28. Jake
TWENTY-EIGHT
JAKE
We pull up to the farmhouse with Darcy melted into my side. I put the truck in park and look over at her, not sure if she wants me to stay over.
“I had a lot of fun with you,” I say, my hand still planted on her knee, fingertips tracing her skin.
Darcy smirks and peeks out the windshield, bobbing her head. “Awful lot of coyotes out there, though.”
I chuckle and grip the side of her neck. “Sounds really dangerous.”
Darcy’s eyes burn into mine. “Guess you have to stay over. For safety.”
I nod, trying to look pensive. “I think you’re right.”
Darcy giggles before leaning in for a kiss. “Come on, cowboy. Let’s get some sleep.”
* * *
Darcy pops out of the ensuite bathroom in a pair of sleep shorts and a baggy t-shirt. I’m just in my underwear and I suddenly feel underdressed.
“Should I . . . grab a shirt?”
She shrugs. “If you want. I just know if I get in bed next to you and I’m naked, we’re not getting any sleep.”
“Is that so bad?” I ask. “Sleep’s overrated.”
Her smile is wry. “I’d normally agree with you, but with my anxiety so bad lately, I need to focus on good sleep.”
Fuck . Here I am begging for a sexy all-nighter, and she’s still going through a tough time. She was majorly triggered earlier tonight, and I’m just writing it off like giving her an orgasm cured her.
“No, totally. I didn’t mean you owe me anything.”
She puts up her hands. “It’s fine. I just need to make sure I get some good sleep. If it’s too tempting to sleep next to me?—”
I cut her off with a shake of my head. “Not at all. I’m just as game for snuggles.” I cross the room to stand behind her, looking at us reflected in the dresser mirror. “You know what’s hot?”
Darcy quirks an eyebrow at me as she rubs lotion into her arms.
I coil one of her curls around my finger. “You telling me what you need. It really means a lot.”
She snorts. “Well, I learned the hard way that you need to just state your feelings. If you don’t, people assume they know what’s best for you and drive you over a cliff.”
I rub her shoulders and kiss the top of her head to her sigh. “Sorry about that.”
“You live, you learn.” She shrugs and picks up the lotion bottle. “Let’s get in bed.”
Darcy directs me to sit up in bed, and she sits cross-legged facing me. “Give me your hand.”
I squint at her, but hold it out. She pumps lotion into her palm and then rubs it all over my hand and into my forearm. All suspicion melts away.
“Oh, fuuuuuuuuuck,” I moan as she digs into my thumb, which is apparently extremely sore? “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
She lifts one shoulder. “I like making you feel nice. Cared for. That’s how you make me feel.”
I puff out my bottom lip. “You don’t have to.”
“I want to.” Her hands continue kneading my arm and Stormy curls up in my lap. It all feels ridiculously good. “What had you so mad when you came into the bar earlier?”
My stomach leaps because I’m not so sure I did the right thing answering her phone. It made sense at the time, but I didn’t really think about the fact that I was going into her phone. Hopefully she’ll be none the wiser and just enjoy not being harassed by her ex every time she goes into town. I tell half the truth.
“The last part I need for my robot won’t come in for at least another eight weeks. That’s after peach season, so I’ll have to go home to test it.”
Darcy looks up from where she’s massaging my hand and arm. “Is that so bad?”
I heave a sigh. “My stepdad’s kind of a piece of shit. He’s mean to my mom and I feel like he’s just trying to steal the farm out from under us.”
“Oh, that’s awful,” Darcy says. “Are you going to inherit the farm at some point if he doesn’t take it?”
I tip my head to the side. “Maybe. I don’t know if I want farm life for the rest of my life.”
“Understandable,” she mutters and holds out her hands again. “Other hand, please.”
I oblige and she’s quiet.
“I don’t know what I’m doing after this summer. I built my whole adult life around my last job, you know? I know I could stay on here as long as I want, but it seems weird to do that as a person with a master’s degree.”
I nod. “What if it’s what you want?”
“I don’t know what I want. Feel kinda lost.” Darcy’s eyes trace over the ink on my chest and shoulder, and she changes the subject. “Tell me about your tattoo.”
I snort and smile. “My dad used to call me ‘Tiger.’”
“Oh yeah?” Darcy prods, encouraging me to go on.
“Because I liked Frosted Flakes so much.”
She makes a motion like I stabbed her in the heart. “That’s so adorable. I guess you got that after he passed?”
I nod. The tiger starts on my left arm, spans the left side of my chest, and ends with the tiger’s tail curling around my heart. Darcy finishes rubbing my hand by wiggling each finger. Then she flips my hand over and kisses the middle of my palm.
I grin. “Who knew you could be so sweet?”
“I am sweet! Ask anyone!”
“Not to me, you’re not. You were downright mean to me when I started working here.” I lie back on the bed and Darcy comes to rest her head on my pec.
“I thought you were gonna cause me trouble, so I had to put you in your place.”
“Am I trouble?” I ask.
Darcy turns on to her stomach, rests her chin on my chest, and looks up at me. “I don’t think so. Maybe just the fun kind.”
I lift to kiss her forehead and Darcy hums. Then she turns her face down, kisses where the tattoo curls around my heart, and nestles in to fall asleep.