by Annie Rains
Trisha gave him a questioning look. “Okay?”
“Can I ask why your ex is in prison?”
There was something sad in her eyes that immediately made him regret his question. His curiosity had finally gotten the best of him though.
Trisha inhaled and exhaled before answering. “Because he stole money from people. His clients.” Her eyes grew shiny. “He was a prominent financial planner in the area. I guess he was skimming money off clients’ accounts for years. They had no idea.”
Jake felt his body stiffen. That was exactly what had happened to Vi. There was no way Trisha’s ex was Vi’s financial planner though. That would be too much of a coincidence. “He just had clients in Sweetwater Springs?” he asked anyway, just to relieve his mind.
She shook her head. “No. All over the western part of the state. Most of his business interactions were handled over the phone so distance wasn’t really an issue. The list of people he hurt is long, with Petey at the top of that list,” she said quietly.
Jake noticed how her hands shook as she held them in her lap. “You too,” he said.
She looked down for a moment. “The thing is, I was proud of my husband. I bragged about him to my friends. He worked so hard. He was so dedicated. He was so good at what he did.” Trisha laughed humorlessly. “And I was such a fool.”
Jake couldn’t resist anymore. He reached over and laid his hand over hers. “You trusted your husband. That’s not a crime.”
Tears brimmed in Trisha’s eyes. She exhaled. “Well, according to some, it was. That’s the main reason I left my hometown. I was guilty by association, just because I married someone who wasn’t who I thought he was.”
Jake didn’t want to ask. He’d already asked too many questions tonight. But he needed to know. “What is your ex’s name?”
Trisha gave him a questioning look. “Why does that matter?”
“I’m a lawyer,” Jake explained. He didn’t want to deceive her, but he also didn’t want to push her away when she was just letting him in. “I read a lot of legal cases. I’m just wondering if I’ve heard of him.”
Trisha seemed to accept this explanation. Her shoulders lowered as she looked out onto the lake. “Peter Lewis.”
Jake grew very still. He was glad Trisha wasn’t looking at him at the moment because his game face was likely shattered. “But your last name is Langly.”
“Langly is my maiden name.” She tipped her face up to the starry sky and sliver of moon. “Both Petey and I changed our names just to help with the fresh start. I mean, Lewis is a pretty common surname, but I didn’t want us to have any tie to my ex’s crimes.”
Jake wasn’t sure he could take any more revelations tonight. “Peter Lewis,” he repeated.
Trisha looked at him. “You’ve heard of him?” she asked.
Jake offered a slow nod. Trisha was just as much a victim as Vi. He could tell by how guarded she was. She’d already been through a huge ordeal. Jake didn’t want to add to her burden by telling her that her ex-husband was responsible for Vi’s financial struggles. Peter Lewis was the reason the cottages weren’t repaired after the hurricane. The stress he’d caused Vi had likely contributed to her stroke.
Jake looked down at his lap, taking a moment to reset his game face. “The name sounds familiar,” he finally said.
“Well, it was all over the news. That’s why I don’t want to be tied to it here.” Trisha wrung her hands in her lap. “I hope you understand.”
“I do. What I don’t get is how anyone could blame you for what he did. You weren’t the one who stole from people.”
“No, but some wondered if I knew about it.”
“Did you?” Jake asked. He didn’t mean any harm. He wasn’t thinking. It was just the next obvious question.
Trisha whipped her gaze to meet his, her eyes narrowed and full of pain. “No.”
“I’m sorry.” He held up his hands. “I didn’t even need to ask that question. I already know you would never do anything like that.”
“How do you know? You only just met me.”
“Maybe, but I’m a good judge of character. You have to be in order to be a lawyer, which is in my blood.” He winked. “You’ve been amazing to my grandmother. You’re a great mom. Lawyer or not, anyone with two eyes and a heart can tell that you’re a good person. If anyone ever doubted you or made you feel otherwise, they were wrong.”
More tears glimmered in her eyes, but he didn’t think it was a bad thing. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
They held each other’s gaze for a moment that stretched as long as the lake before them and seemed to plunge just as deep. He could feel that rope on its crank tightening in his chest again, pulling him toward this woman even though he knew all the reasons why allowing anything romantic between them was a bad idea.
“I’m sorry he hurt you,” Jake said quietly.
She visibly swallowed. “You’ve experienced your share of pain too. I guess it comes with the territory of opening yourself up to another person.”
“Yeah.” Jake couldn’t take his eyes off her suddenly. He just wanted to kiss her right now. “You didn’t have to tell me about your ex-husband. You could’ve told me it was none of my business. You could have pushed me into this lake.”
“I could have,” she agreed.
“So why didn’t you? Why did you open up to me?”
She lifted a hand to swipe a strand of hair from her face, securing it behind her ear. “Maybe you’ve convinced me that keeping to myself isn’t good for me or Petey. Even if I was completely wrong about my ex, I’m hoping that I’m not wrong about you.”
Jake’s heart ached in a feel-good way. “What are you thinking about me?”
“That you’re a good person too,” she said.
“I’m not perfect.”
“Neither am I,” she whispered. And unless he was totally misreading the situation, she wanted to kiss him as much as he wanted to kiss her.
He looked down at her lips. So close. When he looked up, he caught her looking at his lips too. They were thinking the same thing.
“It’s probably a bad idea,” he said.
Her dark eyes held his. “I know.”
“I’m not staying.” He couldn’t. When he’d left this town, he’d never planned to make it his home again. He had his family and a job waiting in Florida.
“I know that too,” Trisha said.
Jake swallowed. He was laying out the facts like a good lawyer. But he wanted this kiss more than he wanted anything, maybe ever. “I don’t want to be just another guy who hurt you, Trisha.”
She leaned in, a breath away from his mouth. “Then don’t hurt me.”
* * *
It felt good not to think for just a moment. Jake’s lips on Trisha’s felt good too. She leaned into him, surrendering herself to the kiss.
When they pulled away, Jake’s gaze was heavy on her. The man could be as intense as he was laid-back. “You okay?”
“Better than.”
The corners of his lips curled up. “It’s been a long time since I’ve kissed a girl down on Vi’s dock.”
Trisha laughed. She wasn’t a girl. She was a woman. A single mother who had no business being out here kissing on her boss’s dock. Or kissing her boss’s grandson.
Trisha stiffened. Maybe she wasn’t okay. “I better get back inside to check on Petey,” she said, standing quickly. Her legs were shaky. Her whole body trembled like a leaf in the lakeside wind. What had she just done? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that it felt amazing in the moment. But now she felt confused and frazzled.
Jake was still sitting on the dock, watching her. Bailey too.
“Good night, Trisha,” he said easily, as if she hadn’t just pulled away from the kiss and started rattling off nervous excuses to get away.
“Good night, Jake.” She turned and walked away, doing her best not to run. She took deep breaths, in and out. It was just a kiss. It didn’t
have to mean anything, except somehow she wasn’t convinced of that. She was already attracted to Jake. She already liked him. And she’d already told him her secret.
Wow, she’d really thrown caution to that wind blowing around on the lake, which wasn’t like her at all.
She climbed the steps to Juniper Cottage and hurried inside, closing the door behind her. Then she crossed the living room to check on Petey in his bedroom. He was sleeping peacefully. She was a little jealous. After that kiss with Jake, she doubted she’d get much rest tonight.
Trisha sat on the edge of her bed and stared at her open closet, which reminded her of her best friend. She lifted her cell phone and tapped out a text.
I accidentally kissed Jake!
Trisha’s heart was still racing.
How do you kiss by accident? Sophie texted back a minute later.
Trisha nibbled at her lower lip. That was a good question, and she wasn’t sure of the answer. Maybe the kiss wasn’t an accident at all. But it was most definitely a mistake.
Chapter Thirteen
On Sunday morning, Trisha woke, pulled on her cardigan, and slipped her feet into her flip-flops. Then she headed down the lakeshore to nudge Mr. S back inside as usual.
Her steps slowed as she approached the usual spot. He wasn’t there, which she found odd. He was always there, from the first day she’d started this job. She guessed for once he’d woken himself and had gone inside on his own.
Good. Maybe he’ll make a habit of that.
Trisha turned back toward her cottage. Sophie and Chase would be coming early to get Petey. Trisha was glad, but some selfish part of her regretted that she’d be left all alone to deal with the after-kiss. Maybe she should cancel going to church. Skipping church just felt like another wrong that wouldn’t fix the first one though.
She climbed the steps of Juniper Cottage and went inside. Petey was up, eating a banana and reading his book.
“Better hurry up and get dressed,” Trisha said. “You have a big day ahead.”
Petey seemed to think on what was happening today. To a kid, all days ran together, especially during the summertime.
Trisha laughed as she flipped her coffee maker on. “Aunt Sophie and Uncle Chase will be here in about thirty minutes to take you to the Lewis family reunion. Remember?”
Petey jumped off the stool. “Yes! I can’t wait to spend the day with them!” He rushed down the hall toward his bedroom to get ready, his feet landing heavily on the floor.
Trisha turned back to the coffee maker and watched the dark brew as it poured into the pot. After last night’s restless sleep, she was so ready for a mug of caffeine. She could practically taste it on her lips.
Lips.
Jake.
That kiss.
Trisha lifted her fingertips to her mouth at the memory.
“Mom?”
She turned toward Petey’s voice.
“How do I look?” Petey was dressed in dark navy shorts and a striped T-shirt. He wore white socks and his sneakers, which were already tied loosely.
“Look at you. You already brushed your hair too. You got ready in record time,” she noted, hearing the coffee maker grind to a stop. “I don’t even think that took five minutes.”
“I already brushed my teeth too,” he said proudly. She’d have to get him to brush them again because she seriously doubted he’d taken the full two minutes to clean all of his teeth.
“Great job, bud.” Trisha grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured herself some coffee. “I think you look great. I know your relatives will be amazed at how much you’ve matured since the last time they saw you.” Which was months ago. Too long. She’d try to do better for Petey’s sake.
“I can’t wait to tell them all about Somerset Lake and the boys I met downtown. My new best friends.”
Trisha turned back to him as she sipped her coffee and listened to his excited chatter.
“And I can’t wait to tell them all about Jake and the plane ride he gave us. They’re going to think that is so cool.”
Trisha held her tongue. She wanted to ask Petey to leave Jake out of the conversation with her former in-laws. The last thing she wanted the Lewis family to think was that she was already moving on romantically. Before she could say anything to her son though, there was a knock on the door.
Trisha turned to see her best friend standing there. She practically spilled her coffee as she quickly set it down and hurried in that direction. She released the metal latch and opened the screen door. “Sophie!”
“Hey, stranger!” Sophie gave her a big hug, and they didn’t let go until Chase stepped up behind her. Trisha released Sophie and hugged him next. Once her brother-in-law, always her brother in heart.
“What a view you have here,” Sophie said, turning to the window. “It’s even prettier with the sunrise.”
“You should see the sunset,” Trisha told her, once again thinking about being with Jake last night on the dock.
“Well, you promised us dinner tonight so we probably will.” Sophie opened her arms for Petey to barrel into. “Hey, you. You’re getting so big!” She squeezed him tightly, the way Trisha knew Petey loved, and then she released him.
“Mom says I’m going through a growth spurt,” he told his aunt. Then he made a show of looking around. “You didn’t bring Comet?”
“Sorry, buddy. Comet doesn’t like long car rides,” Chase told Petey. “He’s home guarding the house.”
“I don’t mind long rides,” Petey said. “Especially when I’m with you. Let’s go.” He stepped out onto the deck.
They’d arrived earlier than Trisha had expected. So much for another round of tooth brushing or coaching Petey on what to say—and not to say—to his relatives today.
“Do you want a thermos of coffee to go?” Trisha asked Sophie and Chase.
“We brought some.” Sophie looked regretful. “This is a quick hello and goodbye, but tonight we’ll sit and chat.” She gave Trisha a meaningful look. No doubt she wanted more scoop on the kiss that Trisha had told her about last night.
“I look forward to it,” Trisha said.
“Me too.”
Trisha watched them go down the steps and disappear, leaving her alone. She returned to her barstool and her mug of coffee. She didn’t have a good excuse to cancel church with Jake, so she’d go. But as soon as they had a chance to talk, she’d explain how that kiss shouldn’t, couldn’t, happen again.
* * *
Jake saw the SUV pull away with a couple and Petey inside. Trisha was alone next door, which rarely seemed to happen. He’d gotten her alone last night, and they’d ending up kissing.
Jake didn’t regret a single second. Yeah, he probably should for a lot of reasons, but it felt good to hold Trisha in his arms. Kissing her felt like that moment in a plane when you were climbing, climbing into the sky. Then in a single heartbeat, you broke through the clouds and reached altitude. Trisha’s kiss was as close to that feeling as he could get with his feet still on the ground.
And he wanted to kiss her again.
He leaned against the deck railing and sipped on his first cup of coffee. When he was finished, he went inside to get dressed for church, which was more casual than the big brick-and-mortar one on Hannigan Street. The church at the Point was set on the water and took place under a canopy of huge oak trees. There were no instruments. No pews. Most folks sat on lawn chairs or stayed in their golf carts, which they drove right up to the small makeshift altar.
When Jake was cleaned up and dressed, he walked next door, hoping that Trisha wasn’t going to make an excuse to send him away. The need to see her was intense. Being close to her felt invigorating. And sometimes life came down to just doing what felt good.
He climbed the steps of Juniper Cottage and knocked on Trisha’s lakeside door. A moment later, she answered, wearing a sundress and sandals.
Jake swallowed as he tried not to let his gaze linger too long below her face. “You look ready for ch
urch,” he said, hoping that meant she wasn’t going to back out of their plans.
“I am. And I’m excited. I haven’t been to a service since I left Sweetwater Springs.”
Jake exhaled softly. “I saw Petey head out with a nice-looking couple earlier.”
Trisha shifted as she stood in the doorway, the sway of her dress making Jake glance down. Attraction buzzed through his veins. “Petey left with his aunt and uncle,” she said. “They’re driving him up to the family reunion I told you about.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “Before we go, I think we should talk. About last night.”
Jake felt his stomach drop. “Okay. Which part?”
“All of it.” She fidgeted with the bracelet on her wrist. He had to resist reaching for her hand because he understood that she was anxious, and there was no need to be around him. “I told you things that no one else knows,” she said.
“I already promised you that I won’t tell anyone.”
“Thank you. And we, um, we…” She trailed off as she broke eye contact.
“Kissed?” he asked.
“Yeah. We did that.” Trisha smoothed a strand of dark hair out of her face, her eyes lifting to meet his. “And while it was…”
“Amazing?” he supplied, suppressing a grin.
She smiled shyly, a soft pink darkening her cheeks. “Amazing,” she agreed. “While it was that, we probably shouldn’t kiss again.”
He wasn’t surprised, but he was still disappointed. “All right. If that’s what you want.”
Her gaze stuck to his. “Isn’t it what you want?”
He chuckled quietly. “One amazing kiss leads to another in my book,” he said. “But I get where you’re coming from, and you’re probably the voice of reason here.”
“Right.” If he wasn’t mistaken, she looked a little disappointed too. “So I just wanted to clear that up so there’s no weirdness between us.”
He held out his open palms. “No weirdness. We’re just two friends going to church and having brunch at my grandmother’s afterward.”
Trisha tilted her head. “I never agreed to brunch.”