Nobody But You(31)

“I can’t cook and think about sex,” she said. Liar, liar…

“Try. You can practice right now. What are you thinking about right this minute?”

How his amazing tongue had made her squirm in the very best of ways. How even remembering it made her squirm again. “Are you fishing for compliments on your technique?” she asked. “Do I need to stroke your fragile ego?”

“Not my ego, but if you’re looking for something to stroke—”

She pushed him. With a laugh, he released her. “Have a good day making tacos. They have the best tacos in the state.”

“Yep,” she said, “and today’s are going to be the best in the nation.”

“I’d never bet against you,” he said. “And now I know what I’m having for lunch.”

She found herself staring at him with a dopey smile.

“You know,” he said, “you’re pretty cute when you’re being nice.”

“What am I when I’m not nice?”

“Hot as f*ck.”

Something went through her at that, something warm and…dangerous. He believed in her, without question, when he had no reason in the world to do so.

I’m yours for the duration…

And for the first time, she wondered just how long that could possibly be.



Jacob watched her go, watched her run up the dock to her boat. Feeling like maybe his heart had shifted in his chest, he rubbed it.

What had just happened?

Either he’d been hit by a Mack truck or he’d been flattened by one Sophie Marren. He’d just experienced the hottest, most erotic sex of his life, and he was pretty sure he wasn’t going to get a repeat. Which made him pretty much screwed, because it’d been the best thing to ever happen to him.

Fifteen minutes later she rushed off her boat, heading up to the road. She was wearing skinny jeans rolled up her calves, a halter blouse, and damn, a pair of FMPs.

He shook his head, smiling. Her glass was definitely half full. And here was the thing. He always saw his as half empty. He was in a dark place and just trying to survive, and yet here was this crazy hot woman who was his opposite. She was funny and light and…the highlight of his entire day.

And somehow, even as screwed up as he was, he knew that much. Maybe they weren’t opposites after all. They’d found lots of common ground in his bed. And at that, memories assaulted him, the length of her curvy body undulating beneath his, arching up as he cupped her breasts in his hands.

“Better bring your A game tonight,” she yelled over her shoulder as she got into…a cab.

The one and only cab in town.

That made him laugh as he sat on the porch and ate the breakfast she’d brought him hours before. It had long gone cold, but he didn’t care. Hell, compared to some of the shit he’d eaten, this was a five-course meal. Halfway through, he pulled out his cell phone and did what he’d been doing every single week for the past nine years.

He called his mom.

She answered on the second ring. “Darling, you’re an hour late on your checkin. Everything okay?”

“Yes, sorry, just got detained.” By the best sex he’d ever had. He looked down at the McDonald’s food and shook his head, still having no idea what the hell he thought he was doing with Sophie.

“Well, I know I’ve taught you that it’s rude to be late,” his mom said. “Now I’ve got to write you a note for school and for your teacher. Make sure to also apologize in person.”

Jacob leaned his head back against the railing of the porch and let the early-morning sun bring him some warmth. “I plan to apologize to everyone.”

“You’re a good boy,” she said softly, warmly. “And, honey?”

“Yeah?”

“You sound different this morning. More…relaxed.”

When he closed his eyes, he could still see Sophie naked and over him in his bed, head back, mouth open, the sexiest little whimpers escaping her while she rode his tongue. Yeah, he was most definitely feeling more than a little relaxed.

“Is it a girl? Because if so, you tell her that you can’t afford to be distracted right now. You have grades to pull up.”

He pressed his fingers into his eyes, a knot tightening in his chest. “I know. It’s going to be okay, Mom.” Even if he didn’t know how.

“Well, I know that,” she said, and paused. “Honey? I sure wish you’d undo our pinkie promise.”

The one where he’d convinced her not to tell Hud that he’d been checking in with her every week for the nine years he’d been gone and that he’d managed to visit at least once a year on leave. “Someday,” he said.

Carrie sighed. “Love you, baby.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

“Don’t forget to do your homework!” she said, and hung up.

Jacob blew out a breath and closed his eyes. The nurses had assured him she was physically healthy and doing fine, but no one could tell him when or if she’d ever figure out she was living in the past most of the time.

Shaking it off, he stood and stretched for a minute or two and then went for a run along the lake, heading north. Hell, maybe Carrie was the lucky one, not having to live in the moment, in the present, facing life’s harsh realities every day. He wouldn’t mind the same once in a while.