8. Jake
CHAPTER 8
JAKE
M y heart is racing without any sign of slowing down. I’m not one to get winded after sex, but this isn’t caused by mere physical exertion. This is the June effect.
“Wow,” she blurts out for the second time.
Lachy snickers. “You said that already, lass.”
“Well, it was a double feature, so I’m justified in repeating myself.”
I squeeze her thigh. “You can say wow as many times as you want.”
“I never said she couldn’t,” Lachy retorts.
June laughs, and my world becomes brighter and lighter. I wish I could bottle up the feeling and use it anytime I feel wretched. The second-best option would be to record her laughter, but I doubt it would have the same effect. It’s her presence that makes everything better.
“Boys, you don’t need to bicker over it.” She sits up and glances at the clock on the nightstand. “We should probably check if Ryan called.”
“Right.” I toss my legs over the side of the bed and get up. Lachy doesn’t move. He keeps his eyes closed and a possessive hand on June’s leg. “Aren’t you getting dressed?”
“I’m fine right here.”
“I’m going to take another shower after I speak with Ryan,” June announces.
Lachy looks at her. “Do you want company?”
She smirks. “The shower isn’t big enough for two.”
“Too bad.”
I’m already half-dressed when I hear my phone ring in the living room. “I bet that’s Ryan. I’ll go check.”
I stride out of the room since I’m the only one wearing pants. But it’s not Ryan’s name showing on my screen. It’s my father’s. Son of a bitch. He probably heard the news about our plane incident. I bet he’ll use that to try to force my hand. But not even an almost plane crash will make me change my mind. If anything, it just made it clearer that I’m where I belong. If he tries to hurt my chosen family, I will find a way to destroy him.
Instead of letting the call go to voicemail, I decline it. Let him know I’m avoiding him.
“Was that Ryan?” June asks. She’s wearing a bathrobe instead of the pretty dress from before.
“No. Spam.”
“Oh.” Her brows furrow.
I check my phone. “He sent a text to everyone ten minutes ago. Eros will be fine. He just needed a few stitches.” I was hoping the good news would erase the worry from her face, but if anything, it just made her more worried. “What’s wrong?”
She runs her fingers through her hair. “You trusted me with Mrs. Carpenter’s pets, and I let Eros get hurt.”
I step into her space and touch her arms. “Accidents happen, and cats are prone to cause them.”
“Still, I feel horrible about it.”
“All that matters is that he’s fine. Besides, Mrs. Carpenter doesn’t need to know.”
Her eyes bug out. “You don’t want to tell her?”
I shrug. “Why worry her when she can’t do anything about it? By the time she returns, he probably won’t even have a scar.”
June nibbles on her lower lip. “I don’t know.”
“Okay, you can tell her the next time she calls. Then she’ll kick you out of her apartment and you’ll have no choice but to move in with us.”
Her jaw drops. “That’s mean.”
I laugh. “Wow, and here I thought I was being romantic and shit.”
“Wait. You don’t seriously want me to move in with you, do you?”
The yes is on the tip of my tongue, but June is looking at me as if I’m crazy. The last thing I want is to scare her away. But I can’t lie to her either.
“It wouldn’t be the end of the world if you did.”
She blinks fast, then she steps back. Her frown tells me I dug a deeper hole for myself.
“How is the cat?” Lachy asks, walking into the living room fully dressed and reminding me I’m wearing only jeans.
“The cat is fine. I’m going to our apartment to take a shower.”
I run to the bedroom to get the rest of my clothes, then stride to the front door without making eye contact with June or Lachy.
“What’s gotten into him?” Lachy asks before I leave the apartment.
“No idea.”
June sounds sad, and it kills me. But I need to get my thoughts in order before more stupid shit leaves my mouth.
LACHLAN
I don’t know what’s up with Jake, but June looks like someone kicked her puppy. I step closer and touch her arm. “Are you okay, lass?”
She switches her attention from the front door to me. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Your eyes say different.”
Her cheeks blush. “I’m feeling guilty about Eros. He needs stitches.”
“Serves him right. It’ll teach him to not knock down flower vases.”
“Lachy! I can’t believe you said that.”
I laugh. “What? Someone has to tell the truth. Cats are arseholes.”
“Cats are arseholes,” Admiral repeats, making me laugh more.
“Great. Thanks a lot, Lachy.”
She starts to turn away, but I snake my arm around her waist and pull against my body. “Are you mad at me? You can’t be mad after I almost died.”
Her pretty hazel eyes widen. “You did not just try to milk that emergency landing.”
I grin, then kiss the corner of her mouth. “I’ll use all weapons at my disposal.”
“Is that so? In that case, no pie for you.”
Frowning, I ease back. “You can’t be serious.”
She flattens her lips, but she can’t hide their slight upturn. “Oh, I’m dead serious. Keep this up, and only Ryan will eat my pie.”
I narrow my eyes. “So, I’m being punished because I made Admiral curse?”
June stares at me, fighting to keep up her stern expression, but she loses the battle when I squeeze her sweet butt. Or maybe I lose the battle. She rises on her tiptoes and slants her mouth over mine. And just like that, I’m ready for round two. I now regret getting dressed.
She ends the kiss too soon and steps back. “I need to take Winston for a walk.”
“I’ll come with you. Maybe we can hit the farmer’s market.”
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot about the farmer’s market. I haven’t been there in a while.”
“I can’t believe we’ve never crossed paths. I try to go whenever I’m in town. Ryan loves it too.”
“It’s crazy that we used to live so close and never saw each other.”
I wonder if she used to go to the market with her bawbag ex. “Yeah, unbelievably crazy.” I eye her up and down. “You’d better get yer pretty tush back in that dress quickly before my pants come off.”
She drops her gaze to my crotch, then quickly looks up, her cheeks flushed. “From only one kiss?”
“With you, all it takes is one glance.”