Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Jude woke up with a monster erection.
Which was crazy because he’d already jerked off twice during the night.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss, the sexy sounds she’d made, and the way she’d pressed herself against him. When she’d clasped her hands around his neck, trying to topple him over, he’d nearly lost it.
He’d wanted to yank up the T-shirt and press her tits together, lick the nipples, and suck them into his mouth. Wanted to feel them hardening into beads on his tongue. Wanted her squirming beneath him, grinding on his cock.
All night, he’d imagined flipping her over and hiking up her hips. He fucking loved Finlay’s ass. He wanted to get his hands on it, spread her cheeks, and slide his cock right into her juicy, hot core.
And yeah, he was a dirty son of a bitch for thinking about her like that. Her life had just blown up, and the last thing she needed was some creep fantasizing about her.
But he had no control over his dreams.
And it wasn’t like it’d come out of nowhere.
No, it had been building from the moment she’d clung to him on the bike.
The press of her tits against his back, the scent he caught every time she shifted, the way she’d bent over to pick up wet towels after Cody’s bath…
Jesus, the denim had clung to her ass so tightly he’d itched to peel them off and replace them with his hands.
The way her breasts bounced when she’d chased Cody to his room… It was hot.
Everything about her was fuck-hot.
He gripped his cock and squeezed. Without a doubt, he’d never been this attracted to anyone.
Ever. At the church, he might not have recognized her.
She’d tamed her curls, and the makeup was something a movie star might wear.
Had he not known the way she carried herself, he’d have driven off with his family.
But he’d known. And he’d waited for her to come to him as he’d known she would.
In some inexplicable way, they were tied to each other.
His hard-on wasn’t going anywhere, so he’d have to rub one out in the shower. But just as he started to throw back the blanket, the door burst open, and Cody came careening into the room.
“Hey, Mister. Are you gonna teach me how to ride a bike now?”
His legs jerked and got tangled in the sheet. “Yeah. Sure. Where’s Miss O’Neill?”
“She’s outside. Talking to some guy.”
Some guy? Had to be the fuckwad. “Do me a favor?” He slept naked, so he wasn’t getting up. “Go get your socks and boots on while I take a quick shower and grab some coffee.”
But the kid didn’t budge. He stood there, watching him.
“What?” Jude asked.
“Are you really gonna get up?”
Ah. Okay. He wasn’t used to reliable people. Hanging onto the sheet, Jude jackknifed up and looked Cody square in the eyes. “Yes. I’m going to shower, brush my teeth, and then I’ll come get you.”
The answer seemed to satisfy him. “Okay.”
As soon as the kid left, Jude headed into the bathroom.
Tension tightened his muscles as he imagined the conversation Fee was having right then. She said she wouldn’t forgive the guy, but she’d had time to get over the initial shock. Maybe she’d change her mind.
He turned on the faucet. Good for her. Let her have the life she’s always wanted.
Restless and impatient, he didn’t wait for the water to warm up before stepping under the spray.
Because it was bullshit. That wasn’t the right life for her.
She’d never be happy with a man who kept things from her.
She needed honesty and full disclosure. And she shouldn’t marry a manipulating son of a bitch.
When he closed his eyes and let the water saturate his scalp, all he saw was Finlay’s haunted expression when she’d run into the street in her wedding gown. The plea in her eyes.
Get me out of here.
Her life had flipped upside down. Everything she’d ever wanted was slipping through her fingers—including the house on Bloom Lane. And she didn’t deserve that.
That woman deserved everything.
Fuck it. Fighting the pull to her was exhausting and impossible.
He needed to know she was okay. He needed to see if there was anything he could do to help her.
In record time, he took his shower, brushed his teeth, and got dressed.
He trampled down the stairs, ready to bust through the front door, but when he looked out the window, he found her making a snowman with Cody.
Just the two of them.
Which meant “that guy” was probably Jude’s dad.
Shake it off, man. Grab a coffee. He was home for one reason. Cody. And for the next six weeks, he had to make that boy his entire focus. Not Finlay.
As he headed to the kitchen, he heard laughter and deep voices.
Boone.
Wyatt.
And his dad.
The knot in his chest eased. He didn’t have to do any of this alone. He had his family.
Damn, he’d missed them.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, his dad said, “Meeting called. Let’s go.”
As they trooped toward the pantry, Jude said, “Cody said she was talking to a guy. Did her ex stop by?”
His dad shook his head. “That was Wyatt.”
But as they filed into the pantry, he got that weird tug again to see her. “Give me a second. I want to check on them.”
“They’re fine,” Boone said.
“I have to let her know what I’m doing.” Cody’s my responsibility. He couldn’t just foist him on Finlay. Hurrying across the living room, he opened the door to a blast of cold air and stepped out onto the porch.
They’d built a big snowman, complete with a carrot nose and beets for eyes.
“Let’s give him hair,” Finlay said.
“But how?” Cody asked. “Where do we get hair?”
“See those pine needles over there?” She pointed to the woods on the other side of the driveway.
“Yeah.”
“Wouldn’t it be funny if we stuck them straight up out of his head?”
Cody’s eyes lit up. “I’ll get ’em.” He took off, but his boots sank, and he tripped, landing face-first.
Jude leaped off the porch, landed on the snow, and took off.
But Finlay didn’t budge. “Okay?” she called to the boy in a calm voice.
Before Jude could reach him, the boy stood. “I’m okay.” He wiped crystals off his face, blinking back a sheen of tears.
Clarity hit. Up until this moment, he’d viewed the boy as a responsibility. A task he had to manage.
But for the first time, he saw a person with complex emotions and thoughts.
A little boy with big feelings. Cody wasn’t crying because he got hurt.
He was crying because he was overwhelmed.
He was in a new place with strange, scary people.
He couldn’t begin to understand that his mom didn’t want him, his dad had died, and his grandpa couldn’t look after him anymore.
There was no getting around it. Jude could make himself feel better thinking in terms of “six weeks” or “until Carlo recovers,” but the truth was, this boy needed a guardian for the rest of his life, and if Jude didn’t step up, he’d go into the system.
Softening, he let out a frosty breath and reached for the boy’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get those pine needles.”
Cody’s gloves were way too big for his little hand. Jude would have to buy him clothes. Some toys and books. He’d have to do more than feed and water him.
They gathered pine needles. “Did you have breakfast?” Jude asked.
“Yeah.” The boy moved around the tree to grab a few more.
Of course. Because Finlay had seen to it. “When you’re ready to come in, we’ll warm up with some cocoa. Sound good?”
The boy looked at him warily. “What’s cocoa?”
“You’ve never had hot chocolate before?”
“No, but I like chocolate.”
“Well, good, because my dad’s weird. He doesn’t drink coffee or tea. Only cocoa.”
The boy cocked his head. “I only like chocolate.”
Right. He was confusing Cody. “Yeah, sorry. Hot chocolate and hot cocoa are the same thing. And let me tell you, my dad stockpiles it. He’s probably tried every brand out there.”
“Why?”
Okay, this is good. Conversation. “He’s on a quest to find the best.”
“I can help your dad do that.”
Cute. Jude smiled. “He’d appreciate it.”
They brought the needles back and dumped them in front of the snowman. Finlay grabbed a handful, lifted the boy, and showed him how to stick them around the head.
“I’m sorry for sleeping in,” he said quietly. “I’m a bartender, so my hours are off.” But that was just an excuse. “I shouldn’t have assumed someone else would take care of him.”
As he looked into her eyes, he couldn’t help remembering her sultry expression as he’d leaned in for the kiss, the way her lips had parted, and the soft heat that greeted him inside her mouth. She’d been so responsive, so fucking sexy.
“I’m a teacher.” She smiled. “I’m used to getting up early, so it all worked out. Now, you’d better get in there. Your brothers came to see you, and I said I’d keep him occupied while you guys talk. Go on. We’re fine.”
Flame doused, he focused on business. “When I’m done, I’ll take you wherever you need to go.”
“Oh, that’s all right. I have a ride.”
He fought the urge to say, “I’m your ride.” But he had to cut that out. His time with her was almost up.
That shouldn’t make his chest tighten.
But there you go.
In the kitchen, he poured himself a cup of coffee, then headed for the pantry. Before entering, he checked to be sure Finlay and Cody hadn’t come inside. They hadn’t.
His dad’s shelves were crammed with food. Even though none of the brothers lived there anymore, he still hosted the holiday parties, summer barbecues, and birthdays. He was also somewhat of a survivalist, as evidenced by the hefty bags of rice and canned tuna and sardines.
Jude reached behind the canisters of flour and sugar and pulled the lever.
The door gave easily and silently, and he pushed it along its runners.
Checking behind him one more time and finding no one around, he slipped into the pitch-black darkness of the cellar staircase.
Once the door closed behind him, he flipped the switch.
Light flooded the concrete walls and wood steps.