Wine, Tarts & Sex

Twenty-five

While Hannah Reiss was trying to play all her cards right and possibly score with Leo’s bodyguards in the bargain, those seated at Liv’s kitchen table were enjoying another fabulous dinner, compliments of Jake Chambers.

Matt was eating his second chocolate chip cookie, while the adults were sipping chilled coffee and Kahlua with a dollop of whipped cream much superior to that served at Murphy’s Steakhouse.

Roman, Janie, and Matt had spent the day at the beach. Liv and Jake had spent the day in bed until such a time as extreme hunger forced them to rise. After a quick trip to the local co-op grocery store, Jake made Southern fried pickle spears for an appetizer; a baby beet, heirloom tomato, and fig salad; and pulled pork with barbecue sauce served on homemade focaccia bread.

Everyone was stuffed, content, and practically speechless from a sense of well-being. The warm summer evening insinuated itself into the kitchen through the open windows and door, while the frogs and crickets sang their nightly chorus.

“You’re sunburned,” Liv murmured, only half-lifting her hand in Janie’s direction, overcome as she was with balmy lethargy.

“That’s a great beach so close to your house, and I’m just a little pink. It’s nothing,” Janie airily added, smiling up at Roman. “We’re going back tomorrow, aren’t we?”

“Whatever you say, boss.”

The blatant absurdity between Roman’s formidable seen-it-all detective persona and his quiet acquiescence made Liv smile. She turned to Jake and sportively asked, “Why aren’t you so amenable?”

He looked amused. “I beg your pardon? Have I ever said no to you?”

Liv’s gaze flicked to Matt in warning. “I was just teasing. ”

He grinned. “I wasn’t. Not that I’m complaining. In fact-”

“Stop,” she hissed, her gaze darting to Matt again. But the little boy was totally engrossed in picking chocolate chips out of his cookie.

“I was only going to say that I find your company extremely pleasant in every way,” Jake said with a lazy smile.

“And I yours,” Liv replied as smoothly, relieved that no one at the table was even listening. Janie and Roman were talking softly to each other; Matt had completely decimated his cookie and was now intent on pushing the crumbs into a pile on the very edge of the table.

Taking note of Liv’s quick survey, Jake softly drawled, “See, I didn’t embarrass you. They don’t even know we’re here.”

'Fortunately.”

His mouth quirked into a faint smile. “You-the shy type?”

“Please.” Her brows flickered. “Stop it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

An irrepressible grin appeared. “You’re impossible.”

He slid lower in his chair, looked at her from under his lashes, and said in a low voice pithy with ambivalence, “Perhaps-but never with you.”

“Allow me to decide that,” she said with deliberate lightness, knowing if she had half a brain she’d never lose sight of the fact that the past few days were nothing more than fun and games. Which meant she’d best curb any thoughts she might have about wanting him to stay.

It suddenly felt like deja vu, as though she’d been here before at her kitchen table on another summer night. And Jake had been staring at her with that same intense scrutiny.

“Mama, will you read me da moon book again donight?” Matt asked, sending the cookie crumbs flying with a wild sweep of his hand.

Janie looked up. “Of course, dear. Are you finished eating? If you are,” she said, ignoring the mess he’d made like someone with a household staff might, “we’ll go upstairs and read.”

“Me done.” Matt jumped to the floor. “I wuv dat book.”

When Janie rose from her chair, Roman stood. “I’ll come listen, too.” As Matt came hurtling past on his way to the stairs, Roman scooped him up in his arms and tossed him over his shoulder to the squealing delight of one three-year -old little boy.

“That’s turning out to be a real interesting trio,” Liv murmured, her gaze on her retiring guests. She preferred talking about safer subjects in her current overly sensitive, deja vu mood.

“I hope Janie doesn’t fuck him over,” Jake remarked, his voice carefully neutral, as though he, too, understood the necessity for a shift in conversation.

“I’d guess Roman can take care of himself.”

“Let’s hope so. I wouldn’t want to see him get pissed.”

“It’s really nice of him, though, to help out Janie. Or give her moral support or whatever. She can use some sympathy in what will probably turn out to be a nasty divorce.”

“I’d say Janie has Leo in a box.” Janie had explained about taking the computer files.

“Let’s hope so. His last wife didn’t fare too well.”

A small silence fell.

They’d both run out of miscellaneous topics.

“I think I should head home,” Jake finally said into the lengthening silence. “It’s been a while since I checked my voice mail and stuff.”

They both knew he could check his voice mail from anywhere, but his remark wasn’t unexpected. In fact, Liv was surprised he’d stayed as long as he had. Surprised and hugely gratified sexually. But really…

They were both adults.

They both understood this couldn’t go on forever.

“Thanks for driving up. Your visit was”-she smiled- “exceptional in every way.”

“I agree.”

“And thank you, too, for all the wonderful meals.”

“My pleasure. Stop in next time you’re in town.”

“I will.”

Leaning over, he kissed her lightly on the cheek before coming to his feet. “Sorry about leaving you with the dishes.”

“Don’t be. You can’t be expected to make the meal and clean up, too.”

Lifting his hand in a casual wave, he walked to the door. As he pushed the screen door open, he turned back. “I had a really good time,” he said, his voice hushed and low.

She smiled. “Me, too.”

The screen door slammed shut a second later, and she heard his footsteps cross the porch, then only silence as he moved away from the house.

A car firing up echoed in the stillness a moment later, the sweep of headlights flitted across her kitchen windows, and then the soft roar of the BMW slowly diminished as he drove away.

She didn’t feel sad.

She didn’t feel happy.

Instead, she experienced some middle ground of feeling: a gentle satisfaction and contentment. As though, well-stocked with orgasms and sexual pleasures, should a period of prolonged abstinence befall her, she would remain calm and unruffled.

Jake, on the other hand, wasn’t sure he could withstand any abstinence when it came to Liv Bell. Even before he reached the freeway-a mere seven miles away-he was thinking about screwing her again, his powerful cravings fucking with his brain big time.

Jerking his hand off the wheel, he stabbed the stereo On button and, cranking the sound up high, resorted to his tried-and-true method of amnesia, male style. Loud music and high speed had always been the perfect combination to take his mind off things he wanted to forget. Something about the compelling need to stay alive always obliterated lesser issues.