Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“What is that? Three times?” Gage asked. “Four?”
“At least four,” Emery said.
Jake put his phone down on the table. “Shut up.” Leave it to those two to keep count of how many times he’d looked at it.
He and his friends were seated at a table near the back of the restaurant. He’d known Emery going on four years, ever since she’d moved in with his sister. Jessa was now living with Chase, but Emery was still in the house they’d rented together. At least, for now. Jake knew if Gage had anything to say about it, she’d be moving in with him soon.
He hadn’t met Gage until this past September when Gage had done a fundraiser with Em, yet here he was… razzing Jake right along with her. He should’ve known asking them to come tonight was a mistake.
He'd only suggested the double date because, based on their conversation, he’d thought Laurel would feel more comfortable.
Jake had chosen to sit facing the door, so he could see when she showed up. If she showed up. He hit the side button on his phone, illuminating the screen.
Seven-twelve. She was supposed to have been here at seven.
“Five,” Emery noted.
“At least,” Gage agreed.
“Bite me.” Jake took a long pull of his beer. Maybe she wasn’t coming. He did kind of coerce her into the date. Maybe she’d lied and said she’d meet him to get him off the phone.
Huh.
He hadn’t been stood up in—well—ever.
“She’s probably just running late,” Em said. “Girls do that sometimes.”
“You mean, you do that,” Gage corrected. Emery was never on time for anything. The only reason she was tonight was because Gage had told her they were meeting at six-thirty, not seven, and he’d driven.
She sneered at Gage before turning to Jake. “ Lots of people run late. Not just me.”
This was their M.O. Ever since the day they’d met, Emery and Gage had had this love-to-hate-you relationship. That is, until they’d really fallen in love. Now it was an I’m-in-love-with-you-but-still-have-to-push-your-buttons relationship.
Jake started to reach for his phone again before abruptly stopping himself and grabbing a breadstick instead. He took a huge bite, refusing to look at his tablemates.
What was it about Laurel? Worrying about whether or not a date would show up was out of character for him. Of course, no one had ever kept him waiting before. That sounded conceited, but it was the truth.
“Speak of the devil.” Gage lifted his chin toward the front door.
Jake glanced up to find Laurel standing inside the entrance. With her white jacket, she looked more like an angel to him. When she started scanning the restaurant, he stood and held up a hand to get her attention. He saw her shoulders rise and fall on a deep breath before she headed his way, stumbling a little on her first few steps.
“She’s cute,” Emery said. “She looks sweet.”
“Yeah,” Gage agreed. “What the hell is she doing going out with you, Lockwood?”
Jake ignored the jibe, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response.
“Sorry I’m late,” Laurel said before Jake could even get out “hello.” She sounded nervous.
“No worries,” he assured her. “I’m glad you came.”
Her cheeks pinked, and she averted her eyes.
So fucking cute.
“Hi.” Emery gave a little wave. “I’m Emery.”
“Laurel. Nice to meet you.”
“Hey, Laurel.” Gage motioned to the empty chair between Emery and Jake. “Sit down and join us.”
The tension in her face dissipated a little. “Hi, Officer. Nice to see you again.”
“Gage,” he corrected.
She smiled. “Gage.”
She took off her jacket and placed it on the back of her chair, revealing a dark green sweater with a V-neck. It wasn’t low enough to show any cleavage, but it left Jake wishing it was.
When Laurel sat down, and Jake pushed in her chair for her, Emery flashed him an amused grin.
Whatever. He was being polite. Nothing wrong with that.
Laurel smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
Damn. Those big, innocent eyes got him every time.
“You’re welcome.” He sat down next to her. “You look pretty.”
She did, but there was something different about her.
“Thanks.”
There was that blush again. When was the last time he’d gone out with a girl who blushed? Had he ever gone out with a girl who blushed? It was adorable.
“You really do,” Emery told her. “And I love the blue streak in your hair. It’s fun.” Laurel looked a little uncomfortable, but Emery seemed oblivious. “I dyed my hair black once—not the best look for me, by the way—but I should try a little pop of color sometime.”
“I like it red,” Gage told her.
“But don’t you think green or something would look good? Not my entire head,” she clarified, “but a little streak, like Laurel’s.”
“It would match your eyes,” Gage said, “but I think you look gorgeous exactly…”
Jake didn’t listen to what Gage said next. He was too focused on Laurel self-consciously pushing the blue section of her hair behind her ear and pulling some brown strands forward to try to cover it. Yep. She didn’t like the blue any more than she had the yellow.
“And I love your eyeshadow.” Emery was back to her conversation with Laurel. “I can never get mine to look like that.”
That’s what was different. She had on dark, smoky eyeshadow. A big contrast to the barely-there makeup she’d worn the other times he’d seen her.
“Me neither,” Laurel confessed. “My friend insisted on doing my makeup.”
So, she’d cared enough about their date that she’d had a friend do her makeup? Good to know. She didn’t need any help looking beautiful, in his opinion, but the knowledge she’d done it especially for him, made his chest puff up.
“I think she went a little overboard, but I didn’t have time to redo it, or else I would’ve been late.” As soon as the words left Laurel’s mouth, she squeezed her eyes shut and scrunched her nose. “Which I was. Sorry.”
“You were worth the wait,” Jake told her.
She looked slightly uncomfortable by the compliment.
Hmm, she didn’t take compliments well. Either that, or she hadn’t been complimented enough.
Yeah, that’s gonna change.
“The guys tell me you’re a grade school teacher,” Emery said, changing the subject.
Jake could’ve kissed her for it because Laurel lit up. Well, he could’ve kissed her if he didn’t mind Gage punching him. The man was possessive when it came to Em, especially since the first time he and Jake had met, Gage thought Jake’d had a thing for her. And to be honest, way before Gage was in the picture, he had asked her out when she’d first moved in with Jessa. She’d put the kibosh on that quickly, however, since she was hung up on some guy she’d “met” when he’d called into the late-night radio talk show she’d hosted about five years back. Jake still thought it was crazy the guy ended up being Gage. Go figure.
Anyway, now Em felt more like a sister than a conquest, and she gave him as much shit as Jess did.
“I teach first grade,” Laurel told Emery. She seemed much more relaxed, and the pride in her voice confirmed she loved her job.
“That must be exhausting,” Emery said, “dealing with an entire class of kids all day.”
Laurel laughed. “It definitely can be. There are days I just want to go home and fall into bed.”
I’d like to fall into bed with you.
Jake took a quick swig of his beer and tried to concentrate on the conversation instead of the image of Laurel laid out on his sheets.
Her tension melted away as she spoke about her class. She’d majored in primary education in college and started teaching right after she’d graduated.
“Did you go to BSU?” Gage asked. Boise State was the local university.
“Yes. If I didn’t, I think my parents would’ve had coronaries. They teach there,” she clarified in response to Emery’s raised eyebrows. “It’s bad enough I chose to teach first grade instead of becoming a college professor like my parents wanted, but if I’d gone to a different college, I think they would’ve disowned me.”
Jake didn’t miss the wistful expression that crossed her features before she shrugged it off.
“Personally, I think you’ve got the harder job,” he told her. “College kids choose to be there. Grade schoolers have no choice.”
Laurel studied him like she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him. “That’s an odd way to look at it.”
Shit. Did I just put my foot in my mouth?
“I think what Jake means…” Emery began, shooting him a look.
Yep. Way to go, Lockwood.
“… is that since college kids are paying to be there and don’t show up, that’s not on you. But if one of your students doesn’t want to be there, you probably take it personally. I know I would.”
“Exactly what I meant,” Jake said. It wasn’t, but…
Laurel studied him a moment, before conceding, “I do.” She turned back to Emery. “It’s hard not to. After pre-school, I’m their first introduction to ‘big school,’ as one of my kids put it. I don’t want to mess it up for them.”
Jake marveled at the affection in her expression when she talked about her class over dinner. Hell, she’d even referred to them as “her kids.” The fondness she held for her students and the joy they brought her was palpable. No doubt, she was a great teacher. And he was secretly thrilled she taught at a grade school because college guys would be studying her instead of anything she’d be trying to teach them.
He bristled at the thought. He didn’t want any guy studying her but him, which wasn’t his typical reaction. He was used to guys checking out his dates. It didn’t bother him if they wanted to steal the girl he was with, and it definitely didn’t hurt his ego, but with Laurel? It bothered him. It bothered him a lot.
“And the way Laurel told him off for being late to her class without actually saying the words?” Gage smirked at Jake. “Priceless.”
Jake realized he hadn’t been paying attention. Gage was talking about their visit to Laurel’s class, and he’d only now noticed. He’d been too busy mentally warding men away from her. He needed to get it together.
“I wish I could’ve been there,” Emery said. “I love seeing Jake embarrass himself... not that he doesn’t give me ample opportunity.”
Laurel laughed.
“Glad you think you’re so funny,” Jake told Emery.
“I really am,” she agreed with a smile.
“Yes, you are.” Gage put his arm around her and kissed her temple. “In your own mind.”
Emery slapped his chest.
Laurel turned to Jake. “You were really late.”
Gage opened his mouth to say something, but Emery pointed a finger in his face. “Don’t say a word,” she warned, obviously anticipating him commenting about her questionable punctuality again. “Unless you like sleeping on the couch.”
He chuckled. “I’m sorry.” He gave her a quick kiss. “You know I’d much rather sleep with you.”
“I was beginning to worry you weren’t coming,” Laurel told Jake. “The kids would’ve been so disappointed. But I guess I have to give you a pass this time, since I just did the same thing to you. Sorry again.”
“Stop apologizing.” Jake didn’t miss how she’d said “this time.” That implied she planned on seeing him again, didn’t it? “I’m sorry too.” He covered her hand with his own. “But I tried to make it up to you.”
God, I need to kiss her again.
The intriguing mix of sexy innocence she possessed was going to be his downfall.
He brushed his thumb along her skin and felt a tremor run through her. She felt it too… this crazy pull between them. He was sure of it.
Emery shifted toward Laurel. “So, you never told me. How did you guys meet?”
“Umm…” Laurel pulled her hand out from underneath his and started nervously playing with the straw in her soda, pumping it up and down in her drink.
Jake swallowed.
Don’t go there.
“At Hannah’s,” he answered, ignoring the fact his dick was already thinking about pumping into her. “She asked me to dance.” He’d told Gage the story when he’d called about the double date, so he was sure Emery already knew the answer. Still, he wouldn’t mind hearing Laurel’s interpretation.
“Alcohol must’ve been involved,” Gage concluded. “No one would ask him to dance if they were sober.”
“Yeah,” Emery snickered. “You must’ve been really drunk to have had that bad lapse in judgment.” She looked at Jake and smiled sweetly. “I’d have to be trashed.”
He ignored both of them.
“I was a little tipsy,” Laurel confessed, still playing with that damn straw.
Jake didn’t miss the fact she wasn’t drinking tonight. “A little?” he teased.
“Fine,” Laurel conceded. “Maybe a little more than a little. But I only did it because of… a dare.”
Jake studied her. He didn’t know what she’d been about to say, but “dare” definitely wasn’t it.
“Okay, a dare makes sense,” Gage said. “You’re obviously too intelligent to have asked him otherwise.”
Laurel pursed her lips, fighting a grin.
“Speaking of which… What was the whole ‘number five, number six’ thing?” Jake asked.
“Just a list,” she evaded. “No biggie.”
It was obvious she was trying to change the subject, which made Jake really want to stay on the subject. “What kind of list?”
“It’s stupid, really.” She nervously touched the streak of blue in her hair, making sure it was still tucked behind her ear. “Just something my best friend thought up.”
“Emery knows something about making her best friend do stupid things. She had my sister sign a contract to fake-date Em’s brother.”
Laurel blinked. “Wait. What?”
“It worked, didn’t it?” Emery countered, a smug look on her face. “They’re perfect for each other,” she told Laurel. “They just needed a little push to admit it, so I made them sign a contract and pretend to be dating for a—” She waved her hand in the air, like she was dispersing smoke. “Long story. Suffice to say, they’re together now, thank you very much.”
“Okay, compared to that,” Laurel rationalized, “I guess Skye’s list isn’t that bad.”
“So, spill!” Emery ordered.
Laurel eyed Emery while leaning toward Jake. “Is she always this pushy?” she asked, apparently comfortable enough with them now to be playful.
Jake and Gage both answered, “Always.”
“Whatever.” Em put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. “I’m waiting.”
Laurel smiled. “Skye—that’s my friend—took it upon herself to make a list of ten things she thought I should do before I turned thirty.”
“You were at Hannah’s for your birthday,” Jake said. It wasn’t a question. Now, the don’t ask a girl’s age comment made sense.
“Yeah. One of the things on the list was asking a stranger to dance, hence…” She gestured to Jake.
“He’s definitely strange,” Emery said.
Ignoring her, Jake asked Laurel, “Why’d you pick me?” He already knew the answer. She’d been sneaking glances at him all night.
She shrugged, feigning indifference. “You were close to the dance floor.”
Uh-huh.
His lips curled into a slow grin.
“You were!”
So fucking cute.
“What was number six?” he asked, knowing damn well it had to have been kissing him, judging from the pink brightening her cheeks. Suddenly, he was a huge fan of this list.
Laurel went back to fidgeting with her straw, causing him to shift in his seat. Thank God, it wasn’t one of those bendy ones.
“That was number six,” she insisted.
He wasn’t buying it. “You sure about that?”
Laurel nodded. It wasn’t convincing.
“What other things are on it?” Emery asked.
Amazing how quickly Laurel jumped at the chance to avoid number six.
“Stupid stuff,” she said. “Like eating a raw oyster…” She picked up a strand of blue hair, then let it drop back onto her shoulder. “Dying my hair.”
Jake chose not to out her about the initial yellow color. “I’m guessing zip lining was on there too.”
“Yep.”
Emery shuddered. “I couldn’t do that.” She was deathly afraid of heights.
“I’ve already done six,” Laurel said. “So, I only have four more left.” She started counting them off on her fingers. “Bungee jumping…”
“Oh, hell to the no!” Emery looked like she was going to hurl on the spot.
“Yeah, I’m trying to get out of that one. No way I’d ever be able to make myself jump off of a perfectly good bridge to my impending death.”
“Don’t do it,” Emery insisted. “Tell them to screw it and don’t do it.”
Laurel laughed. “If they don’t pick something else, I probably will.”
“Definitely do!” Emery said. “I’m afraid to ask, but what else is on the list? And please don’t say skydiving or I might need a stretcher.”
“No way in bells would I ever do that!”
Jake smiled at her choice of expletives. He’d yet to hear her outright swear.
“Let’s see…” Laurel tapped each finger as she counted in her head. “Axe throwing, and an impromptu road trip.”
“How can it be ‘impromptu’ if you know you’re going to do it?” Gage asked.
“Thank you! But, at least, that’s a tame one, so I’ll take it.”
“That’s only three,” Jake pointed out.
“What?”
“Three,” Jake repeated. “You said you had four things left to do, but you only listed three.”
Laurel froze, like if she didn’t move, no one could see her. “N-no, I didn’t.”
Yeah, that was convincing.
“I said four,” she insisted.
Jake raised an eyebrow in challenge. “Pretty sure I can count to four, Princess.”
“He’s delusional,” Em said, “but it’s nice he has goals.”
Laurel laughed.
“Good thing you’re a grade school teacher,” Gage told her, “so you can tutor him.”
“I don’t know.” Laurel eyed Jake. “Some things are beyond my capabilities.”
While Gage and Emery cracked up, Jake regarded the woman sitting next to him. He didn’t miss the fact she’d sidestepped telling him what the last item on her list was, but he liked the fact she was finally giving him shit. She seemed more comfortable, and it was nice to find some bite hidden underneath that polite exterior.
“Honestly, I don’t know how I’m going to make myself bungee jump,” Laurel confessed.
“Tell your friend you don’t want to do it,” Em said.
“I did, but you don’t know Skye. She’ll never let me off the hook. And even if she miraculously did—which won’t happen—Britt would make me go through with it.”
“Was she the blonde with you at Hannah’s?” Jake asked. He knew Skye was the purple-haired one.
“One and the same.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Emery said, “but your friends sound a little pushy.”
Laurel grinned. “No wrong way to take it. They’re extremely pushy.”
“Sounds like someone I know,” Gage said, tilting his head Emery’s way.
“That’s it.” She pushed his arm off of the back of her chair, doing her best to sound indignant. “Your ass is sleeping on the couch, mister.”
“You know it’s against the law to threaten a cop, right?” Gage asked her.
Em rolled her eyes, even though she was smiling. “Off-duty cop.”
“Bungee jumping is easy,” Jake told Laurel. “I’ve done it a dozen times.”
Emery pounced on his words. “That’s right! He has. He should totally go with you.”
“I don’t know. If he’s done it that many times, I’m sure he’s tired of it.”
Jake didn’t miss the fact Laurel was talking to Emery about him, instead of actually talking to him. He made her nervous. Hopefully, in a she-was-afraid-to-be-alone-with-him-because-she-might-rip-his-clothes-off way and not an I-can’t-wait-to-get-the-hell-out-of-here-and-never-see-him-again way.
“You don’t know me well enough.” Jake waited for Laurel to look at him. “I never get tired…” He let his words hang suggestively in the air a moment before continuing. “… of doing the things I love.”
Laurel wet her lips, drawing his gaze like a magnet.
“It’s perfect!” Emery was full speed ahead. “He should help you with the list.”
“What?” Laurel squeaked. “No. He doesn’t need to do that.” She turned to Jake. “You don’t need to do that.”
“You’ve done axe throwing too, right?” Emery asked.
Jake nodded.
“See? It’s perfect! He can show you the ropes. It’s so much easier having someone there to help if you’re scared.”
Gage slung his arm around Emery and pulled her in. She melted into him and tilted her chin up for a kiss. When the two of them had spent twenty-four hours on top of Glazed and Confused Donuts for Em’s radio stations’ charity fundraiser, Gage had prevented her from losing her shit. She’d always been afraid of heights, but he’d managed to keep her calm enough to make it up and down the ladder to the roof multiple times, despite the fact she couldn’t stand his guts back then.
“So, it’s settled.” Emery’s tone left no room for argument. “Jake will help you finish the list, and you can teach him to count.”
“I’m good with that,” Jake said. Hell yeah, I’m good with that! “How ’bout you?”
Laurel chewed on her lip a moment before eyeing him. “I guess that’d be okay.”
“Good. I work this weekend,” he told her, “but I’m off Monday through Thursday, if you wanna start with axe throwing.”
“That’s a weird schedule,” Laurel evaded.
“We rotate days at the station,” Jake explained. “Two days on, four days off. So…”
“I have two more weeks of school left. I can’t go out on a school night.”
Is she trying to blow me off?
Yeah, that wasn’t happening.
“Next Sunday, then,” he suggested.
“Um…” Laurel looked at Emery, who gave a quick nod. “Okay, I guess.”
That wasn’t a definitive answer, and Jake wasn’t ending the conversation until he got one. He caught and held her gaze and raised a brow.
“Okay,” Laurel confirmed.
Emery clapped her hands. “Perfect!”
Jake was so caught up in Laurel, he didn’t notice the woman standing next to their table until she spoke.
“Jake, I thought that was you.”