Chapter 10
“Janie, did you know you have blue paint in your hair?” Mama J asked as Janie wheeled her down the hallway.
Jane laughed. “Yes. I was painting my room this morning.”
“You’re painting your room?” Mama J gave her a look of alarm as Jane wheeled her into her room. “But I loved the colour of your room. There was nothing wrong with it!”
Her voice was rising, and Jane rubbed her arm soothingly. “Not at your house, Mama J. Remember, I don’t live there anymore.”
Mama J frowned before nodding slowly. “Right. We don’t have a home anymore.”
Tears spilled down her wrinkled cheeks, and Janie squatted next to the wheelchair and took her hand. “Don’t cry. We have each other. That’s all that matters.”
“You’re a good girl, Janie.” Mama J stroked her hair. “Your hair looks very pretty, even with the blue.”
“Thank you,” Jane said. “Are you ready for bed now?”
“I am. Will you read to me for a while?”
“Of course I will.” Jane helped Mama J change into her pajamas before tucking her into the bed. She sat on the side of it and reached for the book.
“Janie?”
“Yes?”
“Are you happy?”
“Yes,” Jane said. “I’m always happy when I’m with you.”
Mama J smiled before closing her eyes. “You’re such a good girl, Janie.”
She began to snore almost immediately, and Jane sat with her for a few minutes longer before leaning down and kissing her forehead. “I love you, Mama J. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She was leaving the care home when her cell phone rang.
“Hi, Amy.”
“Hey, sweetie. How are you?.”
“Good. What’s up?”
“Nothing. I called to see what time you would be home.”
“I’m just leaving the care home,” Jane said.
“How is Mama J?”
“She was good today,” Jane said.
“Good. Someday, I’d like to meet her.”
“I’d like that,” Jane said.
“So, are you heading straight home?” Amy asked.
“Yes, where else would I go?”
“My brother’s house,” Amy said bluntly.
Jane sighed. “The only reason I would go there is to apologize for my inappropriate behaviour last night.”
“Good idea. You really should pop by and apologize,” Amy said. “Have fun apologizing, Janie. I won’t wait up for you!”
“Amy, no, that isn’t - ”
Amy ended the call, and Jane sighed and stuck her phone in her pocket before walking to the bus station. Maybe she should go over there to apologize. It wasn’t that late, and she had no other plans. She’d planned to apologize Monday morning, but was the office the place to be saying sorry to her boss for molesting him?
No, it wasn’t, she decided. It was best to get it out of the way. If she didn’t apologize and tried to pretend that it had never happened, Luke might not give her a raise, and she could use the extra money.
Don’t be stupid, Jane. He wouldn’t do that.
He might. She didn’t know him all that well, did she?
You know him well enough. Get your ass to Luke’s house. Maybe offer him a blow job as an apology.
Not helping!
Her inner voice remained silent, and she shoved her phone back into her pocket. She would stop by, apologize, and leave. Easy peasy.
* * *
Nearly an hour later,she stood on the doorstep of Luke’s home, cursing her decision. This was a terrible idea, but there wouldn’t be another bus for half an hour, and she was already freezing her ass off. She had bought a thicker coat at the thrift store last week, and a hat, scarf, and mittens, but the wind was bitterly cold, and her entire body was numb. She took a deep breath and, shivering, rang the doorbell.
She waited a few minutes and was about to ring it again when the door opened. Luke was wearing a T-shirt and shorts despite the winter weather and stared at her in surprise. Just the sight of him sent her desire into overdrive, and she tried to think past the lust-induced cloudiness in her brain.
“Uh, hi, Luke. Can I - ”
She squealed in surprise when Luke grabbed her arm and yanked her into the house. He pushed her up against the wall and kissed her as he fumbled at the zipper of her jacket.
“Luke, wait,” she gasped as he pulled down the zipper and tugged her jacket off. It took her mittens with it, and he cursed when she touched his back.
“Your hands are freezing,” he grumbled, pulling off her hat and dropping it to the floor.
“Luke!” She clutched at him when he picked her up and carried her down the hallway. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you to my bedroom.”
“I – that’s not why I’m here,” she said as he wrestled her boots off with one hand and left them at the foot of the stairs.
“Why are you here?” He licked her neck, and she jerked against him.
“I came to apologize for last night,” she said as he carried her into his bedroom.
“You could have just called,” he said.
“I thought you deserved an apology in person.”
“Is that really why you’re here?” He set her on her feet. “Or did you come here to finish what we started last night?”
She stared wide-eyed at him as he unbuttoned her shirt and shoved it down her arms. “Well, Ms. Smith? Do you want to apologize, or do you want to be fucked?”
He flicked open her bra and pulled it off her body before cupping her breasts and kneading them lightly. “Which is it?”
“The second one,” she whispered.
“Say it,” he demanded as he reached for the button on her jeans.
“I want to be fucked,” she said in a low voice.
He paused with his fingers on her zipper and said, “Try again, please, Ms. Smith.”
“I – I want you to fuck me, Mr. Dawson.”
He kissed her. “I want that too, little Jane.”
“We really shouldn’t,” she said. “You’re my boss.”
“I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.” He tugged her jeans down her legs. He lifted her and placed her on the bed before pulling off her jeans and dropping them to the floor. He stripped off his t-shirt and shorts, and she stared at his erect cock as he lay on his side next to her.
He was big. Maybe even a little worrisome big. Jane ignored her sudden trepidation. It would be fine. Luke wouldn’t hurt her.
“Please,” she whispered. She was already soaking wet, and she wanted Luke’s too-big cock with a desperation that embarrassed her.
“Patience, Ms. Smith.”
He kissed her again, tasting and teasing her mouth with slow licks as she moaned and dug her fingers into the sheets. He licked her upper lip before kissing his way down her chest. He studied her small breasts, and she could feel herself flushing self-consciously. She wished suddenly that she’d had the money for implants. Jeremy’s words echoed in her head, and she tried to cross her arms over her breasts. Luke grunted in disapproval before using one hand to pin her arms above her head.
“I love your breasts,” he said. “You have the prettiest nipples. Are they sensitive, Jane?”
He stared at her as she stammered, “I – I think so.”
“You think so? Let’s find out,” he said with a small grin.
She cried out when he licked the right one before sucking it into his mouth. He teased it with his teeth and tongue as she arched upward.
“Very sensitive,” he murmured appreciatively.
He sucked on her left nipple and then flicked at it with his tongue as she rocked her hips against him. When both of her nipples were taut and throbbing, he traced his tongue along her collarbone. She moaned and squeezed his biceps, panting harshly when she felt his warm tongue dip into the hollow of her throat.
His hand cupped her pussy through her panties, and she bucked upward, her fingers digging into his flesh.
“Jane,” he said hoarsely, “you’re so wet. I don’t think I can wait any longer.”
“I know I can’t,” she said. “Please, Luke.”
She lifted her hips in a silent plea, and he pulled off her panties and dropped them over the side of the bed. He cupped her pussy again, his fingers gliding across her wet lips before he rubbed delicately at her clit.
“Oh God!” She grabbed his arm and arched her back. “Please don’t tease.”
He rubbed her clit with firm, fast strokes, and she writhed against the bed as tension coiled in her belly. She was embarrassed at how close she was, but Luke seemed to know exactly how to touch her.
One thick finger slid into her, and the combination of his finger and the way his thumb rubbed against her clit, threw her over the edge. She arched into his touch and tried not to scream as the pleasure flowed through her.
“You look so beautiful when you come,” Luke murmured into her ear when she finally collapsed against the bed.
His earlier need to hurry seemed to have disappeared, and he propped his head up in his hand as he lay on his side next to her. He explored her trembling body with the tips of his fingers, circling each of her nipples before tracing her ribs. He touched the small triangle of curls at the top of her pussy and made feather light brushes against her hips.
“Luke,” she whispered, “I want to – I mean, it’s your turn.”
Her gaze dropped to his erect cock. The tip rubbed against her hip, and she must have looked apprehensive because Luke’s roving fingers stilled next to her belly button.
“What’s wrong, Jane?”
“You’re very big,” she said.
An odd look crossed his face, and she said, “I’m just a little nervous. I’m sure it will be fine. I’m really wet, so, you know…”
She trailed off as a hot blush lit her face and chest on fire. Oh my God, could she be any more awkward?
He still wasn’t saying anything. Anxious to make up for her stupid comment, she wrapped her hand around his cock and stroked him firmly. He groaned and immediately pulled her hand away.
“Luke? Did I do something wrong?” She was making a complete fool of herself.
“No,” he said. “I’ll come all over your hand if you keep doing that.”
“Oh.” She tried to act casual, but secretly, she was thrilled. Did he really want her that much?
“I had a sex dream about you,” he said.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
He said nothing else, and she traced her fingers over his broad shoulder. “I had one about you too.”
He sat up and opened the nightstand drawer. She watched as he opened the condom package and rolled the condom over his dick before returning to his side next to her.
“Will you tell me about your dream?” she asked.
“Tell me about yours first,” he said.
“It was the day I fell asleep on the couch in your office. I dreamt that we were in a room together and you had all this food for me on a table. It was all my favourite food, and I was so hungry. You said I could eat as much as I wanted, but I had to kiss you first as a thank you.”
She blushed softly. “It’s why I kissed you when I woke up. I – I thought I was still dreaming, and I was starving and wanted the food.”
He laughed, and she could have slapped herself in the head. “I also really wanted to kiss you, too, though.”
“I wanted to kiss you as well.” He nuzzled her neck, and she lifted her head so he could press a kiss against her soft skin.
“Tell me about yours,” she said.
He paused before leaning over her and sucking at her nipple. She moaned as desire and need blossomed in her belly again.
“It’s not sweet like your dream.” He nipped at the soft underside of her breast.
She jerked and clutched at his head. “T-that’s okay. Tell me.”
His hand circled her belly button again before moving lower. “You needed a place to stay. I brought you to my house – to my bedroom - and told you that you had new job duties.”
His fingers tugged at her curls before slipping lower. She spread her thighs and moaned when his fingers brushed against her clit. “Wh-what were they?”
“Taking my cock into your tight pussy,” he whispered into her ear as his finger slid into her throbbing core.
“Oh God,” she whispered.
He eased a second finger into her. “In the dream, you said it was too big and that you couldn’t take all of it.”
He gently stretched her pussy with his fingers as he kissed the curve of her ear. She arched her hips upward before moaning, “What did you say?”
“I told you to be a good girl and take all of my cock.”
She shuddered all over, and for a moment, she thought she might climax again from just Luke’s hot words and the pressure of his fingers in her pussy.
“Was I a – a good girl?” She asked.
“Yes,” he whispered before pushing his fingers deeper.
“Oh God! Please,” she moaned.
“Do you want to be my good girl again, Ms. Smith?” He sucked on her earlobe.
“I do,” she said eagerly.
“Say it.” He bit gently on her lobe.
“I want to be your good girl.” Inspiration struck her, and she clutched at his thick forearm. “I want to be your good girl, Mr. Dawson.”
He groaned, and she could feel his hips jerking against the bed. He pulled his fingers out, and she made an embarrassingly loud whine of protest.
“Spread your legs wide,” he rasped as he moved between her thighs.
She did what he asked, gripping his biceps when he guided his cock to her entrance. A small trickle of apprehension returned, and her hands tightened around him. He stopped immediately and gave her a look of reassurance.
“I’ll go slow, sweet Jane.” He watched her face as he pushed in slowly.
“Christ, you’re so tight,” he muttered. “Am I hurting you?”
“No,” she said.
He pushed a little deeper. Her walls stretched to accommodate his width, and she reminded herself to breathe as he moved steadily forward. When he was fully sheathed, she felt stuffed full of his cock.
“Don’t move yet, okay?” she said.
“Trust me,” he said, “if I move right now, I’ll seriously embarrass myself.”
That made her giggle, and he groaned a curse. “Don’t squeeze like that.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
He took a few deep breaths before propping himself up on his hands. “Are you good?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Thank God,” he said almost to himself.
As he began a slow slide and retreat, Jane braced her feet on the bed and slipped her hands around his narrow waist. She met each of his strokes with a thrust of her hips, and he made a low groan. “You feel so good, Jane.”
He started to move harder and faster, and she bit her bottom lip as every nerve ending lit up with a crackling snap. Her fingers dug into his hard flesh as he pressed his mouth against her ear.
“I want you to come on my cock. Do you need your clit rubbed?”
She shook her head, unable to catch her breath long enough to form words. The thickness of his cock, the grind of his pelvis against her clit with every down stroke, was more than enough to make her come.
She clamped her legs around his hips as her orgasm began a slow build in her belly. He was pounding her into the mattress now, making her small cries of pleasure cut out with every thrust. Her entire body trembled and then suddenly stiffened as she arched beneath him, and her pussy clamped around his cock. Her climax shook her body, and she clung to Luke as his long strokes turned short and erratic.
He made a hoarse shout, slamming into her and pinning her against the bed as his head fell back. He ground his pelvis against hers and shuddered wildly. She watched as a look of bliss crossed his face before he pressed his body against hers and buried his face in her neck. She stroked his back and kissed his shoulder as his hot breath washed over her throat.
After a moment, he rolled off of her. He disposed of the condom and then collapsed on his back before yawning.
“Should I go?” Jane asked.
He turned on his side and scowled at her. “No. You’re staying the night.”
“I can go,” Jane said. “I’m not expecting - ”
He made a loud grunt of displeasure before tugging her into his arms. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady thud of his heart beneath her ear. His big hand rubbed her back in slow circles.
“Go to sleep, Jane.” He yawned again.
“Good night, Luke.”
He muttered a goodnight in return, and within seconds, his hand had stopped circling her back, and his breathing was deep and even. She listened to the beat of his heart as contentment washed over her. It was so lovely to be with someone again, so nice to have a warm body to sleep against and a –
Don’t, Jane. Don’t start thinking that way. He’s your boss, not your boyfriend. In the morning, you tell him this was great, but you can’t do this again. Remember what happened the last time you dated your boss?
Cold tendrils of fear licked at the base of her spine. Her inner voice was right. She had to stop sleeping with Luke. It was dangerous and stupid of her. In the morning, she would tell him this was a one-time thing, and he’d be okay with that. What guy didn’t like to sleep with a girl with no strings attached?
Tomorrow, all this would end, and she’d be alone in her bed, but for now, she would take advantage of the situation and snuggle her ass off. She curled closer to Luke, putting her arm around his waist and kissing his broad chest. His hand moved to her hip and squeezed lightly.
“S’okay?” he muttered.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Go to sleep, Luke.”
* * *
Luke wokeup to an empty bed. Trying not to be frustrated, he used the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and yanked on a pair of shorts before walking downstairs. He was surprised at his level of disappointment. He couldn’t keep sleeping with Jane and planned on telling her that this morning, so why did he wish she hadn’t left?
He wandered into the kitchen and made an embarrassingly girlish scream when he saw Jane. She was sitting at the island, and she immediately jumped up and gave him a look of chagrin.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t.” He placed his hand over his thudding heart.
She stared disbelievingly at him, and he couldn’t help but grin. “Was it the screaming that gave it away?”
She smiled and sank back into her chair but knotted her hands together nervously. “It might have been. I made coffee. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” He poured himself a cup and brought it to the island. Jane stared at the countertop and didn’t look up when he slid onto the stool beside her.
“How did you sleep?” he asked.
“Good,” she said, “really good.”
“Did you? You look tired,” he replied.
She grimaced, and he could have kicked himself. “Sorry, I didn’t mean – that is, you look fine.”
“Thanks,” she said.
There were a few minutes of excruciating awkwardness. It was time to tell Jane that as much as he enjoyed their night together, they obviously couldn’t do it again. So, why couldn’t he seem to get the words out?
“Luke,” Jane said, “we can’t do this again.”
Disappointment coursed through him, and he shook it off. This was a good thing. They were on the same page, and that made everything much easier.
“Luke?” Jane said timidly. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about,” he said. “I was going to say the same thing.”
Relief crossed Jane’s face, and he bit back his hurt feelings. Did he want her to be disappointed? Christ, what the hell was wrong with him? He wanted to sleep with Jane, and he had. End of story.
“Okay, good.” She slid off the stool and grabbed her purse. “I should get going. I’ll see you at work tomorrow, okay?”
“Are you not going to family dinner tonight?” he asked.
“No, I can’t make it.”
“Why not?”
Luke, let it go! The less time you spend with her, the better.
“I have other plans,” she said. “Anyway, thank you again. Bye, Luke.”
“Let me get dressed, and I’ll give you a ride home,” he said.
“I’m going to see Mama J,” she said.
“I’ll drive you there.”
“No, that’s okay. I don’t mind taking the bus.”
“Jane,” he said in exasperation, “it’s cold outside, and I would feel much better about how we’re leaving things if you let me give you a ride.”
Or, she could ride you. Why don’t you coax her back upstairs for the morning? You didn’t exactly put on a good show last night. Tell me, did you last three minutes or four minutes before you were coming? Hell, you didn’t even get to eat her pussy last night. I bet she tastes delicious. I bet she’ll scream your name when she comes all over your face.
God help him, he wanted to do just that. Despite knowing it was a mistake, despite what Jane had said, he wanted her back upstairs and naked in his bed with a desperation that alarmed him.
“Luke? Are you okay?”
He drank the hot coffee in four large gulps, burning his tongue and throat. But it had the desired effect of cooling his lust and softening his cock. He slid off the stool. “Yes. I’m fine. Give me five minutes, and I’ll drive you to see Mama J.”
“Okay,” she said in defeat.
He stopped in the doorway. “Don’t leave, Jane.”
“I won’t,” she promised.
* * *
“What are you doing?”Jane gave Luke an alarmed look when he shut off the car and unbuckled his seatbelt.
“I want to meet your Mama J,” he said.
“What? Why?” She grabbed his arm when he started to open the door.
“Because she sounds like a lovely woman, and I’d like to meet her.” He arched his eyebrow at her and shook free of her hand like she was a bothersome fly before stepping out of the car.
She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before getting out of the car. God, could this be any more awkward? Why the hell did she sleep with Luke last night? As amazing as it was, she’d barely slept last night as regret wormed deeper. She’d slept with her damn boss. What if he fired her for sleeping with him? What if he fired her for refusing to keep sleeping with him?
Her stomach contents curdled, and she didn’t realize she was hesitating until Luke tugged on her arm. “Jane? Let’s get inside. It’s freezing.”
She followed him numbly toward the care home. She needed to stop freaking out. Luke wasn’t going to fire her. Yes, it was a mistake to sleep with him, but he seemed to realize that as well, so it was all good. Neither of them wanted to sleep together again, so there was no problem. No problem at all.
Except for the fact that you do want to keep sleeping with him.
No, dammit, she didn’t. She was just on a high from the unbelievable orgasms he gave her last night. She had limited experience, but she was pretty confident that her boss was damn good in bed. He was way better than Jeremy, anyway. It wasn’t surprising that she was feeling a bit of disappointment over not sleeping with Luke anymore.
Are you sure he’s better? Maybe last night was a fluke. You should probably sleep with him a few more times just to be sure. You didn’t even get to suck his dick, for God’s sake. C’mon, Janie, once more…for me?
She flushed bright red at her inner thoughts. She was acting like a sex addict. What was wrong with her?
“Jane? What’s wrong?” Luke took her arm and pulled her to a gentle stop.
They were standing in the care home foyer, but she took no notice of the residents sitting in wheelchairs or on the couches or how Bev studied them from behind the front desk. She stared up at her boss, her gaze planted on his lips. An image of them sucking on her nipple, of his teeth biting her pale skin, flickered through her, and she made a low moan.
“Jane,” he said, “stop looking at me like that, or I’ll take you back to the car right now and fuck you. I swear I will.”
She chewed on her bottom lip, and he made his own low groan. “Christ, stop that too.”
“We agreed that last night was it for us,” she whispered.
“We did,” he said in a low voice. “So, stop looking at me like you want to be fucked.”
She wanted to say she wasn’t, but she couldn’t seem to spit out the lie, so she settled for staying silent.
He held her arm when she tried to step away. “Stay here for a minute.”
“Why?” She needed some distance from him. It was safer that way.
“Because I have one hell of a goddamn stiffy, and I’d prefer not to have the senior citizens with heart conditions catching a glimpse of it,” he muttered.
That made her laugh and set off fireworks of need in her belly.
“Yes, real funny,” he said through gritted teeth, “until I give some old lady a heart attack.”
“Oh, please,” she said, “your dick is big, but it’s not heart attack inducing big.”
He gaped at her, and she burst into giggles. After a few seconds, he grinned and said, “Why, Ms. Smith, I had no idea you could be so crude.”
She didn’t object when he dropped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a friendly squeeze. “I highly approve.”
“Thank you.” Keeping her eyes above his belt line, she said, “Can I move now?”
“Yes. Although knowing that you think my dick is big almost caused a problem again.”
She hesitated and said, “Last night was very nice, Luke. I should have told you that earlier.”
He winced and dropped his arm from her shoulders. “Very nice? Okay, mission accomplished in losing the stiffy. Let’s go meet your Mama J.”
She stared at him in puzzlement. What was wrong with saying it was very nice? Sure, it didn’t precisely portray what she was thinking, but it wasn’t like she could tell him that he had the biggest dick she’d ever seen, that she’d never come as hard as she did last night, and she wished she could fuck him again and again. That was rude. Besides, they weren’t doing this anymore.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I – that was a compliment. Really.”
“Sure,” he said. “Let’s go, Jane.”
He was irritated with her. She could see it in his face and the stiff way he walked. She sighed and stopped at the front desk. “Hi, Bev. How’s Mama J this morning?”
“She’s good. She just finished breakfast.” Bev’s gaze shifted to Luke’s face. “Hi, I’m Bev.”
“Sorry,” Jane mumbled. “Bev, this is my, uh, friend Luke. Luke, this is Bev.”
“Nice to meet you.” Luke shook her hand, and Bev giggled like a schoolgirl.
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
As they headed down the hallway, Jane glanced behind her. Bev was leaning over the desk and staring at Luke’s ass. She gave Jane a look of unabashed glee and a thumbs up. Jane bit back her grin. She couldn’t blame Bev. Luke did have a fantastic ass.
She stopped in front of Mama J’s room. She was suddenly nervous. “Listen, Luke, you don’t have to do this. I know you’re busy and - ”
“I want to meet her,” he said impatiently.
Before she could stop him, he had knocked on the door and opened it. Jane scooted past him and hurried to the window. Mama J was sitting beside the window and staring at the falling snow.
“Mama J?”
“Janie! Hi, sweetheart. What are you doing back here so early?”
Jane breathed a sigh of relief and kissed Mama J’s wrinkled cheek. “I missed you. I thought we could spend the morning together.”
“Aren’t you the sweetest thing,” Mama J said. “But I worry that you spend too much time with me. You should be out having fun and...”
She caught sight of Luke standing behind Jane. “Hello, I’m Josephine.”
“Hello, Josephine.” Luke took Mama J’s hand and shook it gently. “My name is Luke.”
“You’re a handsome fellow, aren’t you?” Mama J said.
Luke grinned at her. “You’re rather beautiful yourself, Ma’am.”
Mama J laughed. “Charming, too, I see. Are you the new nurse?”
“No,” Jane said, “Luke is….”
She was suddenly flustered by what to tell Mama J. Mama J would find it strange that her boss was visiting. She’d decided to say he was her friend when Mama J’s eyes lit up.
“Is he your boyfriend, Janie?”
“What?” Jane shook her head. “Mama J, no, he - ”
“Oh, I’m so happy.” Mama J reached out and grabbed Luke’s hand again. “You have no idea how happy I am. I was so worried about my little Janie being all alone. She’s such a sweet girl, and I love her so much. She’s been much happier lately, and now I know why. She’s in love.”
“Mama J,” Jane’s face flamed with embarrassment. “Luke and I aren’t - ”
“My Janie is a real catch,” Mama J told Luke. “You’re treating her right, aren’t you?”
“Mama J!” Jane said.
“What, honey?”
“Luke and I aren’t… I mean, we’re not…” She took a good look at her foster mother. Mama J’s face beamed with happiness for the first time in months, and her pale cheeks were flush with colour.
“What is it, sweet Janie?” Mama J said with another happy smile at Luke.
Jane sighed. She was about to ruin Mama J’s good mood. “Luke and I aren’t - ”
“We haven’t been dating very long,” Luke broke in smoothly.
“Oh, I’m so happy for you both,” Mama J said. “What do you do for a living, Luke?”
“I work for a clothing design company,” Luke said.
“How nice,” Mama J said. “Do you enjoy it?”
“I do,” Luke replied.
Mama J pointed to a chair in the corner. “Pull up a chair, Luke. I want to hear everything about you.”
“Mama J, he was only dropping me off,” Jane said. “He doesn’t have time to stay for a visit.”
“Of course I do,” Luke said.
“No, you don’t,” Jane said pointedly. “You have that thing, remember?”
“The thing was cancelled,” Luke said. “Besides, what better way to spend a Sunday morning than with two beautiful women?”
Mama J giggled and took Jane’s hand. “Oh, he is quite charming, Janie. I like him very much.”
Luke grinned at her as he dragged the chair over. “I like you too, Josephine.”
* * *
“Jane?”
Jane groaned and closed her eyes for a moment. She wondered if she could shut off the bedroom light and hope that Amy thought she was sleeping.
“I know you’re awake, Jane. Can I come in?”
She sighed and sat up in the bed. “Yes.”
Amy opened the door and immediately climbed into the bed beside her. She leaned against the headboard and stared at Jane. “So.”
“So, what?”
“So, what happened with my brother?”
“Nothing happened,” Jane said.
“Bullshit. You spent last night with him, didn’t you?”
Jane picked at a thread on the quilt. “Fine. Yes, we had sex.”
Amy grinned and held out her fist. “It’s about damn time.”
Jane rolled her eyes and fist-bumped her. “I’m pretty tired, Amy. Can we talk another time?”
“Nope,” Amy said cheerfully. “It’s not that late, and if I don’t get all the details from you now, I never will. Why are you looking so depressed?”
“I’m not,” Jane said. “I’m tired.”
“Ugh. Yeah, I know why you’re tired,” Amy said. “Seriously though, what’s going on? I assumed you were with Luke when you didn’t come home today, but he showed up to family dinner without you. He said he spent the morning with you and Mama J, but you told him you had other plans tonight.”
“I did,” Jane said.
Amy stared at her, and Jane sighed. “Last night was amazing, and I enjoyed myself immensely, but your brother and I agreed that last night was it. We had sex, got it out of our systems, and now we’re back to the way it was before.”
“It’s not going to work.”
“It’ll work,” Jane said.
“It won’t,” Amy said. “Trust me, Janie. Once you sleep with someone you work with, it never goes back to normal.”
“Are you speaking from experience?” Jane asked.
Amy jerked like a live wire had touched her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I think you and Mark slept together.”
“Why would you think I slept with him? I told you I hate him,” Amy said before bursting into tears.
Feeling terrible, Jane put her arm around her. “Honey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so nosy.”
Amy continued to sob, and Jane pulled her closer. She reached for some tissue from her bedside table and handed it to Amy before holding her and rubbing her back. When Amy’s sobs had slowed to sniffles, she sat back and gave Jane a watery smile.
“Better?” Jane asked.
Amy shrugged and blew her nose before leaning back against the headboard. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Jane said. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Amy stared up at the ceiling. “No, I don’t.”
“All right,” Jane said.
Amy gave her a surprised look. “Thanks, Jane. I appreciate that.”
Jane shrugged. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t push you.”
“Yeah, maybe you could mention that to Valerie. She’s my best friend, and I love her, but the woman’s like a dog with a bone. She won’t stop asking me what’s wrong.”
“She’s worried about you, and so am I,” Jane said.
“I’m fine,” Amy said. “Will you seriously try to act like you never slept with my brother?”
“Yes,” Jane said. “I don’t regret it, but it wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Sleeping with the boss is a quick way to finding yourself unemployed.”
“Luke wouldn’t fire you for sleeping with him,” Amy said. “If he even tried, I’d kick his ass and hire you as my assistant. So, don’t worry about that.”
“Thanks, Ames,” Jane replied.
“You bet, Janie. But for what it’s worth – I think you should consider finding another job and having a relationship with my brother. He’s a good guy, and he likes you. I know he does.”
Jane smiled at her but didn’t say anything. Despite what Amy thought, Luke wasn’t interested in anything more than sex with her. Even if he was, she wasn’t ready to give up the best paying job of her life for a relationship. She wouldn’t find a job that paid as well as this one, and what would happen if she and Luke broke up? She wouldn’t be able to live with Amy anymore, and she’d be right back to where she used to be, only with a lower paying job and a lot less money. Mama J would be kicked out of the care home. Her stomach clenched at the thought, and she must have been pale because Amy touched her arm.
“You okay?”
“Yes. Just tired,” Jane said.
“I’ll let you go to bed. Listen, will you promise to still come to family dinners, at least? My mom and dad like you, and if you stop coming, mom will harass you until you tell her why. It’s easier if you just come to dinner.”
“I’ll try to come at least once a month. How’s that?” Jane said with a smile.
Amy laughed. “I’ll let you work out the schedule with Mom. Good night, Jane.”
“Night, Amy.”
When Amy was gone, she clicked off the light and curled up in the middle of the bed. For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine that she was with Luke and in his bed before pushing the image out of her head. She’d had her night with him, and it was best to forget it ever happened. Of course, that was easier said than done. She was already feeling nervous about tomorrow. What if he treated her differently? What if he –
Enough, Jane! Luke will be fine. You’ll be fine. Everything will be fine. Go to sleep.
She blew her breath out in a harsh rush and closed her eyes. Everything would be fine.