Strawberry Kisses (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 2)

by Marianne Rice

  Jake lowered himself on the bench, keeping a safe distance between them. “Ross Noles is my parole officer. I’ve been meeting him at the diner every Friday at three o’clock for the past three years. I have five weeks left before I’m done serving and will be a free man. So to speak.”

  “You were in jail other than juvenile hall?”

  “Yes.”

  “For how long?”

  “Two years. Aggravated assault. A Class B crime.”

  Rachael’s hands clenched, her knuckles turning white. Jake studied her profile as she gritted her teeth, her breathing becoming more labored.

  “Yet you teach women self-defense moves. Is this to protect them against men like you?”

  “Rachael.” He placed his hand on her arm and she flinched, jumping to the edge of the bench.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  Jake dropped his head into his hands and sighed. “It’s not what you think.”

  “Like I haven’t heard that one before. You lay in bed listening to me tell you about my abuse and acted sympathetic and caring and understanding. Little did I know you were just as bad.”

  “Don’t clump me in the same category as your asshole ex-boyfriend.”

  “You think you’re better?”

  “Yes. No. Dammit, Rachael. It’s not the same thing.”

  “I’m sure your next line is going to be that he or she deserved it. That’s what he used to say to me.”

  Jake jumped to his feet, pissed that Rachael could even imagine that about him. “He. I’d never hit a woman.” Tucking his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t be as tempted to reach out and touch her, he paced back and forth.

  “That night. The night Julia left with Snake, she crashed her car. I told you that part but I left the rest out. They found signs of a struggle. Drugs in her body. But no one knew what had happened other than she’d wrapped her car around a tree. When I saw her lying in the hospital, hooked up to a thousand machines, my family hoping and praying she’d survive, I lost it. I blamed myself for not going after her earlier. I blamed my punk ass friends for getting me ripshit drunk and unable to protect her. I blamed the asshole she left with for doing this to her.” Jake stopped pacing and faced Rachael, his eyes fixed on the gazebo behind her.

  “For six days my parents and I didn’t leave the hospital. We waited while test after test was done, praying Julia would come out of her coma. I needed to be by her side when she woke. I looked for any sign of life. When the doctors said she’d survive but had brain damage, I knew someone had to pay. I couldn’t find the asshole who’d hurt her—he’d packed up and moved away before I could get my hands on him—so I hunted down someone else.”

  Jake paced again, curling his fingers in his pockets. The rage had built up inside him again as he relived that night. The anger, the fear, the evil that had taken over his body and released itself into his victim.

  “Wolf. He knew more than he would say, so I tried to beat it out of him.” The police said she’d done some drugs and that was the cause of her accident, but Jake knew better. Julia would never touch drugs; she barely drank even after she turned twenty-one. He fought for his sister’s name and reputation, but it got him nowhere. “I found our group of thugs on the streets of Portland and I jumped Wolf. I kicked him in the head. Broke his ribs, and beat the living shit out of him for protecting the guy who ruined my sister.”

  Jake returned to the bench and rested his elbows on his thighs, dropping his head down to his chest. “I wanted someone to pay. At that point I didn’t care who. Wolf had a reputation for hurting women so I let him know what it felt like.” Rachael slid closer, still not touching him. He’d completely lose it, cry like a little girl if she did. “The police showed up and yanked me off his limp body and arrested me. Since I had a list of priors longer than my attitude, the judge went pretty hard on me. I served my time and got out early for good behavior. Wolf, he’s got a permanently crippled leg and his vision out of his left eye will never be the same. He won’t hurt another woman, but I still don’t know what happened to Julia that night.”

  Rachael sniffed and he looked up into her lovely eyes. Moisture gleamed in them.

  “Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I don’t know how to deal with tears.”

  She wiped them away with her sleeve and shook her head. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry—”

  “Don’t.”

  “This time I need to. Jake, I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions. I did that with your texts from Julia. I should have learned then. I know you. The Jake Morgan I know would never hurt a woman, or a man. An innocent man. I’m sorry I reacted so terribly.”

  “You’re too quick to apologize and to forgive. Rach, I’m sorry for snapping at you. I was surprised to see you and…ashamed that you saw me with Noles. I only have a few more weeks of parole and it’s not something I’m proud of. Not something I wanted to dump on you.”

  “It’s not dumping.” Rachael placed her hand on his forearm and squeezed. “It’s what people do when they’re in a relationship. They share. They communicate. They vent. I…care about you and want to help you get through your pain.”

  “You turning shrink on me?” He winked at her, needing to lighten the mood. “I’ll never forgive myself for shrugging you off like I did. I wish you would’ve called me on it. Put me in my place. No one deserves to be treated that way. And for that, I’m really, really sorry.” Jake placed his hands on her cheeks, relieved she didn’t jump or pull away. “Can I kiss you now?”

  “I hear make up sex is supposed to be phenomenal.” Jake paused halfway to her mouth. “And I have my own private room just a half mile down the road.”

  “Babe,” he growled before crushing his mouth to hers.

  Chapter Twelve

  Rachael

  “Why didn’t we do this after our other fight?” Jake’s weight nearly crushed her, and she didn’t care. Make up sex totally lived up to its reputation. Rachael could tell he wasn’t letting himself rest completely on top of her, still, the man was solid.

  “Good things come to those who wait.”

  “Hell, I’ve been waiting twenty-nine years for you. No wonder it’s so good.”

  Rachael’s heart squeezed so hard little droplets of tears appeared in her eyes. She knew with all her heart that she loved Jake Morgan. He was everything her father would have wanted for her.

  Keith and Doreen had raised all their kids to see good in people. Not to judge on past behaviors or circumstances. Being young and naïve, she’d looked past Dylan’s problems to find the good in him, but she found herself making more excuses for him than ever finding any redeemable qualities.

  Jake, however, had a warehouse full of them. He didn’t use his past transgressions as an excuse for his behavior. Instead, he learned from them and worked hard to rectify himself.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything.” He rolled off her and turned to his side, pulling Rachael’s body into his in spoon fashion. Their fingers interlocked and she cuddled their joined hands to her chest.

  “Teaching the self-defense classes, was that part of your probation?” Jake’s body stilled behind her. “I’m not asking to judge. I’m curious.”

  “Yeah. I had to put in 300 hours of community service before my parole was up.”

  “Did they make you teach the class?”

  “Actually.” He laughed. “I had to convince Noles to let me. I’d picked up martial arts in prison and thought I could use my new skill for good.”

  “How many hours do you have left?”

  “Uh, none.”

  “That’s great. Was my class your last one?”

  Jake draped his leg over hers and sighed. “You really want to know?” He sounded unsure of himself. Maybe a bit insecure.

  “I do.”

  “I’ve more than tripled my quota. I like teaching the classes, seeing the transformation in people, the strength and confidence grow by the end of the course, so
I continued doing it.”

  “And the money students pay for your classes goes to women’s shelters and domestic abuse programs.” She felt him shrug. Rachael dislodged their hands and rolled over to caress his face, lingering her fingers over his mouth. “You’re a good man, Jake Morgan.”

  “I have a lot of sins to atone for.”

  “I think you’ve done that already.” His sad smile and downcast eyes made him appear vulnerable, despite the radical tattoo on his chest and shoulder. “Will you ever forgive yourself? Even though Julia’s accident wasn’t your fault, you’re still carrying an enormous weight on your shoulders. You have to forgive yourself, Jake.”

  He kissed her fingers and his dark eyes stared back at her. Their color and expression changed from mournful to…something more. Jake shifted closer and, draping her leg over his hip, ran his hand up and down her thigh.

  “I love you. You’re too good for me, but I can’t help it. I’m in love. With you.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and sipped her lips. “I don’t know what it means to be in love with a woman, it’s never happened before. But what I feel in here,” he placed a hand over his tattoo, “has to be love.”

  Tears rolled down her cheeks, mixing with their kiss. “I love you too, Jake. So, so much.”

  ***

  She woke in a tangle of sheets, and Jake. Purring with content, Rachael snuggled deeper into his arms and thought about how far she’d come. From the beaten girl who Luke had to come rescue, to the independent breakfast cook at the Rocky Harbor Inn who had her own apartment and the sexiest boyfriend in the world.

  Unfortunately, being a responsible adult meant she needed to get up and start working. Ellie had said muffins and scones were fine for this weekend and they’d break out the new breakfast menu next Friday. Rachael also had orders to bake for Coast & Roast. Sliding out of Jake’s warm embrace, she slipped out of bed and crept to her closet.

  Not one for showering in the morning—she woke too early and got too messy anyway—Rachael grabbed the first thing she could find in her dresser and crept to the bathroom to change. After brushing her teeth and running a brush through her hair, she turned off the light, careful not to wake Jake, and tiptoed to the door.

  “No kiss goodbye?” The bed creaked as he stirred under the sheets.

  “I didn’t want to wake you.”

  “We’ve talked about this before.”

  “I’m not allowed to apologize, am I?”

  Jake furrowed his brows at her. “You can apologize in a different way.”

  “Oh yeah? And how do you propose I beg you for forgiveness?” She meandered her way to the bed.

  “For starters, you’ll need to be naked.” Jake lifted the hem of Rachael’s T-shirt, skimming his hands up her ribs and cupping her breasts.

  “I’m not apologizing now. I have to work. I’ll make it up to you. Promise.” She placed a chaste kiss on his lips before she slipped away, ignoring his pleas, and giggled as she left her room.

  Rachael couldn’t help but grin as she replayed their evening. Jake loved her. She felt carefree and weightless. No stress on her shoulders, no pit in her stomach. They were in love and in an open, honest relationship. Life was amazing.

  As she took her fourth batch of muffins out of the oven at Coast & Roast, Rachael checked the clock. Almost six. She’d need to take inventory of the kitchen at the Inn and cart all of her supplies over to her new workspace.

  “You work too hard.” Mackenzie strolled into the kitchen and snatched up a cranberry-orange muffin, breaking off the top and shoving half of it in her mouth. “Not that I’m complaining.”

  “Pot calling the kettle. Do you ever take a day off?”

  “I think we’ve had this discussion before. Besides, I’m not leaving a hot guy in my bed every morning. If I had Sexy Six-pack in my bed you can bet your ass I wouldn’t be here at four in the morning.”

  “I’m sure that’s not entirely true. You’ve had quite a few dates since I’ve been working here.”

  “All duds. No one I’m bringing back to my place. You’re lucky. Jake seems like a good guy.”

  “He is.”

  “Wow. That look says it all. You’re totally in love, aren’t you? Mags had that same expression on her face when she fell for Graham.”

  “I’m happy.”

  “And in love.” Rachael nodded. “Good for you.”

  “Really? I pegged you as the type to guffaw at the notion of love.”

  “Just because I haven’t found my forever guy doesn’t mean I don’t believe in it. I’m happy for my friends when they find the right guy. If Mr. Right doesn’t come walking into my life in the near future I’m cool with that. I’m not ready to settle and I don’t want to deal with the hassle of trying to make someone else happy.”

  “I admire you.” Mackenzie snorted. “Seriously. You’re a strong, beautiful, independent woman who has a successful business, good friends, and an amazing baker.”

  Laughing, Mackenzie tossed the muffin wrapper in the trash. “That I do. Now get back to work before I fire your ass.”

  Beaming with pride, Rachael whipped up a triple batch of oatmeal butterscotch chip cookies then cleaned up for the day.

  ***

  It didn’t take long for them to work out a schedule. Rachael would sleep at Jake’s house Monday and Tuesday nights and he’d go into work late. Not that eight was late, but compared to the four and five o’clock alarms that they’d been used to, it felt like heaven cuddling or rolling around in bed for a few extra hours.

  Jake stayed at Rachael’s place on the weekends and they spent the other nights apart, talking to each other on the phone until they went to sleep. In a few weeks the summer people would leave, lightening the baking load. Jake’s work schedule would keep him busy until the snow fell, and then he’d spend more time at The Warehouse, teaching classes, and designing landscape ideas to pitch to businesses in the spring.

  He’d gone car shopping with her earlier in the week, helping her pick out a solid Volkswagen sedan.

  Rachael had just finished bringing in her bags from the grocery store when her cell phone beeped. She continued to empty the bags, stocking the cabinets and fridge while she answered.

  “Hey, Blondie.”

  Her face lit up. Hearing Jake’s voice would never get old. “Are you on your lunch break?”

  “I’m working through lunch today since I have to head out soon.”

  It was Friday. Jake had one more session with his parole officer and then he’d be free and clear.

  “I thought I’d grill some salmon tonight. How does that sound?”

  “Perfect. Listen, I, uh. I wanted to ask you something.”

  The serious tone in his voice caused her to pause. “Sure. Anything.”

  “Are you busy?”

  “No. Not at all. What is it, Jake?”

  “Would you, uh…would you want to come to the diner with me this afternoon? At, uh, three.”

  Her heart swelled with emotion. Sniffing back tears, she whispered, “I’d love to.” She knew how hard this was for Jake—to show her his vulnerable side, to show her the scars from his past—and she was honored that he wanted to share it with her.

  “Thank you.”

  “No, Jake. Thank you.”

  ***

  Jake

  “Ross, this is Rachael. Rachael, Ross Noles, my parole officer.”

  Rachael chuckled as she stuck out her hand. “Did you ever watch Friends?”

  Jake furrowed his brow and regarded Noles and Rachael, both laughing at some inside joke.

  “I did. My wife and I wanted to name our daughter Emma, but Rachel named her girl Emma we had to ditch it. Pretty soon Emma was the most popular on the girl’s list. My wife’s name is Jennifer and was one of a hundred Jennys, Jens, and Jennifers growing up.”

  “I’ve actually never met a Jennifer. Can you believe it?” Rachael practically ignored Jake as she made small talk, making herself comfortable in his u
sual spot in their booth.

  Jake should be irritated at being forgotten, but he slid in next to Rachael, draping his arm on the back of the bench, so proud that she was his. No, she didn’t belong to him. He didn’t own her and would never possess her, but she chose him out of the billions of people in the world to let her guard down and love.

  That made Jake feel pretty damn special. He tried to focus on the conversation, Noles lighting up when Rachael asked about his wife and kids. They shared stories he’d heard over the years about Noles’s kids, and his parole officer seemed to appreciate Rachael’s honest interest.

  “Your family sounds lovely. You must be pretty busy keeping up with your children’s activities.”

  “I am, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. And it sounds like you’ve been keeping Jake busy as well.”

  For the first time since meeting Noles, Rachael turned her sapphire eyes Jake’s way, her smile bringing out tiny lines around her eyes. Jake’s head, heart, and groin filled with pride. “I’m doing my best to keep him out of trouble,” she teased. Realizing what she may have implied, she stuttered and faced Noles again. “I mean, it’s not that Jake has been in any trouble. Not that I know of. He’s a wonderful man. Kind to his employees, an amazing instructor, wonderful with—”

  “Easy, Blondie. Noles doesn’t need you to defend me. That’s not why I brought you here.” He ran his hand through her hair, happy to see it down and free-falling around her shoulders. He especially enjoyed when she was on top of him and her hair fell into his face. Or brushed against his stomach and thighs as she…Yeah. The last thing he needed was a raging hard on.

  “I’m sorry. I…” Rachael bit her lip and looked between Jake and Noles.

  “No need. Ross has given me a clean bill of health.” He winked, continuing to play with her hair. “He’s been an integral part of my recovery and I wanted to show you off. I mean, if I can land a girl like you, I must be fixed, right?”