13. Jake
13
JAKE
Approximately ninety-nine percent of my brain cells are having a party in the tip of my dick at the moment, so it takes me a minute to register the meaning of her words.
What. The. Hell.
“Who is Jodi Moore?” The words come out raspy as I struggle to regain control of my body. A task that’s nearly impossible when she’s still standing so close.
“My assistant. I mean, the mayor’s assistant. You might remember her from that summer.”
“I only remember you, Iris.”
She closes her eyes for a moment as if she’s absorbing those words. Like they’re a blow more than a caress.
“Are we talking about some kind of menage-a-whatever deal?” I run a hand through my hair and surreptitiously adjust my crotch with the other one, hoping she doesn’t notice. “I assume you have a reason for this rando request to ask out a woman I wouldn’t know if I bumped into her.”
“You did bump into her. You reached for broccoli at the same time in Cy’s Market. You had a moment.”
“The fuck I had a moment. At least not with this Jodi person. I don’t even like broccoli.”
She smiles, and I swear relief flashes in her gaze.
“Okay, I’m trying to get my grandpa to eat more vegetables. Maybe I bought broccoli. I buy loads of produce, most of which is destined to become science experiments in his refrigerator.”
“Jodi accused me of trying to steal you.”
Her voice has gone soft again, and she’s not making eye contact. I’m not imagining that Iris wants me, so why is she pawning me off?
“Is this an ‘I saw him first’ deal? Because we have history, Dixon. You have dibs.”
“I don’t want dibs.”
“The hell you don’t.”
She sighs. “Jodi’s father was the town’s mayor the summer we lived here. After you and Nick were sent away, I started senior year on my own.” She nods like she’s reassuring herself. “Sloane and I were friends, and I felt like this place could be different for me. I liked it here. I wanted to stay.”
She inhales then releases a shaky breath. “Then my mom fell in love. Or lust.” Her smile wobbles. “It’s hard to tell the difference with her. Always was.”
I refrain from admitting that’s relatable at the moment. I’m not looking to get the family jewels kicked into my throat.
I brush my fingers over the back of her hand when she draws in a shaky breath, like the memory isn’t one she wants to revisit. But I need to know. “Keep talking.”
“Mom chose Jodi’s father as the object of her affection that time around. An admired, married family man beloved by the entire town.”
“That’s unfortunate,” I murmur. “But he was the one who cheated. Your mom didn’t do what she did by herself.”
“That didn’t matter. We had no history here, other than the trouble Nick got into with you. And my mom was never good at female friendships, so she had no one–literally not one person–to take her side.”
“Which meant you didn’t either,” I say and my gut twists. Because Iris should have had someone. Her brother. Or me. Definitely me, but I’d let Nick drag us both into trouble and–no–I can’t blame him. I was reeling after losing Mike, and my appetite for self-destruction eclipsed what I felt for Iris. Guilt and grief blotted out everything good in my life for far too long. I hate knowing Iris was part of the collateral damage.
“Sloane stuck by my side, and I’ll always be grateful for that.” Her chin tips higher. “There was also a video. A sex tape, before those were a thing. His wife found it and subsequently showed several members of the town council. Jodi’s dad was forced to resign, so it wasn’t like he didn’t deal with consequences. But the scandal consumed the community, and instead of owning up to her role or trying to make some kind of amends, Mom did her usual and exited stage left.”
“Taking you with her.”
“And my connection to a place that finally felt like home.”
As much as I want to reach for her, I hold back. It looks like the slightest touch will shatter her into a million pieces. That’s the last thing I want, but it doesn’t explain her random request. “What does any of that have to do with me?”
“Jodi’s cousin has decided to run against me in the upcoming election. Scandal aside, the Moores have a long history in this town. Jodi’s uncle was universally loved. I’m not and my history here is shady at best. I’m going to need Jodi’s help to win the election. She likes you.”
“She doesn’t know me.”
Iris shrugs off that little fact. “She wants to. She promised to stop messing with my reputation if I promise not to mess with her chances with you.”
“Would it be rude to bring up the fact that she has a snowball’s chance in hell with me?”
“You might like her. She’s fun. You’re fun.”
“I like your kind of fun.”
“I’m not your speed, Jake. We both know it.”
“How do you know my speed?”
“It’s fast.”
“I can take things slow when slow is what gets the job done. How do you like it, Iris? Fast or slow, hard or soft. Or my favorite selection, all of the above.”
She snorts, but an adorable blush rises to her cheeks. “I like staying focused on the goal.”
“Which is?”
“Showing people I’m not the grim reaper of fun and Skylark’s reputation as one of the happiest towns in the country is safe with me.”
“You’re good for this town.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know you.” I give in to temptation and trace one finger along the edge of her jaw.
She shivers but then rolls her eyes so hard it’s a wonder they don’t hit the ceiling. “Go out with Jodi. You said you’d do anything.” She swats away my hand. “ Anything , Jake.”
Damn it. I did say that. And I’m a man of my word. Or at least I’m trying to be. Grandpa is putting me through the paces at the foundation, but I’m going to show him I can stick for the people who matter. I want to prove it to Iris, too.
“Fine. I’ll ask out your friend.”
“She’s not my friend. She’s my…frenemy.”
My turn for an eye roll. “Call her whatever you want. But I have a condition.”
“You didn’t say anything about conditions.” She’s always ready for a fight, and it makes me want to be the one who breaks through her walls—just enough to let her behind mine. Everything she does makes me want her more. But it’s more than physical need. It’s the way she somehow makes me feel steady and unmoored at the same time.
“I want you to kiss me.”
She finally takes a step away, but it’s too late. I’ve spent too long hiding, letting what I feel sit heavy in my chest. I’m not letting her go this time. Not without a fight.
“That’s ridiculous. I’m trying to set you up with my coworker. Why would I kiss you?”
“Because you might want me to take out this Jodi person, but you need to kiss me. Just like I need my mouth on yours. All over your body, if I’m being honest.”
Her eyes flame—disbelief and vulnerability swirling—and I realize she’s scared too. Scared of what this might mean. Of what it already does.
“Are we being honest?”
“Yes.” No need for witty banter right now. The air between us is practically shimmering with desire. Beneath it is something quieter. A truth I’ve been circling without saying–this woman might undo me—in all the best ways.
“Honestly, you’re the most irritating person I’ve ever known.” Her voice is low, husky. “One kiss and you’ll take her out.” She holds out a hand to shake on it, her fingers trembling. “That’s the deal.”
“When did you become such a master negotiator?”
“When I learned it was the quickest path to getting what I want.”
I envelop her small hand in mine and nod. “One kiss. Deal.”
She tugs that lower lip between her teeth again and then says what I need to hear. “Kiss me, Jake.”
The words might be spoken gently, but there’s no denying the command in them. I release her hand, and she lifts her palms to my chest.
I know she can feel my heart beating a mile a minute. I reach down and grasp her hips, digging my thumbs into the fleshy space in front of her pelvic bone. Not hard enough to hurt, but she lets out a little moan.
“Oh, god,” she whispers.
I press forward so she can feel that it’s not just my heart reacting to her. Like I said, I’m not trying to hide anything, at least not now. I watch her, savoring the yearning in her eyes and the way I can feel her body responding before our mouths even meet.
Although we’re both fully clothed, and there’s no way I can smell her desire, I know it’s there. I know if I were to place my hand between her legs, I’d find her wet for me. And we’re barely scratching the surface. I want to make her want me so badly she trembles with it.
Then I lose all semblance of thought because her lips touch mine, and they’re as soft as I remember from our one kiss, which has remained seared into my soul all these years.
Despite the fact that the restraint nearly kills me, I don’t push her for more than she can give, not yet.
As she has since the moment I met her, Iris surprises me. She traces her tongue over the seam of my lips, and when I open, she takes full advantage, just like I would. Is it any wonder I’ve never been able to get this woman out of my mind or heart?
Shit.
I pull back, because I refuse to let my heart lead. My dad used to tell me I’m soft like my mother, and I saw what loving him did to her. If I’m anything like that, I won’t risk giving anyone the power to hurt me. Even Iris.
She looks a little dazed, which is precisely how I feel. Then she blinks and offers me a bland smile. “I guess we have a deal.”
“You seriously want me to ask some woman you don’t even like out on a date after that?”
“What did you think I was going to do after we kissed—start practicing my Mrs. Iris Byrne signature? I’m not twelve or even seventeen anymore, Jake. I know that attraction doesn’t have to mean anything more than the physical.”
“Then point me in the direction of your bedroom, sweetheart, because if we’re just dealing with sex, I’m an expert.”
“Not with me,” she corrects, and oh, how I want to prove her wrong all night long. Up against the wall, in her bed, in the shower. So loud her neighbors hear us.
But not tonight. She’s already put up the walls again, and as much as I want to knock them down, I won’t. Not until she begs me.
“I’ll see you at our next dance class.” I lean in until my mouth is inches from the delicate shell of her ear. “Sweet dreams, Iris.”
She holds perfectly still but can’t stop the subtle shiver that runs through her. “I don’t dream.”
“I bet I can change that.” With a wink, I turn and walk out into the dark night.