Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jake stood in front of the door to Laurel’s apartment. She’d asked him to go with her to her parents’ fundraiser. That’d been a surprise… her asking him out. He could tell it’d taken a lot for her to work up the courage to do it. Like he’d ever say no. She could ask him almost anything, and he’d never refuse her.
He smiled, remembering the way she’d stumbled over her words on the phone. The audible inhalation of breath as she’d held it and waited for his answer. The forceable exhale of relief when he’d said yes. The overall awe he’d experienced at having been the reason she’d stepped outside of her comfort zone in the first place. He’d never felt special because of something a woman did, but that simple act had made him feel like a fucking king.
Jake rolled his shoulders, adjusting his suit jacket. He’d never been one for dressing up. Granted, he owned a suit, but rarely had an occasion to wear it. Not that he minded. He could dress up with the best of them, but give him a pair of jeans and a T-shirt any day. Hell, if he had his way, he’d probably wear jeans to his own wedding. Wonder how Laurel would feel about that?
Fuck, where the hell did that thought come from?
No doubt about it, he was in deep with this girl. And, oddly, he was surprisingly okay with that.
Him. The guy who never got close. The ultimate bachelor who refused to cross the line toward commitment. Yet here he was, wearing a suit and tie for a woman, not breaking out in hives at the thought of a future with her.
Well, shit.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind, Jake rapped on the door. When Laurel opened it a moment later, he almost had a heart attack.
Her hair was pulled up and smoothed back from her face, emphasizing her cheekbones. Her full, pouty lips were stained blood red in drastic contrast to her flawless ivory skin. When he lowered his gaze, his knees almost hit the ground. She was wearing a dress crafted to kill. The same blood red color as her lips, it hugged her curves so tightly, he swore it must’ve been sprayed on. If someone had described it to him, he wouldn’t have imagined anything special. Sleeveless with wide straps and a hem that ended right above her knees. But the fit, and the way she looked, made it lethal. His mouth went dry as talc. It was a fucking assassin dress.
“You…”
God, she was heartbreakingly beautiful.
His eyes played down her curves once more. “You…”
Fuck! Why can’t I talk?
She touched her dress. “Is it bad?”
His gaze collided with hers. “What?”
“Should I change?”
She was anxious about how she looked when every other woman in the world paled in comparison?
“Don’t you dare,” he ground out. “You… you’re…”
Jesus! Fucking speak already!
“Perfection,” he said finally. “You’re utter perfection.”
“Really?” The worried wrinkle between her brows eased. “You really think so?”
If she had been any other woman, he would’ve thought she was fishing for a compliment, but not Laurel. “You want me to take you into that bedroom and show you how much I think so?”
Despite the fact her cheeks brightened, her eyes glimmered with awareness. “I don’t think we have time for that.”
“No,” he agreed, closing the distance between them to caress her cheek. He let his fingers trail the length of her neck before continuing down between the valley of her breasts. “We definitely don’t have time for all the things I want to do to you.”
They’d been at the fundraiser for over an hour, and Laurel’s heart still hadn’t slowed to a normal rhythm. The way Jake had looked at her when he’d picked her up at her apartment made her wonder if this entire evening was a dream. If it was, she sure as heck hoped she didn’t wake up before he made good on his promise.
The heat smoldering in his eyes had practically incinerated her, and even though she’d felt a little self-conscious, she’d also felt incredibly sexy. Jake made her feel desired… like she was the only one he wanted, and she hadn’t felt that in—well, she’d never truly felt that way.
She owed Britt big time for talking her into finally wearing the infamous red dress. And, she had to admit, even though it was too tight for her liking, it really did make her figure look great.
At the moment, she and Jake were talking with Dave Reynolds. She’d met him before because his wife was a professor at the college, as well as one of the people who had planned the event with her mom. Dave also happened to be a retired fire chief, so he and Jake had fallen into an easy conversation about their profession.
Laurel liked hearing more about what Jake did on a daily basis, but when they’d started swapping stories about things that had gone wrong while fighting fires, she couldn’t listen. She knew Jake’s job was dangerous, but she also knew he loved it. Fighting fires was a huge part of who he was. She had no right to ask him to quit. That would be like him asking her to stop teaching. She wouldn’t do it, just as she knew he’d never request that of her. Still, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t worry about him any time his station responded to a fire.
People always said being with a first responder wasn’t easy, but what was the alternative? Walking away? Her heart would never allow it.
Listening to them talk, however, was starting to freak her out. So, when her dad waved her over, she jumped at the chance to steal away before her stomach tied itself into so many knots she threw up.
“Hey, Slugger. You look beautiful.”
Man, she hated that nickname. “Thanks, Dad. Did you need me to help with something?”
“Nope. Just wanted a hug from my girl.” He wrapped her in a warm embrace and kissed her cheek.
Her father—well, her mother too—had been more physically affectionate since their talk with Jake. It was nice, and something Laurel hadn’t realized she needed as much as she did.
Jake seemed to have the rare ability to bring out the best in people. He’d definitely helped her gain some confidence back, but she needed to start standing up for herself, and finally saying what she’d been wanting to for four years seemed like a good place to start.
Here goes nothing.
“Dad?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“Can you maybe not call me ‘Slugger’?”
There. She’d said it.
He was taken aback. “Don’t you like it anymore?”
She gave a small shake of her head. “I’ve never liked it, Dad. Every time you say it, I think of Ethan and that night. It’s not really something I want to keep reliving, you know?”
“Laurel, sweetheart.” He looked truly stricken. “Why didn’t you tell me it bothered you sooner?”
She shrugged.
Because I was a coward.
“I’m so sorry. I never would’ve kept calling you that if I’d known.”
“It’s okay.” Her gaze shifted to Jake, who was still deep in conversation. He was the reason she’d been able to speak up now. He’d helped her realize she was so much stronger than she’d thought.
She looked back to find her dad studying Jake.
“How’s that man of yours treating you?” he asked.
My man?
Was he? She’d like to think so, but didn’t know for sure. Hopefully he was, because as far as her heart was concerned, she was already his. She couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment that last stubborn one percent had fallen into place, but it had. She was in love with him. One hundred percent in love with him.
“Well,” she said. “He treats me really well.” It was true. Jake treated her like no man before him ever had… like an equal. Someone who could think for herself and make her own decisions. He’d never once made her feel otherwise. Honestly, he’d been nothing short of amazing. “He’s a really good guy, Dad.”
“I knew that the minute he chewed out your mother and me.”
“You did?”
“It takes guts to stand up to someone’s parents, especially if you’ve never met them before. He wouldn’t have done it unless he really cared about you.”
Okay, she wasn’t expecting him to say that. “You think so?”
“Honey, I know so. That man is in love with you.”
Laurel’s eyes widened, prompting her father to nod in response to her unasked question.
Her gaze quickly locked on Jake.
He’s in love with me?
As if he could feel the weight of her stare, Jake looked over and winked before redirecting his attention back to Dave.
Don’t get ahead of yourself! Just because Dad thinks he is, doesn’t mean it’s true.
Suddenly, the air felt thick. All she could manage were shallow breaths, making her lightheaded.
“Dad, I’ll be right back.” She needed some fresh air and a quiet place to wrangle in the emotions that were bouncing around inside her head like a ball in a pinball machine.
She headed for the patio. It had fairy lights strung overhead and lanterns scattered about. Through the floor-length windows, she could see people sitting on couches mingling, while others stood in line at the bar that had been set up outside.
Weaving between a few banquet tables, Laurel did the little sidestep dance around a couple going the other direction.
“Sorry.”
“Excuse me.”
The woman giggled when their words overlapped.
Laurel smiled before continuing on her way. She only had to get past a few more tables to reach the door leading outside.
“Laurel?”
Ice slid down her spine. She skidded to a halt, like a magnet had been switched on and her shoes were made of metal. She shut her eyes, face pinching in distress as her stomach lurched.
Ethan.
The last thing she wanted to do was turn around, and she sure as heck had no desire to speak to him.
Keep walking. Pretend you didn’t hear him and keep walking.
Tonight had been going great. Better than great, in fact. The fundraiser appeared to be a huge success, her parents hadn’t once made any snide comments regarding her career choice, she’d cleared the air with her father about that stupid nickname, and Jake… Jake had been—was—so much more than she ever could have hoped. She’d expected him to be charming tonight—heck, he probably couldn’t not be, even if his life depended on it—but he’d stood by her side during constant introductions and had engaged in thoughtful conversations with the people he’d met. Not because he had to, but rather because he genuinely seemed to want to get to know them. And even though he’d been extremely attentive, he hadn’t smothered her.
Ever since she’d met him, he'd made her feel supported while allowing her to be independent. He’d embraced her quirks, accepted her flaws, and shown her she could be capable, powerful, and most surprisingly, confident. He was cocky, sarcastic, sexy, sweet, maddening, tender, and domineering all at once. He was the one person in her life who had never made her feel like she wasn’t enough.
“Laurel, don’t you think it’s time we talked?” her ex asked.
I can do this.
“Laurel?”
Blowing out a controlled breath, she turned around. “Hi, Ethan.”
“Hi.” He almost looked like he hadn’t expected her to face him.
But she wasn’t the same person he’d helped mold her into back when they were together. She knew her worth now, and she wasn’t going to let him convince her otherwise.
“How are you liking the event?” she asked. Cool and professional. That’s what she was shooting for. “I think they’re going to surpass their goal.”
“Could be.” He did the elevator look: starting at her face, his gaze slid down her body, then back up.
She felt nothing.
Whenever Jake looked her up and down, her heart would race, and her body ignited. When Ethan had done it just now? Absolutely nothing.
“Wow. That’s not the type of dress you used to wear.” He made it sound like what she used to wear—what she still wore when Britt didn’t dress her—was subpar.
The elevator went down to the basement, then back to the penthouse once more.
This time his perusal was slower, more deliberate, more… skeezy. She fought the urge to cringe. With that one look, Ethan made her feel objectified. Jake never had.
“I’m not the same woman I used to be,” she told him. Man, she sounded calm and collected. No clue how she’d pulled it off, but she gave herself a mental high five.
“No, you look hot,” Ethan said.
Because I didn’t before.
In her mind, that’s what she heard. And, knowing him, that’s what he’d meant.
Jerk.
She lifted her chin. He may be taller than her—heck, most people aside from her first-graders were—but she wasn’t going to let him intimidate her. Not anymore.
“Not that you didn’t look good before,” he backpedaled.
She gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Nice seeing you,” she lied. “Enjoy the rest of the evening.” She turned to go.
“Laurel…” He grabbed her upper arm, stopping her from leaving,
She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he only tightened his grip.
“I want to talk to you.”
“Well, I don’t want to talk to you. Let go of my arm.”
He did finally release her, trailing his fingers down to her wrist before fully breaking contact. It made her skin crawl.
“Laur, you have to know I never meant to hurt you.”
The use of her nickname made her bristle. It was too familiar, too personal. He didn’t have that right anymore.
“Sure you didn’t. Because there’s no way you could’ve known that sleeping with someone else the night of our rehearsal dinner would hurt me,” she scoffed. “You’re so full of it.”
She remembered that night vividly. She’d taken her wedding dress and things to her parents’ house, planning to spend the night. She hadn’t wanted Ethan to see her in the morning before the wedding because it was supposed to be bad luck. What a joke that had turned out to be.
Skye had picked her up, and they’d ridden to the rehearsal dinner together. Ethan had met them there. Before he’d arrived, however, Skye had overheard some girls talking, and one had said she’d met Ethan at his and Laurel’s apartment after Laurel had left, and they’d had sex. In their bed! The girl apparently had laughed about it, but Laurel sure hadn’t. She’d been crushed, but had held onto her delusional belief that the woman had been lying. She hadn’t been willing to accept it until she’d spoken with Ethan.
But when he’d shown up, he’d smelled like perfume and there’d been a lipstick smudge he’d missed on the side of his jaw near his ear. In that instant, her perfectly constructed happily- ever-after had burst. Embarrassment and pain had engulfed her, and something inside her had snapped. She’d hauled off and punched him before he’d even gotten a word out. She’d decked him so hard, he’d stumbled back, tripped, and fallen to the floor… in front of the entire roomful of their wedding party and families.
She’d never done anything like that before, and hadn’t realized she was going to, but she definitely didn’t regret it. Not one iota.
And now he was standing in front of her saying he hadn’t meant to hurt her? What a load of butter brickle!
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I feel terrible.”
The fact he thought those five little words would absolve him made her laugh. “So terrible it took you four years to apologize.”
“I wanted to call you,” he said.
What did I ever see in this jerk?
She knew the answer, and it didn’t paint her in a very good light. She’d thought she’d been in love with him because he’d paid attention to her. Her. The unremarkable grade school teacher who’d never been good enough in her parents’ eyes.
Ethan had told her the things she’d wanted to hear and offered her what she’d longed to have… security, companionship, a house and two point five kids, acceptance… love.
Only, it was clear now that everything he’d said had been a lie. He didn’t like kids. He’d never spent much time with her. He, like her parents, had thought teaching grade school was second-rate. He’d never loved her. If he had, he wouldn’t have cheated.
How could she truly have been in love with a man like that?
The answer was, she couldn’t. She just hadn’t realized her own self-worth and had settled for less than what she’d deserved... what Jake had made her realize she deserved.
“I was going to call,” Ethan added, probably as an afterthought to make himself look better. “I meant to.”
“I’m sure you did,” Laurel said, not buying it. “And I’m also certain I don’t care.” She honestly didn’t, and that was so freeing. “Goodbye, Ethan. So not good seeing you.” She dismissed him with a turn of her back.
When she started to walk away, he grabbed her arm again.
“Laurel...”
Enough. I’m so done!
There was no way she was going to put up with him a moment longer. She didn’t owe him a thing, and she wasn’t about to stand there and listen to him spout more rubbish. He needed to back off and never touch her again.
She spun around to tell him as much. The quick movement made Ethan flinch. He released her, holding up both hands in front of his face.
I’d thought I was in love with that?
She shook her head at his pathetic display, secretly elated to see him cringing before her. What a scummy, low-life weasel. She deserved better than him. Jake had helped her realize that. She deserved… Jake. She wanted Jake.
“Don’t worry, Ethan,” she said with a sardonic grin. “I’m not going to hit you again. You’re not worth it. I won’t stoop to your level.”
“I will.”