CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“ALLTHELITTLE darlings are asleep. So is Dani,” Sierra said with a quiet laugh as she joined Velvet at the kitchen table for a glass of wine.
“Dani did say her flight had been one from hell,” Velvet said, grinning.
Sierra rolled her eyes. “That’s any flight for Dani. She hates flying and her hubby, Emory, wasn’t with her to hold her hand. She claims Crane wasn’t any help. Honestly, what did she expect? My precious niece is only six.” She took a sip of the wine Velvet had poured. “Thanks, I need this.”
Velvet took a sip of hers, too. “So do I,” she said, then asked, “When will Vaughn be back?”
“Tuesday before noon. He’s been gone almost a week and I miss him so much. I plan to be at Zara’s Haven, and the minute he opens the door, I’ll jump his bones.” Sierra then burst out laughing. “Good grief, I’m sounding like Dani.”
“But that’s all good because you’re happy and in love,” Velvet said, recalling a time she’d been happy and in love. Unfortunately, her guy hadn’t fallen in love with her the way Vaughn had fallen in love with Sierra. Why was she unlucky when it came to love?
“Don’t do that, Velvet.”
Velvet looked up at Sierra. “Do what?”
“Dwell on the past.”
Velvet took another sip of wine. “It’s not hard to do when the man from my past is living next door.”
“And how’s that going?”
Velvet breathed out a deep sigh. “You recall that time when I told you about my hormones and how they’d almost gotten the best of me once?”
Sierra nodded. “Yes. That was the time you thought about flying back to Phoenix for a one-night stand with Jaye and then disappear again, right?”
“Yes. Well, I did it, Sierra, and I didn’t have to fly to Arizona for it.”
Sierra’s mouth dropped open. “Are you saying that...”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying. Jaye and I had a one-night stand. And it was just what I wanted, and definitely what I needed. After, I made it clear it was a one-and-done with no continuation.”
Sierra studied her over the rim of her glass. “He agreed to that?”
“Yes.” She leaned closer and said, “That’s the way he preferred things, too. But now, according to Jaye, he no longer engages in sex-only affairs.”
Sierra lifted a brow. “Since when?”
“Not sure. He did say he hadn’t had sex with a woman since me.”
“He actually admitted that?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, what do you think of that?”
Velvet shrugged. “I honestly don’t know what to think, Sierra. Granted, given his womanizing reputation, nobody could believe it when he agreed to an exclusive relationship with me. But when we broke up, there was no reason for him not to go back to his womanizing ways.”
“What if he’s changed?”
Velvet didn’t say anything for a minute. “He has changed, Sierra, but not the way you think. I figure since all his close friends have gotten married, for the first time ever he probably feels out of his element and is merely taking a social break. I’ll give him a few months and he’ll be back to sex-only affairs again.”
“Do you really think that’s what it is?”
“I have no reason not to think so. I suggested that reason to him and he claims that’s not it, and that he’s merely giving himself time to explore his inner self to determine why he engaged in those kinds of affairs in the first place. Honestly, what’s there to figure out? He’s a man who enjoys sex and women.”
“So, the two of you haven’t had any other contact since sleeping together that one time?”
“Not sexually, but he did ask me to go jogging with him, which I found very odd.”
“What’s so odd about it?”
“For one thing, during the three years we were together, Jaye never invited me to go jogging with him. Not once. He always said that it was his private time.”
“Did you go?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm...now he’s including you in that private time?”
“I guess you can say that. And another thing, he didn’t freak out when I told him unpleasant news.”
“Freak out how?”
“In the past, whenever I would bring up unpleasant news from work, with my corporation or if I tried discussing our future, he would either end the conversation or immediately change the subject. Yesterday, when we were jogging, he actually listened when I told him about that situation with Allen Bordeaux.” Velvet took another sip of wine. “And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“He hasn’t tried taking me to bed again.”
“But didn’t you tell him it was only a one-night stand?”
“Yes, but the Jaye that I knew would see that as a challenge and would have seduced the hell out of me by now.”
Sierra laughed. “You seem disappointed that he hasn’t.”
Was she? Maybe she was a little. “I just don’t understand him anymore.”
Sierra reached out and touched her hand. “What’s there not to understand, Velvet? I think he’s changing for you.”
Velvet shook her head as she picked up the wine bottle and poured herself another half glass. “Jaye doesn’t change for anyone.”
“But what if he’s doing it to get you back?”
“That’s not it, trust me. But whatever is driving Jaye to do what he’s doing will eventually come out.”
“YOULOOKBUSY.”
Jaye turned around upon hearing Velvet’s voice. Removing his safety glasses, his eyes roamed over her. Every single inch. He liked how she looked in a pair of skin-tight jeans and a pullover green sweater. When his gaze returned to hers, he asked, “When did you get home?”
“Thirty minutes ago. When I was unpacking my overnight bag, I noticed you out here from my window.” She looked at the worktable, lumber and electric saw. “What did you do? Turn Delisa’s shed into a workshop?”
He couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his lips. “Something like that. I figured she wouldn’t mind.”
“I’m sure she won’t.” She paused. “So, what are you making?”
“Rocking chairs.”
She lifted a brow. “Why?”
He gazed toward the house and said, “Because they will complement the style of house. I can see them on the porch. Besides, it gives me something to do.”
“Oh, I see.”
No, she really didn’t, and Jaye decided now was not the time to let her know he was building the chairs for them. He recalled her telling him once that for years her parents had his-and-hers rocking chairs, and how in the evenings they would sit out on their porch and watch the sunset, rock in the chairs and talk. She’d said that had been their private time together and that’s what he wanted for him and Velvet. A private time that wasn’t connected to the bedroom.
“Well, I’ll let you get back to what you were doing.”
He wasn’t ready for her to go yet. “How was the sleepover?”
She smiled. “It was great. The girls were wonderful, and Sierra, Dani and I really enjoyed them. Of course, Teryn thought it was the best birthday ever.”
“I’m glad things turned out great for Teryn. She seems like a swell kid.”
“She is.” Then Velvet asked, “How long will it take you to build the chairs?”
He leaned against the worktable. “Not long. I plan to work on them every chance I get. My goal is to have them finished in a couple of weeks.”
“Then you will.”
He chuckled. “Why are you so sure of that?”
She shrugged. “Because you’re the type of person who’ll accomplish anything he sets his mind to doing.”
Jaye certainly hoped so because right now winning back her love topped the list. “You can help.”
“I can? How?”
“By deciding on what color the chairs should be.”
She tilted her head to look up at him. “You want me to do that?”
“Yes.”
“You might not like the color I pick.”
“I’ll like it. I trust your judgment.”
She hesitated. “You’re sure?”
“I’m positive.”
A huge smile touched her lips. “Thanks, Jaye.”
It occurred to him at that moment the number of times she had volunteered to help him with his home-improvement projects, and he would turn her down, preferring to do it himself. Now he could see how doing so had shut her out of things when they’d been together. Yet, she had remained in their relationship for three years, hoping he would change. When she saw he wouldn’t, that’s when she’d determined he was a lost cause.
“Okay, I’ll start looking at colors next week. I already have an idea of what will blend in well with the color of the house.”
“Okay.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me what that color is?”
“No. Surprise me.”
She nodded, grinning. “I’ll do that.” She glanced at her watch. “You don’t have much more daylight left so I’ll let you finish up.”
“Have you eaten dinner?” he asked her.
“No, but I’m not hungry. Sierra prepared a special brunch of soup and sandwiches for everyone, including the parents, when they came to pick up their girls. I’m still stuffed from that.”
“Just asking. I’m going to grab dinner at the Witherspoon Café and wanted to see if you’d like me to bring you back anything.” There was no need to invite her to dine with him since he knew her position on them being seen together.
“Thanks for asking, Jaye, and I’ll see you later.” She turned to leave.
“You will see me in the morning.”
She turned back to him. “Excuse me?”
“I said you’ll see me in the morning. We’re going jogging, remember?”
“Are you sure you want to do it again with me?”
“Vel, I’ll do anything again with you at any time.”
Jaye could see the darkening of her eyes and was glad she knew he wasn’t just talking about them jogging together.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Jaye.”
“At five.”
“Okay, at five.” And then he watched as she quickly walked back inside the house.
“OKAY, RUTHIE. YOU’REBEGINNINGto sound like Sierra,” Velvet said later that night as she curled up in bed. She had just finished telling her best friend the same thing she’d shared the other night with Sierra at the girls’ sleepover.
“And maybe you ought to listen to what we’re saying. If you recall, I told you whenever I saw Jaye around town, he was never with a woman. He was hanging with Mercury or his brothers. He’d pretty much become a loner after you left him. That’s why I believe what he told you about taking a break from sex-only affairs.”
“Well, it honestly doesn’t matter to me.”
“And I honestly think it does. I hope you know that the one-night stand you two shared will have the opposite effect. You’re going to want Jaye now more than ever.”
Velvet frowned. “How do you figure that?”
“Because whenever you get a sexual itch that needs scratching, he’s right next door. You won’t have to talk yourself out of flying to Phoenix to make a booty call.”
She rolled her eyes. “Another roll between the sheets with Jaye won’t be happening. I’m good for another two years, maybe even three or four.”
“We’ll see.”
“Goodbye, Ruthie.”
“And before you go, I just need to tell you that I read somewhere that making out in a blueberry field is out of this world.”
Velvet knew Ruthie had read no such thing. “Bye.” She clicked off the phone.
After getting up to go to the bathroom, she was sliding back in bed when she heard a noise outside her window. It was close to ten at night. Surely, Jaye wasn’t still outside working on those chairs. She went to the window and discreetly looked out. He had erected a huge bright light in the shed and was still at it. His profile was to her, and she saw he was still wearing his safety glasses and work gloves.
Leaning over the worktable and measuring a slab of wood, she liked how his jeans stretched tight across his rear end. Instead of thinking of what a great tush he had, she should have been concerned that he was still outside working at this hour when they were supposed to go jogging at five in the morning. Did he not believe in getting eight hours of sleep at night? But then when did he ever get that many hours of rest? Although they’d maintained separate households during their three years, they had slept together most nights at his place or hers. Even then he would wake up during the wee hours of the night and make love to her.
Slipping the curtains back in place, she knew Jaye was a grown man who could take care of himself. When he got tired, he would call it a night.
Yawning, she moved back toward the bed, determined to get her proper rest, even if he didn’t.
Hours later, Velvet found herself caught in the throes of one heated dream. She and Jaye were in this house together, in this bed. Again. He was kissing her all over, and every touch of his lips to her skin was precise, perfect, on point. And the wet licks to her flesh magnified her desire for him. Jack Colfax, Jr., knew what to do and how to do it to make her come apart and she was doing it now. She could feel herself thrashing around in the bed, eager for what was to come.
She almost came, and each time she did, Jaye would do something to stall it, make her that much more greedy and needy. Finally, he was positioned above her and was lifting her hips, getting ready to thrust deep. Her body was ready, excited, hungry for this. Only from the only man it knew.
Velvet could feel him begin to ease inside her, and then suddenly...
Her clock’s alarm went off.
“AREYOUREADY, VELVET?” Jaye asked when she opened the door for him early the next morning. He’d always loved that I’m-still-sleepy look she was wearing now or those times he would wake her up in the middle of the night to make love to her.
“Yes.”
“You might want to grab a jacket. It’s cooler outside than it was on Friday.”
“Okay. Come in while I grab one.”
He entered as she hurried toward her bedroom. The last time he’d been here was when they’d made love and the memory of that night was making him aroused. He wished he could say it was too early for that, but when it came to Velvet, the time of day never mattered. He always wanted her.
“I’m back and ready.”
Jaye had news for her. He’d never left and was still ready. He was grateful for the looseness of his jogging pants that adequately concealed one hell of an erection.
“Then let’s go. Early morning jogging is a great way to start your day.” He escorted her to the door, noticing she smelled good. Her scent always had a way of filling his nostrils.
“And your week, I hope. Progress reports go out this week, and I know that parent I was telling you about won’t be too happy. But then he was sent an official warning of what could happen if his son’s grades didn’t improve.”
“Well, at least he’s been put on notice,” Jaye said, opening the door and following her out.
As they walked toward the back to do warm-ups, he said, “Let’s try to do a couple more than we did last week, in the same amount of time.”
“Okay.”
Ten minutes later, they were jogging off toward the blueberry fields. “I forgot to mention that Dad told me to tell you hello. So did Dean and Franklin,” he said, gazing over at her.
“When did you talk to them?”
“Last week on that business trip. The four of us were together then. In Birmingham. We officially broke ground for our new bank. The first in Alabama.”
Jaye figured she was surprised he’d told her that. Usually, she never knew when another Colfax Bank was opening until he asked her to join him for the grand-opening celebration. He was seeing more and more how he’d deliberately shut her out of his life when he should have been including her in it.
“I like your dad and brothers,” she said as they began jogging at a comfortable pace for the both of them. He liked that their movements seemed in sync with each other. Just like their movements in the bedroom.
“And they like you.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute and then said, “Deciding to leave Phoenix was hard for me. I had to give up friendships I’d cultivated because of my relationship with you.”
It had been hard for him, too. His brothers had given him hell. So had the Steele family. “Everyone missed you, Velvet, and blamed me for your leaving.”
“They should not have blamed you, Jaye, and I regret that they did. My expectations of your feelings were my doing and not yours. You’d told me upfront and several times in between that our relationship was built on sex and nothing more. I was wrong to hold out for more.”
“I did tell you once that I loved you.”
“Yes, but in the same breath you made it clear what you really loved was all the time we spent in bed having sex.”
Jaye didn’t say anything for a moment because he could clearly recall that night. The words I love you had slipped out while they’d been making love. He had been buried deep inside her and emotions he had never felt before for any woman had consumed him, and before he knew it, he had blurted out the words. When he realized what he’d done, he quickly decided to take the true meaning of them back. The last thing he’d wanted was to fall in love and admit it to anyone.
“So tell me about your new bank.”
Was she making the request because she figured he wouldn’t tell her anything because he never had? If that was the case, then he would surprise her. “It’s going to be nice. The community it will serve is big. It will be one of our biggest banks.”
“Even larger than the one in Phoenix?”
They had several branches in Phoenix, but he knew which one she was referring to. “Not larger than our corporate office but definitely larger than any of the other branches.”
By the time they had finished the first lap, he had discussed a number of things with her, and she definitely seemed interested in what he’d told her about Franklin submitting a bid to Reid Lacroix regarding that housing development.
“It’s going to be a nice place. I want one of those lots on the ocean and plan to purchase one when they go up for sale.”
He lifted a brow. “You do?”
“Yes. I like it here and have always wanted to own oceanfront property.”
“I thought you liked Phoenix.”
She hesitated. “I still do, but I’m not sure I’d consider Phoenix my home again. I have no reason to do so.”
He was silent as they came to a stop at the spot where they had begun. He heard what she’d just said, and more than anything he intended to give her a reason. “This is where we part ways for now. I hope you have a good day. I’m stopping by LaFitte Seafood House on my way home to grab takeout. Would you like anything?” He saw her eyes light up. Seafood was her favorite, and he knew it.
“Are you sure you don’t mind? I have a community committee meeting after school, and it would be nice if I didn’t have to stop anywhere before I got home.”
“I don’t mind at all, Velvet. Just tell me what you want.”
“A number twenty-two. It has an assortment of everything, including their crab cakes, which are to die for.”
“Okay a number twenty-two it is.” And just like the last time, he leaned in and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I’ll see you later, Vel.” It seemed she didn’t have a problem with him using the shortened version of her name when they were alone.
“Okay, I’ll see you later, Jaye.”
He took off to finish his other laps and although it was hard, he didn’t look back.