Half to Death (19 page)

“Where are you?” Jade asked softly.

I jumped when I realized she was standing beside me. “I was just…wondering when I’d be able to do that thing with the parallel bars as effortlessly as you do.”

Jade cocked her head to the side. “Mm-hmm, I know what a woman in lust looks like.”

“I bet you do,” I said, meeting her gaze.

“The question is, do you?” She grinned. “I think not, or you would’ve already seen it in my eyes.” She walked away and looked over her shoulder with a wink.

The weekend could not get here fast enough.

*******

Miranda was at my door the next morning when I opened for business. She held a bag that contained two yogurts and a bottle of apple juice for me orange for her. “Go to the gym last night?” she asked as she walked in.

“Yep, got a date for the weekend.” I had a skip in my step as I went back to the counter, eager to work on my next creation, a shell necklace for Jade.

Miranda took a stool and opened her yogurt. “When you say the weekend, do you mean one night or the whole enchilada?”

“She has to work Saturday, but we’re having dinner that night, then Sunday, we’re gonna spend the day at St. George Island.” I threaded a shell onto a piece of deep green cord and began to weave the braid. “I can’t wait.”

“So…you’ve kissed. This weekend could lead to…”

I looked up slowly from my creation. “I have no expectations. Whatever happens will happen on its own time.”

“Are you ready for that?” Miranda asked before popping a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth.

“Oh, I’m ready,” I said with a growl that made us both laugh.

“You know what I mean.”

I went back to work on the necklace. “When we kissed, I couldn’t focus on anything but what I was feeling, it was easy. I can’t imagine that I won’t be able to control the images if it goes beyond that.”

“Sex is a full body contact sport. You’re gonna feel every inch of her pressed against you. This will be the biggest test thus far.”

I shivered as thoughts of what Miranda described danced through my mind.

“And then there are her emotions.” Miranda stopped talking and eating and stared off into space. “What if she has regrets or is unsatisfied?”

Miranda had successfully heated me up, then poured a big fat bucket of ice water over my head without ever having to lift a finger. “Sometimes, it’s a real love-hate relationship with you.”

She shrugged and went back to eating. “It was just a thought.”

“Thanks for sharing. Now I’m going to have real performance anxiety. Probably won’t be able to relax to save my life.”

“She’s a great kisser, I bet.” Miranda waved her spoon.

I was not going on that roller coaster ride again. “Shut up.”

Miranda chuckled. “So she must really love the beach like you do, or else she doesn’t give a rat’s ass and will go anywhere to be with you.”

“I hope it’s both.”

“Oh! Talked to a doc at the hospital, and she gave me the name of someone to call. She’s a nutritionist, and she’ll be able to recommend a good therapist. Marty’s gonna talk to Angel today and see if she’ll be willing to see her with us.”

“Excellent, but be prepared for just me and you going if Angel chickens out. She’s afraid of irreparably damaging her relationship with Deb. She might not want to get into the driver’s seat on this one.”

“That’s just weird to me. If it were Marty, I’d do whatever I had to get her well.” 

“You and Marty have a different relationship. Deb’s got a lot of insecurities, she’s defensive about everything. I imagine Angel has to walk on a lot of eggshells with her.”

“She’s definitely defensive about her weight loss regimen. Did you see how she sneered at me the other night when she and Jade were talking about the diet plan? I had to bite my lip. I felt like she was daring me to say something.”

The mention of Jade’s name made me smile, and my thoughts went to her. I wondered what she was doing and if she’d really like the necklace I was making her.

“You’re not even in the room with me right now, are you?”

I looked at Miranda. “Sorry, faded out there for a second.”

“Yeah,” Miranda said with a chuckle, “skipping through Jade wonderland, no doubt.”

“That beach house you rented for your anniversary last year, was it expensive?”

“Oh, you little minx,” Miranda said with a chuckle. “They rent by the week. Are you going to close your store for that long?” Miranda tossed her empty yogurt container in the trash. “I could work for you on my days off, and Kaylie could take the weekend.”

“Thanks, that’s really sweet of you,” I said with a smile. “It’s only twenty minutes away. I could still come in to work. Jade probably isn’t going to be able to get off for that amount of time anyway. We could spend our evenings and a weekend there, though.”

“Business is slow for them right now. I’ve been getting a lot of emails with special rates. I’m sure they’d give you a good deal if I call.” Miranda cleared her throat. “That’s an overnight sleepover,” she said seriously. “Are you ready for that?”

“It has two bedrooms, right?”

Miranda snorted. “Do you really think you’ll go to your own corners when it’s bedtime?”

“We might,” I said as I felt my face heat. “She said she’s happy we’re taking it slow.” I shook my head. “I just want to be with her. It doesn’t have to be anything more than that.”

Miranda gave me that warm googly smile she used when she thought something was sweet. “Move over and let me use your computer.”

Chapter 18

Jade looked beat when she showed up at my house Saturday afternoon. It was just after three thirty when she arrived and dinner wasn’t going to be ready until six. So I talked her into lying on my couch and watching a movie. We were halfway into
Castaway
when I glanced over and noticed she was asleep.

I watched her chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm. Her hands lay across her stomach and twitched slightly as she descended deeper into sleep. My eyes enjoyed a little feast as my gaze moved over long, well-defined legs. I’d never noticed the pale line just above her right knee, a two-inch scar from an injury that looked like it hadn’t healed well.

I studied her hands next. I couldn’t imagine those long fingers typing away on a keyboard. Jade was all strength and physicality. I couldn’t see her at a desk job or anything that required her to be complacent for long periods of time. The skin of her arms looked soft, but I knew if I ran my fingers over it, I would feel the firm muscle beneath even in relaxation. I had avoided her face, saving it like I would when I ate a piece of cake up to that last icing-filled corner. Her lips were slightly parted, and I smiled as I remembered how they’d felt against mine—warm, full, and incredibly soft. Her face serene in slumber was absolutely gorgeous.

But as I sat there looking at her, I realized what made Jade so beautiful. Behind the aloof exterior that she was allowing me to gradually see past was a sincerely lovely soul. I’d seen into her mind and felt her emotions, and with all the hurts of her past, there was no hint of bitterness or malice. Just desire to be loved and cherished and with equal intensity a longing to return that love and adoration.

In her search, she’d chosen the wrong people, and for a second, I wondered why she’d chosen me. Was she trying to break the pattern or was she subconsciously drawn to what I used to be? Regardless, I was determined to be everything she wanted because as I sat there looking at her, I felt my heart slip away.

*******

“How long was I out?” Jade walked into the kitchen behind me.

I turned from the salad I was making and grinned at her standing there with her hair pointing in all directions. “Almost two hours. You must’ve needed it, though, because my couch isn’t that comfortable.”

“I’m so sorry.” Jade scrubbed at her face.

“Don’t be. It made me happy to know that you feel that comfortable here.”

“Can I help with anything? I can finish slicing that tomato if you want.”

I shook my head. “Nope, I’ve already grilled the tilapia and veggies.”

“I can fix drinks.” Jade reached past me and pulled two glasses out of the cabinet. “What would you like?”

“Tea, no ice.”

“No ice?” Jade opened the fridge and pulled out the pitcher.

“It’s cold enough. Ice just melts and spoils the taste.”

“Is this unsweetened?” Jade asked as she poured the tea.

“Um…no.”

“Ha! You sugar junkie.” Jade wagged a finger at me. “I bet if I looked in your pantry, there’d be sweets.” She took a sip from my glass and screwed up her face. “Oh, God, there’s enough sugar in here to send me into orbit.” She set the glass down and headed for the pantry.

I dropped the knife and made it around the counter to block her. “It’s not safe. Don’t go in there.”

“What’s gonna get me—the Pillsbury Doughboy?” Jade grinned.

“Him and the Keebler Elves. Stay back for your own good.”

Jade’s eyes went round. “Sloan!”

I held up a finger. “Now look, those cookies have been in there since before I went on the diet. I haven’t thrown them out in case of emergency. I’m losing inches. I can wear shorts I haven’t been able to get into for years.”

“Oh, really?” Jade said in a challenging tone. “Lift your shirt. Let me see your belly.”

Unlike Jade and the other women at the gym, I did not work out wearing only a sports bra and shorts, so she wasn’t going to be able to see my improvements.

“Show me the belly.” Jade inched closer with a grin.

“It was pudgy when I first started working out, but it’s improved, I can assure you.” I took a step back as she moved closer.

“So let me see it.”

I took another step back. “Um, no.” I turned and ran.

Jade chased me into the living room laughing. I stood on one side of the couch and she on the other. “Are you hiding an ugly tattoo?” she teased as she rocked back and forth, making me do the same.

“Nope, no tattoos.”

“Is your belly button an outie?” Jade darted to one end of the couch while I ran to the other.

“Nope, it’s an innie, and it’s impeccably clean.” I couldn’t help but giggle.

Jade backed up, forcing me to move in front of the couch again. Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she watched me contemplate my escape.

“The fish is going to burn.”

Jade put her hands on her hips. “You are such a bad liar. You already told me you took the fish and the veggies off.”

“Oh, yeah, right.”

“Is it hairy? Is that why you’re hiding it?” she asked, making a face.

“It is not,” I said indignantly. “It’s pale, though. I haven’t sunned it yet.” Jade was over the back of the couch in a flash, the coffee table was only a light skip to her after that. She caught me by the tail end of my shirt before I could get away. “All right,” I said with a laugh, “here it is.” I turned and lifted my shirt up until it fell just below my bra.

Jade was grinning from ear to ear as she looked it over. She reached out a hand. “May I touch?”

“Yes, but be careful of the muscle, it’s razor sharp. I felt the muscles I really did have quiver beneath her touch. She ran her hands down the center of my stomach. Her feelings came fast. She was pleased with the hardness she felt, which quickly gave way to an arousal that matched mine. And then she stepped back.

“You really have been working hard,” she said in the professional tone she used at the gym.

“Do you need to check the rest of me?” I asked, emboldened by the fire she’d stoked.

Jade looked taken aback for a split second, then smiled. “Yes, I eventually will.”

“I hope I measure up,” I said over my shoulder as I walked back into the kitchen.

I heard her mumble something and exhale loudly.

We were grinning like two schoolgirls with a secret when we sat to eat. “This is delicious,” Jade said after her first bite of fish. “I hope I measure up when I cook for you,” she said with a wink.

“I have no doubts in your abilities,” I said cockily. Jade averted her gaze as her face flushed. “I’ve been pondering something, and I’d like to know if you’d be interested.”

She looked at me expectantly as she wiped her mouth with her napkin.

“Miranda rented a beach house on Alligator Point last year. She thinks she can get the owners to give me a good deal on it.” My heart melted when I saw the excitement on Jade’s face. “We could get it for a week and still be able to work during the day. It’s only a twenty-minute drive. But we could spend our nights and a weekend—”

“Whatever the cost is, I’ll pay it.”

“I’ll take that as a yes then?” I said with a laugh.

“Yes, yes, yes. I can make the reservation or I can give you my credit card.” Jade was practically bouncing up and down in her seat.

“It’s my treat.” I took a bite of the fish and realized that my excitement had trumped my appetite.

Jade shook her head and put her fork down. “We go everywhere in your car and you’ve fed me for a while now. This will be my treat.”

“I buy the groceries then. Deal?”

Jade narrowed her eyes. “I’ll think about that. How soon can we make the reservation?”

“I can call Miranda after dinner if you want.”

“Yes.” Jade nodded and went back to eating quickly.

*******

By the end of the evening, we’d made reservations for the following week. We’d check in at the beach house at three o’clock Saturday, and it would be ours. We were giddy and excited as we planned what we’d bring and the meals we’d cook.

“I hate to have to leave you,” Jade said when it began to get late. “If we want to get an early start tomorrow, I should probably go.”

“I’m so glad you gave me a second chance.”

She smiled as she stood and held her hand out. I took it, and she pulled me up from the couch effortlessly. “And I’m so glad you didn’t give up.”

She was happy. I could feel her joy flowing through me as we walked to the door. “So I’ll come by your place and pick you up around seven?” I said, confirming the plan as she stood leaning against the front door.

“I wrote my address down. It’s next to your computer. If you have any problems finding me, just call.” She squeezed my hand. “Do I need to keep distance between us to kiss you good night?”