Surrender to Love

Night Calls - 3

by

J.C. Valentine

“Never be afraid of a scar. It simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you.”

Unknown

1

“Patti? Shit!” Kyle flew off the bed, scooping up a pair of discarded jeans and stumbling out of the bedroom as he tried to dress himself. “Patti, wait!”

Charging into the living room, Patti scooped up her purse as she blew through the front door. She fumbled for the right key, unable to see clearly through the red haze covering her eyes. “Screw you, Kyle!” she shouted over her shoulder. A couple leaped out of her way as she stormed down the stairs, and cut them off on the sidewalk heading to her car.

“It’s not what you think!” Kyle called after her, even as he struggled to hoist up his jeans. He jogged up behind her and slammed his hand down on the door of her car, just as she began to open it, forcing it shut.

“Then what is it?” Patti shouted, rounding on him. She felt the heat of her fury boiling in her blood as she fought with everything she had in her not to slaughter him like the pig he was. “Was that not a woman I just caught you ramming your dick into? Huh?” She shoved him, momentarily satisfied when he stumbled back. It wasn’t an easy feat to manage considering he stood several inches taller than she did and outweighed her by at least sixty pounds. Hell hath no fury, she laughed to herself.

“Baby, come on,” Kyle said as if he were trying to calm a vicious animal. “You know I love you.” He stepped into her and encircled her waist. “She means nothing to me, baby doll. It was a mistake.”

Patti silently fumed as Kyle drew her up against his bare chest and kissed the top of her head. She didn’t have to close her eyes to envision Kyle’s bare ass flexing as he pounded into the faceless woman. Every detail was clear as a damn bell. The only thing notable about the woman was the glimpse Patti caught of her long, lean legs wrapped firmly around Kyle’s hips before Patti grabbed the only weapon available to her—a pair of tacky stripper heels—and whipped them as hard as she could at the back of Kyle’s head.

She stayed only long enough to make sure she hit her target before getting the hell out of Dodge. The last thing she expected was to have the lying cheat run after her. Putting in overtime at the office? What an idiot she was.

Balling her hands into fists at her sides, Patti squeezed her eyes shut as Kyle continued to feed sweet nothings in her ear. Fuck, she could smell the bitch’s perfume on his skin, and it was designer knock-off. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Unable to take it anymore, Patti jolted back. “Don’t touch me,” she snarled. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me again.” She shoved against his chest once more, and he allowed her to set him back a few steps.

“What the hell is your problem, Patti?” Kyle’s face screwed up in disgust.

“Is that a serious question? You’re my problem, Kyle. Catching you between another woman’s legs is my problem!”

“I said it was a mistake! What more do you want from me?” he shouted and held out his arms, his wrists facing the sky. “Do I need to give you a bucket of my blood for you to understand that I didn’t mean it? Shit, I’m sorry!”

Patti rolled her eyes at his dramatic display. “Oh, please. You love yourself too much to bleed for anyone, much less me. And don’t for one second think I believe that you’re sorry about a damn thing.” She pointed her finger in his face and glared. “You showed your true colors today, buster. You’re lucky I didn’t go Lorena Bobbitt on your ass.”

Kyle took another step back, eying her warily. “You’re fucking crazy. You don’t threaten a man’s dick, ever.”

Patti couldn’t hold back her laugh. “There’s not much there to threaten.”

Kyle glared and threw up his hands. “Whatever, bitch. Consider yourself dumped.”

When he started to walk away, Patti felt her face heat and her body vibrate. She turned to face his retreating back. “Consider this, Kyle. The next time you find yourself walking across the street, be sure to look both ways. You never know when a tetchy ex-girlfriend might suddenly develop a lead foot.”

“Fucking crazy,” Kyle shouted back at her, but Patti was already sliding in behind the wheel of her car. Firing up the engine, she revved the motor a few times, the aggressive purr of her ’68 Pontiac GTO drawing attention from a few admiring passersby, and then peeled out into traffic.

Evil, murderous thoughts flipped through her mind as she took hairpin turns that her more subdued Toyota would never survive. Once she hit the expressway on-ramp, she pressed the pedal to the floorboard, opening the engine up. Some people turned to cigarettes to calm their nerves, some alcohol. Patti’s drug of choice had always been speed—ever since her father towed home the rusted out hunk of metal and set it down in their driveway, declaring it a father-daughter project.

It took the better half of her formative years, literally putting their blood, sweat, and tears into bringing it back to life, but by her sixteenth birthday they’d finally gotten the clunker up and running. It was a time she looked back on fondly, and after her father passed away a few years later, driving the car had become the only way she could find relief from whatever crap the world tossed her way. When she fitted herself behind that wheel, listening to it roar to life, feeling the powerful engine rumble beneath her, she could almost imagine her father sitting beside her, enjoying the ride, too.

For old time’s sake, Patti flipped on the radio and popped in her favorite CD. As she coasted toward her exit, the first strains of the piano started and she began to sing her favorite Whitesnake song. She nodded and hummed along as she slowed at the stoplight. When “Here I go Again” reached its hook, her fingers tapped out the drums and her heart beat a tempo that matched the mood set by the music. Not only did she love her 80s hair bands, they were her feel good, heartbreak remedy.

By the time she made it into the office her mood was a little less dark than it had been. She took a moment to serve herself a cup of coffee before settling in behind her desk. She spent the bulk of her morning getting lost in numbers, one of her favorite things to do, and before she knew it, it was time for lunch.

Leaning down, she pulled her sack lunch from the bottom desk drawer and unwrapped the flattened bologna and cheese sandwich. Halfway through her meal, Mr. Peterson cracked the door to his office and leaned his head out.

“Patricia, good. I’m glad you’re still here.” His expression was pinched. “When you’re finished with your lunch, I’d like to see you in my office.”

Patti nodded, sucking bits of cheese and bread from the backs of her teeth. “Sure thing, Mr. Peterson.” It wasn’t unusual for her boss to ask her to his office, but the look on his face made the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention.

Rushing through the rest of her sandwich and washing it down with the last of her Diet Coke, Patti balled up her garbage and tossed it in the trash as she crossed the office. Pausing outside the closed door, she inhaled a steeling breath, rapped on the door once, and let herself inside.

Mr. Peterson sat hard at work at his desk, the pen in his hand working feverishly across the stack of papers laid out before him. “Have a seat.” He didn’t bother to look up from his task.

Easing down on the stiff chair, Patti sat almost rigidly upright while she waited for him to begin. Nerves began to settle in and when Mr. Peterson cleared his throat, she jumped.

“Patti,” he started, setting his pen aside and folding his hands in front of him. “You’ve been with Peterson and Wendle for a long time. Your record here has been great, your work phenomenal. I’m not sure you’ve ever even taken a sick day. What I am trying to say is that, we appreciate everything you have done to help the company grow in today’s market.”

A proud smile spread across her face. “Thank you, Mr. Peterson. That means a lot to me.”

Mr. Peterson shifted in his chair, his hands finding the lapels of his blazer and smoothing them down his barreled chest. He cleared his throat. “What I have to tell you is difficult, and I’m afraid there is no easy way to say it, so I’ll be blunt.” He looked up, fixing dark, serious eyes on her. “Patti, we’re letting you go.”

Eyes widening in shock, all Patti could do was look down at her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her fingers were turning white. “But you said…” Her brows pulled down. “I don’t understand.”

Mr. Peterson pulled open one of his desk drawers as he spoke. “I know this comes as a shock. However, as the company grows and expands and we search for new ways to streamline its core structure, we find there are certain areas where we could stand to cut back.” He stretched out his arm to her, a crisp white envelope clutched between his thick fingers. “We just don’t need two accountants on the payroll.”

Patti blinked several times before reaching out to accept the envelope. “But Lisa has only been working here for a little over a year,” she said, baffled. “I thought cuts were usually made according to last hired first fired.”

Mr. Peterson grabbed for his pen, rolling it between his fingers. “That’s how some businesses operate, yes, but in this case, it was a matter of who cost the company more. You’ve been with us for five years, Ms. Jacobs. You’ve maxed out your raises, have full health care, work overtime most days, and you don’t take any vacations. The fact of the matter is we just can’t afford you.”

Patti couldn’t believe her ears. They couldn’t afford her? “I thought you said the company was growing?”

“It is,” he stated simply. “But the rules of the game have changed. We’re no longer required to hire in full-time and the benefits we used to give no longer apply.” Standing, Mr. Peterson made his way around the desk. “I understand this may be difficult for you to absorb. If you’d like, you are welcome to take the rest of the day off.”

He held his hand out in a silent plea for her to get moving. Patti rose stiffly to her feet, the envelope in her hand burning her skin like molten lava, and allowed him to lead her to the door. “Do I get to at least finish out the week?” she asked quietly.

“If you’d like,” he agreed.

“Okay.” She nodded solemnly. “I think I’ll head home for the day, though.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

Mr. Peterson observed from the doorway as Patti cleaned up her desk, shut down the computer, and gathered her purse. He nodded to her as she passed by on her way out. She couldn’t even muster a smile.

* * *

“Rise and shine.” Jon leaned over the blonde who pretended to still be asleep and whispered in her ear. “I’ve got fifteen minutes left before I’m late to work. It’s time to get up.” For the life of him, he couldn’t recall her name, but it didn’t matter anyway since she wouldn’t be sticking around much longer.

“Mmm.” Rolling over, his after party snack from last night’s bar crawl raised her arms over her head and stretched, pushing her bare breasts toward the ceiling. “Can’t I just hang out here until you get back?”

Jon gave her a placating smile. “It’ll be late when I get back.” Her lips pursed out in disappointment, and Jon just couldn’t stand the idea of sending a woman away unsatisfied. He had to uphold his reputation, after all. Lowering his head, he wrapped his lips around one pert nipple and sucked.

“Ah, baby, yes!” she shouted dramatically, grasping his head in her hands.

Tunneling his hand under the duvet, Jon let his questing fingers slip between her legs and into her slick heat. In no time flat, he had her writhing and praising his name to the god above.

“Call me?” she asked hopefully, as he guided her out the door.

He glanced at the clock, noting he had five minutes to spare. Why couldn’t women just have sex and leave it at that? It couldn’t just be a man thing, could it? Opening the door for her, he took a moment to pull her up against him, enjoying the feel of her firm breasts crushed against his chest for the last time. Framing her face with his hands, he leaned down and covered her mouth with his. It was a crying shame that he would never see this one again, because the way she sucked on his bottom lip was making him have flashbacks to last night when she had her mouth fitted around his cock.

He felt himself get hard again and before he dragged her back into the bedroom, he drew back, disengaging himself completely. She looked up at him with heavy-lidded eyes and a drunken smile on her face.

“I have to go,” he told her, pushing her outside and following behind her. After closing the door and locking up, he led her to her car with his hand pressing firmly against the small of her back.

Before she got in, she turned back to him, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his lips once more. “Call me?” she repeated.

“Maybe,” he said with a playful smile, one that he knew would get him off the hook and get her out of his driveway. Apparently, his answer was good enough for her because she left before she could realize that they’d never exchanged numbers. Oops.

He made it into the office ten minutes overdue, but it didn’t matter anyway since he owned the place. He wasn’t there but a couple of minutes before there came a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Jon barked as he flipped through his stack of mail.

The door cracked open to admit his favorite person in the world: his accountant. “Good morning, Mr. Bradshaw,” Jenna said meekly as she crossed the room and took a seat in front of his desk.

“Morning, Jenna,” Jon said brightly. He tossed his mail down with a slap and settled into his chair, folding his hands over his stomach and swaying side to side. “What brings you by? I trust the accounts are all in order. No sudden crash in the market I should worry about?”

“Oh, no, sir,” she said with a soft smile.

That’s what Jon liked most about Jenna. She was shy and timid, but she could crunch numbers like Shaun T crunched abs. If not for her, he’d be a rich man living in a trailer with an Escort parked outside on the curb, instead of the million-dollar condo with a BMW parked out front. He admitted it. He wasn’t the best with money, but having a team of experts to keep him in line definitely helped.

Jenna proceeded to place several file folders on his desk and he leafed through them mainly for show, since he had absolutely zero interest in whatever was inside. If she said everything was good, he trusted it was good.

“Stocks are up two and a half percent, which more than makes up for the recent rise in overhead costs,” she explained, keeping it short and simple like she knew he preferred. “Our sales rep reported to me this morning that Mr. Larson’s latest project has broken through to the Times Best Sellers, which is already showing promising numbers, but we won’t know how well it’s truly done until the last earnings report comes in at the end of the month. And, I’m leaving.”

Jon was on such a high from all the good news that he almost missed her little bombshell. His hands grasped the armrests and he sat forward, his back ramrod. “Excuse me?” He laughed. “I’m not sure I heard you right. You said you’re leaving?”

Jenna’s expression was full of fear and uncertainty. “Yes, sir,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’m getting married this weekend—”

Jon held his hand up to stop her. “You’re engaged?”

“For two years, sir,” she said, her voice growing stronger.

“Why am I only now hearing about this? I would have gotten you a gift or whatever they do for this kind of thing.” He waved his hand through the air and grabbed for the phone. “I’ll tell Poppy to pick something up for your wedding then.”

“That’s not necessary,” Jenna rushed out. Jon set his phone down gently and stared at her, waiting for her to continue. “I’ve really loved working here with all of you. It’s been a great learning experience. But I am giving you my notice.”

Jon was not pleased. He was actually pretty irritated, but he tried to keep his emotions under wraps so he wouldn’t scare the poor thing. Already she looked like she might faint from the stress. “Why not take a few weeks off,” he suggested. “Get married, enjoy your honeymoon, and when things settle down, come back. Why quit? You said it yourself, you love working here.”

“I do. I did.” Jenna sighed, as her head dropped down so only the rim of her sophisticated glasses were visible through the curtain of golden brown hair. “Tim is old school, you know? His parents raised him to believe that the wife should stay home with the kids, while he works to take care of them.”

Jon didn’t like the sound of this, and he let her know it.  “This is the twenty-first century, Jenna. Women work to help contribute to the household, too. Why go through years of school and training to get where you are today only to give it all up?”

The thin line of her lips and downcast eyes let him know he was getting to her, but whether it was a good or bad thing, he couldn’t be certain. “I appreciate your concern, Mr. Bradshaw, but I’m getting married and I respect my husband’s wishes. I’m sorry you find that difficult to understand, but it is what it is.”

Jon watched her silently for a moment longer, meeting her eyes dead on. No, he didn’t understand it, nor did he ever want to. He was raised in a home where his mother and father both held jobs and pursued their dreams outside of the house and family, with the notion that a person needed to fulfill themselves before they could be truly fulfilled in life. He had never been able to grasp the nineteen fifties housewife ideal.

“So that’s it? You’re leaving me?”

“Yes, sir.”

With a resigned sigh, Jon stood up and extended his hand. “Well then, Ms. Houseman, congratulations on your marriage and good luck.”

“Thank you.”

He walked her to the door, pausing just inside of it. “If you ever need anything, just call.”

Jenna nodded. “Okay.”

“And I trust you can cut your own severance check without robbing me blind?”

“That’s a pretty tall order, but I’ll try.” She smirked.

“Good, and make it double. I don’t want people thinking they’re working for a scrooge.” He closed the door on her shocked face and plopped back down behind his desk. It sucked royal ass that Jenna was leaving. He was just boasting to his parents the other night about how well things were going for him and how much he had planned for the company’s future. Now, he was out an accountant, and a damn fine one at that. If he didn’t get another one soon, he’d be closer to living in that trailer than he’d ever imagined.

2

Patti finally understood the term going stir crazy, because she was one silent moment and two soap operas away from becoming completely bat shit, out of her mind, loony tunes.

She’d finished out her week at Peterson and Wendle yesterday—a day early because she just couldn’t stand being somewhere she wasn’t wanted—and without a single idea of how to move ahead, she felt lost. She knew she needed to start looking for a job and putting in applications, but her heart just wasn’t in it. Maybe it had something to do with the shock of having her livelihood yanked out from under her, or maybe she was just having so much fun sitting at home, alone, with nothing to do but stuff her face with sugary snacks that she’d completely lost her drive to continue being a productive member of society. Okay, so it’d only been a day, and maybe she was being a tad overly dramatic, but she had loved her job. Without it to help keep her occupied, she had nothing to distract her from her memories.

Unwrapping a fresh brownie square, Patti didn’t even bother with the pretense of nibbling. She just dove right in and had it gone in less than four bites. She’d probably put on ten pounds already, but it was difficult to tell for sure since the only thing she’d worn since stepping out of her work attire was a pair of aged sweats, and who cared? It wasn’t as if she had anyone to impress anyway.

She was reaching for the box of half-eaten donuts when her cell phone chimed. It took two tries, but she finally managed to rock herself out of the recliner and grab the phone before it transferred to voice mail. “Hello?”

“Is the pity party of one still on?” Jules asked in an unusually cheerful manner.

“It’s not a pity party,” Patti said in offense. “I’m just basking in my freedom. It’s like a temporary vacation. I never took one before, remember?”

“Only because you’re a workaholic,” Jules reminded her. “And if I had to guess, you’re probably about to crawl out of your skin with all the downtime your logging, am I right?” Patti grumbled. “Excuse me? I didn’t catch that.”

Rolling her eyes, Patti slumped back into her chair and huffed. “I said yeah, you’re right. But what can I do about it? It’s not as if I can jump on a plane to Tahiti. I have bills to pay and no job. I need every penny in my account.”

The whir of city traffic muffled Jules’ voice, and Patti assumed that she was probably headed to her favorite deli while on her lunch break. She used to have lunch breaks. Sometimes she even left her desk to take one, too. Never again, she thought dejectedly.

“I never said you had to go on a vacation, but you do need to get out of the house,” Jules went on.

“I don’t know if I’m in the mood for going out at the moment.”

“Oh, come on. Since when are you not in the mood to go out?” Jules voice rose in disbelief. “I think one day of moping around the house is more than enough. You need to get out, take a breath of fresh air, and remember what it means to have fun. Embrace this time in your life, girl!”

“I don’t know…” Nibbling on her lip, Patti recalled their girls’ nights, the drinks, and the laughs. The men. Then she thought of all the men she’d dated and then broken up with, which spiraled back to Kyle and what she’d walked in on earlier that week. It all left a bad taste in her mouth, and what little interest she might have had, vanished. “You guys should just go without me. I’m no good to anyone right now.”

“That’s the depression talking,” Jules said in her no-nonsense way. “You need to get out so you can shake this thing off before it sucks you down so far we’ll need to hire a crew of naked firemen to dig you out.”

A small smile tugged at Patti’s lips. “And they’d be naked why?”

“Duh,” Jules said, sounding exasperated. “A group of men in uniform coming to your rescue is one thing, but a group of hot men with abs of steel charging to your rescue, their dongs slapping in the breeze? Shit, that would be enough to wake a woman from a coma.”

“You’re an idiot,” Patti said through a fit of giggles.

“Yeah, but you love this idiot,” Jules replied confidently. “Look, I’ve got to go, but before I do, say you’ll come out with us tonight. It’s just dinner and drinks, nothing fancy since Piper isn’t really up for it.”

Piper was integral to their little union, implanted from Alabama a few years ago. Last year, she’d gone to work for some publishing company and ended up working for Satan himself, and then fell head over heels for him. Now she was married with a kid on the way and Patti couldn’t be happier for her. She was living the dream. One that Patti hoped to someday duplicate for herself.

“How is she doing, by the way?” Patti asked. Last she’d seen her friend, she’d been sporting a pretty round stomach and was talking about taking some time off work to rest up before the birth.

“She’s fine, but if you ask me, she looks like she’s ready to pop any day now. It might be the last time we get to go out together as a group,” Jules said with a hopeful note in her voice.

“I know what you’re trying to do and it’s not gonna work,” Patti said sternly.

“Sure it is,” Jules said brightly. “And do you know how I know this?”

Patti was afraid to ask, but she played along anyway, curious to hear her answer. “How?”

“Because we’re coming over tonight and dragging you out of that broken down chair, forcing you out of those stained-up, hole-infested sweats, and dragging you out by the hair if needed. We’ll be there by seven.”

Jules hung up on her and Patti set the phone aside, looking down at her baggy, stained, and moth-eaten clothing, and sighed. How did she know? Had she become that predictable, or was her friend a psychic? Fearing the former to be true, Patti dragged herself from the chair and took a look around her living room. Discarded wrappers from various Hostess snacks littered nearly every surface. With the curtains drawn, it felt like a cave, and when she ran her fingers through her uncombed hair, the sheer amount of grease she felt built up there disgusted her.

The full weight of her reality settled on her shoulders, bogging her down. Jules was right, she was depressed. And the only way she knew to fix it, was to drag herself out of the trenches and climb back on the horse, and the best way to start down that road was with a shower.

* * *

“Someone, get me a double vodka neat, stat.” Patti dropped her purse under the table and plopped down in one of the empty chairs.

Jules volunteered, taking orders for everyone at the table. “Don’t start without me!” she shouted over the music as she bounced off to the bar. She’d lied earlier about bringing the gang out for an intervention. It ended up being just her, but her forceful, take no prisoners attitude more than made up for it, and she had Patti primed and ready to go in under an hour.

Now, Patti looked around the table at the familiar faces of her friends. To her right sat Sheila, then Lynn, and then Piper. Beside Piper sat an unfamiliar face. The woman appeared small, like herself, with vibrant red hair twisted high on top of her head; however, she was a complete stranger to her.

Patti glanced around the table at her girls, making eye contact with each one briefly in askance.

“Oh, right,” Sheila said, perking up. She pointed her fluorescent green nail mere inches from the strange woman’s face. “That’s Piper’s friend, Poppy. Poppy works for Piper’s boss, Felix, who she is also screwing.”

“Sheila!” Piper scolded. An laugh of embarrassment bubbled from her lips. “What did we talk about?”

Sheila huffed and rolled her eyes. “Sorry, I forgot.” With raised eyebrows, she turned back to Patti. “They’re ‘making love’ because they’re in love,” she said, making air quotes.

Patti turned her head to Piper and hitched her thumb over her shoulder at Sheila. “Is she drunk?”

“Good Lord is she ever,” Piper said dramatically. “She and Tom got into an argument or something, so apparently she’s made it her personal mission to drink her weight in liquor.”

“And what about you?” Patti asked, staring pointedly at her protruding belly. “You’d better not be drinking too, or I’ll personally kick your ass.”

Piper held up her hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m just here for moral support. If I so much as thought about taking a drink, Tate would bend me over his knee and whip my ass red.”

“Hey now! Save it for the bedroom!” Lynn cried, covering her ears. “Nobody wants to hear about the kinky crap you’re into.”

“Speak for yourself,” Sheila said with a mischievous laugh. “I could use a little more kink in my life.”

“Who’s kinky? What did I miss?” Jules dipped back into her chair and slid Patti her double shot.

“Piper likes to get spanked,” Sheila divulged.

“I do not!” Piper’s face turned crimson.

Patti gulped her drink, tuning out their conversation. The club was packed. It was also loud. She longed for the comfort of her cozy recliner and baggy clothes. Not that she didn’t enjoy her time with her friends, but it felt like too much stimulation too soon. Trying to shrug herself from her quickly spiraling thoughts, she turned to face the woman seated to her left.

“So, what’s your story?” she asked, tipping her head at the new girl, Poppy, she thought her name was.

Poppy smiled shyly and glanced at Piper as if asking her permission. “Go ahead and tell them,” Piper encouraged her. “We’re all friends here. It’s safe,” she said with laughter in her eyes.

Poppy shifted under the weight of half a dozen sets of eyes resting on her, and cleared her throat. “My boyfriend wants me to sell my house and come live with him in the city.”

Sheila jolted back in her seat, covering her mouth to silence her gasp of mocked outrage. “That scumbag! Asking you to move in with him. Just who does he think he is?”

Poppy frowned.

“Knock it off, spaz,” Jules warned her. “You’re getting belligerent and if you can’t collect your shit, I’m calling in reinforcements.” She raised her hand, calling over a member of the wait staff, and ordered a bottle of water.

“You’re cutting me off?” Sheila whined, pressing her hand to her chest.

“Yep,” Jules said, and then turned her attention to Poppy. “Sorry about the drunk and disorderly over here. She’s having issues. You were saying?”

“Uhhh…”

Piper took pity on her and filled everyone in on what was happening. “Poppy bought her house after her divorce, but she’s been dating Felix for a while now, and since she spends most of her time at his place, he thinks it makes more sense for her to move in with him than pay a mortgage for a house she barely spends any time in.”

“That makes sense,” Jules said with a nod.

“Yeah, but it’s not like he’s proposing marriage,” Patti pointed out.

Piper snapped her fingers. “Exactly. What if Poppy sells her house and moves in with him, and then he rolls out of bed one day and decides it just isn’t working out? Then she’s out on her ass without a house to fall back on.”

“While that’s true,” Lynn piped up, “if you love the guy, you have to be willing to take a risk.”

Poppy fiddled with her glass. “I know. It’s just hard to leave things up to chance when you don’t know what lies ahead.”

“Unless it’s a financial strain, why not keep it as a vacation home?” Patti suggested. “You could use it to get away on the weekends. Heck, you could even rent it out to your friends,” she said, spanning her arms open wide. “We could all use a little retreat from the city now and then.”

“That is a really great idea,” Poppy said. “I think I’ll mention that to Felix and see what he thinks about it.” She smiled widely. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” Patti held up her hand, summoning another waiter. “Now that that’s all sorted out, let’s get wasted!”

3

Jon stepped into Carnal with a blonde on one arm and a brunette on the other. Stepping in beside them, his best friend and wingman, Travis, motioned to the dance floor, and then melted into the throng with his own date.

Music vibrated through his body as Jon carved a path through the crowd toward an empty table in the back. He seated the women, and then squatted down between them, motioning them closer so he could speak without shouting. “What can I get you ladies to drink?”

“Grey Goose,” the blonde told him, smiling demurely with lips so thick and glossy they screamed sin.

“Martini, dirty.” The brunette seated to his left wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled his face to hers. Their mouths meshed, and she slipped her tongue inside his, wasting no time letting him know where she expected this night to end.

Jon pulled back with a lazy grin and wiped the excess moisture from his lips with his fingertips. “That’s an order I have no problem filling. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Don’t worry, baby,” the brunette cooed. “The only place we’re going tonight is down.” Her gaze shifted to his crotch and Jon laughed, amused.

“Promises, promises. I’m going to hold you to that,” he swore.

Striding up to the bar, Jon found a sliver of space and positioned himself there, raising his hand to call the bartender’s attention.

While he waited, he took stock of the place. The downtown club was buzzing with energy. Colored lighting flashed intermittently over the oblong dance floor. Loud music from every direction pulsed in his ears. There were half-naked bodies everywhere, dancing, groping, and draping themselves over the bar. It was a veritable cesspool of debauchery, and he loved every bit of it.

The bartender was finally making his way over when the seat beside him opened up and a warm, lithe body slid in alongside him.

Jon couldn’t help but appreciate the view. Long, pale hair flowed down to a curvaceous backside and lean, tone legs clad in a pair of tight, white jeans dangled from the stool she perched on. From the back, she was enough to stir him to life. He wondered what effect she would have on him head-on.

When the bartender approached his end of the bar and looked to him first, Jon shook his head and tilted it toward the blonde beside him. “Take care of her first. I’ll wait.”

The bartender nodded, uncaring of who went first, and shifted his attention to her. Turning on her seat, the friendly smile she wore turned shy when she looked up and met his eyes.

How cute. “Hi,” he said, deliberately dropping his voice lower.

“Hi.” She smiled demurely, her long lashes touching her cheeks when she dropped her gaze.

“What are you having?” Jon asked, using the volume of the music as an excuse to slide in a little closer. He rested one arm on the polished counter and leaned into it, smiling down at her as her mind worked to keep up. He gestured to the man waiting for them expectantly.

Her cheeks colored and she cleared her throat. “Give me two rum and cokes, a long island and Sam Adams,” she called out to the bartender who was waiting patiently for their order.

While he hurried off to fill it, Jon took the opportunity to fix her with a wide smile. “You look nice tonight,” he told her, allowing his eyes to make a slow perusal down her lush body. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep his eyes from making a second pass over her chest where her breasts were on full display beneath the simple black tank top.

“Thanks,” she said amicably. She flipped her long hair over her shoulder, eliminating the soft, silken screen obstructing his view of shapely shoulders covered in perfect alabaster skin. “I’m Patti,” she said, turning in her chair and offering him her hand.

He took her delicate hand in his and brought it up to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “It’s a pleasure, Patti. I’m Jon.”

“Nice to meet you, Jon.”

“Definitely.” They smiled at one another, lost in each other’s eyes, until the bartender returning with the drinks broke the spell. “It’s on me,” he told him, then waved him away. Jon would come back to make his order after he was through with Patti.

“Thanks, but you didn’t have to do that.”

Jon helped her gather up her drinks, holding them hostage to keep her around a little longer. “I wanted to,” he said, casually slipping his hand around her tiny waist to guide her through the crowd. She smiled up at him, her pale green eyes sparkling beneath the strobe lights.

She led him to a round table surrounded by several women, one of whom was very much pregnant. Patti bent to unload the drinks and smiling faces turned to greet her. Their expressions turned curious when they took notice of him hovering behind her.

“Okay, girls, I believe I got everyone.” Patti slapped her hands together, then jumped around when she remembered he was still there. “Oh! My bad. Forgot the beer.” She snatched the drink from his hands and took a long swallow.

All eyes were on him, and Jon shifted uncomfortably. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?” asked the one that looked like she was about to rupture amniotic fluid at any moment.

He watched as Patti’s chest rose and fell, a nervous laugh escaping her as she set her drink on the table. “Piper, Poppy, Jules, Sheila, Lynn,” she said, pointing her finger at each of them. “This is Jon. Jon, this is Lynn, Sheila, Jules, Poppy, and Piper. Thanks for buying the drinks and helping me carry them,” she said quickly. “I guess I’ll see you around?”

She plunked down in her chair, effectively dismissing him, but Jon had other ideas. “Hi,” he said, stepping forward with his hand out. “It’s nice to meet you.”

The one named Piper took his hand in hers, her face bright. “Hey, I didn’t recognize you at first. Must be the lighting,” she said brightly, waving her hand at the colored lights hanging overhead. “You grew up with Tate. I’m his wife, Piper. We met in Vegas at the convention.”

Jon’s smile grew in recognition. “That’s right. I remember you now. Wow,” he said, looking down at her swollen abdomen. “You guys didn’t waste any time. When are you due?”

She laughed, running her palm over her stomach lovingly. “About five weeks left to go.”

“And Tate let you out of the house?” he asked, stunned. If she were his wife, he wouldn’t let her within an arm’s reach of a club. They were too unpredictable, too unsafe, too everything.

“I don’t think I gave him much of a choice,” she said with a giggle.

“She threatened to serve his balls to him on a silver platter,” Poppy leaned in and shouted. “Hey, Jon. How’s it going?”

He nodded to her. “It’s going. Where’s Felix tonight?”

Her eyes clouded over and she sat back, her hand reaching out to fiddle with her drink. “At home, I imagine.”

Jon’s brows rose at the coldness of her tone, but he didn’t bother to follow up. He was there to have a good time, not be drawn into female drama.

“So wait,” the one across from him, Sheila, said with her palms facing out in front of her. “You two know each other?”

“They work for me,” Jon said, making a swiping motion with his finger at Poppy and Piper.

“And how do you know Patti?”

“Oh, he doesn’t. We just met up at the bar,” Patti explained.

“You work fast, huh?” Sheila remarked, waggling her eyebrows suggestively at him.

He shrugged. “What can I say, when I see something I like…” He trailed off meaningfully. Patti’s eyes lifted from the table and he caught them, holding her trapped in his gaze for one long, intense moment. He wanted her to know he was interested, and judging by the flush of her cheeks, she’d heard him loud and clear.

His smile fell when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his neck.

“Hey, baby, I was wondering where you disappeared to. What are you doing all the way over here?”

Patti glanced over her shoulder at the sound of feminine voices. It took her a second to assess the situation, and he watched as her nose scrunched in disgust. When her eyes slid back to him, she wore a blank expression and for some reason, that put a knot in his stomach.

Jon turned his head and found himself looking at two sets of annoyed eyes. “I was just getting ready to head back.” He patted the arm wrapped around his neck and she took the hint, releasing him and moving back a step. “Why don’t you go order the drinks for me and I’ll catch up in a minute?” He gave his dates a small, encouraging smile, hoping they’d leave quickly.

They did, reluctantly. He watched them go, his mind turning over how to explain what had just happened. He couldn’t come up with a damn thing. Hoping to appear nonchalant, he turned back to the table, the heat from the women’s eyes threatening to scorch him. The only one who wasn’t looking at him was Patti. He swallowed tightly. “I should get back,” he said slowly. “To my, uh…”

“Friends?” Patti asked pleasantly, though the look she turned on him made him feel like the biggest dick who ever existed.

“Right, friends,” he said regretfully. Standing, he cast a friendly smile around the table, but the only one he was really interested in seeing it was the woman who refused to look up at him. “Have a good evening, ladies.” With nothing left to say that wouldn’t make him look worse than he already did, he moved through the crush of dancers to find his dates.

* * *

“Oh, right there, daddy,” the blonde moaned, tugging on his hair. “That feels so good.”

Call him crazy, but there was just something about being called someone’s father that turned him off, especially considering the things he was doing to her. Jon plunged ahead anyway, pounding into her as he tried to shrug off his sudden disinterest. It wasn’t working.

“Come over here,” he grunted, motioning the brunette over to the bed. She climbed on, crawling seductively on her knees until she sat poised in front of him. She looked up at him with heavy, lust-filled eyes awaiting his next command. “Give me your mouth.”

She did, leaning into him and running her fingers down his chest. He sucked on her tongue, focusing on the low, throaty moans of both of the women. He stopped pumping his hips as he plunged two fingers into the brunette’s wet pussy, focusing all of his attention on her. She gasped into his mouth, throwing herself deeper into the kiss. Beneath him, the blonde began rocking her hips, dragging her tight sheath up and down his hard shaft.

This wasn’t working. He was trying to concentrate on what he was doing to the women in his bed, but every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the disappointment on Patti’s face. It ate at him, making him desperate. He didn’t want to feel this way, like it mattered what someone else thought.

No, not just someone.

Her.

He felt his cock begin to soften and he jerked his hips back, unsheathing himself to the blonde’s great displeasure.

“Where are you going?” she whined, staring up at him with her legs still spread wide for his viewing pleasure. “Get back here.”

Brunette slapped her questing hand away. “You’ve already had your turn, Mandy.” She grabbed his cock, now only half-erect, and frowned. “What’s the matter, baby? Mandy’s pussy not tight enough for you?” She smiled wickedly, giving him a couple good tugs that he had to admit felt pretty damn good. Maybe there was some hope for him yet.

With renewed hope, Jon combed her hair back from her face and knotted it up in his fist, yanking her head back to let her know that he was still the one in charge here. “Why don’t you get down there and give it a little kiss?” he suggested, and nipped her bottom lip.

Dropping down on all fours, Jon guided her with his hand still twisted in the hair at the base of her neck, and growled as he watched her swallow him down. The kind of things women were able to do with just their mouths never ceased to amaze him. It was almost better than being balls deep in their tight little bodies, but not quite. Nothing compared to that sweet heaven.

Only this time, to Jon’s absolute frustration, it wasn’t working. The more she licked and sucked his cock, the more the bastard seemed to retreat. He gave her a few more minutes just to see if anything would happen, growing tense with aggravation when it didn’t. “Enough,” he growled, giving her hair a sharp tug.

Ripping off the condom, he jumped off the bed and tossed it into the trash. He felt the scowl on his face and didn’t try to hide it.

“You’re done?” the brunette asked him incredulously. “But we didn’t even get to fuck.” Again with the disappointment. He couldn’t stand it!

Jon took a moment to breathe and reign in his temper, clasping his hands on the back of his head and staring up at the ceiling. What was the matter with him? This had never happened before. Maybe his mother was right. Maybe screwing your way through half the female population would make his dick shrivel up and fall off. Glancing down at the member in question, he was relieved to see that it was still very much present and intact.

“Are you coming back to bed?” one of the women asked.

Digging his fingers into his hair, Jon gave it a sharp pull then dropped his hands to his sides. “Not yet,” he told them as he crossed the room and sat his naked ass in a chair positioned in the corner. “How about you two play for a bit while I watch.”

Their eyes lit up with excitement at his suggestion, and he watched them with alarming disinterest as the blonde opened her legs and her friend leaned in to bury her face in her slick, pink folds.

Didn’t do a thing for him.

Normally, in a situation like this, Jon would be right in the middle of it all, fucking pussy while watching pussy getting eaten, or eating it himself. This whole damn thing just didn’t sit right with him.

As he hit the back of his head against the wall with a thud, Jon closed his eyes and was immediately presented with Patti’s soft, round face. Wet sounds and constant moaning filled his ears, and Jon used the sensory stimulation to fuel his fantasy. He thought of Patti’s curvy body, her full breasts, and her smiling face, and then stripped her of all her clothes, placing her beneath him.

He tried to picture what she would feel like, how she would smell and taste, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to line up the details in his head. It was like trying to watch a movie with half the scenes deleted. He didn’t know anything about her, and he supposed that was part of the problem.

Still, he did his best, allowing the vague images to grow and adapt to his surroundings. He used the sounds of heavy breathing and the groans of an impending orgasm to stir him back to life, and when his cock began to throb, bobbing heavily between his thighs, he wrapped his fingers around it and tightened them into a fist.

“Ah, shit,” he breathed, pumping his hand up and down. On the bed, one of the women started growing louder, telling the other one to fuck her harder. He used her words to fuel his fire, and pumped his fist harder. Patti’s pale blue eyes stared back at him behind his closed lids, and when he heard the unmistakable shriek of a woman succumbing to pleasure, he tumbled over the edge with her, shooting hot streams of come all over the back of his hand and on his stomach.

He laid there for a while—a lump of useless flesh sprawled out in a chair that wasn’t made for sprawling, and knew he was in trouble.

4

Patti glanced at the clock on the back of her stove and cursed low under her breath. She was running late! After snatching her purse and phone from the coffee table, she spent several more minutes combing the couch cushions and crawling around on the floor in search of her car keys. After finally finding them next to the toaster on the kitchen counter, she raced out the door with little time to spare.

Thankfully, it was Sunday and a lot of people, like her mother, were either still in bed or sitting in a church pew. On this day in particular, she knew exactly where her mother would be.

“Good morning, Momma,” she said solemnly, pressing the phone to her ear as she drove down the open highway.

Her mother sounded tired and withdrawn, which worried her a little. “Good morning, sweetie.”

“How are you?” Patti asked, concerned.

“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I’m more worried about you. Are you still insisting on going up there?”

Patti’s jaw clenched. Every year her mother asked her the same question, and every year her answer remained the same. “There’s nowhere else I’d be,” she responded. She guessed they had both fallen into somewhat of a pattern over the years, and to be perfectly honest, it was somewhat comforting. Patterns were good. They were predictable. She didn’t have to guess what was coming next, which was exactly what appealed to her most.

Her mother sighed sadly. “I wish you’d let it go, sweetie. I don’t know what you expect to find there.”

“I don’t expect to find anything, Momma. It’s just something I need to do.”

There was a beat of silence, where Patti drummed her fingers on the steering wheel while she waited for her mother to come up with some excuse to keep her away. To her surprise, she didn’t. “Okay,” her mother breathed in resignation. “Just make sure to take your mace and be aware of your surroundings.”

Patti rolled her eyes because her mother was such a worrywart, but she couldn’t help smiling because it also meant her mother cared. “Sure, Momma. Got it right here in my purse.” She patted the black bag resting beside her in the passenger seat. Although, she wasn’t sure how handy it would be for where she was headed.

“Make sure to keep it on your person, Patti,” her mother scolded gently. “You won’t have time to go digging for it if some crazy person decides to attack you.”

Turning off the main road, she steered the car through a pair of tall iron gates. She had to work to push away the intense feeling of sorrow that spilled over her. “I have to go now, Momma,” she said in a garbled whisper.

When her mother responded, her voice was as strangled as hers. “Okay, sweetie. Be careful and…” She paused and took a deep breath. “And say hello for me.”

“Okay, Momma, I will.” Tucking her phone back in her purse, Patti followed the long and winding path to her destination, coming to a slow stop just under a large maple tree standing like a silent sentinel over the grounds and its many residents.

Patti stepped out of the car, taking in the expansive rolling green lawn, inhaling the sweet smell of freshly cut grass and soaking in the absolute quiet that came with being in a place like this. As she stood there, building up the courage to move forward, a cool breeze gusted up, weaving its fingers through her hair, and gave her a gentle nudge forward. Her feet carried her through the damp grasses to the spot that made her body tremble with grief, yet provided her with a tremendous amount of comfort.

Dropping to her knees in front of the cold, hard stone that reflected her stricken image back at her, she reached out a trembling hand and traced the etched lettering. “Hi, Daddy.”

* * *

Patti’s heart held a dull ache as she set herself back on the road and glanced in her rearview mirror at the retreating graveyard. She always felt a marked sadness when she left there, as though she were turning her back on her father. She knew that was ludicrous. It wasn’t as if he were really there, but even four years after he’d passed, she couldn’t seem to wrap her head around the fact that he was really gone.

Hoping to tune out the dark thoughts, Patti started up her favorite CD and scanned to the song that never failed to brighten her day. She blazed a path down the highway, the GTO growling fiercely as she fed it a little more gas. When her exit appeared in the distance, her good mood deflated a bit, but she turned up the stereo, determined to hold onto it a while longer.

The line at the red light crept forward as the cars in front of her took turns pausing and going. When it was her turn, Patti continued to belt out lyrics along with David Coverdale as she turned her head to assess the oncoming traffic. Her foot had just left the brake when something slammed into the back of her. The force of the collision drove her body forward, and the lack of air bags ensured that she got a nice split in her lip when she face-planted the steering wheel. She moaned as she dropped her head back against the seat.

“Shit, are you okay?” The sound of a man’s voice shouted outside her window a moment later, carrying over the blare of music and penetrating the fog as Patti lifted her head and touched her fingers to her swollen mouth. They came back red, and seeing the damage, the man’s eyes rounded and he wrenched her door open. He was in her face before she could blink an eye. “Here, let me take a look.”

Dazed, Patti showed no reaction at all, not even an increase in heart rate at finding herself face-to-face with Jon. One would think, after witnessing such a beefcake walk away with a couple of bimbos on stilts for legs, she wouldn’t have remembered such a minor detail as a name, if only out of need for self-preservation. But no, Patti remembered everything about him. Why, oh why, did she always go for the uber sexy player-type? It must be a mental deficiency of some sort. It certainly wasn’t genetic, considering her mother’s obvious good taste in men.

So, here she was feeling as if someone had attempted to punch her teeth down her throat, and all she could manage to do was stare at the beautiful man kneeling before her. As he inspected her face, she soaked in every detail of his. With the benefit of natural sunlight, she could see that his eyes were much more than the muted light color she’d observed in the darkness of the club, but were a gorgeous shade of aqua framed by thick, dark lashes. Short, dark hair turned nearly black by hair product teased his forehead, which was now marred by tiny furrows of worry. She could feel the tension radiating from him and she could see it in the firm set of his smooth, square jaw and the tight line of his full, very kissable lips.

“Can you hear me?” Jon was saying. Patti blinked away the fog as best she could and realized he had turned those intense blue eyes on her. “Do you know where you are?”

“In my car,” she answered smartly as she began to gather her wits.

His head tipped forward once in agreement. “How many fingers am I holding up?” He flashed two, so she said four. His eyes grew wider.

“I’m just fucking with you. Two,” she said as she struggled to sit up straight. As it turned out, the driver’s side of a car was only meant for one body at a time. With some annoyance, Patti placed her hands on Jon’s very nice, very wide shoulders, and firmly but politely shoved him away from her vehicle.

“I don’t think you should move,” Jon said cautiously as he backed away and watched her climb out of the car. She stumbled a little and his hands shot out to catch her before she could fall, but she slapped them away.

“I’m fine,” she snapped. The last thing she wanted just then was a man touching her. She’d had enough of those for a while. It didn’t matter if that fleeting moment of contact completely set her on edge, or that it made her stomach tumble to her feet. In that second she chose to follow the “Just Say No” motto.

Moving past him, she made her way to the back of the car and cringed as she got a load of the damage. “What did you do to my baby?” she screeched.

It was horrific. Worse than anything she had ever seen. The bumper was buckled in on itself and the paint job was completely trashed. Okay, maybe not the worse damage she’d ever witnessed, but it was a fucking tragedy to her.

“Damn shame,” Jon said, his eyes sweeping over its sleek body appreciatively. “But it could always be worse.” His mouth turned down in a frown as his eyes fell on his own car. “Besides, you’re not the one calling a tow truck.”

Patti glanced at his car and the smoke and various fluids leaking from under the hood. “Well, that’s what happens when you drive foreign pieces of shit.” Logically, she knew she was one to talk since she owned a Toyota, but from her point of view, that was her crap car. Nothing beat good old American-made muscle.

“Piece of shit?” Jon’s face screwed up in offense. “Lady, that’s a BMW. Do you have any idea what that car costs?”

“More than I could hope to make in a lifetime, I’m sure,” she complained. “But even if I had the funds, I’d never waste them on something like that.” With a sad shake of her head, she went back around to the driver’s side and leaned inside. David Coverdale was still going strong, but his ability to soothe her had faded for the moment, so she twisted the volume all the way down before reaching across the console to open the glove compartment.

“Is that…Is that a disposable camera?” Jon stood back, observing her as she moved around the joined vehicles and snapped picture after picture with a small smirk on his face.

“I’m glad you find this so funny.” Kneeling down, Patti took several pictures of the fender bender, and then backed up to get a few from a distance so there couldn’t be any confusion over who was at fault. “By the way,” she said as she peered down the lens. “How did you manage to plow into me in the first place?” She lifted her head to take his measure. “You don’t look high or drunk. Are you blind or just plain stupid?”

Jon’s eyebrows lifted and he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his slacks, mulling over her words. “Wow.” He huffed a disbelieving laugh and his tongue poked out to swipe across his bottom lip. “I got a completely different impression of you the other night.”

Camera in hand, Patti crossed her arms over her chest and popped her hip out. She narrowed her eyes dangerously. “And what impression would that be exactly?”

He opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it as if thinking better of it. He dropped his head to mask his smile. “Just forget it. Forget I said anything.” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his wallet. “We should exchange information. For insurance purposes,” he clarified when she continued to stand there, staring holes through him. “Unless you don’t want your car fixed?”

Grudgingly, Patti skirted by him to dig into her purse for her information. As she rummaged around in the old saddlebag, her phone went off. She grabbed her wallet and made her way back to where Jon stood waiting for her as she answered the call.

“What do you want, asshole?” she barked as she held out her insurance card. Jon’s blue eyes lifted to hers quizzically as he took it. She ignored him.

“I’m coming by later to get my stuff,” Kyle told her.

“Yeah, that’s not going to work for me,” Patti said as she jotted down the license plate and insurance I.D. on a piece of scrap paper. Kyle had wisely left her alone the first couple of days after they broke up, but he’d been blowing up her phone since late last night. She hadn’t bothered to listen to any of the twenty-seven messages he’d left, figuring she didn’t owe him a damn thing. Now, she was in a hellish mood, and who better to direct it at than the ex-boyfriend.

“Why not? I got a key. You don’t even need to be there.”

“Because I don’t want you in my house, that’s why,” Patti snapped, and then cursed, scribbling out the mistake that he’d caused her to make and started rewriting the numbers. “Look, give me a day or two and I’ll box your stuff up and drop it by your place while you’re at work.”

“Sorry, that won’t work for me,” Kyle said, tossing her words back at her.

All he accomplished was inciting her rage. “You know what doesn’t work for me? Seeing my boyfriend screwing some bitch with mile-fucking-long legs!” Jon was staring at her now. Shifting enough to keep him in her peripherals, she leashed what she could of her anger and spoke cheerily through clenched teeth.

“Fine, I changed my mind. Go ahead and come over later.” And that’s when the leash snapped and she lost her tether on sanity. “You can pick out what’s left of your shit from the burning pile of rubble on my front lawn!” She ended the call and squeezed her eyes shut, taking several deep, cleansing breaths to calm herself. She really wasn’t an angry person. She was actually quite nice, docile, even. It wasn’t her fault that the men in her life always seemed to draw out her inner bitch.

“Boyfriend?” Jon asked warily as she stuffed her phone in her jeans pocket and thrust his card back at him.

“Ex-boyfriend,” she growled, returning her card back to her wallet.

“I feel sorry for him,” he said, his eyes dancing with mirth.

“You would,” Patti said in disgust. She pivoted on her heel and marched back to her car.

“Whoa, what did I say?”

Patti chose to ignore him. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer,” she called over her shoulder as she slid into the driver’s seat, snapped the door closed and cranked the engine. She didn’t have a lawyer, and without a job, there was no chance of her ever having one. Still, making the idle threat was a knee-jerk reaction and at the very least, it made her feel marginally better.

“Are you all right to drive?”

Patti’s head snapped up, surprise coloring her cheeks red when she suddenly found herself looking into Jon’s brilliant blue eyes. “Excuse me?” She leaned to the side, disturbed by his proximity. He had one arm propped on the roof while the other rested comfortably against the window frame. If he tried to pull anything, she figured she had about two point five seconds to roll the window up. She might not snap his neck, but he’d develop one hell of a kink while they waited for the cops to arrive.

“I asked if you’re okay to drive.”

“I’m fine,” she said sharply.

He flashed that sexy smile of his that twisted her insides, and extended his hand. “You know, I think we got off on somewhat of a bad foot the other night.” Patti thought back to the slutty women who’d shown up at her table and couldn’t disagree. “Hi, I’m Jon Bradshaw.”

On reflex, Patti placed her hand in his, momentarily distracted by its warmth and strength as it enveloped hers. “Patti Jacobs,” she said in what may or may not have been a breathy voice.

“Is Patti short for Patricia?” Jon inquired. Patti nodded. “Well, then, Patricia, it was nice meeting you, again. I only wish it could have been under better circumstances. Sorry about your car.”

She shrugged, some of her earlier anger dissipating. “Yeah, well, I should probably be apologizing to you. I’m pretty sure my car won the battle.”

Jon glanced back at his mangled vehicle, his expression darkening. “Well, that’s what insurance is for. I’m just glad we’re both okay.”

“Mm, silver lining,” Patti said, bobbing her head in agreement. She hadn’t missed the haunted look that passed over his face. She was curious what it meant, but she wasn’t about to ask him about it.

“Silver lining.” Jon smiled down at her. Tension was still evident in the crinkles around his eyes, but it was already fading. “Listen, this is probably a little unorthodox, considering I just rear-ended you.” Patti smirked as her mind practically jumped head first into the gutter.

“That came out wrong.” He straightened, rubbing the back of his neck as he composed himself before leaning into her window again. “Would you like to go to dinner with me?”

Patti nibbled her lip, considering his offer. “I don’t know if that would be wise,” she said slowly. “I just got out of a relationship.”

“Well, lucky for me, I usually prefer my dates to be unattached. Nothing dampens an evening more than having to put down a jealous boyfriend.”

“Confident are we?”

“Obnoxiously so.”

Patti couldn’t stop the stupid grin from spreading across her face. Despite her reservations with…well, men in general, how did a girl say no to that? “When and where?” she asked before she could come to her senses and change her mind.

“I have a few things to take care of first, and then I’ll call you.”

“You don’t have my number,” Patti pointed out.

Jon backed toward his car, a playful smile curving his lips. He flashed the piece of paper he’d taken her information down on, and said, “Actually, I do. Be seeing you.”

Slumping back in her seat, Patti shook her head. What the hell was she doing? The last thing she needed to be doing was rebounding, but she was also in desperate need of a distraction. If she was lucky, this guy just might give her one.

“Oh, and Patricia?”

Patti twisted in her seat, hanging her head out the window. She raised her eyebrows in question.

“I don’t know what all that was about on the phone, but for what it’s worth, I think you have fantastic legs.” He winked at her and turned away to head back to his car.

A true smile burst across Patti’s face and she bit her lip to keep from giggling. Yep, Jon was definitely going to be a distraction.

Checking the traffic, Patti glanced in her rearview mirror before pulling away. Jon stood beside his mangled BMW with his phone pressed to his ear. His lips moved as he spoke to who she assumed to be a tow truck driver, but his eyes stayed pinned on her. He lifted his hand at her and Patti felt the heat creep back into her cheeks as she maneuvered her way back on the road feeling buoyancy she hadn’t felt in ages.

5

“Are you telling me that you busted up her sweet ass car, and then she agreed to go out on a date with you?” Travis’ hazel eyes reflected his bewilderment, and maybe a touch of envy, as he looked up at Jon from his hunched position. “Only you, my friend. Only you.” His arm swung back over his right shoulder and swept back down fast, connecting with the little ball of plastic and sending it sailing through the air at warp speed. “Four!” he shouted, and laughed wickedly when a little old couple ducked their heads in fear.

Jon swapped positions and reset the tee. There was no better way to start a Monday than with a round of golf. “What are the odds that we’d ever run into each other again? I couldn’t let her slip through my fingers,” he explained. Licking his finger, he raised it above his head to test the wind’s direction, just like his father taught him. “I’d never forgive myself.” Jerking his arm back, he smashed the golf ball with his club and they paused, shielding their eyes against the noonday sun, to watch where it would go. It went a good one-hundred and fifty yards, beating out Travis’ easily. Jon smirked at him.

“Dick,” Travis muttered as they replaced their clubs in the bags and climbed into the golf cart. “So you said this woman actually had it out with her boyfriend while you exchanged information? Doesn’t that sound a little dicey?”

“Ex-boyfriend,” Jon clarified as he guided the cart toward the eighteenth hole. “And it isn’t dicey at all. You know I like my women feisty, and this one is a spitfire.”

Travis nodded, staring off into space as he ruminated over the past. “Hot in the sack, I’ll give you that, but otherwise crazy. The first girlfriend I ever had was out of her damn mind, but holy hell did she teach me some things.”

“Always the best kind,” Jon agreed, already entertaining ideas of all the things he’d like to do to Patricia’s insanely gorgeous body once he got her naked and underneath him. She was petite, her head barely reaching the center of his chest, but that was fine with him. It would just make things that much more interesting when they took it to the bedroom.

“And what happens if she turns out like the last one?” Travis inquired.

Jon hit the brakes and they got out, rounding the back of the cart to select their clubs. He turned to his friend and slanted him a devil-may-care smile. “Then I know who to come to for a restraining order.”

Travis followed him out on to the field. “Is that all I’m good for, filing protection orders when you fall into bed with your current fatal attraction? You make me feel so cheap, Jon,” he pouted playfully.

Jon clapped him on the shoulder. “Baby, you know you’re the only one for me.”

Travis socked him in the shoulder. “Damn. You sure know how to make a guy feel special.”

Jon pointed to the last hole. “Hurry up and lose. I’ve things to do.”

By the time Jon wrapped up his game with Travis and they parted ways, he was running late for a meeting. Bookish Temptations was his brainchild and its success astounded him every single day, but he wasn’t a numbers kind of guy. In fact, he hated just about everything having to do with running a business. Growing up, his father called him a wild child, while his mother lovingly deemed him a free spirit. All he knew was that he loathed being cooped up in a place that wasn’t his home, and he absolutely hated being idle for too long.

An hour later, while he sat in a boardroom listening to a group of old men blather on about growth and percentages, he gazed out the long line of tinted windows at the tiny specks of color moving on the street below. He longed to be out there, living instead of wasting away precious moments of his life on something he wasn’t even remotely interested in.

It was then he made his decision. “Sorry to interrupt, gentlemen,” he began, placing his palms on the table and pushing to his feet. Mr. Dierdrick paused in his explanation of whatever pie chart he was presenting to the group, the tip of his expensive black pen hovering over the paper, as he looked over at him. “While I do so enjoy learning the ins and outs of corporate strategies, I have other places I need to be.”

“But, Mr. Bradshaw,” Mr. Dierdrick spluttered. “There’s still so much to go over.”

“Henry,” Jon interrupted. He started for the door, fastening the button on his suit jacket and smoothing his tie down his chest. “Send the report to Ms. Montgomery. She’ll be sure it makes it onto my desk.” With his hand on the doorknob, he motioned a quick farewell to the other men in attendance and breezed out the door, relieved to have escaped the confines of the stuffy boardroom.

Once outside again, he breathed a lungful of fresh air as he cut across the parking lot and climbed into his brand new F-150. Some might call him spoiled or a snob because he could just go out and select a new car at a moment’s notice, but he had the money. It really didn’t make any sense to drive a rental while he waited for the insurance estimate to come in when he could just buy another. Being wealthy had its perks.

It was mid-afternoon, which left the day open for possibilities. Going straight home, Jon changed out of his work clothes and got in a quick shower. As he shaved his face clean of scruff, he thought over what his next move would be with the sensational vixen he’d had the good fortune of plowing into the previous morning. Would she be thinking of him still? Was she anticipating his call?

After shaving, Jon pulled on a pair of boxer shorts and went in search of food. He didn’t keep much in the fridge besides the basics: beer, milk, juice, lunchmeat and the occasional piece of fruit. Most of the time, Jon ate out, pun intended. He smirked at his own little joke and laid out the container of sliced turkey and a loaf of bread. While he assembled his sandwich, the phone rang.

“How’s my little dumpling?”

“How many times do I have to say this, Mother? I am in no way little.” Jon’s grin spread ear to ear, secretly pleased with his mother’s constant doting.

“You’ll always be my little boy, Jonathon,” she said.

“I know, Mom.” Jon slathered what would be considered a little too much mustard for most people’s taste on the bread, and slapped everything together. “So how are you and Dad?”

“Getting a little older every day, but there’s breath left in us yet,” she said cheerfully. “How are you doing? Is work going alright?”

Jon bit into his sandwich. “It’s fine,” he said around a mouthful of food. “Jenna’s quitting on me.”

“Is that the quiet one with the glasses?”

“That’s her.”

“What a shame. Did she say why she was leaving?”

Jon sighed heavily. “She’s getting married and her fiancé seems to think it’s the wife’s duty to stay home and mind the children.”

“And this upsets you I take it?” his mother questioned.

“Hell yeah it does,” Jon said. “She’s worked hard to get where she’s at and she’s just throwing it all away for some simple-minded jack-off! Now she’s leaving and I’m out an accountant.” Jon’s hands shook with his indignation. He set his sandwich down on the counter.

“You’ll find another one,” his mom reassured him.

“She was the best,” he argued.

His mother laughed. “Stubborn, just like your father.” She paused and Jon braced himself for a shift in conversation. “Speaking of your father. The annual block sale is coming up at the end of the month and he wants to unload a few pieces of old furniture and, well, you know how he is. He doesn’t want to ask for help.”

“Dad’s not supposed to be moving anything heavy,” Jon agreed, thinking back to the time when his father threw his back out while trying to unload a dishwasher he’d bought for Mother’s Day from his truck bed, alone. Doc Bradley, their family physician, had laid down the law and proclaimed his father officially over-the-hill. He let him know that under no uncertain terms was he allowed to move heavy objects without assistance from there on out.

“From your mouth to God’s ears,” his mother prayed. “But you know how he is when he gets an idea into his head.”

Jon nodded. He could see where this was heading from a mile away. “Just let me know when and I’ll make sure I’m there to help out.”

“You’re such a good son,” his mother praised. “One day you’ll make some woman very happy.”

Jon’s eyes narrowed and he felt the darkness creeping in around his thoughts. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that would never happen. Happiness wasn’t in the cards for him, and even if it was, he sure as hell didn’t deserve it. “Sure, Mom. When do you need me?” he asked, desperate for redirection.

“Not next Saturday but the one after that, say seven-ish?”

“Seven-ish it is.” As much as he loved talking to his mom, Jon needed to get off the phone. He couldn’t risk the conversation heading down the path he knew it would if he kept her on the line any longer. “Talk to you tomorrow?”

Disappointment laced her tone, but she didn’t voice any complaints. “Okay, my little dumpling,” she said.

“I can hear you smiling,” Jon said with a smile of his own.

“Smiling? Me? Never.”

Still smiling. “Love you.”

“Love you too, Son. See you in a couple weeks.”

Jon hung up the phone and polished off the rest of his sandwich. It tasted like saw dust, but just the simple act of eating took some of the edge off. The trick was to focus on other things, and he was a master of avoidance.

Staring at the phone still clutched in his hand, Jon debated on whether he should call Patricia. As much as he would have liked to call her that instant and set to work sealing the deal, he quite enjoyed the thrill of the chase. Far too much, in fact, to just steamroll into it. He was a man who liked to tease a woman’s senses, make her crave him as much as he craved her, until the sex between them was guaranteed to be nothing short of explosive.

Okay, sure, he had asked her to dinner, which could have been misconstrued to sound like he meant sooner rather than later, but in all actuality, he hadn’t specified when he wanted to take her out, just that he did. Would she be mad when he didn’t call? Most definitely. Did he care? Not a lick. Just like a frightened kitten with its sharp teeth and claws, with a little bowl of milk and the right words spoken in a soft, soothing voice, she’d eventually let her guard down, and then he’d be free to stroke her all he wanted.

Tonight, Jon planned to take it easy and let his dinner plans simmer on the back burner for a bit. Slipping into a nice, form-fitting black cotton T-shirt and dark wash jeans, Jon dialed up Travis and grabbed his keys as he headed out the door.

“You got the booze?” Travis said by way of answering.

“That depends, you got the ladies?”

“In the bag, baby.”

“Then I’ll see you in ten.”

6

Annoyed. Aggravated. Attitudinal. Patti was all of those things as she strutted into the sandwich shop Tuesday afternoon and made her way to the back where she and Lynn agreed to meet for their weekly lunch date. She wore her emotions on her sleeve as she dropped into the last available chair. “Talk about a week from hell,” she groused, slamming her purse down on the table.

Lynn looked up from her phone and arched an eyebrow. “I smell gossip,” she said, setting her phone aside. “Spill.”

Patti took a moment to collect her thoughts and to order a small sub before venturing down that treacherous path of depression and disillusionment. “So, I start with catching Kyle in bed with a hooker—”

“Oh, my God! A hooker?” Lynn screeched. If Patti could have seen her own face in a mirror that day, she imagined it would have looked something like Lynn’s now. Her jaw dropped in shock, her eyes wide in stunned disbelief.  Lynn reached out to cover Patti’s hand. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. Did you kick him in the balls? Tell me you kicked him in the balls.”

“I wish,” Patty said with regret. “I did throw the bitch’s spike heels at the back of his head, though.”

“Did you make contact?”

Patti grinned. “Did I ever.”

“That’s my girl.” Lynn patted her hand and drew back to her side of the table to resume eating. “So a hooker, huh?”

Patti’s shoulders lifted and fell. “I don’t think she was actually a hooker. I mean, I don’t think Kyle would ever have to stoop that low in order to find someone willing to spread their legs, you know?” In fact, Kyle was pretty damn handsome. He was tall with an athletic build. His dirty blond hair was wavy and he kept it at the perfect length to entice a woman to run her fingers through it. And his smile was killer. It’s what drew her to him in the first place. He used all the clichéd, cheesy pick-up lines that men and women both laugh over, but he delivered them with a knowing smile, and that made him just plain cute in her eyes.

A man who could make a woman laugh was something to be treasured. But it was all blown to shit when he proved to be like all the rest of the men she’d ever dated. Now, all she could see was the troll living inside of him, using women without regard to their feelings.

“You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig,” Lynn said.

“I know.” Patti sighed. She picked at the wrapper surrounding her sub. She’d lost her appetite.

“Sweetie, I think we both knew going into this thing that Kyle was never going to be the man you would marry. It was fun while it lasted, but, hey, it’s over now and good riddance. The man was not good enough for you.”

“Thanks.” Patti’s lips curled up in a soft, shy smile.

“You’re welcome. Now eat. I will not have that jerk making my friend anorexic.”

Patti did as she was told. They ate in companionable silence, and when they finished, Patti decided to steal a few more minutes with her friend, so she walked with Lynn back to her office. She used the time to tell her about losing her job and about Jon.

“You mean to tell me that guy from the club the other night hit you?”

“He did,” Patti said as they came to a stop outside Lynn’s workplace.

“That’s gotta be fate if ever I heard it.”

“Not everything is fate, Lynn,” Patti chuckled.

“Well, no, not everything,” Lynn agreed with a roll of her eyes. “But how often do you meet some random person twice in forty-eight hours? I think someone is trying to tell you something.”

“Oh, so now the angels are matchmaking? Come on, Lynn, that’s just crazy talk, even from you. Besides,” she said with a twinge of hurt, “he said he’d call and he never did. I think that speaks for itself.”

“It’s only been a day!” Lynn shouted in exasperation. “Give the guy some time for crying out loud.” She backed toward the revolving glass doors and pointed a finger at her. “Promise me that when this guy calls, you’ll go out with him. One date, and if he turns out to be a total bastard, you never have to see him again.”

“I don’t know, Lynn,” Patti whined. Sure, she was attracted to the guy, and yeah, he seemed to be interested in her. But how interested could he be if he wasn’t more eager to see her again, and was it even a good idea for her to get even remotely involved with another guy so soon after Kyle?

“I can see you grinding your gears and I don’t like it. Stop thinking for once and just have some fun!” Lynn stopped just outside the doors, forcing people to go around her if they wanted inside. “Do it for me. Promise you’ll give it a try when he calls.”

“If he calls,” Patti reminded her.

“When he calls. Have some faith in your hotness!”

Patti threw her hands into the air. “Fine, if he calls, I promise I will go out with him on one date.”

“That’s all I ask,” Lynn sang. She blew her a kiss and disappeared inside.

Great, Patti thought as she started the short walk back to her house. She’d just verbally contracted herself to a date with a man who had probably already forgotten her existence. At least that got her out of their agreement, but the more she thought about it, the more she wasn’t sure she was happy about it. It kind of stung to think that she could be forgotten so easily, but she refused to dwell on it. If he weren’t interested, then neither was she.

As she stepped through the front door, she heard the faint buzz of her phone in her purse, and dug it out. She frowned, not recognizing the number on the caller ID. “Hello?”

“Hi.”

At the sound of his deep, smooth voice, Patti nearly melted into a puddle in the middle of the entryway floor. “Hi,” she said, her voice shaking. In the background, she could hear male voices and wondered where he was just then.

“I’m at work, so I can’t talk long,” he said, getting straight to the point. “I was thinking dinner tonight, eight o’clock. Are you free?”

Patti nibbled her bottom lip. A pit opened in her stomach as she thought about being alone with him, but Lynn’s words echoed in her ears, reminding her of their agreement. She’d never hear the end of it if she passed up his offer, not that she really wanted to anyway. The guy was ridiculously hot. Of course, she was going to go out with him! Still, she took a moment to pretend she had to think over her newly wide-open schedule.

“Yeah, I think that should work out alright.”

“Great,” he said with a smile in his voice. “I’ll pick you up at eight, then.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Hanging up, Patti grimaced. Why did she say she would be waiting? The more she repeated the words in her head, the more pathetic they sounded. Collapsing into the recliner, she closed her eyes and considered the evening ahead. She’d be alone with Jon, in his car, expected to make conversation. Well, that was nerve-racking. Then she’d have to eat, which meant she had to order food. Where would he take her? What would she order? Definitely something without garlic, or onions. Nothing too sloppy either, like spaghetti.

She was plotting out each move with lethal efficiency, when something occurred to her. She was getting all worked up for nothing. So what if she was going on a date with a hot guy? It wasn’t as if she hadn’t done it a million times before. They’d go out, eat, talk, and get to know one another a little, maybe a little touchy feely action, and that would be it. She’d have a nice evening out, and full stomach and she would move on with her life. As her father would tell her, she was making a mountain out of a molehill.

She glanced at the clock. She had almost seven hours to kill before he showed up. Determined not to make a big deal out of it, Patti pulled herself from the chair and made her way calmly to her bedroom to change into her grease-stained shorts and tank top.

* * *

“Dag nabbit!” Patti shouted. She slid out from under the car, using her feet to guide her, and treaded back into the garage. The wrench fell back into the toolbox with a loud, metallic clang. Pinching her injured finger, she held up her hand to inspect the damage.

It wasn’t as horrible as she thought it’d be. There was no bone showing or blood gushing, but there was a faint, feathered line marring the pink of her nail bed where it had bent back. “Damn, that’s gonna suck,” she muttered to herself. But not as bad as when Kyle showed up at her door earlier that afternoon.

Shortly after hanging up with Jon, there was a knock at the door. She’d opened it to find a very annoyed Kyle. He’d shoved past her, heading directly for the bedroom where he’d stored the majority of his belongings, but she’d already beaten him to it.

Retrieving a black canvass duffle bag from the hall closet, she dropped it on the floor in front of the open door and called out to him. The memory still tickled her pink. “Hey, looking for this?”

“You already packed my stuff?” Kyle asked, gearing up for one of his hissy fits. “Great, what’d you do, cut holes in all my shirts? Dump a gallon of bleach on everything?”

“I wish,” Patti had told him candidly, “but I didn’t feel like expending that much energy on worthless bullshit. I think I’ve done enough of that over the past eight months.” She looked him up and down meaningfully. Then, as he walked back toward her to retrieve the bag, Patti pulled her leg back and sent it sailing clear off the porch. “I suggest you follow suit before the same thing happens to your ass,” she told him, then smiled and waved as he stomped out the door, cursing up a storm.

Asshole.

Besides a pretty face and a hot body, what had she ever seen in him?

It was all water under the bridge now, though, and Patti had far more important and interesting things to occupy herself.

With her hands on her hips, Patti turned to assess her once pristine car. She’d ordered the parts and a few tools to help her repair the damage from the accident. They wouldn’t be delivered until sometime tomorrow, so she’d decided to keep herself busy by cleaning the spark plugs, changing out the filters, and giving her baby an oil change. A happy car meant a happy driver. Still, neither of them would be truly happy until she’d restored it to perfect condition, and that was going to take some time.

She could have just handed it over to an auto body repair tech and let them take care of it, but she liked working with her hands. Plus, she couldn’t shake the memory of her father telling her to never let another person fiddle around under the hood. That went double for the body. Come to think of it, he’d probably meant that in more ways than one.

Still, Patti held fast to the idea that she and her father, having built most of the car with their bare hands, were the only two people in the world who really knew how it worked. Now that he was gone, the responsibility was hers alone, and she refused to tarnish his memory by letting someone else tinker around with it. If anyone were going to screw it up, it would be her.

After her date tonight, she decided that the week ahead would be designated to restoring the car. She’d already decided to opt out of any gathering her friends might invite her to, and to close herself off from the outside world for the rest of the week so she could focus all of her attention on the task at hand. Plus, being without a job was like taking an extended vacation. She had all the time in the world to dedicate to it.

Granted, no one in their right mind would consider being wedged under a chassis and covered in grease a vacation, but then they hadn’t grown up in her household. Patti was practically born under a car, so it made sense that she felt at home under one.

Returning to the box of tools, she selected a new wrench and the oil pan. Lying back on the creeper, she slid back under.

As she let the pan fill with oil, Patti let her thoughts drift back to the accident. To a set of beautiful, intense blue eyes that melted her to her very core. She should be furious that Jonathon Bradshaw had caused her so much grief, but the only anger she could dredge up had absolutely nothing to do with her car and everything to do with the two women she’d seen hanging on his arm at the club.

What was it with men who found the idea of having two women at once so appealing? Was it greed, or just a lack of security? She’d never seen the draw, and now more than ever, she found the idea of it completely repulsive. And yet, it wasn’t as if they were together. He was free to do whatever he wanted with his time, and who was she to judge anyway? It wasn’t like she was living up what was left of her youth. If she were wise, she would take a page out of his book and do something daring, like streaking naked down the beach on a Saturday. Not that it’d ever be an option for her, but still, it was an idea. She wasn’t adverse to having fun or being daring.

With the pan full, Patti slid back out and rolled to her feet, careful not to slop oil everywhere. Setting aside the pan, she ducked back under the car, replaced the cap, and double-checked to make sure everything was tight.

The bad thing about summer was how long the sun took to set. Patti didn’t realize how much time had passed until she heard the heavy thud of a car door nearby. She wasn’t given much time to gather her thoughts before she heard the voice that made her tingle all the way down to her toes.

“So you drive a muscle car and you like to get dirty.” His voice was thick with appreciation and held a touch of laughter.

Patti used her feet to propel herself from under the car. Once she was clear, she found herself looking up into Jon’s incredible blue eyes.

“Damn and I thought you were stunning before.” His eyes skimmed down her body, and Patti became acutely aware of how much skin she was showing. She snapped her legs closed.

“What time is it?” she asked from her prone position.

Jon held out his hand and she took it. Grasping it tightly, he pulled her to her feet. “It’s nearly eight. I’m usually late for everything, but I found myself unable to wait any longer.” He slid his gaze over her again, and Patti felt her cheeks warm. Here he was confessing that he couldn’t wait to see her, and she had lost track of time over a car.

He hadn’t let go of her hand, she realized. Gently slipping her fingers free of his, Patti stepped back. Standing there in her filthy tank top and shorts, grease and oil smudging her exposed skin, while he stood before her looking completely edible in a pair of fitted black slacks and a white button down dress shirt, she couldn’t help feeling self-conscious.

“I’m sorry I’m not ready. I got distracted.” Patti jerked her thumb over her shoulder at the car.

Jon followed with his eyes and nodded. “That’s understandable. Having something that beautiful at your disposal is bound to cause some distraction.”

When Patti looked up at him, she found his intense eyes focused on her and she got the distinct impression that he wasn’t referring to the car.

“I can be ready in fifteen minutes, if you still want to go out,” she stammered.

A slow, wolfish smile spread across Jon’s face as he took her in again. “If you look this good dirty...” He cleared his throat and shook his head. “Yeah, I still want to go out, but you’d better make it ten because anything beyond that and I can’t promise I’ll still be a gentleman.”

7

Jon struggled to keep his mind from wandering to sex as he sat and listened to the sound of the shower running down the hall.

All day long, thoughts of her kept him distracted, and now that he was standing in her house, he was at a loss for what to do with her. To her. Himself. His mind was a jumbled mess of confusion.

He hadn’t been serious with a woman for a long time. He wasn’t entirely sure he ever wanted to be again. But this woman was something different from what he was used to. She wasn’t glamorous in any way, but her beauty seemed to come naturally, as if she weren’t even trying.

He smiled, recalling the moment he first got lost in her eyes. It was right after the accident when he’d gone to see if she were okay. He’d never looked into eyes as blue as hers. They were rich and vibrant and full of life, like the ocean on a clear summer day. He’d met her two nights earlier, of course, but it wasn’t until the accident that he became mesmerized.

The water shut off and as Jon yanked his thoughts out of the gutter, it occurred to him that this might be the woman who changed everything. He wasn’t entirely sure he was on board with that realization, but he wasn’t willing to turn his back on the possibility just yet, either.

The muffled sound of a blow dryer came next and Jon settled into the recliner, knowing for damn certain that he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He had a sister, so he knew without question that the ten-minute stipulation he’d placed on her would be more like thirty…if he were lucky.

To his surprise, Patricia only kept him waiting an additional ten.

“Sorry, sorry,” she said as she stumbled into the living room. She had on one very high, black heel, while hopping around on it trying to pull on the other. “I know I took longer than I said I would, but beauty takes time.” Finally managing to loop her shoe over her heel, she stood up tall and presented him with a dazzling smile. “Ready?”

Jon stared. He couldn’t take his eyes off her even if he wanted to. Dressed in a token little black dress that left her shoulders bare and cupped her breasts like loving hands, and ended at mid-thigh, exposing her lean, toned legs, he was sure he had died and gone to heaven.

Noticing the look on his face, Patti’s steps faltered. “Everything okay?” She frowned down at herself, smoothing her hands over the formfitting dress. “I just realized that I didn’t bother to ask where we were going tonight. Should I change into something else?”

Realizing what an ass he was making of himself, Jon shook his head and stood. With his eyes glued to hers, he crossed the room to stand in front of her. “You look incredible. Don’t change a thing.” Unable to resist the allure of her curvaceous body, he reached out his hand and let his fingers skim lightly across the slinky material clinging to her taut stomach like a second skin. He felt the muscles tighten beneath his touch, and took it as his cue to get even closer.

“Should we be going?” he asked, gliding his palm down her arm and enfolding her hand in his.

She smiled shyly, dropping her gaze. That single moment of vulnerability set in stone Jon’s determination to get to know her beyond the purely physical. She wasn’t just the hard ass, tough as nails woman he’d met before. She had softness to buffer her rough edges, and he found that quality beyond sexy. “Sure, let me just grab my purse.”

After she locked up, Jon led her to his truck.

“I see you got a new car.”

“It’s a truck, actually,” he said with a teasing smile.

Patricia smacked him in the side playfully with the back of her hand, surprising him. “I can see it’s a truck.” She smirked. “I just figured you for the luxury sedan type.”

“I’m whatever fancies me at the moment type,” Jon told her honestly. Hitting the automatic locks, he opened the door for her and took the opportunity to touch her again. Slipping his hands around her waist, he hoisted her up into the cab, then closed the door and ran around to the driver’s side.

Excitement coursed through him, making Jon feel eager and energetic. It reminded him of when he was a teenager going out on his very first date. All that nervous anticipation and exuberance filled him to the point of bursting. It was insane, but it made him feel rejuvenated. Almost hopeful, even.

Jon climbed in and settled himself behind the wheel. “I hope you brought your appetite,” he said as he started the engine.

“I think you lost something,” Patricia said. She held up her hand.

Jon glanced over at her. Seeing that her arm was raised in the air between them, he noticed the glittering piece of jewelry dangling from her fingertips. Shit. Flashes of the woman he’d picked up at the club last night played in his mind’s eye. She was smoking hot in the latex micro mini and offered herself up like a sacrificial lamb. They’d had a few drinks and shared a few dances, and when she’d taken his hand and guided it under her skirt, her husky confession whispering in his ear, to show him she’d forgotten her panties, he’d all but dragged her back to his car. They hadn’t made it out of the parking lot.

It was easy to forget for a moment his desire for this woman sitting before him when he was drunk and horny, but now that he was right in front of her, with her staring expectantly back at him, he felt like a total sleaze. All he could see was her blue eyes watching him, waiting for an explanation, mixed with intermittent flashes of the woman he’d fucked right there in the seat she was sitting in.

Fuck.

With practiced ease, Jon took the earring from her, inspected it briefly, and shrugged. “Huh, never seen it before. Must be my sister’s.” He smiled with a confidence he didn’t feel and leaned across her legs to open the glove compartment and toss it inside. “So, how does seafood sound?”

* * *

She didn’t know if she bought the sister excuse, but it was their first date and they weren’t exactly an item. It left Patti feeling torn. The string of bad relationships and equally bad boyfriends had made her wary of men and their tactics. Never again did she want to be reduced to just another notch in some man’s bedpost. But, as she looked into Jon’s eyes, all she saw was sincerity and kindness, so she decided to play it by ear. If things between them went no further than tonight, she’d be okay with it, and if it progressed into something more, than she would see it through to wherever it ended up.

Setting her concerns aside, Patti vowed to enjoy the evening ahead. “Seafood sounds wonderful,” she told Jon. He slanted a dizzying smile at her and eased into traffic.

He took her to a nice steak house with an African Savannah theme. The hostess seated them in a corner booth made to resemble a train caboose with prop luggage stored on a shelf overhead. It was a very casual yet elegant environment.

The menu itself was large and consisted of just about every type of meat available to man. Patti had a hard time choosing what to eat, but eventually settled on a light meal of pasta and shrimp with a fruity cocktail laced in rum to wash it down. She hadn’t been treated to a meal this nice in some time, which only made her realize the type of men she had subjected herself to before.

She really needed to up her qualifications.

Good thing Jon seemed to fit the bill.

“I’ve never been here before,” Patti confessed. She sipped her drink and cast her eyes around the room. Rattan paddles that swayed back and forth, gently stirring the air, decorated the ceiling. There were amber-colored sconces mounted on the walls and colorful modern artwork sprinkled in between. At the rear of the room, she could watch the chefs put together the food, but she found the view of the man across the table from her far more appealing.

Selecting a coconut crusted shrimp skewer from his plate, Jon dipped it in a small bowl of sweet orange sauce and raised his eyebrow to her as he brought it to his lips. “It’s one of my favorite places to come,” he said, “but tonight the company is far more interesting and infinitely more attractive.”

Taking a moment to mull over his words, Patti took her time twisting the pasta around her fork. “Are you saying you bring your dates here often?”

“I guess that depends on what you consider a date,” he said cryptically.

Stuffing a huge mound of noodles into her mouth, Patti used her food as an excuse not to answer. Frankly, it concerned her that she might have read him wrong. Maybe her first impression of him wasn’t as accurate as she’d assumed.

“Oh boy,” Jon laughed, shaking his head as he went in for another skewer. “I know that look.” Patti lifted a questioning brow. “My mother and sister always have that look when my dad or I say something to piss them off,” he explained. “Maybe I should clarify.”

He didn’t rush to clarify anything, much to Patti’s consternation, but she waited, certain he would present her with some lame excuse that would hold about as much water as a bucket full of holes. She ate slowly, watching Jon as he tucked into his dinner with casual indifference.

“I only come here for business,” he began. “Sometimes I meet with new clients, or with some of the members on the board to discuss finances. It’s never for leisure.” His eyes flicked up to meet hers. “Until tonight. This is the first time I’ve enjoyed a meal with someone who wasn’t sporting a pot belly and a penis between their legs.”

Patti’s quick intake of breath caused her to choke on a partially chewed noodle. Doubling over, she coughed into her napkin so hard her eyes began to tear up.

“Are you okay?” Jon asked, suddenly standing by her side. He pounded on her back, but his efforts only succeeded in making her feel as though her spine were about to snap in two.

“I’m fine,” she croaked, coughing a couple more times. Picking up her glass of water, she gulped half of it before she felt recovered enough to speak clearly.

Jon took his seat again, eying her cautiously.

“Just to be clear. Did you just tell me you’ve never been on a date with a woman before?” She found that notion impossible to believe. Jon was gorgeous. With his dark hair, blue eyes, and strong build, he was every woman’s Adonis. Just walking into the place she’d caught several women, most already seated with their own man, sneaking covert glances at him.

Jon chuckled. The deep sound of it made tendrils of warmth curl in Patti’s belly and settle between her legs. “Not at all. I’m saying that I don’t date often. I’m very selective,” he said, staring at her now.

Patti shifted under his scrutiny. Somehow, he managed to make her feel shy and bold with a single look. On one hand, she wanted to hide her face with her hands, and on the other, she wanted to climb over the table and suck on his lips.

Instead, Patti chose to direct the topic toward something a little safer. “So you said you normally do business here. What kind of work do you do, Jon?”

Dropping his fork on the plate, Jon picked up his glass of dark beer and sat back in his chair. “What do I do?” he pondered, and took a drink. “I own my own business, so I guess you could say that I’m an entrepreneur.”

“Impressive,” Patti praised him. “And what kind of business do you own?”

“A publishing company,” he said. “Ever heard of Bookish Temptations?”

Had she ever! Her friend, Piper, and Piper’s husband, Tate, both worked for the company and if she wasn’t mistaken, the new girl in their entourage, Poppy, also worked there. Didn’t she recall something about Poppy’s boyfriend working there too? Jesus, was this man trying to take over all of Chicago, beginning with her group of friends? Sometimes the world was just too small for her taste. “I think I might’ve heard of it before,” she said flippantly.

A knowing smirk tugged at the corners of his full lips. “Maybe in passing. It’s a growing business and overall pretty successful. What do you do, Patricia?” he asked, turning the tables on her.

Patti fidgeted. It was embarrassing to know she was fired from her job, worse still to have to tell her date that she was fired. She had to let the cat out of the bag sometime. She figured now was as good a time as any. At least she’d get some practice before spilling the news to her mother, who was bound to flip out. She was not looking forward to that conversation one bit.

Sucking in a deep breath, Patti let the words spill out before she could consider burying them in her alcoholic slushy. “I’m unemployed at the moment.” She looked at him then, studying his face for signs of acceptance, or maybe disgust. All she found was understanding.

“Layoff?”

“More like selfish business tactics,” she corrected him. It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing she’d been cut loose in favor of a bigger profit margin.

“I’m sorry to hear that. What did you do?”

As Patti explained the details of her former job, she couldn’t help feeling bolstered by his interest and understanding. Not many men she’d dated bothered to learn about who she was, and what she was all about, but Jon was listening to her, and that was something so new to her. She was more tempted than ever to lay him out on the floor and strip him naked right there in the middle of the restaurant to show her gratitude.

“It’s funny,” Jon said as he filled out the receipt and signed off on it. “It just so happens that I’m in the market for a new accountant.”

Patti shook her head and polished off the last of her drink. She stood, slipping her hand into his outstretched one as though it were habit. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“What? You thought I was offering you the job?” Jon asked with feigned shock. “What kind of business person do you think I am, Patricia?”

She grinned at his playfulness. “I don’t know you well enough to speak on your business habits, but I think I should tell you now, I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

Jon pushed open the first set of doors and stopped in the enclosed space that separated the outside from in. He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “Am I to take that as an invitation to give you pleasure?”

Patti’s chest heaved with her shortened breaths. She became increasingly aware of how close they were, of the heat emanating from everywhere their bodies touched. “You can give me anything you want,” she whispered.

His eyes flared with desire. Cupping her face in his hand, Jon tilted her head back and leaned down. Patti’s stomach tumbled and need thrummed through her veins with white-hot intensity.

Before their lips could meet, a roll of thunder crashed outside and a bolt of lightning split the night sky. Patti nearly leaped out of her skin.

“Looks like rain,” Jon chuckled at the exact moment the skies opened up to unleash a torrential downpour. Patti, still a little shaky from her unexpected shock from the heavens, shuddered. “Easy, baby, it’s just a little thunderstorm.”

Patti released a stilted laugh, her cheeks heating in humiliation. “I’m not afraid of thunderstorms. That was just a little unexpected is all.”

Looking out across the rain-soaked parking lot, Jon considered what to do next. A wicked smile crossed his face. “Wanna make a run for it?”

Patti peered through the glass doors. “I don’t mind getting wet,” she said, biting her lip when he tugged her tighter to his body to let her know the deliberate double entendre hadn’t escaped him. “But I don’t know how well I’ll fare running in this weather in these heels.” She pointed to her shoes, which bore no need for explanation. It would be obvious even to a blind man that she would break an ankle if she attempted anything faster than a leisurely stroll.

“You’re probably right,” Jon conceded. “I guess I could just bring the car around…” he trailed off, thinking. “Or…”

Patti squealed in surprise when Jon bent low, grabbing her around the knees, and hefting her over his shoulder, and the next thing she knew, she was bobbing up and down as he burst through the doors and raced across the parking lot.

“What are you doing?” she shrieked, laughing all the while. Cold rain splattered across her back, soaking her from head to toe. With nothing to hold on to, Patti gripped Jon’s waist in tight fists and held on for dear life as he bound toward the truck.

Once they reached it, Jon let her down with deliberate ease. Her front rubbed every inch of his, pulling her dress higher up her thighs than was intended. Jon didn’t bother to unlock the doors, and Patti didn’t bother to complain. Standing there, with rain sheeting down around them, they stared into one another’s eyes.

“You’re soaked,” Jon told her, his voice coming out deep and husky and barely audible over the loud hiss of rain.

“So are you,” Patti said, looking up into his eyes and feeling absolutely lost in them. In that moment he could ask her anything and she knew she wouldn’t say no.

He took a step closer, backing her into the side of the truck. He reached up, one hand finding her waist while the other clasped the back of her neck, his fingers tangling in the hair at its base. He didn’t need words to express what he wanted. His eyes said every unspoken word. He wanted her.

Bending down, Jon brought his lips to hers, and even though the storm overhead rumbled angrily, Patti didn’t even flinch.

His lips devoured hers, giving, and demanding as they sucked and pulled. His tongue licked her lips and caressed the inside of her mouth, delving in deep and then dashing away, leaving her gasping for more. Patti wiggled closer, wrapping her arms around his neck and doing everything in her power to fuse their bodies together, but she couldn’t seem to get close enough.

Reading her thirst for more, Jon pulled back, eliciting a soft moan of displeasure from Patti. He dropped another kiss to her mouth. “Just so you know, Patricia,” he said against her lips. “I don’t have a problem mixing business with pleasure.” Then he slapped her on the ass and pulled out his keys. The truck’s lights blinked twice and he opened the driver’s side door. “Get inside,” he grunted, and grabbed her hips to help her inside.

8

Sitting beside Jon in the quiet cab made Patti feel even more flustered. She wasn’t sure how it was possible that he could affect her from where she was sitting, but somehow he did. She looked straight ahead, her body rigid with pent-up energy. The kiss they shared and its intensity hung in the air between them. Allowing only her eyes to move, Patti dared to look at him.

With one hand gripping the wheel tightly, the other resting on his muscular thigh, Jon looked about as tightly wound as she was. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were focused so intently on the road he didn’t even blink.

He must have felt her watching him. Turning his head, Jon caught her eyes and a smile grew across his face. “What?”

Patti bit her lip, blushing at having been caught. Thankfully, it was dark enough that she didn’t think he could see the heat she felt seeping into her cheeks. “I was just thinking,” she said softly.

His eyes dropped to her mouth and Patti’s did the same. “Oh yeah? About what?” he asked, his voice growing thick with want.

Patti swiped her tongue across her bottom lip. The way Jon’s eyes darkened emboldened her. Reaching across the limited space that separated them, Patti ran her fingertips down his forearm and took his hand in hers. She placed their clasped hands in her lap. With her other hand, she stroked the soft skin on the underside of his wrist and delighted in the almost imperceptible shiver that tracked through him.

“I was just thinking about how good it felt to kiss you,” she said, feeling stupid and sexy all at once. She’d never been very good at communicating her feelings, so each word confessed felt like a small, albeit awkward, triumph.

Jon’s hand tightened around hers. “Kissing you was amazing. I don’t think a woman’s lips have ever tasted so good.”

It was impossible to restrain her smile, so Patti didn’t bother trying. Instead, she grinned like a loon out the window the rest of the way home, thinking about the turn around her week had taken. She’d started out losing her job and her boyfriend, and then she’d had her car smashed by a reckless driver only to end up on a date with said offender, who turned out to be hot, intelligent, and an incredible kisser. Maybe it was fate, or maybe it was a simple act of chance, but all Patti knew was that she was going to grab on with both hands and see where this ride took her.

* * *

When they reached her house, Patti felt her stomach flutter in anticipation. She wasn’t sure where the night would lead them, but she was certain that she wasn’t ready for it to end.

Jon jumped out of the truck the moment he put it into park, and shut off the engine. Patti watched through the rain-streaked windshield as he ran around the front end to her side. Prepared to make a run for it, Patti held her purse tight to her side and turned in her seat with her muscles tensed.

“Ready?” Jon shouted over a roll of thunder. He held out his hand to her and she took it, jumping down into a giant puddle. Water soaked through her strappy shoes, almost completely submerging them. She didn’t let it stop her.

Still holding her hand, Jon ran for the house, pulling her along behind him. Once they reached the shelter of the porch, they took one look at each other’s saturated clothing and burst out laughing.

“I guess I should have checked the weather before I left,” Jon chuckled. He swiped the front of his shirt as though the action would somehow get rid of the excess water.

“That probably would have been a good idea,” Patti agreed. “But it was such a nice day earlier...” She looked down at her own waterlogged outfit and thanked the gods that she wasn’t a designer brand kind of girl. Otherwise, she’d be looking at one hell of a dry cleaning bill.

Beneath the soft yellow porch light, Patti couldn’t help staring at the picture Jon made. His wet clothing clung to him, exposing every inch of solid muscle beneath. Her mental checklist went wild. Tall? Check. Hot? Check. Built like a warrior? Double check. Beside him, she felt like a delicate flower. If she wasn’t already wet from the rain and the heart-stopping kiss he’d laid on her, she was sure the sight of him standing there looking like a DQ model would have been enough to make her completely drenched.

“I should probably go—”

“Would you like to come in?”

They spoke at the same time and Patti ducked her head, smiling bashfully. “You go first,” she offered.

Jon’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he wanted to object. “I should probably take off,” he said instead. Disappointment replaced Patti’s excitement and she felt her spirits drop. She tried to shake it off and smile through it, but Jon was too perceptive. He closed the gap between them and brought his hands up to cup her face. “Hey, don’t do that,” he commanded in a firm but gentle tone. “Make no mistake, I want to stay.”

“Then why don’t you?” Patti stuck out her bottom lip in a purposeful pout.

Jon captured her lip between his teeth and nipped it. “Because if I do I’m afraid you won’t respect me in the morning.”

A laughed escaped her. “I guarantee that if you stay, I’ll respect the hell out of you.” She looked up at him, imploring him with her eyes. “At least come in long enough to dry off.”

“I have a feeling that could take all night,” he whispered against her lips.

Patti tipped her head back to kiss him, but he pulled away, staying just out of her range. “You’re such a tease,” she accused.

Jon lifted a challenging brow. “Did you just call me a tease, Ms. Jacobs?”

Patti mirrored his look with an arched brow of her own. “Maybe I did, Mr. Bradshaw. What of it?”

The dangerous growl that rumbled up from deep within Jon’s chest sent a thrill through Patti that traveled an unerring path straight to her core. Without hesitation, Jon bent down, grabbing the backs of her thighs, and lifted her up. Patti wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders, pulling herself in for a tight fit against his firm chest. Her back hit the side of the house next, the narrow wooden slats digging into her flesh, but Patti couldn’t care less. She’d probably have bruises the next day, but a small amount of pain was worth it if it meant she could keep him between her legs as he was now.

“I’ll show you a tease,” Jon growled, then took her mouth in a punishing kiss that made Patti’s head spin.

She felt the hard ridge of his cock pressing against her. She tightened her legs around his, pushing her hips against his and forcing her pussy to press harder against it.

His hips jerked against hers, driving his cock into her heat. Patti gasped into his mouth and Jon took the opportunity to plunge his tongue deeper inside. He licked and sucked at her tongue, drawing her inside of him the way she wanted him inside of her. “Jon,” Patti panted, tunneling her fingers through his short hair and wrenching his head back just so she could dive in and take control.

Jon let out a hiss of pleasure, but he didn’t allow her to drive the passion forward. With hard hands, he tore her head back, breaking their lip lock in a brutal fashion. The bite of pain from her hair being pulled made Patti cry out, but the sound was quickly swallowed up by the storm.

“Jon, please,” Patti begged as he leaned in to run the flat of his tongue up the column of her neck. His teeth scraped across her jaw at the same time his hips thrust against hers, while driving his cock deeper until it parted her delicate folds, taking her silken panties with it. The action bordered on pain, but Patti loved it.

“You don’t get to beg,” Jon said against her throat. “You asked for this, and I’m going to show you exactly how big a tease I can be.”

His hand burrowed between their bodies, finding the hem of her dress where it had cinched up around the tops of her thighs, barely covering the swell of her ass. He stroked across the thin fabric, now as soaked as the rest of her clothing.

“Jon, yes, there,” Patti panted, squirming in his arms as his fingers traced a path through her cleft. Over and over again, he grazed her clit, then retreated, moving lower to brush across her throbbing opening.

Somewhere in Patti’s head, she thought she should probably be putting an end to all of this. It was their first date, after all, but his hot breath against her neck and his probing fingers and rock hard cock all came together to turn her into a wanton woman concerned with nothing other than seeking release.

“Higher,” Patti moaned, but Jon only moved lower. She could have complained, but Jon’s fingers were magical and within seconds, she was on board for whatever he wanted to do to her. “Oh, there. There!” While just when he made her feel so good she thought she might scream, he moved higher again. Patti’s body was coiled tight with frustration and agonizing need. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take of his constant give and take.

“Jon, please. I need to come,” she whimpered, throwing her head back against the siding. “Please.”

She heard his deep chuckle, but she was too wrought, too lost in his torturous game to utter another word of protest.

“Is that all you wanted?” he asked. Patti cracked open her eyes. He was smiling, but his eyes were dark and full of mischief. “Well, far be it from me to keep a lady waiting.”

Prying her fingers free of his hair, Jon gathered both of Patti’s hands in one of his, and pinned them above her head. Only the weight of his body and her thighs clenched tightly around his hips kept her from falling flat on her ass. With his free hand, Jon tugged aside her panties and pushed two thick fingers inside of her.

“Mmmm,” he hummed in her ear. “You’re so fucking tight, Patricia, and very, very wet. Is this all for me?”

Patti squeezed her eyes shut, unable to speak. Everything she felt just then was one hundred percent his.

Jon worked his fingers in and out, twisting and turning them, caressing her inner walls until she quivered with need. Her orgasm was building, the pressure becoming so great, she felt she might combust.

“That’s right, Patricia. It’s mine. All of it.” His hips ground against her, pushing and retreating, mimicking the sex she craved. Each thrust against the back of his hand shoved his fingers impossibly deeper, wringing carnal noises from Patti that she never thought she was capable of producing.

“Jon,” she cried out, flexing her fingers, fisting and releasing, needing something to hold on to but finding nothing. Jon’s hand gripped her wrists, trussing her to the siding and threatening to cut off circulation. And still she didn’t care. Her body was too busy chasing pleasure to bother with something so trivial.

“Come for me, Patricia.” Jon curled his fingers inside of her, hitting that ever-elusive spot, while his thumb pressed down on her swollen clit. The dueling sensations consumed her like a fire raging out of control. Lightning lit up the sky as Patti splintered apart. “That’s it, baby. Good girl.”

As Patti returned to herself, she became aware of Jon’s tender words. He feathered kisses across her chest, her shoulders, up her neck and finally, her mouth. He took her lips tenderly, taking his time with her, letting her know that he was still with her. Gently, he released her wrists and Patti felt her skin prickle as blood rushed back to her fingertips.

Circling his arms around her waist, Jon supported her weight fully, and Patti sighed as she slumped forward, draping herself over his shoulder. She buried her face in his neck, placing lazy, wet kisses along the side of it.

When he was sure she could stand, Jon set her back on her feet. Tipping her head back, that dazed feeling still swimming around inside her head, Patti stared up at him.

A dark, sexy smile spread slowly across Jon’s face. He took a step back. And then another.

“Are you going to come inside?” Patti asked coyly. She figured after what they had just done it was a done deal. He’d come inside, they’d have sex, and then they would see where they stood when dawn rose over the horizon. The fact that he was backing away from her was truly puzzling.

Jon shook his head, stepping down off the porch. The rain had let up a bit, reduced to a drizzle. “I told you, I need to take off.”

Realization grabbed Patti and shook her. She crossed the porch to stand in front of him. “You’re leaving?”

“I’m afraid I don’t have a choice,” Jon smirked. “I wouldn’t be much of a tease if I let you have everything without having to work for it first.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” Patti couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She’d given him an open invitation to have sex with her and he was turning her down? What kind of guy did that?

Jon’s expression grew serious and he took her hand in his. His thumb traced over the tender skin around her wrist before he brought it to his mouth and kissed her. “Go out with me again.”

It didn’t escape Patti that he hadn’t so much had asked her but told her, but his strong tone and heated eyes made her want to fall into his arms and submit to his will without question. “Okay,” she agreed readily, “but only if I get to pick the place.”

“That’s fine,” Jon said without hesitation.

“And I’m paying,” she added.

Jon arched a quizzical brow and Patti prepared herself for an argument that never came. “A woman willing to wine and dine the man? My wallet thanks you, Ms. Jacobs.”

Patti laughed outright. “Then it’s settled.”

“It seems it is,” Jon agreed. “So when and where will you be taking me?”

Patti pursed her lips. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. “How about I call you?”

“Oh, spoken like a true player. Tell me now, should I wait by the phone to hear your pretty voice?”

Patti’s heart sped up as he closed in on her once more. Reaching inside her purse, she found what she was looking for almost immediately. Jon’s brows furrowed as he reached into his pocket. Staring her straight in the eyes, he swiped his finger across the screen and brought the phone to his ear.

“Jonathon speaking.”

Her eyes never leaving his, Patti lifted her phone to her ear. “Definitely.”

Catching the back of her head, Jon brought her face to his and kissed her hard. When he released her, they were both breathing heavily. “I’ll be waiting.”

Patti watched him walk to his truck and climb inside before she let herself into the house. Turning, she paused in the open doorway and waved at the silhouette behind the wheel. She could feel his eyes on her just as she could still feel his scorching touch on her body. As he pulled away from the curb, Patti shut the door and flipped the locks. She released a heavy breath and pressed her palm over her thundering heart.

Then it struck her.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had ever felt this happy.

Smiling, Patti walked through the house turning off all the lights and set about tucking herself into bed.

9

The office was curiously quiet, Jon decided. He sat at his desk, tapping his pen to a disjointed rhythm. He’d been busy all week handling business and scrounging for things to do to keep his mind busy.

It was not an easy task.

In the mornings, Jon jogged, taking his usual route around his neighborhood. He delved into his work, actively discussing contracts and accounts, which turned out to be far more interesting than he’d imagined. He never cared enough to bother with the details before, but now that he was forcing himself to pay attention, it was informative, and dare he admit it, mildly entertaining.

Every afternoon Jon spent his lunch hour with his best buddy, Travis. They ate great food, discussed women, and hit a few balls out on the range, but none of it could distract him from his own mind when it came to the lonely evening hours waiting for him at the end of a long day.

Jon glanced at his cell phone, an act that had become habit since leaving Patricia’s house last Tuesday night. He found the screen dark and lifeless, unchanging. When would she call? Would she call? He asked himself that question too many times to count over the last week. Even his own brain was becoming annoyed with its repetitive thoughts.

Just to be safe, he swiped his finger across the screen and pulled up his messages. Nothing.

Was this what the women he promised to call felt like, he wondered?

If so, it sucked balls.

There wasn’t one second that ticked by that wasn’t consumed with thoughts of her. Even the best distractions were weak. What was it about her that held his attention so steadfast? She was beautiful, but no glamor model. She wasn’t tall or stick-thin, but short and healthy looking. Absolutely nothing about her save her straight white teeth and contagious smile bore any resemblance to the women he usually dated. Or fucked, rather.

Perhaps that was the draw, Jon pondered.

All he knew was that he found himself smiling every time he thought about her, and that had to be a good thing…depending on the angle you viewed it from, anyway.

He twisted around in his chair to face the impressive view of the Chicago skyline. Visions of Patricia’s face, cast in shadows as she writhed in pleasure that he had inflicted on her, replayed in Jon’s mind. He could still feel the vice-like grip of her thighs around his hips and her fingers digging into his scalp.

Looking down at his hands, he flexed his fingers, recalling the way her inner muscles felt as they clenched around them. His cock jumped, straining against his pant leg. More than anything, he wanted to know what it would feel like to be buried in her succulent body, feeling the walls of her pussy milking him dry.

She was like no woman he had ever met before. Funny, witty, sexy, smart, and she knew her way around a car—she had it all. The total package.

He glanced at his phone again, willing it to ring. Again, it sat there in silence.

“Mr. Bradshaw? Knock, knock.” Jon looked up to see Poppy entering his office wearing her trademark friendly smile.

“Ms. Montgomery,” Jon said with a nod. “What can I do for you?”

Poppy strode across the room with confidence. Taking a seat in the chair across from him, she regarded him with frank, assessing eyes. “I want you to know that, while I appreciate you believing in my abilities enough to want me to find you a new accountant, I can’t accept the added responsibility at this time.”

“Well, you certainly don’t waste any time,” Jon commented. He pulled his chair closer, tucking his legs under the desk. “I like that about you, Ms. Montgomery.”

“Poppy, please.”

Jon tipped his head in acquiescence. “Poppy. While I appreciate your situation, I’ve seen how well you multitask and feel that you would, in fact, be capable of maintaining your responsibilities to Mr. Sinclair while also finding a smidgen of time to allocate to finding a much-needed accountant.” He inhaled deeply. “I’m sure I don’t need to impress upon you why having a capable accountant on the payroll is necessary.”

“No, that’s not necessary,” Poppy said through gritted teeth. Jon had to hand it to her, though. As pissed off as she was, her smile never faltered. “But with all due respect, I have a lot on my plate and I don’t think I could give this the attention it needs and deserves.”

“With all due respect,” Jon returned stiffly, “I never asked. The fact is, this company needs an accountant, one that is knowledgeable and a trusted member of their field, and you are the person I want on the job. Besides, I’ll be the one interviewing them. You just need to find them.” Through with this conversation, Jon stood. “I have utmost faith in you, Ms. Montgomery.” He led her to the door and followed her out.

“Mr. Bradshaw,” Poppy protested in a final effort to sway him.

Jon held up his hand, stopping her in her tracks. “The job is yours. Handle it how you see fit, Ms. Montgomery. I trust your judgment, but understand this, there isn’t a soul here I trust, nor any that have the time to take on this responsibility, aside from you. If you refuse it, you’ll be costing many people their livelihood. I don’t like being wrong, so don’t make me regret my decision.”

He stared at her pointedly, making sure she got the message loud and clear. He didn’t want to have to fire her, but he would. There was no room for softies in this business, only sharks.

“Whatever you want,” Poppy said. Pivoting on her heel, she stormed toward Felix’s office.

Shaking his head in mild amusement, Jon turned his attention to the young, blonde receptionist posted at the front of the office. “I’m heading out for the rest of the day. Hold all my calls and forward any important messages to my cell.”

“Will do, Mr. Bradshaw. Enjoy your evening.”

Jon rode the elevator down to the first floor. It was blazing hot when he stepped outside, and he hurried to his truck. Sweat had already begun to dampen his skin, making his suit cling to him. He tore off the blazer, tossing it into the passenger seat, and rolled up his shirtsleeves to get some relief from the heat.

With the air conditioning on full blast, he pulled out his cell phone once more. Finding no new messages, Jon tucked it away and pulled on to the road with determination. If the mountain wouldn’t come to Mohammad, Mohammad would come to the mountain.

* * *

As it turned out, Jon didn’t have to go to the mountain. He’d passed through two traffic lights when his phone buzzed. Reaching across the seats, Jon retrieved the phone from his suit jacket and put it on speakerphone.

Expecting it to be another business call, he answered in his usual gruff manner. “Jonathon Bradshaw speaking.”

“Hey, it’s me. Patti. Is this a bad time?”

Jon’s stomach dropped and his heart sped up at the sound of her sweet voice. “Patricia,” he drawled. “I was beginning to wonder whether I should start considering recasting my line.”

“Only been a week and already you’re thinking about fishing,” she teased.

“I’m afraid it wouldn’t be a very fruitful venture. I’ve never been much of a fisherman.” Now that he had her on the phone, relief swelled in his chest. Abandoning his original mission, Jon began to head for home.

“Is that so?”

Jon’s grin turned devilish. “It is. You see, I’ve never had much need to learn. The fish always just jumped into the boat.”

“Lucky man,” Patti said, playing along.

“Depends on how you look at it.”

Silence passed between them and Jon could practically hear her mulling over her words. Pulling into his reserved parking spot outside his condo, he waited patiently. “So, I was wondering…were you still interested in going out on another date?”

“Hmm,” Jon hedged. He stared blankly at the brick building in front of him, enjoying the moment where he held her in suspense. “You did make me wait an awful long time, but I guess I can let you take me out. Assuming you promise to make it up to me,” he tacked on.

“Oh, I think I can manage something,” Patricia said. “Pick you up at ten on Saturday?”

“Are you sure you’ll be ready in time?” he asked, referring to her state of undress when he’d gone to pick her up for their first date.

“It’ll mean keeping my distance from heavy machinery, but I’m sure I can arrange something.”

“Mm, what a shame. I kind of enjoyed the grease monkey look,” Jon admitted. “And where will you be taking me, Ms. Jacobs?”

“It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you, Mr. Bradshaw,” she said coyly.

Jon rubbed two fingers over his smooth chin. “What’s the attire?”

She hummed, pretending to think. “Very casual,” she decided.

“Jeans and T-shirt casual or business casual?” Jon had plenty of clothing hanging in his closet, but his dresser drawers came up short to an almost embarrassing degree when it came to anything less than top of the line. That was the danger in being wealthy. Everywhere you showed your face required nothing but the best from the cut of your hair down to the shoes on your feet. He longed for the casual style of his roots when he didn’t mind getting dirt on his knees or tears in his clothing. It sounded like Patricia was going to give that to him.

“Definitely jeans and a T-shirt,” she confirmed.

“Noted.”

“See you Saturday morning, then?”

“Count on it. Oh, and Patricia?” Jon said before she could hang up.

“Yeah?”

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since that night on your porch.”

“Me either,” she confessed.

“I can’t wait to kiss you again.”

“I can still taste you on my lips,” Patricia said.

Jon felt himself getting excited and decided it was time to cut it off before he lost control and drove to her place to finish what they’d started. “I’ll see you Saturday, and, Patricia?”

“Hmm?”

“Wear something short. If we’re going to be in public, I want those sexy legs at my disposal.”

“Okay,” came her breathy reply.

Jon ended the call and gathered up his jacket. His cock pressed firmly against his thigh as he climbed down from the truck and headed inside. If he were going to get through the next two days, he was going to need an ice-cold shower and some hard liquor.

* * *

Jon didn’t have hard liquor, but he did have ice-cold beer. Slumping down on the couch, he flipped on the television and settled in for some mindless evening programming. He’d made it halfway through an episode of Road Rules when his phone rang.

Leaning forward, he snatched the phone from the table, glanced at who was calling, and swiped the screen. “Hey, Mom,” he answered, “what’s up?”

“Nothing much,” she replied. “Just calling to check in and see how life is treating you.”

“Life is treating me great at the moment,” he said, grinning ear to ear as memories of Patricia in his arms came flooding back.

“I’m glad to hear that. And what about work? Have you found a new accountant yet?”

Jon’s lips thinned and he swallowed down a gulp of his beer. He was still a little bitter over that particular wrench, but there was nothing he could do about it aside from finding a suitable replacement. “No, nothing yet, but I have Poppy on the job so I can’t imagine it will take very long.”

“Poppy is such a nice girl,” his mother said passionately. “I really like that one. Is she dating anyone?”

Jon laughed. “Mom, don’t try to set me up. You don’t have the matchmaking gene. Besides, I’m pretty sure Poppy is spoken for.”

His Mom sighed. “Well, what a pity. I think she would have been perfect for you.”

Jon knew exactly who would be perfect for him, and it wasn’t Poppy.

“So your sister met someone,” his mom said, steering the conversation away from his love life. “He seems nice. I think he went to school with you,” she said, her voice rising in excitement. “Mike Sawyer?”

Of course he knew Mike. “Yeah, I remember him,” he said incredulously. “How could I forget? The guy used to spend the night damn near every weekend.” What he opted to leave out was the amount of trouble the two of them used to get into together. Even ten years later, he knew his mother well enough to know she’d have a fit if she ever found out about some of the things they used to do when the rest of the town was fast asleep.

Now that he thought about it, he wasn’t sure how he felt about his old pal dating his little sister, but he suspected that no matter what guy she brought home, they would never be good enough in his eyes. Although, he would be more than happy if she died a virginal old maid.

He voiced his concerns to his mother. “Tell Dad that when I come over for our next family dinner, he and I can team up on the guy and see what he’s all about.”

“Jonathon Michael Bradshaw,” his mother scolded, “don’t you dare! Your sister is as happy as a clam and I won’t have you boys trying to ruin it for her. Just let her be.”

“I promise not to ruin it,” Jon said whole-heartedly, “but you know as well as I do that this guy needs to go through the Bradshaw test. It’s tradition.”

She sighed in resignation. “Fine, do what you have to do, but keep it simple. Nothing too extreme, got it? I think she really likes this one.”

That was the last thing Jon wanted to hear. Casey was too good for any guy, especially any guy he had ever hung out with, but he wasn’t her warden. The best he could do is subject Mike to the best torture he could come up with and see if he had the wherewithal to stick around. “I’ll do my best to rein it in, but I can’t speak for Dad.”

“You let me worry about your father. So, what’s this about a new woman you’re dating?”

That threw Jon for a loop. “I don’t recall saying anything about dating anyone,” he said, confused.

“Oh, sweetie, you didn’t have to. It’s a mother’s job to know these things.”

“Are you spying on me?” He looked around the room, only half-joking. Still, temptation clawed at him to draw the curtains and shut off all the lights to check for any red, blinking lights hidden in the potted plants.

“Are you kidding? Where would I find the time?” she squeaked in protest. “Besides, that’s what the private investigator I hired is for.”

“I can totally see you doing that,” Jon said, somewhat serious. His mother loved her children so much, she’d probably move in with them if given half a chance just to make sure they had on clean underwear each day.

“You make me sound like such an ogre, Jon, seriously,” she complained.

“Then tell me how you simply knew I was seeing someone,” he challenged.

“It was the way you said life was treating you well. I could hear that dopey smile all the way through the telephone. So, who is she and when do I get to meet her?”

He did not have a dopey smile. Sometimes, Jon thought to himself, mothers could be just plain cruel. “Her name is Patricia Jacobs, and I don’t know. We’ve only been out the one time. It’s all very new still.”

She shrugged his excuse off. “New is good. New is exciting. So where did you take her for your date?”

“Just to dinner. She’s great, Mom,” Jon said softly, a hint of sadness seeping into his voice.

His mother’s tone softened to match his. “If you picked her, then I know she is.”

“I’m worried I’ll mess it all up,” he croaked. He swallowed past the growing lump in his throat.

“Oh, honey, as long as you don’t stand in the way of your own happiness, you won’t.”

The problem with that was that Jon had no idea how to step out of his own way. He wasn’t sure he even deserved to.

Clearing her throat, his mother switched gears. “You should bring her with you,” she chirped.

“What, to the dinner?” Jon asked, his brows pinching as he tried to keep up with her.

“Sure, that too! But I meant to the yard sale. Bring her along. Your dad and I would love to meet her.”

Jon let loose a boisterous laugh. “Um, no. I have enough problems holding onto the women in my life as it is. The last thing I need is to have her frightened away by my family before I get to know her myself.”

“You’re so dramatic,” his mother accused. “It’s not as if we’d do anything to embarrass you.”

“Not on purpose, no,” Jon agreed.

“Fine, I’m throwing my hands up,” his mother said in exasperation. “At least promise me you’ll consider it.”

Jon rolled his eyes. “Okay, I promise I’ll consider it.”

“Good, I’ll see you two then. Love you, sweetie, bye!”

Jon’s mouth gaped open. “That little trickster,” he muttered. No matter what, his mother always found a way to get what she wanted, and she’d just locked him into not only bringing Patricia along to a family gathering, but to a block sale that was bound to be nothing short of eventful.

10

Patti laughed so hard she choked on her soda.

“You okay there? You’re not going to die on me are ya?” Jules reached across the table and pounded her on the back.

“I’m good,” Patti wheezed, raising her hand to ward off the beating. “I’m okay.”

Jules sat back in the chair and picked at her cinnamon raisin bagel. “As I was saying, I just don’t know why any guy would ever wear a bra. I don’t care if they are for men or not, it’s just not acceptable attire for a man.”

“Maybe he has moobs,” Patti offered, trying to keep a straight face.

“Oh, he had moobs alright,” Jules said with wide eyes. She looked down as she cupped her breasts. “Put these puppies to shame.”

Patti reached out and placed a comforting hand on Jules’ arm. “Aw, sweetie, are you jealous?”

“That my date filled out his bra better than I do?” Jules screeched. “Hell yes I’m jealous!” She muttered a few choice words as she picked apart her bagel, placing the raisins in a pile on her napkin.

“Why do you buy those if you don’t like the raisins?” Patti asked her.

“Because I like the cinnamon, duh.” Jules rolled her eyes as though the question were absurd. “So you never said…how did your date with that guy turn out?”

Patti felt her face flame as she thought about what they’d done right out in the open on her front porch. “It went ‘well’?”

Jules sat up and hunched over the table. “How well is ‘well’?”

Patti sucked in a breath, considering how much was too much to tell. Screw it. Girls didn’t hold out on their friends. “Well enough to need a bucket of aloe vera for my back the next day.”

Jules slapped her arm, hard. “Shut the front door! You two had sex?”

Patti’s eyes darted around the noisy café. “Shhh!” she hissed, shoving her away while at the same time leaning closer. Their heads met in the center of the table so they could speak without being overheard. “No, we didn’t have sex, but we might as well have.”

“Then how did your back get all messed up?” Jules asked, her gaze sliding to the space beyond her shoulder, as if she might be able to catch a glimpse of the damage through her clothing if she stared hard enough.

“Let’s just say that when a guy pins you against a wall of wood covered in chipped paint, you’re bound to feel it in the morning.”

“Shut up! You fooled around on the front porch?” Jules hissed, both shocked and intrigued by the concept. She slumped back in her chair. “I swear you are just as bad as Piper.

Patti pointed an offended finger at her. “Hey, at least it was dark out, and it wasn’t like I had my skirt hiked up around my waist in the middle of the restaurant. Jon was a gentleman,” she sniffed.

Jules snorted. “Name one ‘gentleman’ who would feel up a woman on the first date, in public no less?”

“Mr. Darcy,” she said definitively.

“What?” Jules spluttered. “Mr. Darcy would never do such a thing. He was a gentleman.”

“He was a jerk and—”

“He. Was. A gentleman.” Jules’ wide eyes and dangerous tone had Patti falling over in a fit of giggles.

“You’re too easy,” she panted. Jules had always been a diehard romantic, and her idea of epic romance had been, since the age of thirteen, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

“Ninny,” Jules said petulantly, and stuck out her tongue. Her hollow anger dissolved in an instant and she snatched up Patti’s wrist, bringing it closer for inspection. “Where the hell did you get those bruises?”

Flushing, Patti tugged her hand back and tucked it under the table. “The same place I got the scratches on my back.”

Anger flared in her friend’s eyes. “And that’s okay with you? Jesus, Patti, I know some chicks like it rough, but don’t you think that might be going a little far?”

“He wasn’t trying to hurt me,” Patti defended. “We just got a little carried away.” She dipped her head. “I liked it,” she whispered bashfully.

Jules stared at her for a long time, contemplating her words. Finally, her expression shifted to casual indifference. “Just remember, if this guy ever gets out of line, I’ll kick his ass.”

What Patti loved most about Jules was that, not only had they been best friends since grade school, which ensured that they argued like sisters, was that she knew the woman always had her back. She knew beyond a doubt that if anyone ever dared to hurt her, Jules wouldn’t hesitate to take them out at the kneecaps. It was no less than what she would do for her if the situation were reversed.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” she told her, sending her friend a warm smile. “So,” she continued, brightening up. “I’m taking Jon out on Saturday. I have big plans. I can’t wait to see his reaction.” She grew more animated as her thoughts carried forward. “I just finished the detail work on the GTO. I finally finished banging out the dent in the bumper, so all I have left to do now is buff out the scratches and repaint.”

Jules popped a piece of raisin-less bread in her mouth. “Honestly, you and your cars.” She shrugged. “I’m sure whatever you have planned, Jon will enjoy.”

Patti was hopeful. She couldn’t wait to introduce Jon to her version of fun.

After Patti and Jules parted ways, Patti climbed into her Toyota and headed for home with a smile etched into her face so deep, she didn’t think she’d ever frown again.

* * *

Saturday couldn’t come fast enough. Patti drove to Jon’s house bright and early with knots in her stomach. She hadn’t seen him since their date over a week ago, and he had left a big impression. She was both nervous and excited to see him again. Nervous because she wasn’t sure what to expect, and excited because she was about to let him glimpse a part of her world, not to mention that she had an idea of how she’d like their date to end.

Patti roared into a parking spot positioned directly in front of the address he’d given her. “Okay, Patti,” she murmured to herself, “you can do this. Your heart won’t explode—it just feels like it will.” With shaking hands, she let herself out of the car and made her way up the short walkway.

Jon lived in one of those ultra-modern single-level condos that were joined to several more just like it. His sat on the outside edge, giving it the unique feature of having windows on three of its four sides. There was nothing in the way of landscaping and the front yard was an unimpressive square of bright green grass that was too small even for someone of her height to stretch out on. It was nothing special, yet it probably cost him an absolute fortune.

The door swung open before Patti could knock. “Hey,” she said, her fist still poised in the air. She lowered it to her side and folded her hands in front of her.

Jon stood in the doorway smiling down at her. He presented a gorgeous picture of the perfect male specimen in a pair of khaki cargo shorts and a striped polo. His hair was gelled into soft spikes, creating a faux Mohawk that made him look far less than the wealthy businessman she was accustomed to, and much more like a regular guy.

“Hey, yourself,” Jon said brightly. “You’re early.”

“Expecting me to be late were you?”

Jon let his gaze roam over her, giving her chills. “I don’t know what I was expecting exactly,” he said, distracted. “You wore shorts.”

The shortest pair she owned, in fact. Powder blue, they rode low on her waist and ended just below the crease of her butt. Jon said he wanted her legs at his disposal, so she gave him as much leg as she could short of showing up in her underwear. She looked down. “It seems I have,” she said, returning a teasing smile.

Without warning, Jon took her hand in his and bent down, placing a chaste kiss to her lips. “You look stunning.”

“They’re just shorts,” Patti said, attempting to catch her breath. Jon had a way of stealing it from her.

“They’re incredible shorts,” Jon amended. “Come inside. I just have to grab my wallet and phone and we can head out.”

Patti allowed Jon to pull her inside and marveled at what she saw. The condo was done in an open concept design, and from her position, she could see everything it had to offer. Off to her left sat a spacious living room with white walls and lush white carpet. The furniture was also white, punctuated by colorful throw pillows in red, blue, and green satins. A few pieces of artwork hung on the walls that she was willing to bet cost more than an entire year of her salary. The dining room sat adjacent to the living room, complete with a large glass top table surrounded by black metal chairs. Beautiful pale stone floors extended into the kitchen, which was outfitted by white cabinets and shining black countertops, and beyond that, she could see the beginning of a hallway, which she assumed led to the bedrooms.

“Wow, nice place,” she said, soaking it all in.

“Thank you,” Jon said as he pocketed his phone and wallet.

“I take it you like white?”

Jon glanced up at her and studied her face. “Are you being smart?”

“Not at all,” Patti said innocently. “It’s just a lot of white.”

Reaching out to her, Jon pulled Patti into his arms. “White represents purity, a blank slate. White presents the opportunity to color your future any way you want. I like white.”

“I can see that you do,” Patti said, looking up into eyes that burned.

“Would you like a tour?” Jon asked her, staring at her mouth as if he would devour it any second. “I just redecorated the master bedroom. We could start there.”

Boy did she ever! Patti sighed with regret. “As fun as that sounds, we can’t, unless you want to miss out on what I have planned for us.”

“Ah, that’s right. I almost forgot. You have a surprise for me.” Dropping a quick kiss on the tip of her nose, Jon swatted her on the butt and set her away from him. “I guess we’ll have to save the tour for another time.”

Patti couldn’t deny that she was a tad disappointed, but she sucked it up like a big girl and preceded him out the door.

“Holy shit,” Jon gasped, pulling up short.

Patti spun around to see what was wrong. She found Jon rooted to the sidewalk, his mouth agape. “What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t realize you had your car repaired,” he said, taking a cautious step toward it.

Patti moved aside so he could get a closer look. “Actually, I did it myself,” she said, lifting her chin. She was proud of her accomplishment. Not many women took the time to learn the ins and outs of how their car ran, let alone got their hands dirty repairing it. It was what she’d often heard it referred to as a man’s job. It was total bullshit if you asked her. Still, Jon didn’t seem to be put off by her abilities in the least.

She watched as he slowly moved around the car, letting his fingers glide over its body. She imagined those fingers touching her with the same reverence, and shivered. If she had it her way, she’d be getting that tour by the end of the night. “I don’t remember these being here,” he said, running his hand over the bold red racing stripes running from the front end to the back.

“They weren’t,” Patti confirmed, moving to stand in front of it. “After I finished banging out the last of the dents, I guess I got a little design happy and decided to give it a little extra flair.” She shrugged. “I think it makes her look dangerous,” she said with a wink in his direction. “Sexy and sleek. Fast.”

As Jon stared into the reflective black finish, his expression grew so distant, that she feared she’d lost him.

“Jon?” Taking a step toward him, Patti flinched, startled when Jon jerked his hand away from the car as though he’d been burned.

“Let’s take my truck.” His voice was devoid of emotion, but his eyes were full of turbulence.

Patti approached him with caution and laid her hand on his arm. “Jon, what’s wrong?” She wouldn’t say it out loud, but he was scaring her.

“Let’s take my truck,” he repeated, and this time he turned his haunted eyes on her. “I can drive.”

“Jon,” Patti said with a drawn out sigh. She looked down at her car then back up at him. “That defeats the purpose of me taking you out. What’s going on? Why don’t you want me to drive?” A thought occurred to her and she jammed her fists on her hips. “This isn’t some pigheaded way of saying you’re not comfortable with me driving because I’m a girl, is it?”

Jon’s face twisted. “What? Of course not!”

“Then what is this all about?”

Pinching his nose between his thumb and forefinger, Jon shook his head and released a frustrated breath. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” He gave her a false smile and bent to kiss her. Patti pressed her lips to his, but she could feel that something wasn’t right with him. “Come on,” Jon said, moving past her to open the passenger door. He motioned for her to get in.

“What? You think you’re going to drive?” she asked. “No way. No one touches my baby but me.”

Jon’s eyebrows lifted. “You don’t trust me?”

“I’ve seen the way you drive, remember?”

“Is this about the accident?” Jon’s brows lifted in surprise. “Because I would argue that since then, you’ve been on the receiving end of my awesome driving skills, so you really can’t hold that against me.”

Patti bit down on her lip thoughtfully. “I don’t know…”

“Come on,” Jon coaxed. Snaking his arm around her waist, he forced her legs to move until she was standing in the opening of the door. Lowering his head, he feathered wet kisses down the side of her neck. “Get in, Patricia,” he whispered. “Let me demonstrate how well I can…maneuver in and out of tight places.”

Patti felt her insides turn to liquid and she leaned into him, allowing Jon to support her. Feeling her placidity, Jon scraped his teeth over her sensitive skin and nipped her earlobe. Easing her into the car, he leaned inside and reached around her, drawing the buckle across her waist and securing her tightly in the passenger seat. He held out his hand. “Keys?”

Dazed, Patti dropped them into his palm. Jon closed the door and moved around to the driver’s side, and slid in behind the wheel. He grinned over at her, looking like the cat that ate the canary. “Since I have no idea where we’re headed, you’re going to have to guide the way.”

“For such a successful businessman, you really didn’t think this through,” Patti joked.

Jon fired up the engine and looked over his shoulder as he backed out of the parking spot. “I find life is a little more exciting when you introduce some spontaneity. Where are we going?”

Leaning her head back against the seat, Patti let her head fall to the side and took in Jon’s strong profile. Where were they going? She had no idea, but wherever they ended up, she had a feeling it was going to be an adventure and she wasn’t all together sure how she’d fare at the end of it.

“Patti?” Jon turned his head to look at her. “Left or right?”

Blinking away her thoughts, Patti pointed. “Right.”

11

Jon wasn’t sure whether he should be thrilled or freaked the hell out. Patti’s idea of fun was heart-stopping torture for him.

Standing tall, his chest out and his chin held high, no one would be the wiser that he was on the verge of having a total meltdown. Trying not to put her hand in a death grip, Jon allowed Patti to drag him toward the Raceway gates. The ticket master, a paunchy, middle-aged man with a comb over held out his hand, and she dropped two tickets into his sweaty palm.

“Enjoy the race,” the man said in a monotone voice that suggested he hated every single moment of his job.

Patti’s head twisted around and she beamed up at him. “Ready?”

Not in the slightest, but he bobbed his head anyway. “Absolutely. Lead the way.”

Unlike the races he’d attended in the past, the stands weren’t overly packed. There were bodies sprinkled around the bleachers overlooking the strip of pavement below, but there were wide-open spaces available, making it look as though it were on the verge of being empty.

“Drag racing isn’t as big as NASCAR or Indy, but they still have a pretty strong fan base,” Patti explained as they made their way down.

He didn’t need the explanation. Jon knew everything there was to know about the sport, but he kept his lips sealed.

His anxiety crept higher with each step they took. By the time Patti selected a row of empty benches, they were a mere three levels above where the action would take place.

“So,” Patti said as she settled in and crossed her legs. “What do you think? Are you surprised?”

Jon cast a look around. On the strip below were two paved lanes that extended from one end of the arena to the other. At the head sat two souped-up cars surrounded by various crewmembers responsible for the success of each race.

“It’s great.” Leaning in, he placed a gentle kiss against her lips. “Thank you.”

As he pulled away, he noticed the slight crease that had formed between her brows. “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” he assured her. Reaching up, he smoothed a finger over the tiny furrow. He knew she was picking up on his apprehension and that was the last thing he wanted to have happen.

“Sometimes I forget that not everyone gets as excited about cars as I do,” she continued, worry making her voice pitch a little higher.

“I like cars,” Jon returned.

“Well, duh,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Doesn’t every guy like cars?”

Jon lifted his shoulder. “I doubt that every guy does, but I definitely do.”

Patti turned to him with a serious expression on her face. “Jon, you drive a Ford.”

Jon leaned in. “Yes,” he agreed with an equally serious face. “But I used to drive a ’71 Dodge Challenger.”

A knowing smile stretched across his face at Patti’s sudden intake of breath. “I didn’t think it was possible, but you just got a hundred degrees hotter.”

Covering her knee with his hand, Jon let his palm smooth up her bare thigh. Pressing the side of his body against hers, he clasped her neck with his free hand, drawing her closer. His lips met hers in an open-mouth kiss and when their tongues touched, he released a moan from the surge of pleasure that shot straight to his crotch.

Breaking away before he took her right there, Jon licked the sweet taste of her strawberry lip balm from his lips. “I hope you don’t have any plans after this, because after that kiss I’m not letting you go any time soon.”

Patti’s response was drowned out by the sudden ear-splitting roar of two very powerful engines. Jon gave her knee a squeeze and tried to ignore the pounding of his heart as he turned his attention to the race below.

A pristine white Mustang with two thick, black racing stripes running down the center that harkened back to the eighties, rolled up alongside a mint condition Camaro painted a cherry red from the same era. Their engines purred as they aligned themselves with the starting line on the narrow drag strip. Between them, a tower of lights that resembled a Christmas tree flicked to yellow.

Heart hammering in his chest, Jon braced himself.

As a kid, he’d always been a fan of anything having to do with cars. He had an extensive collection of Matchbox, which later grew to include Hot Wheels, until the day he’d gotten his driver’s license, and his dad had surprised him with a sweet ’82 Firebird for his sixteenth birthday. His mother hadn’t been too thrilled about it, convinced that he’d wreck it the minute he set tire to pavement, but he’d surprised them all by lasting a whole four and a half months before wrapping it around a median.

Undeterred, he’d saved up enough money working odd jobs all over town to purchase the Charger. Soon thereafter, he’d developed a love of speed along with other boys his age, and to feed their appetites, they’d pooled their time and resources into putting together a makeshift track that used to serve as a horse run up at an old abandoned farm. It was in the middle of nowhere, so they never had to worry about the cops showing up unexpectedly, but in the end, that had ended up being their downfall.

Despite the sickening feeling drawn up by his past, Jon couldn’t deny the spark of intrigue he felt niggling at the base of his brain. The deep growl of the engines made his chest tight and the smell of burning rubber that hung in the air was a seductive tease to his senses. It was appalling and alluring all at once—the last things Jon ever wanted to feel again.

Deep down, Jon knew his feeling about the race, and cars, and everything that the two entailed stemmed from the bone-deep fear that had settled in long ago. He’d been reckless then, and he’d built a wall to prevent himself from repeating past mistakes, but he always knew it would just be a matter of time before he’d be forced to face it. He’d just hoped like hell that day would never come.

Now that he found himself sitting there, a beautiful woman on his arm who wore a smile so big it was damn near painful to witness, Jon felt torn.

Ahead, the lights flicked down. When the green light flared, the cars’ tires screamed, kicking up large plumes of white smoke. Then they shot off down the track. Jon’s jaw clenched.

On the one hand, Jon knew the reason for the gut-wrenching fear and guilt assailing him as the cars sped by was left over from the past that he’d tried to bury and forget. Clearly, that hadn’t worked out so well. On the other hand, Jon wanted nothing more than to keep that illuminating, excitement-filled smile on Patti’s face.

As he stared at her profile, taking in the gentle slope of her nose, the roundness of her cheeks, the curve of her lips as they turned up at the corners, and how they shifted with each new expression, he realized with sudden clarity that his fear had nothing to do with the cars or the speed. It had everything to do with the damage he’d sustained to his mind and soul that night.

He’d made himself into a victim. That’s what everyone had told him, but he was only now realizing it. He’d set aside everything that had ever held his interest. He’d cleaved away the one thing he’d ever truly been passionate about like a rotten limb. The severance had left a hollow place inside of him where the painful memories echoed like hungry ghosts.

No more.

Watching Patti now, her passion bleeding through in her every move and shout of joy, Jon knew the only way to enjoy life was by living it.

He hadn’t lived life for more than five years.

Maybe his mother was right. Maybe the time for punishing himself was over. Maybe he needed to look toward the future and stop living in the past. What was it doing for him anyway, besides giving him an ulcer?

Jon made a pact with himself at that moment and there to put aside the past and make the best of it. Patti had gone out of her way to surprise him, and he appreciated the effort. Besides, it was clear to him that this was something that made her happy, and he wasn’t about to do anything that would put a damper on their date.

He’d been lucky to find someone like her. Someone who enjoyed the same things he did. To share something you love with another person, someone you welcomed spending your time with, connected with on a deeper level, was special. He wouldn’t take it for granted, and he’d be damned if he let her slip through his fingers.

It was incredibly cliché, but Patti made him want to be a better man.

* * *

They’d opted not to enter the burn out area where people from the stands had gathered after the races to meet the drivers and get their autographs, but that didn’t hinder her good mood in the slightest. Patti felt like she was on top of the world, her natural high making her feel giddy and light as a feather as they traveled the road toward home.

“That was amazing!” Patti thumped the wheel with her hand. “Wasn’t that so cool? I haven’t been to a race since before my dad died. I almost forgot how much I loved them.”

“Yeah, it was pretty neat,” Jon said, keeping his eyes glued to the road. Patti was too busy reliving every moment of the past two hours to notice how rigid his body was or the tight clench of his jaw. “Maybe you could slow down a bit?”

“I think my favorite was the Nitro. That Cougar stood no chance against that beast. None.” Closing in on the tail end of a minivan, Patti flicked a look over her shoulder and quickly switched lanes. “So who was your favorite? And don’t say the Volkswagen.”

“It was the Camaro, actually.” He reached over and laid his hand on the top of her thigh. “But hey, the races were over twenty minutes ago. What do you say we take it back a notch?”

Patti swung a glance at him, then down to the speedometer. “What? I’m barely going eighty.”

“That’s fifteen over the speed limit.”

An amused chuckled spilled out. “What are you, an old man now?” Honestly, she didn’t know why he was acting so uptight. Maybe he was one of those guys who thought women couldn’t, or shouldn’t be driving. Well, she had a squeaky-clean driving record and she’d gladly shove in his face.

“No,” Jon said slowly, “I just don’t see the need to rush. We have the rest of the day to spend together.”

“I know I have a bit of a lead foot,” Patti explained, trying to keep her patience. She was verging on being offended. “But I’m an excellent driver. I’ve never been in an accident, never even came close. I know how to handle myself on the road.”

Jon’s thumb traced small circles on her skin. It felt so good, giving her tingles everywhere. “I never said you weren’t. In fact, I can see that you’re a good driver, but there’s always a first time for everything.” He turned his soft blue eyes on her. “Let’s just slow down, okay?”

Patti glanced from the road to him and back again, and frowned as her mind was carried away. “Was that supposed to be a pun? Are you saying we’re moving too fast?” She mentally counted off all of their dates and, since this was only their second one, concluded that it was impossible. They’d barely spent enough time together to get to know one another let alone need to dial it down a notch.

“It’s not a pun. I’m strictly talking about the car.”

Patti felt her stubborn streak kick in. While a part of her wanted to slow down to please him, another part shouted at her not to give in to him. She’d always hated being told what to do, and although she recognized that Jon wasn’t being pushy in any way, her knee-jerk reaction to please him made her cringe. She’d spent far too much of her life catering to men, so why should she concede now?

“Why is this so important to you,” she questioned, weaving in and out of traffic. “Don’t you trust me?”

Jon’s free hand came up to grip the door handle, the only physical sign that he was bothered by her driving. “I trust you fine; I just don’t think we need to break any laws to shave a few minutes off our drive time.”

“Would you prefer if I had let you drive?” Patti’s teeth grit together. She saw a small opening in the next lane. It was rush hour and traffic was wall to wall. The space would close up in a heartbeat. While she could have waited it out in favor of something that wasn’t on the verge of qualifying as death-defying, she felt the need to prove to Jon that she possessed the skills to make that leap…and maybe she wanted to see just how much “trust” he really had in her, too.

Pressing the gas pedal, the car shot forward. The bumper came so close to the car in front of them that the hood concealed the other car’s license plate. Beside them, the cars moved at nearly the same pace, pushing forward slightly and then retreating, shrinking and widening the gap she was aiming for.

“What are you doing?” Jon’s face lined with worry.

Flipping on her blinker, Patti whipped into the next lane with barely a margin of error to account for. She sucked in a breath, feeling her heart gallop in her chest as the spike of adrenalin rushed through her veins.

“Jesus Christ!” Jon shouted. “Are you trying to get us killed?”

The proud smile Patti wore died instantly. The deep grooves of anger coupled with the dark look on his face made Patti’s stomach clench painfully. She let her foot up off the pedal. Cars zoomed by them, switching lanes as though they were going slow enough to bring traffic to a standstill. She knew how they felt. Just then, she felt like they were crawling down the highway, but the pit that had opened up in her stomach knocked the wind out of her, and she didn’t think she could keep up her normal pace even if she wanted to.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered into the pervading silence. Humiliation, bitter and strong, coated her insides. She’d never expected him to react so strong. Driving had always been her strong suit. Her dad taught her everything she knew. Now, that strength felt more like a weakness. It didn’t help that Jon’s hand had long ago left her, leaving her feeling bereft.

With one hand firmly gripping the wheel, she wrapped her arm around her waist. Impending tears burned the back of her throat and she swallowed convulsively. Stupid hormones. Sometimes it really sucked being a girl.

Jon didn’t speak right away, but when he did, he surprised her. “No, I’m sorry.” He released a long-suffering sigh and dragged his hands down his face. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”

Patti shook her head. “No, I should have been more considerate. I might like driving fast, but that doesn’t mean everyone else does. I should have listened.”

Returning his hand to her leg, Jon squeezed. “No, really. When I say it wasn’t your fault, I mean it. It’s just me dumping my old hang-ups on you, and it won’t happen again.” Lifting his arm, he wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck and kneaded the muscles. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

His soft voice coupled with his firm touch melted Patti’s resolve, and she leaned into him. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s really not, and like I said, it won’t happen again.”

“Okay.” Carefully shifting into the next lane, Patti took their exit.

“Do you still want to hang out with me?”

Pulling to a stop at a red light, Patti looked over at him. Jon sat there looking sheepish as ever. She smiled, and then sighed dramatically. “Well, since I’ve already cleared my schedule, I guess I have nothing better to do.”

“Ouch. Has anyone ever told you that you’re brutal?” he joked.

“Can’t say that they have.” But they’d called her worse.

Jon blew out a breath. “What do you say to picking up a movie or something? We can go back to my place, or yours, if you prefer. I’ll even whip you up some of my world-famous spaghetti.”

“Can spaghetti be famous?” Patti grinned.

Jon winked at her. “World famous, and when I make it, it can.”

Although Patti’s head was still reeling from their sudden shift from happy to mad to happy again, she knew that she wasn’t ready to call an end to their day. Like her, she got the impression that Jon was a passionate man, which made for passionate responses. It wasn’t the end of the world that they’d had a little meeting of the minds, and aside from her father, he was the only man who’d ever taken the time to admit when he was wrong. When it came down to it, that’s what sold her. Jon had strength of character that didn’t come along often, and she wanted more time to explore what he had to offer before she wrote him off.

Stretching her arm out, she rested her hand on his thigh and rubbed it suggestively. “Then I can’t wait to taste it.”

12

Jon felt like a total ass.

After they’d hit the video store and picked up a comedy from the new releases, Patti had handed over the keys and told him to drive. After what had happened, he’d refused the offer, but she claimed that she was tired and since he knew the way back to his house better than she did, it made more sense.

He knew the real reason behind her wanting him to drive, but instead of causing another argument, he’d let it go and got behind the wheel.

Despite the obvious tension that sat between them, he had to admit it felt great to drive a car of its caliber again. He wasn’t sure how much Patti knew about cars—although considering that he’d found her underneath one when he’d gone to pick her up for their first date, he suspected she knew plenty—and he wondered if she understood just how much power she was packing under the hood.

Without a doubt, it was enough to give any one of those cars at the raceway a run for their money.

On the television, Jason Bateman hit Melissa McCarthy in the head with a Panini maker. It should have been funny, but neither one of them were laughing.

Looking over, Jon observed Patti’s stiff demeanor. An entire cushion separated them. It might as well have been an island. Her hands sat clasped in her lap, her legs pinned together at the knee. She hadn’t moved for the last hour, not even to scratch her nose.

She looked uncomfortable.

Extending his arm across the back of the couch, he twisted his body so it angled toward hers. Patti glanced over, smiled a little, and then returned to the movie.

Jon wasn’t naïve. He knew she was avoiding him, and he knew it was his fault. He’d fucked everything up. What should have been a nice day had gone down the shitter the moment he decided to open his trap and critique her driving ability.

He needed to get over himself. She couldn’t have known the reasoning behind his outburst, only that he was yelling at her, and he knew he’d hurt her. There wasn’t a good enough excuse for his behavior. It was reprehensible and he wouldn’t blame her if she walked out the door tonight and never looked back, but that was the last thing he wanted her to do.

From the moment he laid eyes on her, he knew he wanted to know her better. From the way she looked to the way she carried herself, she was nothing like any of the women he’d been keeping company with for the last several years. She breathed life into something inside of him he’d thought died long ago. She was like a ray of sunshine in his cloudy world, giving him warmth and offering hope of brighter days ahead. He wasn’t ready to let her walk out of his life just yet.

He wanted to make it up to her, but he needed to find a way to bridge the gap first, and the best way to do that was for both of them to let off a little steam.

* * *

Patti tried to relax and watch the movie, but she just wasn’t feeling it. Her mind was preoccupied with the fight she’d had with Jon earlier. The more she combed over it, the sadder she became. How had everything gone so wrong so fast?

Less than a month since her break-up with Kyle and already she had managed to forge a relationship and burn it to the ground. That had to be a new record somewhere.

With a mental kick, she reminded herself that if she could find some way to stop being such a hardhead, she might actually find a relationship that would stick one day. Unfortunately, she wasn’t holding out much hope for this one. As determined as she was to hold on to it a little more than an hour ago, once they reached his condo, all of her hope had dashed right out the door.

At the moment, Jon was sitting clear on the other end of the couch. Aside from asking her if she wanted something to drink, they’d popped in the movie the minute they crossed the threshold and dug into the cartons of Chinese take-out in total silence. It was like being present at a funeral with their barely formed relationship resting deader than a doornail between them.

Talk about depressing.

Every few minutes her eyes strayed to the digital clock displayed on the DVD player. She was counting down the time until she could call an end to this painful charade and go home, where she would bury her head under the blankets and sleep away as much of the last three weeks as possible.

Why couldn’t she just find a nice, good-looking man who would stick around for the long haul? Was that really asking for too much? Was it possible that her mother had snagged the last of a dying breed?

Drawing in a deep breath, Patti let it drag back out slowly. How much longer was this movie anyway? There was nothing she’d rather be doing less than sitting in total silence with someone who couldn’t even stomach looking at her while watching a movie that would normally have her rolling in hysterics, and being incapable of cracking even the smallest smile.

The evening had been a total disaster, and the more she thought about it, the sooner Patti realized that it would be best if she just ended their misery now instead of dragging it out another hour.

Gearing herself up to break the silence and announce her departure, Patti tucked a thread of hair behind her ear and shifted to face Jon, but he’d already beat her to it.

There, at the opposite end of the couch, Jon watched her with determination flashing in his heavenly blue eyes. The light from the television cast a muted glow along one side of his face, casting him in a dangerous light. It made everything about him appear dark and forbidding, and it made her blood sizzle.

“Are you still mad at me, Patricia?” His question was soft, barely audible over the calamity happening on-screen, but with her gaze locked on his perfect mouth, she’d heard every word.

Her head twisted side to side. “No, I’m not mad.” Disappointed would be more apt.

The arm he had draped over the back of the couch came down, and he held out his hand to her. “Then what are you doing all the way over there?”

On instinct, and maybe the wish to be closer to him, too, Patti slid her hand into his. With a gentle tug, Jon pulled her across the cushions and snuggled her up against his chest.

He tucked her head under his chin and his fingers wound into her hair, stroking the length of it. “There, that’s better. I didn’t like having you so far away where I couldn’t touch you.”

“Me either,” Patti confessed. The slight tickling sensation of his fingers on her scalp felt amazing. Slowly, her body began to relax and she eased into him, allowing her curves to contour to his hard frame. It was the most contact they’d had without the threat of combustion since their first date. In short, it was nice.

Together, they laid there and watched the rest of the movie. Patti’s ear resting atop his heavily beating heart, and nestled in the protective circle of his arms with their legs entwined. They may have only been on two dates, but in that moment, it felt as though they’d been a couple forever.

* * *

Patti awoke in a darkened room in a strange bed. She jolted, her heart hammering in her chest as she tried to sit upright and found herself pinned. Looking down, she found a thick arm wrapped around her waist. It constricted, pulling her back against the long, hard line of what she knew to be Jon’s body.

She must have fallen asleep, she concluded, and he must have brought her to his bed. She tried to relax her stiff muscles.

It was impossible to manage.

Just being this close to him made her tense.

Her breathing grew shallow when she felt the hardness of his erection pressing against the crease of her buttocks.

Her insides flamed to life. Heat pooled in her belly and she felt her panties grow wet.

Her body hummed to life.

For him.

She wasn’t sure how late it was, or early. With the curtains drawn tight, no light penetrated the dark room, and save for a soft, ambient glow of a night-light coming from somewhere nearby, there was nothing to indicate whether it was day or night.

She should probably go.

But how?

Jon’s big body was everywhere, enveloping her in his quiet strength. If she moved, she’d wake him and that was the last thing she wanted to do. After what had gone down on their date, she figured that maybe it was best if they took a tiny break, put some distance between them so they could both take some time to think everything through before they found themselves in a messy breakup that neither of them wanted.

She didn’t think she could do that again, especially not so soon.

She’d endured dozens of breakups in her short life, but she’d never experienced the pain of a broken heart, because you can’t break what you’ve never given away. With Jon, she had a sickening feeling that things would be very different.

Twisting slowly in his arms, she managed to roll flat on her back, but that movement only succeeded in pinning her deeper under his arm.

Dragging in a breath, she held it firmly in her chest and wiggled one hand under his large forearm and the other beneath his thick biceps, and lifted.

He was heavier than she anticipated, and when his whole arm came crashing back down across her stomach, her breath expelled on one big whoosh.

“Mmmm,” Jon moaned, his warm breath tickling her ear. “Going somewhere?”

Patti stiffened at his side. “Um, I need to…go to the bathroom.” She wasn’t sure what to do. She only knew she needed to get out of that bed. The way his body clung to hers, all big, and hot, and male, threatened all of her sensibilities.

Jon snuggled closer, burying his face in the side of her neck. His hips, or more specifically, his cock, pressed against her thigh. Then he licked her.

Patti’s breath shuddered out of her.

“Bathroom is straight ahead,” he grunted in her ear, and then he rolled onto his back, releasing her.

Patti leapt from the bed as if it were on fire and dashed toward the only source of light in the room: an en suit master bathroom. Sweet relief was within sight, and Patti raced toward it as though it were a source of salvation.

Jon’s soft chuckle followed after her. “And Patricia?”

She turned at the sound of his roughened voice.

His blue eyes glistened in the dark, giving them a predatory gleam. “Make sure you come back. I’m not done with you yet.”

Pressing the door closed, Patti made sure to flip the lock in case he decided to come after her. Approaching the sink, she braced her hands on the counter and looked at herself in the mirror. “What are you doing?” she asked her reflection.

The knowledge that she was trapped in that bathroom gripped her.

She knew, from the instant she felt his lips below her ear that she was done for.

And she couldn’t care less.

There was no longer any thought of leaving. No thoughts of home remained.

The only thing that echoed in her mind was the sound of his guttural voice, thick with the promise of sex. And the only thing that played behind her closed eyelids were images of his big body rising above her, thrusting in deep, making her tingle all the way down to her toes.

He was waiting for her just outside that door. Without a doubt, she knew he was going to take her, and God help her fragile heart, she was going to let him.

13

When Patti stepped out of the bathroom, Jon’s gaze shifted her way. Her breath stole right out of her from the hungry look she saw reflecting in his eyes.

He was lounging with his back against the pillows, his hands folded behind his head, and as she approached, he tracked her every move. Her head felt light as she climbed in beside him. She didn’t move to lie down or cuddle up against him as she would a lover for fear she would pass out. Or combust. Or both.

The sight of the man did crazy things to her, she was learning.

Jon patted the space beside him, the action making his bicep flex deliciously. “Come lie down with me.”

Patti stared at the space. A part of her—a huge part her—wanted to close that gap and take what he was willing to give, but another part of her wanted to run out the door and never look back.

Her eyes flicked up briefly, finding the door standing wide-open ready to receive her. She couldn’t decide. Stay or go? On the one hand, she could leave and save herself the heartache she knew would come, and on the other, she could stay and enjoy the body of the man who drove her insides wild and wait for the storm to roll in. The ball was in her court.

Unfortunately, or maybe very fortunately, Patti had always been a take the bull by the horns kind of girl. She laughed in the face of danger, plowing through every roadblock and warning sign she came across with little consideration to how she would come out of it on the other side.

Jon was dangerous to her health. She didn’t know much about him, but what she did know made her crave more. He was delicious in every way, from his sexy, mischievous smile to the jutting erection that bobbed as it strained to reach her when she dropped her gaze between his legs.

Her eyes traveled up his sleek body. Sometime after bringing her to his bed, he’d undressed. Now he lay there in a pair of baggy, gray cotton sweatpants and nothing else. His speed bump abs were on full display, as was the sexy V of his oblique arrowing an enticing path below his waistband.

He was the picture of eroticism, and the way his eyes darkened as she took him in sent a shiver of anticipation skittering down her spine.

“Do you like what you see?” His gruff voice brought her eyes back up to his, and Patti’s gut tightened. Stretching his arm out, Jon took her hand and drew it to his chest. Twisting around, Patti crawled over to him, following the movement, tucking herself up against his side.

She nodded, not trusting her voice.

“Good,” Jon said, pressing a tender kiss to her hair, “because so do I.” Tucking his finger under her chin, he drew her face up to his, forcing her to look at him. “I wasn’t joking when I said I wasn’t done with you.” His stony expression was unreadable. “I want to make love to you, Patricia, but I need to know if you want it too.” He dropped a kiss against her forehead. Another to her temple. His body twisted to its side, the hand under her chin sliding around her neck to cradle her head. His lips touched the tip of her nose, and his head dipped down to press another to the underside of her jaw.

Patti’s leg lifted of its own accord to hook over his hip, and her hand came up to wrap around the back of his bicep. She tilted her head back, giving him better access to her throat as he worked his way south.

Her breath stuttered out of her as her core contracted.

“Will you stay?” Jon asked as his tongue stroked a wet path to her collarbone. “Let me touch you? Will you let me crawl inside you and bury myself so deep there’s no part of you I won’t touch? Will you let me do that, Patricia? Will you let me make love to you?”

Patti’s ragged breaths made her feel light-headed and dizzy. Or maybe that was just him. Jon’s words made her blood rush south, leaving her brain dry as a desert on a hot summer day. She couldn’t think straight for how exquisite he felt against her. She held herself tighter to him, needing to feel every inch of him around her, on her, inside of her.

The smell of him, a faint mixture of soap and spicy cologne, drove her wild. She felt fevered as he continued to feather kisses over her skin, his mouth closing in on her swollen breasts.

“Patricia?” He burrowed his face between her breasts, muffling his voice.

Reminded of his questions, she sifted her fingers through his hair and pulled his head up so she could claim his mouth the same way she needed him to claim her body. “Yes. Yes,” she breathed hungrily. “Make love to me, Jon. I want you.”

Pleased with her response, Jon crushed his mouth to hers. His tongue licked the seam of her lips, and she opened to him. He slipped inside, making love to her mouth as their tongues touched and tasted.

Rolling her on to her back, Jon settled between her legs. His hips made slow circles, his hard cock pressing against her opening through the barrier of her shorts. The fabric dug in, rubbing her clit until she trembled.

Bracing himself on one arm, his free hand glided down her side. Where her shirt rode up to expose her soft belly, Jon’s fingers played with her sensitive flesh until she squirmed.

“Take this off,” he grunted, already leaning back to tear her shirt over her head.

Patti dropped back to the mattress, her head hitting the pillow with a soft thump, and she smiled up at him.

He sat there, in all his bare-chested glory, staring down at her with a look that said he wanted to gobble her up. Boy, she hoped he would.

Her legs were opened wide around his hips to accommodate him. Reaching behind him with both hands, Jon stroked light fingertips from her ankles up to her calves, tracing small circles of pleasure at the undersides of her knees. Patti’s legs twitched at the slight tickling sensation, and she bit down on her bottom lip to suppress the laugh that threatened to bubble out.

Jon’s hands grew rougher, more sure, as he dragged his palms over the tops of her thighs, coasting around to her inner thighs and stopping at the crease where they met her hips.

His chest rose and fell heavily, his nostrils flared, and his intense gaze burned through her clothing where they focused on her now throbbing pussy.

“These need to go, too.” Popping the snap open and jerking the zipper down, Jon helped her out of her shorts and flung them over his shoulder into the room.

Despite still being dressed in her bra and underwear, Patti felt exposed as Jon studied the plain white cotton covering her. He teased the top of her panties with one long finger, dipping between her skin and the fabric, scorching her with one simple, barely-there touch.

Goose bumps pebbled her skin, and Patti’s hips lifted slightly in a silent plea for more.

Jon’s eyes rose to meet hers and she sucked her lip in between her teeth when he bent forward to kiss her naked belly. He stretched out, pushing his long, lean body down the mattress until his feet hung over the edge. Patti peered down the length of her body, watching him as he placed his open mouth on top of her panties, over her core. His hot breath scalded her, and when he pressed the flat of his tongue to the fabric, against her swollen nub, Patti sucked in a breath and her hips tilted up to meet him.

Reaching over her head to grip the wooden slats of the headboard, Patti’s back arched up as excitement ripped through her like lightning.

Jon took his time, worshiping every inch of her body. He caressed her stomach, explored her with his tongue, and nibbled her ankles. At one point, he stopped to lift each of her feet and pressed his sturdy thumbs into her instep, massaging her until she felt limp, completely at his mercy.

“You are so…incredibly…sexy,” Jon said as he crawled up her body, punctuating his words with a kiss to her hip, the swell of her breast, and the pulse below her ear, before finally, blessedly, returning his mouth to hers, where he sucked and nipped and licked her breathless once more.

Patti relaxed into him, tucking her arms under his so she could wrap them around his wide back and feel the thick muscles flex and move under her hands.

The power harnessed there thrilled Patti down to her core. She’d always loved how a man could make her feel small and fragile, and Jon made her feel all of that and more. His body hemmed her in, heavy and hot, pressing her into the mattress. He swallowed her up and she clung to him so she wouldn’t disappear.

Lifting away from her and shifting to sit back on his legs, Jon moved his hands down her body, hooking his thumbs in her panties and shoving them down her thighs. She kicked them away and watched hungrily as he did the same, releasing his heavy erection, as he fell forward on top of her as though he’d missed the feel of her body in the few short moments they’d spent apart. Patti brought her legs back up and settled them around his hips, locking her heels against the backs of his powerful thighs. Her bra went next, cast away like an offensive rag.

A low growl ripped from his throat as Jon lowered his chest to hers, pressing them so tight together that not even a whisper of air would be permitted to linger.

Patti. Couldn’t. Breathe.

It wasn’t that he was crushing her. His weight on top of her felt incredible.

It wasn’t that he was hurting her. She was pretty sure anything he did to her was going to be fucking amazing. Emphasis on the fucking.

It wasn’t that she was panicking. There was nowhere she would rather be in that moment.

It was because she needed him to make love to her more than she needed her next breath.

And every languid touch and caress, and the very taste of her skin, was only prolonging the inevitable.

“Jon,” Patti huffed against his neck, and then stuck her tongue out to lick the corded muscles. “Please,” she begged. “Now. Please. I need you.” She lifted her hips, tilting her pelvis to give him a deeper cradle and welcome him inside. The tip of his cock prodded her entrance, but he held himself away from her, refusing to give her what she wanted. “Please.”

Jon’s arms tightened around her, squeezing her breaths out of her almost painfully. His body shook with tension. Then without a word, he rolled away, taking his weight and his warmth with him, leaving Patti cold, confused, and abandoned. He lay beside her, his arm tossed over his eyes, his breathing labored. Between his legs, his cock stood proudly, so why wasn’t he using it?

“Jon,” Patti asked, concerned. She reached out to him, and hesitated, her hand hovering in the air, afraid to touch him in case he bolted like a wild animal. She wasn’t sure what had caused the sudden shift in his behavior, and it worried her. Had she done something wrong? Should she leave after all?

“Are you okay?” she whispered. The air felt thick, stale, and oppressive, swallowing her words. She couldn’t help feeling like there was something seriously wrong going on.

Jon’s chest rose with a deep inhalation, and he blew it out slowly. “I’m sorry, Patti. I don’t think I can do this.”

His words were like a slap in the face, and Patti’s first instinct was to get angry. But more than anything, she wanted an explanation. “Okay,” she croaked, feeling humiliated. Here she was, practically throwing herself at him, and now he was rejecting her? Fan-flipping-tastic. “Did I do something wrong?”

He dropped his arm and pinned her with wide eyes. “Fuck no. Don’t ever think that.” Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her down to him.

Patti went easily. As dejected as she felt at that moment, she wanted to be close to him. To have him soothe her.

His fingers bit into the top of her arm. He held her so tightly, she thought he might never let go. Looping her arm around his stomach, Patti rested her head against his chest, listening to the heavy heart beating underneath.

Worry continued to eat at her, but just being there, with him, like this, was enough to reassure her, however little, that whatever was going on had nothing to do with her and everything to do with him. It gave her a small ray of hope that they might be able to get past it together.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked him. He opened his mouth, then shut it, and opened it again as though struggling to find the right words. Patti braced herself, her next breath being trapped in her throat as she waited.

“It’s not that I don’t want you,” he began, his voice tight. “I do. So much I have to take cold showers several times a day just to take the edge off.”

A small smile pricked at her lips. “Haven’t you…you know.” She let her hand trail softly down his stomach, but before she reached her destination, Jon seized her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

“I’ve done…you know,” he said meaningfully, “enough times to make myself go blind.”

Patti’s shoulders shook with laughter and she tilted her head back to look at him. “Then what’s wrong?”

He held her hand against his chest, his thumb rubbing back and forth across her knuckles. He looked down at their joined hands, and frowned. “You don’t know who I am, Patricia.”

“Then tell me,” she urged, lifting herself on to her elbow so she could look down at him.

A pair of sad blue eyes met hers, and Patti felt her heart squeeze painfully in her chest. There was so much emotion swimming in them, and she couldn’t begin to fathom what could have put it there.

“If I tell you, you’ll change your mind about being with me.” The surety in his voice dropped like a stone in her stomach.

“Well, I doubt that, but we’ll never know unless you tell me.” Draping herself over him so her leg twined with his, her elbows resting on either side of his head, she combed his hair back and looked him straight in the eyes. “I need you, Jon. I need you so bad my every cell aches for you.” She nuzzled her nose against his and breathed in his intoxicating scent. “Tell me so we can fix it.”

One arm came around her, holding her in place, while his other hand explored her curves. He skimmed the back of her arm, trailed lightly down her spine, and when he reached her ass, he gripped one cheek, pulling her in tighter so her clit scraped deliciously across his leg.

“I fuck up everything,” he said quietly, burying his face in her neck, concealing himself with the curtain of her long, blonde hair. “I’ve hurt people. I’ve ruined lives…” Pain, deep and profound, laced each of his words, touching Patti so deeply, that she felt the back of her throat begin to thicken and burn.

Kissing his forehead and temple, she repeated every one of his tender touches, lingering at his skin, hoping he would feel the sorrow inside of her.

What was this man doing to her? Never in her life had she experienced such an immediate, visceral reaction to anyone. She’d always been able to keep her head and her heart separate, but with Jon, it seemed impossible. There wasn’t a single part of her that this man didn’t touch.

It was both exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

“We’ve all hurt someone,” she told him, kissing his lips softly. “We’ve all been hurt. It’s a fact of life that you can’t escape.”

“It’s not that simple,” he protested.

Pressing a finger to his lips, Patti silenced him. “It is that simple. You just have to learn to forgive yourself, and everything else will fall into place.”

“Is that what you do?” he asked, his brows pulling together. But to Patti, it didn’t sound like a true question. It was more like a hopeful challenge.

“I try,” she said sincerely. “If I dwelled on every single mistake I made in life, I wouldn’t have one. I’d never be happy.” She pressed a kiss to his face, over the tiny lines marring his forehead. “And I want to be happy.” Right then, the thing that would make her most happy was if he’d make love to her. By his slackening muscles, she sensed that she might be getting through to him, which was well worth a victory dance.

“Do you want to be happy?” she asked him, pausing to study his expression.

He peered up at her, his blue eyes intense, and she could practically see the war being waged in his mind. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he nodded. “Yeah, I want to be happy,” he said pulling her face down to his.

In one deft move, Jon flipped her on her back. His hand found the back of her knee and drew her leg up, tucking it under his arm so that it nearly touched her chest. Then he slid inside her slick, wet heat, burying himself as far as he could go.

Patti shouted as ripples of pleasure shot through her, and Jon made a manly grunting sound in the back of his throat. Slowly, he eased back, and then drove into her again, setting a torturous pace of slow and then fast, hard and deep, so she felt every thick inch of his throbbing erection.

Digging her nails into his back, Patti held on for dear life, panting and moaning, shouting his name when he pushed so deep, she felt him touch her womb. The bite of pain whipped through her, her muscles seized, clamping her inner walls down tight around him.

Jon’s guttural growl spoke to something deep inside of her, and when she felt him thicken as his orgasm approached, she felt her own answer the call.

Bringing both legs up as high as they could go, Patti locked her feet behind Jon’s back, allowing him to drive even deeper into her. They both cried out this time, the sheer force of the pleasure demanded them not to be silent.

With every thrust, Jon’s balls slapped against her ass. His pelvis rubbed against her swollen, needy clit, and the sounds of their wet flesh clapping together echoed around the room.

Jon’s arm snaked under her, lifting her bottom higher, angling her for a more direct contact. Then, just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he bent his head to her shoulder and bit down.

Sparks flew behind Patti’s closed lids like a Fourth of July celebration. Her pussy contracted, clamping down on Jon’s cock and drawing out his own brutal release. She felt his hot seed spurt deep inside of her, filling her, and it sent off another round of spasms that made them both groan in ecstasy.

When they were both completely spent, Jon rolled to his side and gathered her to him. He kissed her deeply, spending what felt like hours nourishing her mouth with his loving kisses, until their lips were so bruised and swollen, that they were forced to stop. Only then did he press her face against his chest, and fall asleep in each other’s arms.

14

Jon’s internal alarm clock roused him some time later. His back was sore and his abs felt tight, indicating they would be tender later, too. Travis would be thrilled when he showed up at the course later to find Jon’s driving scores dramatically low. His old friend might finally win himself a game for once.

He smiled into the shadowed room thinking of how he’d earned those aches and pains.

It was well worth the sacrifice.

Beside him, Patricia was curled up like a cozy kitten, her lush body draped over him like a warm blanket.

He let his fingers coast along her back, relishing the feel of her sweet, mouth-watering curves beneath his hand. Sometime in the night, she’d tossed her leg over his hips, nestling her hot, wet pussy against his thigh. He could feel the remnants of their lovemaking against his skin, and it made his cock twitch back to life.

She was nothing as he expected, yet everything he had hoped for…

For so long, Jon had existed in some sort of dream state, breathing, but not really living. He’d gone through the motions, running a business, maintaining friendships, sleeping with any woman who threw herself at him, but he had been empty inside. That’s what guilt did to a man. It ate at him, every single day, until there was nothing left of him but a hollowed out shell.

Then Patricia, with her fiery attitude and a body made of sin entered his life, and now he felt…alive. It was the most invigorating, eye-opening feeling he’d ever experienced. He hadn’t realized how much he resembled the walking dead until the haze surrounding him was lifted away. Now everything felt bright, fresh, and new.

The novelty of having this woman in his bed was not lost on him. He hadn’t spent a full night with a woman in so long, that he’d almost forgotten what it felt like. Almost.

Every moment he spent with Patricia felt as if she were breathing life back into his world, rounding out the rough edges, little by little.

How could one little woman do so much?

And where had she been hiding all this time?

She stirred beside him, rolling on to her back, and stretching languidly. Unable to get enough of her, Jon propped himself on his elbow and looked his fill as her small, firm breasts pushed toward the ceiling, and the muscles in her legs bunching up as she pointed her toes. She was the sexiest, most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on.

The thought hit him like a sledgehammer.

If he didn’t know better, he’d say these feelings were the trappings of love.

A private smile coasted across his face, and Jon reached out to touch her. Truthfully, he didn’t know what this…feeling…was. All he knew was that he was in no hurry to see it go. He wanted to wake up every day to this vision of beauty before him, and he wanted to end every night between her soft thighs.

He knew without a doubt that Patricia was a woman who could hold his attention and his affection for a long time. She was special, which made it easy to say what he did next.

Patricia opened her sleepy eyes, turning her head to seek him out, and the moment their gazes connected, a soft smile spread across her face.

“Hey, you. How long have you been awake?”

Jon bent his head and swept a kiss across her mouth. “Will you come to my parents’ house with me this weekend?”

Patricia blinked several times. “What?”

“I realize this probably seems like it’s coming out of left field, and you can say no,” he rushed to say, “but I hope you’ll say yes.”

Patricia blinked again, then sat up, drawing the sheet up to cover her chest. “You want me to meet your parents?”

The disbelieving tone of her voice made Jon sit upright. He funneled his fingers into her hair, massaging her scalp as he nuzzled her silky shoulder. “There’s a neighborhood yard sale held each year, and they asked me to come over to help my dad clear out some things and get the yard set up. I thought I’d bring you along.”

Picking up her hand nearest to him, Jon brought it to his mouth and ran his lips over her knuckles. She turned her head to watch him, and he could hear her breathing accelerate. Knowing he was affecting her like that sent a jolt of male pride coursing through him.

Releasing her hand, he gripped the back of her neck, turning her face toward him. He held her gaze, willing her to feel what he was feeling, to hear the sincerity in his every word. “I’m afraid you’ve turned me into an addict. I don’t want to stop touching you. I don’t want to let you out of my sight.” He kissed her fiercely. “I want to spend every moment I’m not at work, with you.”

“That’s a lot of wants,” Patricia said, her voice quavering.

“I have more,” he assured her, and took her hand, pressing her palm to his hardened cock so she knew just how much.

“I don’t know.” Patti drew her hand back. “Isn’t this kind of sudden, meeting your parents?”

“Think of it more as coming along to keep me company,” he smiled wanly. “Meeting my parents is just a side effect of keeping me happy.”

“That’s a heck of a side effect,” she grinned.

“So is getting blue balls from needing you so badly.”

She reached between his legs and cupped him. “Are you saying you need me, Mr. Bradshaw?”

Jon drew back the blanket and guided her hand so that her slender fingers wrapped tightly around the head that was already weeping for her. “Does that answer your question, Ms. Jacobs?”

A soft purr of appreciation vibrated in her throat and Patricia’s fist gripped him tighter.

Witnessing her greedy, confident reaction, Jon’s balls clenched. She had no idea what she was doing to him, but she was about to find out.

“Come here,” he growled. Before she could even think to move, Jon seized her around the waist, flipping her over on to her stomach, and then drawing her back up until she rested on all fours.

He liked a woman who enjoyed a little control. He liked it even better when he was the one delivering it.

Lowering his mouth, he touched his lips to the shell of her ear. “You never gave me an answer, Patricia,” he said, fucking her name like he was about to do to her. “Are you going to come with me?”

She shuddered beneath him. “Yes,” came her hoarse reply. “Yes, I’ll come with you.”

“Good answer.” Tucking her back snug up against his front, Jon pushed himself inside her already wet and wanting core. He took her inch by slow inch, prolonging their pleasure, teasing them both with the feel of his hard cock rubbing against her cushy walls.

Patricia released a long, almost painful sounding moan, arching her back and causing her ass to lift higher, until each thrust connected with the entire span of her swollen lips.

He increased his pace, bracing himself above her on one arm so he could gather her small body against his, fitting her every curve to perfection. He loved the way she felt under him, how tiny she was in comparison. He felt like, if he wasn’t careful, he could break her. But he knew that would never happen. A firecracker like Patricia was as sturdy as they came. Which was why, when Jon leaned back and dug his fingers into her hips, he pounded his cock into her with wild abandon.

Their sweat-dampened flesh cracked together. His balls swung like a pendulum, hitting her hardened clit with the perfect rhythm to ensure she climaxed. He drove deeper with each thrust, audibly knocking the air out of her each time his pelvis slammed against her firm, round ass.

He squeezed her so hard, he knew he’d left bruises, but her cries were from pleasure, not pain, and so Jon didn’t stop or hold back. He drove ahead, chasing his release like a runner toward the finish line.

“Come for me,” he panted, as he pulled her hips closer.

“Jon, oh, God,” she gasped, dropping her head. Her shoulders shook from the strain of holding herself up, and he could tell that she wasn’t going to last much longer.

Dropping down again, Jon framed her with his body. Placing one heavy palm on her back, just between her shoulder blades, he applied enough pressure to make her collapse into the bed. Her head twisted to the side, her breath heaving out of her as she continued to receive him.

“That’s it, Patricia,” Jon praised her. He brushed her sweaty, matted hair away from her face and pinched her chin between his fingers. Bringing his face closer, he licked across her lips then bit down gently on the bottom one. Her sharp inhale and the clench of her pussy around him revealed to him how close she was.

Determination set in.

The last time she came in his arms, it’d been because of the sound of his voice, or maybe even his choice of words. Some women got off on that, and it was clear to him that Patricia was one of them.

“Come for me, Patricia,” he said close to her ear again. “I want to feel your tight little body milking me. I want to feel my seed shoot up into you, filling that sweet pussy. Come. For. Me.”

And she did.

He felt the tremors work their way down her spine, and her body stiffened, her face contorting in pure bliss as she fell apart for him.

Seeing the pleasure she derived from him, Jon couldn’t hold out any longer. His own release shot down his spine, lighting him on fire. He came so hard, his toes curled.

When the last shudder left him, it took all of Jon’s strength with it. He collapsed on top of her, molding himself around her. Cheek to cheek, their heavy breaths mingled. His cock twitched, and her channel clenched as the aftershocks continued to work their way out of their systems.

“I think you killed me,” he told her, laughing.

“Me?” she said, her voice muffled in the surrounding blankets. “I’m the one being crushed.” She shifted, as much as someone who was outweighed by a good one hundred pounds could shift in her position, and shoved against him.

Using what little strength he had left, Jon rolled over to his side of the bed, looping his arms around her and taking her with him. He was serious when he said he wasn’t ready to let her go yet. Maybe not ever.

Patricia came willingly, cuddling up next to him and resting her head on his left pec, which he was quickly coming to think of as her place.

“Do you have anything to do today?” she inquired around a yawn.

Jon ran his finger through her long hair. “Not today.” Travis was going to kick his ass when he figured out that Jon had stood him up, but he didn’t care.

If he could stay in bed all day, making love to Patricia’s body, and never have to deal with the outside world again, he could die a happy man.

He just hoped that she felt the same way about him.

* * *

The rest of the week passed like an impossible dream. Jon took Monday off and they spent the day in bed, exploring each other’s body, making love in every position and every place they could find. They made love in the shower, soap slicking their skin so they glided off one another. They made love on his couch during the opening credits of a movie they’d ordered on cable. By its end, when they finally came up for air, he had no idea what the movie was about, but he knew that if he pinched Patricia’s nipples hard enough while pumping into her, he could make her scream his name.

But what really sent shivers down his spine and kept him hard as a rock during the most inopportune times, like when he was sitting in a meeting surrounded by a table of serious faces dressed in perfectly pressed suits, came down to a single moment that stood out above all the rest.

It was Wednesday and he’d gone straight to her place after work, needing to see her and touch her to reaffirm that she was real and not just a really good dream. They’d watched a bit of television and she’d made them lasagna, and afterward, she’d taken him back to her bedroom and he’d made slow, passionate love to her. Afterward, they’d talked about their lives, the places they’d gone, the things they still wanted to do, all before she’d finally fallen asleep, while he’d remained wide-awake. He wasn’t tired in the least, but he’d already kept her up half the week, staying up late each night to love each other’s bodies into exhaustion.

He couldn’t seem to get enough of her.

Once he was sure she was asleep, Jon had slipped out of bed and stepped into the shower. He let the water flow over him, tapping his skin in warm, gentle pulses until he was finally relaxed enough to catch a couple of hours of sleep so he could get through work the following day without falling over at his desk.

When he’d stepped out of the shower, it was to find her standing there, leaning against the sink, completely naked.

Her eyes, flaring with desire, coasted down his body. Jon went instantly rock hard for her. He went to her then, curling his fingers around her hips and drawing her to him the rest of the way. He took her mouth slowly, relishing the high of having her lips on him, her tongue stroking his, until he had to break away before he lost it right there in the middle of the bathroom floor.

Rising onto her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, swiping the flat of her tongue up the side of his throat and ending at his ear where she nipped his lobe playfully.

Then she said the most devastating words he’d ever heard a woman speak. “I’m hungry,” she whispered into his ear.

“Then crawl back into bed and I’ll whip up some breakfast,” he said, misunderstanding.

He moved to set her away from him, when she surprised him. With a strong hand, she gripped his hard shaft in her fist and tugged. When he looked down into her eyes, he saw a fierce hunger burning back at him.

“I’m not hungry for breakfast.”

Then, to his utter amazement, she undid him completely. Dropping down on to her knees before him, she caught his eyes as she leaned forward and opened her mouth wide to suck him in completely.

He could still feel her silky hair between his fingers, and hear her moans when he spoke to her. “That’s right, suck it, Patricia. Let me feed you.”

Her arousal was so strong, it leaked from her tight sheath, and he watched, rapt, when she reached between her legs to spread her moisture, fingering her clit and dipping into her pussy.

He came hard in her mouth, driving himself so deep down her throat she had to work to suppress her gag reflex. That only drove him higher. Watching her swallow him down, her eyes closed tightly and her fingers working feverishly, until she came apart, too, drove him insane.

He was an experienced man when it came to women, but with Patricia, every act felt like something new, something to relish and cherish. With her, he was virgin all over again.

There was only one other time in his life that he’d ever experienced something similar, but even that didn’t hold a candle to what she did to him. It was surreal and astonishing, and he wasn’t sure what he would do if it went to shit like everything else in his life had up to that point. He just didn’t think he could handle hurting her, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he did.

Jon’s life was a pile of ruins masked by wealth and power. If he allowed her to get too close, if she got even the smallest glimpse of whom he really was and what he’d done, she’d be devastated, too. But he was inherently selfish, which was why he refused to let her go now, knowing he ought to send her away for her own good. She felt too damn good, fit too damn perfect, and he wanted to hold on to the little bit of happiness she’d brought his way for as long as he could.

This was why anger and frustration roiled in his gut Saturday morning as he drove them both to his childhood home.

15

Patti attempted to distract herself from the whole “meeting the parents” situation that was going down by listening to the static-filled music playing on the radio and studying the passing landscape. Having grown up in the heart of Chicago, she’d never been outside the city proper before.

Jon held her hand in his lap as he drove, his thumb smoothing rough circles across the back of her hand. The action wasn’t as soothing as it should have been. Instead, it seemed to hold all the tension and…something else that she’d been picking up from him the past couple of days.

After making love that first night, they’d rarely spent any time apart. When Jon was at work, Patti occupied herself with the car. She met Lynn for lunch once on Tuesday, and she’d made a half-assed attempt at searching for a job on Wednesday, but every time five o’clock rolled around, she was a frizzing bundle of lust just waiting for her man to come scoop her up into his arms and make love to her.

Her man.

It was funny that she felt this way now, when she’d never really felt this way before. She had a track record with the opposite sex—one that didn’t deviate far from the scumbag spectrum. Initially, she worried that Jon might not fall far from that particular tree, but taking a chance on him had been the best thing she had ever done. It had only been a few weeks since they first ran into each other—she smiled at the memory—but she could already tell that he was far, far different from any of her previous boyfriends.

Jon was thoughtful, strong, and attentive. He was loving and warm and when he looked at her, she felt as if he were really seeing her. When she’d gone to tell her father about him one afternoon while Jon was at the office, she confessed how she thought she might be in danger of falling in love with him.

Nothing profound happened when she revealed the news.

Lightning didn’t streak down from the sky to strike her dead.

Her father didn’t crawl out of the grave to scold her into taking it slower.

The sky remained as blue as Jon’s eyes and the birds continued to sing their cheerful tunes, so she took that as a sign that he approved of her choices.

Her mother, however, was not so receptive. She urged Patti to slow down, to think things through, and not to make any rash decisions. She also brought up her car, just as she always did when she caught sight of it sitting in her driveway.

Sometimes Patti wondered why she drove it there at all when she had a perfectly respectable car sitting at home, but then she knew the answer to that question the instant it crossed her mind: she did it just to piss her off.

“Patti, sweetheart,” her mother said in her most disapproving tone the second she stepped through the front door. “How can you still drive that thing?”

Tossing her purse on to one of the end tables, Patti flopped down in the chair that had always been reserved for her father, and sighed. “Because it’s my car,” she deadpanned eager to escape the subject.

She could still see her mother’s head shaking as she took her place across from her and folded her legs at the ankles. “You mean because it’s your father’s car.”

“No,” Patti returned, her eyes narrowing into tiny slits. “Because it’s mine. Dad has nothing to do with it.”

Her mother’s pale eyes rolled and her tone turned snide. “Of course he does. He has everything to do with everything, doesn’t he, Patti?”

Even now, miles away, Patti’s back grew rigid at the memory. It was just so uncharacteristic of her to behave that way. “What the hell is that supposed to mean, Momma?”

She watched as her mother shifted in discomfort and brushed her palms across her stick thin legs. Her gaze hit the floor. “Let’s not fight, sweetheart. Would you like me to make some tea?”

“I don’t what any damn tea.” Patti sat forward, pinning her to her seat with determined eyes. “I want to know what you mean by that.”

Her mother stood and crossed the room trying to escape, but Patti leapt to her feet and grabbed a hold of her arm, spinning her around, intent on getting her answer. “Tell me!”

Her mother stared at her like she’d sprouted another head, and then her expression shifted, growing cold and unyielding. “You’ve always loved him more,” she accused. “Ever since you were a baby, when you cried only he could soothe you. When you wanted someone to read you a bedtime story, only he could do it. Then when you got older, you wanted to be just like him. You started working on that damn car together, and I was all alone.” Her voice shook as her eyes began to well up.

“You’re father died in that car,” she cried. “He died in it and you hold on to it like it’s a shrine!”

Stunned, Patti had dropped her arm as if it had caught fire, and stumbled back.

Her mother wiped the tears that had spilled from under her eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was more controlled. “You act just like he did, you know? You both liked fast cars, both liked taking risks.” Crossing the room, she took a shuddering breath and lowered herself down on the couch cushions.

“Sometimes, when the house is quiet, I just sit here and think. I worry that one day someone will knock on that door, or the phone will ring, and someone will tell me that my daughter is dead, that she wrapped that blasted car around a tree or spun out of control and crashed into a drainage ditch, and it will be just like that day, happening all over again.”

Through her mother’s entire speech, Patti stood rooted to her spot, unable to move. After she got past the initial shock of her words, they both had a good cry, and her mother held her, squeezing her in an embrace so tight it threatened to crush her.

She’d never known she felt that way. She’d never realized their relationship was so strained. It was eye opening.

Of course, then she couldn’t stop thinking about how, just the evening before, when she and Jon had gone out to grab dinner, they had almost made her mother’s worst nightmare come true.

Sports cars weren’t all-weather vehicles, despite what some people seemed to think. Which was why she liked to keep the Toyota on hand—it got better traction. It had been overcast when they left, but they weren’t planning to be gone long, and Jon had started enjoying taking her baby out for a spin whenever they went anywhere. She couldn’t blame him. She understood the draw of a piece of powerful machinery, and she was thrilled that he had seemed to be getting past whatever hang-ups he had about the car initially.

By the time they’d picked up their meals and started to head for home, a slow drizzle had begun to wet the streets. Jon was a good driver. She approved of how he handled the car. Everything was going smoothly and they were only two blocks from home, when another car ran the red light.

Jon stomped on the brakes, and the car fishtailed through the intersection. Realizing his error, he let off on the brake and tried to steer into the spin, but it was already too late. She screamed and braced herself for impact as they drifted across all four lanes toward oncoming traffic.

She was certain they were going to die that day.

But they didn’t.

Somehow, the car slowed down enough for Jon to regain control and he twisted the wheel, narrowly avoiding the cars that were speeding toward them. After some careful maneuvering, he got them back on the road and home safely.

He hadn’t driven the car since.

The memory was unsettling even for her, but she suspected that it had shaken him up pretty bad. She recalled his odd behavior when she’d taken him on their date to the racetrack and how he didn’t want to take her car that day. She thought about the moment when they were about to make love for the first time and how he had drawn away, telling her there were things about him that she didn’t know. Things that would make her change her mind about him. That he had destroyed lives.

She wondered now, as she peered out the window at the fast approaching suburban neighborhood, if Jon’s aversion to cars, more specifically, sports cars—she never did find out what happened to that Dodge Charger—was something she should be concerned about.

She didn’t have any more time to think on the subject, however, because Jon had just pulled into the driveway of a homey looking two-story Tudor with a very warm and smiling couple who were already making their way toward the truck with their arms held wide.

Oh boy.

* * *

Jon was already opening her door for her and reaching for her hand before his parents’ feet touched the driveway. Patti was a bundle of nerves as she stepped down from the truck.

“How are you doing?” Jon asked, pausing to close her up in his arms.

“Besides feeling like I’m about to throw up?” Patti swallowed hard and slanted a glance toward the shining couple where they stood patiently waiting for them to come to them.

Taking her face firmly in his hand, Jon lifted her chin to look at him. “Don’t be nervous. My parents are going to love you.”

Patti wasn’t sure how she felt about that. It was one thing to meet family members, but she knew, beyond a doubt, that this wasn’t just a “hey, how are ya?” type visit. This was the real deal. Somehow, a week’s worth of casual sex and hanging out had turned into a full-fledged relationship.

Making her even more uncomfortable, Jon leaned in and kissed her. Kissed her! Right in front of his parents.

“Just stick with me,” Jon said, releasing her. Winding his arm around her, he guided her around the truck toward the couple who sported matching grins. Patti squared her shoulders and pasted a smile on her face.

“There’s my handsome boy. Come give your mother a hug!” Jon dropped his hold on her hand and grabbed his mother up.

Left to sway in the breeze, Patti folded her hands in front of her and waited while his mother doted on him.

“You must be the woman we’ve heard so much about. Hi, I’m Walter, Jon’s father, but you can call me Walter.” Walter stepped forward, his salt and pepper hair glinting in the early morning sunlight, and reached out his hand. Patti had to crane her neck to look him in the face. Now she knew where Jon got his height.

“Hi, I’m Patti,” she introduced herself, and extended her hand to his. But instead of shaking it, Walter took her by surprise and pulled her in for a huge bear hug.

With her arms pinned down at her sides, Patti was powerless to move, let alone breathe.

“Dad,” Jon chuckled. “Put my woman down before you smother her.”

“Walt,” his mother scolded. She slapped his shoulder for good measure. “Put the girl down. I swear, the first woman Jon brings home in ages and you practically molest her. Hi,” she said, her voice dripping with sugar as his father released her back on her feet. “Sorry about my husband. I haven’t house broken him yet, but you know what they say about old dogs. You must be Patricia.”

Like his father, Jon’s mother pulled her into her arms and squeezed her to her breast. “Please, call me Patti,” she wheezed, giving her an awkward pat on the back.

“Patti it is.” She set her away from her, only to hook her arm in the crook of her elbow and begin leading her up the concrete path toward the house. “And you can call me Stephanie.”

“Nice to meet you, Stephanie,” Patti said with a smile. She glanced over her shoulder at Jon, who grinned back at her as he followed along with his father.

“Come inside. You can help me get the snacks ready while you tell me all about how you and my son met.”

And the interview had begun.

16

Jon stuck around long enough to make sure that Patricia would be all right alone with his mother. She was a feisty one, asking any and every question that popped into her hyperactive mind.

She reminded him of Patricia.

Jon was amused by Patricia’s attempt at being cordial while looking as though she wanted to run right out the door they entered through. Right from the start, he could tell his mother took a liking to Patricia, though he never had any doubt. What wasn’t there to like?

Patricia was sweet, kind, and always wore a smile on her face, even when it was the last thing she felt like doing. But that was just her way. She hid her hurt and discomfort behind a smiling face, and that just endeared her to him more, because each time he caught that look on  her face, he wanted nothing more than to go to her, hold her, and whisk it all away. He wanted to be her safe place to fall when in reality he was the hardest, most unforgiving place she could have landed.

Currently, Jon sat in the small living room with his father, who sipped a mug of freshly brewed coffee. That was how his father geared up for any task. He was working on his third at the moment, and Jon was silently waiting, using this sliver of quiet to watch Patricia and his mother through the kitchen pass-through his father had carved out soon after purchasing the house more than thirty years ago so his mother wouldn’t feel “cut off from the rest of the world.”

Patricia had her always there smile in place, while his mother rambled about something he couldn’t make out, but whatever it was, it made Patricia beam back at her. It pleased him to see two halves of his life fit together so smoothly. It was one less hurdle he would have to cross.

“Keep smiling like that,” his father remarked, “and your face is gonna freeze that way.”

“She’s beautiful, don’t you think, Dad?” Jon couldn’t take his eyes off her expressive face. She had her head lowered and her long hair tucked behind her ears, revealing the soft smile that he loved so much.

“She’s a looker,” his Dad agreed. “Seems nice, too.”

“She certainly is,” Jon said wistfully. “So where’s Cas?”

His father shrugged as he polished off the last of his coffee. “She said she can’t make it out today. Told me to tell you hello.” He gave him a pointed look. “Hello. Ready to head out?” Lumbering to his feet, his Dad carried his empty cup across the room into the kitchen.

Seeing it as the perfect excuse to steal a moment with her, Jon followed close on his heels. His gaze sought hers the moment he entered the kitchen, and as though sensing his presence, Patricia paused in the middle of stacking brownie squares on paper plates, and lifted her head to look at him over her shoulder.

Attempting to be as unobtrusive as possible, his mother transferred her conversation to his father, who hovered over the sink, and Jon strode across the room, coming up behind Patricia to wrap his arms around her narrow waist.

“How’s it going so far?” he asked silkily in her ear. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he nuzzled her neck while she continued, at a much slower pace, placing the rest of the brownies in neat pyramids.

“Better than expected,” she murmured, leaning into him. “Your mom promised to show me baby pictures later.”

Jon groaned.

“Hey now, save that stuff for the bedroom,” his father called out.

Jon ignored him, but he didn’t miss the flush of color creeping into Patricia’s cheeks. Feeling frisky, he flattened his hands on her lower stomach and rubbed his thumbs in smooth circles across her warm skin through the thin fabric of her t-shirt. “I’ll have to make sure we escape early then.”

Patricia twisted her head around to look at him. “You don’t want me to see your pictures?”

“My parents had a fondness of capturing me at the worst possible moments, so no, I’d rather you didn’t. At least not before I have you so seduced by my charms, that you won’t have the common sense to run away.”

A devious look passed across her face. “What if I’m already seduced by your charms?”

Jon’s jaw tightened and his arms constricted around her. “I want you,” he said, dropping his voice low so it wouldn’t carry. He knew his parents, and even though they pretended to be otherwise occupied, they were the biggest couple of eavesdroppers he’d ever met. There were no secrets growing up in their household, which was a bitch for a growing teenage boy with raging hormones and a line of willing girls practically prowling around outside his bedroom window.

Secure in the confidence that Jon’s large frame blocked her from view; Patricia poked out her tongue and licked across the seam of his lips. “Later. You can have me any way you want me.”

A low growl rumbled in his chest. “Already plotting the ways.” Jerking her up hard against his chest, Jon stole a kiss, slapped her hard on the ass, and walked out of the room calling over his shoulder, “Come on, old man, those boxes aren’t going to move themselves!”

In the garage, Jon was momentarily paralyzed by the sheer volume of random pieces of furniture and boxes overflowing with yard sale items, but he got over it quickly and kicked his ass into gear.

Leaving his mother alone with Patricia, especially after the promise of baby picture, made him a little unsettled. The last thing he wanted was to imagine the two of them oohing and awing over his awkward years. Or better yet, the photo of his five-year-old self racing through the house at break neck speed with his child-sized junk suspended high and to the left, and that he’d dreamt about burning more than once. Women. He shook his head and hefted one side of the old love seat in the air.

Together, he and his father carried it outside and set it down on the front lawn.

An hour later, Jon stood, digging his fists into his lower back to stretch out the muscles. He glimpsed several of the neighbors he’d grown up seeing every day in various stages of setting up their own yards.

“Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Helmy,” he shouted across the street. A little gray around the edges, but otherwise still looking young and fit, the couple turned to wave back at him.

He was preparing to head back into the garage for round one hundred and eighty, give or take, when he was stopped in his tracks by an angel.

Patricia positively glowed as she stepped out of the house balancing two overloaded trays of snacks in her hands. Her hips swayed as she crossed the lawn to the table that was set up beneath the old elm tree he used to climb as a kid. His mouth watered.

“So, how did the two of you meet?” His father’s voice broke through his thoughts like a wrecking ball, and Jon forced himself to turn away from her.

He shrugged. “The first time or the second?”

His father’s bushy brows pulled together. “I’ll go with whichever story is more interesting.” He turned and led the way back to the garage.

“Well,” Jon said, crouching down to pick up a box of old books. “I kind of rear-ended her.”

“That’s a hell of a way to put it.” His frown deepened.

Puzzled, Jon paused halfway out the door, beads of sweat popping out across his forehead as he struggled to hold the weight of the box against his middle. “Wait, do you think? No! God, Dad, really?” He shook his head. “I didn’t mean I rear-ended her. I meant I literally rear-ended her, as in busted up her car with mine. Jesus…” He trailed off, shuddering at the mere mention of sex around his old man.

“I don’t know what you’re getting offended about, son,” his dad said, coming up beside him. They dropped their burden in the grass and knelt to unload the contents on to one of the many pop-up tables. “Your mother and I are well aware that you are a sexually active grown man. It’s a completely natural occurrence that you shouldn’t be ashamed of.”

“I’m not ashamed. I just don’t want to have this talk with you. No offense,” he added.

“None taken. You don’t tell me about your sexual escapades and I won’t tell you about mine and your mother’s, like that time in the hot tub up at the cabin…”

“Dad, seriously!”

His father nudged him in the side. “Just fucking with you, son. Don’t get all bent out of shape. Save that privilege for the young woman.”

Unable to take another minute of his good-natured ribbing, Jon bolted for the safety of indoors calling over his shoulder, “I’m going to hit the bathroom.”

Inside, Jon marched up the stairs to the second floor. He was hot, a little tired, but mostly he’d just needed the excuse to get away for a minute.

He loved visiting his parents, but what he really wanted to do with his day had nothing to do with sales or heavy labor.

Closing himself in the bathroom, Jon filled the sink basin with cold water. Cupping his hands under the faucet, he filled his palms with the cool liquid and bent to splash it against his heated face. It was a welcomed relief from the sweltering brilliance of the near afternoon sun. He couldn’t understand the appeal of having a yard sale during one of the hottest months of the year, but then he never did understand the minds of his elders very well. Jon much preferred the crispness of fall or the biting cold of winter to the heat of summer. At least he could warm himself during the colder months. Cooling off was much harder to accomplish and it always came with the added bonus of sunburns and farmer tans.

“It’s right up those stairs, third door on the left at the end of the hall.”

Hearing his mother’s muted voice, followed by Patricia’s gracious “thank you,” Jon stiffened. Literally. His cock just sprang right up at the sound of her voice. Interesting.

Scrubbing one of the hand towels down his face, Jon listened at the door as Patricia’s soft footsteps approached. They stopped, hesitating outside the door, and when she lightly rapped her knuckles against it, Jon grabbed the handle and ripped the door open.

“Oh!” Surprised, Patricia’s eyes widened. “I thought you were still outside.”

Ducking his head into the hallway, Jon took a quick peek to make sure the coast was clear, then grabbed her hand, and pulled her inside.

“Jon, what are you doing?” Patricia squealed, the sound a mixture of delight and worry. “You’re parents are downstairs,” she hissed as Jon bent to grab the backs of her thighs and lift her onto the countertop.

“You said any way I want it,” he reminded her. “This is how I want it.” Splitting her thighs wide, Jon insinuated himself between them, pressing the firm ridge of his cock against her. “Mmm, that’s nice.”

“Jon,” Patricia said weakly, tilting her head to the side, opening her throat up to him. “We shouldn’t do this.”

“What shouldn’t we do? Kiss?” He swiped his tongue up her throat and nipped her chin.

Drunk, heavy-lidded eyes gazed up at him. “This.” Her finger motioned between them. “We can’t have sex in the middle of your parent’s bathroom. It’s not kosher.”

An unexpected laugh ripped out of him. “Kosher? Honey, I don’t think the word ‘kosher’ can be applied to a bathroom situation.”

She rolled her beautiful blue eyes. “You know what I mean. It’s not right.” Palms flat against his chest, she pushed against him while wiggling closer to the edge of the counter.

“Where do you think you’re running off to, sweetness?” Jon remained firmly in place, affording her no room to get down from the counter. He had her right where he wanted her and he wasn’t about to let her get away…not before he had his fill of her delectable body.

“Jon, seriously, we need to head back. I was supposed to be coming up here to freshen up, not screw the son of the people I just met and am trying to make a good impression on.”

“Believe me,” Jon assured her, his hands wandering under her top to release the button on her shorts. “They seeing how happy you have made me this past week is all the ‘impression’ they need.”

Patricia fought him—albeit it was the weakest attempt he’d ever witnessed—to keep her clothes in place, but he managed to wiggle her shorts down past her hips, and from there they just fell right off.

“See,” he said, grabbing her backside and tugging her to the edge of the counter. “Isn’t that better?” His mouth grazed hers, teasing soft, breathy moans from her. Releasing one round, firm globe, Jon popped the button on his own shorts and pulled down the zipper. They dropped to his ankles, and because he didn’t believe in wearing boxers on the weekends, his cock sprung to attention like a caged animal being set free.

Patricia clung to him, her fingernails digging into the backs of his arms, her legs winding themselves around his thighs and drawing him closer.

“We shouldn’t…” Her hoarse words died on her lips when she glanced between them and saw how hard he was for her.

“We should,” Jon whispered, fingering the edge of her panties and pulling them to the side. Using the arm that still maintained a good hold on her, he tugged her the rest of the way, while hanging her butt off the edge of the counter, and brought his slick, swollen head to her glistening entrance. “And look, you don’t even have to get naked.”

He rammed home, pulling a gasp out of her that he muffled by sealing his mouth over hers. He pumped into her, swallowing the constant stream of sexy pants and groans that spilled out of her.

It was going to be a short ride, but it couldn’t be helped. He needed Patricia like he needed his next breath. There was nothing he enjoyed more than being inside of her. He was addicted to her. And they needed to get back downstairs before someone came searching for them.

“Fuck, Patricia, baby, I’m not going to last.” Resting his forehead against hers, they turned their eyes to where they were joined, and together they watched as he entered her. It was a breathtaking sight. Coated in her milky cream, his shaft penetrated her with brutal force. Her soft, swollen folds parted to receive him, welcoming him into their hot embrace. Before he knew it, he felt himself begin to swell. As his orgasm took him, Patricia wove her fingers in his hair, holding him to her breast as he emptied himself into her.

He rocked into her slowly, riding out the last of the aftershocks. His body shuddered once, twice, and then he slipped from the shelter of her body.

Raising his head, they looked into each other’s eyes, a languid smile playing on both of their flushed faces. “I love being inside of you,” he said, kissing her hard on the mouth. “If I could, I’d move in.”

Patricia chuckled. “I don’t know. The rent is pretty steep.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s worth the price.”

She smiled serenely. “We should head back.”

“You didn’t come yet,” Jon said, staying her with his body.

She pursed her lips. “Jon, I don’t need to come every time. It can wait until later.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know about the men you dated before me, but I never leave a woman unsatisfied.”

“Jon,” Patricia said, grasping his shoulders as he dropped to his knees before her. “Really, I’m very satisfied, so this isn’t necessary.”

“It really is,” he insisted, hooking his fingers in her panties and holding them out of the way. His eyes locked on her rosy, swollen clit and his mouth watered. “You see,” he told her, stroking one finger through her cleft and plunging it deep into her opening. He scented his own fluid mixed with hers and felt his cock twitch between his thighs. “Something this pretty deserves to be licked.” He dragged his tongue over her tight little nub and circled it once. “It deserves to be pleasured.” He repeated the action, and then ventured further out, running his tongue over her lush, swollen folds. “It deserves to be worshiped.”

Pure male pride suffused him as Patricia tipped her head back, moaning long and low. Her teeth dug into her bottom lip, her eyes squeezing tightly shut as her hips bucked subtly.

Pinching her clit between his lips, Jon sucked, flicked and licked her until he felt the strength of her orgasm clutching the fingers he held deep inside of her. Her entire body trembled with the force of it. Sliding her panties back into place, Jon scooped up her discarded shorts, lifted one foot off the floor, and helped her step into them.

He smiled devilishly as he rose to his feet and drew his hand down his mouth to wipe the evidence of her release from his lips. “Now we can head back.”

Patricia placed her hand in his and let him lead her out. “Are you hungry?” he asked as they descended the stairs together. “I’m thinking I could go for a sandwich and maybe one of those brownies.”

Patricia laughed under her breath. “After the meal you just had, I would have thought you’d be full.”

Jon whirled around and pinned her to the wall, framing her with his arms. He lowered his face to within an inch of hers and dropped his voice so his words wouldn’t carry. “Make no mistake, Patricia, with you I’ll always be a starving man.”

Her eyes darted back and forth between both of his, measuring the weight of truth in his statement. When he was certain she’d found what she was looking for, he tugged her the rest of the way through the house and back outside, no longer hungry for food, but something infinitely sweeter.

17

“Should I tell your mother to start knitting booties?” Walter asked as Jon stepped back into the garage.

“What?” Jon shot his father a dubious look as he bent to pick up a small wooden table.

“I cut my finger on a staple earlier and came inside to get a Band-Aid, but it seemed the bathroom was occupied.” One bushy eyebrow arched up. “You know they make beds for that kind of thing, right? More to the point, they make beds that you can put in your bedroom, in your home. Get my drift?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Jon waved him off, burying the twinge of embarrassment at having been caught in the act by his good old dad. It wouldn’t be the first time, but the cool thing about his dad was that he’d always been very relaxed about things. Even sex. “But if you had a girl like her on your arm, you’d understand why it couldn’t wait.”

“I do have a girl like that,” his father said, turning his head to look out across the front lawn. “See that woman over there with the killer legs and smile? That’s all mine, and once we’re done here and I can get you out of my house, I won’t be able to wait either.”

“Gross, Dad. Just gross.” Jon’s face pinched in disgust. The last thing any kid wanted to hear was that their parents had sex more than the one time it took to conceive them. Even then, Immaculate Conception would have been preferable.

“So,” his father said, plopping down in a dusty Adirondack and blowing out a tired breath. “How has life been treating you?”

Jon dragged another chair over and sat down beside him. Together they watched the activity going on outside. It felt like they were in their own little world apart from the rest. “Pretty well.”

“Business is good?”

“Yep.”

“Your mother said something about you looking for an accountant?”

Jon nodded. “Yep. Mine quit. Not a big deal, though. I have one of my workers on it.”

“That’s good. I’m glad to see that you’re successful. It’s hard running your own business.” He glanced over at him. “I’m proud of you, son.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Outside, a few people milled around, hunting for random treasures among their used junk. Patricia and his mother moved with them, answering questions and pointing out prices of things that were clearly labeled.

“So what is it about this one that made you want to bring her home?”

His father’s question startled him, and Jon had to sit and think for a minute before a suitable answer came to him. “She’s a challenge. She makes me smile, and I feel like I haven’t really smiled in a long time.” His eyes followed her every movement as he spoke, soaking her in inch by inch. “I feel happy when I’m with her.”

His father’s rough hand patted him on the knee. “That’s good, son. That’s exactly what I want to hear.”

Doubt dropped like a stone in Jon’s gut, as it always did when he traveled this line of thought. “I’m afraid I’m going to screw it all up.”

“I’m sure you will,” his father said definitively. “Men tend to screw shit up. I mean, look at me. I’ve been married to your mother for thirty-two years and I screw shit up every day. You just have to make sure you find a woman who’s willing to put up with you.”

“Yeah, but my baggage…” Jon hesitated, the words sticking in his throat. “That’s a tough pill to swallow. I’m afraid it’ll destroy everything when she finds out.”

Meeting his eyes, his father grew serious. “If she loves you, you’ll find a way to get through it. But, Jon, the problem here isn’t her, it’s you.” He looked out across the yard at their women. “At some point you have to forgive yourself and move on. You have to surrender everything, your past, your present, your future. If you want to be happy, you’re going to have to let go and surrender to love and trust that it’s strong enough to carry you through the worst so you can find your way through to the best. You’re going to have to tell her, son. The sooner the better.”

Swallowing thickly, Jon nodded, hearing the truth in his words ringing loud and clear. He was willing to surrender everything for a chance at something more with Patricia. Would she be willing to surrender her love to him after he revealed his secret to her?

* * *

So Stephanie put her in charge of the cash box. Patti wasn’t sure if that was a testament to the woman’s trust in her, or a test. Just the idea that it could be a test brought out the wicked and playful side of her. Had Stephanie been anyone other than Jon’s mother, she might have been tempted to stuff a couple of small bills in her pocket just to shake things up a bit. The girls would have had a real hoot over it, but she didn’t want to do anything that would engender any bad feelings.

She knew this was important to Jon, even though they hadn’t been together long, which meant it was important to her, too. Crazy how things just worked out sometimes.

She’d just finished counting out change to a woman who’d bought a country-style duck statue clothed in a dress when Jon and his father approached the table.

“We’re going to head across the street to give the Shelbys a hand,” Jon informed her. Sweat dampened his brow and stained his t-shirt darker under his arms and across his chest. Patti couldn’t help thinking about how delicious he looked, all hot and tired. His muscles bulged in places from the constant workout of lugging around heavy objects, but she wasn’t about to complain. Rather, it made her want to crawl over the table separating them and climb his body like a tree. She couldn’t wait until later when she had him all to herself. Oh, the things she wanted to do to his body. Sinful, wicked things that could get her arrested. The spot between her thighs, already saturated by their earlier lovemaking, clenched tight, and she felt the liquid heat of Jon’s semen wet the inside of her thigh.

How embarrassing.

It was a good thing no one else could see what was happening just then.

When she looked up at Jon, heat still lingering in his blue eyes, Patti felt herself blush all the way down to her toes. Not just because Jon was staring at her as if he wanted to eat her up all over again, but because Walter was standing right there, watching the silent communication pass between them as if he knew the details of the message being sent.

“Oh, okay,” she said, forcing her smile up a notch. “I would say have fun, but, well…” She shrugged. There was nothing fun about hard labor in this kind of heat, and they well knew it. She was sweating enough as it was, and she had the benefit of being shaded by a tree.

Jon winked at her, and then turned to walk away. Patti’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. Just being near him drove her wild. If she weren’t careful now, he might take her heart as his prize when he walked away. Because he would. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day. They always did.

But for now, Patti smiled to herself. For now, she had him, and she was going to enjoy him.

“Uh oh, I know that look.” Stephanie joined her at the table and dropped an armload of clothing on to it. Patti reached out and picked up a pair of jeans to help fold.

“What look is that?” she asked curiously.

“The one that says you’re hopelessly, madly in love with my son.” Stephanie flashed her megawatt smile at her.

Patti sucked air between her teeth and shook her head in denial, but the words that spilled out of her mouth surprised her. “What’s not to love? He’s intelligent, successful, confident, strong and…” She blew out a steadying breath as her eyes sought him out among the growing crowd. She found him, arms flexing, butt firm as he helped another man load up a mattress set into the bed of a truck.

“Hot?” Stephanie offered.

“Hot,” Patti echoed.

“Yeah, he gets it from his father,” she sighed whimsically. “When we were younger, I had to practically beat the girls away, until one day I got so sick and tired of keeping guard over him, I let him know it. And do you know what he said to me? He said, ‘Babe, you’re the only girl I see.’” They sighed as one at the sheer level of romance packed into that single statement, which surprised the hell out of Patti. She was not a sigher! “He knew he had me, and that was when I finally realized that I had him, too.”

“That’s a really sweet story,” Patti told her honestly. “Maybe one day I’ll find someone like that.” Okay, so maybe she was still suffering from a bit of denial. It would pass.

Dropping what she was doing, Stephanie placed her hand on Patti’s shoulder and turned her so they were standing face-to-face. “You already have. Jonathon might not know it yet, but he’s completely in love with you.”

Patti’s eyes widened. She didn’t know what to say to that. “How do you know?” Again, her gaze strayed to the house across the street, searching. When she found him, she felt a weird twisting sensation in her stomach.

“Because a mother knows,” Stephanie said beside her, following her line of sight.

Just then, as if feeling her eyes on him, Jon lifted his head and looked her way. His mouth turned up in that wide, sexy smile she loved so much, and suddenly, the rest of the world fell away. It was just the two of them, in their own little world, smiling at each other. And she knew, beyond a doubt, with one hundred and fifty percent certainty, she had fallen head over heels in love with the man.

Shaken by her revelation, she passed him a brief smile and got back to work. The next couple of hours passed with relative ease. Patti handled dozens of transactions, met what seemed like half the neighborhood during that time, all of which seemed to have already heard about her and Jon dating. They gushed over that, though Patti couldn’t understand why. It was as though everyone there was deeply embedded in one another’s lives, interested and invested in their happiness and success in life. She was so baffled by the close-knit community that she felt almost like an imposter. She had never in her life witnessed such caring between strangers. It was nothing at all like living in the city where everyone was out for themselves, too busy putting one foot in front of the other to bother caring about the person beside them.

Possibly even more disturbing: she never expected to feel so at home here. All the smiling faces, the innocent questions of people genuinely interested in her well-being, threw her for a loop, but it felt damn good, too. It gave her a new respect for Jon’s life while growing up as a child, and what it must have been like to know so many people cared. His parents alone were amazing.

Patti found herself studying Walter. He was as tall as Jon was, with the same thick build and gorgeous blue eyes. His smile was wide and brilliant and so expressive, she imagined he could pull attention from women of all ages just as well today as he had forty years ago. If Jon aged half as well as his father, she could see herself tripping over her own feet every time he walked into a room well into their golden years.

Thinking of Jon’s father, his absolute kindness and sincerity, the warmth that seeped from him, the way he put his arm around Jon and patted him on the shoulder, called up memories of her own father.

She remembered all the times her dad had made the same gestures toward her. That type of smile was unmistakable, even from this distance. He did it every time he was proud of her, which was often. He never let an opportunity slip through his fingers to let her know how much he loved her, how proud of her he was. He was never short on advice. Through his eyes, Patti saw how worthy she was of all the good things in life, and with him now gone, she felt a deep pain at the loss. That is, until she met Jon. Now, the pinch of sorrow grew less and less each day.

Her brows furrowed as she realized she had missed her regular visit to the cemetery that morning, and she hadn’t even realized it. It simply hadn’t crossed her mind. Could it be that Jon was an even bigger influence on her life than she had initially thought?

Tears stung her eyes as a note of guilt attempted to wiggle its way into her conscious. She shoved it away, swallowing convulsively. She shifted her focus on the older couple that approached.

“Hello,” she said as cheerfully as she could manage. Their drawn faces caught her attention first. Standing before her, they studied her with grim faces. Her immediate impression was that they didn’t fit here. They weren’t like the other people she had met earlier. Everything about them, from the dark circles under their eyes to their pinched mouths and lack of friendly demeanor, had her immediately on edge.

“Is there something you were looking for in particular that I can try to help you find?” she asked, noticing that their hands were empty.

The woman spoke first. “Are you Patricia?”

“Yes, that’s me,” she replied hesitantly. The smile she wore strained as her gaze shot between them. “Can I help you?”

“And you’re Jonathon Bradshaw’s girlfriend?” the woman asked her.

Patti’s growing nerves made her feel twitchy. “I am. I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I didn’t catch your names.”

“I’m Cynthia Collier and this is my husband Max Collier,” the woman said casually. She pinned Patti with worry-filled gray eyes. “We’re Nora’s parents.”

Patti’s brows rose slightly. This woman, Cynthia, stared at her as though the name should mean something to her. It didn’t. She nodded politely and cast a look around, searching for Jon, or Stephanie, anyone who could help her withdraw from this uncomfortable situation.

“I take it he hasn’t told you,” the woman went on. She and her husband exchanged meaningful looks. “I can’t say that I’m surprised. He always was a coward.”

“I’m sorry,” Patti said, sidestepping the table. She didn’t know what the woman was rambling about, but she knew enough to know the comment was directed toward Jon, and it pissed her the hell off.

She glanced around again, finding herself alone. Well, if no one were coming to her rescue, then she’d rescue her damn self. The way they kept staring at her was weirding her out. Actually, their whole weirdo vibe was weirding her out. She needed to get away from them, and that’s exactly what she was going to do. “I hate to be rude, but—”

“He killed my daughter,” the woman blurted out. “I bet he didn’t tell you that, did he?”

Patti stopped in her tracks, unable to believe her ears. “Excuse me?”

Together they closed the small gap, and the woman lowered her voice to a more private tone. “Jonathon, he killed our Nora. He killed her, and then he went off to live his life as if it never happened. Just forget it and it’s gone. Poof!” Her voice began to rise and Patti could see the hysteria flashing in her crazed eyes.

She held her ground, refusing to believe anything she just heard. They must be mistaken. Jon would never hurt anyone. Would he? No. No, she decided, he wouldn’t. But what she said was like a seed being planted in the forefront of her mind. It set in roots of doubt and out of it grew concern.

The woman’s husband placed a restraining hand on his wife’s shoulder as she pressed both hands on the table and leaned in. He lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered something that Patti assumed was meant to calm the woman, but she was beyond reasoning. With wide eyes she cried, “He’s poison. He’ll kill you, too.”

The force of Patti’s blood was pounding in her ears. She didn’t know what to make of these people, didn’t know whether to believe a word they said. All she knew was that something wasn’t right here.

Thankfully, that was the moment Jon decided to show up.

18

After Jon finished helping out the Shelbys, he was sidetracked helping out another man who had purchased a bed and mattress set. Then he and his father ran into an old friend of the family and got to talking. By the time they finished up, he was more than eager to get back across the street and start packing up so he could get Patricia home and ravage her body.

He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her all day. No matter what he was doing, he found his attention straying, seeking her out. He just couldn’t get over how incredibly beautiful she was.

Already his parents adored her, so the approval he realized he’d been seeking when he brought her here today had been granted, and after his talk with his father earlier, Jon was growing more and more confident in the knowledge that Patricia might be just what he needed to help him move on with his life.

Then he’d looked up to find a deep frown on Patricia’s delicate features, and when he looked for the source of her discontent, the bottom dropped out of his world.

That’s when he’d broken into a sprint, racing across the street to intervene in what was going to amount to a clusterfuck of monumental proportions. All he could do was shout in his head for this to be a dream—a dream that he would wake up from at any moment to find his world intact with Patricia by his side. But as he took in Patricia’s puzzled and concerned face he knew, this wasn’t a dream. It was a fucking nightmare.

Inserting himself between her and his ex’s parents, he turned a vicious glare on them. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought we told you that you were no longer welcome on our property.”

“It’s a free country, Jon,” Max drawled. The two men stared each other down. Hatred gleamed in the old man’s eyes, and Jon felt the familiar clawing sense of guilt begin to build in his abdomen.

Over his shoulder, Jon asked Patricia, “What did they say to you?” He already knew what her answer would be, but he needed to hear her say it.

Before she could utter a word, Cynthia snarled, “I told her the truth. That you’re a cold-blooded murderer.”

Jon squeezed his eyes shut. His entire body vibrated with anger and resentment, but most of all, worry. He didn’t have to turn around to see the look on her face. He knew the words Cynthia had spoken changed everything for Patricia. She wouldn’t want him after this. She would throw him away, kick him out of her life forever, and he couldn’t blame her for it.

He always knew this was coming, and a part of him had resigned himself to the inevitable: he would hurt her, and she would leave. There was never any other outcome, although he had begun to hope that there could be. He never should have allowed hope to step in. It just made the fall that much harder.

Why, for the love of God, did Nora’s parents have to show up today, of all days? Why did they feel compelled to sabotage the one sliver of happiness he’d managed to create for himself? He knew the answer implicitly, because a man could never forget something like that, but it hurt all the same. He didn’t deserve happiness.

Just seeing them standing in front of him called up so many unwanted memories, and Jon realized with renewed clarity why he would never be good enough for a woman as good and kind as Patricia Jacobs. He’d been a fool to ever believe he could be.

“Jon, what’s going on here?”

Jon heard his mother’s worry-filled voice call out to him, and a moment later, she was there, standing like the pillar of strength and determination she had proven herself to be. “The Collier’s decided to pay us all a visit,” Jon told her, his voice dipping dangerously low. There was a time when he’d considered them second parents, but now they were nothing but strangers to him.

His mother turned her attention to the couple. “What are you doing here?” she demanded to know, echoing his earlier words. “You need to leave, now, before I call the police and have you escorted off my property.”

“I’m sorry, Stephanie,” Max said calmly. “We just couldn’t allow him to ruin another young woman’s life.”

“How dare you?” his mother said through clenched teeth. “You people just can’t let it rest, can you?”

“What the hell is going on?” his father called out as he stormed up to join them. “What are you two doing here? I thought we told you to stay away from our son.”

Max turned to him, his voice rough with emotion. “We heard that Jonathon had moved on to another woman. We felt it was only right that she be warned, since it was obvious that no one else was going to do it.”

“Don’t you mean you felt it was your duty to try to ruin his life?” his father growled. “Nora’s death was an accident, Max. When are the two of you going to get that through your thick skulls? My son almost died that night, too. Or maybe you don’t recall the months of intensive physical therapy he had to go through just to learn to walk again?” His voice took on a pleading tone. “Don’t you think he’s suffered enough?”

“Suffered?” Cynthia let loose a wobbly laugh. “At least he gets to walk! My daughter is rotting in the ground thanks to him!”

“They were stupid kids, Cynthia!” Stephanie shouted back at her.

Jon tried desperately to tune out the sound of their arguing. The gaping chasm of sadness inside of him had ripped open, and he felt the overwhelming sense of depression pressing down on his shoulders. He dropped his head and rubbed his aching temples. How much longer could he continue on like this, bouncing from one emotion to the other, before he finally broke?

A soft hand touched his arm. “Jon?” Patricia said softly, coming around to stand in front of him. She touched his face next, her warm hand against his skin infusing him with hope and regret all at once. “Are you okay?”

Beside them, both of his parents were now speaking heatedly with Nora’s parents, trying hard to keep their angry voices from carrying to the rest of the neighborhood.

Jon looked down at Patricia, her sweet face angled up at him, her blue eyes filled with nothing but concern for him, and he wept inside at what he knew would have to be done. She was the center of his world, his sun, and yet he knew he had to let her go if he wanted to save her from himself.

Taking the hand she had resting against his cheek in his, he brought it to his lips and pressed a kiss to the center of her palm. “I’m fine,” he grunted, giving her a desolate smile. “Don’t worry about me.”

“You don’t look fine,” Patricia said, calling him on the lie.

She came closer, but he stepped back out of her reach. Unable to look at her any longer, he turned his attention to the warring couples. “Don’t worry about it,” he said directly to Nora’s parents. “You’re right. I didn’t say anything to her, and it was wrong. After today, consider it taken care of.”

Everyone stopped shouting, seemingly speechless, and turned to look at him. “Jon, what are you doing?” his mother asked him.

“What I should have done from the beginning.”

“So you’ll do what’s right?” Max asked him, understanding the meaning of his words.

Jon tipped his head. “I’ll do what’s right.”

Max studied him a moment longer, then, with a nod of acceptance, he took Cynthia’s hand and left.

“I feel like I missed something,” his mother said. “What did you just say to him?”

“Don’t worry about it, Mom,” Jon deadpanned. It felt like all the life had been sucked out of him, and he supposed it had.

“Care to tell us what that was all about?” his father asked, pinning him with determined blue eyes the exact color of his own.

“Not right now,” he said, keeping his answers clipped. “Let’s just finish this sale.”

As he walked away, Jon could feel three sets of eyes boring into his back, but he didn’t dare look back. He spent the rest of the afternoon keeping distance between him and the three of them. He needed time and space to collect his thoughts, and that wasn’t going to work if he had to field questions from any of them. They’d just try to talk him out of doing what needed to be done.

At the end of the day, once they had everything that hadn’t sold safely tucked away in the garage, Jon hugged his mother and father, helped Patricia into the truck, and lifted a hand in goodbye. His father’s words as he’d embraced him echoed in his ears. “I recognize that look in your eyes, son. Don’t do anything stupid.”

His mother’s words quickly followed. “I don’t know what those jerks said to you, but I can see how upset you are. Shrug it off, sweetie. Despite what they might think, you deserve to be happy. You deserve to move on, even if they can’t. Don’t continue punishing yourself because you made a mistake.”

He’d nodded, if only to let her know that her words hadn’t fallen on deaf ears, but he couldn’t agree with them. His mistakes had cost someone their life. There was nothing anyone could say or do to erase that history or to make it better, but at least Jon could sacrifice his happiness to pay for his sins.

As he drove toward the city, Jon glanced at Patricia, who sat quietly beside him, her teeth buried in her bottom lip. He couldn’t help feeling bitter and regretful at the knowledge that after tonight, their relationship would be over.

* * *

She was losing him. Patti could feel it with every cell in her body. Ever since the confrontation earlier, Jon had been a steel wall. He’d barely spoken a word to her, aside from a few blunt answers, and every time she looked at him, which was constantly, he’d be looking the other way. She knew he was avoiding her, which made her uneasy.

She understood that there was some terrible secret he was hiding from her, but Stephanie and Walt both seemed to think it was an accident. Jon, however, appeared to be beating himself up over whatever it was. It killed her to see him that way, suffering in silence, but she was afraid to broach the subject for fear of his reaction.

After her talk with Stephanie that afternoon, she had come to accept something that she knew had been building all month. As crazy as it sounded, she was in love with Jon. He made her feel special in a way no other man ever had. Desirable and sexy, when she’d only ever been cheated on in favor of someone taller and prettier.

She couldn’t risk that.

She stared out the window as Jon pulled the truck into her driveway. When he didn’t shut off the engine, it drove home the notion that something was seriously wrong. Yes, Jon had a bad day, but that had never stopped him from coming inside. In fact, he’d always been the first to the door, eager to get inside and close out the rest of the world.

That he didn’t do that this time set off warning bells inside her head.

“Are you coming in,” she asked softly, twisting her hands in her lap.

“I shouldn’t,” Jon said, his deep, tortured voice tearing her up inside. “I have an early day tomorrow.”

“I have an alarm clock,” she shot back, smiling despite herself.

Jon continued to stare blankly out the windshield. “I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Patti snapped. Grimacing, she softened her voice again. “Jon, please. Come inside. We need to talk…and I’m not ready…” She swallowed tightly and Jon’s head swiveled to look at her. She wanted to tell him she wasn’t ready to let him go. She wasn’t ready to end things, not now, possibly not ever. Instead of saying all of that, she simply repeated, “I’m not ready.”

He stared into her eyes, his expression pained beyond her comprehension. Desperate, Patti slid across the bench and took his hand in hers. “Please, Jon,” she whispered. “Come inside.”

He was looking at their joined hands, their fingers woven together, lost deep in thought, when he finally nodded. “Okay.” Turning off the engine, he pulled out the keys and opened the door. Reaching up, he took Patti by the hand and helped her down from the cab, then stood back to let her lead the way.

Deep, unforgiving sadness filled Patti to the point of rupture, but somehow she managed to keep herself from breaking down as she stepped into the living room and felt Jon’s presence at her back. She stepped out of her shoes and busied herself with putting them away. She couldn’t bring herself to face him. Not when she knew what was coming. She felt it all the way to her soul.

“Would you like something to drink? Or eat? I can heat up some soup or something…”

Her voice hitched as Jon came up behind her. She felt the heat of his body sear her back, and she squeezed her eyes shut tight. With firm but gentle hands, Jon turned her around. Patti could feel the sting of tears pricking her eyes, and when she opened them, they spilled down her cheeks. Jon’s thumbs smoothed them away.

“Jon.” His name left her on a shuddering breath.

Without any words, he cupped the back of her head and lowered his mouth to hers. They kissed slowly at first, their lips pressing softly against one another, and then growing in desperation and hunger, until they were both grasping at one another as though their lives depended on it.

Bending down, Jon slipped his arm under her knees and scooped Patti up. Her arms looped around his neck as she returned to his mouth, pouring her love for him into every kiss, hoping he could feel what she felt for him.

She didn’t want to let him go.

As he carried her to the bedroom and laid her out on the bed, her hands grasped frantically at his shirt, dragging him down on top of her.

She didn’t want to let him go.

Even as Jon undressed them both, tearing at their clothes like a man possessed, she never let him out of her reach, out of her sight. She drank him in. His bulging arms, his defined abs, every hard muscle that twitched and flexed, dancing before her eyes. Just thinking about all the things he had done to her body, all the things he was about to do now, made her heart race.

She didn’t want to let him go.

When Jon slid into her, she clutched him tightly, inhaled him deeply, taking every part of him into her and committing him to memory, because she didn’t want to let him go. And after Jon spilled inside of her, his body shuddering, his skin damp with sweat, he lingered at her mouth, stroking her lips with tender, almost reverent kisses that hurt her more than words ever could.

But, then, maybe he knew that.

Rolling on to his side, Jon pulled her against his chest and held her until she drifted off to sleep, and when she awoke, she found herself cold and alone.

He had let her go.

19

He’d hurt plenty of people before, broken plenty of hearts in his time, so why, then, was Jon so bothered this time? Oh, that’s right, because he was in love. Love was a complication he’d never thought he’d have to deal with again, because he’d purposely designed his life to avoid it. A lot of good that did.

The bed felt particularly empty now that he didn’t have anyone to share it with, more so now that he lay there staring at the ceiling with only his thoughts to keep him company. Morning was coming soon, which meant that Patricia would be waking up to find him gone.

It took everything he had in him not to stay, but he’d already screwed up by sleeping with her. Just one more time, he kept telling himself when they’d pulled up to her house last night. He just wanted to hold her in his arms, feel her body against his one more time. The memory would be all that he had left come morning, and he wanted to savor every second.

It was the most bittersweet moment he’d ever experienced, and he was still questioning whether it had been a good or bad decision. Of course, he loved her, and he knew he’d be letting her go. She knew no such thing. While he prepared himself to leave, she had pushed closer, and he had let her because he was selfish. He couldn’t stand not having her one last time.

He thought of her distraught face, her glistening eyes, and the tears he wiped from her face, made him realize that maybe she had known what was happening, after all.

It still didn’t excuse him from taking advantage of the situation, but he couldn’t walk away from her at that moment any more than he could ignore someone injured on the side of the road. In his mind, he was soothing them both, seeking solace in one another’s arms. Saying goodbye.

What would she think of him when she found him missing? What would she do? A heavy pounding startled him from his thoughts and Jon sat up, listening. When it happened again a moment later, he realized it was coming from the front door.

Dragging his weary body out of bed, he made his way to the door and opened it to a very pissed off Patricia. Despite the fire snapping in her crisp blue eyes, he admired everything about her.

She was dressed in a tank top and a pair of yoga pants, her wild blonde hair knotted on top of her head. She wore no make-up, but she looked even more breathtaking to him for it. He loved that she possessed natural beauty. He could stare at her forever, listing all the things about her that he loved, but her waspish words snapped him to attention.

“Is this what you do when you decide you’re done with a woman? You just screw her and leave in the middle of the night so you don’t have to explain yourself?”

Jon expected her to be angry, so this came as no surprise, but he was a little shocked that she had come after him, and so soon. Sliding a practiced mask of cold indifference into place, Jon leaned casually against the doorframe and folded his arms across his chest. “Good morning, Patricia. Did you sleep well?”

Her eyes narrowed a fraction. “Not very considering my boyfriend crawled away in the middle of the night like a coward.” She slung the words at him, searching his face for any sign that she had hit her mark.

She had, but Jon didn’t let her see how deeply she affected him. “I admit, I could have handled it better, but after seeing your behavior with your ex, I was afraid you wouldn’t be very… reasonable.”

Her head jerked back as if she’d been slapped. “You think I would, what, burn your stuff? You should know me better than that.”

“That’s just the thing,” Jon said, cutting her off. “We’ve known each other less than a month, and we spent most of that time fucking. I don’t know you very well at all.”

“You know me well enough to introduce me to your parents,” she rebutted.

“That was poor judgment on my part,” Jon drawled. “Had I known it would mean so much to you, I would have left you at home.”

Patricia’s voice quavered. “That was a really asshole thing to say. Why are you doing this? Why are you being so cruel?”

It took everything not to reach out to her, but somehow, Jon managed. He held himself rigidly, his fingers biting into his own skin as he fought to keep his distance. In the end, she would thank him for letting her go.

“I’m not being cruel,” Jon told her. “I’m doing you a kindness.”

“How can you even say that?”

“Because you don’t know my past. In a few years, when you’re married and have little ones hanging on your ankles, you’ll be glad to have been rid of me. It’s best to end this now, before anyone gets hurt.”

“You’re hurting me now,” she croaked. A loan tear escaped, and she swiped it away angrily.

“That’s not my intention.” Every moment he stood there, watching her pain grow, Jon’s resolve not to go to her lessened. He needed to get this over quickly before he did something stupid, like kiss her.

“Well, you’re failing miserably,” she snapped back.

“I know.”

Suddenly, Patricia looked tired. “Tell me what happened yesterday. Can you do that at least?”

“Nothing happened yesterday except that I realized that this thing”—he motioned between them—“isn’t going to work.”

“But why,” she asked, pleading for answers. “Everything was going so well before those people showed up. Who were they, and why were they so mad at you?”

The last thing Jon wanted to do was rehash history. He’d done enough of that in the last twelve hours to last him a lifetime. Shoving off the frame, Jon took a step back and grabbed for the door. “I’m sorry I hurt you, Patricia, but we’re done here.”

When he tried to close the door, she jumped forward, slamming her palm against it and at the same time inserting her foot in the opening. “No, Jon, we are far from done. You owe me an answer.” Her light eyes held his in defiance. “I’m not leaving until you tell me why, so if you really want me to go, you had better start talking.”

Jon sighed heavily knowing his only chance to chase her off was to tell her everything. Opening the door wide, he filled the opening, and braced himself for the look on her face when he told her the truth. “Those people were Nora’s parents. Nora was my girlfriend.”

“And I gather from all the past tense references that she’s…”

“Dead,” Jon finished for her.

Patti nodded as if she’d already figured that part out. Jon continued, his thoughts traveling down that dark road once more.

“It was about five years ago that it happened. We’d been dating since high school, both heading into our second year of college, and we were totally in love. I was convinced she was the one, so I bought her a ring. It was just a gold band, nothing special, but to us it was everything.” He inhaled deeply, bracing himself for the hard parts to come. Thankfully, Patricia stayed silent, because he knew he wouldn’t be able to go on if he didn’t get it all out now.

“The night she agreed to marry me, we decided to celebrate. We dressed up and I took her out to a nice dinner, but Nora wasn’t your average girl. She was a tomboy who liked fast cars and cheap thrills. She was the perfect fit for me. No, don’t,” Jon said, stepping back when Patricia reached out to touch him. He couldn’t allow it, not now. He didn’t want her contaminated by him.

She didn’t push the issue, just resumed her quiet stance on his front stoop, and watched him with sadness blanketing her face.

“To celebrate, we got all our closest friends together and went up to the track. It was on the outskirts of this old farm we’d found years before, hidden from the main road by an enormous pole barn and about an acre of mile high weeds.

“Nora loved the races. Sometimes I think she loved them more than I did.” He smiled at the memory of her shouting her head off, jumping up and down as they watched the cars speed around the loop, kicking up clouds of dirt everywhere.

“Whenever I raced, she rode shotgun and she always screamed for me to go faster. That night wasn’t any different, except that soon we would be tied together by more than just a promise. But I got careless that night. One of the guys had just bought a new car, and he’d put a lot of time in under the hood, but he couldn’t drive for shit. We thought it was a done deal, an easy win.” Jon met her eyes and grimaced. “We were cocky about it.”

That was the one thing he knew never to do was get cocky about a race, because that was when you made mistakes. Patricia knew it, too. He could see it in her eyes.

“We were right. On the first and second lap, we left the guy in the dust. He could barely control his car. I guess he wasn’t used to handling it on anything other than hard concrete. But at some point, he started getting the hang of it, and I decided to toy with him a little, give him false hope. So, I slowed down a bit, let him get his nose in front of mine, knowing I had already won. But then in the last stretch, I remember thinking it was time to get serious. I floored it, and so did he. Even though he had a handle on the terrain, he still didn’t have enough experience to account for everything, and as we came around the last bend, he didn’t drift when he was supposed to. Instead, he tried to punch it, and he ended up losing control.”

Jon could still smell the stench of gasoline spilling on to the ground. He could hear the shriek of protesting metal, of Nora screaming hysterically. The curious thing was, even though he’d shattered one of his legs and broken several bones in the other, he never felt any pain.

“Oh, baby.” Patricia was suddenly there, and wrapping him in her arms, while making soft shushing sounds. Jon hadn’t even realized he’d started crying.

It felt so good to have her hold him. He didn’t pull away like he knew he should. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his cheek against the top of her head.

“I woke up in the hospital a few days later with a concussion, half of my body was in a cast and I was hooked up to all kinds of wires and tubes,” he went on, seeing every memory before him as fresh as the day it happened. “My parents told me what happened, that Nora didn’t make it.”

Patricia pressed closer, tightening her hold around his waist. “I’m so sorry, Jon,” she sniffed. “What about the other driver?”

“He lived, but the swelling on his brain was bad enough that he isn’t the same anymore. I got lucky. All I had to do was relearn the basics and I walked out of there with a clean bill of health. After that, I decided to do what Nora and I had always talked about: open a publishing company. She was going to be our first top-selling author,” he said, smiling sadly. “But obviously that never happened.” Standing tall, Jon released Patricia and stepped back.

She wrapped her arms around herself and stared up at him. “So that’s why her parents hate you so much, because they think you took their daughter away from them?”

“They don’t think it, they know it,” Jon returned. “If it hadn’t been for me, she’d still be alive today.”

Fire flashed in her eyes. “You can’t do that, Jon. You can’t take all the blame. It’s like your parents said, it was an accident.”

“An accident that never should have happened,” Jon volleyed back. “I knew the risks and I recognized the warning signs when that kid couldn’t keep his shit together, but rather than stop the race, I chose to take the easy win.” He jabbed his finger into his chest. “It was my fault. I killed her.”

“Then it was her fault, too. She knew all of that, and she didn’t say anything. You said it yourself, Nora liked the cheap thrill.” She tried to come to him, but Jon backed away further, shaking his head.

“I can’t talk to you about this anymore,” he said roughly. “Just please leave.”

Patricia shook her head. “No, Jon. I won’t let you push me away. I won’t let you beat yourself up and shoulder all the blame for something that was never your fault. Your parents said you were stupid kids. I agree. But you’re an adult now, and from the looks of it, I think you’ve paid enough.”

Furious with her rational thoughts and unwilling to process them, Jon grasped the door, holding it open. “I’ll decide when I’ve paid enough.”

“So you’re just going to kick me out?” Patricia asked, bewildered. “After all of that, you’re just going to turn your back on everything so you can sit here and wallow in self-pity?”

Jon’s lips thinned. He’d had enough self-analyzing for one day. “Yes, that is exactly what I plan to do. I’m going to ‘wallow’ all fucking day for the next month, or year, hell, maybe even the rest of my life if I want, and you don’t have a damn thing you can say about it! Now get the fuck out!”

Her bottom lip quivered, but Jon pretended he didn’t see it. All he had to do was get through another minute and it would be over. Patricia drew herself up tall and marched past him. The moment her foot touched the concrete, she spun around and pointed an angry finger at him. “This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. If you think you can toss me out of your life, then you’re sadly mistaken. You made me love you, Jon, and I’m not letting that go just because you decide to throw a tantrum. Got it?”

Jon stared at her, the words ‘You made me love you’ circling his head. He shook his head to dislodge them. “I hear you, Patricia, but you’re wasting your time, because I don’t love you.” With that, he closed the door on her stunned face and waited until he heard the growl of her car speed away.

20

Fed up and angry at the world, Patti floored it. She didn’t care about anything at that moment except feeling the sweet relief of leaving her worries, hurt, and fear trailing in her dust. She jumped lanes, went too fast, and dared anyone to say anything about it.

How could Jon just push her out of his life like that? How could he let his past determine his future? He didn’t even try to fight for them, and she was worth fighting for, dammit!

There was only one person she could rely on, and that was her daddy. The same in death as he was in life, he never rejected her, he never looked at her with pity, he simply listened, and sometimes that’s all a girl needed—unconditional love and undivided attention.

Like there was a magnetic pull on her heart, she knew where she was headed before she even made a conscious decision to go there.

At the speed she was traveling, the cemetery was only a few minutes south, so Patti cranked up her angry girl music and plotted her course to the only man who had ever shown her unconditional love. The only man who had ever proven to be reliable in her life.

Damn Jon. Damn him and all of his baggage.

He should have fought harder. Instead, he would rather close her out and make them both suffer in some misguided attempt at being noble when all he really was, was a fool.

Well screw him. He’d just proved what she’d known all along—she didn’t need a man in her life to be happy. She didn’t need him at all. He was right, it was better that they ended it now, rather than deluding themselves into thinking they could have a happy and fulfilling life together only to regret it later.

Yeah, it was better to get all the hurt feelings out of the way now so she could move on to greener pastures.

Except, Patti didn’t want to move on. She liked where she was at, she liked whom she was with, and she liked every stinking thing about Jon and the future he offered her. Without even realizing it, she’d begun to hope. He’d given her a glimpse into a world where men weren’t all scum who lied and cheated. Okay, so she’d only known him a few weeks, and as foolish as she knew it sounded, she knew Jon wasn’t that type of guy. Like her father, he was one of the good guys who cherished the women in his life, and damn him for making her see that and allowing her to believe that she could have it.

Just...damn him.

Ahead, Patti could see through watery eyes her exit was coming up. Overeager to get to her father so she could unleash some of her frustration, Patti wasn’t paying close enough attention to her surroundings. As the road began to curve, she steered with it, and the moment it straightened out, she jammed on the accelerator, bolting for the exit. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t as careful as she should have been. She didn’t check her mirrors or turn her head to account for blind spots as her father had taught her to do. She just jumped into the lane that would carry her to her destination and because of that, she didn’t see the oversized diesel pick-up until it was too late.

The flash of gold gave her just enough notice to close her eyes and brace for impact.

* * *

Jon stared at the blank television screen, thinking. The way Patricia blew out of there had him worried. He didn’t like the idea of her driving while she was upset. That’s how mistakes were made, and he’d learned the consequences of that far too well to just turn the other cheek.

He must have reached for his phone a dozen times, needing to hear her voice to make sure that she was okay, but each time he felt the weight of it in his hands, it echoed in his heart. He had hurt her and the best thing to do was give her some space, some time to think. Later, he promised himself. Later he would give her a call just to check in, and then he wouldn’t bother her again. He just needed confirmation that the anxious feeling, the feeling building up inside of him like an electrical storm, wasn’t anything to be concerned about.

The only problem was he couldn’t seem to shake the awful feeling that something was wrong.

Restless, Jon waited around at his place until he just couldn’t take it anymore. Dialing her number, he let it ring until it went to voice mail. She was probably avoiding his calls, and that was okay. He expected it. But he left her a message anyway. “I was just calling to make sure you were alright. Call me back so I know you are. I understand if you don’t want to talk to me. Just leave me a message so I know you’re okay.”

He must have left half a dozen messages like that over the next few hours. He kept his phone in his hand the entire time, even when he was in the bathroom, just to make sure he didn’t miss her call. But the phone remained silent.

It was nearing nightfall when Jon had finally had enough and decided that he had to make sure she was okay before he could even hope to get any sleep that night. Dialing her number again, he grabbed his keys and walked out the door. There was still no answer, and when he pulled into her driveway, he noticed that her car wasn’t in the drive.

Stepping out of the truck, he gave the house a visual inspection. Everything appeared locked up tight. Although it wasn’t fully dark yet, it didn’t look like any lights were on inside. It didn’t mean she wasn’t home. The cars might be locked up in the garage. She could be sleeping. Maybe it was egotistical of him, but the thought of her in there, alone, crying, because of him, was too much to bear. He hated even more the idea that she might have gone out and found someone else to share a bed with. He just needed to see her, and then he would leave.

Wondering how many excuses he would make for himself before he actually did leave her alone, Jon strode to the front door and banged his fist against it. He waited several agonizing moments without answer, and then banged his fist again.

He knew she was stubborn, but damn.

When she still didn’t answer, Jon pulled out his phone and tried calling her again. While it rang, he abandoned the door and made his way around the house to the garage. The phone continued to ring. Three more and it would transfer to voice mail.

“Come on,” he growled. “Pick up.”

The garage was the kind with a small strip of windows lining the top panel. Cupping his free hand around his face, Jon peered inside, seeing her Toyota alone inside.

So she wasn’t even home. Great.

Jon sighed, feeling like a dolt. He debated briefly hanging around until she returned, but decided it probably wouldn’t go over well for her to find him there. She’d likely still be pissed at him, and he would likely try to get her back. It was a bad idea all the way around.

He was preparing to leave yet another message when he heard the distinct click of someone picking up on the other end.

“Patricia?” Stopping with his body hanging halfway out of the truck, Jon pressed the phone tighter to his ear.

“Hi, this is Dionne Lawrence. I’m a nurse at County.”

At her introduction, Jon’s stomach dropped to his feet. “Where is Patricia? Why are you answering her phone?”

“Sir,” Dionne said in that smooth, calm tone nurses used to keep people calm. “May I ask what your relationship to Ms. Jacobs is, please?”

“I’m her…” He froze, knowing that if he told her the truth, she wouldn’t tell him anything. He was nothing to Patricia any longer. He didn’t deserve to know what was going on, but he had to know. So he lied. “I’m her husband. Now tell me what’s happened.”

“Sir, I’m afraid your wife has been in an accident.”

That was all Jon needed to hear. In a heartbeat, he was off the phone and racing to get to her.

* * *

“How are we feeling?” The young doctor breezed through the emergency room curtain where Patti had been triaged, with her nose buried in the charts. She smiled brightly as she approached the side of the gurney and began checking over all of her vitals.

Patti tried not to squint when she pulled out a pen light and flashed it in her eyes. “I feel like I’ve been in a car accident,” Patti said, trying to play it cool. In reality, she was pretty shaken up. She’d never been in an accident before. Her father would be disappointed to know that she had allowed her emotions to get her so wound up that she had become a danger to herself and others.

Jotting down a few notes on the pages, the doctor spared her a brief look. “Well, aside from a few minor cuts and bruises, I’d say you were pretty lucky, Ms. Jacobs.”

Patti’s eyes lit up. “Does that mean I can go home?”

“Soon,” the doctor promised. “I’d like to keep you here for a while longer so we can run a few more tests to make sure the baby is okay, and I’d like to run another IV through you, too. In the meantime, I’ll have one of the nurses begin putting your paperwork together.”

Patti hadn’t heard a single word after ‘baby.’ “Excuse me,” she said in a strangled whisper.

“Yes?” The doctor paused with a frown on her face. “Do you have a question?”

“Uh, yeah.” Patti could feel the hysterical laughter building in her chest. “I think you might want to double-check your paperwork. There’s no way I’m pregnant.”

The doctor’s frown deepened. She opened the chart again and looked it over. “There’s no mistake. When the paramedics brought you in, your blood was drawn and sent to the lab. You tested negative for any communicable diseases or foreign substances and, although your hCG levels were a little low, you tested positive on the pregnancy test. But that’s perfectly normal this early on. I expect once you’ve made an appointment with your OB/GYN, they’ll be right where they should be.”

Patti was shaking her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. “This is ridiculous. I can’t be pregnant. We only just started dating,” she said, her voice growing in volume. “He broke up with me and now you’re telling me I’m pregnant? I didn’t sign up to be a single mother!”

Holy Jebus, she was a hopeless, jobless, single mother.

Reality jumped up and slapped her in the face so hard, the dam Patti had worked so hard to keep intact, crumbled. Dropping her head, she covered her face with her hands and let the sobs wrack her.

The doctor approached the side of her bed and placed a cold hand on her shoulder. “I take it this news is unexpected. If you’d like, I can have someone from social services come talk with you. There are some options she can go over with you that you might be interested in.”

Patti jerked her head up and leveled her with a glare. “Like what, abortion? As if I would ever do that to my baby.” She was disgusted that she would even suggest it. Patti wasn’t opposed to abortion. In fact, she believed that a woman had the right to do what she wanted with her body, but when given the choice, she knew without question that it wasn’t something she would ever choose for herself.

The doctor nodded sympathetically. “If you change your mind, let me or one of the nurses know. Until then, I’m going to go get your discharge papers started and put in for an ultrasound to make sure everything is all right in there. If everything checks out, you’ll be out of here in no time.”

She couldn’t wait. “Okay.” Patti dropped back on the bed and released a heavy sigh. What the hell, she was pregnant? She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. How could this have happened? She was always so careful and…Her arms fell to her sides like lead weights. And she’d never been careful with Jon.

Combing through her memories of the last month, she couldn’t recall a single time when they’d used any protection. She had birth control pills that she carried around in her purse, but she forgot to take them half the time, which resulted in having to double up more often than not. But with Jon, she had been so busy floating around with her head in the clouds that she hadn’t even gone that far.

What the hell was wrong with her? At that moment, Patti wished she were a toddler again so she could throw herself on the floor and kick and scream. She was so stinking stupid. A complete idiot.

How could she go through twenty-nine years of life without ever having the requisite pregnancy scare, to being pregnant practically overnight by a guy who tossed her out of his life like yesterday’s trash?

Speaking of him. What was she going to tell him? Should she tell him? He made it clear they were done, caput. What would he say if she showed up on his doorstep to tell him that he was going to be a dad?

He’d probably think she was so desperate to have him back that she made the whole thing up.

What a mess she’d weaved for herself.

Covering her stomach with her hands, she marveled at the tiny life growing inside of her. She and Jon had made a completely new person. A little being that was half him and half her. Would it be a boy or a girl? Whom would it look like? She hoped it looked like Jon, all dark hair and shining blue eyes. It hit her then. She was going to have Jon’s baby. Holy shit. She was going to be a mother.

Shame washed over her. She could have been killed tonight. She could have killed their baby. Her mother was right—she was reckless. No wonder Jon needed her out of his life. She was probably a huge reminder of his past, of thrill-chasing Nora who loved her fast cars more than she loved her life.

But that wasn’t true for Patti. Not anymore. Not now that she had someone who needed her. It was a wake-up call if ever see needed one. It was time for her to stop living in the past. She needed to let it go before it destroyed her, because she wasn’t about to do anything to jeopardize the gift she had been given.

She knew what she had to do now, and she couldn’t wait to get out of there so she could tell Jon. She had so many things she wanted to tell him, that she wasn’t even sure where to start. But she wanted him to be happy, and she thought she knew just the way to make it happen.

Speak of the devil.

Patti looked up at the sound of heavy feet clomping toward her. Then the curtains whipped back and Jon stepped in looking like hell on wheels with his hair disheveled and his eyes wild.

Her blood rushed hot at the sight of him, and Patti smiled. She was so glad to see him. “Hi.”

Jon made no move to come closer, and the way he stared at her, his jaw set hard and the cold look in his eyes, set off her internal warning bells. Patti braced herself.

She had a feeling things were about to get ugly.

21

“Hi,” Jon said, his voice gravelly. “I tried to call you earlier, but a nurse answered your phone. She told me you were in an accident.”

So that answered her first question, which brought up the next. “Why were you calling me?” Her chest tightened as she waited for his answer. With the news of the baby, she was hoping beyond hope that he had tried to get a hold of her because he realized he’d made a mistake.

Her hope was dashed in the next instant. “I just wanted to make sure you were alright. You left angry, and the way you sped out of there…” He trailed off, but Patti didn’t have to think very hard to know what was left unsaid. He was worried that she would get into an accident. He was worried that she’d end up like Nora. Apparently, his worries weren’t totally unfounded.

“I was upset,” she agreed, casting her eyes down to the thin blanket covering her legs.

“Is that how the accident happened?”

Patti took in his pained expression. She wanted to lie and say that it was the other driver’s fault. She didn’t want him internalizing her mistakes, but she just couldn’t do it. She couldn’t lie to Jon. “It was my fault. I wasn’t paying close enough attention.”

“Because of me.” Jon’s expression tightened with self-loathing.

“No, because of me.” Patti sat up straighter. “I was too caught up in my own head. I shouldn’t have even been driving, but I was and I made a mistake. This has nothing to do with you, Jon, so don’t even try to shoulder it.”

They stared each other down, both unwilling to give an inch. Patti wanted him to realize just how much he mattered to her, and she wanted him to stop blaming himself for everything. It just seemed so unlike the confident man she met. This man was a beaten down version of him, and she didn’t like it one bit.

Finally, he broke eye contact. His gaze scraped around the curtained room, to all the wires and tubes hooked up to her. “How are you?”

“I’m okay. The doctor said it’s just a few scrapes and bruises. Nothing major. They’re going to run a few more tests and then I’m out of here.” She watched him, his tall, dark form taking up so much space. His presence made her feel safe and protected. She wanted to offer him the same. Her brows pinched together as something occurred to her. “How did you get them to let you in here, anyway?”

Jon’s eyes narrowed slightly and he looked down at his shoes as though embarrassed to say. “I told them I was your husband.”

Patti blinked. “Really?” A slow smile crept across her face. Jon as her husband? She had to admit, it didn’t have a bad ring to it.

“Don’t laugh,” Jon warned her, a stern look on his face despite the twitch at the corner of his mouth. “They wouldn’t have let me see you if I told them the truth, and I needed to see for myself how you were doing.”

Patti bit her lip. The fact that he was there, standing before her, when she wasn’t even sure she’d ever see him again, was proof positive that he cared for her, and whether he knew it or not, she was about to become a very permanent fixture in his life.

Jon blew out a heavy breath. “So how did this happen exactly? Were you speeding again?”

Patti’s face flamed red. After the time that he’d scolded her, she had been extra careful to obey the speed limits when he was around, but when he wasn’t, she let loose. He wouldn’t be very happy to hear that. She ducked her head and nodded.

Aside from the constant beeping of machinery and the drone of voices and movement all around them, everything had gone deadly quiet within their small sanctuary. Braving his wrath, Patti lifted her head to take a peek at him.

Jon stood at the foot of her bed now, his hands clenching the footboard so hard his knuckles had turned white. His eyes, raw with emotion, filled with an inner turmoil that Patti could only guess at, were glued to hers.

“You’re mad,” she said, stating the obvious just to break the damning silence.

“I am beyond mad,” Jon gritted. “I’m furious, Patricia. I’m furious, and do you know why? Because I love you. I love you so damn much it hurts, and I can’t have you.”

Patti’s eyes widened, and she gathered her legs under her, wanting to reach out to him, needing to fix the relationship that seemed only to be getting further and further out of her reach. “You can have me,” she insisted. “I’m right here. I want you. I love you.”

Jon pushed off the bed, removing his hands before she could touch him. “No, I can’t,” he said fiercely. “Don’t you get it, Patricia? You’re just like her. Everything about you reminds me of her. It just took me a while to realize it. That’s why this won’t work. You’ve already gotten yourself hurt. I refuse to sit around waiting for the day you finally get yourself killed. I won’t do it.”

Patricia’s voice wobbled out of her. “I’m so, so sorry, Jon. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” She wiped away the stream of tears cascading down her face. “I’m not Nora. If you’ll just see—”

“I see fine,” Jon interrupted her. “I see a strong, intelligent, beautiful, fun-loving woman who is hell-bent on destroying herself, even if she doesn’t realize it yet.”

“No, that’s not who I am,” she argued. It felt like a fist had taken hold of her heart and was squeezing it. She could hardly breathe.

“That’s exactly who you are,” Jon said, backing away. “And I can’t stand around and watch it happen. I have to focus on taking care of me. I have to save myself.” Regret flashed in his eyes. “I’m glad you’re okay. Take care of yourself, Patricia.”

“Jon, wait. Wait!” Patti scrambled off the bed, grappling with the bundle of wires attached to her, but she was unable to get free. “Jon!” she shouted, but he didn’t answer. The curtains fluttered in his wake. Patti fell to her knees and cried as quietly as she could manage.

That was the second time Jon had left her in as many days.

He hadn’t even given her the chance to share the good news.

* * *

The good doctor hadn’t lied. After getting a brief ultrasound to make sure everything was intact, the nurse provided her with a blurry sonogram she referred to as “Baby’s First Photo.” Patti took her word for it that her baby was in there somewhere and, armed with a stack of paperwork, called Jules.

“I can’t believe you’re pregnant,” Jules screeched in her ear. “I can’t believe you let him ride bareback! Didn’t your parents teach you anything? Does eighth grade Health class ring any bells?”

The moment Jules found out her friend was in the hospital, she was by her side. Patti was grateful for her friend, but she was seriously wondering what she was thinking when she had called her, of all people, when she knew that this would happen.

For the last twenty-seven minutes Patti had been subjected to all manner of questions, most of them humiliating and questioning her level of stupidity, which, according to Jules, ranked somewhere on the level of Neanderthal, but she insisted that even with their small, prehistoric minds, they had more common sense than she did.

“I know about contraceptives,” Patti said glumly. “We just forgot to use them I guess.”

“You forgot?” If at all possible, Jules’ voice had raised another octave. Patti was fairly sure that by the time the car ride was over, she would have lost a good portion of her hearing. “Patricia Jacobs, what would your mother say?”

“She’d tell me to suck it up and get a job because she didn’t raise a quitter.”

“I would slap you, but I make it a point not to hit pregnant women.” Jules glared at her. “I just don’t even know what to say right now.”

Patti turned to look out the window. “Then don’t say anything.”

And she didn’t. They spoke not a word the rest of the way to her house, which were both a blessing and a curse. It meant that Patti had way too much time on her hands to think of how her life had taken so many turns in so little time. It was nauseating. Or maybe that was the pregnancy hormones kicking in?

Once Jules had her inside and in her own bed, tucked under the blankets, fussing over her like a mother hen, Patti felt like she’d aged twenty years.

“I hope you don’t mind if I take off,” Jules told her as she walked back into the room with a glass of water and a couple of aspirin for her aches and pains. “I have so much to do tomorrow to get ready for Piper’s baby shower this Friday, which you are coming to, right?” She directed a pointy fingernail at Patti’s face and arched a thin brow, daring her to find an excuse.

“I wasn’t aware she was having one.”

Jules rolled her eyes. “I sent you an invitation days ago. You were probably too busy screwing Jonny Boy’s brains out to even notice.”

“Touché.” Reaching for the pills and glass, Patti dumped both down her throat. “Of course I’ll be there.”

“I know you will. So,” she clapped her hands together and an excited look stole across her face. “What are we going to name this kid?”

“I’m barely pregnant,” Patti laughed. “I haven’t even gotten a chance to think about it.”

“Yeah, I guess I can see your point. But, if it’s a girl, I vote for Jules.”

“We’ll see.”

Crossing the room, her friend enveloped her in a hug. “I love you, momma.”

“Love you, too.”

Jules patted her stomach. “Bye, baby! Call me if you need anything.” She waved as she walked toward the door. “Can you believe I’m going to be an auntie?” She squealed and danced out of the room.

“Can you believe I’m going to be a mom?” Patti asked herself, looking down at her flat stomach. Other than her best friend, she didn’t have anyone to share her joy. At least, not the one person she wanted to share it with most.

She had a whole other person growing inside of her, but she had never felt more alone in her life.

* * *

Jon sat at his parents’ dining room table wondering what the hell he was doing there. His sister, Casey, had brought her boyfriend home with her to meet everyone. There was an understanding between him and his father that all boyfriends, foreign or domestic, had to go through the Bradshaw test before he could be welcomed into the family with open arms. Unfortunately, only one person had ever passed that test, and he was married and expecting his first child in a matter of days.

Jon looked up to catch his father sending him a curious look. “Are you okay, son?”

Jon stabbed his fork into the mound of mashed potatoes smothered in butter and sour cream, and shoveled it into his mouth. He passed his father a droll look. “I’m fine.”

He noticed then that everyone had stopped talking to look at him. Swallowing his food, he took a long drink of milk to wash it down with, and then turned his steely blue eyes to Mike, his old pal, who was likely screwing his sister, and asked him, “So, what are your intentions with Casey?”

Mike cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the shift in conversation. Jon wished he knew what they’d been talking about before…actually, he didn’t. He wasn’t even in the mood to be delivering the third degree, but a promise was a promise, even if it were pulled from him at the ripe age of eight upon having a squirming baby girl thrust in his arms.

“You’re going to help your dad look out for your little sister, right? Help me make sure she finds a boy worthy of being called a Bradshaw?”

He wanted to laugh at the memory, because as much as Mike had hung around as a teenager, he didn’t think the guy knew the first thing about his family. If he passed the test, if down the road he decided to marry his sister, Casey wouldn’t become a Sawyer. Rather, Mike would become a Bradshaw. His father was very serious about passing down the family name.

The guy had his work cut out for him. The question was, how bad did he want his sister?

“I know it’s probably come as a bit of a shock that we’re dating,” Mike started. He leaned to the side and pecked Casey on the lips. “But I love her.”

Jon stared openly, galled by the open display of affection. How dare he molest his sister right in front of them? His jaw clenched. “You’ve been dating for, what, all of a month?”

“Two, actually,” Casey chirped, shooting Mike an affectionate smile.

“Oh, two?” Jon’s eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. “Well, I stand corrected. So, Mike, since you and my sister are so clearly in love, and have spent two whole months fostering it, I assume that you’ll be buying a ring soon?”

Mike coughed into his fist. “Well, I thought we’d wait a little while before we decide to make any big decisions.”

“But I thought you were in love? Why wait? You’re not getting any younger.”

Jon’s mother leaned across the table and covered his hand with hers. “Sweetie, are you feeling all right?”

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?” Jon questioned to no one in particular. His grip on the fork tightened. “I’m fine.”

“Actually, your father is the only one who’s asked, but you look stressed. Is everything okay at work?”

“Work is great. I thought we were here to interview Casey’s boyfriend of the month.”

“What?” Casey gasped. “Is that what you’re doing?”

“Oh don’t act so surprised,” Jon snapped, glaring daggers at his sister. He almost couldn’t stomach looking at her rosy cheeks or her jubilant smile or the damn sparkles she had in her eyes every time she cast a coy look at his former friend. “You’ve known since day one what these dinners were all about.”

“Jon,” his father said sternly. “Enough.”

“What? We didn’t even get to the good parts yet,” Jon protested.

“Jon, what is the matter with you?” Casey asked, looking hurt.

He blinked, realizing how on edge he felt. “I’m sorry. I’m not feeling myself today. If you’ll excuse me.” He got up from the table and headed for the front door before he said anything else he’d regret. He never should have come tonight. His mood wasn’t right for any of this, and he wasn’t fit to be around people. The past few days had been torture for him. Without Patricia to look forward to, everything looked bleak, dull, lifeless. Pointless. He knew he was falling into a depression, but he wasn’t inclined to try to pull himself out of it this time.

How was he supposed to trudge through the days when he didn’t even care if he woke up in the morning?

“Jon?” His mother called out to him, jogging toward the truck.

Jon settled himself behind the wheel and closed the door. He wasn’t in the mood for the lecture he knew was coming, or a heart-to-heart, or anything else she might have in mind. All he wanted to do was go home, crawl in to bed and sleep. He was so unbelievably tired.

Setting her foot on the runner board, she pulled herself up and propped her arms on the open window frame. “What happened in there?”

Jon stared blankly out the windshield. “Just what I was asked to do.”

She shook her head. “No, whatever that was, it had nothing to do with your sister. I’m worried about you, sweetie. You look so tired, and I think you’ve lost some weight.” She paused. “Does this have anything to do with Patti?”

When Jon didn’t answer her, she sighed. “Did you two break up?”

“Yeah,” he admitted.

“Aw, sweetie, how come?”

He saw Patricia’s face, twisted with a mixture of hurt, anger, and regret as she sat there on that hospital bed, and he wondered if he’d made the right decision in letting her go. Hell, when she’d called for him to come back, he almost had.

“It just wasn’t working out,” he said roughly.

“But you two looked so happy together,” she said, trying to puzzle it out. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with the Colliers, would it? Because I swear, if you broke up with her over that, I will slap you myself.”

“They were right. I had no right to be with her. I don’t deserve someone like Patricia.”

A sudden crack split through the cab right next to Jon’s ear and the subsequent burn across his cheek made him lift his hand to his face. “Holy shit, Mom, did you just slap me?”

She gave him a smug look. “I told you I would. Now you listen here, mister. I’ve had about enough of this. You’re going to end this bullshit martyr thing you have going on, and you’re going to go find that girl and grovel for her to take you back.”

“But—”

“No buts. You heard what your father said. If that girl really loves you like I know she does, then she won’t care whether you’re rich, poor, a hardened criminal or a politician.” She stopped, giving him a thoughtful look. “I guess that last part was a little redundant, but you know what I mean.”

“How do you know what Dad said?”

“Honey, really? I’m a mom. You should know that I hear everything that goes on in this house. Now, are you going to go fix this?”

Jon dropped a quick kiss on her forehead and started the truck. “I’ll think about it,” he promised.

She jumped to the ground and backed away so he could pull out of the driveway. “You’d better! Next time you come to dinner, I want to see my future daughter-in-law at my table, too!”

Jon shook his head as he drove away. He meant what he’d said, he would think about it, but he couldn’t guarantee that he would do anything about it.

22

“You need to decide what’s more important—him or the car.”

Those were the words of wisdom her mother left her with after dropping by for a visit the previous day. Patti had been in a particularly down mood the past couple of days, and knowing that she would soon have to find it in herself to celebrate the impending birth of Piper and Tate’s first child among a roomful of happy people just made her want to throw up. Naturally, she’d told her mother all of this, and that’s the advice she’d given in return. Not exactly helpful, but it did get her thinking.

Her feelings were amplified when she got a check in the mail from Jon’s insurance agency later that evening as payment for the accident.

It felt like years ago that it had happened.

She already knew she wasn’t going to cash the check. It was a moot point anyway. She’d inflicted more damage on the car than he had, and this time she didn’t plan to fix it up.

It pained her, but after what her mother said, she’d decided to sell the car. There was no question one way or the other. Getting rid of it would serve as a symbol of her love and devotion to their relationship. Jon and their baby were more important to her than a stupid hunk of metal. Sure, she had many good memories wrapped up in that car, but there were bad ones, too. She’d been holding on to it all these years as a way to stay close to her father, to keep him in her thoughts, but the truth was, she didn’t need it to remember him or all the good times they’d shared. She could do that all on her own.

By the time the day of the party arrived, she’d agonized over whether or not to go a hundred times over, unsure of whether Jon would be there or not. She didn’t think she could stand to see him after watching him walking away from her like he had, but she didn’t think she could bear knowing he’d gone and she’d missed the opportunity.

She wanted to tell him that she was selling the car. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him. She wanted to tell him that she was pregnant. But she was terrified of how he would receive her.

He’d made it abundantly clear that she was no good for him. That he wasn’t willing to expend the time and energy it required to be with her because she was too much like his dead girlfriend. But, she reminded herself, that wasn’t the real her. The one who clung to inanimate objects and adopted a dead man’s joy over cars and speed and pointless, dangerous thrills had never been an accurate measurement of who she really was.

The problem was, she’d spent so much of her life developing that persona that she wasn’t even sure who her true self was, but she was trying to figure it out.

The only thing she knew for certain was that she loved Jon and she wanted him in her life. She didn’t care about his past, because everyone had one. She only wanted to be happy, to lead a good life, and she knew, after having him missing from hers, that the only way she’d ever be happy was if he were a part of it.

But would he want to be a part of her life? That was the million-dollar question.

That’s why she was now sitting—more like moping—in a room filled with chattering couples, nibbling on a celery stick while trying her damnedest to remain invisible. Jon hadn’t shown up yet, but rumor had it he’d said he would. Her stomach was fluttering and her palms were clammy and she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off the door.

“Can we tell them yet?” Jules appeared in her line of vision.

Patti pursed her lips. Her friend had nagged her since the moment she found out about her pregnancy to share the news with everyone, but Patti kept refusing. “No. I already told you, Jon should be the first to know.”

“But you already told me and your mom,” she complained. “And don’t forget the doctor and the nurses and the lab techs at the hospital. He’d hardly be the first in line to know about it.”

“Regardless, I’m not telling anyone yet. Besides,” Patti tacked on, “this party is about Piper and Tate. I’m not about to rain on their parade.”

“Who says it would be raining? It’s just more to celebrate.” Jules slung her arm over her shoulder and pulled her into her side, giving her a playful squeeze. “Come on. Just one person?”

Patti wasn’t about to agree to that, but just for curiosity’s sake, she asked, “If I say yes, who would you tell?”

“I don’t know.” Jules cast a thoughtful look around the room. “How about Sheila?”

“Ha!” Patti belted out a laugh. “Nice try, but everyone in this room would know about it in a matter of minutes. Not gonna happen, sister.”

“Then I pick Lynn.”

“No.”

“What about Piper? You know she can keep a secret.”

“No. Not a soul. Now back off before I’m forced to split your lip.” She shook her fist in the air.

“Rawr.” Jules made claw hands at her. She snatched a carrot stick from her plate and chomped the end of it off. “This pregnancy thing has made you snappy, momma.”

“I’ll show you snappy,” Patti rebutted. It felt good to laugh a little, to blow off some steam, and forget, for a moment, that she wasn’t a ball of nervous energy on the verge of explosion.

Jules became uncharacteristically serious. “Have you told your dad yet?”

She was one of the few people in her life who knew that Patti made it a habit to visit her dad’s grave and keep him updated on everything that was happening in her life. Not everyone understood her need to do it, like her mother, but Jules did. That was part of what made her such a great friend. Last year, she even helped her celebrate what would have been his sixty-third birthday with a small graveside party.

Patti picked at the vegetables heaped on her plate, configuring them into flower patterns. “No. I’m not sure I’m ready to tell him what a mess I’ve made of my life yet.”

Jules patted her on the knee. “Honey, you haven’t made a mess out of your life. So you’re single, who cares? At least you get to bring a beautiful new life into the world. I don’t think he would complain about having a grandchild, do you?”

“No.” Patti sulked, realizing that he wouldn’t even get to meet it.

“What’s with all the gloomy faces?” Patti and Jules looked up to find Piper waddling toward them with a big smile on her face. “This is a party you two. I want to see laughing and smiling and, gosh darn it, I want dancing.” She grabbed one of the empty chairs at their table and plopped down on it. “Good lord, if this kid doesn’t come out soon, I swear I’m going to lock Tate in the bedroom and make him orgasm me into labor.”

“That would barely be a hardship,” Tate said, grinning as he walked up behind her and dropped a kiss to his wife’s cheek. His hands found her shoulders and he began massaging them as he looked up. “Ladies.”

“Tate,” Jules and Patti said as one.

“What the hell are you eating vegetables for,” Tate asked, his face scrunched up in disgust, “when we hired ‘The Cook’ to make all those insanely expensive and flamboyantly designed cupcakes and hors d’oeuvres?”

“For the ten-thousandth time, his name is Tom,” Piper said, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

“He put his mouth on my wife, therefore, he will always be ‘The Cook,’” Tate retorted.

“Looking forward to being a father?” Patti asked him, hoping to change the subject before it spiraled out of control. Not that it was likely, since it was rumored that Tate and Tom had actually formed a pretty tight friendship once he was sure that Tom’s relationship with Sheila wasn’t just a sham.

A serene look came over him, but he shrugged it off, affecting a most unaffected look. “Eh, it’s no Cubs game, but it’s still pretty exciting.”

Piper reached back and smacked him on the thigh. “What he means to say is that he’s over the moon about it. Isn’t that right, honey?”

“That’s right, dear.” He chuckled, and then gave her another kiss. “Looks like we have a couple of new guests. I’m going to leave you ladies to it and go say hello.”

All three women turned to look in the direction Tate was headed, and Patti felt her stomach flip wildly when her gaze fell on the man with the dark countenance standing in the doorway.

“Holy shit, look who’s here,” Jules said under her breath. “And he brought a friend, too. Who the hell is that tall drink of water, Piper?”

“Oh, him?” Piper turned back around to face them, acting as though she couldn’t see that Patti’s whole world had come to a complete stop, and every ounce of oxygen had been sucked from the room the moment Jon walked through the door, leaving her gasping for air. “That’s Jon’s friend, Travis. Tate goes golfing sometimes with them. I guess he’s a nice enough guy. Why, you planning on introducing yourself?” She grinned knowingly.

“Nope, but you are. Oh and here they come. Look alive ladies.” Jules tossed back her hair and fluffed her boobs.

“Travis, this is Patti, Jules, and my lovely wife, Piper,” Tate said, pointing each of them out.

“Nice to meet you,” Travis said politely, smiling at each of them.

“And I’d introduce Jon, but I think you’ve already met.”

Patti’s heart pounded. She couldn’t take her eyes off Jon. He was so handsome in his black slacks and soft blue button down. His black tie had been loosened slightly, but he still looked every bit as dashing and professional as she remembered. He must have just come from work. She wanted to ask him how his day was, but realized that it wasn’t her place to do that anymore.

Jon glanced at her once, acknowledging her presence, but as the day wore on, he seemed to be deliberately avoiding her.

He moved around the room, chatting with random groups of men who were almost as boisterous as the women were when they became excited over something they found particularly interesting. It was good to see him in a social setting, watching him laugh and smile as though nothing was bothering him, but Patti thought she could see subtle signs that all was not right in his world. He had shadows under his eyes, like he hadn’t been sleeping well, and although he smiled often and at all the right times, it seemed tight to her, almost forced.

Could it be that he was having a hard time with all of this, too, or was that just her trying to reason out an excuse to talk to him?

By three o’clock, Tate and Piper stood at the front of the room calling everyone’s attention. “It’s time to open the gifts,” he announced. “And you’d better hope yours is good, or else you’ll be seeing it again come Christmas.” Everyone laughed at his little joke.

Patti watched dutifully as her friends began tearing into their gifts. She sipped her water. Tried to ignore her preening friend who was making a damned fool of herself trying to get the attention of Jon’s friend.

“He’s so hot,” she breathed, staring openly at him. “Don’t you think?” She glanced at Patti expectantly.

“Totally.” She nodded.

“You didn’t even look!” Jules hissed. “Look at that man, and then you tell me you don’t think he’s got it going on.”

Patti sighed and forced herself to look, but she wasn’t looking at the man Jules had her libido set on. She only had eyes for one man, and he was looking right at her. Their blue eyes locked, and Patti’s insides seized up. Everything that had been left unsaid was right there in his eyes for her to see, and Patti wasn’t sure how much longer she could wait to talk to him. After the party, she decided. She would catch him then and force him to talk to her. Come hell or high water, they were going to work this out.

“Okay, quit ogling my man,” Jules said, jerking back her attention. “So, what do you think?”

“He’s amazing. Perfect,” she said, but her words were directed toward the only man she had eyes for…

“So you think I should go for it?”

Patti nodded. “Definitely.”

Jules grinned, pleased with her answer. “It’s just too bad he’s friends with that asshole. You really dodged a bullet with that one, but at least you got something good out of it.”

Patti frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Him, Jon, or whatever his name is. The guy you were dating?” Jules sent him an evil glare. Patti glanced up, seeing his brows lift in question. Jules leaned in, whispering conspiratorially in her ear. “A couple of the girls went out for drinks after work the other night and Sheila told me that she saw him having dinner with some bimbo.”

“How does she even know it was him?” Patti inquired, her stomach beginning to knot. “She only met him once, and we weren’t even dating yet.”

“Well, she didn’t call him by name but she said it was that hot guy who followed you to our table a couple of weeks ago. The same one who had two girlfriends.” Her eyebrows rose up and she gave Patti a challenging look. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who she was talking about.”

No it didn’t. Patti didn’t want to believe it, but she trusted her friends, and if they said they saw him with another woman, she was inclined to believe them. “Well,” she said, shifting in her chair. She played idly with the food on her plate, trying to quell the growing sickness brewing in her stomach. “It’s not like we’re dating anymore. He’s free to see whomever he wants.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re taking it so well,” Jules replied stiffly. “Because if I were you, I would be plotting out how long it would take to slash all of his tires before someone realized I was missing from the party.”

“Don’t let me stop you,” Patti said jokingly, but a part of her really wanted her friend to do something heinous just for the satisfaction of seeing his day tainted like hers was now. She must have read too much into his appearance after all. Maybe those shadows under his eyes were from him losing too much sleep because he’d been too busy screwing his way through the female population while she was at home growing arms for his fetus.

“What in the world?” At the front of the room, Piper held up a small, cream-colored box with the word Lelo across the top. She smiled curiously, as she opened the lid and peered inside.

“Well, what is it? Show us!” someone in the group called out.

Piper turned the box to face everyone. Inside were four sets of balls. One pair was powder blue and about the size of a golf ball, and the other pair was baby pink, slightly smaller, and set into white rings that were joined in the middle, resembling baby rattles.

“Sheila?” Piper glanced over at their friend in question.

Sheila, who had her head bent toward her boyfriend, Tom, whispering to one another, feeding each other cupcake icing from their fingertips, lifted her head. A wicked smile split across her face. “Oh, you’re going to love those. Their Kegel balls.” Piper stared at her blankly, and then slowly, her face began to take on a slightly pinker hue. “After the baby comes you just pop those suckers in, and then your vag will be as tight as a virgin again.”

Tate snatched the box from Piper’s fingers and inspected them. “Sweet. Thanks, Sheila. We’ll make sure to put these to good use.”

“Yeah, Sheila,” Piper said tightly. “How can we ever thank you enough?”

“Just keep it tight, sweetie.”

Piper’s face turned a bright shade of red, and she turned her attention to another present. “This one is from Patti,” she announced, tearing into it.

“Come on vibrator,” Tate said eagerly, rubbing his hands together and earning a few laughs from the crowd.

“You wish,” Patti snorted. “But I don’t think Piper could get it far enough into your tight ass for it to be worthwhile.”

Tate pointed a finger at her and winked as though to say she’d won that round. Piper lifted up a small box. “Plaster of Paris foot molding kit.”

Patti smiled softly. “That way when your baby is all grown up you can still hold his or her foot in the palm of your hand.”

Piper’s eyes misted and she fanned her face. “Thank you. I can’t wait to use it.”

Patti smiled, because that was about all that she could manage with the growing lump forming in her throat. The gift was relatively inexpensive and it hadn’t taken her very long to pick out, but the moment she saw it, she knew it would be perfect. In the few days since she’d learned she was going to be a mother, she had begun seeing the world and the future through a mother’s eyes and, as she’d come to realize, some of the best things came in the smallest packages.

As much as she was looking forward to holding her own son or daughter in her arms, she knew that those days would be short-lived, which was why she’d purchased a kit for herself. She wanted to be able to look back one day, when the memories had grown fuzzy, and hold her child’s foot in her hand and recall just how tiny and precious they were.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jules touched her arm. “You’re not about to cry are you?”

Patti smiled tightly and waved away her concern. “Of course not. I have something in my eye.” She pushed out of her chair. “I’m going to go to the restroom.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No,” Patti said over her shoulder, already rushing for the door. She could feel the burn of tears in her nose. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

She burst through the bathroom door and locked herself in the first available stall. It was such a sick twist of fate that she would spend her life dodging love, guarding herself from heartbreak, only to find herself heartbroken and pregnant in the span of a month. The realization that she may have to raise a baby by herself hit her hard, like a sucker punch to the chest, and she broke down, right there in the middle of the women’s bathroom.

“Excuse me, Miss, are you okay?” a woman’s voice called out to her from just outside her stall door.

Patti tore off a piece of toilet paper and wiped her runny nose. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she said with a hint of self-loathing. “Baby showers always get me.”

A moment passed where Patti stared at the toes of the woman’s pointy black shoes and wished she would just go away already. “Do you need me to get someone for you?”

A ginger ale and the father of her baby would be great. “No, that’s okay,” she told her instead.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

Patti waited until she heard the bathroom door open and close and the clicking of the woman’s heels had completely faded before she ventured out. The moment she did, she instantly regretted it.

“Hey.” Jon stood there, leaning against the row of sinks, his arms folded across his wide chest, just staring at her.

Surprised to see him, Patti almost tripped over her own feet, but managed to recover before making a total idiot of herself. “Hey,” she said shakily, trying her best to sound upbeat and not at all like she had just been crying her eyes out. It wasn’t working. “What are you doing in here? You do know this is the women’s bathroom, right?”

“I followed you,” he admitted.

Patti felt completely awkward standing in front of Jon, feeling like a complete mess. She tried to play it off. Skirting past him, acting as though he didn’t affect her, she approached the sink. The second she caught a look of herself in the mirror, fading yellow bruises and black smudges beneath puffy, red eyes, she grimaced. “Damn, someone needs to start realizing that fluorescent lighting is nobody’s friend.”

“Why were you crying?”

“Me?” Patti made a face and began washing her hands. “I wasn’t crying.”

She could feel Jon’s eyes on the side of her head. Finally, after a solid minute passed, he reached over and shut off the water. “Yes, you were.” He studied her, and the intensity in his eyes was unsettling. “Does me being here upset you?”

“Everything about you upsets me,” Patti blurted. She wanted to take the words back the instant they left her mouth.

“Fair enough,” he said, tipping his head to her. “Would it help if I left?”

Patti didn’t have to think about her answer. “No. I don’t want you to leave.”

“Why not?”

Patti opened her mouth, the words she wanted to say on the tip of her tongue, but just as she was about to say them, the door burst open. “Oh! Sorry.” The petite brunette, that still managed to be a few inches taller than Patti was, took one look at Jon and tilted her head back to look at the plate on the door. Yep, she was in the right bathroom. “Um, am I interrupting?”

“No,” Patti said quickly. She wiped her hands on her pant leg and turned to leave. “We were just talking. We’ll get out of your way.”

The woman stood aside to let them pass. On the way back to the party, Jon grabbed Patti’s elbow and pulled her to a stop. “What were you going to say back there?”

“I—” The words choked in her throat. “I was just going to say that you don’t have to leave because…they’re your friends, too—” Lies, lies, lies, her brain shouted at her, but Patti had chickened out. Jon was seeing other women. What kind of fool would she look like if she poured her heart and soul out to him now? And the baby? Yes, she knew he deserved to know about it, but just then didn’t seem like the proper place and time to tell him.

She didn’t know when or where it would be best, but she knew that if his answer was anything other than elation, she wasn’t capable of dealing with it right then. Her emotions were too raw.

Instead, she blurted, “I’m selling the car.”

Jon blinked several times, too stunned to speak. “Which one, the Toyota or the GTO?”

“The GTO.”

His eyes widened slightly in surprise. “How come?”

Patti looked past him, around him, down at her feet. “I thought about what you said, about me being self-destructive and that I was probably going to get myself killed one day, and I realized you were right. Besides, I’ve poured so many hours into making it what it is and repairing it the last time that I just couldn’t stand the thought of starting all over again.” She shrugged. “It’s time to let someone else do all the work, and get some enjoyment out of it.”

“I don’t think I ever said that you were self-destructive,” Jon said with a teasing smile.

“Well, maybe not in so many words…”

“Patricia, I—”

“There you are!” Jules came dashing into the hall, her smile so broad all of her teeth were showing. She took hold of Patti’s shoulders and turned her around. “Excuse us,” she told Jon absently, then began chattering excitedly. “You won’t believe who I talked to! His name is Travis, he’s a lawyer, and he is totally into me. We’re going out to dinner tomorrow night!”

Patti held on tight as Jules jumped up and down, jostling her. “That’s great,” she said enthusiastically. “Can you hold that thought? I was talking to Jon about something.”

Jules raked her eyes over him. “About what?”

“About stuff,” Patti said meaningfully.

Jon raised his hands in the air. “It’s fine. You two go talk.” To Patti he said, “We’ll catch up later. Can you come by my place? Say seven?”

“Tonight?” Jules asked, sounding distraught. “But I need you tonight. I need help picking out what to wear. I need to figure out what I’m going to do with my hair.”

“Rain check?” Patti asked Jon hopefully.

“Sure, come by tomorrow when you get the time.”

Patti smiled and nodded. She watched him as he walked away, feeling relief from the oppressive weight that had been sitting on her shoulders finally lift. Jon was speaking to her, making time for her, and they were finally going to talk.

This roller coaster of a day had just taken a turn for the better.

23

“I need you to vacate the premises tomorrow,” Jon said as he walked through the front door.

In the middle of watching a movie, his sister, Casey, twisted around to look at him. “Hello to you, too. Thank you for asking about my day.” She rolled her eyes. “I guess I was the only one listening when Mom and Dad were giving lessons on being polite.”

Casey had come to town under the guise of needing a place to stay while her place was fumigated for bugs—hazards of living in an apartment complex he supposed. However, Jon suspected that it had more to do with his parents and the fit he’d had at dinner the other day, but without evidence, he couldn’t very well turn her away. So he’d given her the spare bedroom. Normally a bachelor like himself would probably find having his little sister in his personal space a real buzz kill, but Jon enjoyed having her around. Sometimes the quiet became too much to bear, so he welcomed the distraction.

Kicking of his shoes, Jon joined her on the couch. “Hello. How was your day? Mine was good. Tomorrow, you need to vamoose.”

“Ugh.” Casey tossed her head back. “For how long?”

“I don’t know. Maybe the whole day, maybe the night. Depends on how well things go.” He winked at her, a devilish smile cresting his face.

Casey’s mouth twisted in a disgusted grimace. “I don’t want to hear about your sexual exploits!” She waved her hands as she got up and headed toward the kitchen. “I’ll see if I can stay with a friend or something.”

“Thanks, sis, you’re the best,” Jon grinned. “Hey, grab me a beer while you’re out there?”

“I hope this woman knows what she’s getting into,” Casey said, returning with drinks for them both.

Jon accepted his beer and twisted the cap off. “She does.”

Casey’s eyes widened. “You told her?”

Jon didn’t have to ask to know what she meant. “Yeah, she knows about Nora.”

“What did she say?”

“The same as everyone else, that it wasn’t my fault. I shouldn’t blame myself.” He gulped his beer, all at once feeling uncomfortable.

“Well, she’s right you know.” Casey regarded him thoughtfully. “You’ve never told anyone else before, have you? I mean, is this it? Is she ‘The One’?”

Twisting the cold bottle between his fingers, Jon thought about it. Patricia was one of a kind. She was kind and smart, funny and sexy, and she was the only person besides his family that he had ever trusted with his past. That she hadn’t rejected him meant the world to him. Then he’d screwed it all up, just like he knew he would, just not the way he thought it would happen. He’d assumed that she would run the other way when she learned his truth. Instead, she had accepted it and even tried to reinforce what everyone had told him for years—that he wasn’t to blame.

If he weren’t careful, he might start to believe them. A part of him already did.

He wasn’t sure if it had been overnight change, or if it was a long time coming, but he noticed the difference. It was as though something inside of him had shifted. He no longer felt this gripping sense of despair or the oppressive guilt weighing him down. Oh, it was still there, but it wasn’t as heavy of a burden to carry anymore.

He knew that it had something to do with Patricia and her total acceptance of him.

He hadn’t realized until he’d told her just how much his past had influenced his life. He’d put his future on hold, denied himself one all together, because he didn’t think himself worthy of anyone’s love.

He was wrong.

Nora’s parents were wrong.

If someone like Patricia could find something in him worth caring about, worth saving, then he couldn’t be that far gone.

That day at his parents’ house, he hadn’t lied when he’d told his mother that he would think about fixing things with Patricia. He’d thought about it long and hard. While he was mulling it over, he went about his days as though his personal life wasn’t in a complete shambles. He’d made it to meetings on time, somehow managed to stay plugged in during the most boring presentations, and even managed to work in a few interviews for prospective accountants into his lunch hours.

Overall, he’d kept busy and productive, but it wasn’t until the day of the shower that he’d come to a final decision.

He’d asked his friend, Travis, to come along for moral support, because he knew Patricia would be there and he needed the distraction so he wouldn’t make a complete fool out of himself.

The moment he walked in, it was as if his entire being sensed her, and he zeroed in on her. She was stunning in a navy wrap dress with her golden hair left down around her shoulders. He wanted to go to her right then, drop down on his knees before her, and beg her forgiveness, but the look on her face made him restrain himself.

He couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but her strained expression didn’t seem too promising…or welcoming. Somehow, he was able to keep his distance. He tried not to look at her, but his eyes kept straying. He tried not to pay any attention to her at all, but it seemed like the only voice he could hear belonged to her. It was as though he were hyper attuned to her every move, every breath. She consumed him.

The last time he’d found himself seeking her out, he caught her gaze and held. It was like a silent communication, a connection of souls, and he knew he couldn’t wait any longer to talk to her. Then her friend leaned in, and from the way Patricia looked at him, he knew something was wrong. When she ran off, he followed.

It killed him to listen to her crying in the women’s stall, and he knew she wouldn’t want him to be there to witness her pain, but he was glad he was. He wanted to be there for her, in whatever way he could, even if he were the cause of her pain.

In the end, he was glad he had been, because he wouldn’t be seeing her tomorrow if he hadn’t followed his heart and chased after her.

He knew the answer to Casey’s question. Taking her hand, he gave it a squeeze. “Yeah, she’s ‘The One’.”

Squealing, Casey launched herself into his arms and hugged him tight. “I am so happy for you, big brother! Are you going to propose?” she asked, pulling away.

He shook his head and leaned forward to place his empty bottle on the table. “One step at a time, little sister. I haven’t even found out if she’ll take me back yet.” He frowned down at his hands. “I really screwed things up with her.”

Casey rubbed small circles into his back. “If she’s coming over, then I’d say she’s already forgiven you. I suggest you lock it down before she comes to her senses and realizes you’re the same beer drinking, golf playing, football watching meat head as all the rest of them.”

“Oh really?” Jon said, twisting around to grab her hands. Casey squirmed, laughing as she brought her feet up between them.

“Don’t you dare!”

“You think you’re so funny,” Jon said, restraining his own laughter. He dug his fingers into her armpits, ripping a shriek out of her. “This coming from the girl who’s dating an ex-football player.”

“Jon,” she panted, struggling to fend off his attack. “Stop, I’m gonna pee!”

“Then I hope you remembered to wear your Pull-Ups.”

* * *

“I want everything to be perfect.”

Patti watched Jules shift from side to side in front of the mirror, admiring her perfect figure and stunning good looks. If she had even half of her natural beauty, well, she’d still be sitting here on the bed watching her friend get ready for a date. Despite going out with her friends on a regular basis, she wasn’t really a social person. She enjoyed her friends, she enjoyed having a good time, but she wasn’t a partier. She’d never be able to do what Jules did, which was pick up random guys. With everything she did in life, Jules possessed more confidence in her little fingers than Patti did in her entire being.

“Would you quit fussing?” Patti flopped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. “Everything will be perfect, and you know it.”

She heard the subtle swish of fabric as Jules crossed the room to lie down beside her. “You really think so?”

“I know so.” She couldn’t imagine anything having to do with Jules being less than perfect. It seemed to be her theme in life.

Jules took her hand and squeezed it. “Thanks.” She turned her head to look at her, and Patti did the same. “So what about your guy? What did I interrupt earlier?”

Patti shrugged. “Nothing. He followed me when I went to the bathroom.”

“Shut up!” Jules slapped her thigh, her eyes widening. “Did you pull a Piper? Did you two do it in the ladies’ room?”

“What?” Patti screeched, incredulous. “Jon isn’t a man whore,” she claimed, her thoughts straying briefly to their first date when he’d pinned her to the side of her house and turned her body inside out with just a few simple touches.

“Every man is a man whore if given the right place and the right opportunity.”

“Well, Jon isn’t. He’s a gentleman.” Patti sniffed.

“I’ll just bet he is.” Jules snorted. “So what happened, besides sex, when he followed you?”

“Like I said, nothing. We just talked.”

“Did you tell him about the baby?”

Patti chewed her lip. “Not yet.”

“Then when? You can’t put this off forever you know. These things have a way of getting found out,” Jules chided. “You know, right about the time your stomach blows up like a balloon, or, if not then, when you show up one day with a squirming human in your arms that shits its pants. Kind of hard to sweep something like that under the rug.”

“I don’t plan to sweep it under the rug. In fact,” Patti said with more confidence than she felt, “since Jon invited me over tomorrow, I’m going to tell him then.”

Rolling on to her side, Jules propped her head in her hand and smiled brightly. “You know what you should do? You should totally pick up something that will make this surprise bigger and better.”

Patti’s brows pinched together. “Like a present or something?”

“Well, yeah. Get him something that says, hey, you, guess what? You’re going to be a dad! Then, when you’re thinking about backing out of the deal, because I know you and you totally will—” she leveled Patti with a knowing look, “—then you can just pop out the prezi and drop it in his hand.”

Patti thought about it and knew it was an option that she could definitely exploit if she found herself getting cold feet. “And then what do I do, walk away?”

“If you’re a complete chicken shit, sure. But at least he’ll know he has a kid on the way.”

Sitting up, Patti sucked in a breath and propped her fists on her hips, feeling empowered, like superwoman…or a mom. “I hope you’ll be fine here tonight, because it looks like I have some shopping to do.”

24

It was early. Like roll out of bed and stumble around for a cup of coffee early. Patti had already had three, so she was both peppy and jittery as she parked her car in front of Jon’s condo.

A brief look around revealed his car was missing. Pulling out her phone, she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down. He’d said to come by when she got the time. She had the time now.

Looking down, she eyed the little cream-colored box resting in her lap. When she’d left her house last night, she’d driven around the city trying to think of the perfect gift. She burned nearly a quarter tank of gas before she came up with the perfect place and the perfect idea. Now it was burning a hole through her pant leg.

She wanted desperately to see Jon and give him the present. She wanted to see the look in his eyes when he opened it and everything clicked into place. It was a little early to say everything that needed to be said, but she hadn’t slept all night, as she was too eager to see him. She’d almost driven over in the middle of the night, but that would have made her seem crazy, and even though she felt like she might lose her mind from the anticipation eating a hole through her, she wanted to do everything right. She had a plan. Unfortunately, she’d already broken the first part of her plan, which was to wait until noon, then offer to make him lunch. The groceries were even sitting in the back seat, but she’d just have to settle for making him breakfast, because she was too wound up to wait another minute.

Pulling out her phone, Patti dialed his. On the third ring, it went to voice mail. “Hey, Jon, it’s me.” She paused. “Um, you said to come by when I was ready. I’m ready. I’m in front of your place, but I don’t see your car. Call me when you get this message.”

Ending the call, Patti tucked the box inside her purse, steeled herself, and opened the door. Just because he hadn’t answered his phone, and just because his car wasn’t there, didn’t mean that he wasn’t home. He could have lent the car to a friend. He might still be sleeping, as any sane person would be this early on a weekend. She had to be sure.

Knocking loudly in case he was sleeping, Patti stood back and waited. After a minute passed, she pounded her fist against the door again, and then glanced around the still parking lot. She felt a little deflated as the likelihood of him not being home grew.

She was just about to go sit in her car and wait it out when the locks on the other side of the door popped.

Her smile was instantly there as she spun around. It melted just as fast when she met the curious blue eyes of the woman on the other side.

“Uh…” Patti’s gaze skated down the woman. Her hair was wet, dripping over slender shoulders, her trim body wrapped in a white towel. Fresh out of the shower, Patti thought bitterly. Dressed in Jon’s towel. On a weekend. First thing in the morning.

She didn’t have to work very hard to understand what was going on here.

“Can I help you?” the woman asked.

Her voice grated. Was this what Jon liked? Tall, slim…she couldn’t tell the exact color of her hair since it was plastered to her skull, but she was pretty sure it was a dark mahogany. Had Jon run his hands through that hair?

There was something familiar about her, but in her haze of hurt and anger, she couldn’t place it. “I was—” She cleared her throat to cover the stammering. “Is Jon home?”

“No,” the woman said slowly, her dark brows pulling down as she studied her. “He just stepped out.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?”

The last thing Patti wanted to do was tell this woman her name. “Do you know when he’ll be back?” The longer she stood there, the more her chest constricted, and the more nauseous she became. Panic was beginning to set in, and Patti felt the need to flee growing stronger by the second.

“No, but I’m sure he’ll be back soon,” the woman reassured her. “He just went out to pick us up some breakfast.”

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Patti backed down off the one and only step. Jon was out picking up breakfast for him and this…woman, whatever she was to him. All she knew was that she didn’t want to be there when he returned.

The woman had hidden partially behind the door when she’d first answered it, but as soon as she saw Patti begin to back away, she whipped it open wide, placing her in full view of everyone in the neighborhood.

“You can come in and wait for him if you want,” she offered, her voice unsure but holding a note of worry. “He’ll be home soon.”

Patti was already shaking her head before she’d finished her sentence. “No, I need to take off. I have… things to do.” Then she remembered what she’d come here to do. Her fingers closed around her purse strap. This wasn’t how she’d pictured things would go, but she knew now how farfetched that dream had been. Yanking open the zipper, she plunged her hand inside and grasped the box. Taking the few steps back to the door, she held it out to the woman. “Can you give this to him when he gets back?”

Long, thin fingers accepted it, but the woman gave her a puzzled look. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather give it to him yourself? He’ll be back any minute.”

She kept saying that. Patti shook her head, adamant. “No. Just give him that, please.”

“Who should I tell him it’s from?” the woman called after her as Patti turned and dashed for the safety of her car.

She didn’t answer.

What would she even say? His ex-girlfriend? His baby momma? She felt like such a fool. Jules told her that Sheila had seen him having dinner with another woman, and she’d brushed it off, certain that she must have been mistaken. What if this woman was the one they had seen him with?

Jamming her keys into the ignition, Patti turned the engine and backed out of her spot as quickly and as carefully as she could. She was mad at Jon, but she was angrier with herself for letting herself believe the best in him. Every man she had ever been with had chosen someone like the woman back there over her. Why had she ever thought he’d be any different?

She didn’t speed, she didn’t cut in and out of traffic, or otherwise do anything that would put her or her child in harm’s way as she drove toward the only place that could give her any solace from her broken heart. To the only person who had ever really understood and accepted her.

Her dad.

* * *

Jon walked through the door and dropped a bag of take-out on the kitchen counter. “Breakfast!”

He dug in, setting out food containers and inhaling the aroma of freshly cooked sausage and eggs. It was basic, fatty sustenance that he could have made for them himself, but sometimes it just felt nice to have someone else do it. He’d probably have a heart attack by the time he hit forty, but carpe diem and all that.

Thoughts of Patricia swirled around in his head. He wondered when, exactly, she would show up. If she would show up. He’d hate to sit around all day waiting, only to end up alone at the end of the night. They had some issues they needed to go over and some things they needed to squash before they could put it all behind them and move forward.

That was the part he was most looking forward to—moving ahead.

Patricia was his future, and he knew that now. The truth rang in him like a church bell, loud, musical, and beautiful in a way that tugged at his heartstrings. She was ‘The One’. It was crazy to even think it, but ever since Casey had put that thought into his head, he couldn’t deny the truth of it. For so long it seemed impossible, and now it was a reality, and it was within his reach. All he had to do was stretch out his hand and take it.

This amazing woman had snuck in and stolen his heart before he even realized that he had let down his guard, and he couldn’t be happier about it. If not for her, he would still be wallowing in self-pity, committing himself to a life of loneliness and self-hatred and a long line of nameless, faceless women who didn’t care for him any more than he cared for them.

She gave meaning to his life. How could he ever repay her?

He could love her, that’s how. He could spend the rest of his life loving her and caring for her, letting her know every day, in every way, that she was the very air he breathed. He could live without her, but he didn’t want to, and he didn’t want to waste any more time on what should have or could have been. The past was the past and he was ready to leave it there. Screw what anyone else thought he should do with his life, and screw what they thought about him, because he refused to be their whipping boy any longer. He’d suffered, too, damn it, and the time had come to stop. The time had come to surrender to the past, to the future, to the woman whom he’d turned his heart over to, and the time had come to surrender to love.

Reaching into his pants pocket, Jon dialed Patricia’s number as he called out, “Breakfast is getting cold, sis! Move it or lose it!”

He shoveled a bite of eggs into his mouth and pressed the phone to his ear as he chewed. He frowned when the call turned over to voice mail. “Hey, it’s me. Just wondering when you planned to come over. Call me back.” He paused, wondering if he should tack on those three little words that seemed ready to leap from his throat, but in the end, he thought better of it, and ended the call. He didn’t want to scare her away.

Just as he was about to set his phone down, Jon noticed that he had a message waiting for him. A niggling of something he couldn’t quite identify began to work its way into his gut as he played the message.

“Hey, Jon, it’s me.” There was a pregnant pause in which Jon’s heart began to beat a little faster. “Um, you said to come by when I was ready. I’m ready. I’m in front of your place, but I don’t see your car. Call me when you get this message.”

Okay, she hadn’t said anything bad. She was only calling to tell him that she was there, waiting for him. Jon smiled as he set down his phone. His smile vanished when he realized that he hadn’t seen her car when he’d pulled up.

“Casey,” he shouted. He walked out of the kitchen and made his way down the hall toward the guest bedroom she was staying in. “Casey,” he called through the door, rapping his knuckles against it.

“Come in.”

Her voice sounded off, and as Jon twisted the knob and pushed his way inside, he glimpsed her reflection in the mirror. She sat on the edge of the bed, her head hanging low. “Hey, what’s up? Are you okay?” As he approached her, she lifted her head and he could see by her bloodshot eyes that she had been crying. Fear gripped him. “Are Mom and Dad okay?”

Christ, if anything had happened to either of them, he’d lose his shit.

Casey waved away his question. “They’re fine,” she croaked.

Jon breathed a sigh of relief and lowered himself down beside her. He draped an arm around her shoulders and asked, “Then what’s wrong? Does this have anything to do with Mike? I can break his kneecaps if you want me to.” That earned him a small smile.

“Mike and I are fine. Mom and Dad are fine.” She sniffled.

“Then what’s going on?” Just like when they were kids, Jon turned on his big brother charm and gave her a little noogie.

“Damn it, Jon,” Casey laughed, pushing him away. She smoothed her damp hair and her shoulders slumped again.

“Come on, C, talk to me. I can’t fix it if I don’t know what needs fixing.” Jon couldn’t help but to glance at the clock sitting on the nightstand. He did a mental calculation. Patricia had called almost twenty minutes ago. He was fighting with everything in him not to run and call her back. Right now, Casey needed him.

“If I tell you,” Casey said, her big, round blue eyes lifting to meet his, “promise you won’t kill me?”

Jon bumped his shoulder against hers. “I promise not to kill you, unless you deleted my games from the DVR. Then all bets are off.”

He didn’t get the reaction out of her he was looking for. Casey dropped her head and hunched her shoulders again. Sucking in a deep breath, she lifted her hand from her lap and held it out to him.

Glancing down at it, Jon realized that it wasn’t her hand she was offering him, but what was in it. He took the small box from her outstretched palm. “What’s this? You got me a present?”

Casey shook her head and her voice trembled as she said, “A woman stopped by while you were gone.”

Dawning washed over him and Jon nodded. “Yeah, that was probably Patricia, the woman I told you about. ‘The One.’” He grinned, his eyes glued to the box now resting on his thigh. “She called to tell me she was here. Why didn’t you let her in?”

Casey met his questioning gaze and looked positively shameful. “She was here. I did ask her to come in, but, Jon…” Her voice drifted off and Jon froze, his eyes fixed on her as dread began to seep into his veins. “I think she got the wrong impression.”

“How did she get the wrong impression?” he asked, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. He looked down at the box again, and his hands trembled as he touched the lid. What was inside?

Casey pressed her fingers to her lips and tears shed down her pale cheeks. “I was in the shower—”

“Oh Jesus.” Jon jumped off the bed and began pacing the room. Behind him, Casey spouted frantic words at him. He captured bits and pieces. She answered the door in a towel. She didn’t know who she was. Something about the box. Then she’d left, looking really upset.

“Ya think, Casey?” he shouted, throwing his hands in the air as he rounded on her. “She comes to my house and a woman she’s never met answers my door in a fucking towel, and you think she might have been upset?”

Jon stormed from the room. Casey continued sobbing and apologizing to his retreating form, but he didn’t give a damn about her apologies or hurt feelings at the moment. All Jon knew was that his woman had come for him and now she was gone. He grabbed his keys and his phone on the way out the door.

25

“I’ve tried calling her, but her phone is turned off. Please, Jules, if you know where she is, tell me.” Jon pleaded with Patricia’s best friend, desperate to find her. He’d already called her phone a hundred times over. The fact that they hadn’t been together long was finally setting in, as was the knowledge that he really didn’t know anything about her.

He knew her father was dead, but he’d never met her mother. He knew of her friends, had met them briefly, but he didn’t know where to find them or how to get a hold of any of them. Then he’d had an epiphany. He knew Tate, he knew Felix, and both men had women who were in tight with Patricia and her group. They were her friends.

Since he and Tate had been friends since childhood, and since they had recently reconnected after a falling out, he contacted him first, and it had paid off. Tate didn’t know where to look for Patricia, but his wife did.

She gave him the number for her friend, Jules, who he remembered as the woman he’d met at their baby shower. He called her immediately, but she was proving difficult.

“Well, Jon,” she said smartly, “if her phone is off, then I’m guessing she doesn’t want to talk to you.”

“I get that,” Jon responded, being as calm as he could manage when he was hanging over the edge of the proverbial cliff by his fingernails. “But it’s a misunderstanding. I need to talk to her so we can clear it up. Just tell me where she is.”

“I can’t. It seems my psychic abilities are on the fritz today.”

Jon gritted his teeth. “Can you just take a guess, please? I’m begging here. I need to talk to her.”

“Mmm, I like a man who knows how to beg,” she purred, but her mood changed in the next instant, like the snap of a whip. “Look, Jon, I feel for your situation, I really do, but I can’t just hand out my friend’s personal information to a stranger. Especially when it’s a stranger who she’s trying to avoid, apparently. You’re going to have to come up with something better. Persuade me. Why should I tell you anything?”

Jon pushed his fingers through his hair as he scoured his brain for something to tell her that might sway her. He was sitting in his truck, parked in the middle of a doctor’s office parking lot where he’d stopped to think after driving around the city for over an hour searching for Patricia. He’d gone to her house first, already knowing she wouldn’t be there. Then he’d swung by Carnal, since that was the place they first met, but it was still closed and there was no sign of her car anywhere. That was it, he was at a total loss, and now he was here, on the phone with her friend, the only option he had left.

No thoughts came to him, and he blew out a heavy breath. What could he say to her to make her give him something, anything that might help him find her friend? Unlike him, she didn’t have anything to lose.

His gaze fell to where his right hand clenched the gearshift. Then he looked to the passenger seat where the tiny box sat. He’d tossed it there when he’d first climbed behind the wheel, having been too preoccupied with getting to Patricia rather than seeing what was inside. Now, curiosity arrested him. She had left it behind with Casey to give to him. He couldn’t imagine what was inside of it. It didn’t look like the kind of box that would hold jewelry, but he was certain that whatever it was, it would be invaluable to him.

He knew he should be focusing on answering her friend’s question, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this box and whatever was inside of it, was the most important thing just then.

He reached for it, picking it up and turning it over in his hand, taking its measure, making a dozen guesses about what could be inside, and knowing that none of them even came close to what it actually was.

“Hello,” Jules was saying in his ear, trying to regain his attention. “Hey, are you ignoring me? I asked you a question, dumbass.”

Jon wasn’t hearing anything she said. He was too busy staring at this little box. He had an inexplicable feeling that once he opened that lid, everything was going to change. It was unsettling. His heart pounded in his chest, in his temples, so loud it drowned out the world around him.

It was just him and the box.

With trembling hands, Jon held his breath and lifted the lid.

“Booties.” The word left his lips on a hushed whisper.

“Excuse me?” Jules sounded as confused as he felt.

His voice grew stronger. “Booties. She gave me booties.” Hooking his finger through the tied laces, he lifted the small, white baby booties from their nest of cotton batting and held them aloft in front of his face. They swayed, entrancing him as he puzzled over their meaning. Why the hell would she give him baby booties?

Again, Jules was yapping in his ear, but he tuned her out, too busy thinking. Wrapping his fingers around the tiny shoes, Jon looked to the box for more clues, although if he were being honest, he already knew their meaning, he just wasn’t ready to face it yet.

Inside, resting on top of the square piece of batting was a distinctive black and white photograph. Jon’s heart slammed against his ribcage as he carefully peeled it from the box, careful not to tear the edges.

The photo was grainy and there wasn’t a single identifiable thing about it, but he knew instantly what it meant. He scanned the white edges where information had been typed out and saw Patricia’s name. Below that, in the top left corner, were the words ‘Baby’s First Photo’. Holy crap, he was going to be sick.

Patricia was pregnant?

He was going to be a father?

A million doubts flooded his thoughts, along with a million questions.

“I need to talk to her, Jules,” he growled, determination causing his insides to flare with tension. “I love her. Tell me where she is.”

“You love her?” she asked.

Why was it that women’s minds always snagged on that word? “Yeah, I love her.”

She gave a resigned sigh. “I don’t know where she is exactly, but I can tell you where she might be.”

After explaining her theory, Jon took off. Already very familiar with the location, he didn’t need directions. For the first time in years, Jon broke his rules along with every rule in the city, and gunned it.

* * *

Patti sat on the ground, her legs folded like a pretzel and her fingers plucking the blades of grass that sprouted up in between. It was so peaceful here. The weather was warm and the sun shone bright, but the canopy of trees kept her from baking. She closed her eyes as a gentle breeze coasted across her body, her face, combing through her hair like gentle fingers.

This was her escape.

When the entire world went to shit around her, she knew she could always find some sense of solace with her father. He had always been, and always would be, her soft place to fall.

She just wished she could still feel his arms around her, and hear his soft words in her ear, soothing her. Every time she thought the pain of his death had finally gone away, it surprised her to find that it was as fresh as ever.

“I hate you for leaving me,” she told him, tearing out a handful of grass. She knew she shouldn’t have said it, but she was so angry with him. It killed her to feel that way, and she had never admitted it to anyone, not even Jules, who she knew would understand and support her. It felt like a betrayal to feel that way about someone who had always been her biggest champion. It felt wrong because he couldn’t even defend himself, but she hated him all the same.

He’d left her. He’d left her because he was careless, stupid, and selfish. He’d robbed her and her mother of him, and she had never forgiven him for that. She wasn’t sure she ever would.

“Mom was right, wasn’t she? That car was more important to you.” She gave a sad shake of her head. “I always tried so hard to be the person you wanted me to be. I made good grades, I stayed out of trouble, and I took an interest in everything you did. I guess I succeeded didn’t I?” she questioned with a humorless laugh. “Mom said I’m just like you, and I suppose she’s right. I took that damn car and I made it my pride and joy, and look where it’s gotten me. I’ve lost the one person I think could have made me really happy. I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s so intense and passionate and I think he really saw me.”

Her eyes squeezed tight, trying to hold back the flood of moisture welling in them. It was only then that she realized that her whole life had been a lie. “I used to think you were the only person who ever knew and accepted the real me, but I don’t even know the real me. I spent so much time trying to please you that I never got to know who Patti was.”

She felt so completely alone in that moment that she finally did cry. It was the worst feeling she ever had, being cast out into the world having no idea whom she was, and with so many questions bouncing around in her head. The only thing she knew for sure was what she wanted, and it looked like that wasn’t going to happen. She was on her own.

“I know I can’t blame you for everything. I’m my own person and I’ve made many mistakes. I would never give up the time we spent together, but I just wish things could have been different. Maybe then I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to your headstone.” Smoothing her fingers across the engraved lettering, she asked him, “Do you even know I’m here?”

Her hand dropped. It didn’t matter. It wasn’t as if he were going to give her an answer.

“I should probably get going,” she muttered. As she stood up to brush dirt from her pants, she hesitated. “I’m sorry things got so heavy today, Daddy. I just needed someone to talk to that would listen and understand, and you were always so good at that.” She smiled as she dropped down facing the gleaming black marker. “I have some good news, though,” she said, pausing for dramatic effect. “You’re going to be a grandpa.”

The excitement of her news faded as soon as the words left her mouth and she realized that her father would never get to meet him or her. He’d never get to hold them or take pictures with them or send them presents for their first Christmas. It was just one more reason to be angry with him, but she didn’t want that. She didn’t want to focus on the negatives, because there had been far too much of that in her life already. She just wanted to be happy.

“Don’t worry, Daddy,” she told him. “I’ll make sure he or she knows who you are. I’ll tell them all about you and what an amazing person you were. I’ll tell them so much about you that they’ll feel like you’ve been there all their lives. But you will be there, won’t you, in your own way.” Kissing her fingertips, she pressed them to the cold stone, spoke her goodbyes, and turned to leave.

She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when she looked up to find a familiar face staring back at her. “Jon, what are you doing here?” she asked, her knees wobbling slightly from just the sight of him.

He’d parked his truck on the path behind her car. He looked so good dressed in a pair of light blue jeans that hung low on his tapered hips and a simple white T-shirt. His big body leaned against the side of the truck, and he didn’t take his eyes off her for a second as she made her way over to him.

“Why didn’t you wait for me?” His voice was low and gritty, and it made Patti shiver.

It took her a moment for his meaning to sink in. “You seriously think I would want to stay and wait for you?” she asked, incredulous. “And do what? Catch up on the morning news with your girlfriend, no, thanks.”

Jon’s mouth curved up in mild amusement. “So I was right.”

Patti could feel herself growing irritated. “Right about what?”

“Tell me, Patricia, when she opened the door, were you pissed off, or just plain jealous?”

Patti narrowed her eyes, anger suffusing her every cell. How dare he make fun of her? Is that what he had come here for, to grind it in that he had so easily replaced her? “You’re an asshole,” she told him, and spun around, determined to get the hell out of there before she burst into tears and embarrassed herself further.

Patti felt the heat from Jon at her back and felt the grip of his hand on her arm as he spun her back around and pressed her up against the side of his truck. “Not so fast,” he said, framing her in. She almost forgot how incredibly blue Jon’s eyes were. The intensity in them held her prisoner as he stared down at her. “We have some things we need to talk about.”

“I think I’ve said everything.” Patti sneered, trying and failing to break free of his cage. His arms were like steel bands, pinned to the truck panel on either side of her. She wasn’t going anywhere.

“Well, I haven’t,” Jon returned fiercely. He lowered his head so that they were face-to-face, so close that Patti could feel his warm breath on her skin when he talked. “Since you don’t have anything to say to me, I’ll talk and you’ll listen. That woman you met was my sister,” he blurted, laying it all out there for her.

Patti’s heart skidded to a halt as she tried to rework the wiring in her brain to accept his admission. His sister? How could that…Wait, was that why she felt like she had seen her before? But she knew they had never met. She racked her brain as Jon continued.

“There’s no other woman for me, Patricia,” Jon said, tucking her hair behind her ear. The gesture was so tender that Patti had to fight not to lean into his touch. “You’re the only woman I want, the only woman I’ll ever want. You’re my heart, Patricia. You’ve healed it and you alone have the power to destroy it.”

Patti looked up at him with accusation in her eyes. “You turned your back on me.”

Jon’s face twisted and he shifted to cup her face in both of his large hands. “Baby, believe me when I tell you, I had no idea when I walked away how much you meant to me. I have never been so torn apart by anything or anyone before you. I’m only sorry that it took losing you to realize that.”

Without thinking, Patti’s hands found Jon’s shirt. She gripped the soft cotton in her fists, focusing on the heavy rise and fall of his chest as she tried to sort out her thoughts. That past week had armed her with so much, from her talk with her mother to the heart-to-heart with her father, she felt like she finally had the courage to face her demons head-on.

Her father wasn’t perfect. Neither was Jon. She already knew that she loved Jon more than she had ever loved another man. It wasn’t difficult to see that if she let him walk out of her life now, she would be losing a chance at something great.

Plus, Jon was the father of her unborn child. There was no way she could let him go without first giving their relationship a fighting chance. She owed it to herself to try.

“I’m scared, Jon,” she admitted, pulling him closer. Her eyes shined as she looked up at him. “But I love you so much. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Oh, baby, never,” Jon said, his voice catching as he dipped his head and captured her mouth. “You’ve got me. You’ve got me,” he repeated.

Patti clung to him, pouring all of her love into her kiss. Jon didn’t kiss her softly or gently, but devoured her mouth in a kiss so passionate and hungry that Patti’s entire body trembled. When he pulled away, they were both breathing heavily and Jon had to keep one arm around Patti’s waist to hold her up.

“I love you,” Jon said, stroking her cheek.

“Ditto,” Patti said, smiling at him. Jon released a long, heavy breath that told Patti that he was building up to something. “What’s wrong,” she asked worriedly.

The corner of Jon’s mouth tipped up. “I was just bracing myself.”

“For what?”

“For meeting your dad.”

Patti’s eyes welled. Taking his hand in hers, she stepped away from the truck. “Come on.” She led him across the manicured lawn. When they stopped in front of her father’s grave, she gave Jon’s hand a squeeze. It was crazy, but standing there made her feel like she was a teenager again. Nerves made her voice small as she said, “Daddy, I’d like you to meet Jonathon Bradshaw.” Her gaze lifted as she fell into Jon’s warm blue eyes that shone with adoration and reflected back what she felt in her heart a hundred fold. It gave her the courage she needed as she held his eyes and told her father, “The father of my baby.”

26

Being held in Patti’s arms felt like coming home. Jon traced his finger around her dusky areola, watching as each pass caused the nipple to pucker until it became a hardened point.

“That feels good,” Patti said on a shiver.

“So does what you’re doing.” Closing his eyes, Jon enjoyed the feeling of her fingers combing through his hair as well as the heat of her body pressed up against his. He was lying on her, his arm draped over the thinnest part of her waist, his cheek pressed against her breast. It was perfection personified.

After a proper introduction to her father, Patricia followed Jon back to his condo and he’d promptly kicked Casey out for the day. It embarrassed her to have thought ill of his sister, but he and Casey both assured her that it wasn’t anything to worry about, and Casey was just thrilled that they had worked things out. Giving them her blessing and asking that they keep the action in the bedroom and not on the couch, she was out the door so fast she put The Flash to shame.

Jon didn’t waste another minute talking. As soon as the door was closed, he whisked Patricia into his room and tore their clothes off, and then he spent the rest of the afternoon worshiping every inch of her body.

Now, as they basked in the afterglow, he couldn’t imagine a more perfect reunion. Everything felt complete now that he had her back in his life and in his bed where she belonged. Now that he had her, he knew he was never going to let her go. “You’re stuck with me now, you know,” he informed her, skimming his fingers lightly down her side.

A breathy laugh left her as she squirmed. “I was afraid of that.”

She laughed outright when Jon gave her hip a playful pinch. “I’ll never let you out of my sight. I’m going to be your shadow.”

“Mm, sounds creeptastic,” she teased.  “And what about work? You have to leave sometime.”

Shaking his head, Jon craned his neck back and wrapped his mouth around her nipple. Giving it a firm suck, he released it with a pop. “I’ll work from home. Teleconference. Maybe I’ll hire a stand-in. We’ll never have to leave the house again.”

“Oh really?” Patricia chuckled. “What about food? How will we eat?”

“We’ll order in.”

“What about our friends? Our family? They’re going to worry when we suddenly disappear off the face of the earth.”

“They can come here and visit us. We’ll open the door just long enough to let them slip inside, entertain them for an hour, and then send them packing.” Jon leaned up and nipped her bottom lip. “It’s the only time we’ll ever have to get dressed.”

“It sounds like you’ve got everything all figured out.” Grasping the back of his head, Patricia drew him in for one of her sweet kisses.

When Jon came up for air, he stared into Patricia’s heavenly blue eyes and felt utter contentment wash over him. He smoothed her golden hair away from her face, enjoying the way it spread across his pillow and fanned out around her slender shoulders. My God, he thought in wonderment as he dipped his head to kiss the hollow of her throat, he was in love with a goddess. “I got your gift,” he blurted out, continuing to kiss a path down her chest. He lavished attention on each breast, licking her nipples until they beaded against his tongue, then moving further south.

He was so in tune with her body, he felt the instant Patricia’s muscles tensed beneath him. “And?” she asked hesitantly.

Jon smiled into the valley between her breasts. “And I can’t think of a more perfect gift.”

“I know we didn’t get a chance to talk about it, but are you sure? You’re not upset?”

“It’s not something I expected,” he admitted. “I kind of always pictured my life moving in a series of events, but no, I’m not upset.” He reached her flat stomach and pressed a kiss to the soft skin just below her belly button. When he lifted his gaze, they were shining with his happiness. “I love him already.”

Reaching for him, Patricia ran her fingers through the hair at his temple. “Him? I hate to break it to you, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a girl.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I have a sixth sense about these things.”

Jon’s eyes flashed and a grin spread across his face. “I think you just pulled that out of your ass.”

Patricia burst out laughing, making her breasts jiggle deliciously. As Jon crawled up her body and nestled himself between her legs, he took in her toothy smile and felt his stomach flip. “A daddy’s girl,” he mused, nuzzling his nose against hers. “I think I can live with that.”

Patricia cinched her legs around his hips and her arms around his shoulders, her expression growing serious. “I want this to work.”

“So do I.”

“I mean, I don’t want to hurt you again. I know we don’t really know each other, and everything is moving so fast now, but I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”

Jon silenced her with a kiss. “You’re right, things are moving fast, but sometimes I think that’s what it takes to open your eyes to what’s standing right in front of you.”

“Aren’t you afraid?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“Not in the least, and do you know why,” Jon asked, reaching between them to guide himself inside of her, “because I love you, and I know that you love me.” He pushed deep inside of her, dragging a moan out of both of them. “We have all the time in the world to figure out the rest.”

They made slow, passionate love, and when they were both spent, Jon eased them under the covers, holding Patricia and their baby as close to his heart as physically possible. He knew that she was scared of the unknown, of how fast things were progressing between them, but Jon knew what it was like to be without her, and he never wanted to experience that again. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he would do anything and everything to ensure that they never spent another day apart. She was his life and his future now, and he would protect and nurture her until he breathed his last breath.

Those were Jon’s last thoughts before he slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.

* * *

Patti awoke to the shrill sound of a telephone ringing.

Jon let out a small groan as she slipped out of his arms. Scooping his oversized T-shirt off the floor, she slipped it over her head and tiptoed into the living room to dig her phone out of her purse.

It took a moment for her to recognize the number, and when she did, she swiped her finger across the screen, her heart beating a mile a minute. “Tate,” she answered, holding the phone to her ear in a death grip.

“Patti,” he said, his voice strained. “Sorry to wake you, but we’ve just checked in at the hospital.”

Patti’s smile spread so wide she thought her face might crack. “Okay. I just need to get dressed and freshen up and I’ll be on my way.” She skidded to a stop just outside the bedroom door. “Tate, I’m so happy for you guys.”

“Yeah, yeah, none of the sappy stuff. It’s just a baby. People do this every day, right?” he said flippantly, but Patti knew by the slight tremor she detected in his voice that he was just trying to remain calm.

“Of course they do,” she assured him. “Just let Piper know that I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“I will, and Patti,” Tate said just as Patti was about to hang up. “Were you able to work things out with Jon?”

Peeking through the bedroom door, Patti looked at Jon, who was just tossing his feet over the side of the bed. He was gloriously naked, his muscles flexing as he pushed his fists into the side of the mattress and stood. Even with bleary eyes and dark hair sticking up at odd angles, the devilish look he sent her made her breath catch and moisture flood between her legs.

Would she ever get enough of this man?

“Yeah, we worked everything out,” she responded, completely distracted as Jon opened his arms, and she walked into them.

“Good, I’m glad to hear it. Tell him not to forget the cigars.”

“I heard that,” Jon said, taking her hand with the phone in it and bringing it to his ear. Patti rested her head against his chest, listening to the hollow depth of his voice as he laughed about something she couldn’t hear, too busy enjoying the warmth and comfort of being in his arms.

“I guess we’re headed out,” Jon said a moment later, handing Patti back her phone. She lifted her chin to look at him, and Jon took the opportunity to pinch it between his thumb and forefinger and drop a kiss to her lips. “As much as I’d love to keep you in bed all day, we should get moving.”

Patti stuck out her bottom lip. “I thought you said that we weren’t leaving the house ever again?”

Jon’s hand swung at her, smacking her butt with a resounding crack, and Patti shrieked, jumping away from him. “There’s another one where that came from. Now get dressed, wench.”

“Is this what I signed on for?” Patti asked, feigning shock and dismay.

“If by that you mean keeping you barefoot and pregnant, a slave to my every whim, then, yes. Yes, you did.”

Patti watched longingly as Jon slipped into the same pair of jeans he’d been wearing only hours before. “Don’t forget the occasional spanking,” she rebutted.

“There’s that, too.”

Patti sat on the edge of the bed and slid her legs into her pants. After buttoning and zipping them, she fingered the hem of Jon’s shirt, reluctant to take it off.

“Keep it on,” Jon said, rounding the side of the bed and snaking his arms around her waist. His mouth captured the side of her neck, licking and sucking just over her pulse point. “There’s nothing sexier than seeing you wearing my things.”

He pushed her back on the bed, inching his hands under the shirt to cup her breasts in his palms. “Jon, we’re never going to leave if we don’t stop now,” Patti moaned, tilting her head back to give him better access to her throat. She felt the button on her jeans pop free, and then Jon’s hand was burrowing underneath the material. He found her wet and wanting in a matter of seconds.

“Oh, baby, you are so ready for me.”

“I’m always ready for you.” She sucked in a breath, barely containing a scream as Jon pushed two of his thick fingers inside of her.

Dropping his forehead to rest in the curve between her neck and shoulder, Jon groaned as though in agony. His hips surged forward, grinding his thick, hard cock against her inner thigh. “Fuck, I don’t want to stop. Tell me to stop,” he begged.

Patti held his head to her, spreading her legs wider as she focused on the feel of his fingers pumping inside of her. She couldn’t find her voice even if she wanted to…And she didn’t. The last thing she wanted to do was to tell him to stop.

Lifting his head, Jon watched her from above as he worked his fingers deeper, curving them so that they hit just where she needed them to be. Patti’s back arched and her eyes slid closed. “No, baby,” Jon said, his voice almost guttural. “Look at me. I want to look into your eyes when you come. I want to see how good I make you feel.”

His words sent Patti soaring higher toward her climax. She felt the tightening in the base of her spine, a tingling working its way through her body, one cell at a time.

“That’s it, baby,” Jon said, twisting his fingers, making room for a third. Patti could feel her muscles stretching at the same time they began to constrict. She was on the edge, barely able to keep her eyes open. “Come for me, Patricia. Show me how you come for me.”

Patti’s eyes dropped low, watching the muscles and tendons in his thick wrists working hard between her legs. Then her eyes widened, hunger taking her over as she watched Jon unzip his pants and release his cock. He took it into his palm, swirling his thumb through the clear fluid seeping from the swollen head, using it as lubricant as he took his shaft in a firm grip and began pumping it up and down in long strokes. “Look at what you do to me,” he growled.

The veins bulging out all down his arms as he sought his own release fascinated her. She was so close, her own muscles bunching in preparation, when reached out to wrap her hand around the base of his shaft.

Jon looked down at her, his eyes blazing. “I want it in my mouth,” she told him, urging him on to the bed with a gentle tug. Placing one knee on the mattress, Jon climbed up and knelt beside her head, his fingers still buried in her swollen folds. Lifting her head, Patti opened her mouth and wrapped her lips around him.

“Fuck, Patricia, that feels amazing,” Jon gasped, cupping the back of her head in his hand to drive himself deeper down her throat.

Patti focused on the feel of his fingers inside of her as she bobbed her head, swirling her tongue around his head and swallowing him down again, careful not to scrape him with her teeth. It didn’t take long before she tasted the salty, bitter fluid on her tongue telling her that he would come soon. She imagined the hot spurts hitting her tongue, coating her throat, and felt the answering clench between her legs.

“Oh, baby, that’s it. I can feel your pussy squeezing me,” Jon told her, driving his fingers deeper and harder. He dragged his fingers from her hot sheath and Patti moaned in protest, but she didn’t stop sucking. “Look at me,” Jon told her, and when she peeled her eyes open, she watched, rapt, as Jon stuck his fingers in his mouth and licked them clean. “You taste so fucking good.”

She felt as if she should be embarrassed, but Patti’s excitement only rose higher. When Jon touched her again, he focused all of his attention on her hardened clit, rubbing feverishly against the swollen nub. Patti’s hips bucked as she brought her knees closer together, locking him between them, and creating a delicious friction guaranteed to finish her off.

Jon’s grip on the back of her head tightened and his hips thrust forward. Patti used both hands, one to grip his shaft and pump it in time with her retreating mouth, and the other to massage his balls.

The wet sound of sex fueled her. The rumble of pleasure in Jon’s chest made her go faster. As she came, her inner muscles spasming, her legs scissoring and her hips rising off the bed, she felt Jon swell between her lips, and then she tasted his hot seed bursting in her mouth, spilling down her throat.

“Ah, God!” Jon shouted, dropping her head and bracing himself above her on one arm. His teeth gnashed together as his hips pumped, battering her mouth as he drained the last of his come into her.

He collapsed beside her with his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. “Holy mother of…” He trailed off, wiping sweat from his brow.

Patti took a moment to recover, and then, feeling like she was on top of the world, she rolled to her side, slapped a wet kiss to Jon’s sinfully flat and chiseled belly, and then scrambled off the bed. She buttoned and zipped her pants back up, tucked in the T-shirt, and finger combed her hair.

“Time to go,” she announced, bouncing toward the door. Making love with Jon left her feeling rejuvenated. “Don’t fall asleep!”

A few minutes later, while she was finishing tying up her shoe laces, Jon emerged from the bedroom looking every bit a man who’d just been fucked senseless. She couldn’t help grinning, prideful of her ability to make her man feel good.

Walking over to her, Jon took her face in his hands and devoured her mouth, plunging his tongue between her lips like a man starving for another taste. “When we get back,” he told her, running his thumbs around the ring of her mouth to wipe away the moisture he’d left there, “I’m going to fuck your mouth so hard you’ll need braces when I’m through with it.”

Patti licked her lips, recalling the taste of him. “I’m looking forward to it already.”

Jon’s hands tightened briefly on her face before he released her to grab his keys and wallet and shove them in his pocket. “And they say men are dangerous,” he muttered, holding the door open for her.

Patti chuckled as she passed by, letting her palm skim over the bulge in his pants. If she played her cards right, she could have him back in her mouth by the time they hit the car, and wasn’t that enough to make her mouth water.

27

Everyone was there by the time they reached the waiting room of the maternity ward. Considering they had all been pulled from their beds for the event, it was amazing how wide-awake everyone appeared. Then again, the coffee maker bubbling away and the half-dozen paper cups littering the rectangular table could have been reason enough for that.

“Hey,” Patti greeted them as she and Jon entered the room.

“Hey, you.” Jules rose from her chair in the corner and enveloped her in a hug. Lynn and Sheila followed suit, and Poppy, the newest member of their group, approached her hesitantly.

Patti opened her arms. “It’s okay, I don’t bite,” she encouraged her. Smiling shyly, Poppy gave her a brief but affectionate hug.

“Man, am I glad you’re here,” Felix was saying to Jon. They performed some male handshake thing that Patti had never understood.

When Jon stepped back, he was grinning, albeit somewhat tired looking. He took up Patti’s hand in his and laced their fingers together. “Any news yet?”

Felix shook his head. “Not for the last half hour, but Tate is going out of his mind. Frankly,” he said, darting a look over his shoulder, “so am I.”

Tom joined them. “Save me,” he said in a hushed voice, and then glanced down at Patti, just then realizing she was standing there. His face turned red and he looked away, sheepish. “Hey, Patti.”

“Tom,” Patti said, restraining an amused smile. “What do you need saving from exactly?”

Sheila popped up behind him, curling her hand around his bicep, and resting the side of her face against his arm. “What needs to be saved?”

“It’s nothing, hon,” Tom told her, kissing her hair. Lifting his arm, he nestled her into his side. Patti watched, happy that her two friends had gotten over whatever the problem was that had Sheila practically falling down drunk little more than a month ago.

Sheila released a contented sigh and looked up at him through bleary eyes. “This coffee isn’t doing anything for me. What do you say we take a walk, maybe stop by the nursery for a bit?”

Patti chewed her lip in amusement as Tom passed a look to Felix and Jon. The men clapped him on the back as the couple left the room. The moment they were gone, Patti gave Jon’s side a pinch.

“Hey,” he complained, rubbing the tender spot just below his ribcage. “What was that for?” Patti caught the quirk at the corner of his mouth and knew full well that he knew what it was for…

“Don’t play innocent with me, Mister,” she said, moving to pinch him again. This time he anticipated the move and dodged out of her way. He guided them to a bank of empty chairs and Patti curled up against his side, resting her head on his shoulder. “You guys are acting like a bunch of babies.”

“Felix seems to think that just being here is going to result in pregnancy,” Poppy scoffed good-naturedly. “As if it’s a contagious disease or something.”

“I never said that,” Felix argued. “All I said was, being in a place like this, with women popping out kids left and right, is bound to give you ideas.”

Poppy shot him an annoyed look. “Would that be a problem if I did? It’s not like I’m getting any younger here.”

Felix’s head dropped back against the wall with a dull thud. He closed his eyes, looking tired. Patti suspected that they’d had this conversation before. She lowered her eyes to the floor, trying to remain as unobtrusive as possible.

“Poppy, seriously, just drop it, okay? This isn’t the time or the place for this conversation.”

Poppy snatched up her purse and stood. “There’s never a time or place for this conversation,” she snapped, then fled the room.

Patti wasn’t sure what to do. She wasn’t exactly friends with the woman, but it wasn’t as if they didn’t know each other, in a strangers having just met kind of way. “Should I go see if she’s okay?” she asked Jon.

He shrugged. “Up to you, babe.” He glanced over at Felix. “Trouble in paradise?”

“You could say that,” Felix groaned, leaning forward with his elbows propped on his knees and his face buried in his hands. “Ever since I asked her to move in with me everything seems to set her off. She doesn’t want to give up her house because of Bo, her dog,” he clarified. “I get that. So we don’t sell the house. I suggested that maybe I move in with her, and that seemed all right, but now she hates the hours I keep. I have to work, don’t I?” He threw his hands up in the air, looking lost.

“I told her, if we live in the boonies, there’s going to be a commute. There’s no getting around that. Then it’s the kid thing, and the marriage deal, and shit, man, I don’t even know if I’m coming or going anymore. Nothing is like it used to be.”

Patti felt like an intruder more than ever. She patted Jon’s hand and whispered, “I’m going to go find Poppy and give you two some time alone to talk.”

“Okay, babe. Hey,” Jon said, grasping her hand and pulling so that she had to lean down. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and gave her a bone melting kiss that had her instantly wet. “Don’t be gone long.”

Patti licked her lips and smiled. “Be back before you know it.”

She found Poppy in the ladies bathroom touching up her make-up in the mirror. “I’m sorry you had to be there for that,” she said, wiping a wadded up piece of toilet paper under her eyes.

“It’s no problem,” Patti assured her, coming over and turning on the water and washing her hands just to give herself something to do.

Poppy sighed deeply. “We just can’t seem to find a common ground lately. It’s probably my fault. Lately I just feel like we both want different things. I see everyone around me either getting married or having kids, plotting a future, you know?” She looked at her with pain in her eyes. “Some days I just look at myself in the mirror and I see a thirty year old unmarried, childless woman staring back at me. It’s as if I’m at a standstill. I’m in love with a wonderful man, and he loves me, but I have to wonder, is it going anywhere?”

Patti dried her hands and popped her butt up on the counter. She had a feeling this was going to take a while. “Have you told him how you feel?”

Poppy busied herself zipping up her make-up bag and stowing it away in her purse. “I shouldn’t have to spell it out for him. I mean, come on! All of our friends are moving forward with their lives, and what are we doing…We get up each morning, go to work, come home, walk the dog, spend a little time together watching a movie or something, and then bed. It’s Groundhog’s Day every day.”

Patti felt uncomfortable talking about all of this with Poppy, considering they hardly knew each other, but since she was willing to spill her guts so readily, she decided the best thing she could do was listen and offer advice the best she knew how. “I’ll tell you what my dad used to tell me. Don’t assume that because a guy’s mouth is moving that he heard anything you said. You might have to shake the shit out of him to get him to listen.” Patti shrugged. “I think because we’re women and we are inherently the smarter, more intuitive sex, we just assume that men will be the same, but they really do need things spelled out for them.”

Poppy blew out a breath and rubbed the spot between her eyes. “Yeah, I know. I just wish…” She laughed. “I don’t know what I wish. Thanks for listening, and for the pep talk,” she said, giving Patti a grateful smile.

“Anytime,” Patti said honestly, as she dropped her feet to the floor. “I’ll see you in the waiting room?”

“Right behind you.”

Together they made their way back to their men and settled in for a long, tension-filled wait.

* * *

Six hours, forty-three minutes, five cups of coffee and a dozen trips to the bathroom later, and they were all gathered into the cramped hospital room surrounding a worn out and exhausted Piper, who couldn’t stop smiling.

“She’s gorgeous,” Patricia said, gazing down in profound adoration at the little bundle nestled protectively in her arms.

Jon couldn’t stop staring at her. She looked absolutely beautiful like that, and he was suddenly struck with a vision of what Patti would look like, lying in a hospital bed, having just birthed their son or daughter. A wave of emotion slammed into him, nearly buckling his knees. He couldn’t wait for that day to come.

“You’re turn, Uncle Jon,” she said, turning to him and offering up the baby.

He held up his hands to ward it off. “No, I can’t. I’ll drop it,” he warned her, but she was already placing the baby in his arms.

“No, you won’t,” she said with so much confidence that he almost believed her. “See, you’ve got her.” She leaned in to stroke her finger across the baby’s chubby cheek. “Isn’t she the most precious thing you have ever seen?”

Jon took in the scrunched face, button nose, pursed lips, stubborn chin and tiny fingers grasping the edge of the soft pink blanket, and then he looked at Patricia. “Not even close.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Piper gushed. Jon looked up to realize that they had a ready audience. “Tate, did you hear what he said?”

Tate affected a stern look that wasn’t even close to passable as he left his wife’s side to retrieve his daughter. “Hell, yeah, I heard what the bastard said.” Gently, he dug the baby from the cradle of Jon’s arms and clutched her close to his heart. “How dare you call my daughter anything less than the most beautiful creature you have ever seen on this planet. Aside from this woman,” he amended, placing the sleeping baby on her mother’s chest and leaning down to place a tender kiss to her lips.

“Language,” Piper murmured, smiling softly up at Tate when he drew away.

“Shit, I forgot. I mean, damn.” He sucked in a breath and grimaced. “Sorry.”

Everyone laughed softly at his expense. They only stayed a short while longer before leaving to give the new parents some time to get to know their daughter and catch some much-needed rest.

“Well, I could use a drink,” Felix announced as they exited the lobby. “You guys want to hit up a sports bar or something, grab some lunch and a beer?”

“Yeah, man, sounds good,” Tom agreed.

Jon didn’t even have to look down to know that he and Patricia were on the same page. They loved their friends, but the last thing they wanted to do was go out when they could be in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms. “Maybe another time,” he told him, already guiding Patricia toward the truck.

“Are you sure?” Felix called after him. “My treat.”

Jon just held up his hand and continued walking.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather hang out for a while?” Patricia asked him once they were buckled into their seats.

He started the engine and waited until they cleared the parking lot before responding. Taking her hand, he brought it to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I have you all to myself for the next eight and a half months,” he said, glancing over at her, “and I don’t want to squander a single second of it. I hope you enjoy take-out.” The smile that spread across his face was nothing less than devilish.

The way Patricia looked at him, her blue eyes soft and full of love reserved only for him, filled him with more pleasure than he knew what to do with. Her hand fell to his thigh and she smoothed her palm from knee to hip, sending bolts of pulsing heat between his legs.

“Then you’d better step on it,” she purred, scooting closer. “Because I have a wicked craving for something hot.” She kissed the underside of his jaw. “And hard.” Then ran her tongue down the side of his neck. “And wet.” Her palm covered the hard ridge pressing against the fly of his pants, and pressed down.

Jon groaned and his foot pressed down on the gas pedal. “Did I ever tell you how dangerous you are?”

“Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Epilogue

“I am so happy that the two of you worked things out.” Jon’s mom was beside herself as she leaned across the table and enveloped her son in a warm, one-armed hug.

Jon chuckled. “It’s been over six months, Mom. You can stop saying it now. We know you’re happy.”

“What your mother is trying to say,” his father chimed in, “is that we are all very happy for the two of you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Bradshaw.” Patti smiled demurely.

“How many times do I have to tell you, young lady,” his father said with a disapproving frown. “Call me Walter.”

“Or Dad,” his mother suggested with a toothy grin.

Jon chewed his food happily, glancing at Patti in time to catch the shy smile crossing her face as she tipped her head down and focused on her plate. After having lost her own father, he knew she would never claim his as her own, but he also knew his mother would never stop offering. She was simply too eager to have a daughter-in-law.

Under the table, his hand rested on Patti’s thigh, and he moved it higher, skimming the silky flesh beneath the fluffy fabric of her dress. Her eyes darted to his, and she chewed her lip, making his mind run wild with ideas for what they’d be doing later.

“So,” his mother said, breaking the heated moment of silence. “How are you handling everything at the office, Patti? My son isn’t working you too hard?”

A secret smile passed across her face before Patti looked away from him to answer the question. “Everything is going great. I love working with Jon.”

He squeezed her upper thigh, the tip of his pinkie finger tracing the edge of her panties. “I love working with you, too,” he told her. To his parents he said, “This way we get to spend the whole day together. I’m glad I thought of it.” He winked at Patti. Despite her initial claim that she never mixed business with pleasure, once they’d decided to move in together, merging their lives in every possible way, she saw how much trouble he was having finding an accountant worth their salt, so she finally agreed to sign on for the job. They both agreed it was one of the best decisions they had ever made.

“You’re such a smart man,” Patti said sweetly, then nudged him playfully in the side.

“He gets it from me,” his father said proudly. Biting off a hunk of his dinner roll, he grinned and waggled his eyebrows.

“Behave,” his mother scolded, tossing a cloth napkin across the table and hitting him square in the face.

His father’s eyes widened innocently. “What did I say?”

“So it’s not too tough on you and the baby? You get off your feet often?”

“Believe me,” Jon said, laughing. Removing his hand from her thigh, he slung his arm over the back of her chair, absently caressing the length of her arm. “I make sure she’s taken care of.” Beneath the table, Patti gave his foot a warning kick. “Plus, a couple of her friends work there, too. I’m beginning to wonder if all those hours they spend working in the break room is them actually working, or if I’m really just paying them to conspire against us men.”

“Definitely conspiring, honey,” Patti teased.

Jon pressed a kiss to her temple. “Then it’s money well spent.”

“Speaking of money well spent,” his mother said as she cut into her chicken cutlet, “are you ever going to put a ring on this woman’s finger?”

“Good segue, honey,” his father said with a grin. “How ‘bout it, Jon. There isn’t much time left before the baby gets here, and I hear that shotgun weddings are all the rage.”

Jon sighed. This had been the main topic of interest since his parent’s had learned they were expecting, but he and Patti had already agreed that they didn’t want to rush things. Everything about their relationship had moved at warp speed from day one. For now, they just wanted to focus on each thing one-step at a time, starting with the birth of their child. He’d already explained this to his parents, but that didn’t mean they would stop pushing. He couldn’t begrudge them for wanting to ensure their son was happy, though.

“It’s like I said before,” Jon said. “We’re good with taking it slow. I think me selling the condo and moving in with Patricia is pretty good start toward showing my commitment to our relationship.” He passed a look to his mother, and she held up her hands in defeat.

“Okay, I get it. No more pushing. You’re going to be a father, and I just want to make sure you are both happy.”

We are, Mom,” Jon assured her.

“Then we’re happy for you, son,” his father returned.

After dinner, Jon and Patti spent another hour hanging around the house talking with his parents. They were ecstatic that they were going to become grandparents soon and insisted that they be present for the delivery. They also made it quite clear that they’d be an active part of the baby’s life, starting from day one. Jon groaned teasingly over what a hardship it would be to have them around so much, but in reality, he was thrilled to have their support. He had no clue how to raise a kid, so their input would be invaluable.

By the time they left, it was getting late. He’d noticed several times Patti trying to hide her yawns, and so with a practiced ease, they had said their goodbyes and headed home.

Jon knew that Patti would be asleep by the time her head hit the pillow. Over the past few months Patti had begun taking naps, which soon grew to include early bedtimes, but tonight, Jon needed just a few extra minutes.

He had a surprise for her.

While they were gone, he’d arranged for Travis to stop by the house and get everything ready. The closer they got to home, the more his nerves jangled.

To calm himself, Jon reached over and placed his hand against Patricia’s rounded belly. He didn’t say anything. Instead, Jon focused on the road and the feel of his son or daughter’s little feet pounding against his palm. Could there be anything more perfect? Each time he touched her stomach, he experienced the deep, abiding love coursing through him for his little family.

Patricia let out another yawn.

“Tired?”

Looking at him, she gave him a drowsy smile. “Very.”

“Give me five minutes,” Jon requested as he pulled into the driveway in front of what was now their house, their family home. “I have something I want to show you, and then I’ll tuck you in to bed.”

Dropping her head back against the seat, she groaned.

* * *

“Are your eyes closed?”

Patti stumbled a little, her hand shooting up to grab hold of Jon’s forearm to steady herself. “For the millionth time, yes, they’re closed. Now hurry up before I trip and kill myself,” she grumbled. If there was one thing Patti had learned from living with Jon was that he liked surprises, and she hated being surprised. Okay, make that two things.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Be patient,” Jon entreated. His large hands were clasped tight over her eyes as he led her through the living room. “Almost there.”

Patti took each step with care. At seven months pregnant, she felt as big as a boat. She swayed on her feet, her balance completely shot now that she was carrying extra weight up front. It didn’t help that she was blind now, too.

Shifting so that one hand covered both eyes, Patti waited patiently as Jon leaned over her shoulder. She heard a door open. “Okay, one step forward, stop,” he instructed her. With her arms extended, Patti felt for the doorframe and used it as her guide. “Step down. Good. Now, I’m going to remove my hands but keep your eyes closed. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” Patti said smartly, earning a playful slap on her ass.

She felt the air stir as Jon left her side. It was incredibly difficult to keep her eyes shut knowing that something was waiting for her on the other side of her closed lids, but she remained dutifully still, focusing on all of her senses to see if she could figure out what all the fuss was about…

She smelled a hint of gas mixed with the pungent odor of motor oil. There was also the spicy tang of rotting garbage mixed in there, too, letting her know exactly where they were. “Jon?” she called out, wondering how much longer this was going to take. The baby was sitting on her bladder, and she wasn’t sure how long she could hold out before she wet herself, again.

The process of becoming a mother wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Most days she felt like a beached whale, and she’d hit that stage where her face looked like an oil slick. Of course, it was really just the “glow” that women got during their pregnancy. Patti didn’t feel like she was glowing. She felt fat and frumpy and swollen, not to mention perpetually tired. The only nice thing to come of all of it was that her hair had never been so thick or luxurious before. And her rack was amazing. Jon couldn’t keep his hands—or mouth—off it.

“Are your eyes still closed?” Jon’s deep voice asked her as he moved in front of her to take her hands.

“Yep.”

Patti allowed him to guide her a few more steps, placing her right where he wanted her. “Okay,” he said, sounding nervous. “On the count of three, open them.” The air stirred again as he stepped to the side, presumably to open up her line of sight. “One.” Patti felt her stomach flip. “Two.” Her pulse quickened. “Three.”

Holding her breath, Patti eked open one eye. “Holy shit.” She wasn’t sure if she said the words out loud, or just in her head.

Both of her eyes were open now, blinking slowly as she struggled to understand what she was seeing.

“Well?” Jon asked excitedly. “What do you think? Are you surprised?”

He could say that again. Sleek. Black. Touches of chrome in all the right places. It was just as she had dreamed it would be. “How?” The word came out a little choked, considering Patti felt like she had just stepped into an alternate universe.

Jon’s eyes danced as he approached the GTO, running his hand down the polished hood. “I know why you did it, but I hated that you had to give up something so important to you. I had Travis track it down for me, and we’ll probably have to get used to eating Ramen noodles for the rest of the year, but after practically selling my left kidney, I was able to talk the guy into selling it back to me.” He smirked. “He really didn’t want to let it go.”

She knew how the guy felt. “Ramen noodles sound good,” she said, a weak smile forming. Patti’s eyes burned and she pressed trembling fingers to her mouth. “Jon, you didn’t have to do this.”

Slowly, with all of his love reflecting back at her in his eyes, Jon walked over to her and placed his hands on her swollen belly. “Yes, I did,” he said firmly. “It’s my job to make you happy, and this makes you happy.”

Patti’s hands covered his and she looked away, unable to meet his eyes. “But it’s just a car.”

Refusing to let her escape him, Jon grasped her chin and lifted her face to his. “It’s more than that. That car is a legacy. It belongs in the family. Our family, and one day, you’re going to teach our son or daughter just like your father taught you.”

Tears were slipping down her cheeks in a steady stream now. Cupping her face in his hands, Jon wiped them away with his thumbs. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. This is a happy day.”

She didn’t know what to say, except, “Thank you. Thank you for bringing it back to me.”

“I’d do anything for you.” Taking her in his arms, Jon held her tight.

“Can I touch it?” Patti asked hesitantly, stepping out of his embrace and wiping her face dry.

That wicked gleam flashed in Jon’s eyes again. “Baby, you can touch it whenever you’d like.”

She slapped him in the arm. “You know what I mean.” Walking over to the car, Patti ran her hands over the pristine paint job, admiring all the small details that had been added since the car had changed hands. There was no sign of the damage from the accident, every dent, and scratch gone. The custom racing stripes she had added were painted over, making the car a monochromatic black on black, which was fine. It suited it better. Opening the driver’s door, she eased into the leather bucket seat and found that everything seemed to be exactly how she remembered it.

“Do you want to take it for a spin?”

Patti looked up to find Jon standing in the space of the open door, holding a pair of keys out to her. Longing swept over her and she recalled all the times she had flown down the highway, feeling the power of all that American muscle surrounding her.

One glance at Jon, his eyes burning words she didn’t have to hear to understand, and she knew what her answer would be.

“Not today,” she said, reaching out to take his hand for leverage. He pulled her from the car and lightly closed the door behind her.

“Are you sure?” he asked, taking her in his arms again.

Wrapping her arms around his waist, Patti stared up at him. The doubt and fear along with the grain of hope etched into the fine lines around his eyes told her she was making the right decision. Jon had done the most beautiful, generous thing for her by bringing her car back to her, but she needed him to know that their future was more important to her than their past.

“I’m sure. We only have two months left alone together.” She drew her fingernail down the front of his shirt, smiling suggestively. “And there are so many things I can think of that I still want to do to you.”

A growl rumbled in his chest as Jon backed her up against the side of the car. Gathering the hem of her dress, he inched it up around her waist and bent to sweep his tongue across her mouth. “And what, exactly, would you like to do to me?”

Gripping his shoulders, Patti leaned back against the cool steel, soaking in the feel of his body pressed against hers. “For starters,” she said her voice nothing more than a breathy moan. “I’d make you get down on your knees and surrender to me.”

Jon nipped her shoulder, and then licked away the sting. Patti watched as he dropped down on his knees before her. His large hands spread out across her thighs, smoothing across her skin. He stared up at her almost reverently, and said, “I already have.”

The End

About the Author

Writer. Mother. Wife. Hardcore Rocker. Romantic.

For more information on JC and her books visit:

http://jcvalentine.weebly.com/

JC is the author of erotic fiction.

Acknowledgements

This series has truly been a labor of love. It started off as something small and daring, and exploded into a full-on series. I am astounded by its success, and I have all of you, my readers, to thank. THANK YOU! I know it sounds cliché, but I really could not have done it without all of you.

I have to thank my husband. He has been such a driving force throughout this whole process. The times when I had my face pressed to a computer screen, or when he had to order in because I couldn’t pry myself away from a scene, are too many to count, but his support means the world to me. He’s just as much a part of this crazy train as I am, and for that I REALLY can’t thank him enough.

While writing this book, I have had the pleasure of meeting many great people, but there are a few who I got to work closely with that I absolutely cannot leave out. My editor, Rogena, because she is made of awesome. No, really, she is. Kim for helping organize my thoughts and managing the craziness. Finally, my incredibly awesome beta readers, Dawn and Jennifer. Had it not been for your incredible speed-reading skills and attention to detail, this book would be a hot mess. You ladies are hands down the most amazing people to work with! XOXOX

Content

Surrender to Love
Night Calls - 3
by
J.C. Valentine

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27

Epilogue

About the Author

Acknowledgements