Besides, she was needed here. Alex would never need her the way these people did, she comforted herself with the thought.
She settled into her mother’s ancient, creaky oak office chair and powered up her brand new computer. Her mother claimed computers had been donated to businesses all over the neighborhood from a charitable foundation. The idea had barely made a ripple in Jaye’s mind. The new machine made her time in the shop go faster. Giving her more time to mourn.
She wasn’t convinced that was such a good thing.
She rifled through the stack of mail for invoices. A shadow appeared at her shoulder. She turned and faced her mother. “I don’t know how you managed to keep a roof over our heads all those years. You’re disorganized and what’s worse, you don’t care,” she said, flapping last month’s invoice from the hair products supplier in the air between them.
“I kept the roof over your head by watering down the shampoo and conditioner, of course,” her mother drawled. She leaned on the doorframe, her arms under her ample breasts.
Her green eyes, so much like Jaye’s, clouded with concern. “Baby, please talk to me.”
Jaye got up, went to her backpack and pulled out her laptop. “No time, Mom. I’m on the road again in fifteen minutes.”
It had been heaven to get out on her bike and pedal as far and as fast as she could. But no matter how she tried, she couldn’t escape her treacherous heart. Broken and bleeding, it still continued to beat, still yearned, still dreamed.
Tears sprang to her eyes and frustration rolled into her belly, toppling her intention to keep all the hurt to herself. She bit her lip, turned toward the one woman who would understand and forgive her foolishness.
But her mother’s attention had been drawn by some commotion in the shop.
“Oh my word, would you look at him?” her mother’s voice took on a note of wonder and Jaye leaned forward to see who had come in. It was Carl!
He turned and held the door open, his back straight, his shoulders as broad as Alex’s. She held her breath, and her heart stopped bleeding as Alex stepped through the door.
“What a man,” her mother sighed. She smoothed a hand across her smock, then up to her hair. With everything in place, she straightened her back and went perfectly still.
Carl strode, silver-haired and rugged into the middle of the gawking old ladies. His gaze settled on Jaye’s mother and he smiled masculine appreciation at sight of her. “You must be Jaye’s mother. I can see the resemblance. You have a beautiful daughter who is only going to get more so.”
Jaye heard a feminine squeak from her mother’s throat. She pushed her out into the center of the beauty shop floor, but kept her gaze locked on Alex as she moved stiffly through the middle of the shop.
Alex moved, too, faster and faster, his long strides full of purpose and then he was on her, his arms around her, his lips on hers. She clasped his head and kissed him back, with desperation and need in every cell.
Desperation? Yes, she accepted. Need? Definitely. She pulled back to see if her feelings were mirrored in his eyes. Yes! “Alex, you’re here. Why?”
The ladies in the shop started applauding, and this time the hood dryers were lifted as they stared, misty-eyed at Jaye and Alex.
Without a word, Alex ushered her out of the shop.
She’d tried to pretend she hadn’t dreamt of Alex turning up some day. Standing on a street corner with wilted flowers maybe. Or sending her dozens and dozens of roses, or running to catch the bus she was on, or chasing her on her bicycle or a million and one corny things. But never had she imagined him walking into her mother’s beauty salon.
Outside, a pearl white Hummer stood at the curb. Alex opened the back door for her and held out his hand in a courtly gesture. Her heart hammered, her breath disappeared and her mind reeled. He’s here, he’s here! She flashed on the memory of her daydream: her, climbing out of a carriage, him waiting to hand her down.
The strength of his fingers warmed her chilled ones. He tugged her close for a hug, then slid his hands to her butt to get her to climb into the vehicle. The familiar feel of his hands, the scent of his aftershave, the taste of his lips, dazed her. He’s here, he’s here!
He followed her into the back seat and gathered her close. The black tinted windows gave them all the privacy they needed.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “I left you in the middle of the night, made Carl bring me home early. I abandoned you and reneged on our deal.”
“Shut up and kiss me.” He held her head still and waited. His eyes searched hers, so hungry she could weep.
“I’m afraid.” She couldn’t take it if this wasn’t real, if it meant nothing more than another good time. “If I kiss you, I won’t be able to stop. It’ll hurt when you leave. It’ll hurt worse than anything I’ve suffered the last two weeks. I can’t do that again.” She’d told him she loved him. And then she’d run away. What must that have done to him?
“You won’t have to.” His eyes, fierce and loving pulled at her in the old familiar way and she softened against his chest.
“Love me Jaye. That’s all I ask.”
She moved her head to his, touched his lips with hers and fell into love all over again. It swooped and grabbed her, held her, and she knew her love for him was forever. Terrified, she struggled against the tide of arousal, but soon faltered.
Her head had been turned again.
Heat exploded between them and Alex released her from thrall long enough to get her out of her bicycling shorts. She straddled him and slid down the length of his burgeoning cock and settled home. He cried out at the slick feel of her, and she laughed at the joy of their reunion.
She rocked and rolled three times before her release caught her and she rode it out, bringing him with her.
Replete for the moment, she tilted her forehead to his and chuckled. “How long?”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t manage to be away for longer than a couple days this time. Is that all right?”
But his eyes were not on her face, and his fingers were busy tugging her T-shirt up and off her. “I need to see you. All of you.”
She laughed and helped him remove her cycling bra. Her breasts sprung free and he gathered them to his lips. Her thoughts scattered when his mouth tugged a nipple inside. His teeth scraped across the achy bud and sent ripples of heat to her center.
She gathered his face to her chest and held on, burying her nose in his hair. He lapped at her breasts, pulled the nipples into his hot wet mouth. The smell of him was so dear, so loved, so arousing she squirmed on his lap. And found his cock hard and ready again.
She swirled a figure eight on his lap, and his eyes flared at the friction. She hummed her readiness.
He tussled her onto her back and draped her knees over his shoulders. Spreading her wide he thumbed her clit, smearing their combined juices around and around the aroused flesh. “This is not the time for teasing, Alex. Believe me, this is not the time.”
She bucked into his hand reaching for the magic he promised with his touch.
He bent his head to her slit, opened the hood that covered her clitoris and took the bud into his mouth. He sucked her until she cried out in frustration.
“Love me, Jaye.”
“I’m trying to but—”
“Love me, Jaye?”
“Just do it, put your cock inside me and—”
He slid back on the seat away from her. One finger tapped against her clit, keeping her on the edge of sanity.
“Love me Jaye?”
It was then she realized he was asking, not demanding, not ordering, but asking.
“I do love you. Why do you think I had to leave?”
“Tell me.”
“I love you. But you don’t need me. This is a fling for you. A…a…dalliance.” Even as she said it, she hoped she was wrong. He drew her close then rose onto his knees. The tip of his cock nudged her open crease.
“This is no fling,
Jaye. I need you more than you’ll ever know.” He pressed his cock inside and slid in deep.
A cry tore from his throat as he pushed in further. “I love you. I need you. I always will.”
The kiss Alex gave her rocked through to Jaye’s soul. “Are you sure? Really sure? Because—Oh!—that’s good—yes, right there. Fuck me.”
He stopped. “See? That’s what gets to me. Your complete dedication. That’s what I need, Jaye. All of you.”
She bit back a cry. “Can we talk about this in a few minutes?”
He laughed and rocked into her and took her to the stars.
Jaye and Alex didn’t come up for air again until they heard voices from outside the vehicle.
“I think it’s him,” she heard someone say.
“Nah. Don’t be stupid, boy. What would he be doing here?” An older voice. Jaded. Beaten down.
Jaye mouthed, “Dexter Jones and his son.”
“I dunno, checking things out?”
“Are they talking about you?” Jaye whispered. They snuggled together on the wide back seat, sated again.
He flushed from his neck to the tips of his ears. “Afraid so.”
A suspicion wormed through her. “Does this have anything to do with that office down the block?” The foundation that had given away scores of computers.
“It could.”
Aside from the computers, she’d come home to find some of her clients fully bankrolled. Their backer had remained anonymous.
She hadn’t connected the events to Alex because it had all begun before she’d left him. “When did you—?”
“I listened, Jaye.” He shrugged. “I heard everything you said about what some of these small business people have to deal with. Your commitment to them touched me.”
“Is that all?”
“No,” he colored again. “I realized that I’ve let some important things slide. You pointed those things out every time you talked about your son and your business.” He slid his fingertip to her chin. “Speaking of your son, I want to meet him. And I’d like to give you another if you’re up for it.”
“You want a family?”
“More than anything. I want to raise them with you. Grow old with you. If you’ll have me.”
Her heart shattered and reformed in her chest, surrounding a pearl of love. “Alex,” she murmured on a hushed breath. “Oh, Alex. I love you so.”
“Jaye, that’s not enough. I want forever. Marry me, Jaye. I love you. What do you say?” Doubt clouded his vision, his hands shook and she finally took pity.
“I’m here with your come inside me, the scent of you on my skin and my heart in your hands and you think I’m not saying yes?”
“Then love me, Jaye. Now and forever.”
“Forever,” she promised, finally believing in happily ever after.
About the Author
Bonnie Edwards lives with her husband and pets in the rainy Pacific Northwest where it’s easy to stay inside to write. But walking in the woods gives her plenty of inspiration for her earthy irreverent love stories. After selling everything from financial services to sexy lingerie she’s finally doing what she loves best: writing hot spicy romance! Bonnie writes for multiple publishers (novels, novellas and short stories) and helped launch the Kensington Aphrodisia imprint with “Bodywork” in The Hard Stuff. Sometimes her stories have a paranormal twist, likes curses and ghosts. Other times she has quirky heroines, but she always has sexy heroes, like men in tool belts, or tycoon playboys…She writes them all! She loves to hear from readers. Stop by www.bonnieedwards.com to sign on for her newsletter, or enjoy sample chapters, but take a fan and asbestos gloves because it’s hot in there!
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ISBN: 978-1-4268-9665-1
Copyright © 2011 by Bonnie Edwards
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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