
Uncle Terry returned the handshake, wrapping his fingers around tight. “Well, you’re a pleasant surprise.”
Oh God.
What the hell did that mean?
Ignorance seemed to be the best course of action so I pretended I hadn’t heard. I widened my grin, hoping I didn’t look crazy as I stared at the table of desserts. “Wow, look at all that pie, there must be at least ten different types.”
Dave hadn’t gotten the memo, ignoring my change of conversation as he volleyed back. “You were expecting something else?”
“Yeah, a skinny guy with blond hair who says dude a lot.” Uncle Terry sunk his hands into his jeans. “You don’t surf do you, son?”
“Uncle Terry, I keep telling you California isn’t like that.” I laughed nervously.
Just like everyone in the South wasn’t screwing their cousin in the back of their pickup truck while chewing tobacco, not everyone in California was a scrawny surfer dude with blond hair.
“Yeah, well you can never be too sure.” He hitched up his pants, looking pleased. “Oh, and I’m glad you aren’t one of those metrosexual types either. I don’t trust a man when he takes more time in the bathroom than a woman.”
Wow, okay then.
Dave laughed, taking it all in stride. “I think we’re good on that front too.”
Hoping to be done with awkward, I took the opportunity to introduce Dave to my other aunts, both of them looking impressed.
“You sure are handsome.” Aunt JoAnn squeezed his arm. “You’re like one of those big lumberjacks.” She laughed.
Aunt KerriAnn nodded. “Very handsome.”
“We’re going to go say hello to everyone.” I looped my arm around Dave’s arm wondering how much weirder it might get. “We’ll catch up with you later.”
“Not so fast, missy.” My mom tapped her foot, stopping me with just a look. It was something
she’d perfected when we were kids and even as a grown up, I had a hard time not succumbing to its power.
“I know I told you dinner was at seven and for you to dress nice.” She glanced down at my denim cut offs. “You could have at least worn a complete pair of pants.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my pants.” I rolled my eyes. “It’s hot and we’re at a BBQ. And we’re late because I wanted to show Dave around. I was out all day with the girls and didn’t get a chance. Besides, it doesn’t look like we’ve missed anything important.”
She might not have liked my sass but she wasn’t surprised by it either. I’d always been the most headstrong of her children, pushing her limits whenever I could.
“Well.” She straightened her pearls. “Make sure you say hello to everyone. Gran Shelly has had a few too many fruit punches so just be mindful anything you say tonight might not be remembered tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I gave her a smile, waving her goodbye as I dragged Dave away. At least this time I would know Gran Shelly might not remember stuff, a tip-off that could have saved me the last time.
As directed, I made sure I said hello to everyone even if half the time I didn’t know who they were. Most everyone was polite, treating Dave like he was the shiny new toy. There were appreciative smiles and subtle nods, and about five million questions. Where we’d met, how long we’d been dating, did he have a brother who was single—it went on and on. There were more than a few who recognized him either from the commercial or his family connection, but for the most part they were respectful.
Satisfied we’d been seen enough, we pulled up a chair next to Travis and Amy. “If I have to shake one more hand I’m going to end up with a wrist injury.” I massaged my muscles.
“Probably would have been easier if you’d been here earlier and didn’t have to condense all your greetings into one hit.” Travis hid the smirk behind his beer. “And they always said you were the smart one.”
I laughed, flipping him off discreetly. “I am smart, which is why instead of being here eating BBQ, we went to Jax Corner and had Po’ Boys.”