by Tina Gayle
On fire, he plunged into her over and over until she convulsed around him. His control broken, he trembled and climaxed with one final stroke.
Neither moved as they fought to catch their breath.
Rolling onto his back, Derek drew her along so he lay on the hard floor, cushioning her body with his. He stared at the ceiling, spent by the impatient rush of sex.
“What just happened? The last thing I remember, we were discussing Michael,” she whispered against his chest.
“They call that, ‘Getting caught up in the moment.’” He kissed the top of her head. “You are one amazing lady.”
Jillian cuddled closer, but didn’t comment. He grabbed the throw blanket and pillow from the couch to make her more comfortable.
She settled. And with her in his arms, he knew the moment she drifted off to sleep. After such a busy day, he was amazed at how she continued to respond to him, giving herself completely, never holding anything back. He’d learned during the course of the day that she liked to please others, doing whatever it took to keep them happy.
She’d given up her career after college to stay at home and help take care of her dying mother. After her mother’s death, she’d again given up her dreams of college to help her grieving father manage his store. Her father, afraid of being alone, had continually bombarded her with excuses to keep her from leaving. To please him, she’d stayed, until finally his death had robbed her of an exit. Granted, she could sell the store, but it had always been apart of her life and a legacy from her parents. Now, she was trying to please and support her brother along with the whole town by creating the perfect little hardware store. And every time they made love, she gave him her all.
What more could he ask for?
A commitment?
Yes, he wanted her, yet not for a day, or a week, but for the rest of his life.
The problem lay in convincing Jillian it was what she wanted. He would have to coax, persuade, and bully her into marrying him.
His back hurting from lying on the hard floor, he stretched and stood. Leaning back down, he wrapped the blanket around her and lifted her onto the couch before he stepped back into his clothes.
His gaze landed on her angelic face at peace in sleep. His heart bled a little at the thought of her selling her precious home. A loan could be hard to secure for a self-employed person. And from the way she talked, she loved her home. How could her brother ask her to give it up?
Derek brushed his lips against her cheek. She didn’t budge. He headed for the kitchen. Time to start dinner. He also needed to plan their future. After all, tomorrow was Monday, a perfect day for a wedding.
****
Jillian woke to the sound of trumpets.
“That’s my cell phone,” Derek whispered and threw back the covers to exit the bed. She heard him hustled across the room and his groggy hello. Then she rolled over, with not desire to wake.
He had an insatiable sexual appetite. He’d woken her several times during the night to satisfy his cravings. She stretched out her leg finding a sore muscle she hadn’t even known she had.
A tickling sensation by her ear caused her to stir a few minutes later. She brushed the menace away with her hand. Words buzzed in her ear. “Come on sweetheart, we have to get up.”
She refuses the invitation, but felt him leaning over her back. A hand skimmed over her hips and legs but she didn’t have the energy to even open her eyes.
“Go away.” Jillian tucked the pillow closer into her chest.
The hand slid between her legs.
“Don’t even think about it. I’m not moving.” She crossed her legs and buried her face in her pillow.
Strong arms rolled her onto her back. Her fluffy protector ripped from her hands, she stared into a pair of amused gray eyes.
“You have to get up on your wedding day.”
“What?”
He smiled and exited the bed, leaving her lying there confused.
She shook her head, hoping to clear the fog. “What did you say?”
“I said you need to get up so we can go get married.” He yanked a pair of pants from a hanger in his closet. He didn’t appear deranged.
Rising onto her elbow, she gawked at him. “Are you kidding?”
“No.” He stepped into his pants and then grabbed a shirt.
Confused, she sat in the middle of the bed. “Did I miss something?”
His intense gray stare nailed her from where he stood at the end of the bed. “I don’t have time to argue, Jillian. We’re getting married. Today.”
“But...”
“No, buts. If you are pregnant, I want to be involved. I’ve been called back to my job and I need to leave today. I want us married by this afternoon.”
She glared, not liking his tone. What made him think he could order her around? She shoved her hands through her hair. “I’m happy you want to marry me, but it really isn’t necessary. I knew when I got into this situation that I’d be raising my child alone.”
Naked with the exception of the sheet covering her, Jillian felt exposed when his stern gaze scanned her body. The domineering man she’d met over a year ago had returned.
“It wasn’t a request.” He stepped back into the closet. The muscles in his back bunched when he reached for something on the top shelf.
“Derek, if you need to leave, its okay.” She twisted a strand of hair around her finger and held the sheet in front of her like a shield. “But marrying me before you leave isn’t necessary.”
He brought down a small wooden box and carried it to bed. His face revealed his determination. No smile, and thin lines marred his forehead.
Uncertain of his intentions, she watched as he sat beside her and rummaged through the contents of the box. When he found what he was looking for, he tossed the box on the dresser and turned. His steel gray gaze nailed her in place and the lack of emotion on his face hit her in the gut. She swallowed and fisted the sheet tighter with her hands.
“Jillian, I know marriage wasn’t in your plans when we started this weekend, but I will not let our baby be born without us being married.”
He snagged her left wrist. Her hand trembled. “This is my mother’s ring. Before she died, she gave it to me, and now I’m giving it to you.” He slipped it onto her finger.
She examined the ring, which was a size too big. Beautiful. A round ruby glimmered in the middle of the wide gold band. Her voice broke when she spoke. “Please don’t do this, Derek. We both know that it won’t work.”
“I don’t know that, Jillian. I’m willing to give it a try.” His rough tone stated his anger. “Why won’t you?”
Tears blurred her vision, but she forced words through her parched lips. “As much as I would love for this to work out, I don’t think marriage is right for us. Maybe after you return from your assignment, we can get together and discuss it. But it’s too soon.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. He stood and walked away without a backward glance. “No it’s not. We’re getting married today.”
Chapter Six
“Jillian? Where are you?” Karen Ann yelled from the front of the store.
Strolling down the aisle, Jillian gathered her composure. She’d need all her acting skills to weather this inquisition. Karen Ann, her best friend, knew her to well.
“Here I am.”
Karen Ann’s voice rang from a distance, as if she’d been heading in the wrong direction. “Where?”
“Aisle three.” Jillian continued to the front as her friend rounded the corner of aisle nine.
The first words out of her friend’s mouth were, “Well, how was your weekend?” She rocked on her toes, ready with a million questions.
“I had a very nice weekend. Thank you. How about you?” Jillian strolled calmly past Karen Ann on her way to the cash register.
“Oh, come on. There has to be more to it than that? Did you meet any one interesting? See that gorgeous brother of yours?” Karen Ann drilled her like a military st
aff sergeant. “Come on, give me the scoop. What did you do?”
“Mmmm, let’s see.” Jillian paused for drama and tapped her finger against her chin. “I met this extremely gorgeous guy who spent the entire weekend making wild, passionate love to me. Then he got on a plane and headed for the Middle East. What can I say? A calm weekend over all.” If Karen Ann knew it was the truth, she’d go ape-shit.
“Yeah, right. Now tell me what really happened.”
“What, you don’t believe I had a wild, passionate weekend?”
“Get real.”
Jillian clutched her hands to her heart. “I’m mortally offended.”
Karen Ann laughed as expected. “Sure, I believe it.”
“Thank you, I had a great time. Lying in bed until noon, having a man wait on me, shopping until I dropped, not one little worry entered my mind.” Jillian waved her hand dismissively. “I couldn’t have cared less what was going on in the small town of Gladewater, Texas.” She ducked her head under the counter so her friend wouldn’t see her guilt over the lie.
“Does this guy have a friend?”
She found a rag and rose. “No, he’s a loner.”
“Sounds familiar. Did your brother get a hold of you? He called me Sunday looking for you.”
“I talked to him last night after I got home. He wants me to get some appraisals on the house. As usual, he needs money.” Jillian shifted several items on the counter, and then brushed the surface with the cloth. “Apparently he has a stock going bad, and he’s strapped for cash.” She scowled at the thought of getting appraisals.
“Well, maybe if you buy him out, he’ll leave you alone for money.”
“Are you kidding? Michael can’t handle his finances. Every time he’s ahead, he pulls another dumb stunt and winds up needing money again. I love him dearly but sometimes...” Jillian’s voice ended with a growl. She twisted the rag as if wringing his neck.
“Okay, so what did you buy in Dallas?” Karen Ann’s face lit with a mischievous grin. “Anything sexy?”
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t even think of that.”
“Your lover didn’t complain that you weren’t trying to entice him into bed?”
“Funny, I don’t remember him complaining.”
“But you did buy some new clothes. If I’m guessing right, that’s a new outfit.”
“What do you think?” Jillian struck a pose, moving back and forth like a model. “Do I look like the new young and clever hardware store owner?”
“Well—the young part seems right.”
She noticed her friend’s normal attire of blue jeans and a T-shirt printed with, Why be shy? I want your body.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Gosh, Jillian, everyone knows you’ve been running this store for the last two years. Your father only showed up when he had nothing better to do. You don’t have to dress up for everyone to respect you.”
“Right. Then why do I still feel as if everyone is waiting for me to fall on my face?”
“You’re imagining that,” Karen Ann argued. “We all know how hard you’ve worked to keep this place profitable. What you really should be doing is going out and having fun.” Her face brightened, and Jillian waited for her friend to suggest something outrageous. “Why don’t we head over to Longview tonight and take in a movie?”
“Why not? You only live once.”
Surprised by the response, Karen Ann rushed with the details. “Okay then, I’ll pick you up about seven and we’ll head out.” She hurried to the door. “Got to go. See you later.”
She left the shop before Jillian could change her mind. Laughing, she watched her friend leave. Amazed at how easy the conversation with Karen Ann had gone, she mentally patted herself on the back. She’d dreaded lying to her best friend about her weekend. But then, she hadn’t really lied. Karen Ann had just chosen not to believe the truth.
Of course, it’d come out soon enough if she came up pregnant. Thinking about the possibility brightened Jillian’s mood, and she got back to work. There were a number of things to do before she could relax and enjoy that particular adventure.
****
The lonely sound of a train whistle drew Jillian’s attention. Out the front window, the train chugged consistently down the center of the shopping area. Boxcars rocking, wheels turning, slow and steady, it continued on its journey.
She stretched. She’d managed to restock saw blades, tool belts, batteries, and rope this morning. But as usual, the day had passed too quickly. She still had power tools and locks to place on the shelves. Why was there never enough time to do all the things that needed to be done?
Hearing the bell above the door ring, she glanced up to welcome her customer from behind the cash register. “Good evening, John Paul. How can I help you today?”
The tall, gangly teenager visited the store regularly. His father, a plumber, sent him in to purchase parts for his business.
“Well—I was wondering—if you might be looking for some part-time help.”
Jillian considered the idea as she watched him shuffle on his feet. “Maybe. I hadn’t thought about hiring anyone, but now that you mentioned it, I might just be in the market for a good worker bee.”
If she was pregnant, she could use help lifting heavy boxes. She widened her smile and judged his strength to handle the job. “Know anyone who might be interested in a part-time job?”
“Well—I thought—I might apply for the job?” He shifted his weight from foot to foot.
“Well,” she teased him with his own word choice—“seeing as you gave me the brilliant idea...” She paused, again to keep him in suspense. “I guess the least I can do is give you the job.” She reached under the counter for the application and held the form out to him. “How about you start tomorrow afternoon after school?”
Frowning, he replied. “Well, school lets out at three-thirty—then—if it’s okay—I’d like to start about four. That gives me time to run home and get something to eat.” His voice sped up. “Of course, over the summer I can work different hours.”
She smiled at his nervousness. “Fine, four it is.”
Shyly, he met her glance and smiled. “Well, see you tomorrow.” He turned and left the store.
“Well, well, well...” She dragged each word out and laughed at her own silliness. “Now that the work day is over, maybe I can have a little fun.”
****
What her friend had planned for the evening, Jillian couldn’t imagine. From picking up guys to pigging out on hot fudge sundaes, with Karen Ann one could never tell what ran through her head.
Don’t be a chicken, it’ll be fun, whispered through Jillian’s thoughts as she tugged off her clothes.
Bicycle rides with one of them on the handle bars, taboo makeup parties, sleepovers where they’d escaped to visit a boy, tears spilled, smiles exchanged, her mother’s illness, her father’s clinginess. The two women shared a history that made Karen Ann more like a sister than a best friend.
Which was another reason why Jillian didn’t like lying. But her weekend activities were best kept in the dark. At least until Derek returned home. Then everyone would be able to check him out and there wouldn’t be so many questions to answer.
Her gaze fell on the teddy bear sitting in middle of her bed. The light tan fur, the bulky arms and legs, and the solemn face reminded her of him, and her eyes blurred. He was like a big cuddly bear. Had he made it to his assignment? Depending on his layover in Germany, he could still be in route.
She slipped into her favorite pair of jeans and retrieved her favorite Texas Longhorn’s T-shirt from the dresser. Damn, but she missed him. For more than two days, he had been her constant companion, her world. Now, she felt as if it had never happened. But hopefully, there would be a small memento growing inside her. She covered her stomach with her hand.
Could she be that lucky?
The doorbell rang, snapping her back to the real world. She grabbed her shoes, and rac
ed into the living room, then slid on the hardwood floors to a halt in front of the door. She checked through the side window to be sure it was Karen Ann.
“Hey, you’re early. I don’t have my shoes on yet.” After letting her friend in, Jillian strolled in the living room and sank onto the sofa. “As soon as I get my shoes on, I’ll be ready to go.”
Karen Ann waited in the entranceway. “No hurry. The movie doesn’t start until seven-thirty.”
A knock sounded on the front door.
“Yeah,” Karen Ann yelped and turned.
“Who can that be?” Jillian popped up from the couch and rushed to open the front door.
A tall man stood on the front porch. For a moment her heart stopped, but looking closer, she noticed the sandy brown hair. “Hey, Michael, what are you doing here?” She hugged her brother around the waist and stepped back. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I was hoping we could talk.” He didn’t appear happy with the prospect.
Karen Ann stepped forward, and Michael offered her a charming smile that lit his face. The dimple on the side of his mouth flickered. Old resentment surfaced and Jillian looked away. Her brother could always get what he wanted with a simple little smile. “Hi, Karen Ann, how are you this beautiful evening?”
“I’m fine. We were just on our way out to see a movie.” She brushed her hand through her long blonde hair.
His smile faded and he glanced at Jillian. “I guess I should have called, but I never thought you’d go out on a week-night.”
“Gee, Michael, thanks for reminding me I don’t have a social life.” She could tell he was sweating this conversation but she had no intentions of making it any easy for him.
Karen Ann joined in. “You’ll just have to come back another night. Jillian and I have been looking forward to seeing this movie.”
“I really need to talk to you tonight.” He silently begged her to stay home with him. “Can’t you go to the movies some other night? I drove all the way from Dallas. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”