She flinched and lifted her gaze to his again. “Jason, that’s not true. You’re very important to me. But you can’t understand how disastrous this could be. Rocking the boat with my mom is risky. I’ve always known that. When I do what she wants, or at least feign to do so, there is peace in the family. I wouldn’t put it past her to kick me out of the house and change the locks if I defy her.”
He nodded. “I understand. You’ve made that clear. But I’m done lying. So what if she kicks you out of the house? You don’t live there. You’re a grown woman with your own place. If you’re going to be with me, we’re going to stop sneaking around. You choose.”
She drew in a breath. “Okay. I said I would. I will. Saturday night.”
“You want me to go with you?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’ll do it. It’s better if I do it alone.”
He watched her face, knowing she was totally uncomfortable with his ultimatum. He needed to think of himself, however. He knew she was into him. She spent every night when she wasn’t working with him, either out or at his place. Every day that he spent with her was better than the last.
He wanted her. He wanted more.
Could she put him first? If not, they had nothing. He wouldn’t continue sneaking around with the woman he was falling in love with. Not again. Never again. He’d let this go on too far already.
Chapter 23
Libby was nervous when she arrived at her parents’ house Saturday night. She’d gone back and forth in her mind, wondering if she should have let Jason come with her. She knew she’d hurt him by denying him the option.
The truth was, she expected this to go very badly. She didn’t want him to see how ridiculously insensitive her mother could be. It was embarrassing. She feared if she brought Jason to her parents’ home, they might ignore him entirely as if he didn’t exist. And that was the best-case scenario. She didn’t want to have to worry about Jason’s feelings while she was pleading her case.
The last few weeks had been stressful with her mother. Libby hadn’t been to the house a single time, but her mother had called every few days. It didn’t do any good to ignore her. She would just call back until Libby answered.
Every conversation went the same. Maria continued to harp about Eddie out of one side of her mouth while also hounding Libby to entertain her neighbor’s grandson, and Libby continued to put her off with excuses about needing to work and being too busy.
It was time. If Libby didn’t confront her mother now, she would lose the best thing to ever happen to her.
Jason had been patient with her long enough. She knew that. He’d made it clear early on in their relationship that he didn’t like the secrets, but he’d given her space. Three weeks of amazing dates and even better sex.
She had never dated a man as perfect as him. She’d never dreamed such a man even existed for her. Jason was not only amazing company outside the bedroom, but he blew the doors off when it came to sex.
Libby closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart. Thoughts of being blindfolded and bound to Jason’s bed filled her mind. He’d stretched her out on her stomach last weekend, wrists and ankles pulled tight to the four corners of his bed. After demonstrating how damn good a flogger felt, he’d fucked her in that position so hard she’d come without direct contact to her clit.
Taking a deep breath for fortification, Libby shook the thoughts from her head and focused on what needed to be done here. She wouldn’t give up Jason to appease her mother. Not a chance. That was asking too much. Now she just needed to find a way to explain herself and pray her mother didn’t decide to kick her out of the family.
Libby dragged herself to the front door. The moment she opened it, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Several people were in the living room. Not just her parents. Why am I not surprised to find a man near my age among them?
Libby gritted her teeth as her mother rushed forward to hug her. “Finally! I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show up.”
Libby let her mother hug her but barely returned the affection. She was already livid. Warning bells were ringing loudly in her head.
And sure enough, her mother spun around and motioned for the man speaking to her father to join them. “Libby, this is Javier. I told you about him. He’s new in town. I thought you could take him to that Mexican restaurant on 3rd street that you love. Maybe drive around a bit afterward and give him the lay of the land.”
Libby’s face heated. She was going to kill her mother. The woman was high-handed and frequently overstepped, but this was beyond the pale. She had totally cornered Libby.
Javier looked chagrined. At least he wasn’t as cocky as some of the other men her mother set her up with. “We don’t have to do that. It’s not like I can’t figure out my way around Dallas without help,” he joked.
Maria shook her head and turned toward Libby. “It’s no bother at all. Is it, Libertad?”
For the first time in Libby’s life, she truly wanted to scream at her mother and stomp out of the house. However, there were other people in the room. Not just her father, but an older couple Libby recognized as neighbors from two doors down. Undoubtedly they were Javier’s grandparents.
“You two go. Have fun. You don’t need to hang around here with the rest of us.” Maria practically shoved them toward the door.
Libby hadn’t even had a chance to say hello to her father. When she glanced his direction, he gave her a little wave, his expression indicating he thought this matchup was a great idea.
Before Libby could protest at all, she found herself on the porch with Javier.
Javier tucked the tips of his fingers into his jeans. He chuckled nervously. “You knew nothing about this, did you?”
“No.” She lifted her gaze to him. This was not his fault. “Sorry. My mom…”
“Yeah, I get that. My grandmother is the same way. Always trying to match me up with someone. Look, we don’t have to go out. We could just leave and go our separate ways. None of them will ever know. We can tell them later we didn’t feel the connection.”
Libby sighed. Javier was a nice guy. He didn’t deserve this shitshow. This was not his fault, and he seemed like a good guy. She also knew exactly the sort of hell he might have to face from his grandparents if they didn’t at least go to dinner, and she didn’t want to put that on him.
She took a deep breath and glanced at the door. “We’re here now. We have to eat. Might as well appease them and report back. As friends,” she added.
Javier offered a wan smile. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”
Yeah. He’d definitely catch hell, but he was trying to spare her. Libby led him to her car. “I’ll drive.”
Her hands were shaking as she entered the Honda and started the engine. She didn’t say a word during the three-minute drive to the neighborhood restaurant.
When they were seated, she ordered iced tea and finally met Javier’s gaze.
He ordered a beer. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Yes.” This was the first time she’d said that out loud to anyone who knew her mother. “I haven’t told my mother. She wouldn’t approve.”
He nodded. “I get that. My own parents aren’t as particular about who I date, but I’ve come to realize my grandparents are still old school. I think they’re hoping that now that I’m here staying with them for a while they’ll be able to find me a nice woman they approve of.”
Libby smiled. This isn’t so bad. At least Javier understood and was on the same page. “It’s ridiculous, and I hate that I’m scared to tell my parents the truth.”
Javier sighed. “I hear ya. One year, about five years ago, I had a serious girlfriend who was Asian. When my parents told my grandparents, you’d think they had announced that I was in love with a blue alien from another planet.”
Libby laughed. “That’s what I’m worried about. I dated a Mexican once and didn’t even tell them because I knew they would lose their shit.�
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Javier chuckled. “Gasp. How could you?” he joked.
Libby relaxed. “What happened with your girlfriend?”
He winced. “I didn’t bring her to Dallas with me for Christmas, and she broke up with me. She was totally right. I should have stayed home with her or faced my grandparents, but I was weak and didn’t feel like rocking the boat.”
Libby cringed. “Yeah, the clock is ticking with Jason, too. In fact, I told him I was going to face my parents tonight. I came to the house ready to lay it all out.”
“And then you found a houseful of people.” He blew out a breath. “I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
“You seem like a very nice woman. Jason is lucky to have you. For what it’s worth, I think you should confront your parents and stand by your man. After all, your future is not with your mom and dad. You need to spend it with someone you love. Don’t make the mistake I made and let it go on much longer.”
“You’re right.” She sat up straighter and smiled. “Thanks for the pep talk. I needed a kick in the pants.”
Chapter 24
Jason spent most of Saturday pacing his empty living room, worrying about Libby and her conversation with her parents. He knew she was going to their house for dinner at six, and he kept glancing at the clock, wondering when she might call him and stressing over the thought of her facing them alone.
She didn’t have to do that. He would have gone with her. No matter what, he should be at her side. After all, it was on his insistence that she was even confronting them in the first place.
At five-thirty, he decided to join her. She hadn’t invited him, but he figured her decision to go alone was out of embarrassment. He could handle her parents. No matter what happened, he wanted to be by Libby’s side, not sitting at home waiting like a wuss.
What kind of boyfriend would let his girlfriend face a challenge on her own? It suddenly seemed ridiculous, so he grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter and rushed out the door. He figured he could still catch her before she left her condo and drive her to her parents himself.
Instead, he hit every red light and was disappointed to see her car wasn’t out in front of her condo. He jogged to the door anyway, hoping Christa would be home.
Christa opened the door, her expression confused. “Libby isn’t here.”
“I know. She’s having dinner with her parents. I should have gone with her. Do you have their address?”
Christa’s mouth fell open and then she closed it. “You think that’s a good idea? I’ve met her parents. They’re not very…”
He nodded. “I know. I’m aware. But I’m the one who insisted she tell them about me. I should have gone with her.”
Christa licked her lips. “I agree, and that’s incredibly nice of you. I’ll go grab the address. Come on in.”
She spun around and headed for the kitchen area as Jason stepped inside.
A minute later she returned, holding out a piece of paper. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to Libby. She’s head over heels for you.” She handed him the address. “If you have any brothers or friends who are as doting as you are, give them my number.” Her pale cheeks turned red and she glanced away after she spoke, embarrassed.
“I do in fact. Not brothers, but friends. If you don’t mind, I’ll give my friend Mack your number.”
She pursed her lips and nodded, her face turning redder. Finally, she smiled at him. “Go. Hunt down Libby and show her how much you care.”
“Thank you.” He turned and rushed back to his SUV at a jog.
His hands were shaking as he fumbled with the door and then headed toward the address on the paper. He could have used the GPS tracker on her phone to locate her, but she’d be moving right now. He didn’t want to wait until she arrived to leave her condo.
When he pulled up to the house ten minutes later, he didn’t see Libby’s car. He checked the house number again and then decided to go to the door. The worst thing that could happen was he would find out he was at the wrong place.
He could hear several voices inside when he knocked on the door, and a few moments later a woman who looked exactly like an older version of Libby answered. “Can I help you?” she asked curtly.
“Are you Mrs. Garcia? Libby’s mom?”
She straightened her shoulders, rising to her full height of barely five feet in the same way he’d seen Libby do many times. “I am. Who are you?”
“I’m…a friend of Libby’s. I thought she was here. Is she not?”
Maria Garcia shook her head, a smile forming on her lips. “No. She’s on a date. They went to Don Juan’s, the Mexican restaurant a few blocks south of here.”
Jason stared at Maria for several seconds. “A date?”
“Yes, of course. Javier is a lovely man. Just moved here. She took him to dinner and then she’s going to show him around the area. I wouldn’t expect them back until late.” She looked so proud of herself for divulging her daughter’s whereabouts. In great detail.
Maybe she sensed that Jason was interested in her daughter and thought she could steer him away with her information.
Maybe she was right.
Jason nodded slowly, dumbfounded. “Thank you.” He turned around and headed back toward his SUV, reminding himself it was possible Mrs. Garcia had exaggerated the story.
Jason settled in his seat, slowly pulled his seatbelt on, and then stared out the windshield. Was it possible Libby was seriously on a date with some guy named Javier? Had she been dating her mother’s preferential men all this time on the side?
He shook that last part out of his head. There was no way Libby was courting multiple men. She didn’t have time. She was with Jason nearly every night she wasn’t working. Unless she was also lying about even having a job as a flight attendant, she couldn’t be seeing other people.
But what about tonight? Who the hell is Javier?
There was only one way to find out.
Jason opened his phone and used the app to locate Libby. Sure enough, Libby was indeed at Don Juan’s. Jason started the engine, and pulled away from the house. It took less than three minutes to reach the restaurant, and Jason immediately spotted Libby’s Honda in the parking lot. At least that part was true. She was undoubtedly eating at Don Juan’s.
Jason’s heart pounded as he stepped down from his car and headed for the entrance. The place was crowded. Not surprising. As he pushed through the front door, he reminded himself to calm down. He scanned the restaurant and immediately found her.
Libby. His Libby. The woman he’d fallen in love with in less than a month. The woman who was everything he’d ever wanted in a partner. The spunky woman who managed everything on her own to prove she could do anything she set her mind to. The one who turned that power over to him as soon as he shut the bedroom door.
She looked as gorgeous as ever, and she was smiling genuinely at the man across from her.
For a minute, Jason simply stood there staring, unsure how the hell he wanted to proceed.
And then Libby’s face turned his way. The moment she spotted him, her expression fell and she jumped to her feet.
Jason glanced from her shocked expression to her date and back. He didn’t need an explanation. He could see perfectly well with his own eyes that indeed Libby had gone out with another man while she was supposed to be at her parents’ house telling them she had a boyfriend.
He turned around and pushed the door open, leaving the restaurant. He took long, fast strides to cross the parking lot, his heart thumping with fury.
“Jason,” Libby yelled from behind him.
He knew he had several yards on her, so he picked up the pace and made it to his car before she caught up with him. She must have been running.
“It’s not what you think,” she began.
He glared at her and then yanked his car door open and climbed in. “Really? Because it looks to me like instead of telling your parents you
have a serious boyfriend, you’re out on a date with another man, which confirms what your mom told me.”
Her eyes went wide. “You spoke to my mom?”
“Don’t look so shocked, Libby.” He grabbed the door.
“You’re just going to leave? Without letting me explain?” She took a step back.
“What the hell is there to explain, Libby? Clearly, I’m just your dirty little secret. I don’t think you have any intention of ever telling your parents about me.” He was furious and hurt and pissed-off with himself for letting things go this far. He’d seen the signs all along. Why did I let her string me along all this time?
Libby gasped. “Jason.”
“How long did you plan to carry on this farce? Did you think you could use me for good sex while continuing to search for a suitable man to marry?”
She gasped.
He gripped the door handle. “I’m done, Libby. I’m not your plaything. Been there. Done that. Won’t do it again.” He tipped his head back and gave a sardonic laugh. “Guess I already did though, didn’t I? I let you string me along for a month. At least I got wiser sooner this time. Enjoy your life, Libby. Find someone else to fuck on the side while you marry a boring man who pleases your mom. It’s not going to be me.”
Jason shook with fury as he shut the door, started the engine, and pulled away. He didn’t give a shit that she was standing in the parking lot still talking. His pride was hurt in a big way, and he was far too angry to continue this conversation.
Instead of going home, Jason decided he needed a drink. More than one. He turned in the direction of a local bar where he sometimes met up with the guys.
Just as he was pulling in, his phone rang. He glanced at it, determined to ignore Libby entirely. The incoming call was from Kraft. Jason stared at it a moment and then took the call. “I’m kinda busy right now, Kraft. Do you need me for anything important?”
Kraft’s breath hitched. “You okay? You sound incredibly pissed.”
Layover (Open Skies Book 1) Page 14
