the mood. “You’ve been there to protect me from my own stupid self more times than I can count, McCoy. You’ve stopped me from speeding, drinking too much, going out with boys who wanted to steal my virtue.” She winked at him. “You’re my hero; you’re always going to be my hero. That’ll never change.”
He explored her eyes. “Won’t it, honey? What happens if we make love tonight and it changes everything?”
She shrugged, trying to pretend the thought didn’t terrify her. “Everything changes eventually, doesn’t it? Our relationship changed when you got married and had Jared; it’ll change again when I get married and have babies of my own.”
“Don’t,” he whispered. “I know it’s selfish, but I’m not ready to think about that yet.” He chuckled. “Who am I kidding? I may never be ready to think about that.”
It occurred to her that defining the boundaries of their relationship wasn’t easy for him either. “Then let’s not think about the future. How about we just concentrate on making each other happy tonight and let the future take care of itself?”
He smirked. “I think I can handle that.”
She stroked her hands over his bare chest, reveling in the feel of the smattering of his coarse hair beneath her eager fingers. She’d seen him without a shirt dozens of times over the years, at their family pool or at Tucker’s house, but she’d never been free to touch him like this. Finally having the freedom to explore his body felt incredible.
He held her hand, leading her up the stairs to his bedroom. The bedroom he once shared with his ex-wife. It was a sobering thought, one she wasn’t prepared to waste time dwelling on. She was here with him, that’s all that mattered now.
Jake led her into a spacious room with hardwood floors, old wood doors, ornate moldings, and a big, four-poster bed dominating the center of the room.
Her eyes fell to the picture on his nightstand. Jared . That little boy was the center of his daddy’s world. Jessica loved him, too. Probably because he was a product of the man she loved. She didn’t see Jared’s mother, Diane, when she looked at him. She only saw Jake’s dark hair and eyes, his mischievous grin, his sweet, but serious nature.
“What’re you thinking about?” he asked, following her eyes to the photograph.
“I’m thinking about how much I miss Jared. I wish he was still here, in Brant, with you.” She used to babysit Jared whenever Jake’s mama wasn’t available, and they had bonded over cartoon characters and storybooks. They spent hours laughing and splashing in the pool before he finally fell asleep next to her on a lounge chair, happy and exhausted from their day of play. She wanted to be a permanent part of his life, as his step-mother. Why couldn’t Jake see that being married to her would be nothing like his marriage to Diane? She loved him; Diane only loved herself.
“Jared misses you, too,” Jake said, quietly. “He mentions you all the time. Maybe the next time he’s here, I’ll bring him over to the house for a swim. Your mama and daddy are always asking about him, too.”
She smiled. They loved Jared like he was their own grandson. He would be if… “That would be nice. We’d all love to see him.”
He sank down on the bed, dropping his head into his hands. “This is so messed up. Our lives are inextricably linked, Jess. Your family, they’re like my family, and my parents, my little boy, they love you like you’re one of their own.” He looked up at her, appearing confused and uncertain. “I don’t want us to lose that. That’s why this is so hard for me, baby. I have these feelings for you. I have for a while now, but…”
She claimed the spot on the bed beside him, knowing she had no choice but to respect whatever decision he made. She didn’t want him to live with the regret of this night for the rest of his life; she cared about him too much. “Jake, if you want me to go, you just
He explored her eyes. “Won’t it, honey? What happens if we make love tonight and it changes everything?”
She shrugged, trying to pretend the thought didn’t terrify her. “Everything changes eventually, doesn’t it? Our relationship changed when you got married and had Jared; it’ll change again when I get married and have babies of my own.”
“Don’t,” he whispered. “I know it’s selfish, but I’m not ready to think about that yet.” He chuckled. “Who am I kidding? I may never be ready to think about that.”
It occurred to her that defining the boundaries of their relationship wasn’t easy for him either. “Then let’s not think about the future. How about we just concentrate on making each other happy tonight and let the future take care of itself?”
He smirked. “I think I can handle that.”
She stroked her hands over his bare chest, reveling in the feel of the smattering of his coarse hair beneath her eager fingers. She’d seen him without a shirt dozens of times over the years, at their family pool or at Tucker’s house, but she’d never been free to touch him like this. Finally having the freedom to explore his body felt incredible.
He held her hand, leading her up the stairs to his bedroom. The bedroom he once shared with his ex-wife. It was a sobering thought, one she wasn’t prepared to waste time dwelling on. She was here with him, that’s all that mattered now.
Jake led her into a spacious room with hardwood floors, old wood doors, ornate moldings, and a big, four-poster bed dominating the center of the room.
Her eyes fell to the picture on his nightstand. Jared . That little boy was the center of his daddy’s world. Jessica loved him, too. Probably because he was a product of the man she loved. She didn’t see Jared’s mother, Diane, when she looked at him. She only saw Jake’s dark hair and eyes, his mischievous grin, his sweet, but serious nature.
“What’re you thinking about?” he asked, following her eyes to the photograph.
“I’m thinking about how much I miss Jared. I wish he was still here, in Brant, with you.” She used to babysit Jared whenever Jake’s mama wasn’t available, and they had bonded over cartoon characters and storybooks. They spent hours laughing and splashing in the pool before he finally fell asleep next to her on a lounge chair, happy and exhausted from their day of play. She wanted to be a permanent part of his life, as his step-mother. Why couldn’t Jake see that being married to her would be nothing like his marriage to Diane? She loved him; Diane only loved herself.
“Jared misses you, too,” Jake said, quietly. “He mentions you all the time. Maybe the next time he’s here, I’ll bring him over to the house for a swim. Your mama and daddy are always asking about him, too.”
She smiled. They loved Jared like he was their own grandson. He would be if… “That would be nice. We’d all love to see him.”
He sank down on the bed, dropping his head into his hands. “This is so messed up. Our lives are inextricably linked, Jess. Your family, they’re like my family, and my parents, my little boy, they love you like you’re one of their own.” He looked up at her, appearing confused and uncertain. “I don’t want us to lose that. That’s why this is so hard for me, baby. I have these feelings for you. I have for a while now, but…”
She claimed the spot on the bed beside him, knowing she had no choice but to respect whatever decision he made. She didn’t want him to live with the regret of this night for the rest of his life; she cared about him too much. “Jake, if you want me to go, you just
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