Chapter 21
MAE
I was so busy stealing sideways glances at him as he drove that I didn’t notice the familiar route, or the familiar driveway at first. It wasn’t until he turned the engine off and sighed heavily that I looked out of my window and realized that I recognized the house we’d just parked in front of.
‘I’m confused,’ I said. ‘I thought we were going out for dinner?’
‘We were. We are. Just not where I’d originally planned.’
I stared at him, my eyes wide. ‘Jonah, so help me God, if you’re telling me you’ve brought me here for a family meal, I’ll…’ I trailed off, a threat not immediately forthcoming.
He waited, amused. ‘You’ll what?’
‘I don’t know,’ I admitted. ‘Freak out, probably. It’s way too soon to be meeting your family.’
‘You’ve already met my parents. Several times. Anyway, you’re not gatecrashing. My mother knows you’re coming.’
‘She does?’
He nodded.
‘And she was OK with it?’
‘Why do you sound surprised?’
‘She just doesn’t seem to be my biggest fan. I think it’s because I don’t back her up with some of the things she tries to force your father to do. Or not do.’
He pulled a face. ‘Sounds about right. She does likes to control people, my mother.’
‘Whereas I think your father is perfectly capable of making his own decisions and choices.’
‘Yeah.’ He looked over my shoulder towards the house.
‘I know I didn’t really give you an option about coming here, but if you really don’t want to go in, it’s fine.
I’d completely understand. I’d be happy to take you home again.
It’s just, my mother called after I messaged you, and guilted me into coming here for dinner.
Not that I needed a lot of persuading – I wanted to see my father anyway.
It was nerve-wracking, being out at sea and worrying that something might happen to him.
’ He reached across the seat and squeezed my hand.
‘It did help though, knowing you were checking in on him every day.’
I smiled. ‘It’s my job.’
‘I know. But he likes you, I can tell.’
‘I like him too. He has interesting stories.’
He cringed. ‘Not all about me, I hope.’
I smirked. ‘I can’t comment on that, I’m afraid. He has sworn me to secrecy.’
‘You know you can’t believe a word he says, right?’
‘I’ll tell him you said that.’
He laughed. ‘Right, come on. Let’s do this.’
At the front door he hesitated. He looked down at me, his eyes conflicted. They seemed to soften when he stared at me. ‘I’m glad you’re here with me,’ he said. ‘I feel less inclined to run away with you standing by my side.’
I smiled up at him and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. ‘I’m glad I’m here too. Although when you say things like that, it doesn’t help my nerves. Why do you dread coming here so much?’
‘You’ll see,’ he replied cryptically, and opened the door.
Instinctively, I started to turn left, towards the hallway off the large entranceway we had walked into, which led towards the bedroom Gray had been residing in since his stroke.
It was a guest bedroom, he’d told me, when I’d pondered aloud the lack of personal touches.
One of three in the left wing on the bottom floor of the house.
He’d explained that normally he slept in a master suite upstairs.
‘It’s very decorated, although a bit over the top, if I’m honest,’ he’d admitted. ‘Eleanor likes to be surrounded by attractive things.’ He’d grinned and ran a hand over his hair. ‘Luckily for me. It’s the only reason she’s kept me around as long as she has.’
I’d laughed along with him. It was obvious he’d been a very good-looking man when he was younger. He was still good-looking, but time and an indulgent lifestyle had taken a toll. Jonah had his eyes and sharp jawline.
‘This way.’ Jonah corrected my path with a gentle hand on my elbow, nodding towards an archway to the right.
Following him through a large lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the ocean, he led me to the kitchen, where he headed straight for the refrigerator and opened it, leaning inside.
‘Drink?’ he asked, his voice muffled.
‘No, I’m fine. I have a feeling I might need to keep my senses about me tonight.’
His head popped around the door. ‘Are you sure? I find it easier to deal with my mother with a bit of Dutch courage underneath my belt. Or in my stomach, in this case.’
I smiled. ‘Fine. I’ll have a beer then.’
‘Excellent choice.’ He closed the door with his foot, two beers in his hand.
Using one to pop the top off the other bottle, he passed it to me.
His fingers lightly grazed mine and I jumped as if I’d touched an electric fence.
From the curious look that passed over his face, I could tell he’d noticed. ‘Here you go, ma’am.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘Did you just curtsey?’
‘I believe so,’ I admitted.
‘Why?’
‘It’s this place. It’s so grand.’
He took a swig of his beer then shrugged. ‘It’s just a house.’
I gave him a look. ‘Yeah, OK. Just a house.’
‘It has four walls and a roof. Isn’t that the definition of a house?’
‘This place has more like fifty walls.’
‘That’s an exaggeration.’
‘Is it?’
He looked thoughtful. He was very cute when he was thoughtful. A little crease appeared between his eyebrows, and one tooth chewed the corner of his bottom lip. The memory of our kiss the day of the hike flashed through my mind, as it had roughly one hundred times a day since it happened.
‘You know, you’re really cute when you’re deep in thought,’ I blurted out without thinking.
He smiled. ‘Only then? I’ll have to try and think more often.’
‘No, not only then.’ I meant to sound lighthearted to match his cheeky tone, but whether it was because of the two mouthfuls of beer I’d already had or the memory of that kiss, I failed. Sounded breathless and husky instead.
His eyes flared and his jaw tightened as he closed the distance between us, slow but determined. I took one step backwards under his intense gaze, feeling the hard bench come up against my back. There was nowhere else to go as he stopped in front of me, only centimeters between us.
‘What is it about you?’ he murmured, his eyes tracing the curves of my face. ‘When I’m not with you, you’re all I can think about. And when we’re together…’ He shook his head. ‘All I can think about is kissing you again.’
My lips involuntarily parted at his words, the tip of my tongue darting out to lightly lick my lips. He groaned softly in his throat.
‘Don’t do that,’ he warned. ‘Not unless you want me to kiss you.’
Feeling something on the bench dig into my back, I shifted my body slightly, inadvertently bumping my hips against his, watching his eyes widen.
Emboldened, I did it again, on purpose this time.
He leaned around me to put his beer on the bench behind me, resting both his arms on the countertop, enclosing me in a Jonah circle.
Lowering his head, he touched my lips lightly with his own, teasing us both.
‘Jesus, Mae, if we weren’t at my parents’ house…’
I swallowed hard, feeling overwhelming desire for him. ‘You’d what?’
He drew his head back just enough to stare into my eyes. ‘I’d lift you on to this benchtop and have my wicked way with you.’
The words and the mental picture they conjured made my legs turn to instant jelly and I felt my knees go. Instantly he had one arm wrapped behind my back, steadying me.
‘Only if you wanted me to, of course,’ he added, a glint in his eye.
‘I might be… amenable, to that.’
He grinned, but the grin died on his lips when we both heard a throat cleared loudly behind him.
‘I told you I heard his voice,’ a woman said. ‘I knew he’d come into the kitchen for a beer first. He always did when we were together.’
Mortified at being caught in a compromising position, I felt myself blush.
Jonah moved too slowly for my liking, taking his sweet time to push off the bench and turn around, crossing his arms over his chest, standing slightly in front of me.
I pushed myself off the bench and did a quick check to make sure my clothes were still presentable.
The way Jonah had been looking at me, I wouldn’t have been surprised if they’d peeled off and fallen to the floor.
‘Hi, Mom,’ he said. Then I felt his body stiffen. ‘Jessica? What are you doing here?’
At the mention of her name, I peered around his shoulder curiously, then immediately wished I hadn’t.
Standing next to his mother was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen.
Tall, and tanned, her limbs sharp and angular.
She was slender, emphasized by the gorgeous dress she was wearing.
Her hair fell in cascading blond waves and her makeup was immaculate, contouring the natural beauty of her face.
She glided across the kitchen and without hesitating, laid a hand on Jonah’s arm and kissed him on the cheek.
‘It’s so good to see you, Jonah.’
‘What are you doing here?’ he repeated.
‘I’ve been in Aspen with friends, so I hadn’t heard what happened to your father until I returned. Of course, I immediately had to come to visit. We may have broken up but your family is still very dear to me.’
‘Isn’t that nice of her?’ Jonah’s mother said. ‘I can’t tell you how wonderful it’s been to see her again. Your father and I have enjoyed her visit tremendously.’ She came forward and linked arms with Jessica. ‘So much so that we’ve invited her to stay for dinner.’
‘Only if it’s not too awkward for you,’ Jessica added.
‘Why would it be awkward?’ Jonah replied tightly. ‘It’s fine.’
‘Mae?’ Eleanor appeared to notice me for the first time. She frowned. ‘What are you doing here? Do we have an appointment?’
‘She’s here with me,’ Jonah answered.
‘I don’t understand.’
‘As my guest. I told you I was bringing someone.’
Eleanor frowned. ‘Yes, but you didn’t say it was your father’s nurse. I wasn’t aware you two knew each other well enough to be… dating.’
Jonah shrugged. ‘I don’t feel the need to tell you everything.’
Jessica stared at me with an expression that on the outside seemed friendly enough. But her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
‘I’m Jessica,’ she said, holding out her hand. ‘A friend of the family.’
I shook it. ‘Nice to meet you.’
‘Did I hear right? You’re Gray’s nurse?’
‘I am.’
‘Mae’s been making home visits to check on his progress and assist him with his rehabilitation,’ Eleanor clarified. She flicked a glance between me and Jonah. ‘Is that where you two met?’
‘No,’ Jonah replied, not elaborating any further. ‘Where is Dad? Is he up to joining us for dinner?’
‘He’s already at the table, as are the others. You’re late, as usual.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I said, smiling in an effort to appease her. ‘That was probably my fault. I wasn’t quite ready when Jonah arrived to pick me up.’
‘Well, at least you’re here now,’ she said, unsmiling. ‘Come along. Let’s not hold the others up any longer.’
She turned and left the room, and I exhaled heavily, feeling nerves fizz in my stomach.
In my professional capacity as Gray’s nurse, I had no problems dealing with Eleanor and her snooty tones and moods.
She wasn’t arrogant, as such. But she was definitely one of those people who clearly viewed others as beneath them, especially people who worked in service industries.
Never mind that I was a qualified, experienced nurse who had dedicated my life to helping others.
Who had, in fact, assisted in saving many lives over the years.
It didn’t bother me that she felt that way about my job.
I loved what I did. I went to sleep at night knowing I made a difference every day.
Her validation was unnecessary. But it did bother me that she clearly didn’t think I was worthy of dating her precious son.
I sure as hell wasn’t going to have her look down on me for that.
‘God, I’m so sorry,’ Jonah said, pulling a face. ‘I had no idea Jessica would be here, or even that she was back in town.’
‘It’s fine,’ I told him. ‘I think.’
‘You think?’
‘Was it a recent breakup?’
‘No, about a year ago, roughly.’
‘So not terribly fresh.’
‘Nah,’ he agreed. ‘Old news.’
‘Jonah, I know this is none of my business, and feel free to tell me to butt out, but why did it end? You don’t have to tell me everything. I don’t need all the gory little details. I guess I’m just wondering if you were heartbroken by the end of the relationship?’
He shook his head. ‘No. Which sounds bad, I know, because we were together for a little while. I cared about her. I did. And I was sad when we broke up. But honestly? I mostly felt relieved.’
‘Relieved?’
‘Yeah.’ He took a drink of beer. ‘Jessica’s great. And beautiful, obviously.’
A pang of jealousy briefly flared in my stomach, but I quashed it. ‘Is she? I didn’t notice.’
He gave me a look.
‘She’s stunning,’ I admitted.
‘You’re just as beautiful as she is.’
‘That’s nice of you to say, but we both know that’s not true.
Jessica is the kind of beauty that ends up on magazine covers.
The closest I’ve ever been to a magazine cover was a group photo in a hospital newsletter once, and it was taken at the end of a shift when my hair was a mess and I had vomit on my uniform. ’
‘I’m sure you looked cute.’
I snorted. ‘Google it if you don’t believe me. On second thoughts, don’t. You might run screaming for the hills.’
He studied my face. ‘You’re not seriously feeling intimidated by her, are you?’
‘Not intimidated. Just in awe, I guess. You two would have made a serious power couple. Good-looking, and both from wealthy families.’
‘Only if you care about that sort of thing.’
‘I think your mother cares very much about that sort of thing.’
‘Then my mother can marry her.’
‘Imagine the scandal.’
He laughed. ‘Look, Jessica is attractive, sure.’ He leaned in close, making sure I held his eye contact. ‘But she never once made my heart race the way you do.’
I felt a smile spread slowly across my face, my own heart starting to pound in my chest.
‘I make your heart race?’
‘Every time I’m anywhere near you.’
I swallowed hard. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘You don’t have to say anything.’ He took my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. ‘I’m just really glad you’re here.’