Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(51)

“I’d like that,” Larissa said.

Bailey nodded. “Very much.”

They exchanged cell numbers and Shelby left. Bailey grabbed one of the pastries and took a bite.

“That was a challenge,” she said when she’d swallowed. “I thought she was going to bolt when we first sat down.”

“She was wary,” Larissa said. “She’s dealing with something and I think it’s more than what happened to her mom.” There had been something in her eyes. Something Larissa sometimes saw when she talked to parents of a child in need of a transplant that didn’t look as if it was going to happen. Hopelessness.

Bailey finished the pastry and licked her fingers. “Thanks for coming with me. I would have totally blown it on my own.”

“No, you wouldn’t have. You would have done great.”

“I wish. So what’s new with you? Ready to admit you’re in love with Jack?”

Larissa felt her mouth drop open. “How did you know?”

Bailey stared at her. “What? You are? I was kidding. You’re in love with Jack? When did that happen? When did you two start dating? Why am I always the last to know?”

“We’re not dating. We’re friends.”

Bailey sagged back in her seat. “What? You said you’re in love with him. Start at the beginning and speak slowly. I need to catch up.”

“When we talked about it before, I said my mother was insane. No way I was in love with him,” Larissa said.

“Only you are.”

“I didn’t know it.”

“Apparently not. So this revelation came over time?”

Larissa nodded. “I mean, it’s Jack. He’s good-looking and sweet. He’s always there for me and he supports my causes. We hang out all the time. And he has a body.”

“Which you’ve seen and touched.” Bailey pressed her lips together. “I can see how it happened. You were minding your own business and the man sucked you in. Now what? Do you declare your undying devotion and beg to be taken?”

“Sort of.”

“Wow. Impressive.”

Larissa smiled. “Don’t be impressed. What I mean is I’m going to figure out how to fall out of love with Jack and that involves sex.”

Bailey put down her latte. “I always thought I was one of the brighter bulbs in the chandelier. I guess that’s not true. Where does the sex fit in?”

“Jack isn’t going to fall for me. He’s emotionally unavailable. So there’s no happy ending with him. If I want a normal romantic life, it needs to be with someone else. Only how does a normal guy compete with Jack?”

“That would be tough. So how does having sex with Jack help?”

“It removes the mystery. I’ll see him for who he is and let the fantasy go.”

Bailey looked doubtful. “Or you’ll bond with him and fall even deeper in love.”

Something Larissa hadn’t thought of. “I think if I focus on his flaws, I’ll be fine.”

“You do realize if you’re wrong, you’re digging a pit you’ll never crawl out of.”

Larissa brushed away the information. “I’ll be fine.”

“If you say so. I’m assuming there’s a plan.”

“There is.”

Bailey raised her eyebrows expectantly. “And it is what?”

“I’m going to seduce him.”

* * *

JACK CARRIED THE bags of takeout carefully. He had burritos, along with chips and salsa and guacamole from Margaritaville and he knew better than to risk anything spilling. The women in his life were serious about their chips and guacamole.

Larissa’s call requesting he bring over dinner had come in the late afternoon. Percy was going to hang with Kenny for the evening. The former receiver was going to explain basic U.S. history using a couple of comic books he’d found on the subject. Percy’s reading was improving every day but there was no way he was ready to tackle an actual high-school-level textbook on the subject.

Sam was already working with the teen on his math skills. Percy had a good grasp of basic concepts. Algebra came easy to him. Sam had actually looked gleeful when he’d mentioned taking Percy through introductory calculus. The man did love his numbers, which was good for the company and their individual financial portfolios.

Jack climbed the stairs to Larissa’s second-floor apartment, knocked once and let himself inside.

“It’s me,” he called as he walked into the kitchen and set the food on the counter. Dyna strolled up to greet him.

“Hey, pretty girl.” Jack picked up the cat. She instantly relaxed in his arms and began to purr. He rubbed her face. Big blue eyes stared back at him.

“Hi, Jack.”

He turned, prepared to offer Larissa a greeting. But the words got stuck in his throat. Or maybe it was the fact that he couldn’t breathe that made speaking impossible.

She stood in the center of her living room. That was okay. People stood in living rooms all the time. He knew that. The difference wasn’t the where, it was the what the hell. As in what the hell was she wearing?

Instead of her usual yoga pants and a T-shirt, or even jeans, she had on some kind of silky robe. The bottom barely covered her butt and just kissed her thighs. Her hair was long and a little curly and if he didn’t know better he would say she was wearing makeup.