Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut (34 page)

I conceded to a soak in the hot tub with Brit and Alex when the band left to practice. Soothing hot bubbles boiled across my shoulders. Whiffs of thick steam coiled in the crisp air, framing a full moon—a haunting backdrop against the black sky.

"I could live someplace like this," Brittany wished aloud. "It's so peaceful. I'll bet its spectacular in the winter. I can think of only one other place that might possibly be prettier—
Alaska
." She leaned forward in the swirling caldron. "Speaking of which, Marli, are you ready for your trip to Italy with 'tall, dark, and unbelievably handsome?'"

Alex had been on a family vacation until yesterday. She knew nothing of my commitment issues. "Italy? You're going to Italy with 'Door Number 3?' How's 'Dr. Dreamy' handling that?"

"Bad. I think he's trying to find a way to stow away in my luggage. I found out I can't take my cell receptor, either. I'm not allowed
any
contact with Jordan when I'm with Doug."

"Marli, it's only fair. Don't you think Doug suspects you're not excited to go? Give the guy a break."

My suspicions about Brittany crushing on Doug were officially confirmed.

"I
am
excited to see Italy." Just not with Doug. "When Jordan got upset, I reminded him it was his and Doug's actions that put me in this predicament."

"What are you talking about?" Alex chimed in. Again, she'd been out of the loop and Brittany quickly filled her in on the details of the ninety-day hold.

"And I thought my love life was complicated."

"Complicated doesn't begin to describe your love life, Nichols," Brittany chided.

I couldn't shake the feeling
I
was out of the loop this time.

The eleven o'clock hour left the resort lobby quiet and peaceful. I sank sideways in an overstuffed chair and closed my eyes, humming the melody Jordan sang to me. I could endure the next few weeks because at the end, I'd be with him—making out on warm white sand under blue skies or a blanket of shimmering stars.

My sultry thoughts took me back to our infamous afternoon on the beach in California, and the rush of feelings accompanying those thoughts, made my body tingle.

"I'll pay a million bucks for whatever thought created that sexy smile."

I smacked my chest. "You scared me! And you're early."

Jesse towered over me, his fingers playing with my damp curls. "And you went for a swim without me." He bent his knees, bringing his handsome face within inches of mine, his lips brushing across my cheek. He pushed away a wet, curly strand falling over my face and slowly stroked the length of my nose. "Love those freckles."

Before I could argue, he slid his arms beneath me, lifting me in his arms.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere we can be alone." The elevator doors opened and Jesse swung me inside, pushing
penthouse.

I wiggled out of his arms and moved to the opposite side. "This isn't a good idea. I promised Jordan—"

"Jordan isn't here.
I
am. Hopefully it's late enough he won't call, but if he does, I'll bust your damn receptor."

The elevator doors opened and we faced the door to the penthouse. I parked myself against the wall, refusing to exit. Jesse punched the lock button, freezing the doors open. His arms pressed the frame, his body filing the space and blocking my escape.

"Give me one damn night, Marli. Nothing will happen that you don't want, I swear. At sunrise, you can walk into whosever arms you want." He held out his hand and I tangled my fingers through his, following his lead.

Avoiding any furniture accommodating a horizontal position, I wandered to the wall of windows. The lights of Salt Lake City sharpened the edges of the mountains silhouetted against the silver glow. Gold dots speckled the black hills where many houses, twice the size of mine in Maple Heights, sat nestled among the pines and aspens. I wondered if behind a window stood another girl facing me, who also suffered from the bittersweet sting of love. Maybe one caught in a triangle between two boys, both loving her, but her heart only loving one of them.

Jesse's arms circled me from behind and his chin rested on my shoulder. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"The view is incredible from here."

"I'm talking about the reflection in the window—me holding
you.
"

I turned, my heart hammering in my chest. "Jess
,
we need to talk." My mind raced for the right words. He held my waist, guiding me toward the sofa. I didn't need a seductive diversion, having finally got the nerve to discuss the inevitable.

"About us—"

He crushed his lips to mine before I could finish my sentence. I gasped and he took the kiss deeper, his tongue invading my mouth and enticing mine in seductive play. His hands caressed my throat to my shoulders, where he tugged at the collar of my jacket, pushing the sleeves down my arms. My coat dropped to floor, taking my self-control with it.

I wrapped his neck, slid my fingers deep into his sun-kissed locks. Jesse's hand at the small of my back pushed my body intimately against a deliberately placed knee. He tore out the clip holding my curls in place and fingers threaded through the damp strands. His touch pricked every nerve ending on a downward quest, until his hand splayed across one of my
other
cheeks. Common sense slapped me fast, but when I tried to push away, he gripped tighter, grinding against me. His hand snaked inside my shirt and plucked my bra strap open with practiced finesse.

A hot fervor hummed through my blood, but the memory of Jordan's words
I love you
wouldn't allow my body to respond. Jesse's touch felt foreign—invasive, and I tried to break free, but he clenched tighter, ground harder. A tear dripped, pooled between our lips, and I cinched my eyelids shut to force the others back, sensing my slow surrender.

"Shit!" Jesse cursed, releasing me so fast I fell backward onto the sofa. "I can't do this!"

After refastening my bra, I crawled on the floor beside him. Gingerly, I fingered the loose locks of hair draping over his hands. "Jesse? I know you wouldn't purposely hurt me. I-I'm sorry."

His face scrunched. "You know nothing, then, because thoughts of taking you raced faster than the ones telling me not to. And don't apologize. I'm an ass, or at least
tried
to be."

"That was an
act
?"

Jesse's grin was too sly to be innocent. "Started that way—but…"

The puzzle pieces fell neatly into place, "You wanted to make me mad so I'd dump you without feeling guilty."

"
Dumping
is kind of harsh, don't you think? But that was the intent, only you didn't take the hint or I stopped listening for one."

"You scared me and…I wanted you to stop, but my body started to think differently."

Jesse picked my jacket off the floor and pulled me onto my feet. "Let's get some fresh cold air." He grabbed something from a backpack on the chair and shoved it in the back of his jeans.

"What did you put in your waistband?"

"You don't want to know. Let's just say one can't be too careful."

"Jess, do you have a gun?"

"Shhh! Yes," he whispered when the elevator doors closed. "I have a gun and a permit to carry it, but that knowledge stays between us, understand?"

"Does Jordan
pack heat
too?"

Jesse looked surprised. "Yes, Jordan 'packs heat' when necessary. Any more questions, or can we close this topic before someone overhears?"

Owning weapons violated the Security Agreement all citizens were required to enter into at age eighteen. If caught with a gun, jail became your new home. Before graduating high school, however, seniors were required pass a weapons safety course as part of a self-defense curriculum. I surpassed my friends…and Sam.

The government issued special permits to those who qualified, such as law enforcement. For a private citizen to obtain a permit almost took an act of Congress. So how did Jesse and Jordan get one? Another mystery…or secret.

When the elevator doors opened, we faced three disgusting drunks. One stepped too close for comfort and I latched onto Jesse's arm.

"Well, well. Look what we have here, looking all soft and sexy in a tight pink shirt."

I smelled alcohol on the spit exiting his vulgar mouth. Every muscle in Jesse's body tensed. His arm came around my shoulder, pulling me into his guard. We muscled through the drunken trio, but when their ugly spokesperson tugged the back of my shirt, my elbow went full force into his gut, folding him in half. He coughed up what sounded like his last drink. Once outside, I let go the breath I held.

"Nice move, Mars! I'll have to remember to watch your elbows."

"You almost got a knee earlier."

His arm hooked loosely around my neck. "Ouch. Just the thought hurts."

"Keep that thought in mind next time you reach for something that doesn't belong to you."

Jesse came to halt, the gravel shifting under his feet. "That's the bitter truth isn't it? You belong to someone else."

A light breeze blew around us and he gathered me close when sudden shudder shook me. His chin found a spot on the top of my head to rest and his arms wrapped like a favorite blanket. A kiss lingered in my hair and fingers gently stroked the back of my neck.

"You stole my heart, you know," he quietly offered.

"You left mine a little bruised, too."

Somewhere, a clock chimed the midnight hour, each stroke taking a piece of my childhood and ringing in my adulthood.

"Happy Birthday, Mars." His voice cracked. "I won't say it, but you know how I feel. From now on, I promise to respect your relationship with my brother and leave you alone."

The twang of a steel guitar strumming a lonely melody echoed up the canyon from the little bar at the end of the road. I hugged Jesse's waist. "Dance with me?"

He laughed when I balanced on tiptoes and finally lifted me on top of his feet so my head could rest on his shoulder. He brushed my hair aside and kissed the back of my neck as we swayed to the music. I'd spend one last night loving Jesse Mason before setting him free at dawn's first light.

A twig snapped and Jesse immediately moved me behind him, holding my arm with one hand; the other poised over the lump at the base of his back. An uneasy feeling slithered over me.

"No, Jess," I begged on a whisper.

Slowly we circled, stopping short when we faced the drunken threesome from the elevator. The man I'd gouged appeared fully recovered, and the flash of moonlight against the shiny steel shaft in his hand left a light trail in my vision.

Knife
.

The demon's eyes lowered to mine, filled with an evil flicker of revenge. I withered against Jesse's back, bunching his shirt to my chest, my knees violently shaking. Nausea gurgled in my stomach and the taste of bile licked the back of my throat.

"What do you want?" Jesse snarled.

"This doesn't involve you 'twinkle toes.' Step aside. We're taking the little lady."

"The hell you are! You'll have to go through me first."

"Fine. Have it your way."

Suddenly, Jesse folded, gagging for air.

"Jesse!" I shrilled.

"Grab her, you idiot!"

One of the disgusting creeps saw Jesse's hand move to his back, "
He's got a gun!"

The knife blade danced on the gravel when the assailant dropped it, but when Jesse's body collapsed over it, the pinging stopped.

A haunting sound rippled in the air. Half cry, half scream—the shrill resonating through the stillness before falling silent. It took a few seconds for me to connect the wailing with my screaming, as my mind and eyes tied back together, staring at my trembling hands covered in blood—
Jesse's
blood
.

20

COMPLICATED GOODBYES