“I’m sorry about Hunter. Is there anything I can do?”
“Can you help me hire a few people?” he jokes, but I think about Sara’s brother and his friends.
“Actually, the guys that built the playset may be able to help. I can get you in touch with Sara’s brother.”Jackson grimaces and then nods. “And why don’t you head home to get some rest? I’m sure that you’re capable of working from home today.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m going to look into hiring more staff all around.”
“That’s smart of you.”
“You should take the hint,” he adds as he eyes the six orders I’ve laid out on the counter.
Before I can reply, he kisses the tip of my nose and then steps through the kitchen toward the door.
“Friday!” he roars as he steps outside.
“Friday,” I whisper back to the empty room.
Chapter Ten – Jackson
Friday couldn’t have taken any longer to get here if it had been a tortoise flipped on its back trying to lose a race. Seriously, I haven’t been this impatient for a date since – ever.
Cooper sits on my couch laughing at me as I roll up the sleeves of my shirt. I tried to look presentable by wearing a button-down shirt, but I’m pretty sure Elle won’t care what I am wearing. I also wish that Cooper would have stayed at his own apartment and would leave me alone, but he seems adamant on making me miserable.
“How do I look?” I ask, not really wanting an answer from him. Cooper grins and winks then turns his attention back to the game on the television. So much for his help.
I check myself in the mirror by the door one last time and then look down at my watch.
“Why don’t you just go over there? It’s not like it’s a blind date or anything.”
But it’s an important date. A date that I’m hoping will change her mind and give us a chance.
“Don’t wreck my place while I’m out.”
“Yes, Dad,” Cooper mocks as I head out.
“And don’t forget that Mom and Dad are next door watching the kids, so maybe check in with them, okay?”
“Got it,” Cooper says as I close the door and head across the driveway.
Before I know it I’m at Elle’s front door and my hands are sweating like I’m picking up my date for prom. I would never tell Elle, but I was a bit of a nerd in high school, and I am more nervous now then I was picking up my date for junior prom. She stood me up and I hit a growth spurt that summer. I was never stood up again.
I guess since I’m picking her up she can’t really leave me hanging unless she refuses to answer, but I know that my parents just arrived about five minutes ago. They’d make sure she shows up, right?
Before I have the chance to knock, the door swings open and my dad stands there with a half grin looking in my direction.
“How much longer are you gonna stand there, son?” my dad asks, and I shake my head. “Come on in.”
“Thanks,” I reply, stepping into Elle’s house and finding my mom sitting on the floor building an impressive house out of Legos. “Hey, guys.”
Noah’s attention turns to me immediately and Kennedy bends her head to disguise a blush that resembles her mother’s.
“Are you going to church?” Noah asks, and I look at him with a furrowed brow in my confusion. “Mom makes us look nice for church.”
Ah, makes sense.
“Nope, no church for me, but I’m taking your mom out to dinner,” I explain as I bend to his level.
“Why?”
“Um. . .” I begin and glance at my mom who sits with her back against the couch hiding her laugh. “Well, Noah, I like your mom and sometimes when you like someone you want to do something nice for them. I want to do something nice for your mom by taking her to dinner.”
“Oh, so it’s like that time mom took us to the trampoline park even though she had been crying?”
I look to my mom again and see her face fall and it mimics what I imagine is on my face as well.
“Yeah, kid. Just like that.”
“Okay,” he says and goes back to playing with his Legos and building his fortress.
It amazes me how quickly these kids come to terms with changes in their lives.
I feel my mom’s hand on my arm and I look over at her, she smiles.
“You look handsome,” she whispers.
“Thanks, Mom.”
As I stand up, I notice a shadow cross down the hallway and then I come face to face with female perfection. Cascading down Elle’s body is a red dress that hugs every one of her delectable curves. The top dips just low enough to show some of her cleavage, but not enough to be overly revealing. The skirt ends on the part of her thighs right above her knees and as she does a little spin, I’m captivated at the way the material skims across her backside.
She fastens a pair of black strappy shoes while holding onto the corner of the wall and then stands up to fluff the soft curls of her hair. When I finally take in Elle in the full package, I’m awestruck at how gorgeous she looks. It’s not just her hair, the makeup, or the dress, not even the fuck-me shoes, it’s just Elle.
I must stand there mouth agape because I feel a kick against my foot and it brings me back to the moment.
Slowly I approach Elle and watch in fascination as her eyes travel up and down my body causing her cheeks to turn almost the same shade of red as her dress.
“You look beautiful,” I say, as I snag her hand.
“Thank you. You look handsome.”
“Thanks. Are you ready?”
“Sure,” she says, and we make our way to the door, but I feel her hand slip from mine as she leans down and hugs both of her kids and reminds them to behave. Before I know it, her hand is back in mine and all is right in the world.
I take us to a restaurant on the outskirts of town hoping to keep prying eyes from interrupting our night. Both of us have a lot of clients scattered across the city, so the chance is there that we’ll run into someone we know, but I try to keep it as slim as possible. The restaurant is a bit swanky and known for its seafood, but having only been here for a few months, I’m hoping that it’s not someplace Elle has frequented before.
After exiting the car, I escort us inside and I give the host my name for the reservation and then we’re sat in a private alcove in the back.
“This is nice,” Elle says, as I hold out her chair for her to take a seat. After pushing her chair under the table, I promptly take the seat across from her.
“Have you been here before?” I ask as the server fills our glasses with water.
“No, I haven’t been much of anywhere. We. . . I mean Dan and I didn’t go out to eat very often.”
“That surprises me. I would have bet that he wanted to show you off.”
She huffs out a breath at my statement but I can tell that it’s not in amusement, it’s in exasperation.
“Anyway,” I continue, trying to steer the date back to happier terms, “I haven’t been here before either, but my parents say it’s excellent.”
Elle smiles and I can see her demeanor change as I mention my parents.
“They’re so nice. I really appreciate them watching Noah and Kennedy.”
“Believe me, you’re doing them a favor. They’ve been harping on Cooper and me about giving them grandkids for years.”
“I’m sure you’ve given them a lot of false hope,” Elle points out referring to the few women I’ve bedded previously that she’s encountered since we’ve met.
“Funny,” I add as the waiter comes by to take our drink order. “So, there is something I’m curious about.”
“What’s that?”
“I knew James, but he never mentioned having a daughter, and at the birthday party, your parents seemed surprised at the state of the house. Want to shed some light on that?”
“I wish I could. My mom never mentioned my birth dad in conversation. I remember meeting him a few times as a child but after that, he kind of drifted
away. I think my mom getting married to a political figure didn’t help things. I feel bad that I never had the chance to know him or mourn his death, and I will always regret that.”
The waiter returns with our glasses of wine and we each take a sip before placing our food order.
As he walks away, I take Elle’s hand and say, “Well, you should talk to your mom about it. I don’t think it’s fair that she kept him out of your life but maybe there is an explanation. On the other hand, would it make a difference?”
“You’re right, I should talk to her. If not for me, for my kids. They deserve to know about their biological grandfather.”
The dinner takes a lighter note and we talk about growing up and college where Elle tells me of the antics her and Sara would get into. She tells me about meeting Sky and how they hit it off right away and how she mourns the loss of her friend. I mention Cooper, Hunter, and I growing up and causing trouble. How the school had a hard time telling us apart even though we were all different ages. I tell her about my ex that cheated on me and how torn up I was about it. How I almost didn’t start my businesses to cater to her plans.
We talk about everything and nothing, and by the end of the date, we’re almost the last two in the restaurant.
“This was nice,” Elle says as I take her back to the car after paying the check.
“Best date I’ve been on. Maybe because it was with you.”
“Sweet talker,” she jokes as we come to the passenger side of the car.
Instead of opening the door, I spin her so that her back lands against the door and I pin her against the metal with my hips. Our mouths crash together, both of us yearning for the taste of the other. Our tongues feel and explore the other’s mouth, and our hands memorize the curves of each other’s bodies.
“Jackson,” she whispers against my mouth as one of her legs begins to rise on the outside of my hip.
“Not here,” I say, and I pull away from her, disappointment flashing in her eyes. “Get in the car,” I command, and I quickly shut the door after she slips inside and I dash around the front of the car and enter the driver’s side.
I turn on the ignition and place the car in gear before heading out of the parking lot. From the corner of my eye, I watch Elle squirm in her seat and that only causes my dick to harden more behind my zipper.
“I’m not ready to go home,” she says boldly as she turns her head my way. “Can we go back to your place?”
“I’m not ready for the night to be over either, but Cooper is at my place. I have somewhere in mind, though.”
She nods and doesn’t say anything more, but I can tell she is fired up as I place my hand on her thigh and she lets out a gasp of pleasure at my touch. My fist grips at the skirt of her dress and I hike it higher on her thighs until I come in contact with her flesh. I rock my hand back and forth stroking her soft skin until Elle surprises me and places her hand on top of mine and guides it further up her thigh to the place she wants it most.
I can feel the warmth of her sex before I come in contact with it and it takes all of my strength to focus on the road ahead of me. Luckily, we don’t have much farther before we arrive at the lake with a hidden parking lot that was notorious as a makeout point when I was in high school. I’m hopeful that it no longer holds that title as I don’t plan to share Elle with anyone else tonight.
The turn comes quickly and I take it a bit too fast forcing me to slide my hand across Elle’s bare slit. Her moan is like an angel’s song in my ears. Around us, dust floats in the air as I stop on a dime and put the car in park.
“What are we doing here?” she asks, her voice husky with want.
“We’re here because I’m going to fuck you senseless, Elle,” I reply, my own huskiness evident to my ears.
“Oh, okay.”
I scoot the seat back as far as it will go and tug Elle over to my lap where she immediately straddles my thighs.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” I say, running my hands up and down her sides then sliding my hands underneath the skirt of her dress. Her skin is hot, like the sand on a beach underneath the scorching sun.
Elle rocks her body against me and I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol that has made her braver or the fact that we’ve been away from each other for the week. It was a forced solitude by me because I want to treat her right and show her that she’s more to me than just a quick lay. I texted her off and on during the week, maybe even a little sexting. Elle definitely has a hidden minx beneath her mom facade.
“I’ve thought about this all week. Being alone with you,” I tell her as she begins to rock her hips against me seeking out the sweet friction she desires.
“I’ve thought about you too,” she says breathlessly as she tosses her hair behind her and arches her back.
“What did you think about, Elle? Tell me.”
“I thought about your hands and your mouth,” she pants.
Gliding my hands higher on her thighs her breath catches as my thumb caresses her soft and slick folds.
She moans into the confined space as she lets her body guide her toward her pleasure. Elle’s body sways against my hand as my palm rubs circles against her clit.
“What exactly were they doing?” Using my free hand, I unfasten my pants and slide the zipper down freeing my hardening cock.
“This. They were doing this, making me feel everything. Making me want everything.” Her breathing increases, and it takes only a few more twists of my hand before she’s throwing her head back in ecstasy.“I need you inside me, Jackson. Now. Please,” she demands, and I quickly extricate my wallet from my pants and remove the condom inside.
“Put it on me,” I tell her as I place the condom in her hand. She looks at it as if she has never seen one before and then tentatively reaches out to grasp my cock with a look of confusion on her face. Suddenly I realize that she’s never done this before. Covering her hand with mine, I show her how to squeeze the tip and then roll the latex down my shaft. Her smile is triumphant as she reaches the base and I would join her in her enthusiasm if the feel of her hand on my erection didn’t completely unman me.
“Take what you want, Elle,” I say as she hovers above me, her legs cocooning my hips underneath her body and I lay the back of the seat almost parallel to the ground.
Elle rests her hands on my chest as she rocks her hips back and forth, coating me in her sweetness, teasing herself with my cock, and driving me wild. After what feels like forever, she finally rises up and grasps my erection with her hands before slowly sliding me inside her, inch by glorious inch.
Elle lets her body settle and adjust to my size, as she pins her eyes on me, seeking a connection I’m all too happy to give.
I almost spit out those dreaded words, the three words I know would have her running for the hills. It’s been a little over a month and I know for certain that I’m in love with my annoying neighbor with the long brown hair, gorgeous legs, and two rugrats.
I know that she isn’t ready for me to say it, or ready for her chance to move forward, but I can guide her, make her see that if I can make a relationship work then so can she. But I will be patient, give her time to adjust to having me in her life.
“Elle, baby, I need you to move,” I hiss through my teeth as her body clenches around me.
She begins to pulse up and down, just the tiniest of movements, until her body awakens with pleasure. It takes only a minute before her pace increases and she’s moving my cock in and out of her body as she takes control.
“Oh God!” she cries out as the waves crest inside her sex, squeezing my cock with all their might.
I’m close, so freaking close to my release that I take hold of her hips and begin ramming her body down on my cock. Her cries fill the car as she grips my arms, holding on for dear life. My explosion is quick, only the slightest of tingling in my spine alerting me of its arrival, and I pull Elle close once I expend myself in the condom.
Our breaths are heavy and fast, and as I look a
round, I notice that the windows of the car are fogged up.
“Hmm. . .that was-” Elle begins, but then a knocking on the window has her startling off my lap and back to her seat, kneeing me in the balls in the process.
“Fuck!” I cry out as she apologizes over and over again.
It takes a moment for me to tuck myself back in my pants after removing the condom and put the seat back up in its right position, all while I’m trying not to cry like a baby.
The knock sounds again and I roll the window down only to come face to face with my worst nightmare – my brother.
“Having a fun night?” Cooper asks.
“Cooper,” I groan, and roll my eyes at his bad cop routine.
“You know that I haven’t really arrested anyone in a long time. Oh, hi there, Elle. Did you have a nice date?”
“Cooper,” I reiterate, and that asshole just smirks at me. Is this how Elle felt every time I egged her on?
“Yes, Mister Divers?”
“What are you doing out here? This isn’t even your jurisdiction.”
“I’m here to make sure that my brother is treating his date with care and respect. And because I knew that you wouldn’t be able to keep it in your pants long enough to make it home. I got a call from a local officer that your plates matched the ones turning into the park after hours. So here I am.”
I grumble under my breath about baby brothers and nosy officers as Cooper leans away from the car.
“Why don’t you two head on back?”
“Thanks, Cooper,” Elle says quietly, and I look over to find her with her head down and her hair curtaining around her face. I hope this incident doesn’t take us one step backward.
Cooper waits for me to start the car and exit the lot before he trails behind us. Just as we get on the main road, I turn to glance at Elle, and I’m surprised to see her body shaking as she covers her mouth with her hand.
“Elle,” I say in the hopes of comforting her, but she turns to me and bursts out in laughter.
“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry, but that is one of the funniest things that has ever happened to me.”
Stolen Nights (The Stolen Series Book 1) Page 15
