Page 54 of Make Me Crazy (Loco, Texas 2)

“I don’t really think your marriage is a good example of what Rand and I should strive for,” Jake said bluntly, regretting his words instantly. His mother’s cheery face blanched and her eyes filled with pain.

“Mom, I’m-”

“Just because your father left, doesn’t negate the good years we had. That’s what I like to focus on, is the good years.” She poured herself a glass of red wine, and looked up at him with a watery smile. “That doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t kick his ass if we ever crossed paths again, but I’ve made my peace with it. I suggest you do the same.”

How could she be so casual about it? Make his peace with it? The man had destroyed them.

It wasn’t the first time his mother had said it to him, and it probably wouldn’t be the last, but there was no way in hell he would ever forget those years after his dad left; listening to his mother cry, mowing lawns to help pay bills until he turned fifteen and started working at the feed store. His brother had done his part until he’d abandoned them for the Marines. Not that he wasn’t proud of Dustin, but they had needed him home more than his country had needed him.

His brother’s return was another reason he was feeling agitated. He hadn’t seen Dustin in over three years, and he had no idea what to say to him. And his kid. Would he call Jake uncle? Did he have to bond with him or should he just avoid him?

His phone chirped and a text from Rand helped uncoil the apprehension that had tighten

ed every muscle in his body.

Making chicken fried venison steak and taters. Want some?

“I need to get going, Mom. Rand’s holding dinner for me.”

Jake stood up and his mother gave him a big hug. “I’ll call you when your brother gets here.”

Jake didn’t have anything to say, just hugged her back and walked out the door, texting as he went.

I’m on my way.

Rand heard Jake’s truck pull up outside and butterflies exploded inside her, fluttering up and around her heart before falling back down to hit the walls of her stomach.

She pulled their plates out of the oven and set them on the table just as the front door opened and Jake’s long legged frame ambled inside, taking off his ball cap and running a hand through his messy hair. Rand had the crazy urge to run her own fingers through the sandy strands and attempt to tame them, but she still felt awkward, like all of this was a dream she would wake up from at any minute.

She sat down heavily in her chair as he walked over, passing his plate and chair to lean over her. She tilted her face up to meet his gaze and his smile was pure masculine satisfaction.

“I have been thinking about you all day.”

Her heart stopped at his words, only to come back in a full force river dance when he kissed her, sliding his tongue into her mouth and cupping the back of her head.

Swirls of color formed behind her closed eyelids as she kissed him back, her arms reaching up behind his neck to hold on tight. Suddenly, his hands were cupping her arms and lifting her to her feet, pressing her body against the length of his. She melted into him, returning his kiss urgently, wanting to get as close as she could to his body. Her hands slipped up and under his plaid shirt and jacket, his skin warm and inviting against her palm.

He released her, shrugging out of his jacket and her fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt, slipping one out after another until she could peel the shirt back to stare at what lay beneath.

Honey colored skin stretched across the defined pecks with a sprinkling of golden hair as cover. The hair traveled in a line, over the bumps of his abdomen and disappeared into his jeans.

Distracted by his hands on her own belt, she hardly had time to catch her breath before he was unbuckling the leather, and reaching for the snap of her jeans. He wasted no time pulling down her zipper and pushing her jeans down to her thighs as his mouth found the pulse on her neck.

Head flopping back, she shifted from one foot to the other, kicking her boots off and to the side. Her hands grabbed his own belt and struggled with it, until he pushed her hands away and did the job himself, his mouth moving down to the place where her shoulder and neck met. She heard the snap of his jeans and zipper coming undone right before the clank of a belt hit the floor, and sanity almost returned to her.

Almost.

When his hand grabbed the hem of her t-shirt and yanked it up and over, she caught her breath as the cool air rose goosebumps all over her body. She kicked her pants and underwear off her legs as his mouth took possession of hers again, his hands all over her, molding her body like she was clay on a potter’s wheel.

He unclipped her bra and helped her slide it down her arms. Fully naked, she had no idea how to proceed. Did they go to the bedroom?

When he finished kicking his own pants off, he made the decision for her, turning her around to face the kitchen table. The crinkly sound of a condom wrapper and his heavy breathing told her that he was almost ready and she had no idea what to do.

The heat of his body pressed against her back as his hands cupped her breasts, tweaking her nipples between his thumb and forefinger before crushing them gently in his palms. She cried out and he released one of her breasts, his hand searching down her body until his fingers pushed between the folds of her mound and he slipped a finger inside her.

“Oh.” The soft moan escaped her before she could catch it, her body pulsating with heat as his mouth nibbled at her neck and shoulders while his finger teased her. His teeth caught her earlobe, his hot breath exhaling against her ear as he whispered, “Put your hands flat on the table.”

She didn’t ask why, something she would have done under any other circumstance, but she trusted Jake about this and wanted him.

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