by Mae Martini
Chapter 22
Jake got out of his truck and swiftly, but silently walked to Doug.
“Hey!”
Doug turned around. It took him a moment to realize Jake was standing in front of him, a moment too long, however. The next thing he saw was Jake’s fist coming at him.
They both heard a sickening crunch when the punch landed on Doug’s nose, and blood came pouring out of both of his nostrils.
Doug wildly swung at Jake’s face, but Jake was quick enough to deflect the blow, but not quick enough that Doug’s skull ring scraped against his nose. He felt liquid slowly drip.
Jake bent low and shoved his shoulder into Doug’s stomach, sending them both to the ground with Jake on top of Doug.
Doug never gained the upper hand, and Jake was relentless with the beating he gave. A tooth went flying out of Doug’s mouth and blood oozed from there as well. Jake couldn’t give a damn about the tooth that flew out. His concern was beating the shit out of Doug.
“Fuck you, motherfu-”
Another punch landed on Doug’s mouth.
When Doug stopped moving, Jake grabbed the hair at the top of Doug’s head, and brought his face up close to his own. Doug’s eyes were wide. He looked like a scared bloody mess. Jake laughed to himself. Not so tough now, are you, you piece of shit. “You ever come near my girl again, I’ll kill you.” Jake wasn’t a violent man, but at that moment he was formidable. “And if I find out you put your stinking paws on Jennie again, we do this again.” He let go of Doug’s hair and rose as Doug’s head hit the ground.
Jake walked away without giving Doug another glance. Once in the truck, he pulled out some napkins he kept in the pocket of the door and wiped the blood from his hands then drove home.
Chapter 23
“…It’s a black tie affair in San Antonio next Saturday and I was hoping you’d be free to accompany me there.”
There was a pause before she replied. “I’d be delighted to. Thank you.”
“That’s wonderful, and, um, because it’s such short notice, I’d be happy to give you my credit card number to use to purchase a gown.”
She chuckled. “You know, I should be upset over that remark, but I’m not, seeing how you don’t know me well enough yet. I do have a couple of gowns in my wardrobe that will suffice.”
“Thank you for not taking it personal, it wasn’t meant to humiliate. It starts at seven and it’s an hour’s drive, so how does five-thirty sound?”
“Perfect.”
“Great, I’ll pick you up at your place then.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks again, I know it’s short notice. I look forward to seeing you again.” And when he hung up, he thought about how true that statement was. Ever since meeting her the week before, he couldn’t stop thinking of her.
Chapter 24
That Friday, Gia made it back to the Shady Elm before Jake got home. She removed her blazer and hung out in the kitchen helping Annie prepare some sweets for the next morning. She asked and Annie told her of some of Jake’s favorite dishes, then she went on up to Jake’s room. As soon as she closed the door, she caught the scent of flowers. She did a sweep of the room with her eyes and smiled as she saw the vases full of fresh white orchids.
After unbuttoning her blouse, she kicked off her shoes and reached the zipper at the back of her waist and unzipped. The skirt slid down around her ankles as the door to the bedroom opened.
She looked up, alarmed at first, but quickly grinned when she saw Jake. He was covered in dirt and even from the other side of the room, she could smell his sweat.
He took off his hat as he toed off his boots. His eyes were transfixed on Gia’s body. Her blouse was unbuttoned, her breasts were pushed up in a pink bra with black lace trim that seemed to glitter, a patch of panty matching the bra barely covered her mound, and her long lean legs were encased in thigh-hi black stockings with a lace border at the top. He knew he wore the most devilish grin as he watched her slink her way over to him as she removed the clip from her hair she had put up earlier when helping Annie, and shook out her locks. She removed her blouse and let it fall to the floor.
He was left breathless by her beauty, her grace, her sexual vibe.
It was a hot, dry day, and dirt kept kicking up in the pens. Even before entering the house, his thoughts were on a shower, but now all he could think about was sinking into his woman, happy with himself for washing his hands and face and dusting most of the dirt off before leaving Cord’s house.
“Stop,” he said to her in a gruff voice as she got near him.
Her eyes widened.
“Turn around.”
She did what he asked and turned around, slowly, smiling at the breath she heard him take in.
He took a step and covered her round ass with his large hands and inwardly winced. He massaged her cheeks and squeezed them as he leaned his body into her and placed kisses along her neck.
She felt a hand at the top of the string of her thong and sighed as he slipped a finger under the string and followed it down her ass, stopping by her anus to gently poke around.
“Oh, G, you’re killing me,” he said as he removed his finger and spun her around. He brought his lips down to hers in a crushing, searing kiss.
His hands began to roam around her body and he let out a gasp and involuntarily brought his right hand up and shook it.
“What happened to your hand? It’s swollen.”
“Nothing. I don’t know, I don’t remember. I must have hurt it when I started training a new mare today.”
We should put it on ice.”
“Later. Where were we?”
That’s when she saw the scratch. “You have a scratch on your nose.” She tilted her head in question.
“Yeah, I scratched myself.”
She made a sexy pout as she stood on tiptoes and lightly kissed the scratch.
He inwardly sighed and welcomed her gentleness with him. A small gesture like that made him feel loved and wanted by her. He brought his mouth down and covered her lips before she could protest.
She melded into him and having forgotten his hand; she pressed her body into his and purposely moved her hips about. He moved a hand down to her thigh and brought it up, squeezing her tight to him and breathing heavy as he rocked into her. He stopped her hands as she reached for his belt, and sucked in a breath.
He lowered her thigh and began to push away. “I’m all sweaty, baby. Let me take a quick shower.”
“Uh-uh.” She held on. “I want you like this…. raw and rugged,” her voice, a sultry whisper. She undid the buckle and swiftly worked his button and zipper. His jeans fell to the floor. He kicked them aside as she reached inside his underwear and encircled his dick. She dropped to her knees and took him in her mouth as she lowered his underwear.
He was just as feral as he smelled and looked. When he was about to explode he placed his hands under her arms and brought her up. With one thing in mind, he picked her up at the back of her thighs and walked to the bureau where he swept a coin dish and a picture frame, with a picture of his father and him when he was four years old in it, aside, and put her down. He tore her panties, brought her legs up over his shoulders and dove down.
Jake took Gia to a fancy candle lit restaurant in Austin, where there were no menus and only a handful of tables. The very attentive waiter asked them a few questions on what they liked then he proceeded to bring out seven different small courses consisting of foie gras, lobster, sea bass, a palate cleanser of sorbet, venison, dessert and candy. He even gave them some dessert to take home.
It wasn’t one of Jake’s favorite restaurants. Give him a good ol’ steakhouse and he was happy. But the look on Gia’s face was well worth it, and he would do it again in a heartbeat for her.
On the way back from the restaurant, Jake got a text from Rory asking him if he knew what happened to Doug. ‘Jimmy says it looked like a freight train ran over him’ the text said. Jake ignored it.
Before heading home that night, they made a stop at his old ranch. It was still deserted and Jake got out of the truck and put the tailgate down. He went to her side and opened the door. She gave him a puzzled look as he walked her to the back and lifted her up.
He produced a thick comforter and a fifth of Comfort, and they sipped as they watched the sun go down. Mother Nature did not disappoint. A red and yellow sky toward the west indicated it would be a hot day tomorrow.
“When I’m on Oahu, you can catch me most nights sipping a Mai Tai at Duke’s, a bar/restaurant on Waikiki, watching the sunset across the water. They say you can see a green flash just at the last moment the sun disappears.”
“Have you ever seen it?”
She hesitated, then let out a little laugh as she shook her head. “No. But, I’m determined.”
“Perhaps, we can sit there sipping a drink and seeing it together, sometime.”
“Yeah. I’d like that.” She nodded her head and smiled.
They made love under the stars. It felt so right, it felt like home. He wanted this place. He wanted her.
“Wait here.” He jumped out of the bed of the truck and ran to the cab and rummaged through the glove box. He came back and climbed back up and brought her close to him.
She furrowed her brows and giggled at his excitement.
He had a cute grin on his face when he stuck out his hand with a small long velvet box with gold ribbon around it and a gold bow in the middle. Almost like he was afraid she wouldn’t take it. “Here. I saw this and thought of you.”
“Jake? Why? You shouldn’t have,” she said bashfully, as she took the box from him. She un-wrapped and opened it. Inside was a bracelet. It was composed of a double heart in the middle with a chain linking to a gold leaf on both sides. In the middle of the linking chains was a small, delicate pearl. The double hearts had diamond chips around them and the leaves had a diamond chip at each end. Engraved in one leaf was his name and engraved in the other leaf was her name.
“When my father was dating my mother when they were teenagers, he went to New York with his family to visit some relatives, and his cousin had one of these. Her boyfriend gave it to her. She said that’s what guys gave their girls in Brooklyn, when they were going steady. He knew right then and there he wanted to get one for my mom. Now, tradition says you wear it around your neck, attached to another chain, rather than your ankle, but that was for teenagers. I don’t expect you to wear it around your neck. I thought you could bring out its beauty by wearing it around your ankle. If you want….”
“Thank you, Jake. I do know what they are. My father grew up in Richmond Hill. A part of Queens, New York. He moved out to California after college. He bought one for my mom too. I haven’t seen one of these in years. I love it.” She reached in and kissed him and then she gave him the chain to place around her ankle.
On the way home from the deserted ranch, a police cruiser flashed its lights. Gia, panicked as Jake slowed down. She knew Jake was going fast.
Jake looked in the rear view mirror and sighed as he pulled over. “Not now,” he mumbled to himself. He looked to Gia and saw her unease, and planted a little kiss on her cheek and chuckled. “It’s all right.” He began to get out. She put a hand on his arm to stop him and he turned back to her in question. “It’s only Jimmy.”
“Oh.”
Jake got out of the truck, but didn’t shut the door as Jimmy walked up to him. They shook hands. “What the hell? Shouldn’t you be chasing crooks or something?” Jake chuckled.
“Not me, I’m a-scared.” Jimmy grinned as he looked into the truck. “Hi, Gia.”
“Hi.” She smiled.
Jimmy turned back to Jake. “Did you hear about Doug?”
Jake nervously glanced toward Gia, who was watching him intently, then trained his eyes back on Jimmy. “No.” He made it a point to step away from the door and motioned for Jimmy to follow.
“Somebody beat the-”
“Shhh”
“-shit out of him last night. He lost a tooth, his ribs and nose are broken and he’s got a crack at the back of his head,” Jimmy brought it down to a whispered.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. He’s not talking though. That wasn’t you, was it?”
“Nah, no, not me.”
Jimmy stared into Jake’s eyes, making Jake uncomfortable. He nodded. “Yeah, no. I didn’t think so. Where you guys heading, Roxy’s?” He moved closer to the door and Jake stepped closer too.
“No. Home.”
“Need a police escort?”
“What, are you bored?”
“Yeah. I got another hour and want to kill time.”
Jake swung up into the truck shaking his head. “Oh, officer Landry, if your boss only knew. Sure, escort away.”
“What if his boss does find out, Jake?” Gia asked as the police cruiser got in front of them and turned on his lights. He left the siren off.
Jake chuckled. “He’ll lose his badge for a day or two and his father will be real pissed off at him.”
“His father? Well, yeah I guess s-”
“His father is the sheriff.” Jake sniggered.
Gia giggled.
When they got back to the B&B, they waved to Jimmy and walked, with his arm around her shoulders and hers around his waist, to the pool and shared a lounge chair. Both were quiet, and relaxed. She leaned back into Jake’s chest and felt so comforted wrapped in his arms, and he, breathed in her unique intoxicating scent.
He remembered talking with her about how easy it could be to transfer to Texas if she wanted. Her firm had wanted her to for a long time.
“G?”
“Mmm?”
“Ever give any more thought to coming down here to live? You know, relocate?”
She picked up her head and turned to see him. “I have.” And she searched his face for any hints of regret.
“I bought that property, and I’m going to be tapped out to fly to California every other weekend and probably too busy fixing it up.”
She nodded in understanding and smiled. “Congratulations, Jake. Why didn’t you say something before when we were hanging out over there?”
He hesitated. “I didn’t know how to tell you that I won’t have money to fly.” He put his head down.
Her neck was straining from turning, so she rose up and Jake panicked and with wide eyes, he picked his head back up in question, but she climbed back on him, facing him. He relaxed.
“Jake? I understand.” She brought her hands up to his face and held onto his cheeks as she brought her lips to his.
Her touch always seemed to make him feel good. Whole. Complete.
“You want to give it a go?” He asked after they broke the kiss. ”I’ll help you move and help you find a place.”
“You sure about wanting to give it a go?”
“Never been more sure.”
“Okay. I’ll put in for the transfer on Monday. I won’t need to look for a place, they do all that. I will probably take you up on the offer to help with the move, though.”
“Done.” His smile grew wide and he kissed her then hugged her to him.
One thing bothered Gia, though, but she didn’t relay it to him. He had never said he loved her to her. She’d never said it to him either, but she did love him, with all her heart. She was just too afraid he wouldn’t say it back to her if she were to say it first.
This move was big. Who moves to a different state on a hunch someone loves you. It was crazy, but she wanted to be closer to him, and she hated to go home to a lonely house. She wasn’t moving in with him, but she’d be a short car ride away from him instead of a plane ride away.
Her business travel itinerary would be lighter too. Over the years her taste for flying had waned and she was tired of living out of a suitcase.
Chapter 25
Having been out with her a few times now, Luke was more enthralled with her than ever before. He couldn’t remember feeling that way, well, except when he was
with his first wife.
He found himself walking the beach, just at sunrise, in deep thought. Knowing Gia was going to be in Texas that weekend he invited her out to his beach house and the fund raiser that he needed to attend that night, and was delighted she agreed, smiling when he thought about how she refused his ticket money. A different breed of woman from the ones out here.
He had already come to terms with moving on with his life while on this earth when he took the plunge and married Stefania, so that wasn’t an issue. No matter where he ended up or with whom, he knew, when it was his time, he would be buried in the same grave as his dearly departed wife.
He paused to give a young man who was trying to teach his young son how to surf a few pointers, then walked on.
There was something bothering him that could hamper his desire to go forward with this relationship. They both spoke of it and had decided to keep it a secret, but for how much longer. He was a grown man for goodness sake.
Another thing that bothered him was that they didn’t sleep together yet, and he wanted to, but did not want to push her. He remembered when he first contemplated sleeping with someone else after his wife died. No one and nothing would make him do it until he was ready, he realized, and he wouldn’t push her.
He would offer her the spare room. When he figured out the sleeping arrangements, he realized he was about two and a half miles from home and the beach was more populated with runners and surfers. He turned around and jogged back, stopping two houses before his to say hi to his neighbor, the ex bad boy movie star who had re-ignited his career with a couple of successful TV shows, and his wife who were heading into the water with their boards for a session.
Upbeat he was able to clear his work schedule, aside from a meeting later that morning, he ran in to take a shower and dress.
He had picked her up at the airport and took her home to his house. All was relaxed and easy until she stepped into his house. She clammed up, acted more reserved and more, Luke noticed, nervous.
