by Lori Wilde
If you want to be bold, the only way to get there is to act boldly.
Next time, if Tom didn’t make a move, she was kissing him, and this time, it would darn well be on the lips.
The week was busy, and by Thursday, Jude was aching for a fun-filled Saturday night, but for the life of her, she couldn’t cook up an adequate adventure for her date with Tom.
It’s not a date, she reminded herself. He was merely giving her some pointers on navigating the dating world. They were just friends. She’d come to this conclusion after he’d taken off without even trying to kiss her the other evening.
She hadn’t heard from him all week. Not that she expected to. C’mon, she wasn’t that needy, but she had thought maybe he’d at least drop her a text.
Nope. Nothing.
And she was cool with that. Totally.
The last school bell had rang and she was tidying up the library when she felt someone stroll up behind her. Thinking it was one of the students returning for a lost cell phone or book bag, she didn’t even look up from what she was doing.
Until a masculine voice cut through her distractions. “Hey, Jude.”
A sweet shiver went up her spine as she turned to see Tom standing there with an inviting lopsided grin, humming the iconic Beatles song for which she’d been named.
“How did you get in here?” she asked. “Our school has tight security.”
“I’m on the list.”
“What list?” she asked, confused.
“My nephew goes here. He’s a freshman and he doesn’t drive yet, so my sister put me on the pickup list just in case.”
“Tara has a son old enough to be in high school?”
“No, not Tara, my half sister, Mica.”
“I didn’t know you had a half sister.”
“She’s ten years older and a result of my father’s misspent youth before he met my mom. I didn’t even know about Mica until fifteen years ago. She came looking for us after she found out who her father was through a DNA test. She’s a single mom and needs all the help she can get, so I do what I can. Plus, I enjoy hanging out with my nephew. He’s a good kid.”
Aww, that was sweet of Tom to help out a half sister he hadn’t known for a big chunk of his life.
“Oh, wow. Who’s your nephew?”
“Joe Brown.”
Jude crinkled her nose and tried to place the student, but it was a common name and twelve hundred students went to the high school. Tom’s nephew must have been in the library at some point, but she didn’t know him.
“So since you can get into the building, you thought you’d just pop on over to the library to see what I was up to?” With a book in her hand, she folded her arms over her chest. It was chilly at this end of the building, and well, her bra was thin.
“Something like that.” An amused smile overtook his face. “Joe had a dental appointment this morning and Mica had to be at work, and since I’m my own boss, I came over. I brought Joe back from his appointment in time to catch the last class of the day and…”
“And?” She arched an eyebrow.
“I stuck around until school was out so I could talk to you.”
“You’ve been hanging around for an hour?”
“The day was pretty well shot for getting anything done, so I listened to an audiobook in the car.”
“What book?” she asked, feeling certain he was going to name the latest New York Times bestseller, but he surprised her.
“East of Eden.”
“Really?” That reply tickled her no end. “Steinbeck?”
“You say that as if I’m some knuckle-dragging caveman who’s lucky to read my car repair manual.”
“No, no.” She shook her head and waved a hand. “Not at all. I just didn’t picture you reading…Steinbeck.”
“Why not?”
“I love Steinbeck,” she said. “But I find few people nowadays who still read him.”
“Well,” he said. “Now you’ve found somebody.”
“That is…” She paused, feeling an uptick in her pulse and no decent explanation for it. “Unexpected.”
“Truth?” he said.
“Always.”
“I’m on a self-improvement kick and reading the classics is part of that plan.”
“Ooh,” she said, intrigued. “It’s good to know I’m not the only one trying to transform. I’d like to hear more about that.”
His grin was as warm as a flannel blanket. “It’s not that impressive. I just regularly seek out ways to hone my competitive edge. Reading does that for me, as does vigorous exercise, Tai Chi, and meditation. I’m all about constant, never-ending improvement.”
She liked that sentiment, because Jude too love learning. It’s why she had a master’s degree in library science. Commitment to continuing education was something she hadn’t expected them to have in common.
Captivated, she sent a lingering glance over his body. “Nourish the body and the mind.”
“The two do go hand-in-hand.”
“They do,” she echoed.
“Maybe we could take a class together sometime,” he said.
“I’d like that.” She paused. “Very much.”
His dark eyes captured hers and the back of her knees tingled. Then he glanced around the room, taking in the books, desks, and Thanksgiving decorations. “So this is your home away from home.”
She could look into his eyes for infinity and never get bored. Scary thought, that. She clutched tightly to the book she was still holding to her chest, using it as a shield against the intensity of her burgeoning feelings.
Oh, there was chemistry here. Lots of it.
While the air smoldered between them, she entertained images of kissing him until neither of them could breathe, tearing off his clothes, pulling him to the floor between the bookshelves—
Whoa! What was wrong with her?
The book stacks were sacred, and here she was thinking of desecrating them in a wholly inappropriate way with Tom Brunswick.
Her cell phone rang.
Thank God!
Eager to derail her crazy fantasies, she snatched the phone up from her desk and answered without even registering who was calling.
“Oh, Dirk, hello,” Jude purred into her cell phone.
Every muscle in Tom’s body tensed. His college buddy was at it again, trying to stir Tom’s jealousy. Be rational. Dirk doesn’t know you’re here. Which was actually worse. It meant Dirk might truly be interested in Jude for himself.
Jude looked at Tom, smiled, and shrugged. “Yes, yes, I agree.”
What was she agreeing with? Tom wanted to jerk the phone from her hand and hang up on Dirk. Of course, he wouldn’t do that. She had a right to talk to Dirk if she wanted, but he didn’t have to like it.
Tom jammed his hands into his pockets and paced a small circle around the library as Jude laughed gaily at something Dirk said.
His buddy was a funny guy. Tom had to admit that. When Dirk pulled out all the stops on his charm, women fell at his feet.
Scowling, Tom hauled in a deep breath. Steady. Being jealous played right into Dirk’s scheme. The man played to win. Always.
Yeah, well, so did Tom.
Even though he hated the idea of using Jude as a pawn in their power play, Dirk clearly did not, and he wasn’t going to let the son of a gun hurt her.
“Tonight?” Jude’s voice went up a note.
Tom stopped pacing and swung his head around to study her.
“That’s short notice,” she went on, not noticing that Tom was noticing her. Then she laughed again. “Yes, you’re right. Carpe noctem, seize the night as if there were no tomorrow.”
Tom waved his arms to get her attention.
“Hang on a minute, Dirk.” Jude muted her conversation and gave Tom her full attention. “What is it?”
“Did Dirk just ask you out for tonight?” he asked.
“He did.”
“And you’re considering going?”
> She gave him a half-smile as if enjoying his discomfort. “I am.”
“Don’t go,” Tom blurted.
“Why not?”
“Because I came to ask you out for tonight.” When he’d dropped by to see her, he’d had no intention of inviting her to the family gathering where he was headed this evening—his aunt’s sixtieth birthday celebration.
“You did?”
Immediately, the impact of his invitation hit Tom. He would essentially be taking her to meet his family. Awk-ward!
“Yep.” He bit off the ‘p’ at the last minute, dithering, and it came out on a puff of air.
She angled him an odd look as if she were trying to read his mind. “Hang on a minute.”
“Huh?”
She unmuted her phone and said to Dirk, “I’m sorry I can’t tonight.” Jude paused and met Tom’s gaze. “No, I’m afraid I have plans for Saturday night too.”
With him. Ha, Poomph! Take that.
“Tomorrow? Bowling? Why, yes, I am free tomorrow night to go bowling.”
Tom grimaced. Was she seriously going out with Dirk?
“I do have to warn you that I used to bowl in a league,” she told Dirk. “Oh, you like competition? Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.”
Could Dirk actually be serious about Jude? That thought did nothing to boost his mood.
“Sure. Seven thirty sounds good. See you then.” She disconnected and slipped the phone into her pocket.
Hungrily, Tom watched her graceful movements as her hands fluttered to her hips and her chin tilted down as she eyed him speculatively.
“You’re going out with Dirk?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Sure. Why not? The best way to get over a broken heart is to get back out there, right?”
“Um…I suppose.” He didn’t like this at all. “What about the other guy you were telling me about?”
“Oh, him.” She waved a hand. “You were right. If he can’t take me as I am, who needs him?”
Yes! One less guy vying for her attention.
“I’ve got to know one thing, though.”
“What’s that?” Tom asked, distracted. Her scent was tangled up in his head like fishing line.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you asking me out now? You could have called any time this week. You could have texted. Instead, you show up at my place of work for a spur of the moment invitation. I want to know why.”
Tom squirmed. He didn’t want to answer that direct question, so he said, “I need a date for my Aunt Pru’s sixtieth birthday party tonight. You might have seen her at the wedding. She was one of my mother’s three sisters.”
“I met so many people that night, I’m afraid I sorted your mother’s sisters out by dress color. Puce, coral, and chartreuse. Which one was she?”
He couldn’t be expected to notice what his aunts wore and what color was puce anyway? “She’s the tallest. Has a gap between her two front teeth.”
“Chartreuse.”
“Um…if you say so.”
“So you had a birthday party planned and you’re just now asking me to go with you?” She looked a little miffed, her hands moving up from her hips to fold across her chest.
“I—”
“Did your original date stand you up?”
Oh, thanks for the excuse. Although the conclusion she’d jumped to didn’t cast him in such a great light, he nodded. Okay, it was a little white lie, but he hadn’t actually said yes. Would she lower the boom on him for not asking her sooner?
To his surprise, she too nodded. “I understand. Getting stood up really hurts.”
Ouch. He stepped on a sore spot.
Tom had never been dumped so he couldn’t speak to that, but he did have a few choice words for the jerk who’d treated Jude so shabbily. He wanted to draw her into his arms and hold her tight and tell her no one would ever hurt her again. But then that thought scared him, so he stuffed it way down inside.
“You’ll come with me?” He gave her a boyish grin and a half shrug.
“Will your sister Mica be there?” she asked. “And Joe?”
“Other side of the family,” he said.
She touched her chin with her fingers and looked pensive.
Say no, say no, say no, he prayed. His family would read all kinds of things into it if he brought Jude to the birthday party.
“Sure,” she said. “Why not? I don’t have anything else planned for the evening. See? I can be spontaneous and fun.”
“That’s terrific,” he said, not meaning it. Why had he started on this course of action in the first place?
Oh yeah. Dirk. He didn’t want to give that scoundrel an inch. Tom knew far too well how his buddy maneuvered.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked.
“Now?”
“The party’s at six and it’s across town. We need to leave now if we want to beat the traffic.”
“I should go home and change—”
“You look perfect.” And she did in that smart black turtleneck sweater and red plaid skirt with black leggings and fashion boots. “Besides, the party is ‘come as you are.’”
“Where does your aunt live exactly?”
“About half an hour west. Are you ready to go?”
“Won’t it be way out of your way to bring me here afterward for my car?”
“I don’t mind.”
“How about this? I’ll follow you.”
“That’s not necessary. I don’t mind coming back this way.”
“Hey, it’s not a real date, right?” She laughed. “I’m just filling in for the one who stood you up.”
She had him there, caught in his white lie.
“No, no,” he mumbled. “Of course not.”
“All right, then.” She rubbed her palms together and grinned. “Let’s do this thing. I’ll just grab my coat.”
While she went to the cubby, he quickly texted his mom and told her he was bringing Jude to the birthday party. Mom replied with a string of emojis signifying she was thrilled by his news.
“Ready,” Jude said, coming to stand beside him. She was bundled up in that cute white ski jacket of hers, and they walked side by side to his Mustang in the almost empty high school parking lot.
What was he getting himself into, taking Jude to a family gathering again so soon in their relationship?
Relationship?
He was officially losing his marbles. They barely knew each other. He was just trying to keep her safe from Dirk.
Sure, tell yourself pretty stories.
Okay, he liked her. Not against the law.
He pressed a palm to his forehead and watched her walk as she headed to the passenger side, stepping agilely around patches of ice. She had a deliciously cute fanny, one that he yearned to cup.
Sprinting to beat her to the passenger door so he could open it for her, Tom slipped on the ice and busted his ass. His legs went out from under him and his arms windmilled and splat.
“Oh! Oh!” Jude exclaimed, crouching beside him where he lay on the asphalt, staring up at her.
God, she had such gorgeous blue eyes.
“Are you all right? What did you hurt?”
“My pride,” he said, springing to his feet.
“Are you sure?” Frowning, she straightened and looked concerned.
“A little humiliation never killed anyone,” he quipped, dusting off his clothes.
“You don’t have to play the chivalrous knight for me,” she said. “I can open my own car door.”
“Got it.” He opened the door for her anyway.
Chuckling, she climbed inside.
“What can I say?” he asked, overwhelmed at the scholarly scent of her perfume. The woman was intoxicating, and she was just so down-to-earth.
As they pulled into traffic, Tom wondered again if taking Jude to see his family was a big mistake. She was the kind of woman you brought home to mother. His folks were bound to r
ead things into it.
On the drive over, he filled Jude in about his relatives, picking upbeat, jovial stories to tell her, and she seemed honestly interested.
Upon arrival at his aunt and uncle’s home, he told her that his aunt Prudence and her husband Horace—since his fiftieth birthday, he preferred to be called Bud, but no one in the family remembered—had bought a small ranch style house early in their marriage and spent over thirty years embellishing it. Aluminum awnings hung in odd spots, and flower boxes with dead stalks had hearts cut into them. The walk was a maze of leafless hedges, cement garden ornaments, and big flower tubs now dormant.
He guided Jude to the front door with his hand lightly at her waist, his whole arm vibrating because her walk felt as good as it looked.
The door flew open before they could ring the bell—his aunt’s radar in action. He must have been out of his mind bringing Jude here.
His mom and her sisters swooped down on Jude the instant they stepped inside, welcoming her as if she were a long-lost relative—or the woman destined to drag a happy bachelor to his Waterloo.
“Welcome, welcome,” Aunt Pru gushed and waved them inside. “Come meet everyone. We’re tickled pink to see you again, Jude.”
Tom reluctantly trailed behind her even though he wanted to bolt. He couldn’t desert her while she ran the family gauntlet.
“Of course, I remember you,” Jude said to his Aunt Susan. “You were wearing that lovely coral dress at the wedding.”
“Come, come,” said Aunt Cathy. “All the action is in the kitchen.”
His aunts beamed. They liked Jude.
He groaned inwardly, wondering what it was about her that brought out his protective urges, and boy, did he wish that was the only urge she inspired.
Forbidden fruit, he thought unhappily. Just because he’d taken a celibacy challenge didn’t mean he could stop thinking about her in a wholly sexual way. He caught a glimpse of her perfect breasts under a soft black sweater and had to wipe his sweaty palms on the sides of his jeans.
She wasn’t the most beautiful woman he’d ever dated, but she was just so damn cute. Pert and bright and friendly, and watching her mingle with his family, she seemed to grow more lovely before his eyes.
Slow down, Brunswick. You’re just sex-starved.
Jude was gorgeous, but she was on the rebound. She was in a place where she needed to cut loose and do crazy things for once in her life, and he wasn’t going to be the one to take advantage of that vulnerability.