Deal with it. He couldn’t help a grin.
Soon she was back with his food, settling into the booth across from him. “So after I get my sister kidnapped, are you going to arrest me?”
Tank choked a little on his coffee.
She grinned. “I’ve never been in jail. It might be exciting.”
His brows slammed together. “You’re not going to jail.”
“Would you come see me in my cell?”
She wasn’t going to quit teasing him. It made him squirm with embarrassment a grown man shouldn’t feel, but…he liked it. No one was ever playful with him. “I don’t know how to deal with you,” he muttered.
Her mouth quirked. “So is that a yes? If Laura baked a file into a cake, would you bring it to me?”
“Stop that.” The tips of his ears felt hot. But his lips wanted to curve, and he felt the oddest urge to laugh.
When her small foot touched his calf, he nearly jolted out of his seat. “Chrissy…”
She only grinned wider, and he glanced around to see if anybody was paying attention to the spectacle. Jeanette goggled at them, and Ruby looked over the pass-through. He waited for someone to stalk up and demand that he leave her alone.
But Ruby smiled and turned away. Jeanette crossed to a table of customers.
And Chrissy leaned across the table and mock-whispered, “Ask me out, and I’ll leave you alone.”
“What?” His gaze whipped to hers. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. If you weren’t so concerned with appearances, you’d ask me out.”
“I would not. I don’t date.”
Her eyes popped. “Ever?”
He closed his eyes, wishing he could disappear. A few abortive tries in high school had cured him of the notion that he was date material. Since then, he mostly stayed away from women or spent time with women who understood the limits. Good-time girls who only wanted the same thing he did: temporary relief for an itch.
“Tank…” Her hand covered his, and he yanked his away.
“Don’t pity me, I told you. I don’t want it.”
Her eyes emanated her remorse, and he couldn’t stand it.
“You don’t understand, and I’m glad you can’t. No one—” He threw his napkin on the table and grabbed his wallet. Took out a couple of bills and threw them on the table. “I have to go.”
“Tank, don’t—” Her hand clamped on his, holding him there.
“I don’t want more of a scene than has already occurred,” he grated. “Let me go, Chrissy. This was a mistake. You keep trying to pretend I’m normal, but I’m not and I never will be.” He walked out, his gut grinding with misery and remorse. Once again, he’d taken something bright and beautiful and turned it to something tainted.
As he burst through the cafe door and outside, he resolved to make himself scarce from now on.
She was too lovely.
And he was tarnished all the way through his soul.
“Laura, this is absolutely delicious—don’t you agree, guys?” Chrissy glanced at Thad and Becky.
“Uh-huh. Wish you could cook like this, Mom.” Thad spoke around a monster bite of the whole-grain focaccia bread pizza Laura had often used to trick her children into eating something healthy.
“Thad!” Laura admonished. “Your mother is a wonderful cook.”
“Not like you, Big. Facts are facts.”
Laura peered into Chrissy’s face, wondering what had put the shadows in it. She’d heard only a hint of Tank’s visit at lunch, but no one seemed to know what had happened, and Chrissy wasn’t talking.
Yet. She would see to it that her sister spilled her misery, but she knew it would have to be after the kids went to bed.
“Even if I had all day, I wouldn’t spend it in the kitchen,” Chrissy said. “You have a gift, Laura, and you love it.”
“I’d better. I may have to support myself with it.” Laura ignored her sister’s instant distress. “I was wondering…” She kept her tone carefully casual. “How would you feel about sharing a house?”
“Laura! You can’t be serious.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Your marriage is not over.”
The melancholy that had swooped in the second she’d washed the last pot hovered once more. “I’m not so certain. Jake loves what he’s doing. Who am I to rob him of it?”
“You can’t give up.” Chrissy’s voice was harsh. “If you’d only—”
“What are you two whispering about?” Becky’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you seem so sad, Aunt Laura?”
Whatever Chrissy had been about to say would have to wait. “I’m fine, honey, I promise. Just a little tired. So—” She brightened her tone. “How did your report on dolphins go?”
As her niece began to speak, Laura forced her mind away from all thoughts of Jake. Whatever would happen in her marriage, well, she’d face it. For now, though, she’d focus on these sweet kids. Carefully she drew Becky out on one point of her topic, then another, and the normally shy girl turned eager. When they’d exhausted the subject, Laura moved to a new topic. “Kids, would you let me help you with homework tonight and put you to bed? I’d like to keep you all to myself for a little bit.”
Chrissy frowned. So did Thad. “But what about Mom?” he asked.
“I was thinking your mom might like to have the evening off.”
Both children studied their mother curiously. “You need a night off?”
Laura laughed. “Every mom could use a break now and again. Your uncle Jake used to shoo me out of the house sometimes for that very same purpose.” She bit her lip at the bittersweet memory.
“When’s Uncle Jake going to be here? Doesn’t he miss you?” Becky asked.
Laura and Chrissy traded glances. Laura’s throat tightened.
Chrissy rode to the rescue. “Of course he does. We’re just borrowing Aunt Laura for a bit.” A sideways look was pregnant with meaning, except Laura couldn’t translate. “She’ll be going home soon, so we’d better enjoy her while we’ve got her, right?”
“Yeah—and her cooking,” offered Thad.
“Absolutely.” Chrissy sent her a warm smile, and Laura was relieved that Chrissy had taken no offense. “Thank you again for dinner, but you worked all day, too. I can’t let you work tonight.”
Laura smiled wistfully. “These two angels aren’t work. I miss having a houseful. I’d like to keep them, if you’d let me.”
“Yeah!” said Thad. “But you can’t tickle.”
Laura’s eyebrows rose. “Wanna bet?”
The boy beamed.
“Mommy, you should go,” said Becky with the maturity that had evolved as their little family had broken up. “We’ll be fine.”
Chrissy was obviously conflicted.
“Go ahead. Enjoy yourself.”
“Oh, I will, but—” She bent to her children, one on each side, and hugged them, planting a big kiss on each of them. “I’ll miss you two monkeys.” Her eyes glistened.
Laura’s own were moist. “We’ll be fine. Now scram.” She waggled her eyebrows at Becky and Thad. “We have some mischief to get into.” She rubbed her hands together. How long it had been! “After homework, of course.”
Soon Chrissy emerged from her bedroom. She withdrew her cell phone from her purse and glanced down, forehead wrinkled.
“What?” Laura rose and stepped away from the children. “Are you all right?”
Chrissy swiped her phone screen. “Yes—sure. Absolutely.” She kissed her kids once more, then hustled to the door, a secret smile on her face. Almost as an afterthought, she turned back. “Thank you again, Laura. I’ll be back soon.”
“No rush.”
Chrissy appeared so pleased that Laura was delighted.
Except her sister seemed almost too satisfied. Perhaps there was hope for the man in her life. If so, Laura couldn’t be happier.
Even if she wanted to cry over her own lost love.
Chapter Thirteen
Laura jerked awa
ke when the door opened. “Hey,” she greeted her sister. “How was it?”
Chrissy busied herself hanging up her coat. “Great. Thank you so mu—” The last word was swallowed up in a huge yawn. “Sorry. How were the kids?”
“Wonderful, of course. You’ve got two sweethearts there, Cee Cee. You should be proud of them—and yourself.”
Chrissy’s face crumpled. “You can’t imagine what that means. I worry all the time—are they getting enough attention because I have to work and I’m so blasted tired all the time? Am I handling all this the best way? I just—” She pressed her lips together. “I long to give them the world, but I can barely make ends meet.”
Laura embraced her sister and rocked slowly, stroking circles on Chrissy’s back. “You’re doing a terrific job with them. They’ll be fine, I swear. And if we move in together, I’ll help you out.”
Chrissy tensed slightly. “Laura—”
“But we won’t fret over any of that tonight,” Laura assured her. “You go get some sleep. I’ll lock up.”
A quick squeeze, and Chrissy let go. “Thanks so much—oh. I forgot. I brought the kids a surprise, but I left it in the car. I’ll just go get it—”
“Let me.” Laura stopped her with a hand on her arm. “You have work tomorrow. Go on to bed.”
Chrissy frowned. “You must be tired, too, after all you did today. Don’t you have to be up early?”
“I managed a catnap. I’m good.” Laura snagged Chrissy’s car keys from the outside pocket of her purse. “Sweet dreams.”
“Laura—”
She halted. “What?”
Chrissy bit her lip. “Nothing. Just—I love you.”
Laura smiled. “I love you, too.” Then she was out the door.
Outside, Laura pondered how to get to the bottom of what was worrying her sister. Mind on her thoughts, she reached for the door lock—
A big hand grabbed her shoulder; another clapped over her mouth.
She yelped, began to struggle.
“Laura, don’t. It’s okay. It’s me.”
Jake?
Then she was spun around, too swiftly to register anything—
But his lips on hers. A kiss unlike any she’d had in—
Ever.
Her heart fluttered. He felt so wonderful. So familiar and dear.
She broke away. “What are you doing here?”
That slashing grin that had charmed her for too many years still wielded magic. “Coming for you.” Before she could react, he swung her into his arms and strode toward the road.
“Wait—I can’t. Chrissy—”
“Is right behind you,” said another familiar voice. “My keys, please?”
Laura glanced between the two of them. Glared at her. “Traitor.”
Chrissy shrugged. “You two needed to talk.”
“I’ve tried that.” Laura started to struggle again.
But Jake had always been strong—and now he was determined. “Uh-uh, lover. Just hand her the keys.”
Laura closed her fingers tightly around them and hugged them to her chest. “Why should I?”
“Because I’m bigger.” But in the glow of the moonlight, she saw what she couldn’t before—that he was more worried than his confident tone would convey.
Her heart skipped just a little. Had she finally gotten through to him?
“Bully,” she grumbled without heat.
“Harpy.” But he grinned. “Please, Laura.” He looked sideways at Chrissy, then bent nearer. “I have plans. I think you’ll like them.” A pause. “At least, I sure hope you will.”
Wasn’t his focus fully on her as she’d wished for so long? Didn’t she love him to distraction?
Yes and yes.
But would anything change, really? To be hesitant to trust this man was a horrible situation, but the fear was real. “This isn’t a game, Jake.”
His brown eyes had never been softer. Sadder. “I know.”
Their gazes held for endless moments. She was terrified at the distance she felt.
He was a good man. He was here. Shouldn’t that count?
She realized he’d read her doubts, was about to set her down. Abruptly she decided. “Here—” She tossed the keys to her sister without a backward glance.
Threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his throat.
For a second, he bowed his head to hers, and she felt him shudder. “Thank God.”
She thought she heard him tell her sister goodbye, but she paid attention to nothing but the feel of this man she’d missed so much, the scent that had accompanied her into dreams for the better part of her life.
And when he settled her into the passenger seat of his car, she clung for a moment before letting go.
“God, babe, I am so sorry,” he said.
He kissed her again, then rounded the car.
Laura seemed small, sitting there in the other seat. He had several inches on her, but her personality was so oversized that she always appeared bigger.
What he wouldn’t do to have his old Chevy with the bench seat in front, so they could drive plastered against each other as they’d done when they first dated.
He couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Why she was so quiet. He had no idea if she’d like the place he’d found. If he’d brought the right clothes for her.
He hadn’t recognized some of the underwear. The notion that they dressed together so seldom that he didn’t even know she’d bought new lingerie had hit him hard.
What else had he missed about her?
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Suddenly he remembered a step of his plan he’d omitted. He steered to the shoulder of the road, then felt like a fool and almost didn’t stop.
“What is it?”
He summoned a smile. Waggled his eyebrows as though he actually felt playful. “Turn around.”
“What?” She frowned.
“I skipped a step. Look out the side window.”
She stared at him for a second, and he faltered. “Never mind.” He reached for the steering wheel, but she grabbed his hand.
Granted him a tiny smile, then faced the door as he’d asked.
He hesitated, less sure of himself than he’d been since high school.
But she was here, and she was going along with him. For both their sakes, he had to conquer his nerves and pull this off. He drew the scarf from his pocket, looped it over her head and fastened it around her eyes, tying it as carefully as he’d ever knotted a suture.
The hitch in her breathing got to him.
He pressed a kiss to that sensitive juncture of neck and shoulder to remind them both of better days.
A gasp gave him hope. His tongue slicked over her in a slow, heated lick.
She shivered.
He smiled against her skin. Barely resisted the urge to swing her around and crush her to him.
But this was a seduction. He would go slow if it killed both of them.
Which felt entirely possible.
“Sit back.” He breathed the words over her flesh and watched her shiver again. Then he drew out the second scarf and gently tied her wrists together. “Trust me, love,” he said, and traced his tongue over her lips. “Please.”
She swallowed visibly. Her mouth parted just a little.
Jake had to restrain himself from clutching her to him again, but he managed. Shifted back into his seat.
And drove into the night.
The car stopped.
She didn’t know where they were. How long they’d traveled in silence. The air practically zinged with nerves.
She hadn’t felt like this even the first night they’d made love, though she’d certainly been off-balance. Her eagerness back then had overcome any anxiety except whether he’d find her beautiful.
He’d been gorgeous. Lanky and with the pallor of a med student who spent all his time indoors studying, though he’d been an avid cyclist before his life got swallowed up in his calling.
<
br /> They’d both been dead broke, and his apartment was more of a hovel, a small space in the attic of an old house near the university.
She hadn’t cared one whit. She’d been in love, crazy over him. Positive that they belonged together.
But now, she had no idea where they were or what he intended. He’d blindfolded her. Seized control. However adventurous their sex life had been, this was somehow different. He was different.
The door snicked open. She had the sense of light at the edges of her blindfold, quickly shuttered by the closing of the door.
Then she waited. Yearned. Her skin literally ached for his touch.
Suddenly her seat belt vanished. His arms slipped beneath her bottom, behind her back. Lifted her, then whirled around and around until she was dizzy.
Jake, she almost said, but she didn’t want to disturb…whatever this was. Amazing, for sure. Arousing, yes, unbelievably so. To be helpless in the arms of a man you knew and loved but couldn’t predict—
She shivered. Moaned. Let her head fall back in abandon. Felt him nuzzle inside her bodice, his warmth electrifying, the sharp edge of promise unnerving…delicious.
She craved more. She was half out of her mind with longing to touch him. To torture him as he—
A hum deep in his chest, a very sexy growl. The wet shock of his tongue trailing a path down the valley between her breasts.
She arched. All but writhed. “Jake.” She lifted her bound hands helplessly. “Let me—”
“Uh-uh” was the only response as he licked his way toward her nipple.
And as he did, he began walking. Her feet bumped something solid. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
“Where are we?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out,” he said. The arm beneath her thighs twisted, then she heard a door open.
And slam once they were through. Jake strode with her across a wide space. She heard metal clicks, then felt the cool night breeze again.
Finally he set her down. Untied her wrists and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’ll keep you warm,” he murmured. Then his breath whispered against her throat, his mouth cruising over her skin while his hands traveled her body. Fingers dipped inside the waistband of her jeans, tore at the snap, pulled down the zipper.
Texas Strong Page 19
