Page 17 of Worthy Now
“What about all the years before her? You can’t tell me you didn’t have needs?”
Jake briefly turns his head my way before refocusing on the stretch of asphalt ahead. “I said I didn’t date, not that I’ve been celibate.” When I don’t say anything, content to wait him out while I stare at the side of his face, he blows out a small sigh. “Before I met Alicia, there was a string of faceless women. None of them meant anything, and I forgot their names as soon as I leftwhatever hotel room I stayed in when I was in the city. I never felt comfortable bringing anyone home with Jude and Anna around, so I took what I needed for a night here and there and never saw any of them again. But if you’re wondering how I know about this particular restaurant, it’s because I took Anna there a couple of weeks ago after she received her SAT scores. She studied hard, and I was beyond proud of her for how well she’d done. I wanted to make her feel special, and I think she enjoyed all the fuss.”
“Aw, that is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. You’re such a good brother. Always have been.”
His cheeks heat, and he averts his eyes, obviously uncomfortable with the praise. Shrugging his wide shoulders, he gives a mumbled, “I aim to please.”
God, he’s adorable.We fall quiet again as we follow the winding country road for a few miles, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I spot the ‘Casa Di Campagna’ sign a moment before he pulls into a sizable gravel lot and smoothly backs his truck into a parking spot. He kills the engine and rounds the vehicle before I have a chance to move, holding the door wide and offering me a hand down.
“Oh my. We’re pulling out all the stops tonight, aren’t we?” I say, placing my palm in his, and doing my best to slide to the ground without giving him an eyeful of the racy lingerie I’d chosen.
“What can I say? I’m kinda hoping to get lucky tonight, so it can’t hurt to make an effort.” I giggle at his straight-forward remark and start moving toward the lit-up entrance. Laying a gentle hand on the small of my back, he guides me through the double doors, where a hostess greets us with a bright smile. She confirms our reservation and promptly escorts us through the main dining room and out through a set of French doors that lead straight into paradise. I stop short, taking a moment to survey the gorgeous patio before my feet begin moving again. Our hostess shows us to a table in a private corner of the outdoor area and tells us our server will be with us shortly, then leaves us to our own devices. Jake pulls my chair out and makes sure I’m settled before sliding into his own seat. The place looks like something straight out of a travel magazine, with mosaic tabletops, wicker chairs, and cream-colored cushions. Bright yellow patio umbrellas complete the Mediterranean look, while the soft flicker of tiki torches sets the mood for a romantic experience.
“I feel like I’m on vacation,” I say in an awed whisper while Jake sneaks glances at me over the edge of his menu.
“I’m glad you like it. Do you know what you’re in the mood for? We could order some appetizers to start. The prosciutto crostinis are pure heaven. So are the calamari with the lemon-dill aioli.”
My mouth literally waters at his suggested choices, and I can’t wait to sample the goods. If the food tastes half as good as the heavenly aroma permeating the air suggests, I’m in for a real treat. “Sounds delicious. Why don’t we get both and share?”
“Done,” he says, winking at me and closing his menu with a snap. Once our order is placed and our server delivers a couple of glasses of perfectly chilled Pinot Grigio, Jake leans back with a contented sigh. “I’m glad we’re doing this. It’s nice to spend some time alone with you.”
“I was thinking the same thing in the car, and I’m relieved things aren’t strained between us. It’s almost like no time has passed. I don’t have the urge to keep up a steady stream of conversation, or wonder if I said something stupid, or if I look okay. We haven’t even gotten to the main course yet and already this is the best date I’ve ever been on.”
Jake sips his wine, staring at me with an intense focus before he gently sets the glass down and sensually runs his fingers over the stem.
“You never have to worry about the way you look, sweetheart,” he tells me in a low rumble. “The second I saw you walking into your mom’s kitchen earlier, I had to think about a gallon of blue cheese dip to stop my dick from perking up. Didn’t work, by theway, which made eye contact with your mother very uncomfortable.”
I throw my head back on a laugh and pick up my own drink, before saying, “Still not a fan of blue cheese, huh? Oh my God! Do you remember when Jackie served it to you thinking it was ranch? You couldn’t stop gagging for over an hour.”
Jake shudders at the memory. “I’ll never understand how anyone would willingly eat something that smells like Jude’s gym bag. It’s been years, and I still get nauseous thinking about it.” I grin as I listen to him relive his worst nightmare, once again feeling grateful to be able to have this again.
The shared memory sets the tone for the rest of the evening as we reminisce and banter back and forth over dinner. We laugh, tease each other, and shamelessly flirt while bringing each other up to speed on what’s been happening in our lives.
“Kind of ironic that I make a living offering advice to others when I couldn’t even figure out my own mess, huh?” I say when I tell him how I ended up becoming an advice columnist and what exactly my job entails.
Jake rolls his lips together, taking the time to think his answer over. “I don’t see it that way. The best kind of advice usually stems from experience. More often than not, it comes from a place of regret. It’s the whole ‘do as I say, not as I do’ thing, I suppose.You’ve always been good with words. I looked forward to reading your articles in the school paper every month. Makes sense that you made a career out of it.”
I try not to blush under his praise, basking in his approval like a love-starved fool. When he asks me what it feels like to be a New York Times bestselling author, I can’t hide my pride-filled smile. Becoming a romance author was never part of the plan. What started out as a fun way to make up for my own lack of a love life quickly turned into a career of its own. No one was more surprised by the enthusiastic way my books were received than me. I gained tons of loyal readers over the years, and my fan base is still steadily growing by the day. When he admits to having read every single one of my novels, I just about die from embarrassment. He flashes me a cocky smirk when I reluctantly disclose that I’d loosely based all of my male main characters on him and that our shared sexual experiences served as inspiration for many a steamy scene.
Jake talks a bit more about the pressure he’d been under while nursing Nelson Construction back to health and the craziness of raising two teenagers while working fifteen-hour days. He surprises me when he tells me he’d gone back to school to get his associate’s degree in construction, and that he’s currently taking online courses to obtain his bachelor of science in construction management.
I know I haven’t been able to call him mine in a long time, but I can’t help but feel impressed. When our main course arrives, we dig in with fervor, and Jake didn’t lie when he said the food is to die for. I decided on the scallop risotto, and Jake chose the Chicken Parmigiana. We feed each other bits and pieces, marveling at the abundance of flavors, and I almost decline dessert but reconsider when Jake gasps with mock outrage.
“You don’t go to a fancy restaurant and forgo dessert, especially not when someone else is buying.” I’m not sure I can stomach another bite, but I don’t object when he orders the traditional chocolate cake with mascarpone cream I’d been eyeing earlier, and a couple of espressos. He chooses a simple piece of apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream and inhales his dish when it arrives. Everything about the evening is magical, and I haven’t felt this happy and content in so long the feeling is almost foreign.
Watching Jake’s face light up while he talks about his siblings and listening to his deep belly laugh as we remember our childhood misdeeds does funny things to my insides. When he leans forward, resting his veiny forearms on the tabletop while he slowly runs the tip of his tongue over his bottom lip, I have to clench my thighs to keep from squirming. I want him with a ferocity that scares me. I want to explore every inch of his toned body, feel hissoft lips pressed against mine, and enjoy every touch he offers in return.
Jake seems to sense the change in mood, and motions for the bill as soon as my napkin hits my empty plate. This time around, I’m neither comfortable nor relaxed as we make the trek back to Jenkins Creek. The sexual tension crackling through the small space of the cab is so thick I can almost taste it. When we pull into town, Jake clears his throat and glances at me from the corner of his eye.
“It’s still early,” he observes with a slight tremor in his voice. “Would you like to come to my place for a nightcap? I can drive you home later, or I can drop you off now if you’re tired?”
I look out the passenger window to hide the smile threatening to take over my face and pretend to mull over my decision—the great Jake Nelson, nervous at the prospect of asking a girl to his house. I never thought I’d see the day. Doesn’t he see how insanely attractive he is? Ten horses wouldn’t have kept me from going, but the tease in me refuses to make it easy. I keep my expression neutral when I roll my face toward him and fake a jaw-cracking yawn.
“Actually, I’m pretty beat. I may have eaten myself into a bit of a food coma. Would you mind taking me home?”
The space between his brows crinkles, and he tilts his head to the side, shooting me a blank look. My lips twitch, and I can pinpointthe moment realization hits, for he flashes me a row of pearly whites, dimples and all.
“You’re fucking with me.”
