Strawberry Kisses (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 2) Read online

  “Thanks for dinner. You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know.”

  A smile escaped his lips before he had time to push it back. Rachael liked that Jake appreciated her snarkiness. If he wanted a submissive girl who would cater to his every demand and not speak her mind, he would have to look elsewhere.

  Jake picked up a wine glass and handed her one. “I’m assuming these are for us.”

  “Are you expecting company?”

  Once again he smiled at her snip. It didn’t take much to turn the man on. He’d told her once before that it was only Rachael who could do that to him. She wondered if that was a classic line he’d used on other women or if it was true.

  Wanting to still believe in Jake’s honor and integrity, she tucked it away as a lovely compliment.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “I was worried when you didn’t show up at your place. Ellie swore she didn’t know where you were. I even grilled her kid.”

  “CJ? He’s a good kid.”

  “Yeah. Seems so. You’re avoiding this.”

  “What?”

  “Talking.”

  “I’m talking. I believe you were the one avoiding this discussion for the past four days.”

  “Not avoiding. Processing.”

  “Really? Because not returning a text classifies as avoiding in my book. Not coming over Saturday night when that had been our night at the Inn is avoiding.”

  “Saturday was rough for both of us. Sunday is our usual day. And Mondays you come over here. So it looks like you were the one avoiding.”

  “Really? Are we going to play this game? You’re avoiding having this serious conversation by bringing up stupid stuff. I need to know, Jake.” Rachael set her wine glass down on the counter without taking a single sip and cocked her head at him. “Do you believe I am responsible for Julia’s accident?”

  He remained where he was, leaning casually against the counter, unmoving. Not a muscle in his body or face ticked. A chill ran down her spine, freezing her heart and stabbing her eyes.

  “Well then. I don’t think there’s anything left to say. Goodbye, Jake.” She crossed the house to the front door, yanking it open to the pouring rain, forgetting she didn’t have sneakers or her keys. No, she’d left her keys in the car. She took one step on the front porch before Jake’s strong arms wrapped around her waist, yanking her back into the house. “Let me go, Jake. We have nothing left to say.”

  “We haven’t even started. I didn’t think you were the type to run away from a fight.”

  “Yeah? You also told me you didn’t think I was the type to walk away from a person in need. I guess you were wrong on both accounts.”

  “I never should have said that.”

  “It seems to be a habit of yours, doesn’t it? Saying things you should never have said? Am I supposed to keep forgiving you? Keep letting you bully me? Walk all over me? Third time’s a charm, right?” She shoved at his chest and he stumbled back.

  “Is that how you feel?” he asked, shame filling his face.

  “Yes.” No. She didn’t feel bullied by him. Hurt, mostly. He had hurt her three times. Once was out of pride, too self-conscious about his meetings with Noles. The other two times were about protecting his sister. She could understand and respect family coming first in his life, but she needed to know where she placed. A distant or close second? And his pride needed to come much, much later than his feelings for her.

  Jake closed his eyes and sank to the couch. She should let him suffer in guilt until his heart was twisted and as broken as hers. “No.” She wasn’t that type of person, and neither was Jake.

  “Once again, I screwed up. Big time. I lost it, Rachael. When you told me Dylan, the asshole who hurt you, is the same guy who hurt my sister…I…I needed someone to lash out to and you were there. It was wrong of me.” The overhead light revealed shimmering tears in Jake’s dark eyes.

  Rachael sat next to him and scrunched her face, holding back tears. “I’d never once thought about the girl in the car other than how much I hated her for causing Dylan to stray. She was someone I wanted to forget. Learning she was your sister, that I could have…that I didn’t…”

  “Shit.” Jake pulled Rachael on to his lap and cradled her like Luke had the other night. “I don’t blame you. Not at all. I said those words out of shock. Hell, I still am, and I was processing. Which doesn’t make it okay. I’m still new at all of this. Not that it’s an excuse to treat you the way I did. I needed time to absorb the news but you were there crying, your family supporting you, and I had no one. I…took my anger out at you and your brothers when none of this is your or their fault.”

  He cradled her head into his neck. She breathed in the scent of rain and integrity and Jake.

  “You’re not to blame for any of this. Nor is Julia. I’m the one who let that snake into my life. If I hadn’t tried to ditch Julia that night, if I’d been a better brother—”

  Rachael placed her finger over his lips. “We can’t keep doing the If only thing. What’s done is done, Jake. We need to forgive ourselves. To forgive others.”

  “I can’t make any promises that I’ll act like the mature responsible adult if I ever see Dylan the Snake, though.”

  “I’ll beat you to it. I had this incredible self-defense trainer. He taught me all sorts of moves.” She sniffed and cuddled into his warmth.

  “I’m sorry, Rachael. I’m sorry you got brainwashed by that asshole. And I’m sorry that I was an asshole to you as well. I can’t promise I won’t be an idiot again, but I promise I’ll work as hard as hell to be good for you. To you.”

  “I can’t believe I was so weak and naïve for so many years.”

  “There’s a reason we called him the snake. He manipulated my sister as well. No way in hell would she have offered to give him a ride home if she thought he was sketchy. She thought he was my friend, so she trusted him. That’s the kind of woman Julia was. Is. That’s the kind of woman you are and were as well. It’s not your fault that you have a kind heart. I really, really, really like your heart.”

  “Yeah? You sure it’s not just the lumps of fat and skin covering my heart?”

  Jake cupped her breast and nibbled on her earlobe. “Lumps of fat and skin? Babe. I can think of plenty other ways to describe these glorious globes over your heart.”

  “Mmm. Like what?” The oven timer went off and they both moaned in frustration.

  “That’s probably a good thing. I’m starving. And the growling I’ve been hearing from your stomach tells me you’re just as hungry. Mind if we take a rain check on the euphemisms?”

  “You can tell me over dinner.”

  “Babe. I cannot. I won’t be able to eat, and then I’ll lose all respect making you think I only think about sex. With you, of course, but still.”

  “Nice save, Six Pack.”

  “Six pack?”

  “It’s what Mackenzie calls you.”

  “You girls talk about my body when I’m not around?”

  Rachael laughed. “You’ve heard Lucy and Mackenzie. They talk about your body when you are around.”

  “The only one I care about is you.”

  “Well then. Yes, I talk about your body too.”

  Jake’s pearly whites gleamed against his tanned skin. “Babe.”

  They turned the oven off and had their dinner later. Much, much later.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Rachael

  Loving the warmth of Jake’s body, Rachael didn’t want to move, but her bladder felt like a biscuit in a can—not that she’d ever buy or serve them—ready to burst. Rubbing her eyes against Jake’s bicep to scratch out her sleepy seeds, she rolled her shoulders and braced herself for the cool air.

  They’d opened his window sometime in the night, their bodies dripping with sweat after a long bout of lovemaking, but the morning air was chilly. A pleasant change from the hot summer. Labor Day was right around the corner with another Riley wedding on tap.


  Rachael loved the fall. Not only because of the natural beauty Maine showcased so well, because it meant she wouldn’t sweat so much in front of her oven. While summer smells were flowers, ocean breeze, and barbeques, fall and winter begged to be scented with foods from the kitchen.

  Hopping out of bed, she raced to Jake’s bathroom, did her business, and when she returned to his room, noticed the clock. Rachael gasped and bounced on the bed, startling sleeping beauty.

  “Jake! Wake up. You’re going to be late for work.” Keeping his eyes closed and groaning, he blindly reached for her and pulled her body on top of his. “It’s nine-seventeen. Wake up, honey.”

  Opening his eyes with a smile, he tugged her body closer to his and rolled them over, pinning her to the mattress. “You called me honey.”

  “Yes. And you’re late.”

  “You’ve never called me anything but Jake before.”

  “Oh, I’ve called you other things, just not to your face.”

  Laughing, he dusted her neck with kisses, spending extra time on the sensitive area behind her neck.

  “Jake—”

  “Say it again.”

  “Jake?”

  “No. Honey.” He turned her over and continued nibbling his way across her shoulder, making a zig-zag pattern from her left side to her right.

  The man knew how to distract her from any and all coherent thoughts. Her body, exhausted from their late night antics, buzzed with need, her core aching for him as if he hadn’t just loved her a few hours ago.

  “Jake,” she moaned.

  He stopped as he neared her breast and picked his head up. “What happened to honey? I kinda like that. Makes us sound like an old married couple.”

  “Seriously?” She couldn’t believe they were having this conversation right now. She could feel his desire against her leg and was impressed with his control. He’d always impressed her in bed. Whether it was his sensitivity, his dedication to her body, or his willpower, he always put her needs first. Even when she could feel the tenseness in his body, he held back for her.

  “Jake. Honey. Please don’t stop.”

  “Now you’re talking.”

  “Wait!” She pushed at his shoulders before his mouth came down on her breast. “Work. I can’t let you fall behind because…well, I don’t want to distract you from your job.”

  “Babe. You distract me from everything. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He lowered his mouth to her aching body, stopping a fraction of an inch away from where she wanted him most. “Besides, I texted the boys a few hours ago telling them I was taking the day off.”

  There was no more talking after that, just moaning, begging, and some excited yelling.

  ***

  “What do you want to do with your day off?” Rachael asked as she loaded the dishwasher with their breakfast dishes.

  “I’m happy being naked in bed with you for the day.” Jake brushed her hair aside and kissed the nape of her neck. “Mmm. Salty. You taste like you had quite the workout last night. And this morning. Let’s go shower.”

  “Stop.” She giggled. “You’re relentless. We can’t spend the entire day in bed.”

  “Why not?”

  Turning, she faced him and he set his hands on the counter, drilling her with his stare and his body. “I’d like to think there’s more between us besides amazing sex.”

  “Rachael, you don’t think—”

  “No. I know there is.” She placed her palms on his cheeks and stared deeply into his eyes. Eyes that could melt her with one look. Eyes that spoke of so much pain and hurt. And love and compassion. Jake may not realize it, but his eyes never hid what he was feeling and she loved knowing how to read him. “I love you, and”—she continued talking even when he opened his mouth to speak—“and I know you love me. I have no doubts,” she said before placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

  They held each other in the kitchen, breathing in each other’s air, soaking up the warmth from each other’s bodies. At last she said, “Let’s go visit your sister.”

  “You want to spend our first day off together in months with my sister?”

  “Is that okay?”

  Jake’s adoring eyes turned soft, the corner of his lip stretched into an amused and bewildered smirk. “You amaze me, Rachael Riley. Every freaking day. You amaze me.”

  They showered together—to conserve water—and toweled each other off. “I need to get my bag from the car.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you packed a bag? I would have gotten it for you last night.”

  “I wasn’t sure at first if I’d be invited to stay the night and then when I was invited, I didn’t really need anything. Clothing seemed to be optional.”

  “Always is. However, my mom and Julia would probably appreciate it if we were dressed. Stay naked for a few more minutes. I’ll go get your bag.”

  Back in record time, Jake watched her with predator eyes as she dressed. Rachael packed the raspberry linzer bars they didn’t get to last night as Jake locked up the house.

  “Mind if we take your car? My truck is a mess. I wasn’t expecting company.”

  “Sure, but I don’t mind your truck either. Your tools and work gear don’t bother me.”

  “It’s not that.” He stopped with the car door partway open, obviously remembering what she had said about needing to drive her own car rather than being a passenger. “It’s a mess. I’ve eaten a lot of take out over the past few days. Sort of slumming it.”

  His kitchen had been spotless last night. No sign of Jake making any meals. The coffee cup she had used last week still sat in his sink until she loaded it during their midnight dinner break. Touched that he’d been too much of a wreck to cook or eat at home, she handed him the keys.

  “You can drive.”

  “No. It’s your new car. I don’t want to be all alpha on you. Isn’t that what you said?”

  Rachael picked up his hand and kissed his knuckles. “Driving was something…something that was stripped from me. Another piece of my independence. I know that if you drive my car it’s not because you’re trying to control me. It’s okay.”

  “I love you.” He kissed her before walking to the passenger side and opening the door for her. “And while I appreciate your desire to be independent and free from someone’s hold, I’m still going to treat you like a lady. Do the chivalrous thing. My mom worked hard for nearly thirty years teaching me my manners. It’s about time I show her I’ve been listening.”

  “She’s proud of you and loves you. And so do I.” Rachael slid into the passenger seat and buckled up while Jake rounded the hood.

  They held hands as he drove to his parents’ house. Rachael said, “Julia said she has extra field hockey sticks. I’m thinking we could bring her down to the park and play pass. Or whatever they call it.”

  “She’d like that.”

  Julia was more than excited to go out with them. Rachael followed her to the basement and opened a large tote marked ‘Sports’. In it she found an assortment of cleats, shin guards, goggles, and balls.

  “Want to wear these or just sneakers?” Rachael asked, holding up a pair of black and pink cleats.

  “Sneaker…an…shin guard. You…wear too,” Julia said.

  “Absolutely.” Rachael found two matching pair, closed up the tote, and led Julia back up the stairs.

  Staggering to the living room couch, Julia finally made it and plopped herself down. Jake rushed to her side. “Hey, Jules. You okay? If not we can do something else.”

  “Not a…in-va-lid.”

  Julia slipped one foot into her sneaker and picked up her laces, not moving her fingers to tie them. Jake and Rachael waited patiently while Julia stared at her feet. Jake had said she often forgot the sequence of events and would get extra irritable when she realized she’d done something out of order.

  Realizing she hadn’t put on her shin guards yet, Rachael casually sat next to Julia. “So, I’ve never been an athlete. More of a spect
ator. Can you tell me how to put these things on?” She could have figured it out on her own, but Rachael wanted Julia’s confidence to build by helping others. And for her to realize on her own she’d forgotten to put on her shin guards.

  Her tactic worked. Before Julia started tying her shoes, she slipped them off and reached for her guards. “This.” She modeled how to put them on and Rachael copied her actions. When they both had the protective gear on, they simultaneously put on their shoes.

  Rachael slowly tied her laces, making sure Julia was watching so she could see the order in the loops. Soon Julia mimicked the motion and tied her own shoes. Jake let out a sigh and a smile.

  The adventure at the park went better than they could have hoped for. While Julia had a hard time driving the ball very far, she’d gained control of the stick and worked on dribbling. Rachael remembered her brothers talking about dribbling with basketball and didn’t know it was a field hockey term as well.

  Jake played too, forgoing the protective gear and having fun teasing the girls with his long distance drives. When one of his balls almost took out an elderly couple walking in the park, he piped down his competitive nature and kept his swings short and soft.

  They went to the deli across the street for lunch and Julia ordered her own sub, remembering everything she liked on it. In the short time Rachael had known Julia she’d seen major improvements. Maybe she’d make a nearly full recovery after all.

  Later in the afternoon they dropped Julia off at home, visited with Jake’s parents, and drove back to the Inn so Rachael could get another set of clean clothes.

  “These are really unnecessary.” Jake held up a pair of panties and a bra she’d thrown on her bed to pack.

  “You want me to go out in public sans underwear, do you? And braless?”

  “Well, no. Just around my house.”

  “You’re working tomorrow and I have errands to run. I’m wearing these.” She snatched her lingerie from his hands and tossed them in her bag.

  “Or we can stay here. However, I don’t have a change of clothes so I’ll have to lay around naked. That okay?”