Page 118 of Fire and Ice

Jack chuckled as he wiped his mom's tears and slung his arm around her to walk her back to the kitchen.

In the brief moment they were gone, more guests had arrived, one of them being Stephanie Locke.

After their previous encounter, Jack didn't quite know how to act around her. Judging from Stephanie's attire she had every expectation of picking up where they had left off.

She was wearing an indecently short dress, no tights and tall boots. What was she thinking wearing that to a family dinner? Aunt Nat was already giving her the stink-eye.

"Aunt Frances, Jack!" She trilled as she sashayed towards them. She gave his mom a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Then she pressed her entire length on him, wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a wet kiss on his mouth. Jack unhooked her arms and tried to extricate himself from Stephanie but she ignored his attempts, and tucked her arm through his so that his arm was pressed against her breast. He glanced over at Derek for help. His friend was silently laughing. Damn him.

"Steph, um do you want a drink?" Jack offered. He was very close to being rude to a long-time family friend.

"Later, Jack," she breathed. She led him to a bar stool away from everyone else's and made him sit down. He realized soon why she had done so. "We need to catch up," she went on, whispering in his ear while reaching down to rub his crotch. "We could have a quickie before dinner." She straddled one of his legs and rubbed her heat against him. "Feel that, I'm hot for you."

Jack was shocked at Stephanie's unusual brazenness. He wasn't able to move, but could just stare at the blatant invitation in her eyes while thinking of a way to turn her down gently. He wasn't even turned on; he was disgusted.

He heard Derek clear his throat—that familiar throat clearing his friend used to warn him of something whenever they were out tomcatting about town or negotiating in the boardroom. Jack didn't need to look up to know that Maia had just entered the kitchen.

He turned his head to look straight into icy blue eyes that glared straight at Stephanie who was straddling his thigh in her very short dress and at her hand that was rubbing his crotch enthusiastically.

Fucking great.

***

Maia stretched out on the luxurious bed. She must have dozed off after showering. The clock showed 6pm. Where was Jack? After figuring out that he was not at the cottage, she quickly pulled on a tunic sweater over leggings, stabbed her feet in soft slinky tall boots and headed out to the main house. She left her hair loose. She wasn't sure what the dress code was for dinner and she wished Jack had told her or left her a note.

It was getting dark and the kitchen was surrounded by windows so it was easy to see that most of the guests had gathered in the kitchen. She spotted Derek and frowned when she saw Jack being led around by a blonde-haired woman.

Maia's mouth tightened. Figures. What was the saying? A leopard can't change his spots? She entered the kitchen with the errant pair in full view. The blonde bitch was wantonly straddling Jack's thigh and rubbing his crotch with her hand. And Jack seemed more than content to let her do it. Rat bastard!

Derek looked panicked. Frances, thankfully, was too busy with the caterers to notice and another older woman was staring at Maia with interest.

Derek cleared his throat to warn his friend and Jack twisted his head aroundto receive the full blast of her arctic stare. He shot out of the chair so fast it almost sent the blonde bitch sprawling on her ass.

His face was etched with guilt and horror. If Maia wasn't so furious, his expression would be laughable.

"Maia, babe ..." Jack began carefully.

Aware that they had an audience, she stalked over to the sitting room. Jack followed.

She spun around, her clear blue eyes sending sparks of fury so intense that Jack flinched. "You bastard, you can't help it can you?"

"Maia, I can explain. It happened so fast and with your perfect timing you walked in before I was able to push her off," Jack whispered, his eyes pleading with her to believe him.

"So it's my fault? Should I have given you what, five minutes more? You think that's enough time for her to get you off?" Maia spoke in a low angry voice.

"That's enough," Jack thundered starting to get pissed off. "What you did with Lee was worse."

"I can't believe you brought that up. That was a job. So what is this, payback for Lee?"

"No, god damn it," Jack replied in a raised voice. Switching back to an angry whisper, he continued, "You are making too much of it. I'll admit she wanted to hookup but I only want you, Maia. Only you."

"You certainly didn't look like you wanted only me. She was all over you," Maia hissed. "She was rubbing herself ... ugh!" She threw up her hands in disgust.

"She caught me by surprise, I didn't know how to react without hurting her feelings," Jack explained further.

"So you'd rather hurt mine?"

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