CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Skye
Present Day…
“Hello?”
My voice was more like a croak as I answered the phone the next morning. I squinted at the bedside clock. What fool called at six a.m. on the weekend?
“Hi, gorgeous.”
I rolled over and smiled, my stomach doing little twisty things as his deep voice caressed my ear. “Hi, Jake. Do you know what time it is?”
“Yes, it is exactly six-oh-four in the morning. I forgot to ask you yesterday if you are working tonight.”
“You called me at the ass crack of morning to ask me about my work schedule?”
He laughed, causing me to smile. “That was my first question, but you said ass crack so now I’m distracted.”
I curled onto my side, hugging a pillow to my chest. “You and your fascination with asses is legend. Now focus. What’s your second question?”
“Can I have your ass tonight?”
I laughed. “Focus please.”
He sighed. “Alright. But first, do you have to work today?”
“Not until this evening. I have a catering gig at six, so I have to be there at five-thirty.”
“Perfect. And is Cadence keeping Jagg?”
“Yes, why are you asking?”
“It’s more of a confirmation. I have a confession… I already knew your schedule.”
I snorted. “Did you get it from a source?” I still couldn’t believe Jagg and I were in the tabloids.
“If by source you mean Cadence, then yes. I called her last night.”
I pushed up to an elbow, the phone cradled between my shoulder and ear. “How did you get her number?”
He chuckled, the deep timbre vibration somehow landing in the middle of my legs. “A source.”
“Okay, I see how it is. So, what did Cadence say in this ultra-private conversation?”
“It was actually pretty interesting.”
“I’m on the edge of my seat. Please enlighten me, if you please.”
“I learned that Cadence would be happy to do a switch with me.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Switch with what?”
“I offered to watch Jagg tonight while you worked if she would watch him today while I whisked you away.”
“And she agreed?”
“Yep. She actually seemed excited. Seems there’s some guy she met or something.”
“Mark?”
“Um, that doesn’t sound right. It was more like Ian or Erik or something like that.”
Guilt made me sit all the way up. With everything going on in my life, I’d been a poor friend to Cadence. I needed to focus on her more, give her some time. And if she was excited to have a night off from babysitting… crap. I was leaning on her too much.
“So where do you plan on whisking me to?”
“Is that a yes?” I could hear the pleasure in his tone, and it warmed me.
“It depends.”
“That’s a surprise.”
Chewing my bottom lip, I thought it over. Why am I thinking it over? I’m going to say yes anyway.
“What should I wear?”
“Nothing.”
I giggled, then snapped my mouth shut on the sound.
Why was I giggling so much lately? I’d sworn off giggling after having Jagg. Giggling belonged to schoolgirls, not mothers struggling to be a good parent.
I cleared my throat. “Excuse me?”
He laughed. “I meant to say, nothing special.”
“Oh, so that’s what you meant to say.”
“That’s my story, but seriously, I’ve got it all covered. Do you still wear a size six clothes and size seven shoe?”
How did he even know that?
“Um, yes. Should I call the police? You’re feeling rather creepy right now.”
He laughed. “You could do that, or you could come with me.”
I sighed, pleased all the way to my toes. “When?”
“Now.”
“Now?”
“Yes, with now being in like fifteen minutes. Can you be ready that fast?”
I jumped from the bed and checked the mirror. My hair would have to go up, and I took a long bath last night. Five minutes for makeup. Five to get dressed. Swipe on some deodorant and body lotion. I ran a hand over my legs. Crap. Stubble. Can’t have that.
“I may currently be living my fifteen minutes of fame by my association with a billionaire playboy, but I’m not a diva, so yes, I can be ready that fast,” I said as I headed to the bathroom.
He exhaled. Had he been holding his breath? The thought pleased me even further as I slathered coconut oil on my legs and grabbed a razor.
“But I must be back by five so I can be at my job by five-thirty.”
“Okay, Cinderella, midnight is officially changed to five o’clock. Now get your sweet ass ready.”
I smiled, switching legs. “You said ass again.”
He made a growling noise. “And yours sure is sweet. Now hurry before I have to spank it.”
Why did that sound sexy?
“Maybe I want you to spank it,” I teased but pressed my thighs together as the thought of being that vulnerable with Jake turned me on. And on that note, I inspected my bikini area. I’d need to wax again soon, but the old girl was holding up okay for now. I made a mental note to buy another wax kit. I didn’t have the extra cash for the spa.
“Your wish is my command. Want me to spank that pussy too?”
Oh. My.
If my vagina had a vote, it was emphatically screaming, Yes!
“Can I spank your dick?” I teased, running a towel down both legs to get off all the extra oil. I cringed at my chipped toenail polish and vowed to take better care of my personal needs after this.
There was a sharp inhale, and I laughed, waiting for his reply. “Can I spank your pussy with my dick?”
“Well, I’m sure my pu…” crap, I couldn’t say the word, “vagina could take it better than your dick.”
“Vagina, huh?”
I lifted my chin. “Yes, that’s what it is, mister. And remember my va-jay has been through the war of birthing a child so you might not want to take that battle on.” I had a mental image of a vagina with tendrils like an octopus sucking a penis into its gaping maw.
Jake grew quiet, and I realized my mistake. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you, Skye, during that war.”
All playfulness was gone, and I mourned the loss. I sighed. “You’re here now, and it’s been good for Jagger.” I swallowed hard. “It’s been good for me too.”
“And for me too,” he said softly. “You’ve made it good, Skye. I don’t know many women who would have been so understanding. So welcoming. So loving.”
“I don’t know many people with our history, Jake. We were best friends for so long. We know each other inside and out. I mourned your loss, then held your son in my arms. Every day, I looked into gorgeous brown eyes rimmed with your exact same long lashes. How could I not welcome you back?”
Even with all the ways you’ve changed, I wanted to add, but didn’t. He was slowly returning to the old Jake. Still with scars, but his laughter came quicker. Still with pain, but with life in his eyes. If we were both very patient, maybe what was between us now would continue to grow.
“I’ll be waiting at the trees.”
I smiled. “I think I’ve heard that before.” The silence stretched, and I added, “See you soon.”
“Fifteen still work?”
“Yep. Casual?”
“Yep.”
“See you then.”
Tapping the button to end the call, I didn’t allow myself time to think about anything but getting ready. Deodorant. My favorite lotion. Teeth brushed. Listerine burning my mouth off. Hair on top of my head. Swipe of powder and mascara. A little color to my cheeks. Gloss on lips. Wipe excess off teeth. I looked in the mirror. Not bad. Not glamourous, but not cringeworthy either.
Running to my closet, I pulled on khaki shorts and a tank top, then shrugged into a light blue waterfall cardigan of the thinnest cotton. Stuffing my feet into my favorite sandals, I was done with a whole two minutes to spare.
I remembered a time when it took me hours to get ready. I’d wake up at six in order to make it to school by eight. Becoming a mother changed that. There had been days when I didn’t shower at all, and I couldn’t remember the last time I pooped with an element of privacy. And that was with just one kid. I didn’t know how mothers with more than one child managed it all.
Grabbing my purse, I made sure I had my phone and then tiptoed down the hall to write Cadence a note. But there was one waiting for me.
Have fun today. Love you!
I picked up the pen and scribbled: Thank you. I love you too. See you at five. And we must talk about this new guy soon!
Sliding out of my back door like a thief creeping out of a home, I dashed to the tree line and to the sound of a running vehicle. It was the Bentley again. Jake had more money than sense.
But it was gorgeous. And powerful. Just like the man behind the wheel.
I hopped in, breathing hard after my short run. I really needed to work out more often.
“Hey,” I said as I buckled up.
He leaned over and kissed me. “Mmm… minty fresh.”
I kissed him. “You don’t smell too bad yourself.”
“Listerine burns like fuck but does the job.”
I laughed. We had so much in common, so much that we did the same, even now.
“So… where are we going?”
He yanked the transmission into reverse and pulled out. “Not telling. Still a surprise.”
Fifteen minutes later, he was still avoiding my questions. When he pulled into a private airport, I turned more fully in my seat. “We’re getting on a plane.”
He grinned. “Not just any plane. My plane.”
I gaped at him. “You’re a pilot?”
“Well, I have a license, but I won’t be flying us today.”
Of course he has a license.
We pulled up to a large metal hangar and parked just inside. In front of it was a plane so white it was hard to look at with the early morning sun gleaming off it.
“Holy cow,” I breathed. “What kind of plane is that?”
“Embraer Lineage 1000E. I bought it right after I bought my apartment. I thought I’d want to travel a lot, you know. Get away from everything, but…” He lifted a shoulder.
“But then you went to a baseball game and all your plans changed,” I said sadly.
He turned to me. “Yes, all my plans changed, but in the best possible way. I bought that plane to escape, Skye. I don’t want to escape now.”
I reached for his hand and curled my fingers through his. “What do you want, Jake?”
His eyes grew sad, and I knew it was the wrong question. “I want more than I deserve.”
Another piece of my heart cracked off and fell into the deep well of despair. “You have to stop thinking that way, Jake. You are deserving. So am I. We’re here right now because God or the universe or whatever creator or force is out there made it so.”
He lifted my hand to his lips. “We better get moving if I want to get you back by five.”
I smiled and let him change the subject. “And where are we going?” I teased.
He bit my knuckle and I yelped. “Nice try.”
Then he was out of the door and circling around to open mine, but I beat him to it and met him at the front of the car. Slinging an arm over my shoulder, he guided me to the beautiful plane and into pure luxury.
“Wow.”
He grinned at my reaction and led me to one of the oversized leather seats. I sat down and he buckled my seatbelt for me before sitting down to buckle his own.
“Mimosa?”
A man appeared next to us, two large flutes of the bright orange liquid on a tray. Before I could answer, Jake reached for them both, handing one to me.
I smiled at the man. “Thank you.”
He smiled back. “I’m your steward for today. Please call me Paul. Breakfast will be served when we reach cruising altitude.”
My head swiveled to a grinning Jake. If his front teeth were missing and he was smaller, it might have been Jagger sitting next to me. He looked as pleased and happy as a little boy.
Paul moved off, and I whispered, “Fancy.”
“Only the best for you, my love.”
Love.
My heart did a pitter-patter at the word. I took a sip of the sweet drink to calm it back down.
I jumped a little as the captain’s voice came on over my head, letting us know we’d be departing in two minutes and all the other blah, blah stuff captains warn you about.
I was too busy looking around the cabin to pay attention. There were six oversized seats like the one I was sitting in. A long leather couch that could seat at least four, possibly more if they squished together.
There was a dining table. A small kitchen. A hallway leading to something I couldn’t see.
“This is really beautiful,” I told Jake, who had already downed half of his drink. I took another sip.
“Drink up. Paul will pick up our glasses for takeoff, but I promise there’s more.”
I turned up the glass and drained it. “More? I can’t even imagine what more means.”
He drained his too, then passed both glasses back to Paul, who’d appeared like a ghost.
Jake linked my hand with his. “I can’t wait to show you more.”
My heart shifted in my chest. Growing larger, I would guess. Or maybe making repairs to some of the cracks.
I raised his hand to my lips. “If I forget to tell you later, this is the best day ever.”