Play Me (Jaded Ivory Book 5)

by Rebecca Brooke

  Monty’s feet hit the floor and he sat up straight. “You’re fucking with me.”

  “When have you ever known me to fuck with you?”

  A deep, bellowing laugh rumbled out of Heath. “She’s got a point. She always shoots straight.”

  Monty opened his mouth and I shook my head at him. “No jokes about shooting anything. You don’t need more for your wife to be pissed at you about.”

  The sound of the front door opening made Monty’s eyes shoot in that direction. “Guess it’s too much to hope that Reagan or Sawyer are home.”

  “Nope,” Jenna said, popping the P. “They went out for a late dinner after the beach.”

  “Shit,” Monty said, leaping to his feet. Sweet talker was going to try and cut her off at the pass. He walked over to the end of the hall, just in time for Allana to emerge. “Hello, sweetheart, how was your day?”

  Before she could answer, he bent his head, capturing her lips in a kiss. When he lifted his head, Allana quirked a brow.

  “What did you do?”

  Monty pressed a hand to his chest, feigning innocence. “Me? Why would you think I did anything?”

  Allana rolled her eyes. “Because I know you.” She stepped out of Monty’s embrace and walked around him to where the rest of us were seated. She looked at Jenna first. “What did he do?”

  “Damn it.” Monty grumbled all the way back to his seat.

  “You might wanna sit down for this one.” Jenna scooted over so Allana could sit next to her instead of Monty.

  Allana’s eyes snapped to Monty as she sat down. “Okay, hit me with it.”

  “Well, we were talking about how bad Jackson had screwed up with Megan.”

  I lifted my hands in the air. “Hey, leave me out of this.”

  “Glad he finally figured that out.” Allana glanced over at me then back at Jenna. “I was wondering how long it would take.”

  “Am I really the only one who didn’t see it?”

  “Yes,” everyone said in unison.

  I jumped to my feet and started pacing in front of the couch, unable to sit still any longer.

  “Anyway,” Jenna said. “He was trying to figure a way out of the mess when your hubby over here suggested…” She glanced over her shoulder at Heath. “How did it go again?”

  Heath shot a cocky smile at Monty, who was begging him with his expression to not say a damn thing. “I’m pretty sure it went something like…stick your dick in her, I think she’ll get the point.”

  “Jesus.” Monty ran a hand over his face.

  “Monty, what is wrong with you?” Allana got up and walked over to stand in front of him, with her hands on her hips.

  Monty grabbed one of her hands, yanking her down onto his lap. “What can I say? I’m a lost cause without you.”

  Allana smiled and brushed the hair off his forehead. “Yes, you are. Good thing I came over to keep you in line.”

  “Yes, it is.” Monty leaned forward and kissed her again. This time I could see a peek of tongue as she melted into his embrace.

  “Ass kisser,” I muttered under my breath.

  He raised his head and shot me with a look. “Don’t get pissy with me ’cause you fucked up.”

  I stopped in front of the couch and dropped back into my seat. “Jesus, this is such a mess.”

  “Finally, we can focus on something other than me,” Monty said.

  “Oh no.” Allana shook her head. “We’ll deal with your mouth later.”

  How I could have ever been such an asshole to her was beyond me. She was perfect for Monty in every sense. Kept him in line, told him when he’d gone too far or said something inappropriate. Even kept him from doing most of the crazy things he used to get himself into.

  Allana turned in his lap to face me. “But, first we need to figure out how to get Jackson his woman.”

  “Thanks, Allana.”

  She giggled when Monty tickled her side. “Don’t thank me yet. You have a lot of work to do.”

  I sighed and leaned back against the couch. “I don’t even know where to start.”

  “How about we start with the ‘we’re only friends’ part?” Heath suggested. “Did you think that would actually work?”

  I ran a hand through my hair. “What do you want me to say? I thought those feelings died off a long time ago.”

  Heath narrowed his eyes. “And your reaction to seeing what she went through after she left, or how quickly you got along at dinner after you talked everything through wasn’t a clue?”

  “Not really, I—” I stopped mid-sentence. Every clue had been there that night. She knew it and left, but I was arrogant enough to believe it was just the friendship part of our relationship sparking back to life. Friendship and love had been intertwined the whole time. “I really am a fucking idiot.”

  Monty picked up the forgotten bottle of beer on the table and pointed it at me. “You said it.”

  “Right, asshole. But that still doesn’t help me figure out how to fix it.”

  Allana shrugged. “It’s pretty simple. You admit you were wrong and tell her how you feel.”

  “That’s not that simple.”

  “Sure, it is.” Jenna moved off the couch and sat down next to me. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  I glanced over at Allana and Monty, before bringing my eyes back to Jenna. “Let’s just say I’m not the best at admitting when I’m wrong.

  She patted my thigh. “Well, it’s time to get over that shit, ’cause you were really wrong this time.”

  Monty laughed. “This is karma coming back to bite you in the ass.”

  “I hate admitting when you’re right.”

  Monty smirked. “I gotta gloat when it happens.”

  “That’s ’cause it almost never happens,” Heath added.

  “Look.” Jenna grabbed my chin and turned me back to face her. “When she gets home on Sunday, go over there and tell her you were wrong. That there is more than friendship between the two of you.”

  “And no matter what, apologize for insisting that all you could be was friends,” Allana added.

  “She’s gonna be pissed at me.” I knew Megan better than anyone in that room. It would take more than an apology. Groveling would most likely be required as well.

  “Her knowing the truth is more important. Then you need to start wining and dining that poor woman.”

  “We’ve been doing a ton of things together.”

  Allana scoffed. “Pizza and beer nights don’t count.”

  “This is not the relationship you had in college or a normal relationship where you can move from being fiends to dating and no one but the two of you give a damn. You’ve spent months denying publicly that you were in a relationship. She’s had that shoved in her face at every turn. Not only do you need to explain your feelings to Megan, but you also need to make it clear to everyone that you are not just friends. She deserves that.” Heath walked over, holding out a hand to Jenna.

  She took it and stood, moving right into his arms. “And trust me from experience, life was insane once Heath let the world know we were expecting Mia.”

  “They’re right.” Monty tightened his arm around Allana’s waist. “Relationships in the public eye aren’t easy at all.”

  “I know.”

  And I really did, but the public was the least of my concerns at the moment. The first thing I had to worry about was keeping Megan from throwing my words in my face after the last couple months of me wearing the exactly opposite.

  Somehow I’d find a way to convince her.

  23

  Megan

  The weekend had seemed to last for a week, not forty-eight hours. I unlocked the door and dropped my bag right there by the entrance. I’d deal with it after a shower and food. Now I knew how Monty always felt when he whined about being hungry. My stomach felt like it wanted to crawl out of my body and hunt down something to eat on its own.

  No sooner had I pulled the fridge open and my phone started to ring.
Reaching into the pocket of my pants, I dug it out, not the least bit surprised at who was on the other end.

  “You realize I just walked in the door,” I said, juggling the phone between my shoulder and my ear to peer into the fridge.

  “Yes, but I’ve been patiently waiting forever for you to get home,” Jackson said.

  I rolled my eyes. “I’ve only been gone two days. What are you going to do when I have to go for two weeks?”

  “Two weeks?” he asked, his voice growing louder.

  “Yeah, two weeks out of every year.”

  “That’s not coming soon, is it?”

  I stood straighter. Something sounded off. “No. Are you okay?”

  “What? Yeah…yeah…I’m fine. Dinner? I miss you.”

  I moved to the kitchen island and dropped down onto the stool. “Jackson, I just got home. I’m tired. I’m dirty. Right now, all I want is some food and my couch.”

  “Why don’t you shower and I’ll bring some food over.”

  “I—”

  “Thai food sounds good.” The words poured out of his mouth at light speed.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m great. I’ll be over in a little bit.”

  The phone went silent before I had a chance to say anything. I glanced at the screen just to make sure he had hung up. Thai food did sound good. And now I was curious about what had him acting strange.

  If Jackson was bringing food, it meant I had time for a nice long hot shower. Something you didn’t always get on base housing.

  The bed called my name as I moved closer to it, until my stomach protested yet again. With a look of longing, I bypassed the bed for the bathroom, knowing I wouldn’t be able to sleep yet.

  Steam filled the room as I let the water heat, collecting my clothes. I dropped my fatigues to the floor and stepped under the hot spray. The warm water loosened all my tired muscles. My shoulders sagged, the tension leaking out from them. Even my spine didn’t seem as stiff by the time I stepped out of the tub.

  I pulled on the comfortable T-shirt and shorts. As hard as it had been in the beginning, falling into a routine with Jackson as friends had come naturally. It was like we were dating again without the intimacy. While there were days I longed for him to take me in his arms, I pushed those thoughts aside as quickly as they came. I’d said it in the beginning. He had his life and I had mine. But it was hard to stop myself from hoping for more someday.

  If he didn’t want me that way, I wouldn’t push myself on him. I’d been lucky enough to get a second chance to be a part of his life.

  The handle on the front door jiggled. My stomach growled. Perfect timing.

  I walked out of the bedroom to meet him in the hall.

  “Hey,” he said, holding the bags up and moving right to the kitchen.

  “Hey. Got enough food there?”

  He shrugged, his back still to me. “I figured you were hungry and I’m freaking starving.”

  I moved around to help him get the food containers out. This time when he turned, the smile he gave me was blinding. Unlike any of the other smiles I’d gotten from him since that first dinner.

  I bumped into his shoulder. “Two days must be a really long time if you’re bringing me food and giving me that bright of a smile.”

  His smile dimmed a little. “I told you I missed you.”

  “Jackson…”

  He didn’t let me finish before pushing the chopstick and a container of Pad Thai.

  “Let’s eat.” He guided me over to the couch.

  Bizarre. I took the seat, my focus more on Jackson than the food in my hands.

  “Stop staring at me like you think I’m crazy.” He gestured to the takeout container in my hand with his chopsticks. “Eat, then we can watch a movie while you relax on the couch.”

  My stomach answered for me. I laughed. “Now I know how Monty feels when he’s starving.”

  Jackson scoffed. “If only he was actually starving every time he whined about food.”

  “So very, very true.”

  I brought the noodles up to my lips. The spice hit my taste buds. Whatever had Jackson acting weird would have to wait until I was done. We ate in relative silence, the only sounds coming from the chopsticks as they hit the sides of the container. That didn’t stop me from peeking over at him out of the corner of my eye every so often.

  Jackson’s entire focus was on his food. At first glance anyway, but with a closer look I noticed something in his posture, the stiffness in his shoulders.

  Who was I to force him to talk about it?

  I concentrated on finishing my dinner. The empty takeout container had barely touched the table before Jackson scooped it away, along with his trash.

  “Let me clean up the leftovers, then we’ll watch the movie. I think it’s your pick,” Jackson said on his way into the kitchen.

  The remote still sat on the coffee table where I left it on Thursday night when I went to bed. I picked it up and flipped through the movie choices, settling on one I figured we both liked.

  Jackson returned to the room, a beer in each hand. “Ready?”

  I patted the seat next to me. “Yep.”

  The light made the room too bright, so I leaned over and turned it off. Jackson placed his feet on the coffee table. Once we were settled in, I hit play on the movie and relaxed back into the cushions.

  The movie was funnier than I had expected it to be. What didn’t escape my notice was the way Jackson played with my hair, twirling it in his fingers. It was something he’d done when we were dating, but not once since we started hanging out again.

  I rolled my head to the side to watch Jackson for a moment. I hadn’t expected him to be so close. His gaze connected with mine, holding me there. Time froze for a moment before it sped up and Jackson dropped his head to connect his lips with mine.

  I started to sink into the kiss when reality slammed into me and I scooted back like my ass was on fire.

  “What are you doing?” I touched my fingertips to my lips. The feel of his still lingering there.

  “Megan…” He slid toward me on the couch.

  “Don’t Megan me. What the hell was that about?”

  He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Umm...while you were gone, I had a long talk with Monty and Heath.”

  “And?” I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to protect myself. It had been hard enough to push down my feelings for him after he kissed me outside the club. This time would only make it harder. “What do they have to do with you kissing me?”

  He dropped his head into his hands, his elbows resting on his knees. He sat quietly for a moment, then looked up at me. “I finally understand what you mean about us not being able to be friends.”

  I jumped up from the couch with every intention of going to my room and locking the door, but Jackson grabbed my hand, stopping me from moving any farther away.

  A lump formed in the back of my throat. “Now you get it. For the last month I did everything in my power to push down my feelings for you. Now after a ‘chat’ with the guys suddenly you’re ready to admit I was right from the beginning?”

  I shook my head, unable to believe what I was hearing. Part of me wanted to jump in his arms while the other part wanted me to smack him upside his head.

  Jackson stood without ever letting go of my hand. “I know. I’m sorry I didn’t listen.” His thumb ghosted over the skin on the top of my hand. He reached up with his other hand to cup my face. “You were right. I should have listened to you from the very beginning. We can’t be just friends. The guys made me realize I’d been treating you like more than a friend from the very beginning.”

  Jackson’s image blurred before me. I couldn’t have stopped the tears if I’d tried. “So, what’s that mean for us?”

  He let go of my hand and brought his other one up. With both of his hands cupping my cheeks. He lowered his head and said against my lips, “It means we kiss and see where this second chance t
akes us.”

  His lips touched mine, sending an electric shock through me. They were soft and warm, exactly how I remembered them. My lips parted on a sigh and he dipped his tongue inside to slide against mine.

  A small voice in the back of my head wanted me to make him grovel a bit more, but I was too tired, and my defenses against him were too weak. What he offered was everything I’d wanted for a while.

  As the one who left the first time and was lucky enough to get a second chance, I wrapped my arms around his waist and melted into the kiss.

  We were completely molded from head to toe, the sensations shooting through me like wildfire. I loved being in his arms again. His warmth, his strength. I’d missed that feeling for so long, I wanted to cry at the thought of having it back again.

  When he lifted his head, I tightened my fingers in his shirt, afraid this moment would disappear.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” He caressed my cheeks with his thumbs. “I promise.”

  “I feel like I should be the one saying that to you.”

  “We can promise it to each other. The only thing that matters is that you forgive me for being such an idiot.”

  I moved my hands around to his stomach, running them up his chest. “You’re forgiven. Honestly, I couldn’t blame you after what I did.”

  Jackson shook his head. “You gave me the chance to have the career I always hoped for. One I wouldn’t have if I’d followed you back to the East Coast.” He bent down, his mouth almost touching mine. “And I would’ve followed you,” he whispered against my lips.

  He captured them once again, the conversation completely forgotten in the joy and desire that quickly spread through me. Jackson’s arms banded around me, holding me tight to him as I molded my body to his.

  Fire raced through my veins as each part of my body came alive. My mouth opened the moment his tongue slid across the seam of my lips, letting him tangle it with mine. I tore my mouth away from his. The heavy-lidded gaze he gave me made my decision even easier. I stepped out of his arms, taking hold of his hand.

  “Come with me.”

  24

  Jackson