by Jen Talty
“You don’t believe me?”
“We both want mutually satisfying sex, but we can’t have it with each other. I bet Lucy would be willing.” Shit. She cringed. She really didn’t want to pick a fight. She only wanted to admit she was attracted to him, but that in the end she only wanted his friendship, nothing more.
“I don’t want Lucy. I want you.” He stood. “And I don’t want you one time, or a couple of times. I want to be with you in a relationship that has the potential to become permanent, and I’m willing to wait for it.” He turned on his heels and headed into the house, leaving her sitting under the tree wondering what the hell had just happened.
11
“Are you going to ignore me for the next four days?” Jack pulled the rental car into the hotel parking lot.
“And I thought it was you ignoring me.” She stared out the window.
“We need to talk about my confession.” He waved his hand in front of her face.
“I think we need to stop doing that.”
He laughed, although he didn’t find it funny, but for now he’d let it go. “This hotel is too expensive.”
“We got a good deal,” Courtney said. “And for my room, I used points.”
“I hate that you did that.” He took the key cards and headed toward the elevators and their adjoining rooms. “You’re my caddy; I should be paying you.”
That posed a different problem, but he was going to do his best to keep his eye on the prize.
And not the woman of his dreams.
“You’ll pay me back when you start winning,” she said. “I’m going to call home, and then we can go to the restaurant across the street for dinner.”
“I’ll leave the door open in between rooms. Just open yours and let me know when you’re ready.” Jack made a beeline for the bathroom to splash cold water on his face. Being this close to Courtney all night was going to be a challenge. He flopped onto the bed, stretching his arms wide, and stared at the ceiling fan.
A tap at the door startled him.
“Bri wants to talk to you.” Courtney stood between the two rooms holding out her phone.
“Is she okay?” Jack propped himself up on his elbows.
“She wants to wish you good luck.”
Jack took the phone. “Hey there, munchkin.”
“Hi, Jack. Grandpa is pacing outside.”
Jack laughed. “I’m sure he is, but you tell him that I’m going to get a bite to eat and go right to bed. And tomorrow I plan on crushing it.”
“I’m going to watch on TV!”
He doubted he’d get much screen time, but as long as he made the cut, he’d be happy. “When they announce my name at the first tee box, I’ll blow you a kiss.”
“I’ll blow one right back,” Bri said with a giggle.
“Here’s your mom. Be a good girl for your grandpa.”
“I will. I love you, Jack.”
He sucked in a deep breath. His heart squeezed tight and struggled to beat normally. Hearing those words fall so genuinely from the little girl’s lips drew tears to his eyes. He knew she meant that. Her innocence wouldn’t allow that kind of betrayal.
But he wasn’t worthy of her love.
“I love you right back,” he said before handing the phone to Courtney. He closed his eyes and breathed in slowly, as if he were just chilling, waiting for his caddy to finish her phone call.
Only he was dying a little bit inside.
Everything he wanted in life he’d found, only they didn’t belong to him.
He felt the bed shift. He opened his eyes to find Courtney leaning against the headboard, hugging one of the pillows with a deep expression.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“You’re furrowing your brow, and whenever you do that, something is troubling you.”
She chuckled. “I suppose I do.”
He scooted to a sitting position and tapped her temple with his index finger. “So, what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”
“She’s falling in love with you, and it’s going to break her little heart when you walk out of her life.”
“What makes you think I’m going to walk away?” He never planned on disappearing again. He wanted Rudy, Courtney, and Bri to be a part of his life. The problem was he wanted Courtney in a forever way, and if he couldn’t have that, he wasn’t sure how healthy it would be for all of them if he were to stick around so closely.
That said, he’d make sure he would protect Bri’s heart. That was a promise he knew he could keep.
“You’ve got the most natural talent of anyone I’ve ever met.”
“You don’t get out enough then.”
She laughed. “Seriously though. If you can keep your head out of your ass and stay away from women and drugs, you’ll be at the top of the money charts by the end of the year and making a sweep of the majors soon enough.”
“Thanks for the confidence, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be abandoning you or Bri.” He arched a brow. “I’m not Tom.”
“No. You’re definitely not him. But in some ways, you’re worse.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” He bolted upright and stared at her with his mouth gaping open.
“Bri’s a smart girl. She knows the difference between when someone genuinely cares about her and her family and when someone is just going through the motions. But Tom is her father, and he’s supposed to love and protect her.”
“But he doesn’t. And I’m not following.”
“If you’d be quiet and let me finish, I’ll explain it to you.” She cocked her head with a sarcastic grin.
“Go ahead.” He waved his hand.
“It took Tom four months before he held her when no one was looking. It drove me nuts what a great show he’d put on for the cameras, and oh boy, it did a number on Bri.”
Jack would never completely understand why Courtney let Tom do that to Bri, or to her, but he’d never judge her for it. “Bri is bouncing back nicely from all the crap her father has put her through.”
“I’m responsible for some of that,” Courtney said. “What you have to understand is that Bri doesn’t tell her father that she loves him. Not that she sees or talks to him often. But when you leave her life, it’s going to break her little heart.”
“I’m not leaving. I’ll be on the road a lot, but I keep telling you that I’m a patient man and I’ll wait.”
“You don’t get it,” she said under her breath. “If you and I were to happen, Tom would insert himself into our lives and into Bri’s. I can’t have that.”
“Courtney.” Jack reached out and lifted her chin. “I’m here, and he’s barely inserted himself back into your life. He’s all talk.”
“You don’t know that.”
“He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“He’s got that text that proves I tried to kill myself. He has pictures of me doing drugs after Bri was born. He has a plethora of shit on me, and he’ll take Bri from me. When we got divorced, the deal was I got Bri, and neither one of us aired our dirty laundry.”
Jack shifted on the bed and leaned against the headboard. “What if there was some dirty laundry on him that had nothing to do with you?”
“What does that mean?” she asked with wide eyes.
“I lived through some dark days when I was deep into my drug use, and some really bad shit went down. There is this one night that is very fuzzy, but Tom was there, and something happened. There was talk that Tom could have been responsible. However, it went away.”
“What happened?” Courtney jumped to her knees.
“I was wasted, and the details are beyond fuzzy.”
“You’re talking about the night Taylee was raped?”
Jack swallowed. That had been a horribly fucked-up night. Someone had slipped something into Taylee’s drink, and she woke up in the backyard naked, beaten, and without a clue as to who hurt her. The only memory she had was of doing lines of co
caine with Jack.
“I know you didn’t rape her,” Courtney said.
Jack let out a sarcastic chuckle. “That was proven without doubt.” But it had been the straw that broke the camel’s back, sending Jack into oblivion. A month after that party, he’d had words on the driving range with Tom. Jack had been higher than a kite that morning. His sham of a marriage was over. The press had a field day with the whispers of rape and his womanizing ways, which he couldn’t deny. He’d gotten caught with his pants down more than once, and on that morning as well. His sponsors were pulling away left and right. He knew he was washed-up and his career was over. He’d been out of his mind, and he couldn’t even remember what he’d been thinking, other than he’d been hoping he’d win the tournament, get a hefty check, and then maybe go to Aruba.
“But someone at that party did.” Fuck. Deep down he’d always believed he’d known who’d done it. Hell, he and Taylee had talked about who could have, and one name kept coming up.
Tom.
Courtney hugged the pillow tighter. “You think it was Tom.”
“I honestly don’t know.” That wasn’t a lie.
“Taylee hasn’t spoken to me since that night, and about a year ago she moved to San Diego.” Courtney banged her head against the headboard. “Tom has a violent streak. I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“Did he ever…did he…” Jack couldn’t bring himself to trip over the words rape when it came to Courtney.
She didn’t have to say anything. The pain etched in her pale-blue eyes said it all.
“Jesus, Courtney.”
“We had a volatile relationship.”
Jack wiggled his fingers. He wanted to put his fist through the wall. “Volatile? That fucking asshole should be in jail.”
“I know. And if I could put him there, I would. But the best I have is getting him legally out of mine and Bri’s life. I spoke to my lawyer, and we’re so close to getting him on abandonment. All I want is to have a little more control where even if he does come at me with my past drug use or my suicide attempt, it won’t matter.”
“I’m so sorry I’ve let you down,” Jack said. “I don’t ever want to be that person again. I care so much for you.”
He yanked her into his arms and buried his face in the warmth of her neck, feeling her pulse beat wildly against his skin.
Her soft hands splayed across his back and moved slowly toward his shoulders before she gripped him so tightly he thought he might suffocate. She tucked her face into his chest. “Jack?”
“Yes, babe.” He cupped the back of her head, stroking her hair.
Her body stilled as she took in a deep breath and lifted her head. “My father has a rule about these things,” she mumbled before she leaned into him, pressing her mouth over his. Her warm lips gently stroked his, sending a shock wave throughout his entire system.
He wrapped his arms around her firm, thin frame and pulled her against his hard body as he rolled to his side.
Her tongue dance with his to the sweet music their soft moans created. Her hands clasped around his neck, she planted tiny wet kisses across his face until she landed on his mouth once again. She tasted like honey and felt like warm sunshine in his arms.
She felt like home.
“I’ve been told I’m a rule breaker.” He nibbled on her earlobe, dotting her sweet neck with kisses, making his way down toward her soft mounds pressing against her blouse.
Her fingers dug into his scalp as he fiddled with the buttons, exposing a lacy tan bra with a front clasp. He knew he should take his time and not act like a horny teenager, but staring at her wide-open shirt and her hard nipples pushing against the fabric of her undergarment, there was no way he was going to wait to see the beauty that lay beneath.
The moment he exposed her breasts to the cool air-conditioning, her nipples tightened and puckered. He reached out and traced the outline of her areola with his index finger.
She gasped, sucking in a breath. Goosebumps spread over her milky soft skin.
He drew a nipple into his mouth and sucked hard, twisting and swirling it.
“Oh, Jack,” she said as she arched her back. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and she wrapped her legs around his body, pulling him down on hers. She rolled her hips against his hardness, driving him over the edge.
He stood, grabbing her from behind the knees and yanking her to the foot of the bed. As quickly as he could, he removed the rest of her clothing. Staring at her naked body, the oxygen left his lungs as if an elephant had sat on his chest and wasn’t getting up anytime soon.
Dropping to his knees, he lifted her legs and rested them over his shoulders. He kissed the back side of her calves and licked his way up her inner thighs. “You’re so beautiful.” He lifted his gaze and once again, she stole his breath.
She’d propped herself up on her elbows and stared down at him with laden eyes and a sexy smile.
His heart nearly stopped. It had been months since he’d had sex, and all of a sudden, he wasn’t sure he knew what he was doing, much less had the ability to satisfy a woman. He swallowed. Hard.
She licked her lips as she raised her hand and brought it to her breasts.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he whispered as he lowered his head and slowly dragged his tongue across her, tasting what could only be described as the sweetest most decadent thing he’s ever had the pleasure of tasting.
He got drunk on her, and he knew without a doubt there’d never be another woman who could affect him the way Courtney did. He suspected that back then.
He knew it now.
She tightened around his fingers and tongue. Her heels slammed into his back as she arched, crying out his name.
It wasn’t until she pulled at his hair that he decided he should stop.
He lifted his head and smiled.
She stared at him with wide eyes. Her chest heaved up and down as if she’d gotten the wind knocked out of her.
Gently, he reached between her legs and touched her tight nub.
Her body jerked and quivered.
She dropped her head back. “Oh, dear Lord,” she whispered, biting down on her lower lip. “Please. I want to feel you inside me.”
He stood. “Your wish is my command.”
“And you should be careful standing like that.”
Before he had a chance to catch his breath, she was on her knees with her hands pushing his jeans over his hips. “What are you doing?”
She curled her fingers around the length of him.“What you would wish for if you had the chance to ask for it.”
He groaned while her hot tongue flicked out of her mouth and rolled over the tip. Her hands glided gently, but firmly up and down his shaft. “I’m not complaining,” he managed with a ragged breath. “But I didn’t wish for that…out loud.”
She held him in her hands and looked up at him, licking her lips with a wicked smile. “But you did wish for it inside your head.”
“Oh, hell yes.” He ripped his shirt off and tossed it to the floor. His heart pounded so fast he thought it might jump right out of his chest. He’d dreamed about this moment for a long time, and he knew it would blow his mind, but never in a million years did he believe it would bring him to his knees, reducing him to near tears.
He kicked his jeans off and pushed Courtney onto her back and lowered herself between her legs. Slowly, he entered her, watching as her eyelids fluttered.
She rolled her hips, encouraging him to pick up the pace, and while he wanted to do everything in his power to make it last. He wouldn’t deny her what she wanted.
Her heels dug into his ass. “Oh, my God, Jack.” She gripped his shoulders with her fingers so hard he thought she might have drawn blood. Her body trembled, pulling him into her orgasm. His climax spilled out, making him shudder. He couldn’t catch his breath. His lungs burned.
His heart ached.
He loved this woman.
Loved her more than life itself.
He loved her more than golf.
And he knew what he had to do, even if it meant he’d once again lose everything to do it.
12
“Dad, it was fantastic.” Courtney raised her glass of wine and took a sip. The entire weekend had been beyond anything she could have imagined.
And it wasn’t just the great sex.
Though she’d like to believe that it helped how Jack played the game. Of course, if he hadn’t won, or placed, she’d have to blame it on the extracurricular activities.
“I’ve never seen him so focused before. I know it’s only the second tournament, but I do believe he’s changed.”
“So do I.” Her father raised his glass. “But I worry about the mounting pressure not to mention what money does to that young man. Jack’s always had an eye for quality, and he likes having the best.”
She understood her father’s concern. She’d be lying to herself if the same thought didn’t rattle around in the back of her mind. “Only, he’s seen the other side of what fame and fortune can do to a person. Did you see his interviews? That humbleness wasn’t a game. He wasn’t playing to what he thinks everyone wants to hear. That’s the real Jack. The one we both love.”
“Love?” Her father lowered his voice and raised a brow.
She rolled her eyes.
“I did notice you’ve been glowing ever since you got back.”
Heat rose to her cheeks. Butterflies filled her gut. “I’m happy for Jack.”
“I know, but something else has changed. Or happened and based on those big wide eyes of yours, I’m not sure I want to know.”
One of the conditions of her moving home when she left Tom had been she had to be honest, something she hadn’t been with her father since she’d turned eighteen. Well, she was now twenty-four and other than the constant problems Tom brought to her world, she’d successfully turned her life around. She even planned on moving out, but her father begged her to stay. He liked having his granddaughter around, and since he was single and had no prospects, Courtney couldn’t leave him.
And why would she.
The house was huge, and they got along great.
