Page 56 of Moving to Love
Jeremiah squeezed her shoulders again and sighed, contented and happy.
“I suppose I should feed you before you have to run back to the shop. What would you like?”
“Why don’t we finish up the pizza from last night?”
Joci nodded. “Sounds good. Give me about ten minutes.”
She got up and put her robe on. He watched her and smiled.
“You’re a sexy woman, Joci.”
She smiled at him. “And you’re a sexy man.”
Joci walked out to the kitchen and started warming up the pizza. She set the table and got two bottles of water out of the refrigerator. Just as the microwave dinged, Jeremiah walked into the kitchen. He was pulling his shirt over his head. He looked delicious; really, she was a lucky woman. As she watched him, his head poked through the top of his t-shirt.
He looked at her and smirked. “I do have a brain, you know.”
Joci burst out laughing. “Yes, you do, but you also have that smoking hot bod. I love looking at you.”
He sat down, and they ate lunch. Joci was dying to know, so she asked. “How did this morning go with LuAnn?”
Jeremiah shrugged his shoulders. “I guess okay. She acted contrite and she’s been pretty quiet. Janice said she hasn’t asked anything about the rest of the weekend at all, which is kind of weird. LuAnn always wants to know what she missed. Honey, all I care about is that she's good. I won’t tolerate anyone hurting you, ever.”
Joci looked over at him. “Thank you,” she said softly.
He chuckled. “You don’t have to thank me, honey. I mean it.”
She nodded. She wished she could get over this niggling little feeling that LuAnn was about to drop a bomb or something. Jeremiah was right. It wasn’t like LuAnn not to want to know what she missed, especially when it came to Jeremiah.
He broke the silence. “Did you call Jackie and Sandi this morning?”
Joci shook her head. “I never call Jackie before noon. Yikes, she’s crabby in the morning. Sandi worked this morning, so I’ll call her after two. Are you afraid I won’t do it?”
She smiled as she asked. Jeremiah was a great guy. He was a good person, but when he made up his mind, he would move heaven and earth to get what he wanted. Right now, he wanted to hear Joci sing, and he wanted babies. How was she going to get around that?
Jeremiah wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I can’t help it that I want to know the things about you that others know. I want to know everything there is to know.”
He never looked away from her, which she had quickly learned was his way of letting her know that he intended to get his way.
“I feel the same way, but you keep things from me.”
Jeremiah’s head jerked up. He furrowed his brows and stared into her eyes. “I haven’t kept anything from you.”
“Really? Why won’t you tell me why you keep LuAnn around? You said you couldn’t explain it.” Joci’s voice got quiet. “Are you committed to her in some way? Did you once have feelings for her…or do you still?”
Jeremiah stood up and walked around the table. He leaned down and pulled Joci to her feet. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight. She could feel his heart beating rapidly.
“I have never loved anyone, Joci. Not until you. You’re it for me, babe. I need you to believe that.”
Jeremiah pulled back just enough so he could kiss her. It was gentle and sweet. A kiss that curled her toes just as much as one of his passionate kisses did.
When he ended their kiss, he moved his hands into her hair and cupped her nape in his hand. With his other hand, he ran his fingers down the side of her face.
“You are so perfect, Joci. I still can’t believe that God brought you into my life. I’m not like those other fuckers who treated you like shit. You need to start believing that.”
Joci smiled at him and looked into his eyes. She believed that he loved her, but once again, he was avoiding answering her question. She nodded and stepped back a little. She turned and started clearing the table.
Jeremiah knew he was going to have to tell her about LuAnn; he just couldn’t do it yet. He hated the wall she had just erected between them. It made him feel cold and alone again.
