One Last Kiss

by Jessica Lemmon

  She reached for his belt and while she worked at unbuckling it, he took off her bra and thumbed each of her nipples until she was squirming where she sat. She let out a moan.

  “Thought you only made that sound while you ate pasta.”

  “Pasta and sex.” She shoved his pants past his hips and he left her to kick off the remainder of his clothes.

  “The two things I’m good for,” he said, to let her know that he knew the score tonight. He knew she wasn’t asking for a reunion. She didn’t want to relive anniversaries past.

  Tonight was about physical need. Sex for sex’s sake.

  Knee to the bed, he positioned himself over her. One side of her mouth lifted as she touched his chest and scooted herself back to accommodate him. He liked being accommodated. By this woman especially.

  “Kiss me, Jayson Cooper.”

  “You got it, Gia Knox-Cooper.” The air grew suddenly heavy. As he tasted her mouth and she wrapped her arms around his neck, he pushed out any thoughts about how she used to be his—how she still had his name. How he’d blown it over and over again and this could be yet another in a great line of mistakes he’d made with her.

  Instead he focused on the tight, high breaths coming from her throat. On the feel of her fingernails tracing the lines of his back while he stroked into her. On the nip of her teeth on his earlobe.

  Soon, to the crescendo of her hoarse cries in his ears, he followed her over.

  And his world went blissfully black.

  * * *

  Unwilling to move from her spot on the bed, Gia stretched like a languid cat before curling into a ball again. Jayson had come out of the bathroom and stepped into their formerly shared walk-in closet, rummaging for what he called “those sexy gold shoes.”

  He was talking about a pair of Greek goddess, strappy heels she’d purchased for a Cleopatra costume one Halloween. She’d kept them, even though they were the most impractical purchase ever, because that night he requested that she wear only the shoes. They’d had fantastic sex, which was apparently par for course, and she’d fallen asleep wearing those shoes. She woken with strap marks crisscrossing up her legs. He’d removed her shoes and kissed every inch of her body before bringing her a very strong cup of coffee while she was still in bed.

  That’d been a great morning.

  He emerged with a white shoebox and shook it. “What’s this?”

  “I don’t know. What is it?” But as he came closer and began digging through the box, she knew exactly what was in it. He lowered himself to the edge of the bed and she sat up and pulled the sheets over her naked body to peer inside.

  He held up a birthday card with a dog holding a pair of false teeth in his mouth. “You kept this?”

  “I like it.” She snatched the card and read the inside. The inscription read “Love you, wife. J.”

  “The front is funny,” she amended, tossing it back into the box. She stuck her hand in and came out with a refrigerator magnet from their trip to wine country that read “Let it merlot, let it merlot, let it merlot.”

  “I should put this on the fridge.” She set it aside.

  “You have a lot of random things in here.” He held up a new pair of shoe strings that were knotted together.

  “They were the extra pair that came with my Sauconys. I don’t have those shoes anymore.”

  Jayson plucked out a laminated tag. “My old ID badge from the office.”

  “You look like a serial killer in that photo.” His hair was longer, and messy, and he had that goatee. His expression was bland and morose.

  “Must have been a bad day.” He held the badge next to his face and mimicked his old self. “Before. After.”

  “After is better.” She snatched the tag and studied the slightly out-of-focus mug shot. “I liked that goatee though. Why’d you shave it?”

  “I got lazy.”

  She scraped a fingernail along his cheek. “I like it now though. Sometimes scruffy. Sometimes smooth. You keep me guessing.”

  “So do you.” He held her eyes for an uncomfortable beat, one that reminded her more of their past than this shoebox of paraphernalia.

  “You rose through the ranks faster than anyone I’d ever seen,” she said to change the subject.

  “Oh yeah?” he said distractedly, pulling out her old gym pass.

  “Yeah. Even Royce didn’t become chief financial officer as quickly as you became chief technology officer.” She’d never thought about that, actually. One minute Jayson was a web designer with talent to burn and the next running the entire technology department. It’d impressed her. She’d been so elated over his raise, she’d wanted to throw a party but he wouldn’t let her.

  She’d forgotten that until now.

  He was frowning, sifting through the random collectibles. She took the box from his hands and set it aside, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “Guess I forgot how talented you are outside of the bedroom and kitchen.”

  His cocky smirk returned. “Is this your way of asking for seconds?”

  “Do you mean of pasta?” She tried to sound innocent.

  “I mean sex. Are you kicking me out tonight?”

  She bit her lip, considering. She’d sort of forgotten about that part—the leaving part.

  “I mean, whatever you want,” she hedged.

  “Are you asking me to stay?” He cocked his head. “Or saying I don’t have to leave?”

  “Is there a difference?” Her smile shook. There was a big difference.

  “Let’s discuss it at length after.” He removed the sheet covering her breasts and kissed a path down to her belly.

  “After what?”

  “Don’t play dumb with me. You and I both know you’re not.”

  She sighed and fell back into bed, the shoebox forgotten as well as the discussion about him staying or leaving.

  The next morning, she woke to find him next to her. They never had discussed it. And she tried not to think about how much she liked rolling over and bumping into his solid, warm back.

  Twenty-Three

  Gia had planned the pool party with her family a month ago and since she didn’t have the heart to disinvite Jayson, he was in attendance as well. Not that anyone present batted an eyelid. Her ex was part of the crew.

  Only after the night he’d cooked for her, made love to her multiple times, and slept over, she was regretting him being there, and not because she wanted him out of her life.

  She was beginning to want him back in and that was infinitely more dangerous.

  Despite her trying not to soften around him, somehow he’d wedged into her heart.

  She’d loved him when they were married, but now she loved him in a different way. What she felt for him was deep with understanding and nothing she could shrug off easily. They’d grown since their divorce, and she was fairly certain them splitting had a lot to do with that growth.

  There were only so many flippant responses and sarcastic jokes she could trot out before the truth was evident to her—and everyone in her family.

  She’d fallen in love with her ex-husband.

  Doomed. That’s what she was. Doomed.

  How could she be brave enough to try again? After she’d failed so completely the first time? And after he’d summarily dismissed her the morning after he’d cooked for her and made love to her. He’d left, calm, cool and collected. As if he hadn’t felt the earth shake the night before.

  “I know what this was, G,” he said, lingering at the front door. She had dressed in her robe and panties while he’d pulled on his trousers and shirt from last night. When she’d asked him to stay for coffee, he’d refused.

  “Oh?” Her heart pounded. She was afraid to ask what he meant and afraid not to. She couldn’t very well tell him she loved him, could she?

  “There is
a lot between us that is unforgivable. I know that a few good moments aren’t enough to erase the past. Reconnecting with you was worth whatever happens next.”

  “Jay—”

  “Hear me out. I have zero regrets on my end. I don’t want you to have any on yours.” He leaned down and kissed her. It felt final. Too final. “You don’t have to find ways to avoid me, either. I won’t come around unless asked.”

  Then he’d walked out the door and she hadn’t seen him until they were both at work, their office faces on. When Bran had asked Jayson if he’d see him at the pool party this weekend, the three of them had been standing in her office. To avoid awkwardness, Jayson had swiftly agreed. Once Bran left, Jayson told her that he didn’t have to come, but she’d lapsed into her “no big deal” self and told him to show up anyway.

  Now he was here and splashing in the pool with her niece and Gia feared she’d made a colossal mistake.

  “Meeting in the kitchen,” Taylor announced. They were seated around the patio table, snacks in the center. Bran and Jayson were in the water with Quinn while Jack and Royce were enjoying a beer on the loungers.

  “Girls only,” Taylor added as she handed over baby Emmaline to Royce and gestured for Addi to follow. She nodded at Gia and then at Gia’s mother. “You too, Macy.”

  Gia, feeling as if there was a boulder in the pit of her stomach, followed her sisters-in-law and mother into the house. They stood around the kitchen island and every pair of eyes homed in on her.

  “What?” Gia asked, growing more nervous.

  “Did something happen?” Taylor asked.

  “Like what?”

  “Like you’re madly in love with Jayson?” Addison filled in.

  “Honey, it’s all over your face.” Macy, apparently, hadn’t missed a thing.

  “Did you tell him? Did he shoot you down? Did you two break up?” Taylor asked.

  “No and no. And...not really.”

  Taylor, unsatisfied with those answers, narrowed her eyes.

  “After we—” Gia’s gaze trickled over to her mom and decided to be vague “—ate pasta, he said he didn’t expect anything from me.”

  “Only because you run like a startled deer each and every time he gets close,” Addi said. “Sorry. I know it’s not my business, and I don’t want to argue with you, but I’m right.”

  Taylor and Macy nodded in agreement.

  Unable to defend herself when she was outnumbered, Gia threw up her hands. “Fine! I love him. What am I supposed to do about it?”

  “Go out there and tell him!” Taylor whisper-shouted. “We’re tired of you guys skirting each other. Just lay it out there. Let ’er rip.”

  “How much sangria have you had?” Gia asked.

  “A lot,” Taylor said, “but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”

  “I have so much to lose,” Gia announced miserably. She could be shot down. And then her carefully constructed façade that she’d erected—the one where she pretended not to miss him and that she’d moved on with her life—would come tumbling down. Only this time she had a feeling she’d be buried beneath the rubble.

  “Hell yeah you do,” Taylor agreed. “But he might surprise you. We’re going to leave soon. You should talk to him once we’re gone.”

  “So are we. Quinn needs a nap and so does her mom.” Addison smiled warmly. “Go for it, Gia. If the worst happens, we’ll be there for you.”

  “I’ll corral your father out of here, too,” Macy promised.

  A second later, Gia was enveloped into a hug from all three women. Feeling excited, nervous and...yeah, mostly nervous, she wondered what Jayson would say. She wondered what she wanted him to say.

  She wasn’t expecting a proposal, but was it too much to hope for a reunion? Even one where they continued on the path they were on would be better than nothing. Though she was risking nothing as well, wasn’t she?

  Admitting to him that she loved him could push him away completely. He seemed so done the other morning when he’d pragmatically explained she didn’t need to worry about him being in her space. And when Bran had asked if he’d be at the pool party, Jayson had been quick to tell her she could disinvite him.

  He could revert to form and tell her how she should feel. But she held out hope that he’d listen to her this time around. That he’d be the man she continued to want and need.

  The what-ifs were killing her. There was no way to know for sure which outcome to expect... She’d just have to confess, and hope for the best.

  * * *

  The next hour passed easily. Her family made no more mention of love or whether or not Gia talked to Jayson yet. As promised, Taylor and Royce filtered out, Addi and Bran right behind them.

  Macy still hadn’t managed to corral Gia’s dad, but everyone knew that Jack Knox was almost as hard to corral as his daughter.

  “I’m not leaving until I have ice cream cake,” he declared with a white-toothed smile.

  “I’ll get it,” Jayson offered but Macy pushed him back onto the lounger.

  “You keep Jack company. Gia and I will get it.”

  Gia found herself back in the kitchen at the same countertop, facing a similar firing squad as before, only now there was only one gunner.

  “How are you? Are you losing your nerve?” Macy asked as she pulled the cake from the freezer and opened the box.

  “There’s a lot at stake, Mom.”

  “Marriage isn’t easy. Whether you’ve tried it once or four times.”

  “How would you know if you’re in the once club?” Gia pulled a knife from the drawer and began cutting the cake.

  “Because husbands and wives change each decade so it feels like multiple marriages,” her mom joked. “Everyone makes mistakes. Jayson has made his, you’ve made yours. The trick is being able to admit them and forgive each other.”

  “He’s different,” Gia said, thinking of how Jayson had behaved lately. “He talks differently. I know it’s dangerous to think people change, but—”

  “But they do. That means you’ve changed, too. Have you been honest with yourself about that? Have you showed him you’re different?”

  Gia felt the sting of tears in her nose. “Of course not. It’s all his fault, remember?”

  “Don’t be glib with me, Gia Knox-Cooper. You have been gracious and poised about this divorce. You’ve also been an insufferable smart-ass.”

  “Mom.”

  “I love you, but if you don’t start going after what you want in life, you’ll forever accept what you’re given instead. You’ve been trying for years to escape the shadow of your father and brothers. Now you have a chance to make your own choices, and you should choose what you want for a change.” Her mother plated the slices of cake. “Deliver these. The sooner your father eats, the sooner we’ll leave.”

  Before Gia picked up the plates, she hugged her mom.

  Macy patted her daughter’s back. “Go on.”

  Outside, Gia maneuvered two plates through the open sliding door. Jayson and her dad sat, their backs to her. There were having a quiet, and she guessed by the low hush of male voices a somewhat intense, conversation. She should interrupt but she was too intrigued by what Jayson was saying.

  “Gia deserves it more than I do.”

  “It’s not about deserve, Jayson,” Jack replied. “It’s about want. You want it. The same way you wanted chief technology officer.”

  Jayson’s back stiffened. “That was a mistake.”

  “I promised you the tech department when you asked for my daughter’s hand. You seemed excited about it then.”

  She blinked in surprise. Had she heard that correctly? She stayed out of sight, content to listen a little longer.

  “I never should have accepted it.” Jayson sounded as frustrated as he looked. “She graduated MIT with honors, Jack. She’s overqu
alified for tech and her current marketing position.”

  “Hell, I know she’s smart. I tell everyone that.”

  “Yes, you do, but you say it as if it’s your accomplishment. Then you treat her as if she can’t handle the world on her own. When you asked me to take care of her, I thought you were being fatherly. I didn’t know you meant for her to settle for a lesser role in your company.”

  “You didn’t take care of her, though, did you? Instead she shows up with that idiot skateboarder at a family wedding. You failed me,” Jack snapped, his face going red. “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten it.”

  “I failed her,” Jayson bit out. “Not you. Our marriage had nothing to do with you. And since you’re retired neither does ThomKnox.”

  “But you are seeing each other again. That might lead to more. Vice president would be a good position for you, if that were the case.”

  “Our marriage ended a long time ago,” Jayson announced.

  Upon hearing that, Gia felt as if someone had plunged a knife into her chest.

  “You can’t bait me with the promise of VP,” Jayson added. “You can’t bait me, period.”

  “I should have fired you the second you divorced my baby girl,” Jack growled.

  Macy stepped outside, two plates in hand. “Jack. What is the meaning of this?”

  Jack turned to face his wife, spotted his daughter and promptly pasted on a smile. “There are my girls.”

  Stunned, Gia was still frozen in place when Jayson turned and met her eyes.

  “The ID badge,” she muttered. “I thought it was odd how quickly you’d advanced to CTO.”

  “Because I gave it to him.” Jack scowled. “No daughter of mine was going to be married to a man who couldn’t provide.”

  “Jack!” Macy gasped.

  “You underestimate her,” Jayson told her father. “And so did I. But at least I had the hindsight to pull my head out of my ass.”

  Jack opened his mouth to retort but Macy stepped in. “Not another word. Jayson, Gia. We’ll be going now. Thank you for the lovely afternoon.”