Seducing Mr. Right

by Rebecca Rose

  With a snarl, Jake turned, “Shawna, you know you’re not welcome here. What the hell do you want now?”

  “I love you, Jake,” Shawna announced with pleading eyes while bent on her knees. “She’s not the woman for you. I was blind. Please take me back. I’m so ashamed. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me—”

  “Your lies won’t work, Shawna. You weren’t there when I was shot, when my friend died. You only made everything worse. Why the hell do you think I’d take you back or listen to your blundering, self-serving excuses and apologies, now?”

  “Because I love you. I never stopped loving you.” Tears streamed down her face, and Sophie scoffed at her. “Look at her, Jake! She’s evil. I didn’t do anything to start this fight. She came up and just started swinging. I didn’t deserve this! Please give me another chance.”

  Jake put his arm around Sophie and started to steer her back into the building. “You walked in, that’s what you did. Go back to your lover, Shawna. I have nothing for you. No feelings at all. Not even disgust. That’s how much I don’t care.”

  “You’ll get bored. And then you’ll come running back to me!”

  “I doubt that,” Sophie told her. “I’m not a cold fish.” She stuck her tongue out and laughed when Dave stopped Shawna from attacking her. A very humiliated Shawna backed up and ran to her car.

  “Jesus, Sophie,” Jake took her behind the bar and grabbed a dishrag to clean up the blood on her face and hands. “What the hell were you thinking?”

  Without fully understanding why, a tear spilled down her cheek. “She hurt you so bad, Jake. I just wanted to pound her face in.”

  “Well, I’d say you did a good job. We’ll be lucky if you don’t get arrested for battery.”

  “You’re mad at me.” She looked down at their joined hands.

  “Actually, I’m a little turned on. But that’s the perverse side of my mind. The other side is yelling at you and not understanding what you were thinking.”

  “I wasn’t thinking.”

  “No shit.”

  Her lips twitched when she looked up and saw him smiling at her. “I was going to kick her ass down the street but you kinda interrupted that.”

  “And I was going to let her,” Dave said. “I told Shawna, again, not to come back. She said she was gonna call the cops. I reminded her that I repeatedly told her she’s banned from this establishment and she took it upon herself to come here and suffer the consequences. If she wants to call the cops, go for it. But she’ll be on the losing end.” Dave sat on a stool and looked around the empty bar. “I think we should close up due to the weather. Jake, why don’t you drive Sophie home, or something? She’s had a shitty day.”

  “I just got here.”

  “Don’t whine, Jake. You weren’t the one scared out of your mind when Shawna walked in. I knew Sophie was gonna kill her and I’d have to help bury the body. Happily, of course.”

  Looking thoroughly amused, Jake told his brother, “As long as I don’t have to help. I’ve wasted enough time on her.” He gave Sophie a gentle kiss, “Go get your jacket, slugger. We’re going to my house. It’s closer.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  With his eyes closed Jake gave a winded breath. He wasn’t happy. “I still can’t believe you did that,” he said.

  “Me either. I swear I’ve never been a violent person. It’s only recently.” She leaned over and began to kiss his naked chest. “I like this.” Her hand snaked under the sheet to tease him.

  “Sophie. You’ve tired me out. I need fuel.” He climbed out of bed quickly and pulled his jeans back on. Before leaving the room he turned and looked at the woman stretched naked across his bed. Her striking red hair fanned out over his pillow. Unable to resist her, Jake crossed the room and laid his body over hers, “You look so content.”

  “Hmm. I am.” Lazily she stroked a hand through his hair while Jake studied her. “What are you thinking about, Jake? You have that crease between your eyebrows.”

  “I’m looking at your bruised face.” He really hadn’t been looking at the black and blues coming to the surface under her eye. No, his heart had been trying to revise his future plans, their future plans, by searching her soul for any unsavory feelings toward his condition. Seeing if the unwavering confidence she showed in him was waning. Trust—he really needed to learn how to do that again. But it was so damn hard, and he couldn’t quite explain why the fight upset him.

  “Don’t remind me. Can you imagine what my mother is going to say? Aaaggg!”

  “Why did you attack her?”

  Sophie’s eyes looked sharply into his. “Because she deserved it. I’m not letting you go without a fight, Jake. Get used to it.”

  He felt his mind take a painful step back. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me,” she teased with a nip at his earlobe.

  He tried to pull away to a safer position but found himself trapped by her legs. “Let go, Sophie.”

  “I don’t think so. What’s the problem, Sanders?”

  She was joking around and he was serious. Why couldn’t she see that he truly had a problem with what happened? “I want to know why you tried to smash her face in.”

  “I just told you,” she snickered and grabbed his butt.

  “No, you gave me a line of bullshit.” To no avail he tried, once again, to get off of her.

  “First of all,” she said with a determination that matched his mood, “you’re not going anywhere. Second, that wasn’t a line of bull. I was justified in doing that to her.”

  “I could peel you off me if I really wanted to. Now, let me up.” The challenge came out before he thought it through. Knowing Sophie was knowing that she backed down from nothing.

  She lifted her chin. “Try it.”

  He grabbed her legs and tried to strip her off. When he’d almost succeeded, she wrapped around him like a boa constrictor—the more he fought, the more he lost ground.

  “What the hell! Sophie, get the hell off of me!” Jake tried to stifle the chuckle that rose in him.

  “No.”

  He managed to slide her around him so they were face to face. “What the hell is your problem?”

  “It wasn’t a line of bullshit, Jake.” She puffed out her bottom lip in a pout.

  “Yes, it was. I saw it in your eyes. Why did you attack her? Did she say something to you?” Sophie released her legs from around him, leaving Jake to think he’d won this little war. He smiled at the thought, but then he saw her somber face. “She said something.”

  “No, she didn’t.”

  He watched her choppy movements while she dressed and wondered what her problem was. Why wouldn’t she just tell him? He didn’t need to be protected from Shawna. He was over her and in lo—he stopped himself before his mind could completely form the word. He couldn’t be in love with her, could he?

  “Jake, I promise you, she didn’t say anything. I just care about you so much that seeing her threw me into a rage. I’m sorry.”

  Oh God, he was in love with her. He had to stop this before it went any further, before he caused her any more harm. Jake closed his eyes so he couldn’t see the hurt he was about to inflict upon her. “I can’t do this, Sophie.”

  “Yes, you can. You just don’t know it yet. I’m going to get some ice cream. Want some?”

  “This is way too much pressure.” His words stopped Sophie at the bedroom door.

  “That’s not true,” she whispered.

  “Yes, it is. When I look at you I see children and picket fences. A dog running around in the backyard. Sophie, that’s not for me. My moods are unpredictable. In the end, it was a good thing what happened with Shawna—us breaking up, I mean. I know that now. Can you imagine what it’s like not knowing if you’re going to seriously hurt someone you love at any moment?”

  “You’re scared,” she whispered with disbelief edging every word. “Are you still in love with her? ’Cause if that’s what this is about, I want to know!”

/>   For the first time in their relationship, Jake felt like he possessed complete control over what was about to happen next. With that power his heart sank to his stomach and he did what he realized he should have done a long time ago. “No, I’m not.”

  “Bull. You wouldn’t have this much of a problem with me punching her face in if you weren’t.” Her chest visibly heaved and Jake struggled to get her calmed down.

  “I haven’t felt anythin’ for Shawna in a very long time.” Jack put his hands up in the air to try and halt her anger.

  “Then why are you using her to break us up?”

  “I don’t want to get married, Sophie. I don’t want kids and dogs. I like that my house is quiet and I have my alone time.” He watched as her head bobbed up and down as if agreeing with him.

  She then walked to him and when they were toe to toe, Sophie accused, “You’re a terrible liar.”

  “It’s what we need. I’m not a part of your fancy world.”

  She pushed a finger so hard into his chest Jake thought she would drill it through him. “That’s not my world and don’t you dare use my upbringing as an excuse for you wimping out on us.”

  “Sophie, I’m a mess.”

  “Okay, so first it’s that you don’t want what you think I want. Then it’s my whole childhood and money that’s getting between us. Now, it’s that you’re a mess. Which is it? Because I’m getting really confused and it’s been a long day.”

  “All of it,” he said, standing his ground. She needed to know a life with him wasn’t going to happen right now because he needed to focus on getting better. Building a relationship would only be a distraction. It was just as the counselor said: he had to figure out what he wanted and needed before he could give himself to someone else. He wasn’t sure why he couldn’t just tell her that; but Sophie, unwittingly, had given him the out he’d been looking for when she fought with Shawna. Now he was going to use it to his advantage. “I’m breaking this off.” He saw her body jolt back and Jake instantly swore at himself for hurting her.

  “So, let me get this straight. I punched your ex and you got all hot and bothered about it. But now that we’ve had our roll in bed, you want to breakup?”

  “Yes… No. Yes, I want to break up. No, it’s not because we had sex.”

  “Really?” She stepped back from him and tilted her head to the side. “If you look at this from my view, that’s exactly what it is.”

  He watched her walk to his dresser and pick up a forgotten glass. “Sophie…” he warned, but was too late. It crashed against the wall behind him and he lunged at her to stop anything else from being thrown. She jumped out of his way and picked up one of his shoes and hit him in the head.

  “Bastard!”

  “Damn it, Sophie!” He dove for her again, only to land hard on the floor, facedown. Looking up he saw her scurry across the bed. Leaping in time to grasp one of her ankles Jake pulled her under him. He pinned her with his body and secured her arms above her head.

  “Stop fighting me! It’s what needs to be done. I don’t want to but I have to.”

  Sophie gritted her teeth. “Let me go.”

  Panting, Jake looked down. Her eyes were fiery with defiance and she leaned to the side in an attempt to bite his arm. It was perverse, but Jake couldn’t deny the hard-on she gave him. The passion and love she displayed even in anger tore his resolve to shreds. He became wild and took her without restraint. Jake couldn’t control the beast that was suddenly, violently, let free. He plundered her body with his own, driving into her. When she screamed his name amidst the passion, he moved faster and harder. Punishing them both with the need they couldn’t sate.

  They rolled off the bed and hit the floor in a pile of limbs and unbridled fury. As their bodies slapped from the sweat that soaked them, the sweet scent of sex filled the air, creating a natural endorphin they couldn’t deny. Anger welled within Jake. She tore down his walls, and while he should have been happy, the devastation was too painful for words. Something opened inside of him while he felt another part close. Not sure whether he was winning or losing the battle, Jake plunged them over the edge where no reason existed, only sensation.

  * * *

  Sophie’s mind and body felt beaten while her heart broke for what they’d built together and would never have.

  “We had angry sex,” she said aloud, before she could stop herself.

  Jake rolled off of her and covered his eyes with his forearm. “I’m so sorry.”

  “You say that an awful lot, Jake.”

  “And, I mean it… every time.”

  Uncomfortable with the silence that grew between them, Sophie got to her feet in an attempt to dress. She picked up her shredded panties and tattered bra. “Gee, Jake. Did you leave me anything to wear?”

  He gave her a slow grin, “Sorry.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  Jake kneeled on the bed and pulled her to him. When he rested his head on her chest, she let out a long breath. “You’re right, I’m not. Sophie, I don’t want to let you go, but I need to work some things out.”

  “So, after all of this, you’re still breaking up with me.” She walked away from him, unsure as to what to say.

  “Sophie, please.” Jake grabbed her hand before she could get too far. “Please… look at me.”

  When she did, all emotions filled her. Anger, for loving a man who wouldn’t admit he loved her back. Sad, for knowing Jake might need more time than she was willing to give. But most of all, scared that when he was ready, it might be too late.

  “Jake… this is bullshit. But I have no choice but to respect your decision.”

  “Sophie, it’s for the best.” He stood before her, visibly trembling.

  “Really? For who? Because all I see is being miserable without you.”

  “You need time. You just broke up with Bruce a few months—”

  “Hold it one minute.” Sophie couldn’t believe he could come up with more pathetic reasons. “You’re going to use him now as an excuse?”

  “Please hear me out.”

  “No, I’ve listened to enough of your reasons. You’re a coward, Jake.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me! You’re a coward and I’m done with this conversation. Take me home.” Choking back a sob, Sophie looked around for clothes to wear.

  “Angel. We’re just getting to know ourselves. How can this work?”

  His voice was soft and patient, but it didn’t do anything to calm her anger. “Don’t call me that. What happened between yesterday and today? Or had you always been thinking of a way out?”

  “I guess it’s been simmering there for a little while. Sophie, it’s not you, it’s me.”

  She laughed openly at him. “Oh… my… God! You did not just say that, you ass! I was prepared to fight for you, to make sure you knew how much I loved you. I do love you, Jake!”

  “Sophie, I need to learn to fight my own battles. It shouldn’t have been you that kicked Shawna out.”

  “Coward,” she murmured under her breath. It didn’t escape her notice that he hadn’t reacted to her proclamation of love.

  “I’m not a coward,” he hissed through his teeth. “The truth is, if I’d been forceful about it, Shawna wouldn’t still be thinking there’s a chance. I want to be able to toss a CD on the shelf and not be a nervous wreck because it’s not in its place. How about going to the mall? I haven’t been there in years. I want to go this holiday season. My house walls are bare—where are my happy memories? The pressure of this—” he waved a hand between them “—is a lot on me.”

  “A lot on you? I guess I don’t count in this equation.”

  “Don’t say that because you know it’s not true. Deep down you know I’m right and we both need time, and maybe you should date other—”

  “What! I want to go home.”

  They both looked out the window and saw the snow piling up outside. Great, Sophie thought, the perfect way to end the worst day of my l
ife.

  “Ummm… why don’t we wait—”

  “Take me home or I’m calling a cab.”

  Jake went to his dresser as Sophie wiped a tear from her eye. Her world crashed down hard, and she just wanted to be home to wallow in self-pity. Not even her breakup with Bruce felt this devastating.

  Jake handed her one of his sweatshirts. “I tore your shirt.”

  She snatched the offered apparel and avoided looking him in the eyes. He didn’t deserve her understanding; his actions justified murder. And if he wasn’t careful, she would deliver his sentence.

  “Sure you don’t want to stay for dinner and wait for the weather to let up some?” She narrowed her eyes at him with a look to kill. “Right, let me clear off the car.”

  * * *

  The slow ride to her home was agonizing and silent. With every swish of the windshield wipers Jake contemplated what to say. He couldn’t understand where he’d gone wrong. They went from laughing and making love to fighting and breaking up. Was that really what he wanted? Jake ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He hated feeling so confused.

  “Sophie—”

  “Don’t.”

  She hadn’t said anything since telling him to take her home. The tension between them was gut-wrenching.

  “I really don’t want things to end like this,” he told her in an attempt to get her to talk. “We’re going to be seeing each other at work and…” Sophie let out a long, agitated breath. “Okay, if you’re not going to talk to me, I’m going to say what I need to say.”

  “Save it.”

  He glanced her way. She was stuffed in the corner of the passenger seat by the door—as far away from him as she could get. When she wiped at her eyes his teared up. “I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I’m just trying to find myself.”

  “You have an amazing way of saying the wrong thing, so why don’t you just shut up?”

  It would probably be the best thing, but Jake couldn’t do it. He couldn’t end things like this. He needed her to understand his reasoning. He wanted to come clean.

  “No Sophie, I won’t. I care a lot about you. I told you at the beginning that I didn’t want to be in a relationship but—”