Eight Years Gone, page 18
“I think this sounds great.” And she truly did. She wrapped him up in a hug. “Congratulations.”
He returned her embrace. “Thanks.” He sighed. “If I take this job, I have to leave tomorrow. I’ll miss the game on Friday.”
“Okay.”
He shook his head. “It’s not. We made plans. Nothing’s more important than you. Than us.”
She smiled, knowing he meant it. “There will be other football games.”
“I’ll make it up to you.”
“There’s nothing for you to make up. I want this for you—for your dreams to come true. Whatever they are.”
He sighed as he rested his forehead against hers. “How did I get so lucky, Grace? How are you mine?”
She stroked his skin as her heart melted. “I think we’re both pretty lucky.”
“I’ll be home Saturday afternoon. We can still do chicken cordon bleu.”
“I can’t wait.”
“I should talk to Todd before the next class—work something out with him. Then I need to call Jason and get things set up.”
“Go get ’em, tiger.”
He grinned. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“Yes, and that reminds me.” She broke their embrace to move to her purse, digging in. “This is for you to use when you want to.”
He stared at the key she’d had made when she stopped off at the hardware store this morning.
She nibbled her lip, knowing that it was a big step. But they were already eight years behind. “If you want it, that is.”
“Yes.” He pulled her to him again. “Yes, Grace.”
She grinned. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He kissed her, waved in the doorway, then walked down the hall.
She stared at the floor for several seconds, acknowledging her fears that he would get a taste of his old life and walk back out of hers again.
“No,” she said out loud. She wasn’t living like that anymore—constantly questioning. Jagger would stay, or he would go. Hopefully, he would stay.
Walking around her desk, sitting down with a job to do, she ejected the memory card from her camera to upload her shots to Instagram, deciding that she would be making Jagger a celebration dinner tonight.
Mentally adjusting her schedule, she slotted enough time to stop at the store for meatloaf and sour cream and chive mashed potato ingredients—Bea’s recipes. One of his all-time favorite meals.
Twenty
Jagger spotted the outline of the big abandoned barn in the overgrown field and impatiently gave the Stingray more gas.
Typically, the old landmark was a welcome sight, but tonight it was a reminder that he was still a good ten miles from Preston Valley.
“Damn,” he whispered, resisting the urge to press the pedal to the floor.
When he’d hopped on the five o’clock flight from DC to Scranton, he’d figured he would have time to change his clothes, then head over to the football field for halftime.
The thirty-minute delay on the tarmac by the gate hadn’t been part of the plan. At this point, he’d be lucky to make it to the high school before the game ended.
“Damn,” he said again, clenching his jaw.
He'd busted his ass since the wheels went up on his flight yesterday morning. His DC assignment had started relatively simply. Jason’s client was scheduled for three stops in the capital before the VIP returned to Europe.
Problems had been few and far between as Jagger ran the routes from location to location. When he’d found only minor issues with easy solutions, he’d been optimistic that an earlier-than-expected return home would be possible.
Then he got to the five-star hotel and realized that despite the facility’s numerous top-notch amenities, the construction and renovations on the first three floors created several possibilities for a security breach.
After plenty of back and forth with Jason and the client’s full-time security team, a new hotel was selected and thoroughly inspected. By the time Jagger made it through the city traffic, he’d had to run to his gate before they closed the doors.
“Finally,” he muttered as he breezed past the sign welcoming him to town.
He let his shoulders relax as he approached the school, pulling into the packed parking lot.
Finding a spot toward the back, he jog-walked to the gate, reaching for his wallet to pay admission.
The woman shook her head. “There’s only half a quarter left. Head on in.”
Jagger pulled a twenty from his wallet anyway. “How about a donation, then?”
She smiled. “That’s kind of you. Master Jagger, right?”
“Just Jagger.”
She smiled again. “My niece, Nila, is in your class.”
He grinned as he nodded. “Nila’s a great kid—a hard worker. She has a hell of a hook kick.”
Nila’s aunt beamed. “She’s testing for her blue belt next week.”
Jagger nodded again. “I remember. I have no doubt she’ll do great.”
The smile never left Nila’s aunt’s face. “She sure thinks the world of you and Todd.”
“We’re glad to have her.”
“Head on in.”
“Thanks.” He headed past the gate, searching the sea of spectators supporting the Preston Valley Bulldogs.
He smiled when he finally spotted the gorgeous blonde dressed in snug jeans and a maroon and white jacket—the school’s colors. She’d even pulled her hair back in a coordinated scrunchie.
Making his way down the steps, he watched as she spoke to Brennan and Ben. Her cheeks were rosy in the chilly air, making her eyes all the more captivating.
“Excuse me,” Jagger said, skirting by several students and parents on his way to the empty spot behind the woman he’d been waiting to see since he kissed her goodbye yesterday morning.
“Do you think they can win, Aunt Grace?”
Grace nodded. “Definitely. There’s still plenty of time to tie things up.”
“But we’re down by two whole touchdowns.”
“Five minutes is forever in football. But they need to know we believe in them.”
“You can do it!” Brennan yelled.
“Come on, Bulldogs! Let’s get this first down!” Grace chimed in.
Jagger sat down, tapping Grace’s shoulder.
She turned, politely smiling, before her eyes lit up with unmistakable delight. “Jagger!”
Gaining her feet, she launched herself into his arms.
He laughed, returning her embrace, breathing in her shampoo as he kept her close. This moment had made every frustrating second of the last four hours worth it.
Easing back just a little, she kissed him. “I thought I wasn’t going to see you until tomorrow.”
He kissed her this time. “We had a date. I wasn’t missing it.”
“Aw.” Her big blue eyes went soft as her mouth found its way back to his. “You’re still in your suit.”
Needing to touch her, he played his fingers through her hair. “The plane was late.”
She rested her forehead against his. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
The crowd erupted around them as the Bulldogs got their first down.
“They did it, Aunt Grace!” Brennan looked at Jagger. “They did it, Master Jagger!”
Jagger roughed up Brennan’s black hair. “That’s good stuff.”
Brennan beamed at Jagger, then at his mom.
“Come sit with me,” Grace invited.
“There’s not a lot of room.”
“There’s plenty.”
“Okay.” Jagger settled on the uncomfortable metal bench, taking Grace’s weight as she sat on his thigh. He nodded to Ben, aware that Grace’s buddy wasn’t his number one fan. “Hey, man.”
Ben nodded back. “Hey.”
“They need to get two touchdowns to tie the game,” Brennan informed Jagger.
“They’re going to go for one right now,” Jagger said, watching the quarterback searching for an open receiver as he took the snap. “Right there on the ten-yard line—number twenty-two.”
As he said it, the quarterback threw to twenty-two, and the crowd went wild again as the kid ran it into the endzone.
Brennan blinked as he stared at Jagger. “How did you know that?”
“I read the field.”
Brennan frowned as he looked at the defense running in to take their places. “I don’t know how to do that.”
“So, let’s teach you.”
Grace snuggled against him as they cheered the Bulldogs to a nail-biting victory—as Jagger gave Brennan his first lesson on seeing the open pockets.
Grace sat on one of the comfy barstools at her kitchen island, sipping a cup of tea while Jagger leaned against the counter, eating a big bowl of cereal in the dim light glowing from above the stove. “Are you sure you don’t want something else? Grilled cheese is super easy, or we can make you some eggs.”
Jagger shook his head as he spooned up the last bite. “This is easier. And it hits the spot.”
She shrugged, studying him in his dark-gray slacks and the snug tank undershirt he wore after he’d tossed his tie and white button-down on the couch when they stepped through the front door.
Broad shoulders and tough arms. So much sexiness. And he was all hers. “If you change your mind…”
He shook his head again. “I won’t. Mostly I want to get changed and snuggle up with you—enjoy the rest of our evening.”
“Mm, that sounds good—nice and cozy.”
“That’s what I’m saying.” He moved to put his bowl in the sink and fill it with water.
Abandoning her tea, she walked his way. “I still can’t believe you were able to get home for our date.”
He turned. “I’m sorry I missed most of the game.”
She stopped in front of him. “You made it when you could, which is incredibly sweet, Jagger.”
He slid his knuckles along her jaw. “The plan was halftime at the latest.”
“You’re here.” She pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “That’s all that matters. And you made Brennan’s night.”
“He’s a great kid.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Let me get changed. We can hit the couch and watch some TV—maybe watch most of a movie before we both fall asleep.”
She shook her head, holding his gaze as she traced his left pec through the thin cotton of his top. “I don’t want to watch TV.”
He swallowed as her finger slid down the center of his abs. “What did you have in mind?”
“I was thinking we could take this off.” As she spoke, she tugged his shirt up and off. “Then I could do this.”
She gained her tiptoes, pressing several slow kisses along his jaw. “And this,” she whispered, continuing down his neck to his chest.
He exhaled a long breath as he pulled her shirt from the waist of her jeans. “Let me take it off.”
Obliging him, she raised her arms above her head.
He sent her shirt to the floor.
Before he could free her from her bra, she focused on the bulge in his pants, slowly sliding her fingertip along his long, thick shaft.
He pulled her closer, nipping her bottom lip with his teeth. “You’re teasing.”
She smiled triumphantly as his voice grew rough and his eyes darkened with desire. Moving her palm, she rubbed against him. “I was thinking of it as more of a warming up.”
He clenched his jaw. “Let me warm you up.”
Smiling again, she shook her head. “It’s still my turn.”
Her focus moved to his belt buckle and the snap on his pants. Then his zipper.
“These should go,” she said, getting on her knees, looking up to stare into his eyes as she gave them a tug, making certain his boxers followed.
“What should we do now that I’m naked?”
“You’ll see.” Holding his gaze, she gripped him, sliding up and down. Then she put him in her mouth, moving how she knew he liked.
He groaned as his fingers found their way into her hair. “Gracie. That feels so good.”
She kept up her work, cupping him, using a steady rhythm as his breathing changed and his stomach muscles shuddered.
“Grace,” he said through his teeth. “Come here.”
She let him help her to her feet, welcoming his hungry kiss—savoring the way he devoured her mouth.
Within seconds, her bra hit the floor, and he palmed her, then teased her nipples to perky points with his thumbs and index fingers before he circled her with his tongue.
“Jagger,” she whispered with a moan.
“Your jeans,” he said as he went after the snap and zipper. “Let’s take off your jeans.”
Eager to comply, she sent them down her legs, dropping her panties too.
“Here,” he said, lifting her to the countertop, dropping down to yank her close and give as good as he’d gotten.
She sucked in a breath, letting her head fall back with a moan as his tongue went to work with long laps and his lips with gentle suckles. It wasn’t long until she tensed, feeling the delicious ache as she climbed, waiting to burst. “Keep doing that.”
He complied, keeping a steady rhythm.
“Jagger,” she choked out, curling her toes as she let herself go, throbbing, crying out as pleasure rushed through her body, engulfing her soul.
He kept her high with the plunging of his fingers as he stood. “Look at me.”
As she opened her eyes, he shoved himself deep, groaning as she moaned—as his girth stretched her and hit all of her sweet spots just right.
Clutching at his arms, she trembled with the next orgasm. “Jagger,” she choked out. “Take me to bed.”
He lifted her, gripping her butt cheeks, ravishing her mouth on the way down the hall, stopping to pin her up against the wall. “I can’t get enough of you.”
He plunged in again, holding her gaze as he pumped several times.
Cradling his cheeks as they breathed each other’s ragged breaths, she waited for the next rush of ecstasy. “I’m going to come.”
He thrust harder. Faster.
She gasped, going wild in his arms, squeezing her legs around him as she bowed against the wall with the power and heat.
“Christ, I love watching you.”
Struggling for each breath, she kept his face close. She wanted to watch him—to do to him what he was doing to her. “The bed.”
Moving with her to the bedroom, he crushed her into the mattress.
“I want to be on top.”
“One of my favorites.”
She grinned, rolling with him, sinking herself onto him, whimpering.
“Gracie,” he mumbled, lacing their fingers.
She moved, rocking her hips—slow strokes—to draw out his pleasure. Their pleasure.
His hands tensed against hers as they held each other’s gazes. “Let me touch you.”
She let him go, enjoying his palms rubbing against her sensitive nipples, then his hands gripping her hips. He squeezed now, clutching. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
He pulled her down to him, kissing her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, thrusting up again and again. And then his jaw clenched when he jerked. As he hissed out several breaths while he groaned.
She felt herself grow slipperier—and for the final time, she came, collapsing against him, listening to his heart pounding against his chest.
“Damn, Grace,” he said moments later, wrapping his arms tighter around her.
She smiled, lifting her head to kiss his chin. “Welcome home.”
He grinned. “Thanks.”
She moved in again, her lips lingering on his mouth, forever remembering how she’d yearned for something like this a mere two months ago. “You were barely gone two whole days, but I missed you.”
He slid her hair back from her face. “I missed you, too.”
“I’ve also wanted to rip off your clothes for the last couple of hours. You know how to wear slacks and a tie.”
He laughed. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Her smile returned. “Thank you again for such a wonderful surprise.”
His fingers moved to slide along her jaw. “You’re welcome.”
“We haven’t had much of a chance to talk about your trip. How was it?”
“Fast.” He shrugged. “Pretty good. Or at least until I got to the hotel.”
She frowned. “What was wrong with the hotel?”
“Just about everything. It took me less than five minutes in the lobby to spot half a dozen ways someone could get up to the penthouse if they really wanted to.”
She shook her head, not understanding.
“They’re doing construction at the client’s preferred accommodations. Trying to convince him that staying somewhere else—just this once—turned into a thing.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Oh.”
He shrugged again. “Mostly, that’s Jason’s problem, but I have a feeling it’s about to turn into mine.”
“How come?”
“Jason called me during my sprint through the airport. There’s a chance I’ll have to go back and rerun routes. The client’s talking about changing his plans to skip an overnight stay altogether.”
“Oh,” she said again.
“If I go, it’ll most likely be this next week. Just one day—two tops. Maybe Friday and Saturday again.”
“Okay.”
“It’s not going to be like this regularly. I promise.”
“You have a job to do. I understand that.”
“Yeah, but if I’m going to do this, I want it to be a once-a-month-type deal. Todd’s counting on me. And I want to be here with you. I know you’ve been taking on even more with Aunt Mags having her setbacks.”
She loved how much he wanted to help, but she only ever wanted to rely on herself when it came to running the business.
Simplicity had been her light in the darkness—a place to rebuild and create something new. When everything had fallen apart, the store had been one of the only places where she’d felt like she had a modicum of control. “Aunt Maggie and I are fine.”
“Once a month with the exceptionally rare occasion of two. That’s what I told Jason. That’s what I’m promising you.”
