Authors: Elise Whyles
“Are they open?”
“Yep.” Luke popped the door open and turned to her with a grin. “And they have the best steak you’ll find. I love coming here.” The door slammed on Luke’s retreating figure as Jack popped his door open and clambered out, his grip tight on her wrist.
“I thought Ellenora’s was the best.” Gillian gasped as Jack tugged her out into the cool night air.
“It is,” Jack whispered close to her ear. “But steak ain’t what’s on my mind tonight.”
“Oh?” Gillian stared into his eyes, her heart thudding in her chest.
“Temptation is hell, babe,” Jack promised, his lips skittering across her jaw. “And I fully intend to dump Luke somewhere so we can escape.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” The icy metal of the fender beneath her palms contrasted with the hot, moist breath tickling her neck. “After we eat?”
“Oh yeah.” Jack pressed against her, his hips grinding tight. Gillian moaned, her pussy clenching at the hard shaft jutting against her belly. She could feel the heat through the denim of his jeans, the slow grind of his hips adding to her lust.
“Would you two quit making out against the truck and come on,” Luke called. “You have plenty of time for the naughty stuff after dinner.”
Jack groaned, an agonizing sound, and dropped his forehead on her shoulder. “Goddamn him. I hate him.”
Gillian laughed and pushed against his shoulder. “No you don’t. Now come on. He only wants food.”
Grumbling, his fingers locked with hers, Jack followed her into the bar. Ignoring the knowing look on Luke’s face, she smiled. She was going to enjoy tonight—it just might be the last date they had. The old adage about a gift horse played across her mind and she chastised herself. No sense in worrying about what was to come, just enjoy the moment. It was all she was guaranteed.
Chapter 14
“Man, you weren’t kidding when you said she wasn’t anything like those bimbos you used to date.” Luke leaned against the bar, his gaze on Gillian who studied the pool table with a slight frown, her finger pushing her glasses higher on her nose.
“Lay off.” Jack shot him an irritated glance. “If you think for a moment—”
“She’s better,” Luke continued. He accepted the beer from the bartender with a grin. “Smart, sexy, a little shy, but she’s got something they never had.”
“You mean a brain?”
“No.” Luke turned to face him, a serious look on his face. “Your full attention.”
“Look, Luke…”
“No, hear me out. I’ve watched you grow into a man anyone could be proud of. Hell, if you were even the slightest bit interested, I’d have you against the wall in a heartbeat, but you’re not. This isn’t even about some nameless woman who hurt you. You’ve used your job as an excuse to avoid relationships for years. Finally you found one who probably knows more about what you do than you do. Don’t screw it up.”
“I’ve never played pool before.” Gillian hurried over, interrupting them with a puzzled look on her face. “It looks a bit complicated.”
“Naw, not really. You wanna play?” Jack eyed the pool table with something akin to desperation. It didn’t take much imagination to see how much fun it would be to teach her. He would be pressed against her from behind, his cock nestled against her curvy ass, a hand on her waist. The warm weight of her breasts against his arms, her bare neck against his lips. An elbow from Luke pulled him from that train of thought to focus on Gilli.
Gillian glanced from Jack to the pool table and back. “No, but I wouldn’t turn down something to eat.” She grinned. “I’m going to vote steak. As long as it’s cooked perfectly.”
“Table or booth?” Luke glanced toward the dining area, his beer clutched in his hand.
“Booth.” Jack grabbed her arm and headed for the only empty booth in the place. “More leg room in there.” He smiled at Gillian who slid in before him before darting in against her. His hand slipped under the table top, curling across her knee to draw circles over her hosiery.
“Hey, Luke, glad to see you. What can I get you?” Cheery, her bright orange hair teased into an impossible to take hairstyle, the waitress cracked her gum and studied the table.
“Ladies first. Gillian?”
“Um, I’d like a cup of coffee, a glass of ice water, and a steak, medium rare, with baked potato and veggies.”
“Any toppings?”
“Just a little butter.” Gillian smiled. “Oh, and can I get a biscuit if you have them?”
“Sure, hon, you want gravy?”
“No, thank you.”
Jack studied Gillian. Her eyes sparkled, her lips parted slightly. Happiness flowed off her like water. He leaned forward on the hard seat, his cock twitching at the memory of how unladylike she could be.
You know you could have her again. It’s your own fault you’ve got blue-balls, Jack.
Cursing the annoying voice of reason, he turned to the waitress. “I’ll have the same, except I’ll have a beer, and all the toppings.”
“Sure. Luke?”
“My usual.” Luke exhaled slowly. “So, what do you kids do for fun?”
“Lots. We went out to the museum the other day. Got a tour of the building.”
Luke snickered. “You went for a tour. I’m sure it was amazing. Gillian, is he telling me a lie?”
“Oh no, I took him on a tour of the museum. We’ve got a new exhibit opening and Jack and I went to see it before the public. I figured he’d enjoy it. Todd’s going to help out with it.”
“Who’s Todd?” Jack ignored Luke’s question, his arm coming up to wrap around Gillian’s shoulders.
“He’s a boy I met. He’s going to do some cleaning and other odd jobs to earn enough for a new bike.”
“Hey, he’s not that kid I saw when I went to pick you up a while back, is he? Scruffy, looked like he needed new clothes before a new bike?”
“Yes, that’s him. He has helped me out a time or two since then. I get him to help me with garbage and he cleaned my car for me.” Gillian patted his knee. “Good kid, but he needs someone to be there for him.”
Jack started at the low buzz of Gillian’s cell phone. A flare of unease and panic darkened her eyes for a moment before she pulled it out.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” Gillian’s mother’s cutting tone drifted through the din of the bar to him. He shot Luke a telling look, his dislike of Barbara growing with each phone call, each unannounced visit.
“I’m busy, Mother. I’ll call you back later.” Gillian paused, her face turning red, shame darting into her eyes. “No! I am not. I don’t need your input, Mother. No. I’m not having this conversation. My date is—” Gillian tensed, her knuckles turning white with the force of her grip on the phone as she pressed it against her other ear. “God help me, Mother, how could you? No! I told you before, I don’t want to hear from him at all. He can rot where he is. No. Whatever.” Her cell creaked as she slammed the top down before she tucked it into her purse, a strained smile crossing her lips.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes, no.” Gillian heaved a breath, her shoulders sagging. “I hate my mother.”
“We all do at some point,” Luke pointed out.
“Yeah, not like this. Sorry, I don’t mean to be a party pooper. I think it’s best if I just go home.”
“Certainly not.” Jack cupped her jaw, his thumb tracing over her cheek. “Baby, it’s on her, not you. Now, I promised to feed you, so forget about her and just enjoy the moment. Right, Luke?”
“Right.”
Jack smiled, his jaw clenched. Rage a slow boiling acid in his belly as he stared at Gillian’s face. Every time her mother called, she retreated, acting as if nothing were wrong. Lenny’d been firm in his statement Gillian was simply playing him, but he couldn’t rectify what he knew of the woman before him to his words.
“I suppose it would be a waste to leave my supper.”
“And how else am I going to get you where I want you?” Jack spoke just loud enough for Luke to hear. “Those pool tables are calling our name, and I want to have the pleasure of teaching you to play.”
Gillian shook her head. “Who said I wanted to learn to play pool?” She blinked seductively. “Maybe I just want to watch.”
“Oh, be still my heart, you wound me with your barbed tongue.” Jack clutched at his chest. “I may never recover.”
She laughed and snuggled closer to him, the shadows gone, at least for the moment. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he closed his eyes, surrounding himself with her scent, her feel, his body stirring. He was going to keep her, no matter what.
* * * *
Gillian rolled over, her hand slapping the alarm clock on her nightstand. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, spreading across the floor in a wash of gold. Kicking off her covers, she slid from her bed, her hands automatically grabbing her glasses, and turned.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips at the sight of both Jack and Luke camped out in her bedroom. Jack’s bare chest rose and fell with his easy breathing, his dark lashes lying against his cheeks. Stubble covered his jaw. He rolled over, one arm sliding across the bed toward her, his fingers flexed before he settled again.
Curled on the floor in her spare blankets, Luke snored softly, his white brief-clad behind peeking from beneath the blankets. Folded on her chair, his clothes were stacked beneath his shoes.
What on earth did we do last night?
Gillian tip-toed from the bedroom. Her stomach rolled with each passing second as she hurried into the kitchen. Making coffee by habit, she frowned. They’d played pool, Jack tucked behind her, his hard cock pressed against the crack of her ass. His hands on her body, lips against her neck.
How much pool skill she’d learned she didn’t know. Spooned around her most of the night, he’d dragged her into the bathroom, locked the door, and kissed her. His lips and tongue crushed any hint of resistance from her as he pressed her against the bathroom door. She shivered at the memory of her stockings sailing behind him to dangle off the stall door. His fingers inching up her skirt to the pale lace she’d worn hoping he’d see it.
Luke insisting Jack needed a chaperone all night. His relaxed, teasing banter and warm manner had put her at ease. They’d argued over who would sleep where. They’d still been arguing when she’d fallen asleep.
“Morning.” Luke yawned, scratching his chest as he padded barefooted into the kitchen.
Breathing a sigh at the sight of his pants, Gillian reached for a coffee mug. Ignoring the butterflies in her gut, she forced a smile. “Morning. I’m sorry I made you sleep on the floor.”
“Oh no, don’t worry about it. Highlight of my night was seeing Jack in his tighty-whities. Besides, Jack wasn’t so sure of his control, and knowing my bro like I do … well let’s just say sleeping on your floor was a small price to pay for my peace of mind. And Jack’s.” Luke chuckled. “You want breakfast?”
“Uh, I’ll have some cereal.”
Luke brightened as he dug through the cupboard. “Frosted Wheat? I’ll have some of those.”
Gillian stared in horror as he pulled the blue bin she’d kept the cruel reminders of her childhood in and it slid from the shelf to the floor. The lid skidded across the tile, spilling the contents into a gruesome display of her shortcomings. Gillian dropped to her knees and began scrambling to collect the pictures, the letters. Physical reminders of her failures, of her ghosts.
“Gillian.” Luke’s warm hand on her arm barely penetrated the icy grip of emotion clogging her throat. She shook him off and crawled toward several pictures. Her fingers shook as she lifted them and stifled a sob.
“Gillian.” Luke pulled her into his arms. “Hey, it’s okay.”
“No, I have to…”
Luke tugged on the Polaroids and placed them face down in the bin. “It’s okay. Come on, how about a coffee and we’ll tuck this away.”
“I can’t.” Gillian pressed her fingers to her lips, uncertainty, shame, filling her. She stared into the bin and saw the battered face, the bruises, the cuts, and the horror that haunted her on a regular basis. The very idea someone else could see it was enough to bring tears to her eyes.
“You don’t have to do anything.” Luke glanced over his shoulder. “Why don’t you let me get coffee on while you go have a shower?”
“Don’t say anything.”
“Hey.” He gave her a quick squeeze and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Trust me.” Accepting his help, she smoothed her hands down the front of her robe. Shaken, she lingered as he tucked the box back into the cupboard, hiding it behind two other containers. Head down, she hurried to the bathroom, her chest tight.
* * * *
“You always lurk in the shadows?” Luke waited for the shower to start up before glancing at Jack who hovered in the doorway.
“What did you do?” Jack stalked into the kitchen, his brows drawn together in a fierce frown.
“Nothing.” Luke handed him a coffee. He stretched his neck in a vain attempt to see Gillian. “Tipped over something and it upset her.”
“What?”
“Jack, I’m not going to tell on her.” Staring pointedly at Jack, Luke sighed. Jack looked as immovable as stone. His hard stare revealed his concern for Gillian. It was obvious he cared and just as obvious the man wasn’t going to back down before he knew what had happened.
“Look it’s not my place to say anything. I’m not going to betray her confidence.” Luke paused before closing his eyes. “But I will say this, she’s stronger than she looks, Jack. And any fool with eyes can see she’s falling in love with you. If you aren’t serious, let her go. If you are serious, and I say this as a friend, hold tight to her and don’t let anyone get between you.”
“Fuck,” Jack spat. With a final dark look, he headed for the bedroom. Watching him go, Luke wondered if Gillian could handle Jack knowing the truth about her. He rubbed his eyes and tried to force the images of the young woman’s tortured past from his mind.
Chapter 15
Frustrated by Jack’s seeming lack of interest, or perhaps unwillingness to do anything beyond get her hot and bothered, Gillian stared at the report she was supposed to be reading. Another date, another make-out session, this time on his couch, another shot to her ego when he backed away.
What more was there she could do? She wanted him. Hell, the thought of not tasting his flesh was driving her nuts. Maybe she should just jump him. With a shake of her head, she discounted the idea. She wanted him willing, to want her, not just the quick orgasm a tumble between the sheets would lead to.