“My mom swears that the only moisturizer a woman really needs is extra-virgin olive oil.”
Shannon gave her a quizzical look. “Really?”
“Yes, really. And considering she has the most flawless, luminous complexion and she’s in her late fifties but easily passes for early forties, I’d have to agree. I’ve been using a cold-pressed organic variety that I pick up at the co-op for years now and love it.” Apple stopped walking and leaned toward her. “Feel my cheek.”
They’d just reached the bar and Jake must have overheard her, because he started laughing and shook his head, giving her a mischievous look. “Don’t tempt me.”
Not that cheek. Jeez. “This place is nuts tonight. You’ve got another great turnout,” she said, ignoring his comment even though she had butterflies because of it.
Jake waved a white bar towel at the crowd, a wry, crooked smile on his face. “You can thank Fortune’s dear residents. They make it what it is.”
It was more than that, but she let it go. Instead she looked up and down the bar and squeezed between two occupied bar stools when it was the only opening she found.
“By the way, nice grunge look.” He’d gone all out for the night, or so it seemed. But one never really knew with Jake. His T-shirt with the black-and-white image of Eddie Vedder from his Pearl Jam days smoking a cig and looking soulful while he gazed off into the distance and the blue plaid flannel he’d tossed over it might have been his everyday wardrobe.
If Apple was a seventies-throwback queen, then Jake owned the nineties. Or was it that the nineties owned him?
He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I figured I could dress for the occasion since it was as easy as opening my closet.” He raised a brow, giving her a quick up-and-down. “Looks like you did the same.”
Shannon tapped Apple on the shoulder, turning her attention. “I just spotted Sean, and there’s a seat in front of him, so I’m going to snag it before someone else does.”
She waved her friend off and watched as Shannon made her way to her man, who was also busy behind the bar, pouring pints and looking like he was having a grand time—wearing what else but flannel. The signature trend of the nineties.
About to move off and find a seat somewhere away from the bar, she had a quick change of heart when a man in his late fifties in MC Hammer‒style pants and a sleeveless hypercolor T-shirt slid off the stool next to her and slipped into the crowd. Before anyone else could move in, Apple claimed it.
“I think I’ll have a drink,” she said to no one in particular—least of all Jake. He was down the bar halfway leaned over it, grinning at a group of what could only be co-eds from Archer as they fawned over him.
Ignoring the annoyance trying to rise inside her, Apple focused her gaze past him, finding Aidan all the way down the other side. Like the other Bachelors, he was wearing a T-shirt and flannel, only where Jake was sporting a navy blue ski cap along with his signature face stubble, Aidan’s shaggy auburn hair was hidden underneath a Booker Construction ball cap and he was clean shaven. For a brief moment she stopped to appreciate how handsome they all were.
The Bachelors of Fortune really were something.
Hooking her Docs on the bottom rung on her bar stool, Apple took the opportunity to scan the brewpub, noting that an awful lot of women were cozied up to the bar. A disproportionate number, in fact. Not that she could blame them really. Three hotter guys had never graced Fortune in all its history.
The rest of the crowd was either out on the makeshift dance floor cutting loose, or they were outside on the brick patio socializing around the water fountain. Apple was impressed that Jake had kept the flowers surrounding it alive, but he had, and it made the whole patio space relaxing and beautiful.
Interesting that a guy like him had created and cared for a thing like that. She wondered for a second what that said about him. What it meant.
Then Jake threw back his head on a howl of laughter, his smile out in full force for those barely legal college girls, and a stab of jealousy almost gutted her when one kissed him enthusiastically on the cheek. Reacting swiftly, Apple shoved away from the bar, leaving him to his flirting. It’s not like she should be surprised by it. Just because earlier that day he’d kissed her stupid and then reluctantly shooed her out to finish his work didn’t mean anything. Not to him. Even if he had called her his queen. God, she knew that. She really did.
Still, Apple glared at him over her shoulder, but the jerk was too busy getting his ego stroked to notice. Why had she even bothered to come tonight?
Oh that’s right, because he’d asked her to. Maybe somebody should remind him of that little fact? She supposed she could, but at that moment she was just too mad. How could he have been so passionate with her just last week and so flirtatious with other women now—just like his giving her that incredible orgasm didn’t matter one single bit?
Hard, cold reality splashed her in the face like ice water. Maybe it really hadn’t mattered to him. Wasn’t this who he really was? Everybody said so.
Should she just go home? Really, what had she hoped to gain by coming tonight? She didn’t know what was going on her between her and Jake—or if there was anything going on at all to begin with. Jake Stone was not a one-woman man.
Had she actually thought he was? Or could be? More scarily, did she need him to be because Nell was right: She was in love with Jake?
Just then a commotion at the far end of the bar caught her attention. She moved through the watching crowd to get a better view, and her stomach squeezed at the scene that greeted her, all thoughts of her predicament disappearing instantly. Aidan had his back to her, and his arms were crossed and his feet planted in a wide stance.
And there in front of him, giving him the dressing down of a lifetime was someone Apple had thought she’d never see again. Someone she knew Aidan had hoped not to.
Megan Hardy.
Shit, she’d forgotten that the woman’s grandmother had just passed away.
Apple pushed through the crowd farther as her heart leapt into overdrive. Aidan was a big boy, but his ex-fiancée had gutted him like week-old fish back in college. It had taken him forever to heal and move on. And she . . . well, she felt damn protective.
She’d just reached them when Aidan said, “No, I didn’t expect you to show up. Figured it’d be too inconvenient for you.”
“My grandmother died, you ass. Of course I was coming back for the funeral. What do you think I am, a monster?” Megan said. “Why do you always have to be so nasty?”
“Always is quite the overstatement, Meg, considering I haven’t seen or heard from you in over ten years,” Aidan practically growled.
Apple was about to interrupt but was waylaid by Jake when he latched onto her elbow and began dragging her away.
“What are you doing?” she hissed, craning her neck for one last shamelessly voyeuristic view before he tugged her out of sight.
“Letting Aidan have his moment. I suggest you do the same. He’s waited a long time, Apple.”
She hmphed and tried to yank her elbow out of his grip, but he held tight. “Clearly I know my cousin better than you. He needs moral support right now, not to be left alone with that, that heartless tart.”
“Leave it be, Apple.”
“But—”
“He doesn’t need you interfering.”
“But—”
“Or, offering unsolicited opinions.”
“I wasn’t—”
“You were going to, and you know it.”
“Okay, but—”
“Christ, you’re an aggravating woman.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Sure it was. You just don’t realize it yet.”
“Are all females born as stubborn as you?”
“Only the really lucky ones.” Apple smiled sweetly, batting her eyelashes.
He growled low in his throat. “You drive me crazy. You know that, right? You drive me
absolutely fucking bat-shit crazy.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I wasn’t thanking you.”
“Sure you were,” she said again, enjoying the frown on his face.
“You just don’t give an inch, do you?”
“Why would I?”
“To let a guy make up his own damn mind about something—anything?”
Raised voices came from over her shoulder again, and she tried once more to stop when she recognized Aidan’s tense voice. “Let me go.” She was already turning away from Jake and back toward her cousin, fully expecting him to release her.
“Leave it be, Apple.” His voice had a razor-sharp edge this time.
Surprised by the emotion in his voice, she darted a glance up at him. Her stomach flopped at the dark expression on his face. What in the world had happened to put it there?
Voices rose again, turning her attention back to the confrontation happening by the bar before she could ask him.
“I know what Aidan needs, Jake. I need to help him.”
Jake stopped then, rounding on her. “Why can’t you just leave the guy alone, Apple?” The fierce scowl on his face had her wondering if it was actually Aidan he was talking about.
Tipping her head back to look him square in his gorgeous brown eyes, Apple planted her hands on her hips, frowning right back. “Maybe it’s because you men are all emotionally inept and need guidance.”
“Is that so?” He took a step toward her, effectively pushing her back against the wall in the darkened nook.
“Yes, it is,” she said, suddenly short of breath and trying to bluster her way through.
Jake planted both hands on the wall behind her, pinning her in. “Maybe he was just fine, doing good even. Maybe he had everything under control until you came swishing by in your sexy short dresses and your huge damn glasses, driving him nuts and making him wonder about things he was better off leaving alone.” He leaned down and nipped the delicate skin just below her ear. “Ever consider that?”
Apple swallowed hard as heat poured between her thighs and she began to throb. God that man and his mouth. It was amazing. And doing funny things to her as he worked his way down her neck. “What am I considering?” she asked, all rational thought draining from her brain as arousal took over.
“Why you drive me crazy, woman,” he ground out between clenched teeth. Then his mouth was on hers, hard and demanding, his tongue brushing against hers impatiently. One of his hard, muscular thighs pushed between her legs, rubbed her there, and she burst into flames.
Throwing caution to the wind, Apple flung her arms around Jake’s neck and kissed him back passionately. Exactly the way she’d been daydreaming about for days, ever since their last encounter in his office. And exactly the way she’d been fantasizing about at night.
When his big, hard hands stroked boldly up her rib cage and cupped her breasts through her dress, she moaned and pushed against his muscled thigh. He groaned in response and took the kiss even deeper. She was floating, lost on a haze of desire so strong she wasn’t sure she’d ever regain her senses. Wasn’t sure if she wanted to.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he gasped raggedly after tearing his mouth from hers. “Fuck, why can’t I get enough?”
Lost in the moment, she tugged his hair and arched into him. “Again,” she demanded.
And he did. He branded her with his mouth, tongue, and hands as they roamed impatiently over her body. Like he was memorizing the shape of her, he stroked over her every dip and swell. “Jesus, Apple.”
Feeling bold, she slid a hand down his chest to the waistband of his pants. His erection strained against the front of his jeans, and she traced her fingertips up and down the length of him. “Yes?”
He hissed between his teeth and leaned into her touch.
But just then, a crowd of rowdy pub-goers came crashing around the corner, a brawl in the works. Apple jerked and dropped her hand, pushing at Jake’s chest instead.
He swore under his breath, and his hands gripped her hips, squeezing once before he dropped them slowly from her body. “Hey, jackasses, take it outside,” he demanded over his shoulder.
They didn’t appear to be in the mood to quit, but they shifted away from the two of them, giving momentary reprieve. All kinds of keyed up, Apple tried to duck out of his grasp, but Jake grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
“I need to get home. It’s getting late,” she said.
“Come with me tomorrow,” he demanded suddenly in his deep, gravelly voice.
She blinked. “What? Where are you going?”
The brawl became official then as a guy in white high tops took a swing and clocked the other man square in the jaw, dropping him to the ground. Jake scowled and swore again, taking a step toward the ruckus and then spinning back to her.
“Just say yes,” he urged again, sounding surprisingly earnest. He blew out a breath, looking momentarily torn before his eyes cleared and he said on a rush, “I’ll answer your questions if you go.”
She just kept looking at him, not knowing what to say. It was so unexpected. Such a sudden change of events.
“I swear. An honest game of strip—no hedging. You ask and I’ll answer.” He scooped her up for one more hard kiss on the mouth. “Just come.” He set her back on her feet. “Please.”
Confused and aroused like crazy, but not dumb enough to pass up that opportunity and unable to resist his plea, Apple nodded, unsure of what she was agreeing to. “Okay.”
She just hoped like hell it was something good.
Chapter Thirteen
IN THE END, Jake took her camping.
Luckily for her, that was a good thing.
He’d just shown up at her house the next afternoon with a bunch of outing gear tossed in the bed of his truck and informed her they were splitting town. No warning, no chance for her to do more than quickly toss some stuff in a bag and grab Waffles.
Sure, she could have said no, but there was less than a month until her book was due, and she needed answers now. It was quickly reaching the critical point where even if he did tell her, she flat wouldn’t have enough time to write it the rest of the way out. So when he’d shown up with a big, sexy smile on his face and told her what they were doing, she’d made a split-second decision to join him. No way could she afford to waste another minute.
Besides that, if she were totally honest with herself, she was excited at the idea of spending time alone with Jake. Uninterrupted. Maybe she could finally figure out what was going on between the two of them, if anything at all. Decide if there was something to what Nell and her mother believed.
When he kissed her, something stirred deep in her soul. And it had her wondering how honest she’d been with herself regarding Jake her whole life.
She’d always told herself that he was just her cousin’s best friend, somebody who’d never particularly liked her but had mostly tolerated her. However, if that was truly the case, why was he locking lips with her every chance he got lately? And why were the most important women in her life telling her what her feelings were, just like they were tarot cards laid out on a table.
Thoughts about Jake kissing her had run circles in her head the whole drive up Jasper’s Peak, and then on the two-mile trek in from the trailhead to a spot that Jake had picked out. If it had been any other person than Jake, she’d have said the preselected spot was evocative, romantic even. Tucked deep into a grove of lodge pole pines and on a flat bank near a crystal-clear alpine river, the camping spot heralded an unspoiled view of high mountain peaks, cresting one upon the other in a majestic display against cerulean skies. Apple slid a look at Jake in all his rugged splendor, appreciating the scenery with a deeply satisfied smile on his face, and her heart tumbled a little.
So yeah, maybe she really was just a tiny bit in love with him.
But, only a tiny bit.
So microscopic it didn’t really even count.
“We should get the tent put up before it gets dar
k. Why don’t you set your backpack down by that rock over there and we can get started?” Jake’s masculine voice cut into her musings, and she shot him a slightly startled glance, like the guilty kid caught with a hand in the cookie jar. And she blushed. She actually blushed.
“You okay?” he asked, his eyes narrowed on her.
“Ah, um, yeah,” she sputtered, jolting into motion and quickly setting down her bag. “I was just spacing a bit and you surprised me, is all.” Pasting a bright smile on her face, she rubbed her hands together. “Let’s do this.”
He gave her a quizzical look but didn’t say anything. He just got to work.
It was a surprisingly pleasant time setting up camp with him, Dregs and Waffles acting as an avid audience. Granted, it helped a ton that he was Mr. Wilderness and had such a routine with everything that all she’d really had to do was help slide a few stakes into the ground. Which for her, was just fine. As much as she adored nature, she wasn’t the most adept at doing outdoorsy stuff. She was, um, not especially skilled or graceful.
So she, Waffles, and Dregs had watched while Jake maneuvered around the campsite under the massive old pines. She enjoyed the views and chatted with him about small, inconsequential things. If there had been any undercurrent of tension or anything, she couldn’t tell. Mostly the man just looked so darn happy to be playing Bear Grylls out in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains. He’d had a lightness about him, a contentment, puttering around in nature as he was.
It made her smile to see him like that. “Who taught you how to do all this stuff?” She gestured to the expertly constructed campsite. “Which, by the way, I’m deeply appreciative for,” she added with amusement in her voice.
Busy securing their temporary home from bear raiders, Jake sliced a piece of neoprene rope and slid his pocketknife back into his jeans before answering her. “Harvey mostly, but my dad too some. Before he really lost it, back when I was a kid. He used to take me on these treks that would take us days into the San Juans before we’d turn back.” His eyes went soft with memory, and he grinned, big and open. “We’d pan every creek we crossed, no matter how small, looking for those nuggets he loved so much.”
Talking Dirty Page 14
