by KaLyn Cooper
He kissed the spot at the end of her jaw just under her ear. She gasped. The tingles went straight to her clit and made it swell. Her body wanted him inside, making her feel nothing except the satisfaction of physical release. Last night had been good, but she knew, if given the time, he’d make it great for her. She had only glimpsed the possibilities of what they could bring each other in terms of sex, and she wanted more.
Last night. The glaring disapproval from Levi. The similar stares of Lilly and Mother Girard mere moments ago.
No. She couldn’t do this, not with Jack. Not here. Not now.
Jillian stepped away from Jack and turned to face him. When he tried to step to her, she placed a hand on his hard chest. His heart was beating as fast as hers. She inhaled deeply to get her breathing under control, and to build her resolve, before she looked into his deep eyes that were now dark blue.
“I’m sorry, Jack. I can’t do this.” She took another step backward. She needed distance from him…before she threw herself into his arms and demanded that he make love to her. “We can’t ever let a repeat of what happened on your boat last night happen again. It’s…”
“You’re going to deny that what we have is special?” Jack raked his fingers through his hair all the way to the back of his head. “Last night…my office wasn’t the place I wanted to…but waking in bed with you this morning, it felt so right.” He stepped closer.
She took another step back. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Your brother hates me, and your mother is just now accepting me, at least I think she is. I don’t want to screw that up, for Addi’s sake. They’re the only family she has besides me.”
“I’m part of that family. Her family. It’s your family, too.”
“I know, and that’s exactly why we can’t have sex again.” She wasn’t making herself clear and didn’t know how to say it any other way. She looked away from his glare. She had one more box to go through.
Moving back to her position on the couch, she explained, “I want to finish this before Addi wakes up. It’s going to be a big night for her.”
“I have an errand I need to run in Cancun.” Jack’s voice was brusque as he kept his back to her and stacked his empty box with the others in the corner. He stood for a long minute staring at the boxes before he turned and sat beside her.
She couldn’t look at him, so she grabbed the next sheaf of papers from her box and stared down at them. Firm fingers touched her chin and forced her to face him. His quiet tone was more dangerous than if he’d yelled at her. “We are not done, you and me.”
Jack brushed his lips over hers. She closed her eyes, anticipating him taking it to the next level. Her lips tingled at his touch and warmed her all the way through.
But he didn’t deepen the kiss.
He didn’t do anything.
When she opened her eyes, Jack was gone.
Her heart fell into her stomach. Jack was gone, and Jillian was all alone.
It was what she’d wanted…wasn’t it?
Chapter Eighteen
The party had already started by the time Jack returned from his last-minute Christmas shopping. He hated department stores under the best of circumstances, and trying to find a specific item on Christmas Eve, after five o’clock, was pure torture. He’d rather repeat five days of SEAL survival training than endure that fiasco again. Thank God he had friends who owned an outfitter store that reopened just for him.
He’d left the big box sitting in the back of the Rubicon parked in the garage. Thankfully, they’d taken pity on him at the store and wrapped the unwieldy thing for him, or he might just have given it to her the way he’d grabbed it off the shelf.
“Jack.” Too Tall slapped him on the back, careful not to spill the drink he carried in his other hand. Fine scotch, knowing Too Tall. “Been looking for you.”
“Just got here.” Jack scanned the crowded quad. He recognized a few faces, the usual Girard partiers. But he didn’t see her.
The palm trees were wrapped with white twinkle lights at the bottom, the large green leaves at the top lit by landscape lights. Jack never used them when he was there alone and had forgotten how nice they looked.
Candles nestled in clear bowls floated aimlessly on the pool surface, its underwater lights festively changing from green to red. Jack hoped the hired bar tenders would watch alcohol consumption so no one decided to go swimming, but it wouldn’t be the first time most of the party ended up in the pool.
Too Tall had a hungry smile as he ogled a group of young women. “You guys throw the best parties.”
“Yeah.” Jack quartered the area, scanning every corner. Lilly stood very close to Doctor Stan and flirted demurely. If his blatantly male smile was any indication, he was receptive to anything she had to offer. That would be fine with Jack. Stan appeared to be a good man and had always come running when Jack’s family was in need of a physician, which seemed all too often.
“Anything I can do for you?” Jack asked.
“Nah.” Too Tall raised his drink. “I brought today’s receipts and dropped them off in your office upstairs. Bunch of tight-ass politicians up there schmoozing your brother and mother, so I wandered down here.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Where the hell was Jillian? He slid a glance toward her bedroom, but it was dark inside, and the sliders were open.
“I was hoping to run into your pretty lady. We didn’t exactly get introduced last night, and I wanted to check on the baby.” His friend sipped the amber liquid. “How’s she doing?”
“Addison had a first-degree sunburn but seems to be healing fast.” Jack looked toward the beach entrance, where several children played in nature’s sandbox. He saw his nephews and Addi and had expected to find Jillian nearby. No luck.
The group of girls, okay, women since they had to be in their mid-twenties, stared openly at Jack and Too Tall. The brunette with the great rack stirred her drink with her index finger then leisurely licked off the drip before she stuck her whole finger in her mouth and drew in her cheeks.
“You’re on your own, Jack. I believe that was my invitation.” Too Tall sauntered to the gaggle of girls and slid his arm around the shoulders of the brunette. Another dark-haired girl snuggled up to his other side, and he put his other arm around her. Good for him. Any other party Jack would be right there beside him, a woman under each arm, hoping for a two-fer.
Not tonight. Where the fuck was his woman? Jack was becoming aggravated because he couldn’t find her. If she’d left, damn it, he’d go after her. He’d search every hotel and resort until he found her then drag that pretty little ass of hers back here where she belonged.
“Enjoying the party, Jack?” The familiar husky voice and caress down his chest wasn’t the one he wanted. Chelsea’s perfume clogged his sinuses. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her overabundant fake breasts into him. “You haven’t been to see me in weeks.” His arms automatically encircled her to give his friend a holiday hug.
She took it further. A lot further.
Chelsea kissed him full on the lips, and she opened her mouth in expectation of his deepening the kiss.
The gasp he heard was one he knew all too well.
Fuck.
“Unka Dak.” The melodic child’s voice was followed by tiny arms grasping his legs.
“No, Addi.” Jillian’s voice broke on the words. “We mustn’t bother Uncle Jack right now.” Venom spit in her next words. “He’s obviously busy.” She scooped up Addi and hastily turned to walk away.
Jack all but threw Chelsea aside.
“Darling, it wasn’t what it seemed.” Jack spun Jillian around and yanked her to his side. He possessively slung his arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t you call me darling seconds after you have your tongue down some other woman’s throat.”
“Jillian, this is Chelsea.” Jack ignored her anger and surged onward. “She and I are—”
“Old friends.” Chelsea held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Jil
lian.”
“Yes. We’re…exactly that, friends.” He wasn’t about to tell Jillian that the other woman was a fuck-friend. He’d decided months ago that one-night hookups weren’t satisfying enough for him. He and Chelsea had an arrangement. No strings. Just sex whenever the itch needed scratching. “Chelsea, this is Jillian and Addison. They’re special to me.”
Jack saw the second Chelsea understood.
“I’m happy for you, Jack.” His friend’s eyes said it all. There was a sliver of envy and a lot of congratulations in her big brown eyes. “Merry Christmas. Now if you will all excuse me, I need to say hello to some other people.” She stepped around the three of them and sashayed away.
After three short shakes of her head, Jillian said, “I shouldn’t have said that. I apologize for interrupting you and…your friend. It doesn’t matter what she is. You’re free to kiss whomever you wish.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Our…encounter…was just that. And it’s over. Like I told you earlier today, it won’t ever happen again.”
She moved Addi to her other hip, lodging the baby between them. “I have to take Addi to see Dr. Stan. If you’ll excuse me.”
“No. We’re not over.” Jack smiled. Her hostile jealousy told him she was as into him as he was her. Oh, yes. They were in for one hell of a ride together. Her pent-up passion would explode in bed. He just had to get her into one. No way in hell would he let her get away.
“Stan is over there with my sister.” He nodded in their direction. “We will take her to see him.” Arm still around her shoulders, Jack guided them through the crowd.
“Let’s take her into the house where I have more light,” Dr. Stan suggested and started up the stairs to the main level.
“Mother has too many people up there,” Jack interjected. “I’m sure you’d prefer privacy. Why don’t you use Addi’s changing table? It’s the right height, and there’s a light overhead.”
“Good idea, Jack.” Lilly slid her hand into Stan’s. “This way.”
Stan carefully examined Addison’s skin. “Children are so resilient. They recover much more quickly than adults.” He picked Addi off the changing table and handed her to Jillian. “She’s doing great. I’d keep her as quiet as possible tomorrow, but that won’t be easy on Christmas. Lots of fluids.”
“Thank you, Dr. Stan. How can I repay you for making this house call?” Jillian stepped next to Jack.
Stan held up his empty glass. “I could use another drink and some of Mateo’s awesome crab dip.”
Lilly grabbed the glass. “I’ll take care of him, Jillian.” Her bright smile up at Stan was all the two of them needed as they left.
“I’m sorry about…before…with Chelsea,” Jack said as soon as his sister and Stan had stepped out the door. He touched Jillian’s arm and felt her shiver.
“Doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Jillian smoothed out Addi’s red dress with an embroidered Christmas tree filled with colorful ornaments, refusing to look at him.
“It does matter. To me. You matter to me.” And damn it, she did matter to him.
She turned, and Jack immediately took the baby from her and hitched Addi on his hip. With his other hand he touched Jillian’s cheek. “Jillian, what we have is so different than I’ve ever had before. I was telling the truth when I said that you are special.” He leaned in and kissed her.
What started as a light I’m-sorry-kiss soon heated. She leaned in and opened for him. The taste of her shot to his groin, and his need for her grew to painful proportions.
“Kiss.” The little voice in his ear grew louder. “Kiss, Unka Dak.”
Jillian pulled back and laughed. “Someone else wants a kiss.” They both took a cheek and laid puffy lips on Addison. The loving smile on Jillian’s face warmed Jack to his soul. Maybe someday she’d look at him like that.
Without changing her facial expression, Jillian looked straight into his eyes. She brushed a kiss over his lips. It felt like he’d seen heaven, kissing Jillian while holding Addison. And had been given forgiveness.
She stepped back, straightened her sundress of bright red poinsettias, and announced, “Your mother has some people upstairs she wanted us to meet. We should go.”
In the formal living room, his mother held court. Two linen couches formed an L, and a loveseat completed a U. At the top, sitting in the white wingback chair in her red silk suit, she looked like a queen. To anyone else, her smile would look genuine, but Jack knew it was all business.
The second she saw them approach, she stood, and this time her eyes smiled.
Arms out, she asked, “May I take her?”
After looking to Jillian for approval, Jack handed Addi over to her grandmother. “How’s my precious little granddaughter?” She kissed a pudgy cheek. “Oh, her skin is cool again,” she said, surprise in her eyes and voice.
“Yes, Dr. Stan just looked at her and said she was much better.” Jillian beamed.
“Wonderful. Have you met Dr. Tzuc?” With her free hand Mother Girard gestured to the pudgy man sprawled on the couch. He had to bounce twice before he could hoist his frame from the overstuffed couch.
“Muluc, this is my son Jack, my daughter-in-law, Jillian, and this sweet little thing is Addison.”
“Muluc Tzuc. Nice to meet you, Jack.” His hand was cold and damp. Jack casually ran his hand over his shorts after a brief shake.
The man’s wrinkled guayabera shirt was stained with sweat under the armpits. He grasped Jillian’s hand as if it were his lifeline. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Girard. Your article on the Mayan transition to Christianity being led by females was fascinating, although I don’t agree with your findings.”
The edges of Jillian’s mouth tightened, but her forced smile remained in place. “Well, Dr. Tzuc, based on my research, the Mayan women accepted the Virgin Mary as another goddess of womanhood and worshiped her as often as Ix Chel.” Jillian tried unsuccessfully to pull her hand away.
“According to the diaries and journals your late husband sent me, I don’t see how you could possibly come to that conclusion.” He shrugged, that long, slow lifting of the shoulders typical of men in that area. “But you are only a graduate student. It’s not unusual for someone young to develop an outlandish hypothesis and then use limited facts to support it, in your case totally ignoring the dominant male population.” The professor stepped closer to Jillian, who stiffened and yanked her hand away.
Jack wanted to punch the man out right there in the living room. He didn’t care if red blood would splatter the white couches. How dare he insult Jillian in this house?
“I was under the impression Jimmy faxed you only a few pages for translation and interpretation. Taking words or phrases out of the context of the entire works is not considered proper research in the United States. My conclusions are based on the entirety of several works.” Jillian had held her own against this pompous ass. He wanted to kiss her right then and there. Instead, he moved in behind her for physical, as well as moral, support.
“Yes, he faxed me some pages and promised to send me all the material. That was just before his untimely death. Did they ever find the gangbanger who shot him?”
Jillian swallowed hard and squeaked out, “No.”
Jack saw the brief tightening of the man’s mouth before he schooled his face. Was that a smirk? Or a grimace for what Jillian must be feeling?
“You did bring the ancient documents with you, didn’t you?” Tzuc looked around anxiously, as if Jillian had brought them up the stairs with her. “The very kind and generous Mona has promised me the research materials.”
Jack disliked this man more by the minute. “Actually, Dr. Tzuc, I am reviewing the materials now, and it might take me a few weeks, maybe months, to sort through everything.” Jack ignored the surprised look on Jillian’s face. “Those manuscripts and translations have been in my family for centuries, and I’m not sure I want them off our property. They mean more to me than the words. They are my c
onnection to my ancestors, my Mayan roots.”
His mother’s voice was gentle as she bounced and swayed with Addison. “Jack, it’s wonderful to see your renewed interest in your grandfather’s research. Muluc, I’m sure you understand that it may be a while more before my family is finished with them.”
“But… but you promised them to me years ago.” The middle-aged man nearly vibrated attempting to contain his anger. His tone turned indignant. “Henry Girard was nothing more than an amateur, poking into history he didn’t understand. Those documents and journals should be thoroughly researched by an expert in the field of Mayan studies.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be you.” The deep bass voice came from over Jack’s head. He spun around and man-hugged the giant that was his cousin, Kukulcan Chel.
“Kuk, I’m so glad you came.” Jack was thrilled to see him again, and what an entrance. Perfect timing.
Kuk stared down from his height of over six-feet-six at the overweight, overbearing Tzuc. “Let me tell you about Henry Girard. My great-uncle knew more about Mayan history, Mayan culture, Mayan ideology, than you ever will. He didn’t have a doctorate in the field because the Ph.D. letters after his name meant nothing to him compared to the knowledge of discovering and uncovering the ancient truth. Those materials you speak of are my legacy, too. When Jack is finished with them, I will be the one who studies them next, and it could take me years to work my way through them.”
“Of course you can have them next, Kuk.” Mrs. Girard looked to Dr. Tzuc, who was sweating profusely. “I know I promised them to you, and when the boys are finished studying them, you can use them for your research too. You convinced me years ago what a historical treasure all those manuscripts are and how valuable they are to those of you who study Mayan culture. But, now, my family wishes to review the materials first. Jack was an integral part of his grandfather’s team for many years, and Kuk has his doctorate in Mayan culture.”
She looked up at the giant of a man. “Kuk, I am very sorry that I didn’t offer them to you sooner. I simply didn’t think of it.” She smiled at him and Jack. “You boys grew up on me all too fast.”
