Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights #2)(42)

“Before you leave, Babe,” he started awkwardly. He had wanted to bring this up earlier but after their fight last week, he’d wanted to let things settle down some. “I’ve been wanting to know, um, wondering, if you were on the pill, or would consider it. I’ve been dying to um, be inside of you without that barrier. I can go get checked out. My physical was just last month, and I was clean, but there’s only been you since we started seeing each other.”

That admission had her grinning as she began to walk to the door. She’d been thinking along those lines too. “Well, there’s only been you since college. And I actually had my gyno appointment two weeks ago. I started the pill then.”

His eyes lit up like a boy at Christmas. “Oh great, how much longer before you get the green light?” His eyes looked hungry even though she’d just thoroughly satisfied him.

“She said a week was safe, but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up.” She looked suddenly shy, nervous. He loved her innocence, yet she was such a strong woman.

He pretended to be aghast though he couldn’t wait to get her alone again. “For a week, you’ve been holding that secret. If I would have known that before you gave me my reward, well . . .,” he left the thought unfinished. Even though his day at The Mystic was nearly over, hers had just begun. Sinking into her sweet heat would have to wait.

Jewel just laughed as she found the lock on his door, and unlocked it. He’d followed her to the exit.

“Tonight,” she winked and opened the door, making a promise she was looking forward to keeping. She didn’t want there to be any barriers between them either. Not anymore.





Chapter 14




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By the weekend, Joseph was ready for a night out. He’d spent much of the week knocking on doors and talking to people. Last night, he’d gone to the convention. Senator Silver had been in attendance, and he’d been happy to see him. He’d wished him luck on his current senatorial race and the two had drinks later that evening. The man was a good family friend, and someone he had worked for, respected, and admired while growing up.

But two weeks of hitting the reserve hard each night, he knew he’d done all that he could do. On Saturday, he hit the docks one more time, but by evening, he was ready to relax with his girl. Jewel. Every day she was becoming more and more important to him.

He was anxious to spend some quality time with her, and the boys were sleeping over at a friend’s house.

They had the entire night.

After working two long nights for the convention, she switched a shift with another sous chef to have the evening free when her brothers had announced they would be sleeping at their friend Steve’s.

Leaving the dock around four, Joseph got into his car to head home to shower, change, and relax a bit before picking up Jewel. But once more he saw Lesley and Wesley’s truck pulling up to a diner across the street from the docks. He was about to call a greeting when something stopped him. Three young men got out, and then another man, a bit older came out of the diner to greet them. Something about that man stopped him cold. He looked vaguely familiar.

The older guy, somewhere in his mid to late twenties handed them a roll of bills. Wesley pocketed the cash, and then all four went inside together laughing.

Seeing the three young man head into the restaurant and slide into a booth by the window, he continued to watch them as he headed to his car. He could see through the plate glass windows, and all four of them were discussing something very animatedly. The young boy who had gotten out of the twins’ truck was shaking his head vehemently, and left abruptly. He looked upset, too. He came back outside, pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, and lit one up. He took several puffs and rocked on his heels. He was clearly agitated.

Joseph felt guilty watching them, but his hackles had been raised once more. He had been young, and their behavior was just all too familiarly suspicious. They were teens, well, all of them except the one who greeted them. They could be trying to score some beer, maybe a friendly bet, but still he was curious to see how the situation panned out. He didn’t want them getting into some kind of trouble, serious trouble. They were just about to start their college experience. He hoped it was nothing that would put that at risk.

When Lesley came out, he saw the more serious of the twins place his hand on the other youth’s shoulder. The kid tried to shrug it off. But then, Lesley kept talking, clapped him on the back, and the shorter fellow glanced over his shoulder and looked inside. Wesley was beckoning him to come back inside. Maybe that was their friend, Steve. But he was short. Too short for being a serious track and field star. But he couldn’t be sure.

When the two went back inside, Joseph started his car, and once again wondered if he should mention it to Jewel. But he decided against it. He wasn’t going that route again. Not wanting to ruin their evening together, and remembering how defensive she had gotten the last time, he decided to keep this one to himself. For now. But he would continue to watch out for her brothers for her. Both were fabulous athletes, and he didn’t want them to screw it up. Maybe he might get them alone some time, offer them some words of wisdom and advice. Man to man.

Feeling good about his decision, he headed home for a shower and a bit of down time before he headed to pick up Jewel. He was very much looking forward to having a real date, and then a relaxing time at home. And their first actual sleepover. He felt like a schoolboy thinking about it. She had wedged herself into his heart.