Chapter 6
Jake
It’s been a long day and a lot more sitting in a car than I’d like. I wish it was just snowy, not icy. Then I’d be able to ride my bike around. I love getting to chat with people on the route. But when everyone else is also huddled inside, the days get lonely and monotonous.
I walk in the front door, thankfully remembering I had a spare key in my gym bag in my car, and am greeted by the sounds of giggling and very off-key singing. I walk into the living room and am greeted by two smiling faces.
Is this what it’s like to have a happy family to come home to each day?
“You’re just in time to watch the ending,” she pats the empty spot next to her as Char continues to sing along.
“Did everything go okay?” I ask as she sways her shoulders along to the music.
“Oh, it was a lot of fun Jake!” she beams at me and I feel my pulse quicken. “We had pizza for lunch, so no waffles. Good call on that. Nothing was spilled and Charlotte has promised me that she’s going to ask you about trying hockey when she’s better at skating.”
“Hockey? She’s four.” I’m so confused, “What all did you gals talk about?”
“This and that. She had a lot of questions about Canada,” she bops her head along to what I hope is the finale of the movie.
“I’m glad it wasn’t bad. Would you like me to drive you home?”
She bites her bottom lip, as if she’s trying to weigh her options.
“Can Mallory stay for dinner daddy?” Charlotte jumps up on my lap and hugs me.
“I’m sure she’s busy Char,” I look to Mallory.
“I’m supposed to go get cocktails with others.”
“Please,” Charlotte stretches the word out into double digit syllables. Quite impressive on her part because Mallory’s face completely changes from confused to relaxed. Her smile widens.
“If it’s okay with you,” she looks at me and I can’t say anything. I’m tongue tied so I just nod a yes as Charlotte tugs my shirt.
“Can you make pasta?”
“Pizza and pasta in one day?” Mallory leans over to boop Charlotte’s nose. “I like the way you think.” Charlotte erupts into giggles.
“I’ll get started on dinner then. Charlotte, why don’t you tidy up your room and wash your hands? You can help me if you like.”
“What about me?” Mallory stands too.
“You’re the guest,” I head to the kitchen as Mallory follows me. “But if you’d like to tell me some of those kitchen horror stories while I cook, I wouldn’t say no,” she lightly hits my arm as we enter the kitchen area. She sits on one of the barstools and props her elbows up.
“One story, otherwise you’ll be weary of me sitting here in your kitchen. Once I caught the toaster oven on fire because I forgot that plastic melts. But that was way back in childhood. Haven’t caught anything on fire since. Just a handful of ruined cookware or very burnt, unrecognizable dishes.”
“Oh wow,” I say as I pull out a pot and the penne pasta box. “Do you enjoy cooking?”
“I know the basics, but it’s the last thing I want to do after a long day at work you know?” I nod in agreement.
I get to work boiling water and pull out a jar of red pasta sauce.
I set it on the counter and grab a new pan.
I add olive oil and go to work dicing an onion and a few cloves of garlic.
I get those in the pan to sauté. After they’re simmering away, I add in the pasta sauce and stir a bit.
Mallory asks me about each step and I talk to her about my choices.
I squeeze in a dollop of tomato paste and tell her it’s a flavor booster.
And the onions and garlic make it seem more homemade than store bought.
She comes to stand next to me by the stove.
I watch her close her eyes and take a deep inhale.
“It smells amazing Jake.”
“Thanks, would you mind grabbing Charlotte? She gets easily distracted when I ask her to tidy her room.”
“Sure,” as she leaves the kitchen and I can’t help but watch her. Her pants hug her ass perfectly, highlighting her hips.
I finish the pasta and sauce and start to scoop stuff into three bowls.
I grab the parmesan cheese shaker out of the fridge and head to the dining room.
Mallory and Char are already settled in and chatting away.
I set a plastic kids bowl down in front of Char and go back for the others.
Once we all start eating, I can’t help but watch the two interact.
Even after spending the last five hours together.
This is what I envisioned when Sophia and I talked about raising Charlotte. Family dinners, movie nights, and a house that’s filled with love and laughter.
Not that this is love right now.
Tonight is just a delicious pasta dish shared with a friend. I’m happy my daughter has found someone to bond with outside of her daycare teachers.
Dinner passes by way too fast. I’m not ready for Mallory to head home but Charlotte is losing steam. Her eyelids are heavy and she’s starting to bob her head in her chair. Though she promises she’s still awake. I ask Mallory to wait a moment while I get Char ready for bed and tuck her in.
I walk back to the living room and find Mallory scrolling her phone.
“Would you like a coffee? Or a glass of wine?” I ask as she tucks her phone in her pocket.
“Coffee please, if you have decaf. It’s getting a little late.”
“One decaf coming up,” I head to the kitchen and start to measure out some beans to grind.
Mallory walks in and asks about the noise waking Char up.
“Once she’s asleep she will sleep through anything.
I was really worried at first. And still am, I sleep with my door open just in case there’s a fire alarm. ”
“That sounds like such a dad move,” she eyes the coffee maker and then the doorway to the hall.
“Do you want me to drive you to your hotel afterwards?” I ask at the same time she asks me “Is it too forward of me to ask you what happened to Charlotte’s mother?”
She grimaces as her question hangs in the air.
I don’t tell many people my past. What’s the point?
I don’t want their pity. But something is different with Mallory.
Maybe it’s because I know she’s only temporary.
That in a blink of an eye she’ll take her bag and head home.
Whatever I tell her leaves with her. I’ve avoided opening myself up for years.
“You don’t have to tell me,” She plays with the hem of her sweater.
“It’s a long and messy story. The short version is that I was ready and excited to be a parent.
She wasn’t.” I shrug my shoulders. Only those close to me, like the guys at the bakery know the full story.
And for some reason, it seems easy to tell Mallory.
I continue, “I got out of the army and didn’t know what to do next.
I was used to having a routine, listening to orders, everything was controlled.
When Sophia waltzed into my life it seemed as if the puzzle pieces were finally coming together.
We fell in love, she got pregnant, and when it came time to be parents, she realized it wasn’t what she wanted.
That Charlotte and I weren’t what she wanted. ”
“I’m sorry Jake. That is messy. But at least you got Charlotte out of the mess.” She offers a small grin and I can’t stop myself. I pull her into a hug. She lets out a little “oof” when I wrap my arms around her short frame. Her face pressed against my chest.
“Somehow you keep surprising me,” I murmur.
“Jake?” she pulls her face from my chest, “where do you think this is going? I mean, obviously I’m not from here.” She’s flustered, her eyes dart from my eyes to the floor and back.
That’s been the big question all along. Since she took my breath away mere days ago at the bakery.
Where is this going? What is this?
The questions have been drifting in and out of my head ever since we met. Because, despite the obvious end date, I’ve never felt as connected to another person as I have with Mallory.
My feelings for her have nothing to with reason. Yet they’re there. The connection, the lust, the trust, all bubbling under the surface of my skin.
“You’re here for a fun time, right? And to practice dating?
” I say and she nods. “So,” I gently tilt her chin up, “why don’t we just enjoy our time together?
We don’t have to define it.” I wait for her to reply, to say anything really.
But those plump, oh so kissable lips remain shut.
“Mallory,” she hmms, “I’d like to kiss you now. ”
“I’d really like that Jake,” and as my name leaves her lips, I crash mine against hers with a hunger usually reserved for the most delicious of desserts.
She melts against me. I can no longer deny myself.
I let my tongue trace the soft fullness of her lips as she sighs into me.
Her lips part and I let my tongue meet hers, intertwining as I grip the back of her neck.
Her hands slide up the hem of my sweater.
My stomach tightens as her cold fingers softly trace up my abs to my pecs.
My cock is aching to be let free from my jeans.
The sensation of her icy touch is a stark contrast to the fire stirring inside of me.
I grab her by her hips and set her on the marble island countertop.
“Much better,” I whisper against her neck as I kiss her bare skin there.
I feel her shiver under my touch. I press myself against her, my bulge rubbing against her core.
Both fully clothed, the friction only adding to the heat growing inside of me.
The need to be inside her grows. She moves her hands and she accidently knocks off the canister with the spatulas and it clatters to the floor.
“I’m so sorry,” she grimaces and I tell her it’s no big deal. I kiss her once more, though slower and with more purpose. “Oh Jake,” she sighs into my mouth.
“Wrap your arms around my neck.” She does as I say and I lift her up once more, supporting her perfect ass as I carry her towards my room.
“Don’t drop me,” she whispers.
“Wouldn’t dare,” I squeeze her ass as she shushes me.
We reach my room and I set her down on my bed and then go to close and lock my door for the first time in forever.
Out of habit I turn on the lamp on the nightstand instead of the overhead.
I can feel Mallory’s eyes on me even with my back turned.
Like a lioness stalking her prey, the anticipation builds with each passing second.
I face her, this blonde-haired beauty with swollen lips and a flushed face.
I remove my sweater and undershirt. I toss them off to the side. Her blue gaze slowly runs from my eyes downward. She bites her bottom lip as I reach for the fly of my jeans.
“I want you Mallory, if you want to stop, at any point” I stress the words, “then we’ll stop.” My heartbeat throbs in my ears, my desire for her body to be tangled with mine rises with each breath. I wait for her to say something, anything.