Worth It All (The McKinney Brothers #3) (15 page)

JT entered the Down Diner just after four in the afternoon. The bell dinged over his head and his eyes searched the room for Paige. Casey sat at the counter, one arm stretched out on the white surface and her head resting on it. He walked over and stopped beside her. “Hey there, Little Bit. Why so down?”

She groaned, or it was more like a growl. “I have to eat all this broccoli and it’s four more pieces and I already ate two.” She sighed and closed her eyes as if the broccoli situation had taken everything out of her. Or maybe she just didn’t want to look at it.

Jenny greeted him with a smile. “Paige is in the back. Unless of course you’re just here for the food,” she added, raising a brow at him.

No. He definitely wasn’t here for the food.

Casey lifted her head and pushed the offensive pieces of green to the edges of her plate. “And I met Mrs. Miller today and she used to have a pet but now she doesn’t and she has way too many apples on her door.”

“Hmm.” He knew Paige had been counting on the teacher meeting helping the situation.

Jenny grabbed two plates from the window. “Your mom said three more pieces, Case,” she said as she passed.

He wasn’t particularly hungry, not with his stomach in knots over seeing Paige, but he could help a girl out. He picked up a piece of broccoli and stuck it into his mouth. Casey grinned up at him with such gratefulness he took two more.

He’d just grabbed the third when Jenny stopped directly in front of him.

“You did not just eat her broccoli.”

“Guilty.” He winked at Casey and stood. “Be right back.” Mac turned and gave him a look that held a touch of protective warning. JT nodded to him as if to say I see your warning and it’s not stopping me.

Tense with anticipation, he made his way into the back. He needed a few minutes alone with her. He’d spent the past thirty-six hours replaying it all over and over. Paige’s body under his, her soft legs, the curve of her thighs, her cries when she came.

She didn’t see him as she stood on her tiptoes, reaching for something high on a metal rack. He took in the slender arms he’d kissed and stretched above her head, the legs he’d spent far too little time gliding his mouth over. A smile spread across his face and his chest felt like it was stretching, maybe to accommodate his heart.

He stepped in behind her, heard her draw in a startled breath as he easily retrieved the item for her, and placed it on a lower shelf. She turned in the cage of his arms.

His heart expanded with that first meeting of the eyes since she’d left his house two days ago. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she answered softly.

Only a few inches separated them, yet they seemed miles apart. In the dark, they’d been completely in sync, turning to each other in the night, languid and slow, no words needed. Going up and over together, then slipping back to sleep. “How are you?”

“Good.”

“Are you sure? Because you were already tired and I’m afraid I added to that.” He cupped her cheek, brushed his thumb under her eyes, falling even deeper when she leaned into his hand.

“I’m sure. I’m fine. Except…” She stared at his shirt before meeting his eyes again. “I’m sorry I left the way I did. You didn’t deserve that and…I don’t regret it, I’m just…overwhelmed.” Her teeth pressed hard into her bottom lip and she avoided his eyes.

“Paige.” He curled his fingers around the back of her neck. “I don’t want to make your life harder.”

“You’re not. It’s not you. It’s me.” She laid her hands on his chest and blew out a long breath. “You make me feel all shaken up inside.”

He slid his arms around her back. “In a good way?”

She stared up at him, her head tilted back. “Is there a good way to be shaken up?”

He could almost see her practical mind spinning, trying to right itself. “Definitely.” Remembering the panic in her eyes when she’d left his house, he tightened his hold. “I don’t want you to be overwhelmed.”

He took another second, then figured this was as good a time as any. Fingers crossed it wouldn’t sound like he was asking for more than she was ready to give. “Don’t say no to what I’m about to ask you. I talked to my brother, and my sister-in-law, the one who runs Freedom Farm, and it’s all worked out. She wants you and Casey to come.”

Paige stared up at him. Blinked. “She
wants
us to?”

“Yes. It’s all arranged.”

Her eyes slid away from his. “You know I’d love to go, but I can’t afford it.”

“Let me take care of that.”

“What? No, I—”

“Please. Casey and I are friends. And so are we, remember? Let me do this. Hannah said you’re welcome whenever you want, but she had some cancellations for the weekend so she’ll have more time.”

“When? This weekend?”

“Next weekend.”

Her lips were still parted in shock. “Jake, I can’t just go out of town. That would be…I have…stuff I should do.”

“Like what?”

“Like…I need to do laundry and study, and I was going to take Casey to get a library card and…”

He smiled, watching her try to think of more reasons she shouldn’t go. This woman did not do spontaneous.

“You already said you’re off next weekend. Come on.” He leaned down so his eyes were more level with hers. “You’ll love it there. It’s just for two nights, and Hannah will take care of everything. You’ll stay right there on the farm, she has people to pick you up at the airport. She’s got this down to a science.” The more he’d thought about it, the more excited he’d gotten, picturing Casey riding horses and Paige relaxing.

“Wait. You’re not going?”

“No.” It was a gut reaction. His instinct to avoid his past. And then there were the legitimate reasons. “I’ve got this project at work, Lynn’s about to give birth, and…I’m not trying to crowd you. This is for you and Casey.”

She opened her mouth and he laid a finger over her lips before she could protest. “No. Don’t say no. Go. Have fun. Do it for Casey,” he added.

“That’s low.”

“Maybe, but if I said do it for yourself, would you go? Just think about it.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

That was half a battle won, but there was a more important one that had to do with them. “Paige, being with you was…” He caressed the back of her neck and waited, almost afraid to say what he thought it was until he heard something from her. He wouldn’t push her, but he also wouldn’t let her run from whatever was building between them because she was scared.

She bit her lip, her blue-green eyes drawing him down and in. “It was unbelievable and I don’t regret it. I’m just confused and…” With a small, embarrassed laugh, her gaze slid away from his again. “I’m sorry. I’m probably making too much of this, people do this—that—all the time, but…I don’t have casual sex.”

She didn’t have sex at all except with him, and the possessive male in him stood a little taller.

“Paige.” He framed her face in his hands and waited until he had her full attention. “Nothing about that was casual.” Then he lowered his head and kissed her. Slow and deliberate, soothing and promising. It was meant to reassure, but quickly turned into a hot reminder of their night together. Her soft curves pressed against him, her hands slid into his hair, and he made love to her mouth like he wanted to make love to her body.

When he lifted his head, the shadows he’d seen in her eyes earlier were gone. In fact she looked a little dazed. Good.

“Hey, guys.” Jenny stuck her head in. “I’m doing my best out here, but I can’t hold Casey off much longer.”

He held up a finger signaling one minute, but kept his eyes on Paige. “Better?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.” He kissed the top of her head. “And we’re still going to Simon’s sister’s wedding. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at five.”

She smiled. “Okay.”

“And Paige, people don’t do
that
all the time.”

Torches burned brightly around the outdoor patio, the wedding reception in full swing. There was a band set up at one end and a buffet at the other. White and green flower arrangements adorned tables where people sat laughing over hors d’oeuvres.

Jenny had forced her to borrow a short black dress, then did her makeup and hair while Casey looked on excitedly. When she caught herself in the mirror, she saw something she’d never seen before. Not a pregnant teen or an exhausted waitress with too much on her mind. She was a woman anticipating a date with a man who made her heart beat faster, and she’d smiled at herself.

Jake was every woman’s fantasy on any day, but in black pants, a crisp white dress shirt unbuttoned at his neck, he was utterly devastating.

He handed her another drink, something pink and delicious that had her feeling bold and tingly. She kissed his cheek, easier in the heels her cousin had also provided. “Thank you. This is the best wedding I’ve ever been to,” she said, pressing into him, grinning even wider when his arm tightened around her.

He smiled. “This is the only wedding you’ve ever been to.”

She pushed the little umbrella out of the way and took a sip. “True. Do you think that’s weird?”

“Probably not as weird as how many weddings I have been to.”

The band started up again, and the groom twirled his new bride onto the dance floor and other people joined them. Simon’s sister was spun from her groom, to her father, to the groom’s father and back again. She caught Simon across the room, holding court with five adoring women all over sixty.

Jake leaned down to whisper against her ear. “Dance with me.”

It wasn’t a question and goosebumps broke out over her arms at the low command in his voice. In the space of a few heartbeats her drink was gone and Jake had swept her into his arms. His hand was hot through the thin fabric covering her lower back and she shivered again, then sighed, burrowing into his warmth. He brought their joined hands to his chest, right over his heart. Her other hand slid up his chest to curl around his neck.

He lowered his head until their cheeks were touching. “You’re so beautiful.”

“So are you,” she said, though the word didn’t come close to describing him. Rubbing her nose into his throat, she inhaled. God, he smelled delicious.

“Are you sniffing me?”

“Yes,” she answered shamelessly and did it again.

The band kept up a series of slow songs, and she laid her cheek against his chest, thinking it was all very fairy tale–ish. The light breeze over the patio, the music, the dancers. But mostly the man.

They continued to sway together and when he brushed his jaw tenderly over the top of her head, something opened inside her. Like a box creaking open ever so slowly while her heart watched with bated breath, not knowing what was inside or if it would suddenly snap shut.

She lifted her head to look up at him, feeling incredibly lucky.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She smiled but didn’t look away, skimming her fingertips up the back of his neck and into his hair.

“Have you decided about Virginia?”

“I don’t know. It’s a really big thing to offer.”

“I can do it. I want to.”

“Wouldn’t it be weird going to your family’s without you?”

“You’re not going to visit my family,” he said, and guided her to the right to avoid more exuberant dancers. “You’ve seen the website. People come from all over.”

“I know.” And she did want this for Casey.

“Would you go if I went with you?” he asked after a long moment.

“I know you have a lot going on.”

“But would you go?”

Something told her Jake needed to go home too. “Yes. I would go. With you.”

“Okay then.” He pulled her close. “We’ll go together.”

Just before the song ended Jake lowered his head to nibble around her ear, bringing chills to her bare back and arms. “Come home with me tonight.” His lips feathered over hers. “Casey will be asleep. Jenny’s there. Come home with me. Let me make love to you.”

A shiver ran up her spine at the promise of his words. She didn’t even consider saying no.

They lasted another hour, but as the party was still going, she figured they left well before the bride and groom. She was fine with that. As soon as the car was parked at his house, he reached for her. His mouth covered hers in a hungry kiss. He tasted faintly of cake and beer, and she wanted to lick him, starting at his mouth and working her way down.

He raised his lips but kept his fingers twisted in her hair. “I’ve been waiting too many miles to do that.”

“I’m glad you didn’t wait any longer.”

They got out and he kissed her against the side of his car, then again, laughing as they entered the house. It was dark and he didn’t bother to turn on any lights. She squeaked when she felt something cold and wet against the back of her thigh. She pulled back, laughing at Jake’s groan.

“Hey, buddy. Miss me?” Jake reached around to give Boulder some love. “Bad timing, though. Do I ever interrupt you with a beautiful lady? Come on,” he said, tugging her behind him. “We’ll make this quick.”

The back of JT’s house opened to the edge of a cliff, a breathtaking drop straight to the Pacific. “It’s beautiful.”

Underwater lights followed the clear water that disappeared over the edge of the infinity pool. Small landscape lights illuminated rocks and scrubby-looking bushes covering the hillside that rose up opposite the patio they stood on.

Boulder quickly did his business and was back. Jake let go of her hand to pick up a ball for Boulder. She made her way over to the shallow entrance and started to take off her shoes.

She was bent over, balancing on one foot to unfasten the first buckle, when Jake caught her from behind. “What are you doing?”

“Putting my feet in the water.”

Jake nuzzled her hair aside. “I had fantasies about keeping the shoes on.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Really.” His hands skated slowly up her stomach, over her breasts.

Loving his hands on her, arms around her, she sighed and pushed back against his erection. Her head fell back against his chest, mouth at her throat, hands stroking her into a mass of desperate desire.

He spun her around and with no slow intro, their mouths collided in a fiery kiss. He speared his fingers in her hair, taking more, demanding it, and she gave. The kiss went on and on and she clung to him, dizzy and weak-kneed, while he left a trail of hot, openmouthed kisses down her neck. One hand palmed her bottom while his other moved slowly from her waist to give bone-melting attention to her breast.