Sharp Edges (15 page)

I shook my head and smiled.

“What?” he teased. “It’s your fault. I’d planned on being a perfect gentleman until you walked out wearing that little number.”

Just then
my
phone began to ring, startling us both. I took it out of my purse and frowned.

Scott.

I ignored the call and put it back into my purse.

“Not important?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No.”

We finished our food and Jake asked for the bill
when the waitress returned to check on us.

“What now?” he asked, putting his credit card away.

I smiled. “I should get back. The kids will be home in an hour or so.”

He nodded. “I
understand. Let’s go.”

It was
stifling hot when we stepped out of the restaurant and I was slightly lightheaded from the cocktail. “Whoa,” I breathed, stopping in my tracks. “I’m a little dizzy. That was one stiff drink.”

He grabbed my hand and slid it around his bicep
. “Here, hold on to me and I’ll make sure you don’t trip in those heels.”

I smiled.
“Okay.”

Damn he felt good.
His forearm was thick and hard and I imagined what he must look like when he was pumping iron, his muscles glistening with sweat, tightening and flexing, his face a hard mask of concentration. Possibly the same look he had when making love to a woman.

“You must work out,” I blurted, before I could stop
myself.

He looked down at me and smiled with amusement.
“A little.”

I stared at him in horror.
“I’m sorry. That sounds like a stupid come-on or something. I can’t believe I just said that.”

He
threw his head back and laughed.

“I mean seriously,” I said, shaking my head.
“You must think I’m this jilted, lonely housewife who’s hitting on her hot neighbor. I feel like such a twit.”

“
So you think I’m hot?” he asked as we made it back to his car. He walked me over to the passenger side and opened the door.

I could feel my face burning brightly in the sun. “Well, I mean…you’re very good
-looking, obviously.”

He
stared into my eyes. “And you’re…absolutely beautiful,” he murmured.

The world around us seemed to have stopped as he moved towards me. Before I could catch my breath, he
pulled me into his arms and crushed his lips against mine, surprising the hell out of me for the second time that afternoon. In that instant, something inside of me woke up and I abandoned all control, slipping my arms around his neck, pulling him in closer. As we melted together, his tongue moved into my mouth and I could taste mint along with a hint of Michelob.

Sensing my submission, he pushed me against the
car and began exploring the inside of my mouth while I ran my fingers through his soft dark hair and held on. His tongue was hot, wet and demanding, like nothing I’d experienced in quite some time. I moaned into his mouth and pressed closer.

With a deep groan
, his hands cupped my buttocks and began kneading my cheeks with his fingers, sending a fiery heat to my pelvis. When he pulled my hips in closer to his, I could feel his excitement, which was more than substantial.

“Jake,” I breathed
, as his mouth moved lower.

He cupped one of my breasts
and began kneading it. “Fuck, I want you, right now,” he growled into the curve of my neck.

And I wanted him.

Badly.

Hearing laughter in the distance, however, I
remembered where we were and opened my eyes. Thankfully, we were parked on the side of the building and had some privacy, but not enough for what either of us really wanted.

“Jake,”
I repeated, pushing him back. “This…”

He stiffened up
and closed his eyes. “I know. What the hell am I even thinking? I’m sorry.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. Obviously, I enjoyed it
as much as you did.”

He opened his
eyes and they burned into mine. “I want this to go further, more than anything,” he said. “But, only when you’re ready.”

As far as my body went, I was beyond ready.
I wanted someone to drive me crazy with everything he had, make love to me like I was the only woman he’d ever wanted. Take me to places that I hadn’t seen in years. But I knew in my heart, at that particular moment, it wasn’t right. Not right now and not with someone who was almost a stranger.

I let out a breath.  “I
guess I know what I want sexually, but I’m not ready for it emotionally. I’m sorry.”

“Well, I’m willing to wait. Besides, if you were easy, I wouldn’t
even be interested. I can get that anytime I want,” he said as I slid into the car.

“I’ll bet,” I breathed
, staring at him as he walked back around to the driver’s side.

“Now,” he said,
getting inside. “Let’s get home so I can take a cold shower and forget about the way your sweet ass felt in the palm of my hands.”

I shook my head and smiled.

Neither of us said much on the way home, we just listened to one of his old Eagles CDs in a comfortable silence; every once in a while, however, I’d catch him stealing a glance towards me or smiling to himself. It wasn’t until we pulled onto our street that reality set back in.

“Shit,” said
Jake, as he pulled into his driveway. “Looks like you’ve got company.”

Scott’s car was in the
driveway and he was sitting on my porch, looking less than pleased.

“Would you like me to come over?” asked Jake.
“He looks a little pissed off.”

I sighed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I said. “But thanks.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.
“I’ll be fine. Thanks for lunch, by the way.”

“You’re welcome.”

Afraid that he was going to try and kiss me, I got out of the car and walked home as casually as I could, under the circumstances.

“
My…my…my,” sneered Scott as I stepped up and onto the porch. “Looks like you’re moving on with your life. New locks on the house, new boyfriend…”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I interrupted. “I’m marr
ied, remember? Oh, that’s right – you’re the one who forgets that little fact the moment he steps into his office. Don’t you dare start pointing fingers at me, Scott. You definitely won’t win that argument.”

He blew out a long breath and nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m being a
total shit.
You
certainly don’t deserve getting the third degree.”

I sighed. “
Thank you. Now, what do you want?”

“Is that a new outfit,” he asked, staring at my clothes.

I raised my chin. “No, I’ve had this forever. Why are you here?”

He ran a hand over his face and I noticed for the first time, how haggard he looked. “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked.  “I just want to come home.”

“It’s been less than two weeks. I’m not ready to let you back home.”

He gave me an incredulous look.
“Why?”

“
Are you daft? How many times do we have to go over this?
Because
, I can’t get those images out of my head and, to be frank, I don’t know if I can really ever trust you again.”

He ran a hand through his
blonde hair. “Fuck, Lindsey, I swear to you, it will never happen again.”

“It shouldn’t have happened to begin with,” I said.

He nodded and looked away. “I know.”

“
Please, give me time to think. I really need it, Scott. You owe me that much.”

His head bobbed up and down.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he said, standing up.

“You’re
still taking the kids Friday, right?”

He put his hands on his hips.
“Personally, I still think we should do something as a family.”

“No. You need to spend
some quality time with the children.”

“Have you told them anything about what happened?”

“I told them we needed some time away from each other.”

“So, you didn’t tell them what
actually happened.”

I looked at him in horror. “Are you kidding? They’d never look at you the same
way again.”

He smiled
, bitterly. “Well, thanks for that.”

I sighed.
“Did you need some more clothes?”

“
As a matter of fact, I do.”

I unlocked the door and he followed me into our bedroom.
When I bent down to pull out the suitcase from under the bed, he did the same and we bumped heads together.

“Oh…I’m sorry,” I said, laughing. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he said, looking at my forehead. “You have a little red mark, though.”

I touched my head and winced. “It only hurts when I laugh.”

He burst out laughing and then stared into my eyes. “I love you,” he stated, trying to pull me into his arms. “Please, let me just hold you for a minute.”

“Scott,” I said
, pushing him away. “Please…don’t.”

He grabbed the back of my head and pulled me to his l
ips, then began kissing me. I started pushing him away but then the ache in my heart cried out for my husband, who I knew I still loved regardless. His touch and taste were as familiar as the memories we’d shared.

Perhaps we
could
work it out?

I sighed and gave in, letting him kiss me
.

He pushed me down against
the bed and began touching my breasts. “Oh, baby, I want you so bad,” he whispered.

I closed my eyes as he began fumbling around, trying to get under my dress. Unfortunately,
as the seconds ticked by, I started thinking about those same hands on the other women and the look of bliss on his face when I’d found him getting a blowjob. I suddenly felt sick to my stomach as he unzipped his pants and his erection brushed against my thigh.

“
Scott,” I said, stiffening up.

“Are you ready for me?” he whispered
as his intrusive hands slipped inside of my panties.

I sighed.
“Stop.”

“
Feel this,” he whispered, putting my hand on his crotch. “I still want you, baby.” This time I shoved him back so roughly that he stared at me in shock. “Linds?”

“I can’t do this,” I
mumbled, as he tried grabbing my hand again.

“But I love you, honey,” he
pleaded, his eyes filling with frustrated tears. “Please, we can work this out.”

“Maybe someday,” I said
, getting off the bed. “But not right now.”

“Come on, Lindsey,” he begged, holding his hand out towards me. “Don’t be like this.”

“Listen, the kids will be home soon. Grab what you need and leave.” Then I left the bedroom before he could say anything more and went to the kitchen. Fortunately, he didn’t follow me and I had time to collect myself.

“Hi
, mom,” said Regan when she walked in the door ten minutes later. “Is dad home?”

Befo
re I could answer, Jeremy raced through the door, a large smile on his face. “Dad’s home?!”

I sighed. “He’s…”

“Hey, kids!” hollered Scott, coming into the kitchen.

“Daddy!” cried Regan as she flew
into his arms.

He picked h
er up and spun her around. “I’ve missed you, princess.”

“Is she finally l
etting you back home?” asked Jeremy, scowling at me.

Scott put Re
gan down and stepped over to Jeremy. “Hey, don’t blame your mother. This isn’t her fault.”

His eyes narrowed.
“Do you want to come home?” he asked.

Scott put a hand on his shoulder.
“Son, of course I do.”

Jeremy
turned to me. “Do you want dad to come home?”

I sighed. “
Jeremy, it’s complicated.”

His face darkened as he looked back at his father.
“It’s her, isn’t it? She won’t let you back in because she’s having an affair.”

“Jeremy
!” I snapped. “I am not having an affair!”

“Don’t lie,” he said, tears forming in his eyes. “First you kick dad out, then you go and have your hair done, now a new dress?”

“She is not having an affair,” said Scott, although the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t so sure about it, either.