Chapter 9
Nine
The next morning, Kayla was in that foggy state between sleeping and wakefulness when she heard a knocking sound. She still hadn’t gotten used to Jack’s house noises and figured it was just the house settling. Then the knock came again, only louder this time.
“Kayla? Are you awake?” Jack asked through the door.
“No,” she replied.
He chuckled. “You just answered me.”
“You woke me up,” she grumbled.
“Do you know what time it is?”
Kayla opened her eyes just wide enough to peer at the clock on the nightstand. “What the hell!” She bolted upright. “It’s ten o’clock!”
“I know,” Jack said. “Can I come in?”
“What for?” She ran her hands over her messy hair and tucked the covers tightly around her chest.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” Jack said.
“I’m fine.” She’d had a rough night’s sleep but was fine other than that.
“Can I please come in?” Jack pleaded.
“I guess so,” she huffed. So what if he sees me like this? If he were my boyfriend, he’d think I was beautiful no matter what I looked like.
The door creaked open, and Jack stepped inside. His gaze roamed over her. “I was worried when you didn’t come down to breakfast. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I had trouble sleeping last night,” she admitted.
“Were you too hot? I could turn down the thermostat.”
She’d been hot all right, but not for the reason he thought. After all their touching last night, she’d been hot and bothered, and her erotic romance book hadn’t helped. “It wasn’t that. I was just keyed up from all the … activity.”
“Me too.”
“Really?” Kayla expected he’d slept like a baby in his plush king size bed.
“Yeah. It was hard to turn off my mind.”
What about your body? “I’ll be fine once I take a shower and have some coffee,” Kayla said.
“The coffee is ready whenever you are. See you downstairs.” With that, Jack turned and went out of the room.
Dammit! I should have set my alarm. She didn’t want Jack thinking her bad sleep had anything to do with him, even though it had.
Kayla couldn’t stop thinking about his fingers twirling her hair and massaging her neck, and his muscular thigh pressed against her leg under the table.
Forcing the memories from her mind, she flung off the covers and climbed out of bed.
It was a twin-size bed, and sufficiently comfortable, but it would be a little cramped for two. Stop it!
Kayla hurriedly took a shower and styled her hair.
Then she chose her Thanksgiving Day outfit: black dress pants, a forest green sweater set, and low-heeled boots.
She recalled Jack’s reaction yesterday when she’d come out of his room wearing a dress.
He’d never looked at her like that before, with desire flaring in his eyes, his gaze lingering on the top buttons of her dress.
Last night in bed, she’d imagined him undressing her, slowly undoing the buttons, and pushing the dress off her shoulders.
That was why, today, she dressed like she did for work.
Kayla doubted Jack would have the same reaction when she was wearing a sweater set.
Soon, she went downstairs and joined Jack in the kitchen. He pointed to the pan in the middle of the table. “I saved some for you.”
“Cinnamon rolls. My favorite.” Kayla could have kissed him, but of course, she didn’t. She slipped into her seat, where a mug of coffee awaited her. “Thank you for doing this.”
“It was no big deal. They’re just the ones in the tube,” Jack said.
“I’m not fussy about cinnamon rolls. I’ll take them however they come.”
He tipped his head back and laughed. This was the Jack she knew, the easy-going guy she hung out with at work. Being with him was so much easier without all that sexual tension hanging over them. The sweater set was a good call.
“So, what’s the plan today?” she asked between bites of a gooey cinnamon roll.
“My mom called while you were sleeping. After dinner, they’re going to my aunt and uncle’s house. She invited us to come too, but I didn’t think you’d want to.”
Kayla dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “Why not?”
“You agreed to meet my parents, not my entire family.”
“Are there a lot of them?”
“Enough.”
She chuckled. “What did you tell your mom?”
“I said we’d slowly ease you into meeting the rest of the family. But tonight, I wanted to spend time alone with my girlfriend.”
Kayla stared at him, waiting for him to laugh at his own joke. Instead, Jack stared back at her.
“Unless you have other plans,” he added.
“My parents are in Tennessee, which reminds me, I should call them. Other than that, I’m free.”
“I thought we could watch a movie and order a pizza or something.”
It sounded suspiciously like a date, but she knew better. “That’s fine, as long as I get to choose the movie.”
Jack nodded. “Of course. You’re the guest.”
Guest or girlfriend? This was so confusing. Her phone rang, and Kayla glanced down at it. “It’s my mom.”
“I’ll give you some privacy,” Jack said. He stood, picked up his coffee mug, and sailed out of the kitchen.
Kayla answered the phone. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, honey. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving,” her dad echoed in the background.
“Happy Thanksgiving. How was your trip?” Her parents had made the nine-hour trek by car yesterday.
“Good, but tiring,” Sue said.
“How are Grandma and Grandpa?”
“They’re moving a little slower than the last time we saw them, but that’s to be expected.”
Kayla felt a twinge of guilt at not having gone to visit them. It wasn’t too late, though. She could fly out tomorrow and spend the weekend with her family. I promised Jack I’d be here.
“How did it go with Jack’s parents?” Sue asked.
“Good. We’re meeting them soon for dinner.”
“I should go help Grandma in the kitchen. Let’s talk more later,” Sue said.
“Okay. I love you.”
“We love you too,” Sue and Tim chimed together.
As Kayla was clearing the table, Jack reentered the kitchen. “Everything okay with your folks?”
Kayla wasn’t particularly good at hiding her emotions and must have looked pensive. “Yeah. I was just thinking about my grandparents and wondering … Oh, never mind.”
“No. Finish your thought,” Jack prompted her.
“I wonder how many holidays I have left with them.”
Jack’s face fell.
“It’s a morbid thought. Sorry.”
“It’s my fault. If I hadn’t roped you into this scheme of mine, you’d be with your family right now.”
“You didn’t rope me into it, Jack. I volunteered, sort of.”
“It’s not too late. You can catch a flight out tonight and be with them the rest of the weekend.”
“I thought of that too.”
He studied her closely and waited for her decision.
“That wouldn’t be fair to you, though. I signed up for this, and I’m going to see it through,” Kayla stated.
“Maybe we can go down and visit your grandparents in a week or two.”
His offer made her head spin. “We?”
“Why not?”
“You don’t owe me anything, Jack.”
“What if I want to do it?”
“You don’t even know my grandparents, or my parents.”
“Like you said, I’m good with people. I’m sure they’ll like me.”
Some might consider him cocky, but Kayla admired his confidence.
“I’ll think about it, but we should get going.
I’m curious to see the rental home you stuck your parents in.
” Shortly, they pulled up to a charming red brick bungalow in a neighborhood of neat, older homes. “This is adorable!” Kayla proclaimed.
“Not such a horrible place to stick my parents, huh?” he teased.
As they went up to the front door, Jack placed his hand on the small of her back. “What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t have to touch me when they’re not looking.”
“Oh, but they are.” Jack motioned to the bay window, where Eileen stood smiling.
“Oh.” Kayla smiled back at her. Jack kept his hand on her back when Eileen opened the door.
“Happy Thanksgiving!” Eileen sang.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Kayla and Jack replied in unison.
John looked up from watching sports highlights on TV. “Hey, kids. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“This house is so cozy. We feel right at home,” Eileen declared.
Jack slipped his arm around Kayla’s waist and hugged her to his side. “See, honey. I told you they’d like it. She was worried you’d feel put out staying here.”
Kayla resisted the urge to elbow him in the side. “I told Jack you could stay with us, but he insisted you’d want your own space.”
Eileen smiled. “Oh, it’s fine. Do you want a tour?”
“Sure,” Kayla replied. “Jack, why don’t you stay with your dad?” She needed a reprieve from him standing so close and touching her.
After the tour, the four of them climbed into Jack’s car and drove to the restaurant.
This was the first time Kayla hadn’t had a home cooked Thanksgiving meal with her family.
It’ll be the only time. Next year, everything will be back to normal.
The restaurant offered a Thanksgiving buffet, and after they filled their plates with the traditional fare, the four of them squeezed into a booth.
Kayla and Jack sat on the same side, like a real couple.
To Kayla’s surprise, the food was better than expected, and the company was good, too.
Eileen and John were easy to talk to, and the conversation flowed smoothly.
During dinner, Jack kept his hands to himself, which made it easier to focus on his parents.
“I’m sorry you couldn’t be with your family today,” Eileen said.
Kayla had just polished off a slice of pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream on top. “I miss them, but this is nice too,” she said truthfully.
Jack slung his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “I’ll keep her distracted,” he teased.
You already are. “We’re going to watch a movie tonight,” Kayla explained.
“No football?” John asked.
Jack twirled her hair, and Kayla pretended not to notice. “I just want my girl to be happy,” he said, straight faced.
“Aw. That’s so sweet,” Eileen gushed.
Kayla squirmed under his mom’s gaze. Eileen was so genuine, she hated deceiving her. “He’s very good to me.”
Jack removed his arm—thank goodness—but then he placed his hand on her thigh. Her leg sizzled under the heat of his hand.
“You two are so cute together. Do you mind if I take a picture? I want to show you off to the rest of the family,” Eileen said.
Jack squeezed Kayla’s thigh. “Of course we don’t mind, do we, sweetheart?”
Kayla smiled at Eileen. “Not at all.”
“Get closer,” Eileen instructed them.
Closer? The booth was so small they were on top of each other as it was.
Jack leaned in until they were cheek to cheek, and her face flushed.
Eileen snapped a few photos and then tucked her phone away.
Kayla subtly shifted, putting some much-needed space between her and Jack.
The men settled the bill, and as they were leaving, Jack reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers.
Somehow, holding hands felt more real than anything else they’d done.
His palm was warm and dry, and his grip firm but not too tight.
When Jack let go and opened the passenger door for her, she missed the broken contact.
At the rental house, the four of them said goodbye, and Jack promised they’d get together again soon.
Driving away, Kayla should have felt relieved she didn’t have to pretend anymore, but instead, she felt uneasy.
The rest of the holiday weekend stretched before them with nothing they had to do and nowhere they had to be—other than together, alone.