by Tina Gayle
“That’s a wonderful idea.” Jillian stepped into the room. “Why don’t we set out those steaks I bought the other day?” She opened the freezer to find the steaks.
Derek frowned at his brother. “Now look what you’ve done.”
“We can have a salad with it and it’ll keep the house cooler.” Jillian carried the steaks to the sink and kissed him on the cheek when she turned. “Are you planning on going to church with me today? Or do you want to stay home with Kelly and Jason?”
“What time does it start?” Derek walked to the breakfast table.
“Church starts at quarter to eleven.” Jillian grabbed a few bowls from the cabinet and followed him.
“What time is Kelly getting up?” Derek questioned Jason, and then sat before sliding Jillian down onto his lap. He enjoyed having her close.
“Don’t know. We got to bed late. Why don’t you guys go on without us?” Jason responded.
“You’re welcome to come along if you want. It’s only a little after nine, Kelly might get up before we need to leave.” Jillian slid her arms around Derek. Her fingers toyed with his hair and he couldn't help but run his hands across her thighs.
“No, I think we’ll just stay in and rest if you don’t mind.” His brother reached for the cereal box.
“Okay.” She scanned the items on the table. “Do you guys want anything else for breakfast?”
“No. Cereal is fine.” Jason reached for a bowl. “But we’re going to need the milk.”
Jillian rose. “I’ll get it. I need to get some coffee anyway.”
“No.” Derek grabbed for her hand, but she escaped him. “You’re not supposed to have caffeine.”
Sparks flared in her eyes when she turned. “Watch me.”
Jason laughed.
Derek hurried after his wife.
****
Singing the closing hymn, Jillian shifted on the hardwood pew. Thankfully, church was over. Her butt hurt, and she needed to hit the bathroom. Derek led her down the aisle to the exit with the rest of the congregation.
She whispered in his ear. “I'm stopping by ladies’ room. I’ll meet you outside.”
He nodded and released her hand. She turned to the left.
Jillian caught Susan’s reflection in the mirror when she exited the stall a few minutes later. With wavy dark hair and soft brown eyes, Susan didn’t appear old enough to be heading off to college. A little over five feet, she appeared to be no more than a freshman in high school.
“Well, hello there. You’re just the person I was hoping to see.”
Susan glanced at the other people in the room. “Really?”
“Umm-hmm. John Paul told me you were planning to attend University of Texas in Dallas in a few weeks. I thought you might be interested in a job I’ve heard about.”
“What kind of job?”
“Well, it’s sort of a live-in maid, pays room and board and a little extra. It’s for my brother-in-law and his wife after they get married.”
“What would they want me to do?”
“I’m not real sure. Why don’t you stop by after lunch today and talk to them. They’re here for the weekend.” Jillian finished washing her hands. “I’m sure they’d love to meet you.” She slid her arm around Susan as they left the bathroom. “Don’t worry. They’ll love you, just the way we all do.”
Weakly, Susan smiled back. “I have to check with my parents but it should be fine. What time should I come over?”
“How about around three? That should give you plenty of time to eat lunch.”
On the sidewalk, Jillian spotted Susan’s parents waiting for her. “Just let me know if you can’t make it.”
“Okay.” Susan strolled off toward her parents. Jillian watched as they turned toward their car.
“Ready?”
She peered up into Derek’s face. “I just invited Susan to come over and meet Kelly and Jason. I thought she would be perfect for that job as their maid.”
“Maid?”
She slid her arm into his, and drew him along to his father’s truck. “Don’t you remember? Kelly said she wanted a live-in maid after they were married.”
He helped her into the cab of the truck. “I must have forgotten.”
She smiled, and he shut the door.
A week had passed since Derek had come home with her. It felt more like a lifetime, with the way he’d changed her existence. Now he filled her day, with them working, eating, and sleeping together. Until Friday, the sexual tension between them had made her uneasy. But now she truly enjoyed his company.
Shyly glancing over at him, she noticed he had gained a little weight in the last week. His cheeks didn’t look as hollow, and had more color. The man was beautiful, and hers. The thought made her giddy. She placed her hand on his thigh and ran it along the inside of his leg. He covered her hand with his, stopping her adventurous fingers.
“You need to behave.” He didn’t take his eyes off the road.
“But I was having fun.” She loved the way he responded to her touch.
“Yes, and I’m driving.” His stone-faced expression didn’t change.
Jillian wished she could unlock his thoughts. She inched her hand from under his and moved along his stomach, then his rib cage, searching for a ticklish spot.
No smile crossed his face, but then he didn’t smile often. Sympathy for the pain he held inside made her stop teasing him. She laid her head on his shoulder instead. Still recovering, he needed her patience, but she missed the old Derek.
They entered the house together to find Jason read the paper at the breakfast table while Kelly stood at the kitchen counter, tearing lettuce into a bowl. “Hey guys, how was church?”
“It was great. I believe Derek met everyone in town again.” Jillian remembered the greetings they’d gotten when they entered the church.
“Not everyone,” Derek countered.
“Well, just about.”
“Lunch should be ready in a little while. Jason got the grill going, and he can slap the steaks on it whenever you guys are ready. The salad is almost done.” Kelly indicated the bowl in front of her.
“Let us change clothes, then Derek can put on the steaks.” Jillian stepped to the kitchen doorway.
“Okay.” Jason leaned back in his chair and lifted the paper.
“What do you think about eating outside?” Jillian asked when they stepped into their room.
“It’s okay with me.” Derek tugged off his tie.
She strolled to the dresser and studied his reflection in the mirror as he unbuttoned his shirt. “You don’t think it’s too hot?”
“No.” He slipped off his shirt.
Entranced by the dark hair on his chest that led down over his stomach, she followed the view until it was stopped by the waistband of his pants. Her face heated. She knew the secret delights hidden under those trousers.
Unable to yank her gaze from the strip tease going on behind her, she stared as he step out of his slacks. Sexy white briefs hid a fantasy to behold. She silently dared him to remove the final piece of clothing.
His gaze met hers in the reflection. A wicked sparkle danced in their depths. “Are you planning to change clothes?”
“Yes.” She reached back to unzip her dress but his hand beat her to the mark. He drew it down her back to the base of her spine. His head dipped to the curve of her shoulder. After his hands tugged her dress from her body, it pooled at her feet. He rained kisses over her skin, small bites that sent wild expectations running through her blood.
“Shouldn't we head downstairs and entertain Jason and Kelly?”
His hands circled her waist and he whispered in her ear, “I bet they can amuse themselves.”
Large, strong hands charted a path over her stomach, around the edge of her panties, and down to the top of her thigh-high hose.
“But that’s not being very good hosts,” Jillian said breathlessly. His finger grazed past her heat, then inched over her hips. She shivered. �
��We had better see to our guests.”
Their eyes met. “I could change your mind.”
Chapter Fifteen
Derek glided his hands over her breasts, and then sent a slow stroke back down to the elastic band of her hose.
Jillian shook her head. “Don’t tempt me. I’m not that strong.”
He watched her, saw the heat, felt the burn. No way could he release her. His thumbs slid under the outside edge of her panties.
“We can’t.” Her hands covered his.
The longing in the depths of her eyes were waging a war with responsibility.
“We can.” His fingers slid free of her lacy blue underwear. “But we won’t.” He placed his hands on her waist. “I do, however, demand a rain check.”
She melted back into his arms, rubbing her soft round bottom against him. “Is now too early to give you the rain check?”
His body jerked with need but he didn’t move. “But you said we needed to go downstairs.”
Her hands gripped his wrists, not letting him budge. “I was wrong. I’ll never make it through the afternoon without you.”
Knowing she didn't really want to make love while she had guests waiting downstairs, he kissed the side of her neck and whispered into her ear. “Good, then maybe you can help me rush Kelly and Jason out the door.”
****
A few minutes later, Jillian stepped out on the back porch. A light breeze blew her hair across her face, and her pink cotton sundress danced around her knees. The sky, a beautiful blue, provided the perfect backdrop for an outdoor lunch. Derek and Jason stood on the patio, discussing the steaks.
“Remember, I like mine pink in the middle.” Jason called out, “How do you like your steak, Jillian?”
“Done.” She checked the glass-top table, set with her favorite cherry-and-apple plates. Nothing was missing. “Where’s Kelly?”
“Right behind you. I just went to get the salad dressing.” She passed Jillian on the way to the table. “When the steaks are done, we’ll be ready to eat.”
After everyone had served up their food, Jillian turned to the other couple. “Did Derek mention I invited Susan to come over this afternoon?”
“No.” Kelly played with her fork.
“Did you tell me Susan was coming over?” Derek questioned at the same time.
“Who’s Susan?” Jason covered his fiancée’s hand with his.
“Susan is the girl I was telling Kelly about last night. She’s pregnant and is looking for work in Dallas. If things work out, she might let y’all adopt her baby.” Jillian stabbed at her salad.
“Oh!” He gasped as if someone had just punched him in the gut.
“I told her that y’all were looking for a live-in maid. She wants to go to college at the University of Texas at Dallas. I thought if she could live with you while she attended college, it would save her on expenses and give her a chance to get to know you.”
“What time is she coming over?” Kelly fiddled with the napkin in her lap.
“Around three.” Jillian could see both of their anxiety. “You do still want to talk to her, don’t you?”
Kelly glanced at Jason. The two exchanged a telling look. “Yes, we’re just concerned about what to say.”
“Just be yourself. Susan is scared and alone right now. She’s not sure what she wants to do. Y’all are just giving her an opportunity to get through this pregnancy with help.”
Jason kicked back a long draw on his beer, before he answered. “But will she really let us adopt her baby?”
Jillian wanted to reassure them, but she didn’t want to mislead them. “I don’t know. Give her time to come to terms with the situation. If she can get out of town, go to school, then her first few problems will be solved.”
“But what if she decides not to let us adopt her baby?” Kelly twisted her napkin in her hand.
The doubt on their faces made Jillian want to cry. She knew how important this was. “Take it one step at a time. Right now, she needs a safe place to stay while she goes to school. If she decides not to let you adopt her baby, then you can at least say that you helped her get through a difficult time.”
“But?” Kelly said.
“Look, I know you want a baby, but right now you’ve got to think about what Susan needs. You can offer to adopt her baby but don’t pressure her.” Jillian sipped her drink to keep from saying the same thing over and over again.
“I don’t know if I can do this.” The other woman toyed with her fork.
“Look, just talk to her. If you don’t want to go through with it, then I’ll come up with some other way to help Susan.” Jillian gathered the condensation on the side of her drink.
“Come on, Kelly, what can it hurt?” Jason’s large hand covered hers again.
“Okay, but no promises.”
Derek interrupted. “It sure is nice weather we’re having today, must be a cold front from the north.” When all eyes turned in his direction, he continued. “Or maybe it’s going to rain.”
Jillian leaned over and kissed him. “Nice try.”
As they’d finished lunch, he asked. “Would anyone like some cheesecake for dessert?”
“Derek, we also have that chocolate cake in the freezer.”
“No, I really think they'd like the cheesecake better.”
Jillian smiled at his ploy to keep her from eating any more of the rich dessert. “You can offer both and let our guests decide for themselves.”
“Okay, you both want cheesecake, right?”
“Derek!”
“Either one’s fine with me.” Kelly laid her napkin over her plate.
“I’ll have the chocolate cake.” Jason grinned at Jillian.
“Okay, I’ll get it.” Derek headed for the door.
“What’s that all about?” Kelly stacked her dishes on top of Jason's.
“He doesn’t want me eating too much cheesecake. I made it the other day and I’ve already eaten more than half of it. He’s trying to help me from gaining weight.”
“Doesn’t that make you angry?” Kelly asked.
“No, he’s just trying to help. My willpower is not very strong when it comes to sweets, and the doctor says I have to eat sensibly.” Jillian finished her salad.
With dessert in his hands, Derek set plates in front of everyone. “Here we go, cheesecake for everyone.”
“I thought I asked for chocolate cake.”
“I knew you wouldn’t mind finishing off the last piece of cheesecake for us.” Derek directed a stern glare at his brother.
Jason laughed and picked up his fork.
****
“How do you stand it? If Jason ever tried to pulled a stunt like that on me. I’d clobber him.” Kelly placed the dishes on the counter by the sink with a clatter.
“You mean about the cheesecake?” Jillian asked, opening the refrigerator to store away the leftover potato salad.
“Yes, doesn’t that drive you crazy?”
Jillian shook her head. “It really isn’t as bad as it seems. Derek knows that if I want more cheesecake, I’ll just go to the store and get it, or make some more.”
“But he hovers over you like a mother hen. You can’t move without his approval. Like last night, saying it was time for you to go to bed. I would have killed Jason if he did that. I just don’t see how you live with the man.” Kelly dumped the paper napkins in the trash.
“You’re right, he can be a little overprotective at times. But he doesn’t do it to be controlling. It’s just his way of showing he cares.”
Kelly lifted a skeptical brow.
“Look, I’ve thought about this a lot. I think when that building blew up and Derek was hurt, it forced him to face a number of facts.” Jillian opened the dishwasher. “Facts he’d never faced before.”
“What, that he’s not indestructible?”
“Yes, and if he was killed, I’d be all alone. He knew I was pregnant and that I needed him. His perspective changed, and he’s still try
ing to come to terms with it.”
“And that’s enough of a reason to cover you like a glove and not let you move?” Kelly argued.
“No.” Jillian lifted a plate and placed it in the dishwasher. “But with his injury, it’ll take him awhile to come to the realization that as well as us needing him, he needs us.”
“What do you mean? He’s never needed anyone.”
“No, Derek never let himself need anyone.”
“Jillian, I think you’re fooling yourself.”
“Maybe, but I believe Derek thinks he is trying to protect me so that I’ll be safe for myself. But what he really is trying to do is protect me so I’ll be safe for him.”
Kelly frowned.
“He’s afraid of losing me. That’s why he’s so overprotective.” Jillian placed a glass on the top rack.
“Wrong, Derek’s never cared one way or the other about anything,” Kelly responded.
“That’s part of the problem. Now, he does.” Jillian finished putting the dishes in the dishwasher and closed the door. “And it’s scaring the hell out of him.”
The knock on the back door caused them both to pause.
“Just a minute.” Jillian walked to the back door and welcomed Susan into the kitchen. “Come on in, I’m so glad you could make it.”
“I’m a little early. I hope you don’t mind,” Susan said.
Jillian wrapped her arm around the girl's shoulder. “Not at all, Susan, I’d like you to meet Kelly Baker. She’s my future sister-in-law.”
****
Jillian sat beside Susan sat on the couch. The girl twisted her hands in her lap and stared nervously at the couple across from her.
No one spoke, so Jillian took the lead. “Susan, I told Kelly and Jason about your being pregnant. They’d like to help.”
Susan glared. “John Paul shouldn’t have told you.”
“Well, I’m glad he did.” Jillian covered the girl's hand and felt Susan tremble. “Look, I know you’re going through a difficult time right now, but let us help you. We’ll support anything you want to do.”
“I not sure what I should do.” Susan unclasped her hands and ran them along her jeans. “I don’t want to change my college plans.”
Kelly leaned forward. “There’s no reason why you should. That’s what Jason and I are suggesting. You can come live with us and go to school. No one here has to know that you’re pregnant.”