Evie grinned as she waved in my direction. “Nope. Just my bad aim. If you don’t mind leaving it in the laundry right there, I’d sure appreciate it, Walker.”
“You got it,” I replied as I tossed it into the laundry bin by the door.
Jackson glanced over from across the room where he stood by the counter pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Coffee?” he called.
“Sure thing.”
Crossing the room to him, I felt a prickle at the back of my neck. Without even looking, I knew Jade was here. She wasn’t here that often. In fact, the last time I recalled her being here was when her car broke down on that winter night. The very first time I met her.
She’d seared herself into my memory that night, but now it was worse, much, much worse. I knew what she looked like flying apart. I knew the feel of her lips moving under mine and the sounds she made when she tumbled over the edge into her release. I also knew exactly how her lips felt wrapped around my cock as she teased me to madness with her tongue.
I couldn’t have stopped myself from looking over my shoulder if I tried. I didn’t even bother to try. Because I wanted to see her. I craved seeing her.
My eyes found her immediately. She stood beside the picnic style table at the back of the kitchen. She wore jeans and those cowboy boots with a loose white blouse.
She was talking to Lucas. Her brother’s presence did nothing to tamp my body’s response at simply seeing her. A jolt of electricity spun through me. As if sensing my eyes on her, our gazes collided. It felt as if a thin flame rose in the air between us, a streak of fire licking its way across the room.
“Walker.” Jackson’s voice nudged me out of that temporary heated moment.
I tore my eyes away from Jade with a sharp nod in greeting before looking back at Jackson.
“Got your coffee,” he said as I began moving again. I hadn’t even noticed I’d come to a complete stop when I caught sight of Jade. That was not good, not good at all.
When I reached Jackson, I took the mug of coffee he offered. “Thanks.” As I took a sip, I felt his assessing eyes on me. I didn’t look away, but damn if I didn’t sense he knew exactly how much I wanted Jade.
If I was wondering about it, he clarified immediately. “Be careful. Jade doesn’t date, and Lucas will be plenty pissed if he thinks you’re after Jade for just a little fun.”
“I’m not after anyone for just a little fun.” My words came out sharp, and I knew I sounded defensive.
Jackson leaned his hips against the counter as he took a slow sip of his coffee. “Okay then. I guess you might wanna be careful how you look at Jade then,” he replied with a chuckle.
“What the hell does that mean?” I countered.
“It means you look at her like you’d like her for dinner. And before you go thinking I’m policing your sex life or love life, or what-the-hell ever, I’m not. I’m just giving you a little background.”
“While we’re on the subject, what’s the story behind Jade not dating?”
Jackson chuckled again. “For someone who’s not curious, you sure are curious.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, I am curious,” I admitted, surprising myself. I trusted Jackson and knew he wasn’t one to talk, so I figured I might as well ask.
Jackson eyed me for a long beat, but then shrugged. “Some shit went down when she was in college. I don’t have all the details, but I do know a good friend of hers, a guy, spiked her drink with one of those date rape drugs.”
Anger slashed through me, burning hot and then icy cold, the kind of cold that stings. I lowered my mug before I’d almost taken a sip. “A friend of hers raped her?” My words were low and laced with fury.
“Pump the brakes, man. No. At least, not that I’m aware of. They were just hanging out at a bar, and one of the waitresses saw him spike her drink when Jade went to the bathroom. He was arrested at the bar. So, nothing happened, but Lucas says she hasn’t dated since. She’s pretty open that she’s not interested in dating. That’s all I know.”
“Do you know who the friend was?”
Jackson took another sip of coffee before he replied, “I can’t recall. I don’t think it’s going to do you a damned bit of good to go down that road. I don’t think Jade will appreciate it. Especially from some guy who’s supposedly not interested.” His gaze held a knowing glint.
I forced myself to take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Although I was still fucking furious, there wasn’t a single thing I could do about what happened to Jade. Not now and maybe not ever. “Fair enough,” I finally replied.
Jackson gave me another assessing look before he dipped his head in a nod. “You’re a good man, Walker. I may not have known you all that long, but I know that. Proceed with caution is the only advice I have.”
Chapter Seventeen
Jade
I felt a bead of sweat roll down between my breasts. Restless, I reached for the glass of ice water Dani had just handed me and took several gulps. I hoped, rather pointlessly, that no one could see how flushed I was. Considering how hot my cheeks were, I prayed no one was paying attention. It was crowded at the table, and I was seated between Walker and Valentina.
It was all Valentina’s fault that I was here to begin with. My soon to be sister-in-law had invited me to have dinner and drinks with “the girls.” Ever since Valentina moved in with Lucas, she’d become a dear friend. Which was awesome because I loved my brother and my niece. It would
