Page 19 of Tangled Desires

“What’s not to like, Lili?” Jagger is biased, but that’s okay because so am I when it comes to him. “By the way, I don’t want to know how you know you move non-stop or who told you that, but I’ll be fine. You pack a bag, or are we driving back to your place later today to do so?” He cocks an eyebrow, and his upper lip lifts, giving me a playful smirk.

“Nobody told me. The proof is in my bed sheets every morning as well as my pillows being tossed on the ground. It’s good to know you don’t like hearing about my past, though, and I don’t need to know yours, either.” I wrinkle my nose, causing Jagger to laugh, low and throaty. It makes my pulse quicken. He must see what he’s doing to me with the way his look turns dark and seductive.

“Didn’t answer my question about clothes. You can wear mine or none at all. As for a toothbrush, I’ve got a spare fromthe dentist in the drawer.” I haven’t said yes, no, or maybe, and he’s making plans for tonight. It looks like I’m staying with him, since I’m unable to put up a fight, because a peaceful night of sleep, with Jagger wrapped around me and Shadow snuggled at our feet, sounds perfect. The last part he’s unaware of yet, it might take some persuading, and I’m not afraid to use any method imaginary to make it happen.

“I can see how this is going to work. You’re barely dressed, therefore I’ll be barely dressed, and we’ll be one happy barely dressed household?” I joke, not caring in the least about what Jagger wears. As for me, I’ll be pilfering a T-shirt, one I’ll more than likely hide in my purse in order to wear at home. You know, when I grow a pair of lady balls and don’t blurt out how badly my insomnia gets to me in new places. Naomi mentioned earlier today to buy a radio to play music, or a sound machine. I heard Scott in the background mention a fan. That’s not a bad idea, either. While tonight should be fine at Jagger’s house, there’s always tomorrow night. Which means I’ll be making a stop at the big box store in town, and I’ll probably purchase all three, because who knows what will work best for me?

“Now she’s getting it.” Jagger’s hand slides to my lower back, and he guides me up the front porch steps and into his house. The front porch beckons me to make a cup of coffee and sit in one of the rocking chairs he has to one side. There are two with an end table in the middle. On the other side is a hanging porch swing, another chair, plus a smaller table to put your drink on. This has Eleanor written all over it, pure comfort to complete Jagger’s style. The taupe and cream rock façade on the bottom half the house, siding that’s darker incolor on top, and the wooden gables scream no white and pristine is allowed in his domain. The best part is, it’s sheer perfection. “Did you build your home?” I ask, more than ready for the answer to be yes.

“Yeah, about ten years ago. I got tired of staying in a camper at the laydown yard. Took me quite a while since I didn’t want to cut corners. Also knew this would be my place forever. The backyard is the only thing I took care of when I moved in; made for a heck of a mess. Not the best thinking on my part.”

“It’s beautiful. Would you be opposed to eating breakfast out here?” I cross my fingers behind my back. I can imagine having a plate on my lap, my feet propped up on the railing while listening to the sounds of nature.

“Fuck yeah. Let’s go on inside. I’ll let Shadow do her thing. We’ll plate our food and post up out front.” When Jagger opens the door, I’m in awe once again. Walnut-colored wood floors greet me, and the stone from outside is carried through on one wall in the living room, the same one that has a fireplace built in, a massive television hanging above it, and a big, oversized couch with two chairs on either side. “I’ll give you the tour later. Food’s ready, and I’m sure you’re starving.” I turn around after he drops Shadow on the small bed in the corner near the wood burning fireplace. She kneads the fluffy fabric as if she’s making biscuits, does a small circle, spinning around, and curls into herself like a croissant.

Jagger has done an amazing job for himself. He’s always had big dreams, had a penchant for the fast life in the form of racing cars, and I find myself wanting to wander throughthe entire house instead of eating. My stomach growling tells me otherwise, so I follow Jagger into the kitchen, where I’m yet again surprised. There’s a smorgasbord of food, way more than two people need. There’s a bowl of fruit, a platter of biscuits, a pot of sausage gravy, another bowl filled with scrambled eggs, and, last but not least, bacon.

“Umm, Jagger, I think you made enough for three families,” I say as he’s filling up two mugs of coffee.

“There’s a reason for that, one I’m hoping like hell doesn’t happen. The guys, they’ve been known to bounce around from place to place, bring their wives and children. It’s usually one or two of them, plus it’s not every day I get a chance to have breakfast in the company of my woman. How do you want your coffee?” We’ve been so wrapped up in our stuff, I haven’t asked how the guys are doing. As teenagers, we’d all been around one another, though not nearly as much as I was with Jagger. The guys would say hi, give me a hug, ask how I was doing or if I needed a ride, but it was more in a neighborly kind of way.

“Cream and sugar, heavy on the cream or milk. Whatever you have is fine. Will you catch me up on the guys while we eat?”

“I’ll tell you anything you want to know.” Jagger’s blue eyes lift to mine, and he shoots a heated look my way, causing a warm tingle to rush to my core.

He looks at me like I’m the only person in the world who matters.

15

LYRIC

“Asher is married to Lennie. She’s got family from Wyoming that semi adopted her and her sister, Minnie, without the papers since they’re older via her husband, Clay. The Johnsons will be down here soon because Lennie is pregnant, and her aunt’s house is next door to them for anyone to use.” We never got to talk on the porch. I gorged my food, eating more and faster than I ever have before. The pizza, salad, and breadsticks we had delivered to my house last night had long since left me. The sun started shining through the trees, beating down into my eyes, and Jagger started sweating, causing us to come back inside. We tag teamed the kitchen, putting away what was left yet making it easy enough to pull out in case anyone stopped by, and then loaded the dishwasher. Jagger is truly Eleanor Steele’s son. She taught him from a young age to take care of what needs to be taken care of. He’d already cleaned the majority of the workload before I got here.

“Wow,” I say with a soft sigh. I’m lying on top of his body, my hands crossed over one on top of the other on his chest, my chin on them, listening as he gives me the updates.

“He’s also a firefighter, pulls his weight at Jagged Edge when he can, and Lennie works for Luke at his obstetrician and gynecologist office.” He takes a breath, then lifts his head up for a minute to prop another pillow behind his neck.

“I can move,” I offer.

“Not on your life. I like you exactly where you are, feeling every inch of your body.” He gives me a wink, then continues on, “Alright, Trent is a police officer but on the detective side, doesn’t go undercover anymore since he’s with Asher’s sister, Kennedy. They have Briar, who’s a spitfire and will be over here any given time to use me for my pool or eat my snacks. She’s also from Kennedy’s previous relationship, but Trent formally adopted her, and Kenny is pregnant, too.”

“Holy shit, how did Asher take the news that his best friend and sister got together?” Asher and the guys were very protective of her, more so than I’ve ever seen before. We weren’t in the same age group or friend group back when we were kids, and of course, we moved when I was fifteen.

“Asher didn’t give two fucks. After Briar’s dad, anyone would be a step up. Trent, though, he’s the real deal, took care of Kenny when she was stranded, helped her get out of trouble when shit went down at her job, and loves her and Briar more than anything on this earth,” he says with conviction.

“I have no doubt. You all might have been a bunch ofteenagers at one point, but you’ve always loved deeply.” I lick my lips, and Jagger tracks the movement.

“You’re not tempting me yet. Still have blue balls from my mother calling earlier, asking where you were when she didn’t see your Tahoe at the house.” His muscles flex as he puts his hands behind his head and laces his fingers together.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll keep my hands to myself.” It’s a lie, and we’re both well aware of the fact. I probably should have told Eleanor my plans, except in the excitement to get to Jagger, I kind of forgot.

“Sure. Where was I?” He pauses for a moment. “There’s Johnny. He owns the night club Undercover Lovers. That also has a bottom floor that’s called Night Moves. It appeals to a certain lifestyle, exclusive, and no way am I taking you there. Anyways, Johnny married Winnie. Shit went down with her sister, and she left for a few years. The sister passed away but held her own kid over Winnie’s head to keep her from leaving until drugs ultimately took her. Winnie came home, Johnny found out, and now they have custody of Sebastian, her nephew. She’s also pregnant. That’s the short story of a much longer, much more detailed saga.”

“Damn, that had to be a lot for all three of them. I couldn’t even imagine watching a family member go down that road, plus to have a child involved.” My heart hurts for the three of them.

“They made it out on top and are tighter than ever, which is saying something because before shit went down, they were rock solid.” I’d imagine they had to be, kind of like Jagger and me, and while neither of us has said the samewords that were repeatedly said in our teen years, it’s in every look, every touch, and every breath. “Tysen is a pilot, went commercial and hated every minute of it. Finally went private. Maci entered the picture, they had a one-night stand, lost touch for all of a minute, it seemed. She showed up on his plane at Vaughn Elite, Tysen figured out she was pregnant, both of them fell for one another, and now they’re well on their way to getting married.” Damn, these men have done very well for themselves, as I’m sure their ladies have, too.

“Is everyone a business owner or super successful?” I ask the question that’s been on my mind.

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