Chapter Thirty-Four
Jude
When we got back to Kendall’s apartment, Travis conked out while Kendall all but shoved me into the bathroom.
“What are you—” I began before she undid my jeans and slid her palm inside to curl around my length.
I nearly choked on my words, and just when I thought maybe I had this under control, that maybe I had the upper hand in this situation, she leaned down and swirled her tongue around my crown. “Kendall…” I rasped.
I felt the vibration of her giggle around my shaft as she proceeded to drive me absolutely out of my mind.
At the feel of the warm suction of her mouth around my length, my knees buckled.
I slapped a hand against the door behind me at the feel of another giggle humming around me.
I bit out, “Kendall,” only to have her giggle again.
This was a new experience for me. The most intense blow job I’d ever received involved giggles and vibration. When she tilted her head to the side and looked up at me, eyes sly and sensual, my heart thumped hard in response.
She leaned back, releasing me with a little pop. “Do you want more?” she asked.
Somewhere along the way, I’d laced my hand in her hair, and I gripped a little tighter as I gasped, “Yes.”
She sucked me in again, sending me spinning into my release as it sizzled through me like a lightning strike.
She leaned back as it spilled over her hand and chest before she swirled her tongue around the crown once more.
Her eyes lifted to mine with a smile, and my knees went weak all over.
Moments later, we stumbled into the shower together.
Later that night, while we lounged on the couch, Kendall studied and Travis napped against my hip.
I thought maybe, just maybe, I’d found heaven on earth.
A little while later, when I was drifting off to sleep, I realized the only downside to all of this was that it was so good that if something went wrong, it would gut me.
The following morning, I drove Kendall out to the rescue program again. As she was climbing out of my truck, I asked, “Dinner?”
She glanced over. “Always.”
Today’s trip for me was a sightseeing flight with two sets of customers, including Emily, who, to be honest, was beginning to get annoying. She oohed and aahed to rather dramatic effect as I flew over the Chugach Mountains near Anchorage. Even her brother looked annoyed with her.
When we were loading up the plane at the small airport in Willow Brook, Asher had warned me she was flirting with all of us. “As far as I can tell, she’s taking the throw-spaghetti-at-the-wall approach,” he offered with a dry chuckle.
I took the tight, bland-smile, not-react-to-anything approach.
I didn’t want to be rude, but there was no way.
There wouldn’t have been before. It wasn’t a hard and fast rule, per se, now that we were up and running at the resort again, but we’d all basically agreed, through actions, not conversation, that getting involved with customers could be an issue.
I figured the only way that could even get tested was if someone was actually interested.
When I landed back in Willow Brook late in the afternoon, I stopped in at Firehouse Café before heading back out to Heartfire Falls. “Well, well, well,” Janet said when she caught my eye.
I grinned over at her. “Well, well, well, to you too.”
She chuckled as Luna came walking out from the back with a tray of donuts that she began placing in the display case. “Can I get a dozen of those?” I asked.
Luna glanced up with a smile. “Of course.”
“Is a dozen enough for your family?” Janet teased.
“I should do two dozen, but it seems like there’s never two dozen available.”
“I have a new oven,” Luna offered, “so supply is better overall.”
“I’m telling you, these donuts are addictive,” I said, taking one she passed over and biting into it.
Luna’s eyes brightened. “I love hearing that.”
“Have you thought about doing these on a larger scale?”
Luna paused as she put the last donut from the tray into the case.
“I have, and I actually don’t think it would be fun. I like doing the small batches and enjoying the process. It just feels good this way. I’m also taking over the café, and that is my lifetime career goal.”
“I heard that and I think it’s awesome,” I replied.
“You do?” Luna looked at me, worry flickering in her eyes.
“Yeah. I mean, we all want Janet to live forever and to work here forever, but I can’t imagine the hours are great,” I pointed out.
Janet rolled her eyes. “I’m used to it. By nature, I’m a morning person, so I’ve made it work. But you are absolutely right that I can’t do it forever. Conveniently, Luna is also a morning person.”
“I have to be. I get up at three to do the first batch of dough. It’s a baker’s life.” Luna shrugged before focusing on me again. “Do you have a request for your donut selection?”
“Variety. I can’t speak for my brothers, or my mom, or Tommy, or Chloe, or Elsa—”
“Or Kendall,” Janet chimed in, her brows arching high.
“Or Kendall,” I added. “What do you know?” I narrowed my eyes.
Luna pressed her lips together to keep from laughing as she walked past Janet and pushed through the swinging half-door into the back.
Janet tipped her head to the side as she considered me. “I know that Maggie told me you two are finally being open about the fact that you’re together. That makes me so happy.” She pressed her palm to her chest. “You really have no idea.”
I let out a wondering laugh. “Honestly, I had no idea how many people were invested in the status of our friendship.”
“Well, we love you both, so we wanted you to face your feelings.” Janet’s eyes were warm.
My heart squeezed tight, and I took a quick breath. “I just hope I get it right.”
“Jude Silver,” Janet said, her gaze sobering quickly, “you will absolutely get it right. You’re a good man, and you love Kendall. You have the best foundation for a relationship that you could ask for.”
“We do?” I was honestly nervous, now that it was really happening.
“Of course you do. You’re best friends. That’s how Dan and I ended up together,” she said, referring to her husband, who had passed away many years ago.
“Yeah? I’ve never heard your origin story with Dan.”
Janet’s smile was soft and wistful. “We went to high school together, and he was my friend. I had a crush on him, and apparently, he had a crush on me. I never even knew about it then. Fortunately for us, we figured it out, we got married, and we opened this café.” She held both hands out wide.
“I hope Willow Brook is the better for this place.”
“I can’t imagine Willow Brook without Firehouse Café. Do you miss him?”
“Every day,” Janet said softly. “Cherish Kendall. You never do know what’s going to happen. I don’t mean to give you something to worry about, but that’s one thing I learned from losing Dan. I don’t have any regrets. We had a lot of fun together while he was here.”
I held her gaze for a long moment and took a slow breath. “Thank you for telling me that.”
“Telling you what?”
“How you and Dan got together. I didn’t know you were friends in high school.”
“Of course we were.” She shook her head, bemusement flickering in her gaze. “He was such a flirt.” She studied me for a few beats. “You’re not really a flirt.”
I chuckled. “No, I’m not.”
Luna reappeared with two boxes of donuts and slid them across the counter. Janet got me my preferred house coffee, and I grabbed another for Kendall. I figured she might want one. With the boxes of donuts on the passenger seat in the truck, I began the drive out to Heartfire Falls.
A few minutes into my drive, my dashboard lit up with Lincoln’s name, and I tapped to answer.
“Hey, man, how’s it going?”
“Hey, hey,” Lincoln said, sounding more cheerful than usual.
“You’re sounding downright chipper,” I teased.
I could hear the smile in his voice when he replied. “Feeling okay today.”
“So, what’s up? Mom is really excited about you coming home.”
“I know she is,” he said. “So here’s the deal, I’ll be there in two weeks.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. My contract didn’t have a specific date, just until the superintendent decided some of us could go home. He knows I’m looking to move home, so I’ll be there soon.”
“That’s fucking awesome!” Even though I was alone in the truck, I lifted one hand in the air in celebration. “I can’t wait to see you.”
“Can’t wait to see you and everyone else. I’m looking forward to seeing how the resort looks,” Lincoln replied.
“Remind me when you saw it.”
“For Elsa and Haven’s wedding, so I saw most of it. You all were still doing some of the finish work at that time.”
“Well, it’s looking good. Although we’re already in the thick of planning to build more rooms upstairs, because the waitlist is long.”
“I’ll be there to help. I’m looking forward to it.” He paused for a beat. “How are you and Kendall?”
I stared at my dashboard screen, as if he could see me. “Who talked to you?” I asked.
Lincoln chuckled. “Haven. Said you finally came to your senses.”
I bit back a sigh, rolling my eyes. “Dude, it’s not that easy. Kendall’s my best friend. I have a lot to lose.”
“You love her. You’ll make this work.” His tone was solemn.
A few minutes later, after we ended the call, I pondered Lincoln’s words. His confidence belied the uncertainty and doubts that spun inside of me. I only wished there was a manual for how to be in love. Maybe then, I would know this would work out.