After taking a moment to give the aged whisky blend the respect it deserved, he raised the bottle to the sky, nodded once to his Pop, then once more to nineteen-year-old Colby in the photo, then Jake chugged, desperately in search of oblivion.
Chapter
Nineteen
Apathy cradled Tamryn like an old afghan, steeped in years of use and worn to perfect softness; she wrapped herself in the sweet oblivion of no longer caring. A week had passed since Jake’s early morning visit, and Tamryn had barely pulled herself out of bed. She’d likely be fired from the Dixie, and Charlie could only cover for her at Old Faithful’s for so long. Not that he wanted to. He’d probably quit helping her soon, a fact that should have pulled her from her funk, but only made her desire to curl up into a ball that much stronger.
She retrieved her cell phone and turned it on, the first time she’d done so in days. A series of beeps and notifications bombarded the silence, and she considered turning it right back off.
And then it rang.
A familiar, custom ringtone, his number stared up at her from the screen.
Her fingers twitched, her hand aching to grab the phone. She desperately wanted to hear his voice, but she wasn’t ready to talk to him. As she stared at the screen, debating, the call ended, solving her dilemma for her. She set it on her bedside table, then, with a sigh, she plopped back onto the pillow. Maybe she’d call him later to check in.
The familiar song filled the silence again.
She glanced at the cellphone. What if something had happened to Reed or Randy? She couldn’t very well ignore Jake’s calls forever, could she?
The sickening clench in her stomach answered the question for her and Tamryn plucked the cellular from the nightstand. She pressed the green button, brought her phone to her ear, and shook her head; she probably could have held off a little longer. “Jake. Why are you calling me?”
“I know you don’t want to talk to me, but, well…”
Silence as she held her breath, ticking down the seconds of his hesitation.
“Thanksgiving is this week, see, and…well…”
Her heart swelled in her chest, even as she knew she had to decline. For her own sanity. “I can’t, Jake. I’m…” she searched the small room for an excuse, a lightbulb idea, but nothing came to mind. “I’m…busy.” Lies. She rolled her eyes; she’d have to do better than that.
“You have to come, TB.” Jake’s voice came through the phone strained, muffled by the hand he likely ran over his beard stubble. “You know it won’t be Thanksgiving without you.”
Tamryn closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath through her nose. The holidays hadn’t been the same these last couple years since Colby died, and frankly, the thought of spending them without even Jake loomed over her like a threatening storm cloud.
Tamryn shook her head as her mouth opened to utter the words she knew she’d instantly regret: “I’ll be there.” Against her better judgment, she’d spend Thanksgiving with the man she loved.
“Really?” Jake’s voice clearer now and an octave higher than it had been, he cleared his throat and tried again. “I mean, great, cool, yeah, so…will you bring the usual?”
Tamryn smiled, shaking her head again. That excitement in his voice… What had she just agreed to?
Little sis coming home for the holidays, that’s what. Nothing more.
“Yes, Jake, I’ll bring my pull-apart bread.”
“And the pies?”
“Without question.”
“Okay, cool. It’s a date. I mean, you know, I’ll see you Thursday.”
“Bye, Jake.”
“Wait—”
She pulled the phone back to her ear and held her breath.
“Do you need a ride? I mean, I can come get you…”
She closed her eyes as she considered. On the one hand, she missed Jake so much she was tempted to say yes to anything he asked. But on the other hand, having her own vehicle might be a good idea in case she needed to escape Jake’s orbit with lightning speed. Charlie would let her borrow the truck, she was sure of it. “No, I think I can manage. But thank you for offering.”
“Okay, kiddo. See you Thursday.”
“Bye, Jake.” As she pressed ‘end’ on the phone, her stomach battled between excited flutter and nauseated doom. Kiddo. Again. Could she really throw on a plastic smile and spend Thanksgiving with the one person she wanted more than anything on earth but couldn’t have? “Well, you’re going to have to now, stupid.”
“Talking to yourself again?” Charlie chuckled as he filled the doorway.
Tamryn looked up, sliding her phone back onto the nightstand, guilt weaseling its way into her chest. “Hey, Charlie.” She stood, turning to fold the blanket she’d been curled up with. “Yeah, I guess I was.”
“Crazy people talk to themselves, you know it?” He grinned.
“Like attracts like, Charlie Morris.” Tamryn winked, then stepped past him toward the hallway. “You need your room?”
“Yeah, just wanted to grab some clothes out of the closet. You don’t have to leave or nothin’.”
“It’s okay. I should get some fresh air. I haven’t been outside for…” She waved her hand in the air. “Days, I guess. Where you off to?”
“Me? Oh, just heading out to pick up Roc and Steve. We’ll go shoot some skeet, then probably wind up at the bar. You workin’ tonight?” He eyed her warily, probably expecting the same response he’d been getting—and passing along to her bosses—all week.
Tamryn took a deep breath, then smiled. “Yeah, I think I am.” She paused at the door to her temporary bedroom. “Hey, thanks for everything this week, for covering for me and all.”
“Sure thing.” He glanced around nervously. “So, Tam, uh, before you go…”
She poked her head back into the room, her stomach knotting ever so slightly. “What’s up?”
Charlie ran a hand through his messy brown hair. “Well, Thanksgiving is next week, you know, and I’m heading over to Pop and Suzanne’s house with Roc. Probably stay for the four day weekend, maybe do a little muddin’ while we’re out there. You used to love muddin’”—he stopped rubbing his head and met her gaze, head slightly bowed—“I don’t know…you wouldn’t want to come along, would you?”
Tamryn inhaled a deep breath and smiled tight-lipped. “I’m sorry, Charlie, but I’ve made other plans. Thank you for the invite, though.”
Charlie’s shoulders straightened as his eyes narrowed. “With him?”
Tamryn shook her head gently, then nodded; better to just be honest. “Yes, Charlie. I’ll be okay.”
“I don’t know why you still bother. He doesn’t care about you.” The slight snarl in his words forced Tamryn to turn around.
“Thanks, Charlie. That felt swell. Not that it’s any of your business, but he obviously does care about me, since he called to make sure I’m coming home for Thanksgiving.”
Charlie’s eyebrows shot up. “Home?”
Tamryn shook her head. “You know what I mean.”
“Yeah,” Charlie scoffed. “I think I do. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.”
Chapter
Twenty
Four days of the silent treatment from Charlie was all Tamryn could take; it was time to find a place of her own. She’d left Jake, only to fall back into the same routine, once again allowing a man to think he had any damn say in her life.
Well, no more of that. After the holiday weekend, the house hunt would begin.
But first, gluttony.
She held the phone in her hands, her finger hovering over the send button. “Heaven help me, it’s just a phone call!” She pressed send, then plopped onto the bed, eyes squeezed shut like that would save her from this phone call and this man and this entire day she was about to spend with him.
Jake answered after one ring, his voice breathless. “TB, what’s up?”
“Hey, Jake, Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Hey, yeah, you too. You’re still comi
ng, right?”
Tamryn smiled as she answered. “Yes, Jake. I just… any chance that offer still stands?”
“Yeah,” Jake answered too quickly. “I’ll give you a ride.”
Tamryn tilted her head. Was that excitement in his voice? Her brain took her to a place where the meaning of ride meant something entirely different and heat rushed to her cheeks. Thank God Jake was on the phone and not standing in front of her.
He cleared his throat. “You still there, TB?”
She shook her head, waving her hand to push her dirty thoughts away. “Yes, I’m here. So, thanks. For the ride, I mean.”
“No problem. I’ll be there in, say…” He paused as he considered, and she glanced at the clock. “Thirty minutes?”
“Okay, sounds good. See you then.”
“See you then.”
She pressed end on the phone and flopped back onto the bed. “Lord, give me strength.”
After she found herself a new place to live, she’d need to buy a car. Anything would do at this point; freedom was the only acceptable outcome. Relying on everyone else in her life was no longer an option.
Thirty minutes left her with no time to shower and get ready, so she’d have to do that at Jake’s. Had he left any of her toiletries in her old bathroom? She rose from the bed—no time to waste—and gathered a long-sleeved maxi dress and a sweater in case there was a chill in the air tonight, then headed to the bathroom to grab the essentials in case Jake had cleaned out her bathroom in her absence. It was foolish to think he’d left remnants of her around his house.
She threw her toiletries into a cosmetic bag, then headed for the kitchen as the timer beeped; time to pack up the bread and get the pies finished up so they were ready to stick in the oven as soon as she got to Jake’s.
Twenty minutes later, with her heart in her throat and her gut at her feet, Tamryn walked to the mailbox at the edge of the property. Jake would be there any minute and doubt gnawed at her mind with every passing second. Had she made a huge mistake in accepting his invitation?
Her phone buzzed in her purse and she jumped, so preoccupied that even the slightest sound had set her heart to racing. She pulled the cell out of her purse, grinning when a familiar New York area code appeared on the screen.
“Louise!” she squealed.
“Thelma!” Luce replied. “I’m coming home!”
Tamryn’s grin widened, her best friend’s words warming her from head to toe. “It’s a Thanksgiving miracle!”
“It is!” Luce chuckled. “I’m at the airport now.”
“La Guardia?”
“No, silly, our airport.” She paused, letting her words sink in. “Surprise!”
Tamryn jumped up and down, nearly knocking over the insulated cooler with the pies. “When? Where? I mean, where are you spending Thanksgiving?”
“With you and your entourage of hot old men, duh. New York boys just aren’t the same, Tam; it’s a goddamn shame, let me tell you.”
Bouncing on her toes, Tamryn watched for Jake, so excited to tell someone else that Luce was on her way. “I’m so excited, Luce. I’ve missed your face so much.” Tamryn searched the horizon. “God, I have so much to tell you.”
“Uh oh. What’s wrong?”
Tamryn closed her eyes and blew out a raspberry of air. “So much. Too much to even get into right now. I’ll tell you when you get here.”
“Yeah, you will. Over too many of Reed’s famous Thanksgiving cocktails, preferably.”
“Deal.”
“Is it Jake?”
Tamryn sighed. “Yes, it’s…everything is so messed up.” She paused as a motorcycle roared down the highway, closer and closer to the old Mills place. He wouldn’t bring the motorcycle, would he? Tamryn’s pulse sped. She’d been begging him to ride that thing for years. Would he really choose a day when she had so much to carry to finally grant her wish?
Her eyes widened as she considered climbing on behind him and being so close to him when she really should be staying far the hell away from him. She could swear she smelled the fresh scent of his skin, and he wasn’t even within a mile of her yet. “Oh, God, Luce. I’m so screwed.” She placed her hand on her forehead. She’d ditch the pies and the bread if it meant riding behind Jake.
This was bad, so bad. Dangerous, even. “I have to go. He’s almost here.”
“Wait, what? Who? Jake?” Luce moved the phone around, muffling her words when she called a taxi. “Damn you, Thelma, you tell me what’s going on right now! Don’t make me wait!”
The roar of the bike drew closer, and Jake turned the corner, rumbling down the old dirt road. A red bandana was tied around his face, and as he approached, he reached up to untie it.
“Tamryn!”
She shook her head, pressing the phone closer to her ear. “Sorry, Luce, I was”—she swallowed the hard lump in her throat—“distracted.”
“No shit?” Luce barked a laugh. “I can’t wait to hear this story.”
“I’ll see you at Jake’s.”
“Wait! Is he on his bike?” Luce screeched as Tamryn pressed end.
She stood there, struck dumb as Jake stopped his bike beside her. His white t-shirt was tight around his tanned arms, and his smile set her heart on fire.
Tamryn was so royally screwed.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey.” The single word was breathless, giving too easily away the effect he had on her. Had he gotten even sexier since she’d seen him last? Was that possible?
He licked his lips and dropped his focus to her mouth, sending heat rushing to Tamryn’s core. It took all of her might, but she looked at her cooler and the bag of various other necessities at her feet. “Where will this fit?” She didn’t look back up at him, for fear of melting into a puddle of lust at his feet.
“I’ve got that covered, kid.” He stepped off the bike, standing too close to Tamryn. “Why won’t you look at me?”
She dared a breath through her nose, craving the familiar scent of him, then looked up into too blue eyes. “I’m looking at you,” she said, her voice thick.
“I’m looking at you, too.”
Her chest rose and fell faster with each nervous breath, but she held his gaze, growing all too aware of how much she missed him and how badly she wanted him. He slowly assessed her, and warmth spread in her chest, down into her gut, then lower as his gaze trailed over her skin. He shook his head, then looked into her eyes again, and her breath caught in her throat.
Jake’s lips twitched on a smirk. “I love when you bake.”
She smiled. “I’m aware.”
“No, little Baker, I love your food—that’s a given—but I really love when you make it.”
She raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to expand on that statement.
“It’s the sexiest fucking thing to watch,” he said, stepping closer. He raised his hand to her face. “When you let loose and think no one is watching, and you take over the kitchen…” He closed his eyes on a long blink, then opened them again, nearly knocking her over from the heat of his stare. “I can picture it now. The way your body stretches when you reach for the flour. The way you dance around the room…”
Tamryn swallowed hard, her breath becoming thicker as the lust in his words made her heart threaten to stop beating. Had he watched her cooking when she thought he was distracted with other things? How many times?
“You’re completely free when you bake, and it’s the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”
Her lips fell open on a soft gasp, his words rocking her to her core.
He glanced behind her, then brought his eyes back to hers. “Is anyone home?”
She shook her head, pulling her bottom lip into her teeth.
Jake ran his thumb across her mouth, releasing her lip. “Let’s go inside.”
She nodded, her mouth open, and her breath speeding up with her pulse. She’d say yes to anything he asked right now.
Chapter
Twenty-One
It consumed him.
“I don’t think we should…”
He slid his hand up behind her neck and her words trailed off. “You don’t think we should what?” He ran his thumb back and forth over her earlobe and glanced toward the house once more, then back at her soft mouth, then down at her chest as it rose and fell quickly with each brush of his finger on his ear. He didn’t know which part of her he wanted to nibble first. Maybe he’d start with her earlobe, pulling it into his mouth, then move on to those perfect lips—he’d like to suck that plump bottom lip until it was swollen and red, branded by his mouth—then work his way down to those pert little tits.
“I don’t think we should go inside,” she whispered.
Jake’s thoughts screeched to a halt. Wait, what? She wanted him to take her right here? Outside? He looked around, the idea of fucking TB out in the open like this making his dick press painfully against the zipper of his pants.
She cleared her throat and he closed his eyes, blinking long and hard to clear his brain. No, dipshit; of course that wasn’t what she was saying.
The car grew closer and Jake opened his eyes as realization replaced the lust in TB’s gaze.
Jake’s jaw tightened. “Don’t even tell me it’s that punk ex-boyfriend of yours.”
She swallowed and nodded.
Jake released her, then stepped back to watch as Charlie pulled his truck up beside them.
He glanced between TB and Jake, then lower, to Jake’s obvious erection. Charlie’s face hardened. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything,” he snarled.
Jake raised an eyebrow. “You are.” He winked; challenging this kid was too damn easy.
Tamryn stepped forward and rose on her tiptoes to lean into the passenger side window. “Hey, Charlie, did you forget something?”
Whiskey Burned (Flawed Heroes Book 2) Page 12
