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“No, I don’t care. It was just for laughs. I just didn’t expect the night to end so quickly.”
And that is when I caught up, my heart beginning to race. “Well… why don’t we go to my place? It’s quieter and we could have another drink or switch to tea or something, if you prefer.” I tried to present it like I wasn’t just inviting him back to my place for sex, but I still wasn’t sure which way I wanted to go.
“Sure, okay,” he agreed, suddenly nervous.
I gathered my purse and stopped by the bar to pay my tab, but Max informed me Tessa’s ‘new friend’ had already paid our tab, and handed back my card.
We were still laughing when we made it onto the sidewalk.
“She really has it in for that guy, doesn’t she? My truck’s just over here,” Jake gestured up the street.
“Yeah, she’s something else. I kind of agree with her, however. They bring it on themselves, being dirtbags.”
“But how does she know they’re dirtbags? They could actually be single guys just looking for a fun weekend.”
I glanced up at him suspiciously and he paled. “Not that that’s something I’d do, but I mean, if that’s what both people want…”
“She has her methods, but I think she targets the ones that feed her the most bullshit.”
Jake held the door to an extended-cab pickup open and I climbed in, buckling my seat while he walked around to the other side.
He waited until he was pulling away to comment, “Is it me, or is it sad that it’s so easy for her to find those guys?”
“I agree, it’s sad. She considers it a service that she does for the younger women in town, keeping them from ending up in the same spot she did.”
“I suppose that was kind of crushing.”
“Yeah. It’s been a few years, and she hasn’t seen anyone seriously since.”
Conversation lagged as I gave him directions to my condo. My body hummed with nervous energy, but our conversation had seemed to stay completely PG. I didn’t know what was on his mind, but all I seemed to be able to think about was picking up where we left off last night.
When we made it to my place and stepped inside, Jake let out a low whistle.
“I’m glad we came to your place first. I’d be embarrassed for you to see the box I live in.”
“I don’t believe that for a second,” I snorted. “You iron your polo shirts, Jake. You’ve got to keep a tidy house.” Changing subjects, I asked, “Do you want a drink?”
“Sure, whatever you’re having.” He stuck his hands in the pockets of his windbreaker. “And yes, I’m neat, but you have to remember I have two small kids. It’s like a tornado sweeps through every hour they’re at home. It’s impossible to keep up.”
“Somehow I doubt that.” I fixed a pair of rum and cokes and passed him a glass. “Come on, I’ll give you the tour.”
It was one big open space, decorated with ivory marble in the kitchen, pale wood cabinets and floors, the same stone on the fireplace, and neutral-colored furniture. I flicked the switch on the fireplace and led him down the hall, pointing out the bathroom, the guest room, and the master in the back before we returned to the living room and settled on the couch.
“You see? Not big at all.”
“It’s not huge, but it’s spacious. The open floor plan and the high ceilings are part of it, I’m sure.” He gestured at the floor-to-ceiling windows that faced the mountain. “That, too.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. But it’s not a lot of floor space—I don’t need much. I love a fireplace, and a view. I mean, this is why we live here, right?”
“That’s true. And when you own the place, I guess you can afford the view. All I have a view of is my neighbor’s backyard.”
I felt a flicker of embarrassment. “I’m not trying to show off,” I murmured.
“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant. And believe me, I’m happy with my house. I can’t tell you how nice it is to be in a real neighborhood that’s not on a military base. And we’re right around the corner from my parents, which is the main reason I bought where I did. I’m not judging you.”
The tension in my chest eased. “Okay, thank you.” My eyes turned to the fire, and I took a sip of my drink. Jake copied the movement. Somehow we’d drifted away from the sexual promise of the evening and now it was rapidly growing awkward. Even so, my body was absolutely thrumming with the desire to straddle his lap and unzip that windbreaker. I was considering making a move when he spoke.
“Ellie?” Jake’s voice sounded resigned.
