Chapter Seven
Emerson
Jet was driving, talking about the photography course he was taking at the community college.
I nodded in all the right places, but my mind was elsewhere.
Particularly, with Dominic fucking Starr, who for the past five days—since that night in his house—refused to look at me whenever we were in the same room together.
What did he think I would do? Stand up in the break room and announce to everyone that he’d whipped it out and rubbed one out in front of me?
“Emerson? Did you hear me?” Jet’s brows pinched together.
I blinked and gave him a guilty smile. “Shit. Sorry. I zoned out for a minute. Haven’t been sleeping well.”
Of course not. I’ve been awake, thinking about Dominic and his dick. Oh, God.
“Something bothering you? Everything okay?”
“Yeah, sure. It’s just been so hot, and my AC isn’t great.” A poor excuse, but it seemed to satisfy Jet.
“Listen, Harte’s away on a scouting trip. Wanna come for dinner and hang after our tour?”
That would be the perfect way to stop sitting in my house, obsessing about Dominic and what my next step should be. Or if there’d be one.
“Yeah, thanks. That’d be great.”
“All right. Steaks and some corn we got from Duncan’s farm sound good?”
“Couldn’t get any better.”
We’d spent the morning directing traffic after a sudden thunderstorm had blasted through the area, knocking down a tree and partially blocking the entrance to the highway.
Early fall was notorious for storms rolling in unexpectedly, and this one had been particularly nasty with hail and sheets of heavy rain, making visibility nearly impossible.
And as quickly as it had blown in, the bad weather had vanished, leaving blue skies and bright sun but a muddy mess behind to clean up.
We’d assisted in moving branches and helped the drivers stuck in the mud on side roads all over town.
It was a relief to get off shift and change out of our filthy uniforms.
“Follow me home? I’ve got everything we need.”
I slammed my locker door shut. “Sounds like a plan. Harte’s enjoying the scouting?”
Jet sat to put on his sneakers. “Yeah. He loves it. He’s found some good prospects at smaller schools, and the colleges are thrilled to have him.” He laughed. “Plus, he’s racking up the hotel points. We’re already planning a trip for next year on our first anniversary.”
I didn’t feel the need to point out that he’d married a football star who most likely could easily afford any hotel he wanted.
It made me happy to see Jet so content. I’d known well before he’d told me that he and Harte were a thing, but everyone should be allowed to come out at their own time.
And both he and Harte were from worlds where being different wasn’t always celebrated.
“I’ll bet. I’m ready.”
He hefted his backpack on his shoulder. “Let’s go.”
In the parking lot we separated, and I opened my car door as Dominic and Bradford walked across and entered their patrol car. Bradford leaned out the window and called out to me, “How’d it go today? Any problems we should know about?”
“Lots of leftover mess from the storm. You might have some traffic issues and people stuck in the mud.”
“Gotcha. Thanks, dude.”
Dominic didn’t even acknowledge me, the bastard.
“How’s it going, Starr?” I called out. Without answering, he gunned the motor and took off.
I shook my head. “Jerk,” I muttered. I might not understand what the hell was happening between us, but I took responsibility for my actions.
At any time, he could’ve told me to get the hell out of his house.
Instead, he’d taken it further than I’d ever thought my dare would push him.
And holy fucking hell, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“Emerson, you ready?”
Jet stood by his car, waiting.
“Yeah, yeah.” I dug out my keys and got into my car.
**
“Man, that was good.” I rubbed my stomach. “Those steaks were cooked to perfection. Thanks.”
“Keeps me from eating junk food in front of the television.” Jet snickered. “So how’s it going? We haven’t had a chance to catch up in a while. Seeing anyone?”
“Nah. Nobody. I’m kinda jaded since Natalie cheated on me.” I stretched my legs out. We were on the back deck, and I pointed to a cordoned-off section of the large backyard. “What’s going on there? Are you growing something?”
“Yeah. Harte always wanted a vegetable garden, so this summer he grew tomatoes, beans, beets, squash, different kinds of lettuce, and a whole bunch of other stuff. He’s in his glory out there.” He waggled his brows. “And I get to watch him with his shirt off. Win-win.”
I took a sip of my beer. “My cousin just got engaged to his boyfriend. You and Harte wanted to be together almost right away. How did you know?”
“The first time I saw Harte in the locker room after a game, I realized I was bisexual. The attraction was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
But I didn’t want anyone else. It was him.
” Jet’s eyes grew soft. “After he showed up here, those feelings hit me again, but it wasn’t one particular moment.
It was a lot of little things…like missing him when he wasn’t there.
Thinking about him all the time and wishing I was with him if we were apart.
He made me feel like I was the most important person in the world, and I knew I’d do anything for him.
” He peered at me more closely. “Whoa, wait. That’s not what you’re asking, is it? ”
Shifting in my seat, I grew hot. “What’re you talking about?”
“Are you interested in a guy and confused by it?”
I wasn’t confused. That was the problem. Maybe it was why dating all these years had never brought me any joy. And though Jet would never judge me, I still lied to his face.
“No. That’s not it. It’s just, I’ve gone out with so many women and never felt that pull. You and Marshall—my cousin—you figured it out. And I don’t understand why I can’t.”
Jet gave my arm a squeeze. “You haven’t met the right one. Trust me, you’ll know.” His phone buzzed, and his face brightened. “It’s Harte. Give me a few minutes.”
“ ’Course.”
I left him on the deck and wandered over to Harte’s garden.
What did I want from Dominic? Was I willing to take it to the next level?
Was he? The shock of him pulling out his dick and jerking off for me still resonated in my brain.
His face as he’d climaxed…the sounds he’d made…
I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Or him.
And then there was the mystery of that man at Jet’s party—Becker McGill—and his connection to Dominic’s father. Dominic had always been the strong and silent type, never one to get shaken. Except the night he’d come to me, after the jewelry store robbery. And his behavior after Jet’s party.
Maybe Jet could tell me about the mysterious man who drove Dominic away.
“Em,” Jet called, “I’m finished.”
I returned to the deck, and we cleaned up the paper plates and other trash and dumped them. Jet took the rest of the beer inside.
“Lemme ask you something. That guy at your open house—McGill? The security guard at Norman’s Jewelry? Why was he there?”
Jet put the leftover coleslaw and potato salad in the fridge. “He’s worked for Dev and Brody, doing personal security, and they figured it might be good for him to meet the people they’re friendly with, plus keep away anyone who tried to crash the party.”
“Makes sense.” But Dominic’s reaction to him didn’t.
“Ready for dessert?”
I decided to table the issue. “You bet. Whatcha got?” A blush rose to his face, and I laughed. “Don’t worry. I don’t expect you to stop going to Dolly’s because Natalie cheated on me.”
Relieved, he opened the box on the counter. “Okay, good, because I might love you, but I also love her stuff.”
I snickered and chose a black-fudge cupcake with a vanilla-crème filling. “Me too. I’m no fool. These are my favorite.”
We each had two and some coffee. Jet clicked on the set. “Yankees have a 4:05 start. Wanna watch?”
“Yeah. They’re doing well late in the season for the first time in…I don’t know how long. Maybe we won’t have a heartbreak this year.”
“Don’t believe it,” Jet said darkly. “October hasn’t happened yet.”
But they didn’t disappoint and actually won. By that time, the sun had almost set, and I watched the thickening clouds fill the sky and turn it gray. Thunder boomed in the distance, and the sky lit up with flashes of lightning.
“I’d better get going. If the rain is anything like earlier, I don’t want to get caught. Your road isn’t well paved as is.”
Concerned, Jet opened the door, and my heart sank at the rain that had already begun to fall. “Maybe you should stay the night.”
“Nah. I’m tough. It’ll be fine. I’m not that far. Thanks for everything.” I ran to my car.
By the time I’d pulled out of the driveway and made it halfway down the bumpy gravel road, I was regretting my words as the rain made visibility near impossible.
I drove slowly, wipers going furiously across the windshield.
There were few cars on the road, and my tires kicked up tons of muddy water.
A flash of lightning buzzed by my side, and I jumped at the sickening crack.
“Shit,” I yelled and jammed on the brakes, but watched in horror as a huge leafy branch, almost as thick as a tree trunk, fell directly onto the hood of my car.
“Goddamn it.” I jumped out of my car, and with torrents of rain soaking through me, tried to pull it off, only it was too heavy.
“Come on, you motherfucker.” I grunted and pushed, but it was futile.