by Tina Leonard
Her clothes had nothing to do with why she wasn’t getting out of the water.
“You’re proud of yourself, aren’t you?” she called after him. He sauntered back outside, loose-hipped and muscular, a confident god.
“You’re still here, aren’t you?” He got in the water, grabbed her by the ankle and pulled her off the raft. She came up sputtering, but he wiped away her annoyance by taking a nipple in his mouth. Sugar slid the condom on him, caught in the feeling of Jake and the romance and even the stars overhead, but then he lifted her onto him, and she gasped, fully engaged in the moment.
She stared into his eyes before collapsing against his shoulder with a groan. He moved her back and forth, making the water lap against them, and Sugar held on tight, amazed that sex felt so good with him.
“You’re going to kill me,” Jake said, and Sugar squeezed him tight. “Yes, I’m dying from pleasure.”
“Take your time,” she said. “I’ve fantasized about killing you. In theory.”
“I know.” He moved onto a pool step and relaxed against the concrete, holding her against him. “I have that effect on women.”
“You need to work on that.”
He kissed her breasts and licked her nipples, and Sugar felt fire building inside her.
“Don’t stop,” she said, and he said, “Are you kidding me? I couldn’t stop if my mother showed up,” and Sugar groaned and said, “God, don’t bring her up,” and he moved faster until she didn’t care, and the feelings built, and suddenly she let out another scream, just like she had in the kitchen, collapsing against Jake.
“I’ve got you,” he said, and she whimpered, but then he grabbed her tight, crushing her butt against him. Everything inside Sugar ran hot and wetter than she’d ever been, and she wanted to stay in his arms forever. When he shuddered, she cradled him to her, kissing his face.
“Dear God,” Jake said, “thank you.” He held her tight, resting his forehead against her chest. “I don’t know if I have the strength to grill.”
Sugar laughed. “Come on, Chef Tell. Let’s get you back to your post. The military doesn’t turn out wienies.”
“They don’t,” Jake said, following her from the pool, “but they don’t prepare a man for anything like you, either, Sugar Cassavechia.”
Jake wasn’t sure what he was going to do about Sugar. He’d gone over to the dark side. She made him nuts. He was completely addicted to her, a slobbering idiot like Kel. “You’re going to like my cooking as much as you like my—”
“Don’t oversell,” Sugar said, setting their sangria glasses on the patio table overlooking the pool.
“I thought we settled that.” Jake brought two perfectly grilled steaks over to the table. “Do I have to convince you on the kitchen table?”
“No.” Sugar laughed.
He wasn’t going to tell her that she was sexier with her hair wet and no makeup on than he’d ever known a woman to be in like condition. Raul or whatever the hell his name is a fool for letting her get away. Poor dumb bastard. “There’s a drink called Sex on the Beach. I’m going to order one of those one day with you.”
She looked at him. “Maybe we should call it Sex on the Creek?”
“Good idea. I like your style.” Jake scooted her chair out for her and caught a glimpse of bare peaked nipples under a white muscle T-shirt she’d borrowed from him as she sat down. She’d tossed her wet bra onto the diving board to dry, so her breasts danced a little as she moved, and Jake thought this was going to be the toughest meal he’d ever eaten sitting across from glory like Sugar’s. She’d eschewed her wet panties and skirt, instead wrapping a towel around her waist.
She had a lot of style. And he was going to sleep with that towel like a teenage girl with a rock-star T-shirt.
“Why’d your mom name you Sugar?” he asked, sitting down to try to eat and mostly drool over her.
“She didn’t. Dad did.” Sugar smiled at him over the candlelight. “He said I was sweet.”
Jake’s mouth dried out. He served the green beans and the potatoes au gratin without comment.
“This is delicious,” Sugar said a moment later when they’d cut into the steak and eaten some of the meal he’d put a lot of thought into planning, trying to impress her.
“Thanks,” he said, still focused on her breasts and everything else about her.
“This is very romantic,” she said. “I never envisioned you as a romantic kind of guy.”
“Full of surprises, that’s me.” Jake couldn’t remember what he’d taken the last bite of—it all tasted the same. “Just so you know, I’m going to make you forget Raoul.”
She looked at him. “Ramon.”
“Whatever.” He put his fork down and looked at her across the table. “You’re a keeper, Sugar.”
Her eyes went wide, which he thought was cute. She always did that when she was startled.
“I don’t think either of us is looking for keepers, Jake.”
“Probably not. Funny how it hits you in the face when you’re not looking for it, though.”
She nodded. “Maybe. Sometimes.”
He thought he’d come on too strong, scared her. But then she looked at him and smiled, stood up and pulled off her top, making him go straight up.
“You said something about dessert?” Sugar asked.
Heat hit Jake, an inferno he’d never felt, different from the mortar he’d picked up, emotionally intense. Searing. Hot. Yes, she is going to kill me, and I’m gonna die so good.
Jake followed Sugar into the kitchen, and when she dropped the towel sarong to the floor, Jake thanked his lucky stars the Hot Nuts had come to town, even if they’d basically turned the entire town inside out, including him.
Happiness was a hot, naked redhead who wasn’t afraid of kitchen fantasies.
Chapter Sixteen
Jake wanted to head to the pit and do nothing but shoot pool and fantasize about Sugar, but life that was Pecan Creek called. Sugar had departed before he’d awakened that morning, but she’d left a note that read, Paybacks are usually hell, but I underestimated you, so he was feeling pretty proud of himself.
He couldn’t wait to be with Sugar again. The woman turned his crank in a serious way; she made him breathless and made him hornier than he thought the human body could stand, all of which he considered really good signs for the future. He felt alive when he was with Sugar, and that was saying something.
Five minutes later, while he was still slack-jawed from replaying last night’s amazing adventures with Sugar, Kel called to say that Bobby had backed into the outside dining area with his big, stupid truck, tearing a chunk out of the patio. Kel also managed to mention that he’d seen Lucy go by in a pink convertible with his mother’s best friends, and that was trouble with a capital T.
Jake hustled over to his secret investment. “Holy shit,” Jake said, staring at the damage Bobby had done to the Bait and Burgers. “Why didn’t you just take out the whole restaurant?”
“Jesus, I’m sorry, Jake.” Bobby looked at him with deeply regretful eyes. “I’ve had stuff on my mind. And I wasn’t paying attention.”
“I’ll say. What had your attention?”
Bobby swallowed. “Lucy Cassavechia walked by, and I gunned it as I was backing into my usual spot. Truck just got away from me.”
Jake blinked. “You don’t have a thing for Lucy, do you?”
“No. Well, kind of. Don’t tell Kel.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” This was a potentially explosive situation. “Whatever you do, keep your fly zipped. For all our sakes.”
Bobby sighed. “She wants me.”
“She wants you?” Jake studied his friend. Bobby was a good-looking guy. He was unattached. He was brave as hell. It was not entirely impossible that Lucy might have come on to him. “How does she communicate such a thing?”
He shrugged. “She smiled.”
“Shit, Bobby. She smiles at everybody.”
“Yeah. But this w
as a different kind of smile. You know. She looked me up and down.” Bobby kind of blushed as he repeated the story, and Jake got worried.
“Listen, this is a bad idea. You know Kel’s practically dizzy with lust for her. Plus Sugar and I—”
He edited his confession, considering how much one could tell a good friend about one’s love life.
“Sugar and you what?” Bobby looked at him curiously.
There was no reason to tell anyone. Sugar wouldn’t, and he shouldn’t, either. To do so would be to invite all of Pecan Creek into their relationship, which wasn’t a relationship—not yet—and that would be poison.
“Sugar and I are finally getting along in the tenant/landlord sense. I just want everybody happy around here.”
“Yeah,” Bobby said, “what does that have to do with whether I ask Lucy out?”
Jake looked at the chunk Bobby had plowed out of his diner. “Bobby, if you ask Lucy out, I swear I’ll take every penny of what it’s going to cost to repair this out of your pay.”
“Then I won’t be able to make rent.”
“Exactly. The choice is yours. I’ll have to call someone to fix this.” He went inside to consider his options. It was almost the middle of October, so it would be turning too cool for diners to eat on the patio. Still, there were a few nights of warmth left, and the restaurant made more money on the nights that people sat and chatted.
But the social season was mostly over for the fall. Jake sighed, and then he saw Vivian making a beeline for him.
He sat on a stool and waited for the incoming to hit.
“Jake.”
“Present and accounted for.”
She looked at him. “That little Cassavechia trollop insulted me in the grocery the other day.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. She probably didn’t appreciate you giving her hell.”
Vivian shrugged. “It’s important that Miss Cassavechia understands how this town works.”
“I’m seeing Sugar, Mother,” Jake said, deciding to cut through all the drama. “You’re going to have to learn to get along with her, or you won’t see me very often.”
Two bright spots appeared in Vivian’s cheeks. “Seeing her?”
He nodded. “And seeing her makes me happy, so that should make you happy, in a perfect world. I’m aware this is not a perfect world, but even a stiff ‘congratulations’ would go a long way with me.”
Vivian blinked. “Oh my goodness. You’re serious about her.”
He glanced around the Bait and Burgers, then met his mother’s gaze. “I hadn’t thought of it that way. It’s too soon to be serious. Do I like her? A helluva lot.”
“I’m leaving,” Vivian said. “You’ll come to your senses one day. In the meantime, I can’t bear to watch you ruin your life.”
She walked out of the restaurant, not happy, and Jake pulled out his cell phone. He called the one person who could handle a structural job like this. “Lassiter. It’s Jake.”
“Hey. Missed you at the fence last night.”
“Yeah. Uh, I got tied up.”
Lassiter laughed. “Thought I saw Sugar’s car pull into your garage.”
“Keep it under your hat, all right?”
“Same goes this way when I have company. I guess you know Miss Maggie and I have been spending time together. Mostly she writes up recipes, but I manage to romance her a little too.”
“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. I’m happy for you.” He sighed. “You up to repairing a patio?”
“Sure. What’s the job?”
“Bobby backed into the Bait and Burgers, took out a chunk of the patio. Probably doesn’t meet code now, at the minimum, and it’s an eyesore. The concrete, the wood and the basic structure’s going to need to be replaced.”
“The owner have insurance?”
“Yeah.” Jake drummed his fingers. “But he’d like the job done right. That would involve you, if you’ve got time.”
“Who does own that place?” Lassiter asked, and Jake said, “Me. But don’t tell anyone, especially not Vivian,” and Lassiter laughed.
“I should have known. You ought to buy Pecan Fanny’s and bring it up to snuff.”
“Is Fanny selling out?”
“Yep. She’s gotten tired. Wants to spend time with the grandkids.”
“Maybe I’ll think about it.”
“Hey, I’ll come by this afternoon to look at Bobby’s artwork. See what I can do.”
“Appreciate it.” He hung up, sat down at a table. Strange winds were blowing through Pecan Creek. Lucy and the Pillars were riding in a pink convertible sans Vivian—not that Vivian would have wanted to ride in such a vehicle—but he knew very well Lucy was working for the Pillars in Minda’s underground. He wondered what was up their little lacy sleeves. Whatever it was, it did not include Vivian. Pecan Fanny wanted to sell out. Bobby liked Lucy, and Kel was getting a divorce.
He was falling for Sugar, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her even though he was missing a chunk in his restaurant.
Evert came in with Cat Jenkins, all lovey-dovey in a public way that Jake knew would drive Vivian mad. She frowned on PDA.
“You’re missing half your bait shack,” Evert said. “Who did the deed?”
“Our good friend, Bobby.” Jake smiled at Evert’s companion. “Hi, Cat.”
“Hi, Jake. I asked Evert if Bait and Burgers is doing a float for the parade this year, but he said he wasn’t sure.” She looked at him, curious. “Every business does a float.”
Jake stopped flipping through the cards in his wallet. “Parade?” He looked at Bobby. “You and Evert and Kel better get out your little pencils and start drawing off some ideas.”
Evert nodded. “You got Maggie fitted for her suit yet?”
“Suit?” Jake felt like he was ten yards behind the conversation. He didn’t care about the parade, except he had to; it was the backbone of PC’s life. All he’d been thinking about for the past several weeks was Sugar. “We’ve got to order Maggie’s suit!”
“I know,” Evert said, his tone dry. “And you’ve got to fix the billboard. Vivian’ll be annoyed if it’s not new and shiny and proclaiming Pecan Creek to the world in time for Christmas.”
The billboard Sugar wanted an ad on for her business. Jake winced. He hadn’t been quite up front with her about that, but maybe she’d forgotten about it. He hadn’t heard anything more about that or her business. Maybe she’d given the whole idea up.
Some friend you are—you don’t even ask. You just undressed her and used up a half a box of condoms, but you never asked about Hotter than Hell Nuts.
She hadn’t given up. According to Sugar, Maggie was channeling her psychic recipe box. The breakthrough for Sugar’s business could be any day now.
“I’m a son of a bitch at times,” Jake said, and Evert said, “It’s cool. We don’t let it bother us.”
Jake shook his head. This was the problem. He was a lot like Vivian; he was always running things. Even when it wasn’t obvious he was running PC, he was in it up to his neck.
He wasn’t being fair to Sugar. He was the only one who could help her—and he hadn’t bothered.
“I’ve got to go,” he said.
“Where?” Evert asked. “What about the patio? Think I better put some caution signs out and tape to keep people from going down the rabbit hole,” and Jake slapped some money down on the counter, shoving it over to Evert.
“Let me know how much more you need. I’ll be back by the dinner rush,” Jake said.
“Okay,” Evert said.
“Don’t forget the float, Jake,” Cat said, and Jake hurried toward his truck, not thinking about floats.
All he could think about was Sugar. And he was very close to making a serious mistake.
“Jake!” Sugar smiled when she opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Can we talk?” Jake asked.
“I’m in the middle of something,” Sugar said, “but you can come in.”
He walked inside his family home, smelling something sweet cooking, which was new and different. “You working?”
“Yeah. Come in and taste.”
He followed Sugar into the kitchen, happy to watch her hips sway as she walked in the tiny, ripped-hem skirt. Her long legs caught the eye, smooth and shapely. His throat went dry. She stirred some nuts in a creamy brown sugary sauce.
“Smells good.” She smelled good too. Jake let her feed him a lightly toasted sugary pecan, and as the flavors melted over his tongue, he knew Sugar had a winner.
“Delicious,” he said. “Maggie remembered.”
Sugar beamed. “Yes. Hotterthanhellnuts.com is open for business.”
“Congratulations.” Jake smiled, but he didn’t really feel it. He’d pushed this part of Sugar out of his mind. He hadn’t wanted the certain tizzy that was going to erupt when Vivian found out what was going to occur in the family home, and in Pecan Creek.
He was pretty much a weasel.
“We could lease that abandoned billboard on the highway now,” Sugar said. “There’s so much traffic on the highway that it would be great advertising for my business to start with.” She beamed.
Jake felt a bit sick. “Pecan Creek leases the billboard every year for two months at Christmas, to advertise the parade and the Christmas festivities.”
“That would give us plenty of time to get our business up and running,” Sugar said. “We could pick up the billboard in January.” She put her arms around him, making his every muscle hum with need for her. “Hey,” Sugar said, “want to do a victory dance to celebrate in my room?”
He sure as hell did. He got hard just thinking about it.
Kel hadn’t mentioned the billboard for January lately, but the shirts ’n ’skins party had never gone off. Kel’s divorce was consuming his life. The billboard would definitely be bare and available by January.
“I better go,” he said. “Bobby took a chunk out of the Bait and Burgers, so I’ve got Lassiter coming to take a look at it. Thanks, though.” He brushed her lips with a fast kiss and headed to the front door.
“Jake?”