by Cindy Jacks
Leap
Cindy Jacks
Just when Lila has resigned herself to the fact the most exciting chapters of her life are over, a blast from the past walks into her bakery. Six feet of gorgeousness named Gavin drops by as she’s closing up shop. They were once high-school sweethearts and it’s been more than twenty-five years since they’ve seen each other, but time hasn’t diminished the sweet heat between them. Soon enough the sparks—and the frosting—begin to fly.
As they rediscover each other’s bodies, it’s clear Gavin’s no longer a boy as he shows Lila the man and skillful lover he’s become. Though Lila knows this whirlwind romp could be an act of insanity, his touch unleashes the sensual woman she’s forgotten she could be. And she thinks—maybe—she has one more leap in her.
An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Leap
ISBN 9781419930096
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Leap Copyright © 2010 Cindy Jacks
Edited by Jillian Bell
Cover art by Syneca
Electronic book publication November 2010
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Leap
Cindy Jacks
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Band-Aid: Johnson & Johnson Corporation
Camry: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
Glenfiddich: William Grant & Sons Limited
Jeep: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Lady Gaga: Ate My Heart Inc.
The Police: Roxanne Music Ltd.
Chapter One
With perfect, even pressure, Lila piped flourishes of buttercream around the edge of a four-layer chocolate cake. She’d already filled the confection with raspberry ganache and coated the outer surface with chocolate fondant. Emotion clutched at her throat and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks but she choked them back. Lila had made it to closing time once again without breaking down. She wouldn’t give in now.
Drawing in a shaky breath, Lila did her best to suppress the bubble of emotion pressing at her rib cage. Damn it. She threw the pastry bag on the counter and wiped her hands on her apron.
“No crying in the kitchen,” Lila murmured to herself as she made her way to her office. “No crying in the kitchen.”
She’d promised herself she wouldn’t lose it in front of the staff. Granted, most of them had left for the evening, but Franco was still finishing up the mixers and Justine was closing up the storefront.
Struggling against the impulse to cry her eyes out, she sank into her desk chair. Lila swiped at each tear that defied her will to stay calm.
Alan had moved on.
It was over.
Another teardrop streaked down her cheek.
“Miss Lila?” Franco’s deep voice intruded on her mental breakdown. He stood in the doorway, chef’s coat half-unbuttoned.
She rubbed desperately at her wet lashes and cleared her throat. “What’s up, Franco?”
“Everything’s done. I’m going to walk Justine to her car.”
“Okay.” Lila stood up and smoothed her hair.
“You all right?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Yep. Peachy keen. Fucking allergies, you know?”
Franco gave a nod and wished her good night.
A sigh of relief escaped her at the sight of his retreating form.
“Don’t forget to lock the front door,” she called after him.
Alone at last. It’d been a long day. Hand to her throbbing head, she walked back to the cake she’d abandoned. It sat on its turntable, only half-decorated. Lila had no idea why she’d started making the damn thing in the first place. All the orders for tomorrow morning had been ready since four in the afternoon and the display case would be filled with goodies made fresh tomorrow morning. A cake without purpose, really.
She pilfered a fingerful of icing from the edge of the cake and popped it in her mouth. Mmm…delicious purposeless cake.
Purposeless cake for a now-purposeless woman, she thought. Tears prickled again at the edge of her eyes. No reason to fight them now as she had all week. The crying jag had to come sooner or later. Might as well give in. She sank her head onto the counter and succumbed to the swirl of raw emotion that lay beneath her bravado.
The flood of tears started with a whimper. Then a couple more spontaneous bursts of sound broke free from her throat, like a freight train building up steam. Her shoulders shook and salty teardrops leaked onto the sleeve of her chef’s coat. Lila could let go now, let it all out.
* * * * *
Ring-a-ling—
The bell on the front door announced that she was no longer alone in the bakery.
Fucking Franco. He always forgot to lock the front door.
Lila straightened her uniform and blotted her face with a kitchen towel.
Opening the swinging door that led to the storefront, she said, “I’m sorry we’re closed.”
A silhouetted figure stood lit only by the street lamp outside the bakery, his hand in the back pocket of his jeans. “I was wondering if you could help me find someone. I think she works here.”
“Everyone’s gone home for the night.” She took a shaky breath. “Try back tomorrow, sir.”
Ordinarily Lila would’ve offered the stranger a pen and paper, asked if he’d like to leave a message or at the very least asked for whom he was looking. But not tonight. In no mood to be helpful, she turned to retreat into the back of the bakery but the stranger stopped her.
“I’m looking for a Ms. Stevens. La-La Stevens. Maybe you know her?”
She froze and turned to face him again. “Who are you looking for?”
“La-La Stevens.”
Narrowing her eyes, Lila studied the man. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
One eyebrow arched, he gave her a hint of a grin. “I think maybe you do.”
La-La. No one had called her that since high school except her older brother, Sam. In fact, it was because of Sam she’d gotten the nickname. When she was born, he was two years old and couldn’t say “Lila”. The name came out “La-La”, and the mispronunciation had stuck. But this tall, slender man with dark wavy hair looked nothing like her ginger-headed brother.
Lila scooted out of the doorway, eyes still on her unexpected guest. Something tickled at the back of her mind. She knew that angular jawline, the high cheekbones, the Romanesque nose. His cocky contrapposto stance. A lightning bolt of recognition broke over her. “Gavin? Gavin Reilly?”
His grin widened. “S
ee, you do know me.”
“Oh my God!” She rounded the counter and planted herself in front of him. Jesus, he’d grown since last she’d last seen him. Or maybe she was shrinking. No, she wasn’t at that age yet. He’d definitely shot up a couple inches since sophomore year of high school. Before she could stop herself, she threw her arms around him. His crisp, fresh scent caught her off guard, bringing with it a flood of long-forgotten memories.
“It’s been ages, La-La,” he murmured.
“It really has been.”
Despite the urge to remain in his warm arms forever, she released him and took a small step back. Lila looked up at him, her mouth a little ajar. Was he really here or was he a figment of her grief-stricken imagination?
“Is this a bad time?” he asked.
“Couldn’t be worse…” She shook her head. “Or better, depending how you look at it.”
“And how do you look at it?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t decided yet. So…what brings you back to Richmond?”
“Job transfer. I’m working for the city now.”
“Still a paramedic?”
He furrowed his brow. “Now how’d you know that?”
“The mom network. Several years ago, your mom bragged to so-and-so’s mom, who told my mom. The ‘handsome and brave’ Gavin Reilly.”
“Ha! And Momma still calls you ‘the one that got away’.”
Lila chuffed a humorless laugh. “Yeah, I’m a real catch.”
“So, how should we celebrate this reunion?” he asked.
“I—I don’t know.” A lump formed in her throat. In no mood to celebrate anything, she rubbed her forehead and studied the floor. “I don’t think I’d be very good company tonight. Maybe another time.”
His eyes widened and he tilted his head like a puppy dog. “You’re going to make me spend my first night back all by myself?”
“Oh, all right.” She sighed and locked the entrance. “Let me finish up. Come on.”
Gavin followed her through the swinging door to the back. With a low whistle, he looked around the kitchen and asked, “Is this place all yours?”
“All mine.”
She walked over to the Purposeless Cake and stared down at it. Pulling a box from beneath the worktable, she started to put it away, but then thought better of it.
“Are you hungry?” asked Lila.
“I could eat.”
“Good.” She pulled a knife from a drawer, cut slabs of cake and served them up on heavy-duty ceramic plates. Gavin grabbed two stainless-steel forks from a gray plastic silverware tub to his right.
She handed him his plate.
“This looks great,” he said.
“Taste it.”
He shoveled a bite into his mouth and moaned. “Oh my God. This is— Damn.”
Lila grinned. “Thanks.” She took a bite of cake. “Not bad, if I do say so myself.”
Pulling up two barstools, she sat and motioned for him to do the same. Lila studied him as he moved to take a seat. Taller, broader. Gavin had become fully a man. Though he was clean-shaven, she wondered what he’d look like with a beard. Could he grow one now? His dark hair led to about an inch or so of well-filled-out sideburns. Yeah, she was sure he could grow out his facial hair and he’d look pretty damn good if he did. Not that he didn’t look great as he was. The cropped, clean-cut look worked for him. A whisper of gray touched each of his temples and he wore that well too.
Her gaze wandered down his frame. No excess flesh or jutting bone. His tight musculature shifted his frame with ease. Clearly he took care of himself, worked out often. A picture of him shirtless in some imaginary gym, sweat dripping down a cut chest and abdomen, appeared in her mind’s eye. She blinked away the thought, trying to focus on his words and ignore the pounding of her heart. Her hand strayed to her matronly bun and the bobby pins holding it in place. She picked them out of her hair, one by one, and shook out her shoulder-length tresses.
“Mom said you’ve been at this location for the past ten years. I can see why,” said Gavin.
She cleared her throat. “Jack helped me set it up after we got divorced.”
“After?”
“It was a pretty amicable split…as divorces go.”
“My ex, Irene, and I went through a pretty rough one a couple years ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He took another bite of cake. “It’s all good now.”
Lila worked on her piece for a few minutes in comfortable silence and then asked, “Why did you come here tonight, Gavin?”
He glanced around the room and gave a little shake of his head. “To see you.”
“I get that. I mean what were you expecting from me?”
He rubbed his hand on the front of his jeans. “No expectations. It’s—it’s just good to be back. You’re part of my memories of home. I guess. No, I mean you are. Definitely.” He grunted and rolled his eyes. “I’ll stop rambling now.”
She let out an amused huff under her breath. “You’re fine.”
She slid her fork over her plate and scraped up the last of the frosting and crumbs. Her tongue darted over the fork tines and licked them clean.
Gavin reached out his hand. “You got a little chocolate…”
He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. She let her tongue graze the tip of it. Shocked by her own audacity, she shied away from his touch but he cupped her face in one hand.
Eyelids lowered, Gavin leaned in. Dark lashes rested against his cheek. Warm lips skimmed across hers. The hand under her jaw slipped beneath her hair and cradled her neck. Lila’s body relaxed into the kiss, sliding her tongue over his. For a moment she lost herself in the scent and the taste of him—chocolate richness and the citrus undertones of his cologne, but all too soon, she remembered the shards of glass lodged in her heart. Pain at the memory of Alan’s departure stabbed at her.
“Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this,” she murmured.
“Maybe not.” He gave her a quick, soft kiss and then a longer, more urgent one.
Shouldn’t be doing this, Lila thought. A list of reasons she should rebuff his advances scrolled through her mind. She was still getting over Alan. She hadn’t seen Gavin in over twenty-five years. Jesus Christ, a quarter century. Nothing good ever came from rushing into sex. But who said they had to go that far? Well, she did want to fuck him. No denying that. But the last thing she needed was…was…?
The feel of his heated mouth against hers overrode her common sense. Oh, to hell with it. Why not?
“Give me a second.” She hopped off her stool and ran to her office.
* * * * *
Rifling through her handbag, Lila prayed to find what she was looking for.
“Come on. Come on.” She knew she had a couple condoms in her purse somewhere. The telltale rustle of a plastic wrapper told her she’d found one. She plucked it from her bag and then pulled out a makeup compact. Ay. Not good. Her chestnut-colored hair sported a couple fierce snarls and dark circles ringed her green eyes. She brushed out her hair and dabbed a little powder onto her face. There. Now her skin looked milky smooth instead of shiny and pale. After a couple swipes of lip gloss, it was time to get back to the kitchen.
Gavin sat waiting for her, a look of concern on his face.
“Listen, I’m sorry if I was out of line. I just said I didn’t expect anything but—” Lila cut him off with a kiss and pressed the condom into his hand.
He stood and pushed his stool out of the way. It clattered to the ground with a loud crash. Gathering her into his arms, he crushed his hard body against hers. She wrapped one leg around him and he wasted no time responding. Hands beneath her ass, he boosted her up onto the counter, pushing the cake out of way and easing her onto her back.
His mouth still on hers, he slid a hand under her chef’s coat and pushed up the camisole beneath. Fingers toyed with one hard nipple, gently rolling and pinching it.
Desperate to strip off her clothes, she wor
ked at the closures on her coat. Damn Chinese buttons. But with the little patience she had left, she popped them free and shimmied out of the garment. Gavin retreated for a moment and slipped off his T-shirt. Every muscle of his torso pushed against the surface of his smooth, golden skin, his strong shoulders sloping into a thick, sinewy neck, his broad chest accentuating his tight, narrow waist. A neat patch of hair rested between his pecs and extended down his lower abdomen in a thin line that disappeared into the waistband of his loose-fitting jeans.
He unbuttoned her slacks, pulling them off along with her underwear and casting them to the floor. A jolt of insecurity passed through her. Gavin knew her when she was young and firm, fresh and dewy. Despite her best efforts to keep in shape, her belly had grown softer over the years, her muscle tone less delineated, not to mention the stretch marks Billy and Lauren had given her. At least she’d shaved her legs the night before.
The moist heat of his mouth on her labia brushed away the stray thoughts. She sucked in a deep breath as he pushed two fingers inside her. He worked her clit between his front teeth and his tongue. Flexing his fingers, he sent bursts of pleasure through her. She gasped and clutched a handful of his hair.
Her body shook and her leg muscles contracted, the pressure of an impending orgasm drawing her abdomen taut. Breath ragged, she panted through the first tremors of the climax. But as the sensation peaked, she quaked more violently. He didn’t ease off, continuing to lick and suck at her despite her squirming. Finally, once the ecstasy began to recede, he slowed his pace, finishing up with a few languid kisses between her thighs.
He worked his lips up her torso, meandering over her breasts and then to her throat.
“I want you inside me,” she said, her voice scarcely above a whisper.
“Soon.”
Gavin picked up the pastry bag and squeezed a dollop of frosting onto each of her nipples.
She gasped. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” he replied, but swooped in to lick at the icing. She wriggled against the stainless-steel work surface. He piped more frosting along her curves and laved at the trail of chocolate, eliciting a groan from her. How many times had she imagined doing just this with the dark, untamed mystery lover who populated her fantasies? Gavin ran his tongue over her hips to her breasts—giving each nipple an extra dollop of frosting and sucking them clean. Unable to hold back a girlish squeal, Lila nearly squirmed off the counter while he worked at her ticklish abdomen. Clearly enjoying her reaction, he continued to work diligently until he licked the last of the icing from her collarbone. He pressed his body against hers and gave her a sticky-sweet kiss.