“Clearwater is a small town. The house will only be a few blocks from the high school so Lee doesn’t need a car right away. I can get you one before you arrive.” JC smiled. “I don’t want you and the kids doing that long drive, especially in two separate cars. Flying would be easier.”
“Flying is expensive.” Jackie didn’t seem convinced.
“Driving is too. Hotel rooms, food, and gas, it all adds up.”
“Okay. I’m still worried about a job.”
“Don’t be,” Rebecca replied. “A friend of mine is a secretary for Dr. Bowmen, an OBGYN in Clearwater. She’s retiring and needs someone to replace her. JC said you do that type of work. I scheduled a phone interview for Monday, if you are interested in applying. The only catch is, Dr. Bowmen needs someone to start in three weeks.”
“Wow, you’re amazing.” JC leaned toward her, careful not to disturb Kelly, and kissed Rebecca. “That’s tight, but we’ll make it work. Once we get back to Clearwater tomorrow, Rebecca and I will start searching for a rental.”
Kelly’s eyes shot open. “You’re leaving? You can’t! Please don’t leave me!” Tears fell down her little cheeks, breaking JC’s heart.
“Oh, Kelly, we’re going to be together soon. All of us. We’ll just be apart for a short while.” He picked her up, cuddling her against him, and rubbing small circles on her back.
His mother rose, arms stretched to take Kelly. “I think she needs a nap. She didn’t sleep well last night.”
“It’s okay, I’ll put her down.” JC stood, contentment filling his heart.
* * *
Rebecca leaned in the doorway of Kelly’s bedroom, watching JC interact with his sister. She was more of a daughter than a sister to him. Maybe it was because Kelly was the youngest at only four, with nearly a five year age gap to the next sibling.
“Did Mom scare you off?”
“No. I just wanted to talk to you alone.” She entered the room and shut the door behind her.
“Did Mom say something that upset you?” He frowned.
“No. I was thinking about Kelly. She’s really attached to you.” She moved closer to him.
“I know. Leaving tomorrow is going to be hard on her.”
“And hard on Laya and Lee for the next while until Kelly sees you again.” Rebecca glanced down at the sleeping child. “I was thinking…why don’t we take her home with us?”
“What?” His voice rose, shock clear in his tone.
“Hear me out.” She rested her hand on his arm. “The rest of the family will be joining you in a week or two, three max. Why not bring her with us now. She needs you.”
“I’m still at Cameron’s. I can’t spring a kid on them. Even if I could, there’s no room.”
She took a deep breath, wondering how he would feel about her next statement. “You could stay at my place. I have a guest room. Kelly can sleep there.”
“I have to work. The shop isn’t the best place for a child.”
“I’m part time at Express-Ohh’s. I’ll watch her while you’re at work, and when we both have to work we’ll make arrangements. It’s only temporary. We can make it happen.” She rubbed his arm. “I know seeing Kelly so upset breaks your heart. If your mom is okay with Kelly coming with us, then why not? It will give Lee and Laya a break as well.”
“You’re sure you want to do this?”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t. We’ll find your mom a great rental, and everyone will be together in a few weeks.”
He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tight. “Thank you.”
* * *
By the time they arrived at Rebecca’s apartment, Kelly was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open. JC turned to Rebecca, catching a glimpse of Kelly from the corner of his eye. She was stretched out across the backseat, asleep. “I’ll take her up, tuck her into bed, and then I’ll come back for our bags.”
“The bags are light, I can grab them.”
He glanced back at Kelly, the muscles in his shoulders tightening. “Are you sure about this? I could get a room for us at Winterbloom.”
“Stop worrying. I want you both here.” Rebecca laid her hand on his thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Now come on, she needs to be in bed.”
He nodded, opened the truck door, and stepped around to the passenger’s side. She stumbled as she stepped out of the truck. His shaft hardened as her chest brushed against his. His body itched to hold her in his arms, to touch her. There was no doubt that he had fallen head-over-heels in love with her. It just wasn’t the time to make his feelings known.
He reached in the backseat, pulling Kelly into his arms. She didn’t stir or even bat an eye. He turned to see Rebecca with the bags in her hand. “I told you I’d get those.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go inside. I want a hot bath and a glass of wine before bed.” She stepped away from the truck and toward the door that led to her apartment.
JC bit his tongue, refusing to force the issue. It wasn’t that he thought she couldn’t handle the bags, his mother had taught him to respect women. Carry their bags, open doors, and be a true gentleman every time. Tonight he’d let Rebecca have her way. It had been a long day of travel, and morning would arrive before long. All he wanted to do was relax, hopefully with Rebecca in his arms. Tomorrow he had to get back to work and find a rental house.
Opening her apartment door, Rebecca stepped aside for him to enter. “The guest room is the first door on your right as you go down the hall. I’ll bring the bags and a nightlight for the room.”
Kelly woke as he headed down the hall. “Shh, sweetie.” He rubbed her back.
“Where are we?” Her voice was a soft whisper and her eyes were still shut.
“We’re at Rebecca’s. I’m going to put you to bed, so you can get some sleep.” He kept his voice low. Stepping into the guest room, he realize it would be the first time Kelly ever slept by herself. The only bedroom she ever had was shared with two other sisters. If she awoke before morning it was going to be a rude awakening in a strange room all alone. He wondered if he should sleep in here with her and decided the sofa would be better, in case his nightmares plagued him.
The creamy white walls and ebony queen bed showcased the room. A turquoise comforter and small blue and white throw pillows decorated the bed. A large picture of waves crashing on a pristine beach hung over the bed. It seemed a better fit for North Carolina than landlocked Clearwater, Wyoming.
“It reminds me of home.” Rebecca explained, coming to stand behind him. “With Dad in the Navy, I grew up by the water. It inspired the decor for this room.”
“Do you miss home?”
She pulled back the bed sheets. “Moving around so much I learned home was where you make it. But if you’re asking do I miss the ocean, sometimes. But Clearwater is my home now. It’s where I want to be and I don’t plan on leaving.”
JC didn’t want to wake Kelly to change her clothes, so he put her into bed as she was. Her leggings and T-shirt would have to do as sleepwear for tonight. He tucked the blankets around her and stared down at her. Rebecca and Lee were right, while he played no part in her conception, Kelly was like a daughter to him.
Rebecca cupped the side of his face with her hand. “You worry too much. She’ll be fine. She has her teddy, and we’re just down the hall. If she calls out, we’ll hear her.”
He nodded. “I know. You go prepare your bath. I’ll bring you a glass of wine.”
She rose up on her tippy toes, bringing her lips inches from his. “I’ve got a better idea.”
“Oh, do you?” He closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers.
When the kiss ended, she tugged his hand. “Come on.”
He followed her down the hall, his shaft already hardening. It had been a long day, but his energy was suddenly renewed. Being led down the hall, he didn’t take anything else in but the sway of her hips. When she opened her bedroom door he was amazed with the space. This larger room was dec
orated completely different than the guest room. The walls were a warm topaz with the accent wall behind the bed a few shades darker. The large canopy king bed, outfitted in a brown comforter with gold swirls, dominated the room. Gold, brown, and black pillows were piled neatly on top of each other. Sheer, white curtains accentuated the sides of the bed, pulled back with gold ties.
“It’s different than the rest of the house, but it’s cozy.” She pulled her sweater over her head, letting it fall to the floor, before strolling to the bed. “Shut the door in case Kelly gets up.”
He watched her ass saunter in the black yoga pants. He wanted to pull those pants off with his teeth, before tasting her sweet spot. He shut the door and when he stood in front of her, her hands immediately pulled the belt of his jeans. Unhooking it, her fingers flicked the button. “In a hurry, Sugar?”
“I want you naked and inside of me.” The sound of his zipper echoed in the room.
His mouth claimed hers, while his fingers unhooked her bra, with skills he didn’t know he still had, and slid it off her shoulders. His fingers found her nipples, teasing them gently into harden tips, his mouth eager to lay claim to one at a time.
She leaned back.
Lifting his head, he kissed the base of her neck, working upward until he found her sensitive spot just below her ear. “I want you on the bed, naked.”
His jeans hung loosely on his hips. Her hand traveled between the rough material and his skin until she found his hardened shaft, standing at attention. “On one condition…”
“Name it.”
“Don’t pretend.” Pushing his jeans out of her way, she wrapped her hand around his shaft, gliding her fingers along the length of it. “There’s no need for the prosthesis. I know the other night you were worried about my reaction. It changes nothing between us. Take it off and let tonight be about us.”
“I don’t know.”
“JC, I didn’t turn away when you took it off in the hotel. I cuddled against you. That should prove to you it doesn’t bother me. You are still the man I want to be with, and the prosthesis doesn’t make me think any less of you whether it’s on or off. I want tonight to be about us. Please.”
He could barely think a coherent thought as her hand continued to run the length of him. “Fine, but I want you naked and on your back.” He lowered to the bed, while she stripped before him, shaking her hips to drive him wild. He regretted the decision to take his leg off, but if their relationship was going to progress then he had to get comfortable with it eventually. He rolled up his jeans, until he reached the lever that would release the pin, allowing his prosthesis to come off with ease.
With the pin released he was able to lift out. The only thing left to do was to remove the sleeve that fit just below the knee, where his leg was gone to half way up his thigh. The long pin stuck out the end, which connected to the inside of the leg. He pulled it off before tugging his jeans down and letting them fall on the floor.
“Oh, don’t stop there.” Rebecca winked.
“What?”
“Lose the boxers and shirt, and get your ass in bed.” She sat on the bed, her fingers tugging the hem of his shirt.
“Woman, you’re so demanding.” He laughed and let her pull the shirt over his head before sliding down his boxers. He pushed her against the pillows. “You’re supposed to be on your back.”
She nudged some of the throw pillows off the side of the bed and rested on the king size pillows, her arms above her head. “As you wish. Now what?”
“Anything I want.” He positioned his body between her legs, his fingers going for her special core, while his thumb teased along the outside of her lips until it reached the center spot that would drive her crazy. As he teased, he watched her. Her eyes were closed and a moan escaped her lips.
“I won’t last long if you keep doing that.”
Ignoring her words, he didn’t stop. He leaned over her body, kissing along her thigh and working his way to her hip. He placed kisses over her stomach and up to her breast. His mouth claiming one, his tongue traveled around the edge of the nipple, hardening it again, before sucking it into his mouth and nibbling.
“JC, please, I want to feel you in me,” she begged. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him to her body.
“Someone is impatient tonight.” He rose up on his elbows and angled between her thighs. He eased inside, the slow friction a delicious torture for him. With his shaft firmly inside her, he eased back out before sliding home again. As he quickly found the perfect rhythm, she writhed against him, encouraging him with sweet little gasps and tight muscles. Every stroke added to the tension coiling at the base of his spine.
Her body clenched around him and she clawed his back, marking him as she exploded around him. The heat lacing up his spine turned molten and his climax followed seconds later. He leaned his head back and cried from the pleasure coursing through him.
JC rolled to his side, pulling her to lie next to him, her arm across his chest. He could only see the faintest outline of her features in the now darkened room. “I’m falling in love with you, Rebecca.”
She glanced up, meeting his eyes. Her hand continued to run the length of his chest. “I’m falling for you too. I’ve never felt this way before. It’s happening so fast, but I don’t care.”
As sleep claimed Rebecca, and JC’s eyelids grew heavy, his heart was more content than ever before. He had found a special woman who accepted all his faults. His life had purpose once again.
Chapter Eleven
Rebecca sat on the sofa with her law book on her lap, trying to study while Kelly played with her dolls. The last week of being stand-in parent for Kelly had enlightened her. After her own unfortunate childhood, Rebecca wasn’t sure she wanted children. She didn’t know if she could even be a good parent, but Kelly had proven she could. This parenting test had been a reminder of how much she loved children and wanted some of her own.
“When will JC be home?” Kelly glanced up from her dolls.
“Soon, sweetie.” She was thankful that in the last week JC had been able to work from home part of the day, giving him time with Kelly, as well as finding a rental home. Today he had to meet with the principal of the local school about doing a self-defense class, once school resumed.
As if summoned from the little girl’s inquiry, JC opened the door. His dress pants and shirt were such a dramatic change from his normal T-shirt and jeans Rebecca wouldn’t have recognized him if she hadn’t seen him leave this morning. Damn he looked good.
“JC!” Kelly ran to him.
He bent down and picked her up before winking at Rebecca. “Is Kelly the only one that missed me?”
She rose from the sofa and kissed him. “You know I missed you. How did your meeting go at the school?”
He put Kelly down, who returned to her toys on the floor, and slid his arm around Rebecca’s waist. “Better than expected. I got a lead on a rental house.”
“Really? From who?”
“Ms. Marcie Lewis, she’s the principal. Her mother decided to stay in Florida after her recent vacation. Ms. Lewis hasn’t had time to put her mother’s house on the market yet. She offered it to me until the construction is complete. We can see it this evening after dinner.”
“Wonderful. I have dinner in the oven now, but it’s not ready yet.” She was hopeful this rental would be the one, because right now they were at a loss as to where his family would stay when they arrived the following week. There were very few rental properties in Clearwater, and most of them were apartments above shops, or seasonal rentals for winter. The one place they did find, the landlord refused to rent to such a large family, which put their search back to square one.
“Good, then I have time to shower and change.” He leaned close to her ear. “Care to join me? You did promise once we got back home.” He kissed the nape of her neck.
She nudged his arm. “Not with Kelly right there,” she whispered.
He glanced at Kelly playing on the c
arpet. “I love her as if she was my own child, but I can’t wait until we are alone. I have plans to make you scream my name in every room of this apartment, especially the shower.” He tapped her butt and strolled down the hall, leaving her with the urge to follow him.
Rebecca looked forward to Jackie’s arrival, but also dreaded it because it meant Kelly would be leaving. JC might also leave too. He wouldn’t have to stay here once Kelly was gone. He could return to the apartment over Clearwater Combat and Guns.
A chill of loneliness ran down her spine. She tossed her law book on the sofa and joined Kelly on the floor.
* * *
“It’s a beautiful home, and even better since it’s furnished. I did mention there will be eight children, as well as my mother. Are you sure you’re okay with that?” JC wanted to make sure Ms. Lewis was aware of all the children before he signed a lease and committed to payments for the next six months or longer if the construction became delayed.
Marcie Lewis laughed. Her skirt and white blouse were unwrinkled from the long day, and her red hair was still neatly pulled back in a stylish twist. She appeared no older than thirty-five—if that, yet she gazed at Kelly with such longing, as if she wanted children of her own. “This house has been full of children for years. I’m the youngest of seven siblings myself. We’re all grown up now, and my mother is in Florida. The house is so quiet. Your family will bring laughter and joy back.”
“JC, I love it. Is this going to be my new home?” Kelly tugged his hand, wanting to be picked up. “I don’t want to go back. I want to stay with you!”
“Kelly, remember your manners. This is Ms. Lewis. She is the principal at the school you will be attending in the fall.”
“She’s fine. She’s just excited.” Ms. Lewis squatted in front of Kelly. “Why don’t we let your brother and Rebecca talk for a few minutes, and I’ll show you the room I had as a child. There’s a secret passage way between two of the bedrooms. It has a small room that my sister and I played in.”
“Can I?” Kelly stared at JC, excitement glistening in her eyes.
Clearwater Romance Page 19
