Chapter Sixteen
The two women followed the lab tech to an office near the end of the hall, where he wisely abandoned them in the doorway when another man in another lab coat jumped up from his seat behind a desk and exclaimed, “Mrs. Spurling! It’s good to see you again.”
“Hi, Mac,” Beth said ruefully. “This is Jill Colby. Jayce’s new girlfriend.”
Jayce stepped into view and grinned. “Yeah, Doc. Don’t keep her in suspense.”
The blue blaze in his eyes told him all she needed to know and she leapt into his arms. “Oh, yay! You did it.”
“Didn’t I tell you, Doc?” he asked, chuckling. “I couldn’t let her down.”
“I see that.” The physician stretched out his hand. “I’m Dr. MacNeil. Nice to meet you, Ms. Colby.”
“Thanks for the good news,” she told him sincerely.
“It healed beautifully,” he said with a self-deprecating smile. “He was right to listen to his gut instead of his stodgy doctor.”
Beth broke in, insisting, “It would have healed beautifully with surgery too. And faster and with less pain. So you were both right.”
“Which means you were right,” Jayce told her teasingly. “Thanks for coming, Bethie.”
“Like I’d miss it?” She glanced at her watch and reminded him, “I need to pick up Rye Rye. You’re still taking them this weekend, aren’t you? My flight leaves at seven.”
“I’ll be there early since I need to talk some financial stuff with you.”
“Oh, okay.” She stepped up to him and sandwiched his face between her palms. “I’m so glad about your shoulder.” Then she reached over to touch Jill’s arm. “Good luck with the murder trial.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll walk you out, Mrs. Spurling,” Dr. MacNeil offered, and the two ambled out the door, chatting like old friends. Or possibly co-conspirators.
Jill moved into Jayce’s arms again. “You did it.”
“Were you worried?”
“About your shoulder? No. Just your hydrogen protons, since the machine messes with those.”
“My protons are definitely excited,” he assured her, backing her against the desk and kissing her amorously.
“Mmm, mine too,” she admitted, running her hand inside his polo shirt. “I’ve been taking it easy on you, ball hawk. But now . . .” Her voice became a purr. “Let’s go home.”
• • •
After testing his shoulder with playful lovemaking and a round of tennis, Jayce headed over to Beth’s house to give her the news about the new house, while Jill used the Audi to pick up a football cake she had ordered from a fancy bakery, along with groceries to make dinner one last time at the old apartment. Jayce’s plan? Lull the children with a boring night, then spring the new house on them on Saturday.
While she cooked she texted the news to her sister: MRI perfect. Jayce bought himself a house in SD.
Tess’s instant response—OMG!!!!—cracked Jill up and she wasn’t surprised when the phone rang a second later.
“Hi, Tess,” she said smoothly. “What’s new on your end?”
“He bought a house? For himself? Without Beth? Meaning the divorce is officially final?”
“That’s the rumor.”
“Don’t toy with me! What does this mean? He gave up hope? Or he went for you instead? I’m dying here, Jillie.”
Jill sighed. “It’s not about me. Or at least I hope it isn’t. It’s more like . . .”
Tess proved why she was Jill’s favorite person in the world by saying gently, “He wanted to do right by his kids. And it took him a while to realize he could do that without living with a woman he didn’t love anymore. Right?”
“Or loves differently,” she said sadly. “They’re awful together but they’ll always love each other. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. And meanwhile,” she teased her sister, “you’re pretty smart.”
Tess laughed lightly. “Romeo gets the credit. He dragged me through it, kicking and screaming, until finally—well, let’s just say, I get it. Jayce couldn’t go back to her. Not after the way she treated him.”
“Exactly. And even though it’s awful that her dad got sick, it showed him he could parent their children separately. You should see him with them, sissie. He’s such a good dad.”
Tess gave an exasperated huff. “We already knew that. The real question is: What is he to you? Is it still just all-sex, all-the-time? Like I ever believed that.”
“You’re a genius,” Jill drawled. “And yes, it’s more than that now. We’re dating and it’s wonderful.”
“Dating?”
Jill sighed. “If I tell you something—”
“Tell me! I’ll take it to the grave, I promise.”
“It’s nothing like that,” Jill scolded, trying not to laugh. “We really want to date. But not long-distance. And since there’s a condo I could rent that’s right on the beach—”
“Oh, my God, seriously? We’d practically be neighbors.”
“That’s the idea. But don’t tell anyone, okay?” she pleaded. “It’s shocking enough that he’s buying his own place. Moving on from his marriage. His family needs to absorb that first.”
“I get it. And Sean will, too. I mean, I can tell him, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“And you’re madly in love? Tell me every detail, please?”
Jill hesitated, but she had been dying to share all this with her sister, so she said finally, “We’re falling in love and it’s so much fun. Remind me to tell you the pink-towel story. Because looking back, that was the moment for me. But I want to tell you in person.”
There was a brief silence. Maybe even a sniffle on Tess’s end of the call. But the little sister sounded cheerful when she finally spoke. “Enough small talk already. Tell me about your innocent client. I predict he’ll be the first among many.”
• • •
They ate chicken tacos and fruit salad, then celebrated the MRI with cake and a rousing game of Risk. Jill teamed with Ryan; Jayce with Alex; Ricky with JJ. They even used West Coast rules this time, but when the dust settled, they were all Jill’s vassals. Then she went to bed on the couch, Jayce retreated to the master bedroom, and the boys slept in the bunk beds, where the missing mattresses had been restored.
When the apartment was quiet, Jayce snuck back in and joined her.
“How did Beth take it?” Jill asked in a whisper.
“She was surprised. No doubt about it. But she kept saying it was a relief. So she must have been worried I’d never stop hounding her.”
“Or she was afraid you’d move to LA. Or some other city if you signed with a different team.”
“Nah. She knows I’d never leave the kids.”
Pleased, Jill told him about the call with Tess.
“Yeah, I talked to big bro, too. He’s disappointed, but Erica did the same thing as Deck. Prepared him for the worst. So he took it pretty well.”
“What a relief.”
“I didn’t tell him you were moving here, though. I’ll save that for next week.” Nuzzling closer, he worked her pajama pants down her legs and murmured, “So? The pink towel did it?”
A shiver of excitement ran through her. “Jayce . . .”
“It’s all good,” he said smoothly, working his finger inside her. “That was the weekend it hit me too, you know.”
Her excitement built on cue as she wriggled against his expert teasing. “What?”
“Yeah.” His erection swelled against her. “I was sure the kids were making your life a living hell. Then I opened that door, and there you were. My glamour girl, sound asleep with all your subjects strewn around you. Man,” he added, his tone turning husky. “You’re so hot.”
“Oh, God,” she gasped under her breath. “We can’t, Jayce.”
“Sure we can.”
Almost in response, they heard someone shuffling into the hall bathroom.
“Busted,” Jayce admitted with a sheepish grin. Then he pulled up his boxers, kissed her warmly and assured her, “See you in the morning, babe.”
• • •
They all went out for breakfast and Jayce broke the news that the apartment was too crowded so he had gotten a bigger place. When Ricky asked dubiously, “Does it have an outside?” his dad chuckled and assured him it did.
After breakfast, Jill dropped them at the U-Haul yard where Jayce had rented a truck, then she continued to the new house on the pretense of putting dishes away. Actually, she was meeting the TV installers, who had promised to meet her at ten thirty sharp. Hopefully, it would take a few hours for Jayce and the boys to load the truck with all the boxes from the apartment, as well as the few pieces of furniture he was bringing with him.
As she drove up to the house, she took a moment to admire it again. The creamy tone of the paint, the leaded panes of the windows, the graceful sweep of the porch—so lovely it belied its gargantuan size.
Would the little boys appreciate the effect? Probably not. That was what the pool was for. And meanwhile, she had noticed Jayce gazing at his new home more than once and knew it represented something special to him. Not just “getting on with his life” but finding a place that reflected him so well—a family-oriented guy with a huge personality and a mischievous appreciation for glamour.
She had just walked through a side door into the mud room when she heard a ringing sound from the security gate, so she dove for the intercom and buzzed the media guys through, then went out to the driveway to greet and remind them this was a surprise for her boyfriend so she needed it installed quickly. They assured her they had gotten those instructions from the boss, then proved it by unloading a giant flat box that was literally taller than Jill and whisking it into the house like it was light as a feather.
Forty-five minutes later, a dazzling—not to mention enormous—scene from a golf tournament was playing on the wall, and thanks to the state-of-the-art audio system, the whispering of the announcers could be heard perfectly from the far side of the kitchen.
Thrilled, she gave each worker a generous tip and sent them on their way, then opened one of many Crate & Barrel boxes and began unloading dishes. She needed to stay busy. To keep her heart from beating too fast at the thought of living here someday with Jayce. And even before then, it would be so much fun watching the boys explore the place, hopefully without any trips to the ER.
She kept one eye out for their arrival but it proved unnecessary since Jayce blasted the horn as soon as he pulled into the driveway. Then he drove straight to the back of the house as Georgette had done that first evening to show off the important features—pool and sports courts—before bothering with pesky details like leaded windowpanes or hardwood floors. Dashing out the back door, she reached them just as the boys were tumbling out of the truck, their eyes wide, their voices momentarily silenced by the panorama before them.
Ricky was the first to speak. “Is this ours? Like we can use it?”
“Yep,” Jayce confirmed.
Thus unleashed, Alex bolted toward the pool enclosure and began examining it as if looking for a secret opening while the other boys trailed a distance behind him.
“He’s like the velociraptors in Jurassic Park,” Jayce told Jill with a chuckle. “Testing the electric fence for a way in.”
“I never saw it,” she confessed.
“We’ll have to fix that. But meanwhile . . .” He raised his voice and called out, “Alex! Back away from the fence. Now.”
When the rascal complied, Jayce used the remote control and the gate rolled open to expose the entire pool area. Hooting, Alex bounded into the enclosure and cannon-balled into the water without even bothering to take off his tennis shoes. JJ and Ricky followed suit, calling out “Kowabunga!” before hitting the water.
Ryan held back but was clearly tempted, so Jayce pulled off his own shoes and scooped up the little boy, then they both hit the water with an epic splash.
Boys, Jill decided ruefully as she strolled to the pool house and found five towels. Not that she expected them to use them.
They’ll probably just shake themselves dry.
“Aren’t you coming in?” Ricky called to her.
“Maybe later.”
“You’re missing out,” JJ insisted, hanging on the side and grinning in a way she hadn’t seen him do yet that visit. Not even during the Risk game.
It made her think of the mess with Tom, but she decided not to let it spoil the adventure, so she stretched out in a lounge chair and said cheerfully, “Let’s see some diving.”
In an instant, she was reminded that this was a family of athletes as the three older boys lined up at the diving board, their feet now bare, although she had no idea where the shoes had gone. Then one by one they executed powerful yet graceful dives. Even skinny little Alex. Then Jayce set Ryan up on the side and coaxed him to try it, and to Jill’s delight he had the beginnings of a nice form even though it still ended in a belly flop.
When they all jumped out and grabbed towels, Jayce reminded them, “Find your shoes. And drink some water. Then we’ll unload the truck.”
“Can’t we play golf?” Ricky asked.
“Once the truck is unloaded.”
JJ’s gaze swept over the yard. “Do you own all this, Dad?”
“I’m in the process of buying it.”
“Do we get our own rooms?”
“You and Rick do. Alex and Rye will start out upstairs near me.”
“Can Mom live here, too?” Alex asked.
It brought a lump to Jill’s throat, but Jayce must have anticipated it because he said cheerfully, “She can come over whenever she wants. But no way she’ll leave her snow globes, right?”
“Right.” The five-year-old turned to Jill. “Do you live here?”
“No, but I plan on visiting a lot.”
They seemed satisfied with the arrangements, so Jayce herded them out of the enclosure, sent them to the truck for a change of clothes, then activated the gate while instructing them, “You can change in the mud room. Then we’ll show you the rest of the house.”
When they ran off, he pulled Jill into a sexy hug. “I missed you, Ivy League.”
“Come inside for a minute,” she suggested, taking him by the hand. “I want your opinion on something.”
“Okay if I drip on the floors?”
“Let’s hope so. If that hardwood can’t take a little water we’re in big trouble.”
“Good point.” He followed her willingly up the steps, into the mud room, and then into the family room, where he stopped dead in his tracks. She had turned the TV off, but thanks to its sheer size, its influence was still magnetic.
“Man,” he said reverently. “You did this?”
“Do you like it?”
He urged her body close to his and stared down through solemn eyes. “Yeah, but it’s not necessary. I’m not that guy anymore, I promise.”
“Well, that’s awkward,” she purred. “Since that’s the guy I’ve been falling in love with. A professional football player and a sports lover with four adorable boys who are following in his footsteps.” When he still seemed conflicted, she touched his jaw. “Beth had a problem with it, and I respect that. But it’s her issue, not mine. To me, it’s wholesome. Especially when we’re cooking together and we can still watch the Masters from the kitchen.”
“We’re gonna cook together?”
She nodded.
“You watch golf? Voluntarily?”
A laugh bubbled in her throat. “I enjoy it. Even though Tess says if you watch an entire tournament on TV you’re literally watching grass grow.”
He roared with appreciative laughter, then turned to survey the video set-up as though giving himself permission to drink it all in. Finally he picked up the remote and turned it on and was visibly dazzled by the big-screen effect.
“Wow,” said Ricky’s voice from behind them, sounding every bit as awestruck as his dad. “Is that ours?”
“Yeah, do you think it’s too small?” Jayce teased.
The other boys stumbled into the room, their wide eyes fixed on the vibrant media display.
Then Alex said ominously, “Don’t let Mom near it.”
To Jill’s relief, Jayce and his older sons laughed like it was funny rather than tragic. Then Jayce picked Ryan up and asked, “What do you think, pardner?”
“Is it mine, too?”
“Yep.”
A dozen questions spilled out of the boys, mostly about hooking up their video gaming systems—to which Jayce said, “You can play those in the game room on the old TV”—and then about getting a dog. Maybe even two. Jayce promised to give it some thought, then reminded them there was a whole house to explore, and they burst toward the stairs like a swarm of adorable locusts.
Jill curled her arms around his neck. “So? You like it?”
“It’s awesome. So are you.”
They were kissing contentedly when a door slammed upstairs followed by a wail of outrage from little Ryan, who had apparently been trapped on the wrong side of the fun.
Jayce chuckled. “I’m on it. Let’s hope I don’t get lost because—” He paused to waggle a proud eyebrow. “This place is effing huge.”
• • •
Once the truck was unloaded, the three younger boys were assigned to help Jill unpack boxes while Jayce and JJ assembled bunk beds for Ryan and Alex upstairs. The mood was lighthearted, except for a disquieting moment when Ricky asked Jill if JJ was in trouble. When she assured him he wasn’t, he replied glumly, “I hope Dad doesn’t try to talk to him. He doesn’t feel like it.”
“You mean he doesn’t feel like it today?”
Alex chimed in. “He never feels like it now.”
Bemused, Jill reminded herself the oldest son had never seemed particularly chatty. Was that a post-divorce development? She wanted to ask more questions but was too busy sweeping Alex off the top of a five-foot pony wall separating the formal dining room from the butler’s pantry. “No more climbing,” she pleaded, trying not to laugh at his impish smile.
Jayce, who had just walked up behind them, informed his daredevil son there was an obstacle course in the backyard, complete with parallel beams, a climbing net, corrugated tunnels to crawl through, and a pull-up bar. “If you want exercise, try that. But only if I’m there. Or Jill or Jay.”
“Me too, Daddy?” Ryan asked.
“You bet. But for now, keep helping Jill while I pick up some burgers. What do you want, pardner?”
“I want what JJ wants.”
“Smart choice. Jay?”
The eldest boy ordered a Big Mac, fries and a Coke, which the others immediately echoed.
“Jill?” Jayce asked.
“Don’t you boys like milk?” she asked, honestly curious. Then she waved her hand, saying, “Never mind. I’ll have a chicken sandwich and milk, please.”
JJ surprised her by saying, “I’ll have milk, too.”
Me, too,” the others chimed in. Then Ricky asked Jayce, “What about you, Dad? Are you having milk?”
“I’ll stick with beer,” he joked, then in an amorous display, he grabbed Jill, leaned her back, and kissed her goodbye before heading out the door.
She knew she was blushing when she explained, “Your dad and I are dating.”
“Yeah, he told us,” JJ said in a pensive voice, adding quickly, “It’s good.”
She gave his shoulders a squeeze and asked, “Did you have a nice talk with your dad?”
“Two of the bolts were missing so we had to improvise.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun.”
“Yeah. What do you want me to do in here?”
Alex interrupted, asking, “Can we go on the exercise bars? Dad promised.”
“He did not,” JJ said firmly, using the same voice Jayce would have used. Then he told Jill, “I’ll take them if you want me to.”
“If you don’t mind—”
“Yay!!” Alex bolted through the door with Ricky jockeying for lead position. As Alex disappeared from view, he called back to her in a mischievous voice, “Use protection!”
“What?” She stared in dismay, too shocked to run after him.
JJ burst out laughing, again reminding her of his dad. Then he explained, “He heard Uncle Bam say that when Uncle Sean was kissing Tess at Christmas. He thinks it’s funny. But he doesn’t know what it means.”
“Do you know what it means?”
The boy flushed but nodded.
Squeezing his shoulders again, she murmured, “He’s so lucky to have a big brother like you. They all are.”
He shuffled, seeming pleased but uncomfortable. “I better get out there before he breaks his neck.” Then his expression lightened. “Rye conked out.”
“What? Oh.” She giggled at the sight of the youngest asleep in his booster chair at the counter, his chin slumped to his chest. “Go on, then. We’ll join you when he wakes up.”
• • •
As Coach Aaron Spurling pulled into the driveway of the sprawling San Diego house that was apparently being purchased by his youngest son, he realized he should have called first. But his niece, Sophie, had mentioned this insane development that morning, and a quick call to Johnny had confirmed it. After that?
Aaron had climbed into his truck without thinking twice, intent on setting Jayce straight before things got out of hand. Still, he didn’t want to blow this, and so while driving south he had remembered Johnny’s advice.
Beth kicked him out, Pop. Remember? And it was brutal. And yeah, she had her reasons, but we should have given him more sympathy instead of assuming it was all his fault. I was wrong about that. And so were you. But Erica set me straight.
It almost made sense. Beth was an amazing person. The woman who had stepped willingly into place as matriarch of the Spurling clan after the loss of Aaron’s wife and the floundering of their family. She had been instrumental in keeping Jayce in line despite his wayward tendencies, had steered him toward a successful career, and—last but not least—had given Aaron four amazing grandsons.
Still, she shouldn’t have smashed the TV, so Jayce was correct to feel humiliated, even though he had undoubtedly humiliated Beth dozens of times, so who was Aaron—or anyone—to judge her?
Except she took up with that Tom guy . . .
That was the part that stymied Aaron. Beth had made a serious mistake with that, and maybe Jayce was entitled to fool around a little in retaliation. Tit for tat, right? And they both had needs.
As long as those needs didn’t interfere with fixing their marriage.
But as usual, Jayce had gone too far. Instead of satisfying his itch with a stranger, he had gone for Tess Colby’s sister, knowing it would send shock waves through the entire Spurling universe, affecting Erica’s friendship with Tess; Johnny’s friendship with Sean Decker; even unnerving Aaron himself since Tess was like a daughter to him, or at least his favorite bartender, favorite journalist, and hands-down favorite person to watch football with, which was saying a lot given the caliber of his family and co-workers.
He’s out of control, Aaron decided as he pulled to the side of the driveway. Dating Tess’s sister? Buying this monstrosity?
Aaron’s humble three-bedroom cottage had been plenty big enough to raise a family. Even Johnny’s place, while a bit too woodsy and high-tech for Aaron’s tastes, was smaller than this. What the heck was the kid trying to prove?
“Grandpop! Grandpop!”
Aaron’s mood lightened as Alex and Ricky hurtled toward him with JJ following at a slower pace in keeping with his more mature age.
Alex, who reached him first, almost tackled him to the ground.
“Hey, partner, take it easy,” Aaron teased him as he gave him a powerful hug. Then he reached out for Ricky, who beamed and said, “We live here, Grandpop. For reals. There’s a pool and everything.”
“And we’re getting a dog. Maybe even a horse,” Alex insisted.
“Sounds like quite a place,” Aaron murmured. Then he touched the shoulder of the eldest boy, who seemed unusually subdued. “Hey, JJ. What do you think of it?”
“It’s good,” the boy hedged. “But we only live here on Dad’s weekends. Not all the time.”
“Come see the pool, Grandpop,” Alex interrupted impatiently. “And the golf course.”
He laughed as the child—who was so like Jayce at that age—tugged at his hand. Then he asked him, “Where’s your father? And Rye Rye?”
“Dad’s getting food. Rye’s taking a nap.”
“He left you boys alone? Oh . . .” Aaron grimaced as the front door opened and a truly beautiful blonde emerged from the house with Ryan on her hip.
It hadn’t occurred to Aaron that Tess’s sister might be there. Didn’t Johnny say she lived in New York?
Apparently not today.
“That’s Jill,” JJ said under his breath, as though understanding this wasn’t normal.
The girl sauntered toward them with a smile that could melt even Aaron’s heart. He had expected her to look like Tess, and in a way she did, but unlike her pretty counterpart, this one was a bombshell. Taller for sure, but it was more than that. Classy rather than breezy, even though she was dressed in a simple denim dress and flat-heeled shoes.
No wonder Jayce had been blown off course.
When Ryan wriggled in her arms, she set him down and he ran to Aaron, calling out happily, “Pop-Pop! You’re here!”
“I am indeed,” he confirmed, scooping up the bundle of energy. But his attention was focused on the girl who approached cautiously but with a welcoming smile.
“Hi, Mr. Spurling. I’m Jill Colby. Tess’s sister.”
“So I hear.” He accepted her delicate handshake. “Call me ‘Coach.’ Or Aaron. Or you can do what your sister does and call me Coach Pop.”
The blonde laughed lightly. “She has a way with words, doesn’t she?”
“She does indeed. I didn’t mean to crash the party,” he said apologetically, but she cut him off by insisting, “The boys are so happy to see you. And I’m hoping you can do me a favor if you don’t mind.”
“Anything,” he assured her, charmed in spite of himself.
“I’m a lawyer,” she explained breathlessly. “And my co-counsel just called to say the judge wants to see us. In Los Angeles. I was going to wait for Jayce, but since you’re here, I was hoping . . . ?”
Aaron shook his head. “Don’t rush off on my account, sweetheart.”
“It’s not that. I just don’t want to miss the fireworks,” she insisted, adding in a weaker tone, “Please?”
“Whatever you want,” he assured her.
“Thank you so much, sir. Boys?” She gave the kids a radiant smile. “Have fun with your Grandpop, okay?”
Then before Aaron could figure out how to stop her, she dashed back to the house, reemerged with a briefcase, and drove off in the Audi.
• • •
Jayce expected to see his sons and his girlfriend waving from the porch when he returned.
Instead, he saw the black pickup.
“Damn.”
His first thought was to blame his big brother—the rat. But more likely Beth had spilled the beans. Or Beth had told Sophie, and Sophie had told her husband, who worked for the Rustlers. Or someone had told Bam. Did it matter? All roads eventually led to Aaron Spurling.
Wanting to confer with Jill first—assuming she was still speaking to him—he parked in front of the house and let himself in through the entryway. When he didn’t find her in the kitchen, he plopped the fast-food bags on the counter and went to the backyard, where the boys were grouped around their grandfather on the putting green, their faces alive with laughter and mischief.
And as much as the surprise inspection bugged Jayce, it was still a pretty great sight. So he strode over to the group and said cheerfully, “Hey, Pop. What do you think of the new digs?”
His father flashed a rueful smile. “The truth? I was ready to hate it, but it’s perfect for my grandsons.”
Relieved, he glanced around. “Where’s Jill?”
“She left, son. Not because of anything I did, or at least, she says it wasn’t.” Aaron’s face flushed. “I didn’t realize she’d be here.”
Jayce’s temper flared. “What the hell?”
“Some judge needed to see her in LA.”
“Yeah, right,” he growled. “Just give me a minute, will ya?”
Moving a distance away, he remembered she had synched her smart phone into the Audi’s system, so he knew she could answer hands-free if she wanted to.
The question was: Did she want to?
To his relief, she answered on the first ring.
“Jayce?”
“Hey, babe. I can’t believe he showed up like this. Come back and we’ll figure something out.”
“He was lovely, I promise. But Nathaniel called and said Judge Berman wants to see us. They don’t need me, but I want to be there. So really, it’s fine,” she insisted lamely. “Just visit with your dad and I’ll see you tomorrow or Monday.”
“This sucks. Come back and we’ll drive up there together. Pop can watch the kids.”
She was silent for a moment, then reminded him, “Remember how shocked Johnny was? That’s the stage your dad’s at now. So you need to walk him through it. And try not to be too defensive. Especially of me.” Before he could object, she deftly changed the subject. “Aren’t you curious about Jayda?”
“Huh? I figured that was just an excuse.”
“It was definitely good timing,” she agreed. “But guess what? She never intended to hurt Caitlin. Just scare her a little. Unfortunately, things went wrong, Caitlin fell backward and hit her head and stopped breathing, and Jayda panicked. She knew Pax would be the obvious suspect so she tried to make it look like the study-hall killer did it.”
“Sounds fishy. If she didn’t plan to hurt her, why bring the gloves?”
Jill sighed. “I don’t have all the details yet, but she didn’t want to leave prints on the gate or the door knobs in case some neighbor spotted her sneaking around and called the cops. She figured Caitlin would never vouch for her, right? But once inside, all she wanted to do was intimidate her. Meaning there was no intent to kill, hence no murder. Just manslaughter. So she’ll get a light sentence in minimum security.”
“But Pax would’ve gotten life? What a screwed-up system.”
“Well, at least he’ll be a free man,” she reminded him. “I’d better concentrate on driving, Jayce. It looks like there’s some commotion up ahead.”
“Yeah, okay. Drive safe. Sorry about my old man.”
“Be careful,” she teased him. “Your sons might call you that someday.”
“Someday? Alex already does.”
She giggled. “Give him—all of them—my love.”
“Me too?”
“Yes,” she murmured huskily. “You too for sure.”
• • •
Later that evening, Jayce sat with his father in lawn chairs by the edge of the pool and watched the boys play water volleyball. Even Ryan managed a couple of swipes thanks to the inflatable arm floats Jayce had brought over in a box of sporting equipment from Beth’s house.
“Awesome sight, isn’t it, Pop?”
His father nodded. “There’s only one thing missing.”
Jayce groaned. “Give it a rest, will you? She divorced me. And I’m glad she did.”
“She was upset about the torn shoulder. We all were.”
“Let me guess,” he drawled. “I was being selfish as usual? Refusing the surgery?”
“You don’t have a selfish bone in your body. It’s that wild streak that gets you into trouble.” The proud grandfather chuckled. “Alex has it, too. So does Ricky, even though he hides it better.”
Jayce laughed too. “Yeah, they’re wild for sure. And don’t forget Jay. Remember that prank he played on Christmas morning when we were ready for a heartwarming scene and found Sophie’s bra hanging from the top of the tree instead?”
Aaron roared. “And he’s the one who hijacked that golf cart at Pebble Beach and drove it straight up the fairway. I’m glad he’s growing up but I kinda miss that rascal.”
“Yeah, me too.”
His father’s expression warmed. “I just want you to take your time, son. She still might come around.”
Jayce turned to face him directly. “Here’s the thing, Pop. We’ve both moved on. The injury was the last straw, maybe, but not the cause. She wants something different. Something new. And frankly, as much as I fought it, it works for me, too. And not just because of Jill. For one thing, I’m in the best shape of my life thanks to extra time for working out.”
“I noticed. This could be your big year, son, no doubt about it.”
The compliment floored him. “Seriously?”
“You always had those ball-hawk instincts. That fearlessness. It was just a matter of time.”
“Thanks, Pop.”
Aaron grimaced. “I see the attraction of Tess’s sister, you know. Young and fresh and new. Then there’s poor Bethie, running herself ragged taking care of our entire family, giving you children, raising them—”
“You think I’m trading Beth in for a newer model?” Jayce scoffed. “She gets hotter every year and that’s the truth. But she also gets meaner. Or I guess, more frustrated. She created a great life for us, then she ended up resenting it.”
Aaron was quiet for a moment, then suggested gently, “Just don’t rush into things with the sister. Take your time. Play the field.”
“If you knew how great she makes me feel about myself—about my future—you’d thank God I found her. Or rather, we found each other.”
“Well . . .” His father’s eyes glistened. “That’s something, isn’t it?”
“It’s everything.” Clearing a lump from his throat, he raised his voice and called for little Ryan to join them, since the kid looked exhausted but would never willingly take a break while his big brothers were still playing.
The waterlogged boy protested, “I’m not tired, Daddy,” but didn’t resist when Jayce stripped off his floaties and bundled him into a beach towel.
“Sit with me, partner,” Aaron urged him. “We’re talking about the dog your dad’s gonna rescue from the pound.”
“Really, Pop-Pop?” he asked, snuggling into the chair with his grandfather.
Jayce flashed a frustrated grin. “Thanks a lot, Pop.”
“My pleasure,” Aaron joked. Then he chuckled softly. “He’s already asleep.”
“Huh? Oh.” Jayce nodded at the sight of Ryan’s slumbering form, then he glanced toward the pool and realized, “I should get the others out too. They’ve gotta be exhausted.”
“It’s been a big day for them. I hope I didn’t ruin it for you, son.”
“You mean with Jill? I don’t think that’s possible,” Jayce admitted. “We’re basically unbreakable.” Before his father could get in one last advertisement for Beth, he stood and walked to the edge of the pool with three towels and a promise of hooking the PlayStation up to the giant TV.
• • •
In the first weeks following Jayce’s rotator-cuff injury, he had rested the shoulder completely, then had gradually re-introduced most activities, relying on feedback from his body to know when and what to stop. At first, virtually any sustained or sudden reach had reverberated through his elbow and forearm, often landing with a thud in his wrist or hand. After six frustrating weeks, the situation had rapidly improved. Thereafter, his only compromise had been to avoid tennis and golf entirely since his competitive nature couldn’t be contained. Aside from those two activities, he had trusted his trainer not to overwork or hyperextend the affected muscles and tendons.
Now as he stood in the backyard of his new home, he remembered how the trainer had insisted on range-of-motion exercises. The routine had seemed trivial, even boring, until Jill stepped into the picture, when it became his all-time favorite workout. Thanks to her encouragement, he had continued being patient with the shoulder.
Or at least until the MRI. Now he had gone wild, smashing tennis balls against the garage wall, intensifying his workouts in the gym, and most recently, employing the fancy golf net the boys had gotten him for his birthday so he could practice his swing. It hadn’t been used much because of the injury. But he had brought it to the new place and was now blasting shots at the built-in target, which automatically returned the ball to him with amazing precision.
Still, his radar was up for Jill’s arrival, and given the peripheral vision gifted on every Spurling via their DNA, he knew, even before he turned toward the driveway, that she was standing there.
He also knew she would be beautiful. Radiant. Maybe even triumphant given Pax’s well-publicized release. The only question was: What did she want from Jayce? Praise for the success? A heart-to-heart about his conversation with his father? Shelter in his arms?
In less than a second he knew it was something very different. She had that glamour-girl attitude again. Almost as if she were wearing the zebra robe and high heels instead of a wispy cotton dress that barely covered her upper thighs while flaunting her breasts shamelessly.
And yeah, the heels were sexy again. The eye makeup was dramatic. The blonde hair swept up and pinned in a knot. She was so ready for him—not to talk, but to act—and no way would he disappoint her.
Striding over to her, he hoisted her up without uttering a word, knowing she would be gushing. When she wrapped her legs around him and devoured his mouth with a kiss, he fingered her greedily while freeing his hard-on from his pants. She was already in orbit, so hot she didn’t even care if a neighbor could see them. And yeah, the high fences and trees gave them total privacy, but it had a boathouse feel to it, which apparently worked for Jill in this state.
They fed on each other, ravenous and still wordless, since the waves of pleasure said it all. Finally he thrust himself into her, fueled by gyrating movements and grateful moans. She was coming like she always did when she got this way—hedonistic, mindless, madly in love. He had never made a woman come like this. Like her entire world centered on it.
On him.
When they were finally spent, he murmured, “Welcome home.”
It brought a familiar giggle to her throat. “I missed you, too. How was the visit?”
“You seriously want to talk about my old man while I’m still inside you?”
“Mmmm . . .” She gyrated one last time, as if debating the issue. Then she lowered herself to her feet and admitted, “I thought we’d talk for hours before we finally had sex. This is so much better.”
“Like I had a choice?”
When she laughed again, he grinned and pulled her close. Then he stared into her sparkling blue eyes and said simply, “Congrats on the win, babe.”
“You’re the one who figured it out.”
“I was just bullshitting. You’re the one who did the real work. Found proof. It’s awesome.”
She bit her lip, clearly pleased. “Did you see the press conference?”
“Yeah, it was all over the news. How come you weren’t there?”
“It was Nathaniel’s moment. And Stern’s and Francie’s. And obviously Pax’s. I was just happy to watch from the crowd.”
“How was the judge?”
She smiled. “He kept thanking Pax for not backing down. For keeping them all honest. And he apologized a million times. So did Stern. But poor Pax was in shock, I think. Grateful but in shock.”
“Yeah, that’s how he looked. Is he getting his old job back?”
She nodded. “But Caitlin’s father was a jerk to the end, demanding that Stern charge him with statutory rape. Whereupon Stern tore him a new one. Even told him he shouldn’t have shown off his underaged daughter in auto shops then left her alone in a mansion to party with other underaged kids. It was sweet.”
He chuckled. “I never saw this vindictive side of you. It’s hot. How about I take you to dinner someplace fancy so you can tell me all about it?”
“Oh . . .” Her eyes twinkled. “I’m a little sleepy.”
“The word you’re looking for is ‘horny,” he drawled, then he grinned when she burst out laughing without denying the observation. Then he repeated stubbornly, “I want to take you out. Someplace fit for a glamour girl.”
“Let me change first at least. This dress is too revealing.”
“Yeah, I noticed.” He kissed her lovingly. “Wear the house-hunting one.”
Her eyes registered the compliment, then she backed away, gave him a sexy smile, and headed into the house.
• • •
After showering, she slipped into the sleeveless wrap-around dress and smiled approvingly. Despite the deep neckline and bare arms, it was classy, especially compared to the glorified swimsuit cover-up she had dared to wear for the drive back to San Diego.
That cover-up did its job, she reminded herself as she brushed her hair loosely around her shoulders and stepped into taupe heels. Her insides were still throbbing—a soft, appreciative buzz—from Jayce’s greeting, so reminiscent of that early morning back in New York when she had worn the Zebra robe and glamour-girl makeup to welcome him, and he had gone so wild they could barely recover.
She had believed that wild session to be a product of their fling. The kind of fire that could only result from rubbing two strangers together. Something soul mates could never achieve.
Thank God she was wrong.
Music wafted up from the first floor and she wandered to the top of the stairs, entranced. She knew this tune—“Sway” performed by Michael Bublé. A romantic masterpiece, and while she had hummed along many times, she had never had the pleasure of dancing to it.
Aroused again, she descended slowly, gracefully, imagining his eyes on her. Then he stepped out of the shadows to meet her on the landing, his tall, ripped body accentuated by a crisp black dress shirt and dark khakis.
Taking her hand, he twirled her with a sexy flair then whisked her into the family room, where she gasped at the image on the oversized TV screen. It showed a stately ballroom with a huge oculus in the ceiling that revealed hundreds of twinkling stars, an effect echoed by the tiny candles ringing the dance floor, where a solitary couple, shown only as silhouettes, executed sultry dance steps.
“Want to give it a try?” he asked hopefully.
Stepping into him, she slipped one hand behind his neck and gazed into his handsome face, her heart aching from the perfection of the moment.
His blue eyes darkened and he led her through the dance movements with the casual confidence of an expert. Had he had lessons? Probably for someone’s wedding. Maybe even for his own. Jill too had taken lessons—for her brother’s wedding—although she and Colin had stuck with the basics.
Nothing so elaborate and sexy as this. They moved as one, their heartbeats echoing the marimba rhythm, their spirits soaring with love. They were alone in a magical place dotted by stars and candles and drenched in love. Nothing and no one else mattered.
When he pulled her close, she crooned her own version of the lyrics into his ear:
Sway with me,
Make me stay,
Never leave.
“I’ll never leave,” he promised hoarsely. “I love you, Jill Colby. More than I ever thought I could love anyone, ever.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered. “Forever and ever.”
Bowing his head, he kissed her deeply, and she knew he was having the same thought as she.
If only this moment could last forever.
They were still swaying to the music, intoxicated and madly in love, when his phone sounded a frustrating, almost ominous buzz.
Oh, no, she groaned inwardly.
Jayce cursed under his breath, then said in frustration, “She never called before I met you. Now it’s every five minutes.”
“That’s how it seems,” Jill agreed, adding dutifully, “But it’s always important.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Clearly torn, he took a moment to nuzzle her neck, then stepped away and used a matter-of-fact tone as he answered the call. “Hey, Bethie. What’s up?”
In an instant, he was focused on the conversation. “Geezus, how did that happen? Where are you?” He listened, then groaned. “Do you think it’s broken? Huh?”
He shot Jill a pained look as he responded to Beth’s statements in rapid succession, saying, “Yeah, I’ll ask her. Just sit tight and don’t worry. You did the right thing, but, man . . . Yeah, okay. I’m on my way. Don’t cry, honey. It’s gonna be fine.”
Jill saw his life—their life—flashing before her eyes. One of those adorable kids had gotten seriously hurt—broken—while they had been mindlessly dancing. Completely oblivious.
Before Jayce could even put his phone away, she asked pleadingly, “Who’s hurt? Oh, Jayce, I’m so sorry.”
“What?” He shook his head. “It’s not one of the kids. It’s that asshole Tom. JJ punched him in the nose. Now they’re all in the ER.”
“What?” She stared in disbelief. “How could he even reach his nose?”
“They were sitting down. Having dinner. Beth didn’t actually see it since she was in the bathroom, but damn . . .” He squared his shoulders. “I’d better get over there.”
“Of course! Poor JJ. Poor Beth. And poor you.” She caught his hand and kissed it. “Is it broken? His nose, I mean?”
“We don’t know yet. But he threatened to sue us for all we’re worth. He can’t do that, can he?”
“What? No, no. He’d be an idiot to try. He’s an educator, right? So the teacher-credentialing agency would suspend him—or worse—if they heard he was bullying and belittling children. Once he calms down, he’ll want to keep it quiet.”
She was confident Tom would back off, but could see other problems, so she murmured, “If anyone asks questions about the incident. Or your family’s situation, well—keep it vague, okay? And Beth should too. And no one should be interviewing JJ without me there.”
“You mean, like the cops? What the hell?”
“Not the police. More like a social worker, since most hospitals have them on staff. It’s their job,” she added lamely. “It’s normal. Just try not to be too chatty, okay? Stick to this one incident.”
He studied her face, then suggested quietly, “Maybe you should come with me.”
“I can be there in an instant if—well, if it gets to that. But it won’t. Tom’s the one who should be worried.” Feeling helpless, she stroked his cheek. “Just get JJ out of there.”
“Right.”
“Bring him here. I can sleep at the apartment since Goodwill hasn’t picked up the old furniture yet.”
“Yeah.” He scanned her expression again, then repeated, “I’ve gotta get over there, but I’ll call when I can. And, babe?”
“I know,” she told him firmly. “Just take care of your family.”
He hesitated, then nodded and strode toward the door.
Once he was gone, she turned off the TV and searched for her phone so she could ask Nathaniel for a referral to someone in San Diego who was familiar with the juvenile justice and social welfare system. Luckily one of Francie’s law-school buddies had such a practice, and was supposedly talented and sympathetic, so Jill called her and left a message that laid out the entire situation even though it was painful.
In fact, it was the most painful experience of Jill’s life, mostly because she and Jayce seemed so culpable in it. Had they honestly put themselves first? Focused on their love affair when they knew for a fact those boys were hurting? Especially JJ?
His parents were newly divorced. Barely speaking. His grandfather was dying. His mom’s boyfriend was belittling him. And yet Beth—and Jayce to an extent—had allowed Tom to continue visiting the house.
And even before that, Beth’s rampage with the meat tenderizer wasn’t normal. In the eyes of a juvenile-court judge it might even be viewed as violent, which of course it was. And Tom had surely heard about it, meaning he might describe it to investigators along with all the other “dirt” on the Spurling household. Alex’s swan dive from a second-story window, for example. And numerous other visits to the ER.
And the icing on the cake? The family’s habit of referring to the boys as “hellhounds.” It had always bothered Jill, even though said with affection.
“That has to change,” she told herself as she waited for the lawyer to call back. “It all has to change. For everyone’s sake. Especially JJ’s.”