Page 37 of Worthy Now
“No, I haven’t. Lord knows I’ve tried, but Jake Nelson is a hardman to forget.”
“Girl, I believe it. I only met him a couple of hours ago, but I can already tell he’s one of a kind. Are you planning on staying in Jenkins Creek? Should I be looking for a new roomie?”
Reaching for Caleb’s hand, I flash him a regretful smile.
“I think we both know I was never truly happy in LA. When we first moved here, I couldn’t see past the fact that my parents didn’t give me a choice in the matter. I wanted to hold on to my anger. I was so caught up in my need to punish them I never even gave this town a chance. I thought I’d be happier some place bigger. Some place more exciting.” I shake my head at my own stupidity. “Looking back, I realize I was foolish. Everyone I love and care about is here. Except for you, of course,” I add when my friend starts to pout. “I’ve laughed more these past few months than I have in years. And that’s saying something, seeing as my mother is battling cancer...” I pause to consider my next words before meeting Caleb’s understanding eyes. “I love Jake. It’s always been him, and I don’t think living a full life without him is even possible, no matter how much he infuriates me. So, the answer to your question is…yes. I think you might want to start looking for a new roomie because I’m not coming back. I need to be here. It’s where I belong.”
“Hallelujah,” Caleb booms, pulling me into a bear hug that makes me spill half my drink. “It’s about time you saw the light. I gotta say, you’re painfully slow for such a smart woman.”
“Hey,” I protest, pushing him back enough to glare up at him. “That’s not very nice.”
“Eh, nice is overrated. Every now and then people need to hear the cold, hard truth. Here’s a little piece of advice from someone who’s been looking for his Jake for most of his life. And sometimes, I feel like I may never find him. What you two have is precious and rare. Second chances don’t come around for everyone. Treasure it, and for the love of God, don’t fuck it up. As much as it saddens me that I don’t get to live with you anymore, you owe it to yourself and that fine specimen of a man to give this a fair shot. I mean, honestly. Can you imagine the perfect little bundles of joy coming out of your va-jay-jay if you ever decided to procreate?”
“Alright, take it easy there, champ.” I laugh as we wade through the sea of people to get back to our booth. “I haven’t even told him I’m staying yet. Maybe we should start with that conversation before we think about babies.”
“Okay, but you can’t deny that the practice will be fun.”
Oh, Caleb. If you only knew, I think as my eyes connect with Jake’s. Utterly attuned to me, he seems to know exactly where mymind’s at, for he licks his lips and gives me a slow once-over, raising the temperature in the crowded bar by several degrees.
Later, once an unsuspecting Caleb is settled in the guest bedroom at Jake’s, my friend gets a firsthand demonstration of just how much fun our practice sessions can be. And I don’t feel the least bit guilty when he bangs on the wall that separates our rooms, begging us to go to sleep.
Twenty-Three
Tessa
When I wake up the next morning, I find Jake’s side of the bed empty. Stretching my sore muscles, I slide out from beneath the warm comforter and pad to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
I decide to take the time to go through my skincare routine before I brew myself a cup of much needed coffee. Hot beverage in hand, I follow the low timbre of Jake’s voice to his office, where he sits behind the mahogany desk like a king. His hair is in disarray like he’s run his fingers through it a dozen times already, and even though the day has barely begun, he already looks exhausted.
When he spots me lingering in the doorway, he motions me forward and holds up a finger to let me know he needs a minute to finish up his call. I lower myself into the seat opposite himand bring my knees up under my chin, sipping my cappuccino while I watch my man in action. The longer I sit and listen to him take care of business, the more turned on I get. His take-charge attitude, along with the deep authority ringing in his voice, makes me squirm in my seat, and I don’t fight the vision of falling to my knees in front of him.
I get lost in the fantasy while I blow over the top of my steaming mug and watch him from beneath hooded eyes. I imagine unzipping his pants. Slowly freeing his hard length from his jeans before dipping my head to take him into my mouth. All while he yells at whoever’s responsible for his foul mood.
“So, what you’re telling me is that I placed the order six weeks ago, and you’re just now realizing that you won’t be able to deliver? Are you going to break the news to my client since you failed to communicate with me and kept me from sourcing the materials elsewhere?”
He sounds like he wouldn’t mind choking the person on the other end, giving me a look that clearly displays his intolerance for incompetence. He listens intently for several moments before he pinches the bridge of his nose and screws his eyes shut.
“I’m not upset that you’re out of stock. It happens all the time. What I’m upset about is that it took you guys six weeks to get back to me, and now I’m the one who has to deal with the fall-out.This is unacceptable.” Jake’s eyes flash with annoyance before his brows jump all the way to his hairline, making me wish I could hear what’s being said. “Let me help you out, so we can both get back to our busy schedules. You can tell Bradley, if he doesn’t call me back by 5 p.m. today and offers me an acceptable solution to my problem, our business relationship is a thing of the past.” Another round of tense silence. Then, “Yeah, you do that. Have the day you deserve,” he snaps and slams the phone onto his desk so hard I’m surprised the screen doesn’t crack.
He leans back in his chair and releases a slow breath, shoving the fingers of both hands into his hair before he pulls himself together and gives me a tight smile.
“I sure as fuck hope your morning started off better than mine.”
“Well,” I drawl, sliding my feet to the floor and depositing my half-empty mug on the desk. “I had an amazing sleep because someone wore me out last night, and I’m about to head to Austin for the mother of all shopping sprees with my best friend. I’d say my day is looking pretty darn good so far.”
“Lucky you,” he says, rummaging through the scattered papers on his desk before settling on a thick manila folder. “I’d tell you I’m sorry I can’t go with you, but we both know that’d be a lie. I don’t mean to be harsh, but dealing with scheduling delays and catching up on paperwork sounds a hell of a lot better than following youthrough the mall for hours on end. You, my love, get a little carried away, and you’re kinda bossy.”
“That’s not true.”
Jake glances up from the document he’s looking over and cocks a brow. “Babe, the last time we went shopping, my arms hurt for days from lugging your bags around. I vividly remember begging you for a break. My stomach growled so loudly people gave me the side-eye. An elderly gentleman took one look at me and mouthed, ‘Hang in there, son. It’ll be over soon.’ Your blatant refusal to take care of my basic needs bordered on abuse.”
A manic cackle bursts from my throat before I rise and close the distance between us. Jake swivels his chair toward me and widens his legs to make room for me, flashing me that lazy smirk that never fails to make me a little weak in the knees.
“Seeing as Caleb is a much more suitable shopping companion, I’ll grant you a reprieve. Unlike you, he doesn’t groan like a dying animal the second the mall entrance comes into view. But, before I go, I’d like to give you a little something to remember me by. Something that might lift your spirits enough to get you through the rest of the day.”
“Oh?” Jake’s pupils dilate as he wraps his palms around the back of my thighs to pull me closer. “And what might that be, Miss Davidson?”
Deciding to turn my earlier vision into reality, I sink to my knees and slowly lower the zipper of his jeans, never taking my eyes off his. Jake leans back in his chair and lifts his hips to help me lower his pants just enough to get to the goods. He’s rock hard by the time I free him, and I don’t give him a second to think before I swallow him down.
