Page 91 of Only You

“True.”

“So, how can you live together and not—?”

Kayla interrupted her before she went any further. “We made a deal, Mom. This will all be over soon, and then, everything will go back to the way it was.”

“Hmm.” Sue didn’t sound convinced.

“Promise me something,” Kayla said.

“What is it?” Sue asked.

“Don’t quiz Jack about this when you meet him.”

Sue was quiet for a few beats. “I’ll try not to. But you’re my daughter, and I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine, Mom. I promise.” If Sue only knew how good Jack had been treating her, especially last night.

“Well, if you’re sure you’re okay.”

“I am. Nothing bad has come of this.” Except that I’m falling in love with Jack. Kayla’s eyes widened. Oh my God. Did I really just think that?

“Your father and I look forward to meeting him. But more importantly, we’re anxious to see you. We miss you.”

“I miss you too, Mom.”

They chatted for a few more minutes, and Kayla promised to call her later after she checked with Jack about his schedule.

After they hung up, Kayla tipped her head back and stared at the ceiling. She’d chided Jack about complicating things, but it was her. Jack had greeted her with a smile this morning, but she’d rebuffed him. He’d wanted to see her before he went to work, but she’d pushed him out the door. He would have stuck around longer if she hadn’t been so distant. Kayla had even turned him down for lunch. “What in the hell is wrong with me?”

Suddenly, Kayla had an idea. She wouldn’t call Jack and interrupt his meeting, but she could text him. That would be less disruptive, and he could answer the text whenever he had time. She thought for a minute and then typed a message. I can meet you for lunch if you still want to. Let me know. K. After she sent it, she stared at the screen, hoping to see the dots indicating that Jack was responding. The screen stayed blank. Kayla reminded herself that he was busy, and he’d text or call her later. In the meantime, she’d take a shower and get dressed, so she was ready to go when Jack replied.

Kayla took her phone into his bedroom, where she paused and glanced at the bed. The bedding was rumpled from their lovemaking. Jack was an energetic and generous lover. Unlike some men, he’d been more focused on her pleasure than his own. Jack approached lovemaking like he did all things: thoroughly and expertly. She felt another pang of guilt for how she’d treated him this morning.

“I screwed up.” Kayla had dismissed everything that had happened between them, like it meant nothing. It was a textbook case of employing a defense mechanism, so Jack couldn’t hurt her. She hadn’t wanted to be like the other women he’d slept with, but never spent the night with.

“You’re different. The rules don’t apply to you,” he’d whispered in the night.

Why couldn’t she see what was right in front of her? Why couldn’t she accept that Jack might be falling in love with her, too?

Turning away from the bed, she went into the bathroom and stripped off her clothes. A few minutes later, she stood under the warm spray, still reminiscing about last night. Her body was heated and not just from the warm water. As she lathered herself with coconut body wash, she pretended Jack was washing her instead. She spent an inordinate amount of time soaping her breasts, just like he’d lavished attention on them last night. And so it went until her body was scrubbed clean and thrumming with desire. We were together a few hours ago, she scolded herself.

Kayla shut off the water and reached for a towel. Her phone was on the counter, and she tapped the screen, checking for a missed call or text, but there were none. “It’s my own fault,” she muttered.

Sighing, she dried off and wrapped the towel around her body. All she could do now was wait.