CHAPTER SIX
JAYE’SINSIDESTIGHTENED, hoping Velvet would accept his invitation. He knew he wasn’t playing fair but there were times when a man had to do what a man had to do. After realizing his mistakes, he was working like hell to correct them. She was eyeing the ribs and the ones on the grill were juicy, well-done, but not tough. Just the way she liked them.
She moved her gaze from the meat back to him. “Are you sure you have enough to share?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Trust me, I have enough to share. I also have a few beers in that cooler over there.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip for a moment and then said, “In that case, yes, I’ll join you.”
He forced the smile from spreading over his face. “Okay.”
She looked at the picnic table he was using and since he had covered it neatly with a tablecloth, the last thing he wanted her to do was get ideas that he was expecting someone, namely some woman, to join him later. “I found that table in the shed and tried making it look decent by covering it with a tablecloth.”
“You did a good job.” She switched her gaze from the table to him. “What made you decide to grill today?”
He had expected her question. “You know how much I like using my hands and had decided earlier in the week to paint this shed. When I finished painting, I looked inside and saw the grill, picnic table and a few other things that would be perfect for a cookout or a day at the beach since the weather is so nice today. You know how much I enjoy grilling, so the cookout won over the beach.”
He flipped over the meat and said, “Of course that meant going grocery shopping but that didn’t take long. Besides, it was nice getting out and meeting some of the locals. It seems a number of people do their grocery shopping on Saturdays.”
She nodded. “Yes, they do. That’s why I avoid grocery shopping on Saturdays.”
Without looking, he knew that her eyes were glued to the meat when he began removing some pieces from the grill. “How did you find out about this town?” he asked.
He handed her a plate and a fork, knowing she knew the drill. He cooked and she served herself. Velvet was not a finicky eater. She took the plate from him and grabbed the piece of meat he knew she’d been eyeing—the one he’d cooked just for her.
“Reid Lacroix. He and my father were on the rowing team together at Yale. When Reid attended my parents’ memorial service, he said if I ever needed to get away, this would be the place to come.”
“I see.” And he actually did see. Thanks to him, she hadn’t just felt the need to get away, she’d been driven to do a full escape. “He was right. In the month I’ve been here, I’ve discovered Catalina Cove is a pretty nice place.”
“It can grow on you, that’s for sure,” she said. “How did you find out about it?”
He didn’t say anything for a minute as he filled his own plate with food. There was no way he would tell her he’d hired a private investigator to find her and relocated here to win her back. He would confess everything to her one day, but not now.
“You know how it is in the banking industry. We’re always looking for expansion and a way to grow our brand. When the Barrows Bank came up on my radar, I knew taking it over would be a good investment and moved on it quickly.”
When she walked over to the table to sit down, he joined her. “How are you adjusting, Jaye? Colfax National Bank offers a number of services that Barrows Bank didn’t. You’re bringing everyone into the technology age.”
He chuckled. “I might as well since that’s the way things will be moving forward. Most people have smartphones and they’re getting smarter by the day. A week ago, we held a class at the bank on how deposits can be made from home or just about anywhere using your cell phone.”
She lifted a brow. “You actually held a class?”
“Sure did. You’d be surprised how many older people don’t use the advanced services or features because they feel intimated by them. Our class was for the sixty-five and older group and was taught by banking and technology experts from the same age group. That increased the participants’ comfort level tremendously. The last thing an older person wants is a millennial trying to show them anything. Needless to say, the class went well, and those who attended discovered all the added features my bank has to offer that will save time.”
“I’m glad.”
“The results of a follow-up survey we did show those who took the class are using some of the new banking features already. They especially like being able to check their bank balances at any time. Next week, we’re hosting a class on the benefits of direct deposit. There are a group of people who feel they need to look at their check, cash it and then take the money to the bank. Colfax National Bank is working with the major employers in town to implement benefits that will come with direct deposit.”
“Such as?” she asked, biting into her meat. When she licked sauce off her bottom lip, he felt the lower part of his body harden and was glad he was sitting down so she had no idea how aroused he was.
When she looked at him, waiting for his response, he said, “One benefit is having your funds available to spend a day early. That means those who would normally wait for Friday to get paid, now will be able to spend their money Thursday. They like that.”
“I can see why.”
She then tackled the corn. He loved seeing her eat and it was obvious that she was enjoying the food. To avoid staring at her mouth, he asked, “Yesterday, you said you had your challenges. How so?”
She shrugged. “Just the regular challenges most teachers face.” Then she asked, “How’s your dad and brothers?”
He was surprised she’d asked, especially since she’d made it clear she didn’t want people to know about their past. But he figured she was only asking because they were alone.
“Everyone is fine. Dad got married last year, Dean got engaged at Christmas and Franklin is still Franklin.”
A beautiful smile spread across her face. “I’d heard about your dad’s marriage, but Dean really got engaged?”
He wondered how she’d known about his father and figured her best friend, Ruthie, must have told her. “Yes. Dean met Sherri a year and a half ago and didn’t waste time putting a ring on her finger.”
“I’m happy for him.”
It was on the tip of Jaye’s tongue to say that he was glad his brother had had a lot more sense that he’d had. In fact, Dean had come right out and said that he didn’t intend to make the mistake Jaye had made with Velvet.
“Not sure if you knew there aren’t any more Bad News Steeles. Every last one of them is now married. Gannon and his wife had a baby last year and Mercury and his wife are expecting.”
“I’m sure their mother is extremely happy.”
“Yes, Eden is very happy. All six of her sons have tied the knot and are producing grandkids.”
Deciding to change the subject, he told her how he enjoyed jogging through the blueberry field behind their house. “I’m beginning to like blueberries, especially in muffins.”
“Then I guess you’ve become quite acquainted with the Witherspoon Café.”
He chuckled. “Yes. I’ve had breakfast and lunch there a few times with some of the guys Vaughn introduced me to. Ray, Sawyer and Kaegan Chambray.” Kaegan owned a huge shipping company in town.
She nodded. “All nice guys I’ve gotten to know since moving here. Their wives, Ashley, Bryce and Vashti are pretty special, too.”
She sipped her beer, then pushed her empty plate aside. “That was good, Jaye. There’s nothing like Colfax ribs.” She wiped her mouth, then stood to throw her scraps in the trash. “Thanks for the invite. That was right neighborly of you.”
Jaye knew her statement was deliberately letting him know they had enjoyed the meal together as neighbors and nothing more. “You’re welcome. In fact, why don’t you fix a to-go plate? I have plenty of leftovers.”
“You sure?” she asked with a hopeful look on her face.
He smiled. “I’m positive.”
“In that case...” She prepared another plate and wrapped it in foil. “Thanks, Jaye.”
“You’re welcome, Velvet.”
“Well, I’ll be seeing you.”
“Okay.”
He watched her walk away in that sexy stroll of hers, hoping she would look back.
But she didn’t.
VELVETPRACTICALLYHELDher breath until she had rounded the corner of the house where Jaye could no longer see her. Sitting across from him while eating had stirred up a lot of memories that should be dead and buried.
Just seeing him eat—nibbling on a rib bone—and drinking beer from the bottle had been a total turn-on. She’d always loved the shape of his full lips and thought they were inviting and sensually hot. More than once, her gaze had moved from one corner of his mouth to the other and lingered in the center, the very place her tongue would enter whenever they kissed.
Feeling her breathing was getting out of control, she drew in a deep breath as she entered her house. She needed a drink and it needed to be stronger than the beer she’d had. If she didn’t know better, she would think the grilling and the food had been premeditated on his part, but there was no way that it could have been. He’d had no idea when she would be returning home today. For all he knew, she might have made plans to be gone most of the day. Besides, why would he deliberately plan anything to include her?
She placed her cross-body purse on the end table and carried the plate of leftovers to the kitchen to put in the refrigerator. She returned to the living room and sat on the sofa, thinking of how she had studied Jaye when he hadn’t realized she’d been doing so. This was the closest she had been in his presence in the daytime, and more than anything she wanted to see what, if anything, about him was different. He had aged two years but had done so well. His features were still striking, from his dark eyes to his enticing lips and dimpled cheeks.
His outfit that she’d first observed through her bedroom window was even more compelling up close. During the day, he usually wore his tailor-made suits. However, today he was dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt. He was still built, with muscles in all the right places. She had seen those muscles up close. Had touched them. In fact, she had tasted every inch of his body.
And he had tasted every inch of hers.
The one thought she couldn’t dismiss from her mind was their ability to satisfy each other in bed. She was feeling a throbbing sensation between her legs just thinking about it. So why was she? Mainly because seeing him in the flesh couldn’t be helped. She had been a virgin at twenty-five when they’d made love together for the first time. Her body knew him as the man who’d introduced her to sexual pleasures and, at that moment, it was reminding her of that.
More than once over the last two years, she had awakened in the middle of the night after dreaming of one of their lovemaking sessions. Now, with him here in the flesh, it was even more challenging for her. Today, she not only saw him, but she smelled him, too. No man had a more sensuous scent. She would admit she had been turned on by it. Today.
Stretching her legs in front of her, she was about to grab her e-reader off the coffee table when her cell phone rang. Recognizing the ringtone, she reached into her purse and pulled it out. “Sierra?”
“Yes, I just wanted to thank everyone personally for coming to the meeting today, and also for agreeing to be in my wedding.”
Velvet smiled. “I feel honored that you asked me. Are you getting excited?”
“Yes, I am. Granted this will be my second wedding, but for Vaughn it’s his first and he wants to go all out. So I’m treating it as my first as well, since my marriage to Nathan was a huge mistake.”
Velvet had met Sierra’s ex-husband one time when he’d come to town to make trouble. Luckily, his plan had backfired. “And I am happy for the both of you.”
“Thanks. And there’s another reason I called.”
“Oh?”
“To make sure that you’re okay. We’d barely finished eating desserts and you rushed out rather quickly.”
Velvet didn’t say anything for a moment and figured, of all the people who’d attended Sierra’s meeting today, she would be the one to home in on her emotions. Deciding to be honest with her friend, Velvet said, “I needed to rush off for a pity party of one. I guess being around so many happy people in love got the best of me.”
“Not everybody at the meeting is happy and in love, Velvet. I told you about Zara and how she and her boyfriend broke up a couple of years ago. Probably around the same time as you and Jaye.”
Velvet leaned back on the sofa. “Okay, that’s two out of the eight women who were there. Whoop-de-do.”
“Sounds like your pity party is still in full swing, girlfriend. Should I come over with some more of these brownies? I could also bring a bottle of wine.”
That made Velvet chuckle. “Okay, I get your point. Besides, I can’t eat a single thing more. I just finished off a big plate of barbeque spareribs.”
“Barbeque ribs? From where?”
She hesitated, nibbling on her bottom lip. She might as well tell Sierra since there was no reason for her not to. “Jaye. When I got home, he was outside grilling and invited me to join him. I saw no reason for me not to, especially since I knew they weren’t just any spareribs, but Colfax ribs.”
Sierra chuckled. “There’s a difference?”
“Trust me, there is. Jaye’s paternal great-grandmother had her own special sauce. It’s been passed down through generations and it is so delicious.”
“That was kind of him to invite you to join him. How was it?”
“Like I said, the ribs were great.”
“That’s not what I’m asking, and you know it.”
Yes, Velvet knew it. “I thanked him for being neighborly. Nothing has changed, Sierra.”
“I think it has. Obviously, you didn’t mind being seen with him today.”
Velvet pursed her lips and then said, “Have you forgotten I live on Blueberry Lane where there’s only six houses on the block? In addition, this house is the only one in the cul-de-sac and Jaye and I were sitting at a picnic table in the backyard.” She stood when she felt the need to stretch. “Besides, I’d think people would expect me and Jaye to get to know each other, given the proximity of our residences. The last thing I want is for people to assume Jaye and I have any romantic interest in each other.”
“Who gives a royal flip what anyone assumes? You know the mistakes I made with Vaughn in caring what anyone assumed or knew. It’s your life and you should live it for you and nobody else. And you still haven’t answered my question, Velvet. How was it? How was it spending time with Jaye, the man you once loved?”
Velvet eased back down on the sofa as she thought about Sierra’s question. “I was hoping it wouldn’t feel like old times, Sierra, but...”
“But what?”
“Some parts of it did, although I think we were both trying not to let it. I might have placed him in an awkward position.”
“How so?”
“Jaye doesn’t love me, I know that. On the other hand, he knows why I left and I don’t want him to pity me. That’s why I’ve decided to start dating. The last thing I want is to give Jaye the impression that I haven’t gotten over him.”
“And you’re honestly going to start dating?” Sierra sounded surprised.
“No reason why I shouldn’t enjoy some fun dates. I’m not looking for any serious involvement, but it would be nice to go to the movies or out to dinner with a guy occasionally. Only problem is that no one has asked me out in months. Do you think I’ve scared the guys off?”
Sierra paused before answering. “No, but I believe someone else has.”
Velvet raised a brow, confused. “Who?”
“Webb Crawford. I heard he’s made it known around town that he wants you for himself and has pretty much told the other guys to back off. That means they won’t be approaching you for dates.”
That angered Velvet. “Webb had no right to do that when I made it clear over a year ago that I’m not interested in him. I don’t like his entitled attitude, and he would be the last guy I’d go out with.”
“I don’t blame you for feeling that way, but I’ve known Webb a lot longer than you have, and he was the same way in school. He felt he had a right to have whatever he went after. I guess he figures with none of the guys asking you out, eventually he will be your only prospect and you will go out with him.”
“When hell freezes over.”
“Well, I’m just telling you how he thinks. Vaughn is at the door, so I will chat back with you later. And promise me no more pity parties.”
“Okay, I promise.”
“Good.”
Velvet clicked off the phone, angry at what Sierra had told her about Webb. If the men in Catalina Cove were such wimps that they would do whatever Webb told them, then they weren’t worth going out with, anyway.
Velvet stood and was about to go into the kitchen when she heard a noise outside in the back. Moving to the dining room window, she saw Jaye was cleaning up the grill site. She drew in a deep shuddering breath and let it out slowly as she watched him.
Well, she knew at least one man in Catalina Cove who wasn’t a wimp. Too bad he was off-limits to her.