Claire nodded. “Well, we’re staying friends.”
“Whatever you say. But I won’t try to come between you two anyway. I anticipate messiness and I’m so not about the drama.”
“Okay.”
Tammy smiled and sailed back out into the hall. Claire sat back and went over their strange conversation in her head. It boiled down to two things. Tammy had asked Jake out and now she wasn’t going to come between him and Claire.
There was something between them, of course. As far as she was concerned, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Not while she’d been out with Cally on Saturday. Not while she’d gone running for the first time in weeks on Sunday morning and not while she’d eaten a lonely dinner Sunday night. Not while she’d fantasized about him in that shower just like he’d said she would. It was driving her crazy but it couldn’t be any other way.
She’d tried to put him out of her mind. She’d baked a ton of cookies and even brought in a plate that morning to set in the break room. Mr. Forbes had raved about them and she’d been secretly pleased that he recognized she could do more than balance the books.
“Hey, Claire.”
She jumped at the sound of Jake’s voice. “Hi!” she answered a little too brightly.
He leaned in, a half-smile on his face. “What are you up to tonight?”
“Why?”
“I’m going over to my brother’s for dinner and to work on Halloween stuff. Would you like to come along? Maybe bring some more of those pumpkin spice cookies?”
“The iced ones?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I only got one before Mr. Forbes devoured them.”
She bit her lip. “I certainly baked enough of them.”
She caught what she’d said and waved a hand. “I had a lot of brown sugar on hand so I just doubled the recipe.”
“Great.” He turned to leave, then faced her again. “It’ll be fun.”
“Yeah. It’ll be fun.”
He left and she turned back to her desk. Placing her head in her hands, she groaned. How was she going to keep him in the friend zone when he was even tastier looking than her iced pumpkin cookies?
***
Saturday she didn’t have to take Cally out of the retirement community for their day together. The rec center in his community had a Halloween party for the residents and he was thrilled to show off his daughter to all his friends. She’d had a good time, too. It was fun watching him in his element. He’d charmed the ladies and kidded the men. Everyone seemed to love Joseph Callahan. That was for sure.
He seemed better to her today, too. Less frantic and more at ease as they talked about the week he’d just passed. It was pleasant and normal but she still couldn’t shake the feeling that she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Now she was spilling bag after bag of mini candy bars into the big bowl she reserved for Halloween trick-or-treaters. Thursday night dinner at Rick and Harmony’s had been fun. Easygoing and fun, just like Jake had promised. There had been heat, of course. Zinging between them whenever their eyes met. He’d teased her, too. Offered her a place on the couch next to him just to get a rise out of her. She’d been very good, though. Toeing the line and keeping things on the up and up between them. Even when Jake tried on bits and pieces of the pirate costume he’d decided on, she’d fought the battle and won. She’d given him all the looks and sounds of benign encouragement. She’d been the friend encouraging him and that was all.
Her body wanted to tell her mind to shut up and go with it. Jake’s eyes had sparkled like his earring as he’d tried to gauge her reaction to his posturing and it had been pretty hard to keep from jumping him right there in front of his family and innocent nephew!
Harmony had watched them closely, though. With that same glint in her eye Tammy had the other day. Was it that obvious Claire had the hots for Jake? He was a gorgeous guy. What woman wouldn’t want to jump him if given the opportunity? Claire Callahan, that’s what woman. She was keeping herself from indulging for the stupid reason that she didn’t want to get hurt. Maybe getting a little bit hurt in the long run would be worth it if she had a little bit of fun in the short.
“You can figure this out, Claire. Make the numbers work. How many times can you have Jake before your heart gets involved?”
That was one math problem she couldn’t solve. Too many variables. There was one constant, though. Jake wasn’t looking for long-term. That should free her to indulge herself in the short-term. Her heart was the only one she’d be risking. She didn’t take risks, though. She liked things steady and dependable and…boring. Maybe it was time to take the tiniest risk if it could yield her a big fat reward. And what better reward was there than Jake make-her-scream Chapman?
By the time the first trick-or-treater rang her doorbell, she was very pleased with herself. She’d made her decision. She was done with the friend zone and ready to play with the big boys. Unwrapping a mini Snickers, she popped it in her mouth and chewed.
If she played her tricks right, she would get her own treat tonight.
Chapter 15
Jake was amazed at how exhausting trick-or-treating with a three-year-old was. Harmony and Rick were the real troopers, carrying the little guy’s haul as they trekked from one house to the next. Jake reached into the bag Rick was holding and snagged a Mars bar.
“Really, Uncle Jake?” Rick teased. “Nice.”
“Hey, just trying to save the boy’s teeth. That’s all.”
Harmony laughed. “Just because you’re dressed like a pirate doesn’t mean you get to maraud and pillage.”
“No marauding, I promise. Pillaging? That’s another thing entirely.”
She rolled her eyes, making her look almost silly in her fairy costume. Rick was rocking his Captain America suit, a perfect counterpoint to Nick’s tiny Thor persona complete with blond wig. Jake’s pirate knee breeches were a little tight, but the ends of the wide cloth tie around his waist hung down in front of his groin. His puffy shirt was open at the neck and the red bandana around his head went perfectly with his earring. He wore hiking boots instead of pirate ones, because there was no way in Hell he was going to tromp around Cypress in heels. Not even for all the candy in Nick’s bag. Together the four of them looked as silly as any of the other groups making their noisy way up and down the streets of Cypress.
They were almost to Claire’s street. He wanted to ask for a special treat from his girl tonight. His friend, he mentally corrected. She was his friend.
He’d been unable to keep from teasing her the other night. She was just so damn cute when she was flustered. He’d known from the first that it would be a lot of fun to ruffle her a little. He’d ruffled her a lot since that first meeting and the girl didn’t disappoint.
“Whose house is this?” Nick asked, as he had at every house they’d visited. His little plastic pumpkin pail swung with every step.
“Claire’s,” Harmony answered.
“Oh, good! She’s a good baker. Do you think she baked candy?”
“You don’t bake candy, but I bet she has some great treats,” Rick said, sliding a look at Jake.
Jake smirked at him. Rick hadn’t said as much but his brother was sharp. He’d seen something between Jake and Claire before and the other night seemed to clinch it. Rick knew Jake wanted Claire. There was no use denying it to his brother. Should the subject come up in a way other than subliminal? Jake would just assure him that he would never do anything to hurt their friend. At least that promise he could make.
Nick ran up the steps and rang Claire’s bell. She opened the door with a smile, her lips wobbling a little when she saw who it was. Then that smile came back a whole lot brighter. Bright enough to knock Jake off his boots.
“Trick or treat!” Nick yelled.
Claire pretended to consider her options. “Um, treat.”
She dug into the bowl of candy, grabbed a big handful for Nick, then dropped it into his pumpkin.
“Boy!” Nick looked into his p
ail. “You do have great treats, Claire!”
“Uncle Jake certainly thinks so,” Rick said.
Jake shot his brother a look over Nick’s head, then risked a glance at Claire. Whoa. She wasn’t putting on the friend act at the moment. No. She was looking at him in probably the same way he was looking at her.
“Hey, Claire,” he managed to say.
“Hey, captain.”
He grinned and closed one eye. “Arrrgh.”
She laughed, that easy laugh he could never get enough of. “Shiver me timbers.”
He opened his eyes wide and ran them over her. She wore jeans again. And another soft-looking t-shirt under a cute blue cardigan that matched her eyes. Her hair was loose and flowed over her shoulders. Oh, he’d like to shiver her timbers all right. All night long.
“How’s the trick-or-treating been going, Nick?” Claire asked.
“Great, Claire. I got tons and tons of candy.”
“Which we’ll freeze and dole out in manageable portions,” Harmony said.
“Oh, you’re no fun,” Rick teased. “First Grandma drops off that tofu-cocoa nib thing and now you’re rationing the candy?”
Harmony swatted him on the arm. “My mother’s tiramisu is delicious. Admit it.”
“I admit nothing.”
Jake laughed. “It’s not like anything Claire makes but it was pretty good.”
“We’re all partial to Claire’s baking,” Harmony said.
Claire seemed to take their banter in stride but her eyes never totally lost that heat he’d glimpsed. He was so coming back here later. To find out just what was going on in that gifted mind of hers.
Another group tromped up the steps behind them and Jake turned to Nick.
“We better get a move on, Nick. Treats wait for no man.”
“Okay,” Nick said.
The little boy looked longingly into Claire’s bowl again and she gave him a few more pieces.
“Make sure and eat those before your mom freezes them all, Thor,” she said.
Harmony laughed and they all turned away from the doorway. Jake could feel Claire watching his tight breeches as he walked away. This was very interesting.
Maybe it was time to do a little marauding after all.
***
Claire hadn’t even bothered hiding how much she liked looking at Jake the pirate tonight. Why would she? If she wanted to take a little bit of a risk she had to put herself out there. So she’d let him see how hot she thought he was. It was no hardship. Those ridiculous tight pants hid nothing. And that open shirt? She wanted to tear it off of him with her teeth. Even the little hoop in his ear looked naughty tonight. Like the rest of him. Naughty and delicious and all hers if she wanted. Because his eyes had sparked and lit in answer to her come-on.
“Shiver me timbers indeed,” she laughed to herself.
Just after eight o’clock her bowl was empty and the street outside nearly so. Flicking off her porch light, she signaled she was closed for business. Not for Jake. No. If he rang her bell she’d ring his right back.
She looked through her meager wine collection set in the rack on her counter. No sign of blush but there was a nice white she’d had for some time. Needing something to do, she took down two glasses and hoped she wasn’t drinking from both of them before her night was over.
She poured the wine into one of the glasses. As she took her first sip, there was a soft knock at her door. Her pulse raced and she set the glass back down and smoothed her damp palms over the front of her jeans.
“Relax, Claire,” she told herself. “You don’t even know who it is.”
With the porch light off, there was no silhouette to give her visitor’s identity away. Resorting to the peephole, she peered out and could just see her pirate standing there. The streetlight behind him lit his long, lean edges. Legs braced apart. Stance expectant. God, her body heated with a rush that took her breath. Bracing her hand against the door, she waited a beat. Then she pulled open the door.
“Captain,” she said.
He grinned at her. “Trick or treat.”
“Treat, Jake.” She stepped back and waved him in. “Treat.”
He came in and waited until she closed the door and then he stalked toward her. She held herself rigid, her every muscle threatening to give out at once.
He swept the bandana off his head and brought his face to hers. “Are you sure about that, friend?”
She groaned in mock protest, then nodded. “Oh, yeah.”
He grabbed her now, holding her tight as he kissed her. Hard. He tasted so good, like the candy bars he’d eaten and that freshness that was Jake.
His open mouth ran over her cheek. Her throat. “I’ve wanted to kiss you again, Claire.” He nipped the cord of her neck. “I’ve wanted to get you under me since that night at the End Zone.”
His words made her blush and heat and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I wanted to be under you, Jake. God, I wanted to be under you.”
He pulled back and stared at her, his breath rasping over her. “Then, why?”
She could pretend to not know what he was asking. That he didn’t want to know how screwed up she was that she kept him at arms’ length for no good reason. No good reason at the moment, that was.
“You’re all about living in the moment, Jake.” She ran her fingers over the sexy stubble on his cheeks. “I’m not good at that.”
He peeled her sweater off her shoulders, stroking her skin with his thumbs as he did so. “You’re great at that. Trust me.”
She began to shake her head but he cupped the back of her head and brought her in for another kiss. Opening her mouth, she took him in. Her body sparked everywhere she touched him. Her breasts. Her belly. Her thighs. He felt so good pressed tight against her.
Reaching into his puffy shirt, she stroked his strong chest. He felt so warm. So solid. She lifted her lips a hairsbreadth from his. “Here’s to the moment, then.”
He groaned softly and nipped at her lips. “In your bedroom, Claire.”
A tremor of excitement went through her. “M-my bedroom?”
He grabbed her butt and pulled her up against the ridge of his erection. Through the thin material of his costume pants, there was no mistaking how much he wanted this. How much he wanted her. It was heady and sexy and she couldn’t imagine sending him back to the friend zone at the moment.
“My bedroom,” she said with determination.
“Yeah, your bedroom.” He ground against her, then turned her around and placed his hands on her shoulders. “No climaxes on the couch tonight.”
His words, whispered in her ear, made her laugh and melt at the same time.
She grabbed his hand from one shoulder and tugged him down the short hallway to the master bedroom. It wasn’t a long trip. Her house wasn’t big.
“God, these jeans.” He cupped her butt cheeks and squeezed. “I wanted to peel them off you when we were shooting pool, Claire.”
She couldn’t help wriggling against him, up so tight against her butt. “And then what?”
“And then?” He growled and turned her to face him again. “I wanted to do what I’m going to do now.”
She saw the desire on his face. His expression was almost feral. Tearing his pirate shirt open, she licked his chest. She breathed in his scent and her mouth watered.
He shrugged out of it and held her head, then brought her face up to his again.
“Do it, Jake.” She flicked her tongue over his lips. “Do what you wanted to do now.”
In a flash she was on her bed, her shirt off and her jeans dragged down her legs. He toed off his boots and cursed as he fought with the buttons on his knee breeches but then he was nearly naked. Gray boxer briefs hugged his impressive length.
Leaning up on her elbows, she eyed him hungrily. “You’re beautiful.”
He slowly shook his head. “Nothing compared to you, Claire. That focus? Those eyes? I wasn’t kidding. You make me so damn hot.”
She felt Jake’s focus all over her skin as he crawled onto the bed. They tangled on the comforter as they shed their underwear and Jake began to kiss her. Everywhere.
Like the last time, he caressed and licked her breasts, using his teeth and tongue to draw her nipples tight. His fingers were deep inside her, stroking and teasing as she arched into everything he was doing.
“I’m tasting you again, Claire.” He gave her tingling breasts each a kiss, then moved down her body. “You’re delicious, you know that? I can’t wait for another taste.”
He was between her thighs now, spread wide because she couldn’t get enough of him. Almost in her next breath, she was coming all over and crying out his name.
Dragging his body up over hers, he brought his face to hers again. “Ah, Claire.”
She opened her eyes and peeped at him. He was waiting. She knew it. He knew it. He was waiting to get the okay from her to continue down this rocky path. There were obstacles. In her mind, at the very least. But at this moment, with echoes of pleasure still trickling through her body, she would happily skip down that path naked and singing. Living in the moment had its definite advantages.
“I hope you have a condom,” she whispered.
His eyes widened, and then he gave a vigorous nod. “Oh, yeah. Two of them.”
***
Jake tortured himself a little bit more before easing off her pliant body. Finally, he climbed off the bed to dig in his right boot. Those pirate pants he’d worn didn’t have pockets. And after seeing the invitation in Claire’s eyes earlier he’d snagged a couple of condoms from Rick’s bathroom when he’d gone back to their house.
Turning back toward the bed he took in the beauty of Claire spread and ready on her bed. Her breasts rose and fell rapidly and her eyes were slightly out of focus. All that strawberries and cream skin was flushed and rosy and he wasn’t going to waste another second before getting inside of her.
After taking a few spare moments to open the wrapper and take care of things, he kissed her again and then he was there. Right where he needed to be. She fit him perfectly.
Cypress Corners Boxed Set (Books 1-3) Page 27