I’ll never know. All he could do now was move forward and try not to repeat his mistake. Without a doubt, I’m done dating for a very long time.
Doris headed for the front door. “Tell Taylor I said goodbye, wudya?”
“Sure.” He exhaled slowly. “And good luck finding whatever you’re looking for.”
He watched Doris leave, unsure if he felt better or worse after this conversation. Only time would tell. For the moment, he just felt really messed up in the head, and it was going to take him a very, very long time to forgive her.
“Are you mad I invited her?” Taylor asked, appearing at Jack’s side with the baby in her arms. Colt had effectively covered the panda’s entire head in slobber. It looked like it had been attacked by a large snail.
“I need you to listen to me, Tay.” He faced her. “I know you love me and want to help. But from now on, I need you to let me deal with this on my own. No more interfering.”
She nodded. “I can’t promise that, but I’ll try.”
Little Colt held out the panda, offering it to Jack.
“See, even the baby can’t resist trying to make you feel better.” Taylor smiled with affection.
“Thanks, buddy,” Jack said to Colt. “But you can keep that. I’ve got plenty of my own messes to deal with.”
Colt burped, and sour milk launched all over Taylor’s blouse.
“And that would be yours to deal with,” he said to Taylor. “I’m heading home for a run—tell everyone I send my love.” His father and brothers would be arriving at any moment for breakfast.
“Hey, you never told me what happened with Macie,” she called out as Jack went to open the door.
He stopped with his back to her, feeling his heart constrict, the pain of loss suffocating him. “We’re over.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Me too.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Macie had plans to meet up with Holly, Grace, and Fiona around noon for their Sunday hike in the Skyline Wilderness Park. From there, they’d all go back to Holly’s house—she’d just bought herself a gorgeous Victorian in downtown St. Helena, next door to the Muddy Duck B&B famous for its elaborate green and brown paint.
Driving her white Fiat, Macie pulled up to their usual meeting spot in the parking lot, expecting to see Grace stretching next to her car like always. Instead, she spotted Jack and Grace, facing each other, chatting.
Huh? Macie shut off the engine and popped from her car. “What is he doing here?”
Jack and Grace looked Macie’s way.
“I just bumped into him,” Grace said, pointing at a very, very shirtless Jack with a set of ladders on his abdomen. Seriously, his abs were so deep, you could climb those bad boys to any roof.
“Hey.” He held up his palms. “Don’t get mad. You showed me this place so I could run here.”
“You brought a guy to our sacred mountain?” Grace smirked, knowing no such thing existed. They rotated trails all the time to keep it interesting.
“Don’t let me get in your way,” Jack said. “I’m here to run, not poke up a hill so I can have an excuse to drink a bottle of champagne.”
Grace must’ve told him about their Sunday ritual.
Grace laughed. “Dude. Then you haven’t lived.” She looked at Macie. “Where’d you find this lump of no-fun?”
Jack flashed a quick smile that didn’t touch his eyes. “In the passionless-man aisle at Target.”
Macie narrowed her eyes. “Ha. Ha.”
“How’d you sleep last night, anyway? I’m guessing your bed was a little cold perhaps.” He grinned smugly.
Because he’d left her hanging with sexting? Thor pitched in just fine.
“Nope. All toasty warm. Besides, I’m used to sleeping alone,” Macie replied. “Real men are hard to find these days. Seen any?”
His smug little smile evaporated. “I was just about to say the same about real women, Catrina,” he added before turning toward the trail and jogging away. “Have a nice hike, ladies!”
“What a dick.” Macie huffed.
“Yeah, but he’s a hot piece of dick,” Grace said, checking out his hard ass. “You gonna let him talk to you like that, Mace?”
Macie shrugged. “Why should I care what he says?” Of course, she didn’t mean it. She did care. It especially bothered her how they’d left things. “I wonder why he really came here,” she wondered aloud.
“Probably to see you, you big dork.” Grace chuckled. “He was just asking about you when you pulled up, and now I should point out that he’s running extremely slow for a man of his size and strength. I think maybe he wants you to catch up.”
Macie gave Grace a look. “His stitches just came out. He’s taking it easy.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “He likes you, Macie. Even I can see it.”
“Yesterday, he told me he didn’t want anything to do with me.” She exhaled. “And then we sexted.”
“You didn’t.” Grace’s jaw flew open.
“Did.”
“So what are you waiting for?” she asked.
“I don’t know what’s going on between us and, frankly, I think it’s because he doesn’t know what he wants.”
Grace took Macie’s hands and clasped them in her own. “Honey, he’s a man, which means he’s fucked in the head.”
“And?”
“You need to show him he’s being an idiot. People make mistakes, and he needs to get the hell over what you did. I mean, you don’t see us throwing away years of friendship because I screwed up.”
Macie shook her head. “I don’t know. He’s really got a hang-up about his ex-wife and the whole honesty thing. I can’t say I blame him.”
“Macie, you made a mistake. That doesn’t make you a liar or an unworthy person, and he should be more forgiving.”
“You know what? You’re right.” Macie wasn’t a bad person, but according to Jack, she wasn’t deserving of him because of one mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. “He is being ridiculous.”
“Well, go catch up and tell him.”
“What about our hike?” Macie asked.
“I think we can manage without you for today.”
“I’ll meet you guys back at Holly’s.” Macie turned for the trail.
“We won’t count on it.”
Macie ran up the hill, through the tall oaks, spotting Jack within several minutes. Wow. He really is running slowly.
“Hey there,” she said, coming to his right.
“Macie, so we meet again.”
“Yes. Such a coincidence.”
“What happened to your friends?” he asked.
“I decided to run with you. Wanted to see if you could make it to the top this time.” She smiled. “If not, I’m here to carry you to the parking lot.”
“I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Yeah, about that.” She started panting harder. She’d been working out on the treadmill an awful lot over the last few weeks, but this hill was still a challenge.
“Yes?” He sounded like he was sitting down. No hard breathing whatsoever.
Show-off!
“I think you were right,” she said.
“About?”
They went around a bend in the trail where it narrowed. She let him go ahead, a very wise choice because it gave her a lovely view of his bare muscular back.
Focus. Focuuus. Macie cleared her throat and drew a hard breath. “I think you were right; it’s best if we’re not in each other’s lives.”
He didn’t say anything, but she knew he was listening.
She continued, “Trust is a two-way street, and that’s something I could never have with you.”
“Because?” He spoke over his shoulder.
“You did hit me. I mean look at my nose. What’s to say you wouldn’t do it again.” Macie waited for the explosion.
He stopped running, and she nearly trampled him.
Jack turned to face her. “What are you…? I would neve
r hit you or any woman.”
“Yeah, but you did.” Macie put her hands on her waist, catching her breath.
“It was an accident—one I’m very sorry about—and you know that.”
“So…you’re expecting me to believe that you just made a mistake,” she pointed to her sore nose, “and it won’t ever happen again? You think I should just forgive you.”
Jack stared for a long moment, his green eyes narrowing with a twitch. “I see what you’re doing.”
“You mean helping you see that you’re being a jackass?” Macie crossed her arms.
“Macie, what you did was entirely different.”
“No.” She poked him in the bare, beautiful chest. “It’s not. I made a mistake, and you don’t get to treat me like I’m a bad person or not good enough because of one lapse in judgment. Just like I don’t get to call you an abusive man simply because you punched my nose.”
Just then a woman jogged past and gave Jack the stink eye.
Jack stared at Macie, his expression a blank sheet of paper. That man is a pro at hiding his emotions. He should play poker.
“Jack, come on. I’m just trying to make a point: it’s time.”
“For what?” he growled.
“You need to forgive Doris and move on.”
Jack’s mouth flapped while his face turned an angry shade of red. “Wha—did you huddle with my sister this morning?”
Huh? “No. Why would you say that?”
“Because I’m simply amazed by all of the women in my life telling me how I should feel or behave. You would never tolerate that from me.”
She gave it some thought. No, she wouldn’t. In fact, she’d probably belt him in those rock-hard abs if he told her what to do. Nevertheless…
“You’re right, Jack. One hundred percent. I shouldn’t tell you what to do, but I can lay out my end of things. If you want me in your life, I won’t tolerate being humiliated like you did in the skybox because of your relationship baggage. I won’t be told I’m not good enough because I’m human and made a mistake, especially when I plan to make more. Probably a lot more.” She shrugged. “Possibly today.”
Jack stared down at his feet for a long moment before looking up at her and speaking in a forced calm. “I will move on when I’m ready, Macie. In my own time. On my terms. Not yours or anyone else’s, and if you don’t like it, you don’t need to be a part of my life. Because I made a mistake, too. Her name was Doris.”
Damn him! “Yes. And you’re asking me to pay for her crime, and I love myself far too much to let you make me feel like shit for something I didn’t do.” She pointed at her chest. “I’m a good person, Jack. A really kind, loving, loyal person. And if you don’t see that, then you are just not the guy I thought you were.” Fiona and Grace had been right. He needed to prove himself to her, not the other way around.
His intense eyes locked on hers, but he didn’t speak.
“Okay, Jack,” she threw her hands in the air, “you’re really being a jackass, and my ability to forgive doesn’t extend to people who just won’t get out of their own way.” She turned and started heading back down the mountain. She’d catch up with the girls on their usual hiking trail on the other side.
Macie suddenly heard footsteps behind her. For a moment she thought it was just a jogger coming down the hill, until she felt Jack’s strong hand on her wrist, yanking her back.
“Wait. I’m sorry. It’s just that…I saw my ex this morning.”
“Oh.” It couldn’t have been easy. “Are you all right?”
“I will be. I just don’t think,” he said, “that I’m—I’m not ready…” his voice trailed off.
“What, Jack?” she whispered, placing her hand on his arm. “You can tell me.”
He stood there for a moment and then stepped in, closing the space between them and pressing his firm body against hers.
Macie’s breath stuck in her chest as she stared up into his intense green eyes. Electricity hummed in the air around him.
“Fuck it.” He speared his fingers through the back of her hair and kissed her hard.
Macie’s entire body roared in response. Ohmygod. I’m having explosions down there. She’d had no idea that was what people meant when they mentioned seeing fireworks. Crotch fireworks.
She leaned into him, feeling the heat radiate from his bare chest into her. His hand slid to her jaw, and he angled her head, opening her mouth to him. His hot tongue glided between her lips, and her knees went weak.
Oh God. Does this man know how to kiss or what? His lips were ravenous and silky, while the stubble around his mouth felt deliciously male and rough.
She moaned into the kiss and moved her hands up to his hard pecs, enjoying the smooth firm skin.
He abruptly pulled back and stared down at her with those penetrating eyes.
She was too dumbstruck to speak. He had just given her the kiss she’d been waiting for her entire life. And it had ended way too soon.
“Come on.” He grabbed her hand and dragged her along.
“Where are we going?” Because I’m not sure I can walk. My feet have disappeared somewhere inside my shoes. She was numb from the waist down except for the glowing lady sparklers.
He led her down a narrow dirt path, likely a deer trail, and around the side of an enormous oak tree.
“What are we—”
He slammed her up against the tree, covering her mouth with his. His hands went straight for her breasts, and his pelvis pushed forward, grinding into her.
Oh. Oh. That feels so…
His kisses frantic and demanding, she wrapped her arms around his neck and felt him harden against her stomach.
Sparklers are now dynamite. And the fuse had been lit.
He kissed her with his hot mouth, panting with his strong chest, grinding with sexual need. His hands made their way under her shirt, pulling up her sports bra to give him access to her breasts.
She felt the warm summer air on her nipples for the briefest of moments before those soft, powerful surgeon’s hands covered them in kneading strokes.
“You make me so fucking hot, Macie,” he groaned under his breath.
He had no idea what his words meant to her. He was the kind of man women dreamed of having. And he wanted her. Not Catrina. Not a perfect, airbrushed model, but her. A real woman.
She slid her hands down his insanely hard chest, seeking out something much harder. Her fingertips delved into the front of his shorts, brushing against the velvety head of his shaft.
He growled. “Don’t do that unless you want to be fucked right here.”
Macie wasn’t on birth control. Nor did she usually go hiking with condoms in her pack. I think I have a Snoopy Band-Aid in my pocket. That might work, she thought for one ridiculous second.
She pulled away, blinded by lust, by his taste, and by the sweet smell of his fresh sweat. A coy smile flickered over her lips. And then she started lowering herself to her knees, keeping her eyes locked on his.
He gripped her by the elbows. “No. Not like that.”
She almost felt insulted until he added, “I want to fuck you.”
He turned her around to face the tree trunk, placing himself flush with the back of her body. His mouth licked and sucked the side of her neck while his hands roamed—one to her breast, the other down the front of her yoga pants. With the skill of a man who’d taken anatomy in college, he effortlessly found her throbbing c-spot.
She bucked hard, pressing back into him. “You’re going to make me come.”
“That’s the point,” he panted in her ear.
She turned, removing his hand. “No. Not like that,” she said, using his words. “I want to fuck you.”
She pushed down his shorts over his narrow hips, exposing his erection. She glanced down at it and smiled. “Now that is worthy of a dick pic.” It was long, thick, and hard, the head perfectly pink. His balls were tight around the base, ready to ejaculate.
“You really want to
? Here? Now?” he asked, his expression scorching with lust.
She did. Oh God, she did. Nothing else seemed to matter. Not the daylight, though this little spot seemed fairly secluded, not the lack of birth control, not the fact that a mere few moments ago, he’d been pushing her away.
“Yeah. I do.” She took his hand and guided him down onto the tall dry grass with her. They kissed, their hands roamed, and then…he kneeled in front of her, slowly sliding down her pants. He worked one side over her tennis shoe, exposing her completely.
“That is exactly what I imagined last night when I came,” he said, staring at the valley between her legs.
She glanced down at his thick cock thrusting forward, begging to be buried inside her. “And that’s way better than Thor.”
He cocked a brow.
“Never mind.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him down. He nestled between her thighs, the head of his shaft pushing against her entrance. She was about to explode before it even started.
Her hands jutted to her sides, and she grabbed fistfuls of dry grass, preparing for his penetration.
He stopped and looked into her eyes. “No more lies, Macie.”
She drew a breath and nodded. “I know.”
“Macie! Ohmygod!” a voice called out.
Macie and Jack looked up to see a fiery redhead with her mouth hanging open.
“Fiona?” Macie said.
Fiona did an odd hop and twist, giving them her back. “What are you guys doing—wait. Don’t answer that. I know what you were doing. But here? Now?”
Jack quickly scrambled off Macie, putting himself away.
Yes, we were about to ‘here and now’ before you twat blocked me. Macie pushed her foot through the leg of her stretchy pants and then got to her feet and pulled them the rest of the way up. She could feel bits of dry grass stuck to her butt cheeks. It was almost as uncomfortable as this moment.
“What’s the matter?” Macie asked.
“I just got a news alert on my phone about the wildfires. They’re ordering evacuations in six different towns.”
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