Chapter Fifteen Jake #3
“Now that I can do. It will be my pleasure. Rosie, you’re on your own,” he yells to her and then spins me around his body so I’m hanging on to him from behind, arms around his neck.
“Told you skinny-dipping was a great idea. I knew you’d come around.
” He laughs as he starts swimming breaststroke toward the side of the waterfall.
“Hmmm, coming, what a great idea.” I giggle as he starts swimming faster.
“I’m full of them, Ash, let me assure you.” As we get closer to the spray, he calls over his shoulder to make sure I can hear him above the noise of the water. “Close your eyes and hold your breath as we break through.”
With no time to ask questions, we are already below the waterfall, and I can feel the power of the falling water as it hits my skin. Before I know it, we are through, and the view that greets me when I open my eyes was worth it.
“Oh my goodness, Jake, this is so special.” It’s like we are in a tiny room that has a waterfall curtain, and nothing exists outside of here. It’s just Jake and me.
He pulls away from me and hoists himself up onto a flat rock that is almost like a seat just beneath the water level.
“As special as you.” Lifting me up, he sets me to straddle his waist. My face is now level with his, and he doesn’t need to say the words. I can see it in his eyes.
Jake has fallen in love with me too.
Deep, soul-binding love.
I just can’t bring myself to say those words yet. And I hope he understands why I’m not ready to hear them yet either.
“I know we talked about us both being clean, and I’m not pushing you for anything, and I know you have birth control, but we don’t have protection, so you can change your mind,” Jake warns.
“No, it’s time. I want to feel every part of you, and this is just perfect. We will never forget this moment.” Not waiting for him, I drop my hand and line him up, taking him in one motion.
“Fucccckkkk!” we both cry out in unison at the pleasure and pain of him filling me.
As he starts to move, I know I’m never going to be able to let him go.
Then every conscious thought leaves me as he makes raw, sweet love to me under the veil of Peace Falls.
So perfect.
“Tiff will never believe me when I tell her I spent time lying naked on a towel-covered rock in the sun today, tanning parts of my body that haven’t seen sunlight since I was a baby.” I giggle. Jake is driving us into town to meet up with Chase and Tiff for dinner at Alberto’s Restaurant.
“Maybe don’t share that story in front of Chase, though. I don’t want my cousin thinking about my girlfriend naked. I kind of like him and don’t want to have to make a scene in the restaurant again,” Jake says while squeezing my hand that he has sitting on his leg as we drive.
“Oh, your cousin is going to have more than that to worry about tonight. Tiff is annoyed we haven’t introduced him to her yet. I just hope he knows what he’s in for.” I smile at him, looking so handsome in his blue jeans and plain black shirt. Simple but enough to get my hormones whirring.
“Damn, what is she going to be like when Declan arrives in three days’ time and there are three of us in town?” He shakes his head with a stupid smirk on his face.
“Do you still think Beckett will stay away, and just try to micromanage you all from Los Angeles?” I still can’t get a read on the relationship between Jake and his brother. He obviously loves him, but it seems like he has spent most of his life trying to seek his approval.
“We can only hope.” His demeanor changes a little at the mention of Beckett, and we sit holding each other’s hand for the rest of the drive, just listening to the music on his truck’s stereo.
As soon as we get out, you can tell that summer has really hit us.
There is a breeze that’s not as fresh as usual, so I’m glad I could wear bare shoulders, showing off the glow of today’s tan.
It’s the part I love about summer, flowy thigh-length dresses like this one, with little spaghetti straps tied up over my shoulders.
Seeing sweat beading on Jake’s brow, I feel for him in jeans. “Don’t worry, Alberto’s is air-conditioned.” I take his hand and we head straight into the restaurant because if we stay outside much longer, the little amount of makeup I have on will be running down my face with sweat.
As Jake opens the door to the restaurant for me, I can feel the cool air hit me.
“Enjoy it while it lasts. My house is not much fun in the summer, and it holds the heat.” I glance to my side where I see him smiling before leaning in toward me.
“That’s fine, we can just sleep naked under the stars. May as well finish the day as we started it.” He wiggles his eyebrows up and down at me.
“You are incorrigible. Stop corrupting me.” I roll my eyes at him.
“Then stop begging me to do naughty things with you.”
A shiver travels all the way down my back from his words as we are greeted by Julie.
“Well, hello again, Doc. Different date tonight? Watch this one, he’s a bit skittish.” She chuckles to herself at her little joke.
“Just needed a good woman to tame me.” Jake pulls me closer, tucking me under his arm.
“Well, it seems you picked one of the best from what I hear. Table for two?”
“No, for four, please.” I don’t elaborate. Julie doesn’t need any encouragement to keep talking.
“Okay, let’s put you down the back then. Follow me.”
Jake is busy pulling out my chair and getting me comfortable when we hear Tiffany arrive. It’s not like she’s quiet and doesn’t know every person in town.
“Oh, sorry I’m late. There was this customer who wouldn’t stop talking even though I was almost pushing him out of the teahouse. You know, places to go, people to see.”
Although Jake was just about to sit, he’s now back standing and pulls out Tiff’s chair for her.
“Love a man with manners, thanks. So, where’s the hot cousin?” Tiff blurts straight out, and I just groan.
“We talked about this, Tiff—behave.” I hit my forehead with my hand as I hear the front door open again and look up to see Chase making his way toward us, quickly brushing past Julie, which I’m sure she won’t be happy about.
“Me? I’m always on my best behavior.” She proclaims her innocence.
“I call bullshit, like I do with most things that come out of your mouth,” I reply as Chase joins us.
“Evening, all. You must be Tiffany, the spooky lady.” Chase holds his hand out for her to shake, and I can see she’s sizing him up.
“Not spooky. Maybe a little mystical, but not spooky. I’m not a witch. Jake, what did you tell him?” Huffing, she looks our way as she shakes Chase’s hand.
“Hey, it wasn’t me, I didn’t say anything,” he professes as Julie arrives at the table next to ours to take their drink order.
“Well, I know it wasn’t Ashley because she doesn’t believe in anything I tell her anyway. But hello, Exhibit A.” She waves her hands up and down in front of Jake.
“Shh. Don’t you dare say any more in here where there are so many ears.” I slap my hand over her mouth.
“This sounds like a story I need to hear.” Chase is already encouraging her, and this is not a good sign.
“Me too.” Jake sits back in his chair, folding his arms like he’s waiting to be entertained.
Before Julie gets a chance to turn and take our order, Kimberly, the manager of Alberto’s, walks out from the kitchen and stops at our table.
“Can’t hide that you’ve arrived in the room. Hello, everyone.” Glancing around the table, she makes eye contact with us all.
“Oh, come on, why is everyone picking on me tonight? Lucky I love you, Kimba.” Tiff stands and hugs Kimberly.
“Hi, Kimberly, this is my boyfriend, Jake, and his cousin Chase.” The two boys are both staring at Kimberly in a strange way.
“Oh wow, as in little Kimberly who used to play at Heatherbrae with us sometimes as kids when your gran was visiting ours,” Jake pipes up as both he and Chase smile like some happy memories are running through their minds.
“I didn’t think you would remember me. It was such a long time ago.” Kimberly shrugs.
“And you were so little that the girls used to smother you with attention like you were their own living doll. But I remember you for sure.” Chase now joins in. “I forget how small this town is. Well for us anyway.”
“Yeah, no need to remind us that you guys got to get out of here, lucky you. Some of us were born here and will die here.” Kimberly smiles.
“Nothing wrong with that. I’m here with you, Kimba.” Tiff reaches out to take her hand and squeezes it.
“It was different obviously than living here, but we loved being up here because we were holidaying together,” Chase says as he picks up his napkin to lay it in his lap.
“But yeah, small-town life is not for me. I don’t really settle anywhere for that long.
But I’m going to enjoy this time with the guys and Gran, that’s for sure. ”
“What about you, Jake, is small-town living your vibe?” Tiff pins him with a stare.
“I think it’s time to order some drinks, and I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starving,” I announce, changing the topic of conversation, not ready to go there.
I rattle off my drink and meal order to Kimberly as the others scramble to choose.
As she heads to the kitchen and passes the drinks order to the bar, Tiff and Chase get into a conversation while Jake’s head hangs a little low.
I don’t want today wrecked, so I’m determined to pick the mood back up. Placing my hand on his thigh under the table, I give it a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay, let’s just enjoy a good night.” I lean closer to him to finish. “And if you’re lucky, it might end up under the stars . . .”
“Naked?” he asks, a naughty grin spreading across his lips.
“Maybe.” I wink, and he reaches toward me to kiss me on the cheek.
“Thank you.” His voice is gravelly with emotion.
“I trust you. We’ll work it out when the time is right.”
And we both understand this is neither the time nor the place for any big deep and meaningful conversation, especially when we have company.
“Yes, we will.” This time, Jake kisses me hard on the lips, then turns back to join in the conversation, and Tiff looks at me with concern.
I just shake my head gently.
I know the time for that conversation with Jake is getting closer.
And the closer it gets, the more I’m scared of what the outcome will be.
I know he still has months here yet, and a year is a long time, but the harder I’m falling I know I won’t be able to wait that long to know if he’s staying or going.
Already I know I don’t want to let him go, so even though we agreed to take it one day at a time, I’m not sure I’m cut out for that.
If it becomes my only option, could I cope with being a vet in a city again?
I suppose time will tell.