Unveil Me (The Jaded Series Book 3) (4 page)

After Ken and Barbie get married and live happily ever after, I help Ally clean up the mess we made. I grab her hand and off we go to look for her mom. We find her in her and Brent’s room, hanging up clothes.

“Hey, I have to hit the road. I’m on shift tonight at work.” A mixture of emotions runs through me at the thought of leaving. I hate every time I drive away and leave Ally and Becky. But the thought of seeing Jase again has me reaching for my keys in my pocket.

“Okay. Will we see you next week?” Becky asks, walking out of the closet.

“Yeah, if not before then. Let me know if you need me.” Becky catches my meaning and nods. As soon as the doctors say they need me, I’ll be on the road.

Becky comes to me, and I gather her in my arms. At her ear, I whisper, “Everything is going to be okay, Becs. Stay positive. Love you.”

She pulls her head back and places a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you, Andrew, for everything.” There’s more to her words than just thanking me for being here. I acknowledge her gratitude, knowing I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I squat down and then Ally is right there in my face. She grabs my cheeks and plants a big kiss on my lips. “Love you, Uncle Andy.”

“Love you, too, skittles. You be good for your mom, okay? And have fun at your sleepover,” I tell her, before wrapping my arms around her. I squeeze her tight, not wanting to let go.

She nods solemnly and says, “I will.”

“I’ll see you in a few days.” I get up, and they both walk me out to my car.

After a couple more hugs, I get in my restored Dodge Challenger and wave another good-bye to them as I pull away. My heart feels heavy as I watch them in my rearview mirror, waving. But then it lifts slightly when I think about the man and the future I’m driving toward.

Andrew

When I pull up to Jaxon’s Pub, the parking lot is half-full. It’s only five o’clock, so that’s to be expected. More people will show up the later it gets. Pulling around to the back, I park my car next to Jaxon’s motorcycle and climb out. I unlock the back door and make my way down the dark hall that leads to the front. As I pass by the kitchen, I knock the door open with my fist and yell a hello to Hoot, our cook. He hollers his own hello, and I keep walking.

As soon as I reach the mouth of the hallway, my eyes scan the room in search of Jase. At first I don’t see him, and it irritates me. My emotions are raw after hearing the news about Ally. I need a distraction and Jase is the perfect one. I finally spot him when he steps out from behind a wall over by the pool tables. He has a pool stick in his hand, getting ready to take his shot, and laughs at something Mac said. Chris and Bailey are both sitting on stools against the wall, watching them play.

A groan nearly rips from my throat when he bends over the pool table. His ass, in those sexy jeans, almost has me stalking over to him and rubbing myself against it.

“Get your ass behind the bar and help me, Andrew, and stop drooling over Chris’s brother,” Mia says, throwing a towel at me.

Forcing my eyes away from the irresistible sight across the room, I turn narrowed eyes on Mia. “You’re just jealous it’s not your ass I’m fantasizing about fucking.”

“Yes, you’re exactly right,” Mia says dryly. “I’d much prefer you over the man over there who I’ve been in love with most of my life. Gosh, Andrew, you’ve found me out. However did you guess?”

I bend down to grab the towel she threw at me, and walk behind the bar. I tell her with dancing eyebrows, “Because everyone secretly wants a piece of me.”

“Whatever,” she mutters with an eye roll, and turns to walk away, flipping me her middle finger as she does so. I chuckle at her retreating back.

I grab a clean rag from under the counter and throw it over my shoulder. In an effort to keep my eyes off Jase, I decide to take inventory to see if we need anything from the basement. After seeing that everything is already stocked, I turn to the drying rack and start unloading it.

My eyes unconsciously make their way over to the pool tables. Jase has his arm lazily draped over Chris’s shoulder, and his head bent, talking to her. She laughs at something he says and shoves him away. He winks before walking over to the pool table for his next shot. Once again, my dick jerks in my jeans as he bends over the table. After lining up his shot, he smoothly pulls the stick back and shoots it forward, sinking a ball in the corner pocket. The girls clap and cheer him on.

As if sensing my eyes on him, Jase turns and looks my way. I hold his gaze and let him see the heat I know is radiating from them. I may not want to scare him off by coming on too strong, but I also want him to know I do want him. He needs to figure that shit out now, because I won’t give him long before I make it blatantly clear.

I would swear I see a flash of desire blaze in his crystal-clear blue eyes, but before I get a good look, it’s gone and he looks away. I feel a rush of excitement at the thought of him thinking about me the way I’m thinking about him.

I turn away from him when someone comes up to the bar with an order. I spend the next thirty minutes going from one person to another. The place is starting to fill up and it takes my mind off the man across the room that I want to do dirty things to.

Just as I turn to place some shots in front of a couple of guys, I see Mac and Jase walking my way. My eyes stay glued to Jase.

“Hey, Andrew, can we get a couple beers?” Mac asks, taking a seat at the bar. Jase claims the stool next to him. Prying my eyes off Jase, I turn to Mac.

“Sure. Anything in particular?” I ask.

“Nope, just whatever,” Mac says.

I look to Jase for his answer. “Sam Adams, if you have it.”

“You got it,” I tell them, and turn to get their beer.

After placing their drinks in front of then, I lean my elbows on the bar close to Jase.

“Please tell me you’re kicking Mac’s ass over there. Ever since he finally won against Jaxon a few weeks ago, he thinks he’s unbeatable.” I flick my eyes over to Mac and smirk.

“No, he’s not. And fuck you, Andrew. No one’s ever beat Jaxon before. I think that’s a damn good reason to feel a bit cocky.”

“Sheriff Weston,” I say in mock surprise. “Shame on you. Mia was just saying that she’s loved you most of her life, and now you’re telling me you want me to fuck you?”

I hear Jase laugh and glance over at him. His stunning blue eyes sparkle, and
fuck
, he has a sexy-ass dimple in his left cheek.

“And what’re you laughing at, baby? You want me to fuck you, too? All you’ve got to do is say the word, and I promise, I’m all yours,” I tell him boldly. His lips tip up at the corners, eyes crinkling, like he thinks I’m joking.

Oh, honey, if you only knew how serious I am.

“Think I’ll pass on that, as tempting as it is,” he says, laughter still in his eyes.

Mac groans at Jase’s side, but we both ignore him.

“What a fucking shame. I’m not worried though. I’ll change your mind.”

My body trembles as I think about reaching across the space between us, yanking him to me, and planting my lips against his. Would he let me or push me away? The way he’s licking his lips while looking at mine makes me think he’s not as indifferent to me as he lets on.

Oh yeah, baby. It’s only a matter of time before you’re mine.

Mia walks up to us and bumps me with her hip. “What are you guys over here talking about?”

I throw my arm across her shoulders. “Mac wants me to fuck him, but I told him I was at work and was busy later. I don’t think he liked my answer too much. See, Mia? Told you everyone secretly wants me.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Mac mutters, causing both me and Jase to laugh.

Mia looks over at Mac with mischief in her eyes, and asks, “Uh, Sheriff, is there something you need to tell me?”

Mac leans over the bar and crooks his finger at Mia. “Yeah, Pix. Why don’t you come over here, and I’ll tell you.”

I watch as Mia’s small frame leans over the bar toward Mac, knowing what’s about to happen. Ever since these two made it official that they were back together, they haven’t been able to keep their hands off each other. I can’t say I blame them. The shit they went through at the hands of Shady and Tessa would make anyone cherish the moments they have with their loved ones.

Just as predicted, the moment Mia gets as far as her small body would allow over the bar, Mac reaches over, hooks his hands under her arms, and hauls her the rest of the way into his arms. She laughs loudly as she latches her arms around his shoulders and wraps her legs around his waist. Once there, they devour each other’s mouths.

It’s still strange seeing them like this. Before the truth finally came out and Mia found out Mac didn’t cheat on her, her attitude toward him was volatile. Mac always had a sad, longing look on his face every time he looked at her. Now though, all you see on both faces is pure happiness and love.

I turn to see Jase watching me. I can’t quite decipher the look in his eye, but it looks like curiosity. I wonder what he’s thinking and feeling when he looks at me. Is he just as curious to know me, as I am to know him? Does he feel even a smidgeon of the desire I feel every time my eyes land on him?

We stand there and stare at each other until Mac and Mia pull away, breaking our connection. Jase looks away first and turns to face the two lovebirds beside him.

Mia releases her hold on Mac, and after another brief kiss, hops up onto the bar, swings her legs around, and jumps down beside me again. She has a cute flush to her face and it makes me smile, glad that one of my best friends is finally happy, like she should have been all along.

“Where did you head off to today, Andrew?” Mia asks casually.

I stiffen at her question, just as I do every time she asks me this. No one knows where I go when I leave town and visit Ally. They know about Becky and Brent, but have only met them a few times. However, they know nothing about Ally. I don’t know why I haven’t told them. Maybe because I’ve shared every other aspect of my life, and I feel I need to keep this part separate. It’s certainly not that I’m ashamed of her. It’s just the opposite, in fact. I’m very proud of the small family I’m part of. I just have this need to keep Ally to myself and not share her yet. Eventually I’ll have to tell everyone, but I want to wait until after Ally is better and can handle the stampede that will enter her life. Because I know, once my friends in Jaded Hollow find out, they’ll swarm her, and not let her up for air.

My fun mood starts to dissipate. It makes me sick to my stomach every time I think about what Ally, Becky, and Brent are going through. I hate that there’s nothing I can do. I feel completely helpless and it pisses me off.

“It’s none of your damn business. Stop fucking asking me that.” I can’t help the harshness in my reply, and I feel like shit when I see a flash of surprise, shock, and hurt enter Mia’s face. It doesn’t last long though. Almost as soon as the look appears, it is replaced with narrowed eyes. Mia is normally the type of person who’ll bite you back if you catch an attitude with her. I never lose it with her, so I’m sure she’s probably taken aback by my words. I’ve always been good about hiding this part of my life, but it’s getting harder the last few months because of the leukemia. The news today that she’s not getting better hit me hard.

I put my hands on the bar, close my eyes, bow my head, and take a deep breath.

This fucking sucks.

“Who pissed in your Cheerios today?” Mia asks. I grit my teeth at her smart-ass comment, not wanting to say anything else that’ll antagonize her. Because that’s one thing about Mia: she doesn’t give up.

“Mia,” I hear Mac say. “Just leave him alone.”

“What the hell, Mac?” she hisses at him. “All I did was ask a simple fucking question and he thinks it’s okay to cop an attitude? He knows me and should know better.”

My stiff shoulders tighten even more. My grip on the countertop has my knuckles turning white. Mia has no idea how close I am to losing it. I’m on edge, and I’m clueless how to back away.

Taking a deep breath, I loosen my grip and tilt my head back up, and immediately clash eyes with Jase. The clear blue of his stare instantly calms the emotions raging inside me. His face shows concern, and something flutters in my chest. I like he’s concerned about my abrupt change in demeanor, but I want to wipe that look from his face and replace it with something different, something carnal.

Not able to do anything about it now, and needing to apologize to Mia, I turn to face her. Her brows are puckered, and she’s watching me with an expression that says she’s unsure of what my next move will be.

“Sorry, Mia Pia. I’ve just got shit going on right now that I can’t talk about. Please just leave it, okay?”

After watching me for a few seconds, she nods. “Okay, Andrew. Just remember, you’ve got friends here you can lean on.”

“I know. Thank you,” I tell her quietly. And I
do
know I have friends. Wonderful friends I know would do anything for me. I know I could count on them through this rough time, but I just can’t reveal my secret yet. In time I will, but not yet.

Seeming okay with my answer, she smiles. Her attention is pulled away when someone down at the other end of the bar whistles, and she goes to take their order. Mac gets up from his stool and says he’s heading to the bathroom, leaving Jase and me alone.

“How was your tour of the town?” I ask him, trying to take my mind off my dark thoughts and draw him into a conversation. He has a deep voice, and I haven’t heard near enough of it. Every time he speaks it sends a shiver down my spine, and I want more.

He takes a swallow of his beer and sets it down. “It was fine. You have a nice little town here. I like how everyone seems so close-knit. Chris and I grew up in a small town as well, but everyone was so spread out you didn’t get the vibe that everyone’s family like you do here.”

“Yeah, we’re all close here and look out for each other. You fuck with one of us, you fuck with us all. You’ll become a part of that if you decide to stay.”

Fuck! Please let him stay.
I’m not sure what I’ll do if he chooses not to. I haven’t completely ruled out kidnapping. Drastic? A big fucking yes. But I don’t give a shit. No way am I letting him get away. Not now that he’s here and I’ve met him.