Round? Raine was sure there was a compliment in there somewhere. The edges of her dress brushed the backs of her stocking-covered knees as they swayed and Raine listened closely to his words.
“If you’d let me, I’d take you right here, right now.”
Eyes snapping open, Raine glanced around. Here, in the middle of a trendy sports bar slash restaurant? “The floors are covered in peanut shells.”
“Then we’d do it on a table. They’re sturdy,” he said, turning his face toward hers and skimming his lips up her jawline.
A shiver tracked through her. She shouldn’t like the sound of that, being taken on a tabletop, so rough and crude and dirty, but she did. It was far too easy to picture it, and that’s why she had to make him see reason. “There are people everywhere,” she argued. “They’d see everything.”
“Let them watch. Let them see how to take care of a woman. How she moans like she’s going to die when her man knows how to play her body like an instrument.”
Oh, God. Clenching her thighs together, Raine had no doubt that Jarret could make good on his promises. Something told her that he knew his way around a woman very well, and she longed to be under his expert thumb, to experience sex the way it was meant to be experienced.
“You’re drunk,” she said, a low moan escaping her as Jarret ran his tongue up the side of her throat. Unbidden, her head lolled to the side, allowing him fuller access.
Chuckling, Jarret kissed the sensitive flesh just below her nape, stroking it with the tip of his tongue. “Come home with me, Peach. Let me taste how sweet you are.”
Raine wanted to say yes. Her body screamed to let him take her, show her everything she was missing, but the hard evidence of his arousal poking into her spine shocked Raine right out of her lustful thoughts better than a bucket of icy water could have.
Jolting out of his arms, Raine rounded on him. “Stop.”
Confusion pinched Jarret’s brows together, and he took a step toward her. “What’s the matter, Peach?”
Raising her palms up, Raine warded him off. “Just don’t, okay? Don’t.” Suddenly, the thought of being touched made her want to throw up. It didn’t matter that she trusted Jarret—she did, more than anyone else in her life—and it didn’t matter that she was attracted to him, yearned for him most days, because she was ruined—a fact that kept coming back to haunt her.
Jarret would never believe her if she told him what Camron did to her—no one did. Not even her parents. It was her word against his, and the fact was, she hadn’t said no. Her father was right, she practically asked for it. She’d been so desperate for attention that she’d thrown herself into Camron’s arms without a second thought. He’d never wanted her, and if she’d paid attention at all, she would have seen that. Instead of parading around in too tight clothes, making out in the backseat of his car, and giving him access to her body, she should have been studying, making real friends, concentrating on creating a good future for herself.
What had she done instead? She’d unwittingly teased the wolf, and now she was paying for her mistakes.
No, if she told Jarret how she’d really come to be pregnant, he’d kick her to the curb so fast she’d get whiplash. And even if he didn’t, if by some chance he believed her, why would he want her anyway? She’d been with his brother, for crying out loud.
The whole thing was just too much to deal with right now. “I want to go home now,” she informed him. Pushing her way through the dancers, Raine gathered her purse and coat from the table and headed for the door. She didn’t have to look to know that Jarret would follow. Something told her that he would always be there.
By the time Raine fell into bed, the sun was only a couple hours way from making its appearance. Flopping onto her pillow, she groaned at the prospect of having to work later. What must it be like to be rich and worry free?
She’d have to remember to ask Jarret the next time she saw him.
***
“Cars don’t fix themselves, ladies,” Jarret said as he passed by the break room where two of the three apprentices sat around chatting. Muttering to themselves, they got up and headed back to work.
Closing the door to his office, Jarret took a seat behind the desk and shuffled some papers around searching for the invoice he’d laid there when he’d first arrived. The day had been passing by at a snail’s pace, and he couldn’t wait to get home. Raine promised to make him dinner tonight, and he promised to be on time for it. Never in his twenty-three years of life had anyone cooked him a meal. His parents had always been big on hired help. So, even if she burnt the shit out of the meal, he looked forward to eating every bite.
A knock on the door brought Jarret’s head up, and when it opened a moment later, he scowled, his good mood gone in an instant. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Marylyn flounced into the room, her blonde locks bouncing on her narrow shoulders, and sat down across from him. “How’s it hanging, Jarret?” she asked with a flirty smile.
Unmoved by her presence, Jarret leaned back in his chair. “Again, what are you doing here?”
“Um, car repair? I was hoping to have someone take a look under my hood. Cam pointed me in your direction.” Her eyelashes fluttered, and Jarret sighed.
“What’s wrong with the car?”
“The little sticker thingy on the window says that it’s past due for another checkup.”
“You mean you need an oil change.”
Grinning, Marylyn crossed her legs, her short skirt inching up her thighs. It was completely inappropriate, especially considering it was cold enough outside to freeze his nuts off. “Yes, that.”
Jarret pulled up the computer screen, entered her information, and printed it up in a hurry to get her out of there. “All right,” he said, once she’d signed off on the work, “just leave your keys and I’ll have a tech get right on it. It should be ready in about an hour.”
Peeling the car key from her key ring, she handed it to him, making sure their fingers connected on the pass off, and Jarret hung it on the bulletin board beside her paperwork. Pointing her toward the waiting room, Jarret clocked out and let the assistant manager know he was heading home for the evening.
He was almost to his truck when he heard the clack of women’s shoes rushing up from behind. A familiar voice called out to him and Jarret groaned. “Lord help me,” he prayed as he turned his head.
Marylyn’s heavily glossed lips peeled back in a wide smile. “Hey, are you heading out? I could really use a ride. It’s freezing out here!” She made a show of shivering in her little jacket.
“Uh…” Jarret rubbed the back of his neck, wondering what to say to get out of it. He didn’t want to be rude, especially since she wasn’t doing anything outright to warrant it, but damn. This was uncomfortable, especially considering their history. He never should have slept with her.
“And since we live so close, it’s not even out of your way. Thanks, Jarret. You’re such a sweetheart.” And just like that, Marylyn was climbing into his passenger seat.
Fucking hell, this was not going to end well. Jarret knew it like he knew the sky was blue and WWE was nothing but a soap opera, which was fitting, considering Marylyn was a walking, talking drama queen.
She chattered nonstop the whole drive, thanking the gods that the snow hadn’t fallen yet because at the rate he’d been driving, they’d have ended up in a ditch for sure. Jarret pulled up to a grand estate that had its own name, and left the car running.
Marylyn continued to talk, and he noted that her voice was nothing like Raine’s. Rather, it was the kind of girly voice that said a lot about the person: high-maintenance, Barbie doll, cheerleader, and gold digger. Maybe not all girls with the high-pitched incessant giggle were like that, but Marylyn was exactly that type. He knew firsthand there wasn’t much going on below the surface, and he hated that he knew that.
“Would you like to come in? I’m sure my mom would love to meet you. You can even stay for dinner. I b
et you’ve worked up an appetite, working so hard all day.” She reached out and trailed a long fingernail over his forearm. “And after dinner, you can take me by the shop to pick up my car.”
Hell. No. Never gonna happen. Just a few months ago, he might have taken her up on it out of pure boredom, but not now when he had Raine to go home to. Giving her a tight smile, Jarret shook his head. “Sorry, Mare, I already have plans for tonight.”
“Dang, Jarret. I haven’t seen you since prom and you’re already trying to get rid of me?”
“It’s nothing personal, Mare.”
She pouted, but didn’t complain. “Okay, then. If you say so,” she said, not bothering to hide her disappointment. “I’ll see you around then.”
Thankfully, she got the hell out of his SUV without making a scene. Jarret sped away, eager to get home and scrub down in a blazing hot shower. When he kissed Raine again, he didn’t want any trace of Marylyn hanging on him. He would never taint what they had building up between them with the likes of another woman, much less that one.
It took him mere minutes to get home. His smile was instant, until he found the front door standing wide open. Not bothering to kick his dirty boots off at the door, Jarret stormed into the kitchen, assuming Raine would be there, but she wasn’t.
Incensed, he combed the first floor, and then bound up the stairs to the second. He found her in the nursery, her back to him as she organized baby clothes into the new armoire that’d been delivered that morning. “What the hell were you thinking?” he said, by way of greeting. Raine spun around, startled by his presence, which just deepened his anger. “You left the front door standing open for anyone to walk in.”
“In this neighborhood,” she said with a smirk, “not likely. Besides, I knew you would be home soon. You’re late, by the way. Isn’t this the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?” she asked, changing the subject.
Looking down at the pair of yellow and white striped booties she held up, Jarret sighed. He just couldn’t stay mad when he was looking at something so tiny it would hug his pinkie. And that wasn’t even the half of it. Standing there in a little floral dress, her soft golden hair tied back with her slim, sexy legs and bare feet showing, Raine looked sweet as hell and destroyed any self-control he might have had. Even six months pregnant, she stole his breath. A man would have to be blind not to be attracted to her.
Entering the room fully, Jarret walked right up to her, grabbed her by the back of the neck, and kissed her hard. Kissed her until everything in the world was set right again. His heart continued hammering in his chest, but this time, it wasn’t out of fear, but need. Leaning his forehead against hers, Jarret pulled in a deep breath. “They’re very cute. How was your day?” Releasing her, Jarret took the booties from her and placed them in the armoire, closing it before taking her hand and leading her back downstairs.
The rich smell of beef filled the entire first floor, something he hadn’t noticed in his haste to find her during his initial pass through the house. But now that he was calmer, more focused, it dominated his senses. “Dinner smells fantastic,” he complimented as they entered the kitchen.
Breaking away, Raine retrieved two bowls and ladled stew into both—a perfect dinner for a cold winter’s day—while he washed up. “Thanks, it’s my mother’s recipe.” Jarret noted the sadness on her face as she set his bowl in front of him. Her instant smile when she noticed him studying her told him that whatever she was reflecting on, she wasn’t ready to discuss it. But Jarret had an inkling that it had something to do with missing her parents. And could he really blame her? They were the two people in the world who should have stood behind her, only to abandon her when she needed them most. She should be fucking pissed. Hell, he was pissed for her. Instead, she just looked sad.
She must feel completely alone.
Unable to stomach the thought, Jarret reached for her. “Come here, Peach.” Raine smiled, unsure, but allowed him to draw her into his lap. Taking a moment to just look at her, Jarret got lost in her amber eyes. Cupping her neck in one large hand, Jarret traced his calloused thumb over the delicate column of her throat, marveling in the softness of her pale skin. “Thank you for making me dinner,” he said softly, staring into the hollow at the base of her throat, avoiding her eyes. For some reason, of all the moments they had shared together, this one felt the most intimate. Something inside told him that if he looked into those chocolate depths now, there would be no turning back.
“It’s just dinner,” Raine remarked, playing it off as something so simple and ordinary it didn’t even warrant a response.
But it did. It absolutely did. “It’s not just dinner,” he replied, feeling his throat constrict. He swallowed past the lump and forced the words out. “No one has ever done anything like this for me.”
Raine’s head jerked back in disbelief. “You’re telling me that no one has ever made you dinner before? I find that difficult to believe. How did you eat when you were a kid? A body like yours doesn’t come from malnutrition.” A furious blush worked its way up her throat, coloring her cheeks. Shifting, she looked away, uncomfortable now, and Jarret let her go so she could return to her seat.
Picking up his spoon, he toyed with the dark red broth, debating on how much he should say. Too much, and she’d think he was playing on her sympathies. Too little, and she would think he was a liar. “We had someone who prepared all our meals growing up. But I’ve never had a meal that was made with me in mind.” Lifting his eyes to hers, his heart pounded as he waited for her reaction.
Raine frowned into her bowl. “That’s unfortunate, since some of the best meals are made with someone in mind. But it’s going to take a lot more than that sad story to get into these panties,” she quipped.
Throwing his head back, Jarret burst out laughing, relieved to escape the heaviness that had settled over him. “Damn. I could have sworn I had that in the bag.”
“Oh, you were close, but try dialing up the puppy eyes next time. Girls are suckers for puppy eyes.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Shaking his head, Jarret dug into his dinner—and he was right. It was the best he’d ever tasted.
FOURTEEN
Raine finished jotting down her last order of the day and smiled at the young couple. “I’ll get that right in for you.”
On her way back to the kitchen, she had to fight to keep her gaze straight ahead and ignore the snide comments being directed at her.
The day had gone smoothly up until twenty minutes ago when Marylyn and her bitch crew strolled in. She’d been delivering lunch to one of her tables when she’d seen them pull in through the wall of windows and immediately told Becky, the hostess for the night, to make sure they didn’t get seated in her area. Unfortunately, the diner wasn’t very large, and even though she didn’t have to wait on them, she couldn’t escape them. Damn them, why did they have to decide to go to the local college?
They’d fastened their attention on her from the moment they walked through the door, and she’d pointedly ignored them. She didn’t want any trouble, but it was getting pretty damn hard to ignore their comments. So far she’d heard what a whore she was, how several guys couldn’t wait to get their turn with her. Apparently, she was also a liar and a gold digger, which wasn’t news to her. She was sure Camron and his parents were behind a good portion of the rumors, considering she’d refused their help to cover up their son’s little mishap.
But what she wouldn’t and couldn’t ignore was Marylyn’s whispered attempts to make her jealous. Dropping off her table’s order with the cook, Raine saw Jenna’s drink order sitting on the counter. Jenna had been working hard all afternoon, racing back and forth, picking up slack for Raine’s slower pace. “Is this table twelve’s order?” Raine asked her as she buzzed by.
Pausing to scoop ice into two more glasses, Jenna glanced at her, then at the tray of watered down sodas. “Damn it. Yes. I forgot all about them.”
“No problem,” Raine said cheerily. “I can take
them for you.”
Relief washed over her and Jenna grabbed her newly filled cups. “Would you? That’d be great. Thanks!” Then she was off again.
I shouldn’t do it, Raine thought as she hoisted the tray onto her shoulder. I could get fired for this. But do I really care? Stopping at table twelve, Raine kept her expression neutral as she began unloading the drinks.
“Who had the Dr. Pepper?” The brunette by the window wiggled a finger in the air and Raine slid her drink across the table. She did the same with the rest of the drinks—a Sprite to the lady with the pigtails and pink ribbons, a root beer to the girl dressed all in purple. She saved the best for last.
Giving Marylyn her friendliest smile, Raine picked up the last glass from her tray. “And you must be the milkshake with a cherry on top.”
She was still talking herself out of it, but then Marylyn, predictable as she was, opened her mouth. “Speaking of cherries, I gave Camron mine last weekend, and it was amazing. I can see why someone like you” –she eyed Raine up and down, lingering on her protruding belly—“would do anything to keep him in your bed.” The other girls giggled openly, taking pleasure in Marylyn’s attempt to humiliate her, and Raine hated that it was working.
Gripping the glass tighter, Raine felt her blood begin to boil. Looking into those fake-lashed eyes, Raine clenched her teeth so hard it was a wonder she didn’t chip a tooth. “Oh, Marylyn, I’m sure you already have. At least, that’s what I heard when Ryan Gordon walked in on you bent over for half the football team at Alex Riley’s party last summer.”
Marylyn’s face reddened, and seeing how hot she’d become, Raine decided it was best to help her cool down. Lifting the glass, she took complete satisfaction in Marylyn’s shocked expression as chocolate milk shake poured over her silky blonde hair and all over her designer clothes.
The collective gasp created a hiss loud enough to carry over the smooth jazz her boss insisted on playing during all hours of operation, and if that wasn’t enough to call everyone’s attention, Marylyn’s shriek of outrage as she shot out of her seat certainly did.
Raine Page 10
