Chapter 2
GINGER WAS LETTING Jake banter back and forth with the girls, who were taking turns with silly jokes from the second seat of the car. The funeral for Jake’s dad was longer than she expected. Although Burt Green had selected the order of service and what would be read, Adele Green made insertions the reverend was loath to reject.
There were so many stories there, personalities that clashed, friends, lovers and who knew what else. Jake’s father had slept with many women, Jake had told her when they were first married. It left her with a warning sign that lodged itself in her gut and never went away. She blamed her distrust of Jake on his dad’s history. It affected her so much that when she thought Jake been unfaithful to her, she took the step to ask him to leave. It had been a difficult decision, and it had been a horrible mistake. But Jake hadn’t fought it much, and before she could catch her breath, before logic and sense crept in, Karlene was there and before just a few weeks, she was already announcing her pregnancy and another wedding.
Jake had grown up a lot since those days. He didn’t handle the relationship thing well at all. But he didn’t mind fathering babies, and this wasn’t something she knew before. He just didn’t do the confrontation with his women very well, so he went along. The big tough SEAL could never say no to a woman.
And thank God, he couldn’t say no to her again. This time, she intended to keep him forever at her side. She was grateful for her second chance, and promised never to doubt him again.
So she took the attention the other two wives (well, one wife and one live-in that resulted in pregnancy) garnered with their offspring, and tried as best she could to accept them, the children and to make sure there wasn’t a wall or barrier between her family and theirs. After all, Jake was a part of it. It didn’t matter that his DNA was spread all over the world. She shuddered to think if that could really be true. Could Jake have fathered more children she didn’t know about?
She took a deep breath and let it all out, watching the landscapes whoosh by as her former husband and their two daughters sang and joked and laughed. As the houses and trees, cars and dogs, people outside watering their brown lawns, kids playing at the school yard danced by the picture frame of her car window, she saw the streaming that was life all around her. And she felt blessed. It wasn’t perfect, but it all was a blessing. Her problem was that there was so much life, it was nearly too much to handle.
Drop that thought. Be thankful for everything you’ve been given. Because in it came the gift of Jake coming back to you. And that is worth every ounce of pain, worry and stress.
Jake gently touched her hand and she discovered he was smiling at her. Those blue eyes, ingrained laugh lines at the top of his cheeks bringing his promise of secrets and desires he couldn’t hide.
“You okay, sweetheart?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
“I think when you get home, we’ll all go down for a nap. Then perhaps later we can go have pizza, and some ice cream. How about that?”
The girls, with ears that would hear those comments a mile away cheered. Jake was making big brownie points today.
She leaned back into the headrest and winked at him. “I’m game.” And with that little signal, she let him know she was open for a nap with benefits.
He drew her knuckles to his lips and kissed her softly.
“Who was that woman sitting with Belinda?” she asked.
“I think it was her mother.”
“I’ve never seen her before.”
“Neither have I. Mom knew her, though. I think someone from the club, but I’m not sure.” Ginger knew he wanted to say something more.
“Go ahead, out with it.”
Jake chuckled. “Am I so transparent?”
“Totally.” Ginger was happy that Jake’s serious mood during the funeral was over with. She suspected he was relieved the whole ordeal was finished.
“Mom had a mystery man show up at the funeral.”
“Mystery man?”
“Yup.”
“Who was he?”
“Someone who used to work at the office when Mom was an agent there. He knew me when I was a boy. Seemed like a nice guy. He told me to tell her hello, and Mom freaked.”
“Wow. Another mystery. Your family has more secrets than a spy novel.”
“You can say that again. I suppose we’ll learn more when we do the reading of the will next week. I want you there, Ginger.”
“Of course I’ll be there.”
“The other—” he winced mid sentence and Ginger saw he was still uncomfortable with her acceptance of his past relationships.
“Jake, I signed on for this. I knew full well what I was getting myself into this time. Just call them your wives. We don’t have to keep bringing up the fact that Monica was never official. You made a baby. She was your wife. End of story.”
She scanned the street, checking her insides, and discovered she really was okay with it.
“You’re too good for me.”
“Only if you cheat on me.”
“I never did—”
“Would you stop it? The girls are in the back seat.”
It had gotten very quiet back there and their big ears had no doubt picked up everything.
“We’re not going to hide anything, Jake. Best thing is to just be honest with them, with all of the kids and the wives. I am not a fan of labels.” She delivered this without looking at him.
He took her fingers again and kissed her tenderly. “Except, sweet Ginger, you’re mine. That’s a label you’ll wear for the rest of your life, honey.”
Ginger couldn’t wait to get home.
WITH THE PROMISE of ice cream and pizza for dinner, the girls went right to bed, shedding their dark dresses and patent leather shoes, and sleeping in their long slips.
After settling them down and opening the windows, Ginger entered the master bedroom and found Jake naked on the bed, waiting for her.
“Now that’s a picture I won’t soon forget,” she whispered as she closed the door.
“Come here, Ginger. Let me take that dress off you.” His low sexy voice sent tingles down her spine. The whisper was meant for her ears only.
She sat on the edge of the bed, feeling the covers shift. Soon his fingers were at the back of her neck, smoothing up and down the little twist she’d done with her hair. He removed her rhinestone wire clip and her hair fell loose. His fingers slid over her scalp, sifting through her hair, pulling slightly, as he angled her head to one side and placed a kiss on her exposed neck.
“You have such a lovely neck. And the red hair drives me wild, Ginger. It always did.” His lips touched her ear as he continued, “I feel so lucky you came back to me, sweetheart. I would have missed all this.”
His fingers worked the zipper down slowly. He kissed each inch. The heat of his massive frame and the groans he tempted her with had her ears buzzing. A driving need inside her had her bonfires stoked.
With both hands, he slid the dress off her shoulders. He was kneeling at her back, unlatching her bra and looping the straps forward and down her arms. She let her dress and bra pool at her waist. He was behind her, pressing his chest against her back, his arms reaching around to tweak her nipples and fondle her flesh. She leaned back against him and turned to plant a sideways kiss on his cheek. He pulled her over, cradling her and then set her down on the bed as he pulled the rest of her clothes down her hips, taking her panties too.
She arched as his head was buried between her legs, heightening her passion. His expert tongue did all the right things, but she wanted him deep inside her now, so pulled under his arms and begged him to crawl on top of her. With the taste of her own arousal on his lips, he kissed her deep, and found his way inside.
As their bodies mated in tandem, Jake brought her to the brink of release and then slowed her down several times before their explosive finale. Sometime during that afternoon of lovemaking she knew they were bonded and mated forever. As his blue eyes searched her face afterwards, his fingers wiping the sweat from her brow, his lips still feeding off hers, she felt the glow of new life and all the possibility that meant. Everything was starting all over again. The cycles of life had just expanded to include yet one more reason to never leave this man’s protective arms.
She curled up under his chin and hugged him close, their legs still entangled, as he pulled the light peach sheet up over both their bodies and let her doze off into a deep, contented sleep.