Chapter 10
Calling himself five kinds of idiot as he watched the last boat of the day depart the island, Joe returned to the Beachcomber to shower, shave and change out of the clothes he’d worn to clean one of the boats.
Upon returning to the ferry landing earlier, he’d refused to answer any of the questions his employees were burning to ask about his arrest and had thrown himself into the demanding physical work in an effort to take his mind off everything that had happened. Too bad it hadn’t helped.
Staring at his reflection in the mirror, he had to admit he looked like shit.
The lingering effects of too much booze, not enough sleep and a couple of hours in jail had left him looking haggard, and his hand hurt like a bastard.
“You absolutely should not go over there tonight, do you hear me?” he said to the mirror. “Are you listening?”
Turning away, he muttered, “I didn’t think so.
” He pulled on a clean shirt and buttoned khaki cargo shorts.
“You’re just going to talk to her. You have to convince her we need to wait until the dust settles with David.
We can’t blow our chance. We have to do it right.
And no matter what, no touching. No matter what!
” Marshalling all his defenses, he grabbed his wallet and keys, left the room and headed downstairs, where he ran into Luke Harris, their high school classmate and Mac’s right hand at the marina. “Hey, Luke, how’s it going?”
The two men shook hands, and Joe winced at the pain that caused him.
“Joe.” Never one to be chatty, Luke sized him up with an amused expression. “Good day?”
“Screw you.”
Luke’s tanned face lifted into a small smile. “Never have liked that guy. Something not right about him.”
Appreciating the other man’s support, Joe grinned. “Couldn’t agree more. So, hey, I guess I’m supposed to throw a bachelor party for Mac. You in?”
“Sure thing. What do you have in mind?”
Joe hadn’t given it a thought. “Um. . .”
“How about poker and beer after work one night at the marina? We can take over the restaurant after it closes. Day after the Fourth? Mac’s brothers are due to arrive that day for the wedding.”
“That’s perfect. I’ll get Mario’s to do the food. Will you spread the word on the docks?”
“Yep.”
“Appreciate that. You have a good night.”
“You, too.”
At least this day hadn’t been a total loss, Joe decided as he set out for Janey’s small saltbox house, which was set back off Ocean Road, within walking distance of the veterinarian’s office.
Like her mother, Janey had filled her front yard with fragrant rose bushes that grew through the slats of the white picket fence.
Joe let himself in through the gate and took a quick look around to make sure no one was seeing him approach her front door.
She must’ve been watching for him, because she swung open the door and ushered him into her world for the first time.
He’d been invited to cookouts and other parties there in the past but had used work as an excuse to decline.
He had gone out of his way to keep his feelings for her hidden from everyone, and had always suspected stepping into her private space would be too difficult for him.
Now he wanted to take in every detail, every nuance.
On first glance, he decided her tiny home was warm and cozy, everything he’d expect from her.
Rich colors, shelves full of books, comfortable. Welcoming.
“Janey—” Joe forgot what he was going to say when she wrapped her arms around him and rested her face against his chest. He wondered if she could hear his heart hammering in response to her.
All his good intentions were shot to hell when the scent of jasmine invaded his senses and soft hair brushed against his jaw.
What choice did he have but to put his arms around her? Once again, he was struck by the perfect fit, the click of two halves becoming a whole. Did she feel it, too? There wasn’t supposed to be any touching, his conscience reminded him. Shut up. Just shut up.
“Thanks for coming,” she whispered.
“We have to talk, Janey.”
She tightened her hold on him. “I know, but can we just do this for a minute first?”
Even though a burst of emotion closed his throat, he managed to say, “Sure.” Joe told himself they were going to talk.
They needed to talk, but then her hands found their way under his shirt and all rational thought left his head in a tsunami of desire.
Her hands were warm and soft on his back, and all he could think about was how soft the rest of her had felt under him, wrapped around him.
“I missed you last night,” she said. “How is that possible when we only spent two nights together?”
His heart staggered, and his resolve disappeared.
Drawing back from her, he caressed her face and brought his mouth down on hers for a kiss that was equal parts desperation and urgency, as if it had been years rather than days since their last kiss.
As he feasted on her, a sense of calm came over him.
This was what he needed. All the anxiety and despair he’d carried around since their return to the island faded away.
He lifted her, felt her legs curl around his hips and her arms tighten around his neck.
“Bedroom,” he mumbled against her lips.
She directed him through the one-level house to a room at the end of the hallway.
Joe couldn’t have described the room. All he saw was the bed. Locked in another sensuous kiss, they landed hard.
A shriek from beneath them stopped his heart. “What the hell?”
“Trio,” Janey said breathlessly, raising herself up. A large three-legged cat darted out from under her and bolted from the room.
“Jesus.” Joe leaned his forehead on hers, still breathing hard. “That took five years off my life.”
Janey laughed and ran her fingers through his hair. “Where were we?”
“Here,” he said with a soft caress of lips touching lips.
“And here.” He ran his tongue over her bottom lip, and she responded by pressing her hips against his erection.
Through the haze of desire and emotion, he became aware of other noises in the house.
Scratching, moaning, more scratching. “What is that?”
“Dogs.”
He raised his head so he could see her face. “How many?”
“Five,” she said with a sheepish grin.
“You have five dogs in this little house?”
“And three cats.”
Joe chuckled and fell even further into a love so deep it knew no boundaries or limits.
“Do you know that one of my favorite memories of you was when you were about six? You had adorable pigtail braids and no front teeth. You had rescued a squirrel that had been hit by a car in front of your house. You carried him around in a shoebox. Remember?”
“Rocky.” Sadness radiated from her as if it had been minutes rather than years. “I tried so hard to save him.”
“Your mother was freaking about the germs, but you didn’t care.”
“I wasn’t allowed to bring him in the house, so I snuck downstairs after everyone went to bed and brought him up to my room. She still doesn’t know that.”
“Probably just as well.” He ran a finger over her soft cheek. “You had those overalls with strawberries on them.”
She started at him, amazed. “Strawberry Shortcake.”
“Huh?”
“My favorite doll. I loved those matching overalls. I can’t believe you remember that.”
“I remember everything.” Joe made a trail of kisses on her face. “I think I might’ve started loving you that long ago. You were something else, even at six.” More kisses, drawing soft sighs from her as the whining coming from the other room grew louder. “Could I meet your friends?”
“Now?”
“Sure, why not?”
“I thought you wanted to. . .” Pushing her soft center against his hardness, she reminded him of why they’d come to her bedroom.
As badly as he wanted her, he knew they needed to talk more than they needed to have sex again. “I’ll still want to later.”
“Promise?”
“Mmm,” he said against her lips. “Always.”
With what seemed to be great reluctance, Janey released him and sat up to run her fingers through her hair. She sat next to him for a long moment, studying him.
“What?” he finally asked.
“I’m still trying to figure out how everything changed between us so quickly. I look at you and I see Joe, my friend forever.”
He swallowed hard. “Is that all you see?” His heart pounded as he awaited her reply.
“No,” she said softly, “and that’s the part I’m trying to understand. I see all this other stuff now.”
Joe wanted to weep with gratitude and relief and amazement. Finally. Finally. Finally. “You’re seeing all the stuff I’ve always seen when I look at you.”
“I feel like I’ve just met you for the very first time and anything is possible.”
Moved, he took her hand and linked their fingers. Bringing her hand to his lips, he said, “Anything is possible, Janey. You just have to be sure you’re ready for it.”
“I know you’re worried, and I don’t blame you for that, but I am ready for this. For you. I want this, Joe. When I see you, now, since we, you know. . .”
“Screwed each other’s brains out?” he said with a grin.
She shoulder bumped him. “Stop making fun of me.”
“What happens when you see me now, honey?”
“I want to be alone with you. Even today, when I was so upset about the confrontation with David, all I could think about after I saw you at my parents’ house was getting rid of them so I could be alone with you.
I used the dogs as an excuse to come back here tonight.
I told them my dog sitter had plans, and I needed to take care of my guys.
Maddie wanted to stay with me, but I sent her home.
” Her face flushed to a rosy red that he found utterly captivating.
“I can’t stop thinking about how good it was. How good we were.”
Joe let out a low groan. As if he hadn’t relived every second, every nuance, a thousand times in the last few days.
“It was never like that for me before.”
“Janey. . .”