by C. Lymari
“The charges might not stick, but you know damn well everyone in this town will be talking about it,” I cut him off before he could say a word.
Sure, people loved the opulence of the Dunnetts.
But they also loved the simplicity of us Carsons.
37
Juliet
When Jake told me he was going to be out of town today, I jumped at the chance to visit my lawyer. The last thing I wanted was to go to Minneapolis, but if I wanted to move on with my life and for Chad to be a thing of the past, stuff between us needed to be over. I knew why I’d run, but people would still see a married woman shacking up with another man. People were quick to judge a woman before they did the same to a man.
Since Rosie and Jess were happy at home with their mom, I didn’t feel guilty for leaving them alone for a whole day.
Before I got to the lawyers’ office, I made my way to the hospital. When I put my car in park, I sat there staring at the building. It brought back all feelings from the night I’d fled. I was still scared, but not for the same reasons as that day—the things Jake made me feel were stronger than the fear I had for Chad.
Once I had composed myself, I made my way to my lawyer’s office. Taking a deep breath, I walked into the lobby. I was not the same scared woman who walked these halls months ago, I was not the same woman I was three years ago, and I was not the same woman who said yes to a loveless marriage.
Today, I wore designer from head to toe like an armor, my hair styled to perfection, and marched into the building like I owned the place. The office was mediocre at best: there was a small desk where the secretary sat, then a long dark hallway that took you to the conference room/office.
“Can I help you?”
I smiled at the receptionist. “I need to speak to Mr. Goldstein.”
She told me it would be a second, so I waited. It took him thirty minutes to see me. I let it go; there was no point in getting aggravated for now.
“Miss Dunnett.” My lawyer gave me a fake smile. “As I told you on the phone I have nothing for you at the moment. These things take time—”
I didn’t smile and followed him to his office. Once we were inside, I grabbed a folder from my purse and slammed the file on the table.
“Tell my dear husband that unless he wants that released to the press, I want a divorce now.”
My lawyer’s eyes widened, his hands going to the file I threw on the desk. He looked at me, then at my hand where the cast used to be wrapped, and shakily gave me a nod. I turned around and walked away.
“He won’t like this!” He yelled what I already knew.
When I looked at my phone, I cursed. More time had passed than I realized. I hoped to God the pictures weren’t used because they shamed me, but I was desperate to be rid of my last name. Any trace of Chad, I wanted it gone. Ever since I left, I’d told everyone to call me by my maiden name. My last name was one of the last things I had left of him, and once I got rid of that, I had it in my head that my life truly would begin again.
I turned my phone off, because I needed time alone just to think. I didn’t want to lie to Jake, and I wanted to tell him about what happened to me, but when I did, I wanted to do it on my terms.
JAKE
“See I can put some weights here, and it can be my own personal gym,” Blake stated as he took in the room that was now cleared. Juliet’s idea for mystery boxes was a hit.
“You have weights at Ma’s.”
“But girls can come and watch me work out here.”
I smacked my brother on the head. “It’s not all about girls.”
He snorted. “Yeah, says the guy who had more pu—”
I hit Blake in the head again.
“Shit, that hurt.”
“Be real. You’ve got to start thinking about college. I know this store isn’t your dream, and you also don’t want to follow in Clark’s footsteps.”
I took a second to look into my brother’s eyes, and I saw it there: the want and need to get out of this town. But he was also my mother’s son, through and through. Compassionate and understanding.
“What do you want to do?” I asked him.
Blake turned his back to the counter and looked up at the ceiling. “It’d be nice to get away—you know, experience something other than Sunny Pines. Live in a big city where not everyone knows who your parents are and what they do.”
“Then leave.”
My brother angled his head so he could look at me. “With what money? I’m not a fucking genius to get a full ride, and if I get a baseball scholarship, it won’t be for much. I’m good, but not great like Q.”
Damn, he was right. In a heartbeat, I would have given him the money I had saved, but I had to pay off the loan on the store. I still had to talk to Clark about it without telling him Paul threatened us. My brother was still a hothead, and I didn’t want him to get in trouble at work over Mr. Dunnett.
Tim was not like the previous chief and didn’t bend to the Dunnett way, but he wouldn’t turn a blind eye either if Clark did something stupid.
“We’ll figure something out.” I grabbed my Blake’s neck affectionately.
When the door chimed, alerting us that someone had walked in, we pulled apart. I checked the time on the computer and wondered where Juliet was. She said she had to check on a charity whatever the hell that mean. I hadn’t heard from her all day since Blake and I went to get merchandise. When I did try to call it went to voicemail.
The woman who walked in didn’t look anything like she did when she left this town. Her brown hair was almost blonde, and there was a small piercing in her nose. She still had the same gleam in her eyes when looked at me though.
“Jake,” she greeted me.
“Bethany,” I replied with much less enthusiasm.
“It’s been so long. How have you been? Are you busy? We could go catch up at Moe’s.”
“Listen, Split End Barbie, either buy something or move.”
Blake started to choke on his laughter. I tried not to crack a smile at Jess’s comment. I’d heard the bell chime earlier, but I hadn’t realized it was her who came to the store.
“Excuse me?” Bethany turned to glare at Jess.
The two of them couldn’t be more opposite. Bethany was tall and slim and refined while Jess was small, petite, and goth. If I’d learned anything from Jess, it was that she didn’t take shit from anyone.
“He has a girlfriend. Stop flirting with him, get what you need, and move. Some of us are in a hurry.”
“I’ll take care of you, Jessamine.” My brother winked at Jess.
“Not with that tone, you won’t,” she scolded.
Now that my brother and Jess were on the other side, Bethany used the excuse to shimmy my way. “So, what do you say about that drink?”
“Thanks for the offer, Beth, but I’m with someone.”
“Who?”
“Jake’s with Juliet,” Jess snapped on her way out of the store with a wave my way.
“Is that little witch for real? I thought you’d outgrow your fascination with the ice princess. So, she comes home for a weekend and you forget she has a husband?”
“Beth…” I warned.
“No one in this stupid little town changes,” Beth huffed. “I’m going to see if they have any decent coffee at Emma’s place.”
Blake and I watched her leave, shutting the door with more force than necessary on her way out. “Seriously, she only came in here to look for you?”
I grinned. “What can I say? I’m an itch she never got to scratch.”
“I bet Juliet would love to hear that.”
My smile got bigger. “I didn’t warn Bethany off Freya. Which reminds me, I have to call Dex or Russell.”
I’d been knocking on the door to Juliet’s apartment for at least five minutes now, and there wasn’t an answer.
Damn, where was she? All day I didn’t hear from her, but now I was worried. There was a feeling down in my gut telling me som
ething wasn’t okay. After dealing with her family, I forgot about getting to the bottom of who broke into her apartment. I knocked again, about ready to lose my mind.
“Are you trying to break my door down?”
My head whipped around so fast. She was dressed in grey dressy pants, a white button-up, and high heels. Her hair was up in a bun, and she looked like she didn’t belong. Not here, not in a seedy place like this, not in a small town, and not with a simple guy like me.
“Where were you?” My tone was accusing, but I couldn’t take it back now. I guess seeing her father had put me on edge.
Juliet didn’t say a word; if anything she looked sad. And now that I was paying closer attention, I could tell she’d been crying. I fucking hated that.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She gave me a sad smile, didn’t even call me on my shit, and that made me feel like a dick.
She moved toward me and opened the door. I followed behind her. Closing the door behind me, I brought her to my chest.
“That was a dick move. I’m sorry,” I apologized.
Juliet still didn’t react to my touch, so I hugged her tighter.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” she said, as if it hurt her to answer.
I was going to say more, but her stomach started growling. “Shit, babe, have you eaten anything all day?”
That earned me a small smile and a head shake. “Food was the last thing on my mind.”
I wanted to push the subject, but something about the quiet way she guarded herself made me hold back. Juliet didn’t need me to prod, at least not now.
“Let’s see.” I walked her to her kitchen, holding on to her. “What do we have here?”
“You stocked me up good. I’m sure we can find something,” she replied, giving me a small smile.
“I can cook.” I picked her up, then kissed the top of her head.
“Jake,” she shrieked, the sad look on her face finally gone.
I sat her ass down on the counter. “You can sit you pretty little ass here and kiss the cock later.”
“You mean, kiss the cook?”
“That’s what I just said.”
“No, you said kiss the cock.” She narrowed her eyes at me.
“Babe, you’re hearing things, but don’t worry, I’ll give you that too.” Man, I fucking loved it when she started to blush. “I’d like to see your mouth wrapped around my cock while I fist your pretty hair.”
Juliet rolled her eyes at me. “Are you going to tell me I heard wrong again?”
I shook my head. “Nope, I want my dick in your mouth.”
“Then feed me. “
“Oh, you bet your ass I will. Inch by inch.”
She reached for a rubber spatula that was next to her and threw it at me. “Food. Make me food. Meanwhile, I’m going to go change into something more comfortable.”
“You redheads are so temperamental.” I chuckled when she growled.
Looking at the contents of her fridge, I contemplated what to make her. The day after her apartment got broken into, I stocked her up and just kept at it. It made me feel good to take care of her.
From the back, I grabbed potatoes and steak and remembered the bottle of red wine I stashed here the other day. Juliet was walking back to the kitchen when I turned around. She’d changed to leggings, a tank top, and a green cardigan, with fuzzy socks on her feet.
Jesus, was there anything of this woman that I didn’t find attractive?
“Here, have a drink,” I said as I handed her a glass of wine.
Her eyes went all sparkly, and I thought she would cry again.
“Jake.” Her voice got all breathy. “You didn’t have to do this. This bottle is good, but…”
“Hey.” I lifted her chin and kissed her. “I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to. Baby, you are adjusting fantastic, but I don’t want you to lose it all. It wasn’t a big deal.”
Eighty bucks was way more than I’d ever spent on a bottle of wine. It wasn’t my thing. Not even for Brooke did I ever indulge.
I sat Juliet on the counter again while I got to work on steak with potatoes and some mac and cheese. Once the food was ready, I fed her bits and pieces and ate myself. The conversation just flowed. She looked at me like I was her hero while I cooked, sipping her wine and giving smiles every time our eyes clashed. This woman… I didn’t know how or when she became rooted in me, in my system. I needed her like I needed to breathe.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” She put her hand to my cheek. Her lip trembled, and I instantly went on alert.
“Baby, what happened?”
“I lied to you.”
That instantly made my stomach sink. My blood raced.
“When I told you that I had to go check on a charity… I went back to Minneapolis.”
“Why?” It came out harsher than intended.
“I needed to tie up some loose ends.” She took a deep breath. “Things with Chad… ”
When her eyes watered, I couldn’t stay mad at her, not when her family and her ex-fucking-husband hurt her.
“The truth is—”
Before she could finish her sentence, the door busted open. Jess marched in, her pale face in a grim line and ice in her eyes.
“What’s wrong, Jess?” Juliet all but shoved me aside in trying to get closer to Jess.
The teenager I’d come to know as a little badass cried.
Shit.
“She took him back,” she whispered.
“What?!” Juliet shouted, enraged.
“She… she… took—”
“I heard that part… I just… I can’t believe it.” Juliet rushed to pull Jess into her arms.
Juliet wasn’t tall, but Jess was shorter and looked bulkier because of the baggy clothes she wore.
“Why would she do that?” Jess cried over and over.
I wiped the counter and did the dishes while Juliet took Jess to the living room. Once I wasted enough time and gave them time to talk, I went out to the living room.
“Supposedly now that he’s sobered up, he sees the error of his ways. He apologized and bought her flowers as if that makes everything better.”
There was no lost love between Jess and her old man, which made me realize how lucky me and my brothers were for having our parents not only together, but supporting us and supporting each other.
“Hey, Jess,” I said, and up till that moment I didn’t think she realized I was there.
“You ever need something—you know, to feel safe, someone to take a look at a leaky sink or change a bulb… call me. If I can’t come, one of my brothers will.”
Her lips trembled as she sucked in a breath. “It’s okay, I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will. You’re a badass, but it’s okay to let others help you. Whether you like it or not, you’re family.” And because I knew Jess was Jess and it was easier to let her have the last remark, I said, “We don’t let just anyone give our Thanksgiving grace.”
“I’m still going to kill Blake for that.”
I smiled. “He’s a dweeb, but he means well.”
Jess wiped the tears from her face and got up. “Thanks for letting me be a sissy.”
Then she walked out.
Once the door was closed, Juliet turned to me and gave me a soft smile before she got to her knees between my legs.
Oh, fuck me.
“You were lovely with her,” she said casually.
“What can I say—I’m a sweet guy.”
Juliet smiled, her hands coming to my knees and parting them so she could kneel between them. “Sweet guys don’t want their girlfriends on their knees for them.”
I swallowed when her hands reached my zipper. “There are no sweet guys when it comes to getting their dicks sucked.”
“Oh… that’s good I guess,” she said as her hand worked my zipper.
I almost closed my eyes in ecstasy when her tiny hand pulled my dick out. S
hit, just the thought of her mouth on me and I was ready to cut bricks with that thing. Her mouth started to hover over my aching cock. Shit, the anticipation was killing me. I felt her hot breath on my sensitive skin, her lips pressed against the head, the wet tip of her tongue giving me a tentative lick.
Then she pulled back.
I was going to fucking cry.
“I mean, someone did promise they were going to…”
Knowing what she wanted, I grabbed her hair and guided her mouth back to where I needed her the most. Her hands came to either side of my waist… Damn, there were no words.
Her hair was all over the place while her lips wrapped around my cock, and her tongue glided up and down my shaft. Yeah, this was heaven. Wrapping her hair in my fingers, I lifted it off so I could see her working me.
Yeah, I could definitely get used to this.
“Shit,” I groaned when she took me deep, the cavern of her mouth warming up every part of me.
It was like hearing me turned on turned her on more. When she pushed herself to take me deeper and gagged, damn, that was fucking hot.
“Fuck… What are you doing to me?” I croaked. It was a miracle that I was able to form any coherent thoughts. “Fuck… Juliet, baby…”
She didn’t let me finish telling her I was close to coming when she grabbed the base of my dick and started working in sync with her mouth. I lost control. I pulled her hair so she would take all of me as I threw my head back on the sofa in ecstasy.
Hands down, that was the best head I’d ever had.
I heard soft giggles. When I brought my head back down, Juliet was still kneeling with a smile on her face.
“What’s so funny?”
“Best head you ever had, huh?”
Shit. I didn’t even realize I said it aloud.
“Babe, everything with you is the best I’ve ever had,” I told her.
And it was true—Juliet was it for me.
I think I’d known that since the beginning.
38
Juliet
How the hell did Christmas get here so fast? I felt like I was in a fairy tale. Never in my wildest dreams had it ever occurred to me that I could be this happy. Jake had left early in the morning because he had to get some things ready for tonight’s festivities. I got up smiling, going to the back of my closet and pulling out the dresses I had bought on Amazon, of all places. No Yves Saint Laurent for me this year.
