Tart (32 page)

Gideon dried off as Cal teased her pussy with the head of his cock.

Cal tapped the head of his cock against her clit and she moaned. “Yes.”

“Yes?” He tapped it a little harder and her moan went up an octave.

“Yes!”

“Just making sure. You’re so wet and ready for me.”

She nodded. “Now. Now. Now.” She pulled him close and wrapped her legs around his waist as he laughed.

Cal slid into that slick heat and paused to really appreciate how damned good it was. Her skin warm and fragrant from her shower gel. Her cunt was swollen and wet all around his cock.

His woman.

“Too long.”

He began to thrust, delighting in the way her tits bounced. She bent a little to put her arms behind herself, bracing against his movements.

“Mmm. You two have each other when I’m not around, you know.”

“We do. And we did, believe me.” Cal sent Gideon a smile that had the other man laughing in that knowing way. “But I need Jules in my life. Every day. I need to wake up with Jules snuggled down between me and Gideon.” He thrust three times. “And I need to bury my cock in your cunt.”

“Yes,” Gideon added.

“I missed you too.”

He picked up his pace and she walked her fingers down her belly. She was spread open, his body holding her thighs apart so he could easily see it when her middle finger brushed her clit. He certainly felt the squeeze around his cock.

“You’re a dirty, dirty girl.”

“I’m a stern governess, remember?”

He swore at the images in his head. They really did have to look into a little bit of role-play because now he really needed to be reprimanded and pay his penance with his mouth.

“Yes. Play with your clit, Jules. I want you to come again.”

One arm behind herself, the other hand on her cunt, playing with her clit and Cal didn’t know what the hell to look at first. So much to see. She was a visual buffet.

“N-now?” Her pussy spasmed around his cock and he knew she was right on the edge.

“Oh yes. Right now.”

She sucked in a breath and began to come around him, squeezing him so hard there was absolutely no way he could last another moment.

“Give it to me; we have time for more. Always more,” she whispered.

And he came with one last thrust, growling her name.

•   •   •

Jules snuggled down into the bed, her eyes heavy. It had been a long day. A long week. The wedding had been a wonderful event, the sex had been amazing and now she needed to sleep.

Gideon got in on one side and Cal the other. “We should talk about the farmhouse now.”

She pulled the blanket over her head. “I’ve been up nearly twenty-four hours. I’ve been eaten and fucked boneless. I need sleep. We can talk when we wake up.”

Gideon kissed her temple and put an arm around her. “We can, indeed. I love you, Juliet.”

“Mmm, love you too. Both of you.”

Arms surrounded her as the heat of their bodies lulled her deeper into rest. Safe and loved.

•   •   •

And that’s all she remembered until her ringing phone woke her up not even three hours later. She scrambled from bed and took it out into the hall before it woke them up.

The area code was 949. Her father lived there so she answered quickly.

“Hello?”

“Juliet? It’s Donna. Donna Lamprey.”

Everything in her went cold. Donna was her father’s wife and she sounded freaked out.

“What’s wrong?” She headed downstairs, grabbing a shirt Cal had tossed to the side.

“It’s your father. He’s had a stroke. He’s in surgery right now. Can you come?”

There was no other answer. “I’m on my way. I’ll get the first flight I can. I’ll keep my phone on when I’m not in the air.”

“Thank you.” Donna told her the location of the hospital and Jules hung up, shoving her things in a bag and scrawling a note to them both. They’d been up as long as she had and she wanted them to rest. They couldn’t help anyway. Not with this.

•   •   •

Gideon woke up and realized Jules’s spot was empty and cold. She’d probably woken early and, not wanting to wake them, had gotten up. He pulled a pair of pants on and headed out. She wasn’t in Cal’s office or watching television, nor was there any detectible scent of coffee, which began to worry him. When Jules was around, there was always evidence of coffee.

He went downstairs and saw the note on the fridge right away.

Didn’t want to wake you. Dad is in hospital. I’m on my way down. Will call to update you on location and his condition. Love you both. J

He called her cell but it was off and went straight to voice mail. He had no idea when she’d even left. Whether it was an hour ago or four. He saw she’d left a voice mail on his phone, pretty much repeating what her note had said. Her voice was flat and emotionless. Brisk as she went over the details. She’d made a reservation at a hotel near the hospital and would call when she got settled. The last call had been three hours before. She must be on a plane right then.

He couldn’t believe they’d slept through all that. Damn it.

He couldn’t believe she hadn’t woken them up either.

“Shit.” He headed back upstairs to wake Cal.

Cal shot straight up when Gideon shook him gently. He smiled when he saw Gideon but then sobered at his expression. “What? Jules?” He patted the bed. “What’s wrong?”

Gideon told him.

“I can’t believe she fucking left without even waking us up. What kind of trust is that?”

Gideon shook his head. “No, I don’t think it was a lack of trust. Check your voice mail.”

Cal frowned but did it and then sighed as he hung up. “She’s on autopilot.”

“Sounds like it, yes. I don’t like that she didn’t wake us either. And if she’d been a little more together she would have, you know it. But you know how she is. She went into planning mode and so she just made it all happen while she thought about four thousand other things, all with the purpose of getting down there to a man who barely speaks to her. Hell, she probably also left us sleeping because she was worried we hadn’t gotten enough rest.”

That was most likely true as well. “If they treat her badly, I’m gonna burn shit down.” Cal pulled his pants on.

Gideon nodded. “Get in line. Look, I’ve got to arrange for coverage at the farm. I’ll go to her once that’s done.”

“I have two hearings tomorrow. I can’t postpone at this point. I’ll come right after that though.”

“All right.” Gideon kissed Cal hard. He knew Cal would be feeling guilty over having to work and he wanted to address that. Knew Jules would have too. “Do what you need to. She understands that. I understand that. I’ll go first and you’ll follow. We’ll go to her. Be there when she needs us because that’s what you do for people you love. She’s going to need the support especially if Ethan is there.”

“That fucker better keep his mouth shut or I’ll punch it shut.”

A flush of desire swept through him. Cal was normally so mellow that when he’d gotten vicious in her defense it touched Gideon. Oh and it made him hot too. “I like it when you get sort of violent. Makes me want to fuck you.”

Cal grinned. “No teasing. Go on. I’ll handle stuff on this end. Come back when you’re done and I’ll take you to the airport.”

Gideon headed back home. His granddad was sympathetic, reminding him he’d run the damned farm before Gideon had decided to move back to Washington and he’d be just fine. He spoke with the foreman as well before packing a small bag and heading back to Cal’s.

“Hey, take care of our girl. Give her love for me. I’ll be down tomorrow night. I’ve already booked a flight.”

Gideon leaned across the seat and kissed Cal. Savoring his taste. “Didn’t even get any this morning. It’s a crime.”

“I’ll miss you too. Call me when you get there and give Jules my love.”

Gideon headed off to her.

He hated that she was alone facing her family. He hated that she hadn’t woken them up, though he did understand it. He’d seen her like this back with the situation with her brother. She’d turned off her pain and had sunk into just getting through. But he wanted to be first in her mind when she had a problem. He wanted her to turn to him and Cal as an instinct.

He knew she was scared. He knew she’d been left behind and disappointed by a lot of people she should have been able to trust. But he wasn’t any of those people. He’d do anything for her and it was high time they moved to the next step. She needed him and unlike those others, he was coming to her.

•   •   •

Jules was able to do a half-assed job on her makeup in the bathroom at Sea-Tac so when she arrived at John Wayne she was ready to hit the rental car counter and get on her way to Mission Viejo where her father’s in-laws—did that make them her step-grandparents?—Donna’s parents, both younger than her father, had built them a home just a mile from their place. Jules had been there once and though they had seven bedrooms, she’d stayed in a hotel.

Ugh. Not the time to think about that. Donna had called and asked for help. Jules would give it to her because it was her father after all. She wanted to hope things could get better. Coming down here and helping, hell, being
asked
to help could be something that would bring them all closer together.

She hooked her phone into the car’s sound system and checked her voice mail.

Messages from Gideon and Cal wanting to know how she was. Messages from Mary, Erin and Daisy as well.

And one last one from Gideon.

“Juliet Lamprey, I’m on my way. My plane should arrive shortly after yours. I’m coming for you and you won’t be alone.
Remember that.
Cal is coming tomorrow night. I love you.”

Tears burst forth as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Her chest hurt. She needed them so much and they were coming for her. The ice in her belly thawed a little. She wasn’t going to be alone.

Truth was, she hadn’t allowed herself to really think about it. She’d just gone into that place where she could bury all her emotions in planning and taking care of the details. But now she could admit to herself she’d needed to hear they were with her.

Once she’d gotten herself back under control, Jules called Cal, who answered right away.

“Hey, gorgeous, what’s the status?”

“I’m just about at the hospital now. I don’t know anything more than what I did before I left. I’m guessing Donna’s phone is off because she’s in the hospital.”

“You should have woken us, Jules.” His voice was gentle, but she heard the hurt there and it cut her deep.

“I’m sorry. I really am. I just went into planning mode. I had so much to do and I know you had work this week and Gideon has Patrick to keep an eye on. I just wanted to be doing something and I didn’t want to wake you.”

“Wake me? Do you think I’d prefer to be well rested or to fucking help when you get scary news? Don’t be a pretty dumbass.”

She sniffed back her tears and kept her eyes on the road. “I know it was wrong.”

“Good. I accept your apology. I’ll see you tomorrow night. I wish it could be earlier but I can’t get out of this appearance.”

“I understand. I really do. I promise. I just . . . thank you. I need you.” She swallowed her emotion back.

“Thank the gods you finally fucking admit it.”

She smiled. God, she loved Calvin Whaley. “You’re full of bad words today. Are you hungover?”

“Smartass.”

“I have to go. The exit is coming up. I’ll talk with you soon. Calvin? I love you.”

“I love you too. Take care of yourself. And Jules . . . don’t let any of that bullshit get to you. Okay? You don’t have to take any abuse. No one gets to hurt you or they’ll have to deal with me.”

“You’re going to make me cry.”

“All right. Remember what I said.”

“I’ll try,” she said and hung up.

She managed to find the right building and lot. Once parked, she smoothed her hair back and touched up her makeup. And while she did that, she pulled herself together.

Donna was sitting in a waiting room near ICU when Jules came around the corner. “Donna?”

Her dad’s wife sat up at the sound of her name. Jules recognized Donna’s father, who was at her side, and she nodded to him.

They didn’t hug. They didn’t even really know one another. She was younger than Jules and had fucked Jules’s father behind her mother’s back. They weren’t friends, but they both cared about her father and that was enough. “Any news?”

Donna didn’t seem overly excited to see her, but Jules chalked it up to having her husband in intensive care. “He’s in recovery. He had another stroke right before they got him into surgery. There’s damage but they don’t know how much yet. They’re waiting for him to regain consciousness to do some more testing.”

“All right. So tell me, what else?” She pulled out a notebook, needing to plan, needing to list and bullet point so she didn’t have to think about the fact that even though the man recovering just a few doors down had walked out on her, he was still her father.

Donna’s father took over the telling. Her dad had been complaining of a stomachache for a few days. He’d been at his in-laws, swimming with her brothers at their pool when he’d stood and then collapsed.

He’d had a small stroke six months before but they hadn’t connected it to the stomachache.

“He had a stroke six months ago?” Jules had spoken to him once during that time and he’d never bothered to mention that. She shoved it away with the years of other such events.

“Yes. After the blood pressure problems we changed his diet and he went on medication. You know. He lost the weight and his blood pressure had come way down.”

She sat there listening to this woman talk about her father and their life. His health problems he’d never shared with her, though she always did ask. She wasn’t sure if he didn’t feel like she cared or if it was he who didn’t care.

“Can you call your brother to fill him in? I need to go call my mom. She’s got the boys at home. We didn’t want to upset them.”

Jules was numb as she nodded and headed out to where she could use her phone.

She really, really didn’t want to call Ethan, but he needed to know and what could she tell Donna anyway? Hopefully they could be adults and get past this silliness for their dad’s sake.