[English Novel] SIZZLE

Sizzle
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****. While I’d been acting all jealous, Jack had turned his attention to me. I met his eyes and wished I hadn’t, when I saw the heat in them.

“Okay, you ready for the lake?” Liam asked, putting his arm around me.

“Yeah, I guess.” I was unsure about the trip on the lake. It looked pretty from land with the sun beating down on it, and would make for some good photographs, but out on the water, I just wasn’t sure.

“Jack, will you walk me to the car?” Mia asked. She walked past Jack to the door and stood there waiting for him to open it.

Instead, Liam moved away from me and dashed to the door, opened it, then followed Mia through. I followed more slowly, wondering what happened to Liam’s manners, and why would he leave me behind to go dashing off with Mia.

As I started to walk past Jack, I avoided looking at him, but he quickly put his arm around my waist from behind, pulling me tight against him. “Be careful on the lake,” he whispered in my ear before releasing me as quickly as he’d taken hold of me. He dashed off towards Mia.

Both of them left me standing at the door of the restaurant, wondering what the hell had just happened as goose bumps rose across my skin. I wasn’t turned on. No I wasn’t. Keep telling yourself that. God, I needed to talk to Callie.

Chapter 15

Jack

“Jack, slow down. My legs aren’t as long as yours are,” Mia whined. “What the hell’s gotten into you?”

I pulled up short and turned to look at her. Shaking myself mentally, I took a deep breath. It wasn’t Mia’s fault. It was mine. I was pissed at myself for being so damn hot for Thalia.

When Thalia had brushed up against my arm, my dick had twitched, and then the minute we’d touched, thigh to thigh, it had wanted to come out and play. I’d tortured myself by keeping my thigh against hers. It had been too damn long since I’d felt a longing for someone, and in truth never like it was with Thalia. We’d only just met, so I had no idea what the hell was going on.

“Jack?”

“Sorry Mia. I was miles away.”

“You’re getting just like Daddy. Whenever we go out anywhere he’s always thinking about work,” She said coming to a stop beside her car.

She wouldn’t be so calm if she knew what, or rather who, I’d been thinking about.

She opened her car door so I moved into her space, and waited until she was seated, before I asked, “Do you want to do something tonight?”

Mia looked as shocked as I felt. I hadn’t meant to ask her that, because spending more time than I had to with her wasn’t what I wanted to do. Still, I did need a distraction from the thoughts running through my mind.

“Maybe another night.” She patted me on the hand. “You know I don’t like going out midweek.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later.”

Stepping away from the car, I watched her drive out of the lot. Running my hands through my hair, I turned and walked towards the boat rentals.

My brother was a ****ing idiot for taking Thalia out on the lake when she couldn’t swim. I knew a life preserve stopped you from drowning, but not being able to swim and stuck in deep water would scare the **** out of anyone. Hopefully that wouldn’t happen, but I planned to make sure it didn’t, regardless of how much it pissed Liam off.

Just about to walk around the corner to the boating house, I bumped into my brother. “Where are you going?”

“What are you doing here? I thought you were going off with Mia and what about work?” Liam did his usual act of avoiding a question by asking his own.

“You finished?” He gave me the look. “First I’ve come to make sure you don’t do this half assed, seeing as how your girlfriend can’t swim. Second, Mia is getting her hair done and some other girly **** and thirdly, I’m not in the office for a few days. Does that answer your questions?”

He frowned. “Go and help Thalia into her life preserve, while I go and get something.”

He left me heading towards his car. What an ass. His girlfriend needed help and he left her to her own devices.

I stayed where he left me wondering what the hell to do. Thalia turned me on to distraction so being close to her wasn’t the wisest idea, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to settle unless I checked her preserve out first. Damn, who was I kidding? I wouldn’t be able to settle until she was back on dry land.

Praying for strength, I turned the corner to see Thalia struggling with the straps on the preserve, looking nervous. Walking over to her, I moved her hands away gently. Her eyes filled with a combination of relief and surprise when she saw me.

“You don’t need to do this,” I whispered.

She met my eyes and shook her head slightly.

“Tell Liam you’ve changed your mind.”

She nervously licked her lips with my eyes following the movement.

“I can’t. I’ll be okay. Please don’t worry about me, Jack.”

Ignoring the worry comment, I told her, “My brother is an idiot.” I tightened the straps and made sure the one she’d managed to do herself was fastened correctly. “I’m going to hang around while you’re out there, okay?”

We stood practically chest-to-chest. I reached up with my hand and took hold of one of her dark curls, which wrapped around my finger before I moved it behind her ear.

“Thalia….”

“Okay, you ready?” Liam said, reappearing out of the blue.

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I pulled my arm away and stepped back. “She’s all fastened in.” I moved my eyes away from Thalia to glare at my brother. “You better take it easy out there. Just remember your passenger can’t swim.”

“****, what the hell is wrong with you? I’m not stupid. She’ll be okay with me. We’re just going on a gentle sail on the SMOOTH LAKE, nothing rocky. Stop worrying ‘mom’.”

****ing hell, he was going to be meeting my fist before long.

“Thalia, come on. Ignore Jack, everyone else does.”

All I wanted to do was strangle my brother, but instead I shoved my hands into the back pocket of my jeans.

“That’s not nice, he’s done nothing but help me, which is more than I can say for you. You know I’m frightened of going out there,” Thalia told Liam, after hitting him in the chest.

How the hell I didn’t burst out laughing, I’d never know. I glanced over to her and noticed her pissed expression, which was directed at my brother.

She then turned to me. “Thank you, Jack.”

She’s the first person that I could remember to ever get pissed on my behalf. I needed to get out of there.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” I said and caught the look on Thalia’s face. Panic.

Keep walking. Keep walking.

Without glancing back, I walked to my car and climbed in, but couldn’t bring myself to put the key into the ignition. I’d promised Thalia that I would stay around. ****. I climbed back out of the car and went up into the café so I could keep watch without Liam or Thalia noticing.

Chapter 16

Thalia

As Liam led me towards the boat all I wanted was for it to be Jack. Why was Jack more worried about my safety than my so called ‘boyfriend’? Since we’d eaten breakfast, Liam had been in a snit about something. What it was, I had no idea. He was annoying the hell out of me, and knew good and well that I was nervous about going out on the water, but he’d still disappeared to the car to retrieve his cell phone. His response had been that if something happened out there, we’d be stuck without a cell. I’d pointed out that I had mine with me, but oh no, he still had to leave me alone and go fetch his.

If Jack hadn’t appeared when he did, I’d have thrown my preserve off and gone into the café to wait for Liam. Yeah, it would have looked like I was acting like a five year old, but inside I was freaking out. There was a lot of water in the lake.

Jack had realized how freaked I was, but not Liam. As I climbed into the boat I looked around for Jack, he’d said he would hang around and for some reason that gave me the extra boost of confidence that I needed. I couldn’t see him, but his car was still in the lot.

“Thalia, who you looking for?”

“No one.”

He grinned. “I’m not blind, or contrary to what my brother thinks, an idiot.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Could I have been any more obvious? Ugh!

“Yeah right.” He pushed us off from the small pier and started to row.

“Do you want me to help?” I honestly didn’t fancy moving, but I felt a bit mean just sitting and letting him do all the work.

“No, I’m fine. He’s in the café making sure I don’t drown you.” Liam looked worried. “Thalia, um, you haven’t forgotten Jack’s getting married, right? Nothing or no one will change that.”

“Liam...”

“Don’t say anything. I know we aren’t going anywhere. I like you Thalia, but there’s no spark between us… Do you mind carrying on pretending to be my girlfriend; it kind of saves me from my mom?”

I watched him closely trying to work out his body language. Something wasn’t right. Liam was handsome, which was what first attracted me. As I got to know him, I liked him more, but didn’t want to take it further. There were plenty of girls out there who would like nothing more than to have him as a boyfriend.

“Liam…why? I mean you’re a hot guy, I don’t understand why you’d want me to pretend to be dating you when you could have anyone.”

He looked to be sulking. “I can’t have anyone.”

This whole conversation was weird. “Okay, but don’t get fresh with me.”

He roared with laughter, which made the boat rock. I clung to the side as though my life depended on it. “Liam, please stop,” I whispered, feeling sick to my stomach. The boat carried on rocking.

“Thalia, stop being a wimp. You have a life preserve on for one, but the boat is not going to tip with a slight rocking.” He carried on laughing at me.

We weren’t too far out from the shore, but too far out for me to get out and walk. I looked around frantically and caught Jack, running down the steps of the café.

“Oh, look, lover boy coming to the rescue.” He sneered.

“What the hell is wrong with you? One minute you’re asking me to be your ‘pretend’ girlfriend, and the next you’re acting like a first class jerk. At least someone’s bothered as to whether I end up in the water or not.” If I hadn’t been so scared of falling in, I’d walk up to his end and hit him over the head with one of the oars.

As we got closer to the dock, I chanced a look behind me to see Jack standing, waiting for us with his hands on his hips, looking furious. As the boat nudged the side, Jack leaned in wrapping an arm around me and lifting me from the boat.

He didn’t speak, just quickly unstrapped me from the life preserve, and then threw it at his brother. I didn’t stay to hear what was said. I was too shaky and needed a minute on my own. The last thing I wanted was to show them both my tears. I ran behind the boating shed, resting my forehead against the wall and finally gave in to them.

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Not long afterwards I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“Thalia, are you all right?” Jack asked.

Without thinking, I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck. He paused briefly then wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me in tight against him. I knew straightaway that it was a bad idea, but I couldn’t stop. I’d been terrified and wanted to be held.

He felt good against me, letting me cry while he stroked his hand down my back in a soothing motion. As my tears started to dry up, I started to notice other things. Like how Jack’s hand on my back shook, or how fast his heart was beating against my chest. My body started to feel hot and tight. My nipples pebbled.

Pulling back slightly, I met his gaze. He put his forehead against mine while he held my gaze. “Nothing can come of this...between us, but damn it, you feel good. All I want is...”

“What Jack? What is it you want?”

For a minute I thought he was going to answer me, but he took a deep breath and, pulling completely away, walked off in the opposite direction. It was at that instant that I heard Liam come up behind me, mumbling.

Chapter 17

Jack

I needed to leave, and I needed to leave fast. Thalia had felt amazing in my arms and it had been the first time in a long time that I’d been held. She’d held on to me so damn tight, I hadn’t been sure I’d have the strength to let her go. I’d felt her pebbled nipples against me, which had me hard as hell.

When I’d looked into her eyes, I’d nearly told her that all I wanted was her arms wrapped around me. Then I’d heard Liam approach so left her alone to face him. I sure as hell hadn’t wanted him to see my reaction to her.

He’d been a bastard to her out on the lake. When I’d questioned him about it, he’d told me to go back to my fiancée and to leave ‘his’ girl alone. The only thing that had stopped me from connecting my fist with his face was the fact Thalia had gone off crying and I’d had a deep need to comfort her. I’d turned and left him to deal with the boat himself, while I ran after his girl. Although she probably wouldn’t be for much longer at the rate he was going. If she reacted like that with me, she couldn’t be all that into him.

Unfortunately, whatever that was, couldn’t happen again. I was getting married. I had to get married, or I’d have to leave college. I’d worked damn hard these past few years, I sure as hell wasn’t prepared to throw it all away, even if it did mean marrying someone I didn’t like all that much. There was divorce once I’d gotten my degree; at least that’s what I’d planned. All I wanted to do was pack a bag, leave and never look back. No one would miss me. In fact it would probably be weeks before anyone would know I’d left. Thalia. She’d know; I’d bet my left nut she’d know within hours of my departure.

****. I took a deep breath and climbed into my car, not having a clue in which direction to head; I turned the car south, away from town. Mia was there, so no go. Home would end with a run-in with my mom.

With a bit of maneuvering, I managed to yank my cell out from my back pocket and pressed speed dial four – Reece.

“You home?”

“Yeah, some ****er woke me up.”

Grinning at his choice of words, I just hoped he didn’t have a sleepover there. “You up for company?”

“That’s fine.” He laughed. “Slept alone last night.”

I hung up the cell after telling him I’d be there in twenty.

Reece was my closest friend along with Donovan. We’d become thick as thieves in high school and no matter how much my folks tried to keep us apart, they never succeeded. Mia hated them. Having grown up in the same town, she knew what good friends we were. She’d told me that they wouldn’t be welcome in our home after we married. I think I’d shocked the life out of her because for the first time since we’d become engaged, I disagreed with her. Basically she got told that although they’d probably opt not to, they could visit anytime they wanted. To say she’d been pissed was an understatement. She hadn’t spoken to me for two weeks after that. Two weeks of heaven!

Reece spent about as much times as I did outside and at the gym. He loved nothing more than to go without his t-shirt or shirt so that the ladies got to see his toned abs. What they didn’t know was that he was a *****. He’d gotten a new tattoo a couple of days ago and did nothing but complain via text message to myself and Donovan about the pain. So, yeah, he was a *****. I was surprised though when he said he’d slept alone. I thought he’d have left Kix last night with one of the women he’d been talking to when I left.

My car bumped along the road leading up to his cabin, which was hidden back from the road by hundreds of trees. I brought the car to a stop and spotted him sitting on the steps leading up to his cabin.

“Hey, more awake now?” I asked, climbing from the car.

He seemed happy if the grunt was anything to go by.

Although I didn’t have anything to grin about, I grinned and kept it in place as I walked passed him straight into his cabin where I poured myself a much needed coffee, then I went back outside, sitting on the opposite side of the steps to him.

Peace, something I rarely got when I was home. Over these past few years I’d hated coming home during vacation time, more so the past twelve months. I know that sounded selfish, considering I’d grown up in a large house, which sat on thousands of acres of land.

Yeah, I’d been offered every opportunity there was while growing up, but all I wanted was to have a life of my own with a woman who would love me for who I was. Not for who my family was, and who wouldn’t turn her nose up at my friends. I wanted a woman, who would look at me as though her world started and ended with me. Who would be my whole world, someone I could love just as much. Who wanted to grow old with me. Thalia popped into my head.

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“****.”

Reece paused mid-drink. “Something on your mind?”

“No.” I stood and started to pace in front of the porch. “Yes.” I continued to pace. “Liam’s home.”

“I know you two can be a bit hit and miss, but he doesn’t usually get you so worked up. What’s going on? And stop walking in circles; you’re making me dizzy.”

Staring at him, I came to a stop with my hands on my hips. “He brought his girlfriend home.”

He ****ed an eyebrow. “And?”

I let out a whoosh of air. “I can’t get her out of my head. She’s there no matter what I’m doing. Hell, he only brought her home yesterday.” I ran my hands through my hair and tugged. “Today he took her out on the lake. She couldn’t swim and was nervous as hell, but she put on a life preserve, which I strapped up for her because my brother was more interested in retrieving his cell from the car.”

Collapsing onto the bottom step, I slouched forward and placed my head in my hands. “I watched them from the café and after a few minutes out there he started rocking the boat. I saw red and ran out of the café and waited on the dock. As soon as she was in reach, I leaned over and lifted her out, undid her preserve and threw it at the bastard.”

Dropping my hands, I flexed my fingers wanting to punch my brother. “But for Thalia running off upset and my need to comfort her, I would have hit him. Instead I ran after her and held her while she cried. She felt damn good against me. For the first time since I accepted that I was going to be with Mia and basically shut down, I want someone else and she’s my brother’s girlfriend. How ****ed up is that?” I looked back at him sitting on the top step.

“So that’s why you were out last night? It’s not screwed up. Okay, the brother’s girl part could be a problem, but Donovan and me have told you to blow the engagement and get on with your life. You’re the one who’s stuck it out. You need a medal for dealing with Miss Snobby’s ****.”

I held his stare for a few minutes before changing the subject. “What you planning on doing today?”

“Nothing much, thought I’d grab some food in town, and then head over to Donovan’s to go fishing – you’re supposed to be coming with us.”

I’d forgotten. How had I managed to forget I was supposed to be hanging out with my best friends? They gave me the sanity that I needed. I’d go crazy without them.

Chapter 18

Thalia

Sitting in the car with Liam while he drove us back to the house, I couldn’t stop thinking about Jack.

When the boat reached the dock, I’d turned and seen Jack standing there and all I’d wanted to do was throw myself into his arms. He’d looked furious. When I’d run off not wanting them to see me cry, I’d had no idea that Jack, not Liam, would come after me, but when I’d turned around and seen him standing there, the most natural thing in the world was to throw myself into his arms. He’d felt amazing against me, and yes, I’d felt his erection. Thick and long. He’d tried to hide it by pulling away, but he wasn’t quite quick enough.

Liam had been pissed when he’d found me there and had wanted to know what was going on with Jack stalking off. I’d told him he was still mad with him for being an ass.

I’d known Liam for a while and he’d never acted like an idiot before, and, but for the talk on the lake, I’d have said he was jealous of how Jack and I reacted to each other. I didn’t think that was it though.

“Thalia, I’m sorry, okay? I really am. I acted like a jerk out on the lake. I was curious.”

I brought my gaze from looking out of the window to Liam. “Curious?”

“I’ve never known my brother to act with anyone the way he is with you. I wanted to see how he’d react if he thought you were in danger of falling into the water. He wanted to kill me when we pulled up at the dock. He doesn’t even react like that around Mia.” Liam looked jealous.

What did I say to that? I couldn’t exactly deny it, because it was true, at least the worry about me had been true. Ugh, I needed a distraction.

“Hey, why don’t we go fishing? I haven’t done that for a long time. It’ll be fun.”

“I don’t fish!”

Well that said it all, and he was sulking.

My temper was close to the surface with his attitude. “Liam, stop acting like a two year old and grow up. If you didn’t want me to come here, just say and I’ll catch the next flight to Texas.” I turned back to stare through the window.

He pulled up outside the house and turned the engine off, climbed out and ran around to open my door. He took my hand and pulled me out, keeping my hand in his.

“Okay, let’s call a truce. I want you here I just wasn’t expecting this thing between you and Jack.”

I let out a sigh. “There isn’t a ‘thing’ between me and Jack. He’s getting married remember. Can we leave that alone and go and do something where we aren’t going to get into an argument.”

“Yeah. What do you want to do?” He turned and started to walk up the porch steps with me trailing behind him.

“What about walking to the river?” I sighed in relief as we entered the air-con***ioned house. “We could take a picnic.”

Perhaps if I made an effort we would hopefully get the kind of friendship back that we had before we arrived at his family’s home.

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“Oh, you’re back. I wasn’t expecting to see you both until dinner,” Stephanie commented walking out from the kitchen.

“Yeah, Thalia doesn’t like the water.”

I smiled, but felt like punching him. Stephanie glanced at me, as though it was unheard of.

Changing the subject, I said, “We thought we’d go on a picnic by the river.”

“Make sure you wear bug repellant, Liam. You don’t want to get bitten again.”

I hid a grin and turned to Liam, “Do you mind if I go upstairs for ten minutes, I need to return Callie’s call?”

“No,” he replied.

“Thalia, please don’t feel like you have to ask. While you’re here, please treat this as your home,” Stephanie informed me, which took me by surprise.

“Oh, okay. Thank you.”

With that out of the way, I turned and headed up the stairs.

“Wait up,” Liam shouted, and then he looked to his mom. “We’ll see you later.”

As I was entering my bedroom, Liam caught my hand and tugged on it to get my attention. “Give me an hour and we’ll go and raid the kitchen to have our picnic, okay?”

“Okay.”

“It’s a peace offering. I was a bastard earlier and I’m sorry. We need to have some fun.” My eyes widened and he burst out laughing. “Go rest.”

I opened my door and walked through turning around to look at him. “I’ll accept, providing you don’t chuck me in the river.” He chuckled and walked off to his room shaking his head.

With my door shut, I dropped my purse on the floor, retrieved my phone from my back pocket and then made a dive on to the bed, sprawling out on my stomach while I dialed Callie.

She answered on the second ring. “Hey girlfriend,” I said in response to her distracted ‘yeah’.

When she realized it was me, she screamed and dropped her phone.

“Thalia, you still there?”

“I sure am.”

“How’s it going with Liam?”

“Not too bad, although he was an ass out on the lake, earlier.”

She sighed down the phone. “You can’t swim”

“Yeah, I know. It was pretty scary, especially when Liam rocked the boat.” I inhaled and let my breath out slowly, knowing when I mentioned, Jack, I’d get bombarded with questions. “His brother, Jack, pulled me out and looked ready to murder Liam. I left them to it and ran off to cry.”

“That bastard, he made you cry – hang on – Jack – who’s Jack?”

I smiled thinking about Jack. “He’s Liam’s brother and so damn hot.”

“Please tell me you aren’t getting up to no good with his brother?”

“It depends what you call ‘any good’.” She stayed silent. “He came after me and held me in his arms. He felt good – hard and solid against me – he’s getting married.”

“Oh ****!”

“Lovely language, for a lady.”

Callie snorted in response.

“He’s lonely Callie. Even though he’s always done what his parents wanted him to do, even, if I’m not mistaken, marry this woman; they still treat him like ****. The fact that he’s good looking, doesn’t help my attraction to him.”

“You are in trouble. Perhaps, I should visit. To check him out.”

“No, you won’t.”

****. She started to laugh – rather loudly. “You’re in way over your head. What does Liam have to say about all this?”

I sighed. “I can’t figure him out. He said he wants me to ‘pretend’ to be his girlfriend and that he knows we aren’t going anywhere. He just wants to be friends, which is more than fine with me. He also said that Jack will get married, no matter what. Basically, he warned me away from his brother.”

“How does he know you have the hot’s for Jack and how old is he?”

“Apparently, Jack has never acted with anyone the way he does with me. The episode on the lake was to prove to me that Jack would come to my rescue, and he did... Oh, and he’s twenty-five.”

“What are you going to do? It sounds like he has the hots for you as well.”

“Oh Callie, he pulls at me. When I see him all I want to do is hold him. Wrap him up in my arms and never let go.” I laughed, embarrassed. “I only met him less than twenty-four hours ago and can’t get him out of my head.”

“Thalia, he’ll break your heart. Promise me, you’ll stay away from him, no matter how hard it is. Make sure Liam is always with you around the house so you don’t get caught on your own with him.”

I didn’t think it wise telling her I was sharing a bathroom with him.

“Anyway, enough about me. How’s Texas?” She giggled. I moved the phone away from my ear and looked at it, thinking I’d heard wrong. She never giggled. “Did you just giggle at me?”

“Maybe.”

“Callie.”

“We have a new ranch hand – he’s hot. He’s a ***y cowboy, Thalia….”

****. “That is so not fair – I bet Jack would look hot in denim, boots, and open shirt.” I could dream and probably would.

“Oh my God. I’ve got to go so you behave and NO Jack. Love you, Thalia.” She hung up.

I rolled over and lay on my back, resting my hand with my cell on my chest. I needed to do what Callie said, and stay away from Jack, but something told me, that wouldn’t be all that easy.

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Chapter 19

Jack

“What’s this about you having a boner for your brother’s girl?” Donovan asked walking towards us, which stopped me dead. I looked towards Reece who looked just as stunned, then back to Donovan.

“What the ****!”

He grinned. “Reece sent me a text, saying you wanted to **** your brother’s girl.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. I never said that. I’ll show you the text if you want. What I said was ‘you were screwed up over your brother’s girl’.”

“You’re like a bunch of ****ing women. ****.” I ran my hands through my hair, and then shoved them into my back pockets. “Look, can we leave this alone. I’m going to avoid her from now on. Let’s just go and eat.” I walked off towards the café and pushed through the door with Donovan and Reece following while I tried not to laugh at them.

We took a seat in our usual place, ordering our food from Mary who’d worked there since we were young boys running circles around her.

“Ryder rang me earlier.” We both looked at Donovan.

“And,” we said at the same time.

He didn’t give anything away then all of a sudden he started to smile. “We still have a standing Saturday night date and maybe Wednesday as well. He wants us to do next Wednesday and see how it goes.”

Both Reece and I just stared at him. That was what we’d hoped, but I was stunned that he’d given it to us. I loved music. All types of music. I didn’t think I could stop for anyone, and didn’t see the reason why I should. God, help me when I had to tell Mia. She’d be pissed as hell.

“Hey, isn’t that Liam. Oh, and a babe,” Donovan announced.

My head whipped up. I took a breath and looked out of the window and there they were, walking across the road heading in our direction. ****.

“So much for staying away.” Donovan chuckled.

They walked into the café with Thalia having a good look around. I waited until her eyes met mine. She froze. I couldn’t take my eyes from her.

“Well, we know it isn’t just you. When you both finally get naked, you better make sure it’s in water, otherwise you’re likely to set the place on fire,” Donovan blurted while I held Thalia’s gaze.

She started walking towards us, leaving Liam talking to Mary. Standing to the side of our table, I noticed she’d started to blush.

Reece elbowed me in the side. “As Jack’s lost his manners, I’m Reece.” He held his hand out to her. Instead of shaking it, he kissed her palm.

“I’m Thalia. It’s nice to meet you, Reece.”

“I’m Donovan, take a seat.” She did, beside him.

“Nice to meet you too, Donovan.”

Reece sitting back in his seat, just stared at her with a smile on his face, the smile he used on the ladies. I kicked him under the table, which turned his smile into a scowl.

“So, Thalia, Jack’s been telling us about you. He kind of left out what a babe you are.”

Thanks Donovan.

She laughed. “Well thanks – I think.” She passed a quick glance at me then focused her attention back to Donovan.

“Oh definitely,” he replied.

She chuckled.

My heart thumped. “What’s Liam up to?” I practically growled at her. I was acting like a jealous idiot.

“He’s getting some food together for a picnic by the river at your house. There wasn’t really any picnic food in the kitchen.”

I wished I’d never asked.

“Thalia, you ready?”

She gave Liam a quizzical look. Probably wondering why he was ignoring everyone, me included.

“Ah, I guess.” She stood. “I hope to see you all again.”

“You sure will little darlin’.”

Liam moved in and put his arm around her shoulders. She quickly glanced to me. “I’ll see you later, Jack.”

“Yeah.”

Liam scowled at me then pulled Thalia towards the door, without a backward glance, from Liam that was, Thalia looked back at me from the car.

“That girl wants you. What you going to do about it?” Donovan asked.

“If you knew she wanted me, what was ‘you sure will little darlin’?”

He grinned at me. “Someone’s jealous.”

“Okay, that’s enough.” They knew I was serious. “It doesn’t matter. I need to leave. I’ll meet you both at the river.” I stood and walked out of there, climbed into my car and drove to the river, knowing they’d leave me alone for an hour to get my head together.

I’d known Thalia, not twenty-four hours and already she’d gotten into my head. I couldn’t get her out, and out she needed to be in order for me to carry on with the life everyone had planned out for me. For the first time in twelve months, I’d started to look at my life and I didn’t like what I saw.

I’d stayed true to Mia in the twelve months we’d been together. So, basically I hadn’t been with anyone in that time. Something had died in me, when I was told to marry Mia or lose everything. I wish I’d walked away then, but I hadn’t. Thalia came along, and all my desires had risen – literally.

Chapter 20

Thalia

Before yesterday I’d already been having trouble keeping him out of my head, but after being held tight in his arms, he was even more difficult to get out. I sighed – Jack, the object of my obsession.

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Every time I shut my eyes, I saw him. The image I had since yesterday was the one of him watching me leave the café with his brother, to head towards the river. He’d never taken his eyes from me. And yeah, Liam noticed and did nothing but mumble all the way back to his house.

I’d also noticed Liam’s reaction in the café to Jack and his friends. His excuse when I’d asked him about it had been that they were a bad influence on Jack and he wished Jack had never become friends with them. He’d sounded jealous if truth-be-told.

Donovan had been full of life and energy. Everything about him hummed with excitement from the way his blue eyes danced over my features to the broad shoulders that tensed beneath his tight, black t-shirt. His taut abs were perfectly silhouetted by the cool cotton shirt and I wasn’t the only woman in the room stealing glances at him.

He was definitely someone worth getting to know, but it wasn’t just his amazing physique or the way his black hair fell over his eyes casting shadows over his chiseled cheekbones and plush lips; it was the deep voice that sent shivers down my back. He had spent most of the time flirting with everyone: me, the waitress, the cute girl sitting at the table beside them. There was no doubt that Donovan had gathered plenty of admirers and broken a few hearts.

Jack’s other friend, Reece, was as interesting as Donovan, but he looked like a player – a panty wetting bad boy. His crooked grin had spoken volumes as he’d sat back and watched me. I fought the urge to shift as I’d stood there with Reece’s blue gaze smoldering a trail down my body – his smile growing before it became a scowl. A slight movement from Jack made me wonder if he’d kicked Reece.

As Reece took me in, I did the same to him. At first glance, he seemed dangerous, but as I looked closer, there seemed to be a sadness in his eyes. His straight nose was set perfectly over straight white teeth and his high cheekbones would be the envy of anyone. The deep blue bandanna wrapped around this baldhead, was enticing me to stroke his silky smooth skin, but I resisted.

He was also dressed in a tight t-shirt and the dark cotton clung to his sculpted abs and chest. A few tattoos had peeked out of the short sleeves of his shirt, which made me wonder what else covered his body.

They were gorgeous. All three of them looked like they’d stepped out of some woman’s fantasy and by the looks from the women in the cafe, I was positive that I wasn’t the only one who thought so. But it had been Jack who had drawn my gaze back to him again and again. Jack that had my mouth go dry as I tried to ignore the thrum of anticipation. The other two may have been nice eye candy, but it was Jack that I ached to touch.

Needing a distraction, I’d gone along with Liam’s peace offering and let him lead me to the river for the picnic, which we’d planned, but I’d felt like our conversation was strained. In the end I couldn’t wait to get back to the house so I could hide in my room for a while.

I’d lounged on my bed thinking of Jack. To me, Jack seemed like a decent guy, more so than his idiot brother. I was starting to have second thoughts about acting as Liam’s girlfriend.

Since we’d arrived he’d been acting all ****y when we were around others, apart from his parents, then he would be the ‘well behaved’ son. Seeing those two sides of him bothered me more than I wanted to think about. It had only been a day so hopefully he’d calmed down a bit; at least I hoped he had.

I was sitting on the back porch with my first coffee of the day watching the sunrise. It was so quiet at this time, and it probably would be for another couple of hours.

Callie and I would sit on the porch at her house to watch the morning arrive. It truly was the most beautiful time of day. Back in Texas we'd go back to bed for a few hours afterwards, but I didn't think I'd be able to sleep with my thoughts so full of Jack.

"Thalia."

Jack made me jump when he said my name; I met his gaze. I was so in trouble. He looked as though he'd just climbed out of the shower with his hair still damp. His jeans were only half fastened and the long sleeved t-shirt he had on fitted him like a glove in a pale green color. He was...wow.

Finally, I found my tongue. "I didn't know anyone else would be up yet." I hoped I wasn't blushing.

"Couldn't sleep," he grumbled.

He took a gulp of his coffee then walked towards me, looking damn hot. "Move over."

I should go to my room, I chided myself but instead, I moved over so he could sit beside me on the small porch swing. Once he was sitting, there wasn't an inch between our thighs.

It took all my will power not to squirm to try and ease the ache between my legs. My breasts felt swollen and ached for his touch. Jack was so close, all I had to do was lean over slightly and they'd be against his arm. I ignored him and carried on watching the sun.

"Thalia, please look at me."

"I can't," I whispered, shaking my head.

He sighed and put his coffee on the floor then stood moving to sit on the coffee table in front of me. "This thing between us isn't going to just disappear."

"There isn't anything between us," I quickly replied, my gaze darting away from his face as I tried to avoid looking at him.

He reached out and took hold of my hand. I felt like I'd been hit with a bolt of electricity and my gaze flew back to his face; my eyes widened in shock.

I couldn’t hide my reaction.

"Tell me now there isn't anything between us."

Holding his gaze I didn’t want to move, but I knew I couldn't stay out here with him. Standing up, he stood with me. "I need to go. This is wrong. I shouldn't feel like this when I'm with you. We only met forty-eight hours ago."

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I turned to leave, but he grasped my arm, his fingers digging into my skin, but it didn’t hurt.

"Don't go. Please, just sit out here with me."

How could I resist him? Could we get away with sitting out here together without anyone catching us?

"I feel it too, Thalia. I know what my future holds, but for once, I want something for me that doesn't involve my family. I want something that’s just for me, and what I want right now is to be with you."

I melted. There were no other words for what he did to me.

Sitting back on the swing, he sat with me and slid his arm around my shoulders causing shivers to run through me.

If this was the only chance I would ever have of being close to this guy, I was going to enjoy it. Give myself a memory I could cherish forever.

Before I could change my mind, I leaned in and snuggled into him, sliding my hand over his stomach, which quivered and let it rest on his chest. After a brief pause, he wrapped his other arm around me and held me tight, as I curled my feet under me.

I sighed and closed my eyes. Heaven.

Chapter 21

Jack

Holding her tight, I used my other hand and laced my fingers with Thalia’s on my chest as we both snuggled on the porch swing. She felt real good against me, as though she’d been made for me. Like she’d said, we’d only met less than two days ago, but I felt like I’d known her for a lot longer.

With everyone else, I managed to keep them at a distance, apart from Reece and Donovan, but from the get go, with Thalia, I’d been different.

My days during the summer were spent as a run-around at my dad’s law firm. The same law firm my dad expected me to become a partner in, once I graduated. It was so not going to happen, because my interest lay in criminal law and the justice system – a lot more going on. Family law would bore the **** out of me within a week. My ambition was the reason I’d been thrown together with Mia. Actually, blackmailed would be a more apt description.

Every time I thought about the wedding, I broke out in a sweat. I kept telling myself that we could marry, live separately and then once I’d graduated we could divorce, but I didn’t think it was going to work out like that.

The biggest hurdle was my family. At the end of the day they were family and you only got the one. Did I have the balls to stand up to them once and for all by cancelling the wedding? Would my father really hold my tuition fees back if I did?

With a heavy sigh, I looked at Thalia who was watching me silently.

“Why do you look so sad?”

“Just thinking,” I replied, bringing our joined hands to my lips where I placed a kiss on her knuckles and wrist.

“Jack, you need to stop,” she said, shivering.

With my eyes closed, I took a deep breath. When I opened them again her eyes were still focused on mine. “I know. I forget about everything when you look at me.” I let go of her hand and brushed some hair from her face, which had fallen loose from her ponytail.

“Tell me about Jack; about growing up here.”

I laughed. “You sure you want to know, you might not like me afterwards.”

“How I feel won’t change with the telling of your past. I promise.” She said then kissed my stomach. Any lower and she’d have discovered just how much I didn’t want to talk.

“I had a fairly normal childhood. Constantly getting in trouble for not doing chores, forgetting I was supposed to be keeping an eye on Liam, kissing girls in the barn, you know that kind of thing.”

I could feel her laughing against my stomach.

“I can believe all that. What else?”

No one had ever asked about my past before, not even in college.

“I love being outdoors and take every opportunity to be out in the fields, or fishing with one of the guys. I still find enjoyment from being out on my bike, even though I seem to use that to let out my frustration these days. I love using the tractor on the field and the love of my life to date is my horse, Trigger.”

“Trigger?”

Smiling at the memory, I continued, “Yeah, when I was a kid I used to watch these black and white movies with my granddad about the Lone Ranger and his horse Trigger. My grandfather died two days before Trigger was born so…”

“So you named the horse in your grandfather’s memory. That was a lovely thing to do, Jack.”

“Yeah.” I felt all choked up. Coughing and sitting further up in the chair I unsettled Thalia. She pulled away, sitting upright, avoiding eye contact with me. Was she embarrassed after being cuddled up next to me?

Reaching out, I took hold of her chin, bringing her face back around to mine. “Don’t be shy with me, not me.”

Smoothing my thumb around her chin and lower lip she inhaled and stuck her tongue out, licking the tip of my thumb.

I couldn’t do this to her. Yes, I wanted her more than anyone or anything I’d ever wanted, but I couldn’t carry on like I was with her while I still had a fiancée and wedding hanging over my head, it wouldn’t be fair. ****, I was also forgetting that she was supposed to be Liam’s girl.

Her eyes fell when I moved away. “I can’t cross this line with you while I still have everything going on in my life, plus you’re my brother’s girl. Goddamn, I shouldn’t have even been holding you out here. I forgot all about Liam.”

“So did I,” she whispered.

“I’m not going to be around much. I need to keep my distance from you, because if I don’t, we’re both going to get hurt.”

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****, she looked upset.

“You’re right, Jack. I better go inside and get dressed.”

We both stood so I took her hand back into mine and squeezed, not wanting to let go. I didn’t release her hand until she disappeared inside.

Sitting down abruptly, I buried my face in my hands wanting to go after her. I wanted to keep her for myself.

I’d never been jealous of Liam before, even when I was taking everything that Mom and Dad threw at me to save him, I’d never been jealous of him…until now.

Yeah, Thalia had made me want something I never thought I’d have, but no matter what happened with her, I needed to talk to Mia to try and put a stop to everything. I should have done this a long time ago before everything started to get out of hand. I sure as hell wasn’t looking forward to it though. Mia could be rather dramatic when the occasion called for it, but, the fact was, I didn’t think the marriage was what Mia really wanted either.

Until everything was sorted, and maybe after for a short while, I would bunk with Donovan, because there was no way I could be so close to Thalia without searching her out.

Chapter 22

Thalia

“Will you stop,” Liam practically shouted beside me sounding frustrated.

“Stop what?”

“You know damn well what. For the past two weeks since Jack moved in with Donovan, we can’t go anywhere without you looking around for him. We’ve been out to dinner a few times and you looked for him. Whenever we’ve been shopping, you looked for him. Thalia, it has to stop. Jack is marrying Mia in about four week’s time. Hell!”

He stomped off into the coffee shop while I perched on the window ledge outside, not having a clue how to reply to his outburst. What he said was true though. I wished that I could deny what he’d said, but I couldn’t. I’d missed Jack these past couple of weeks, since our early morning together on the porch.

I knew he was staying away from me because of his engagement and because he thought I was Liam’s girl. Part of me wished that I’d corrected him, but that wouldn’t have solved the engagement issue. It made me so jealous, thinking about Jack with Mia and what they were getting up to.

Liam had kept me busy by showing me the tourist things and the different towns we’d driven through had been great and helped to pass the time. He’d been good company and had stopped being a jerk after the first couple of days, much to my relief.

“Here.” Liam thrust my vanilla latte at me, apparently still in a huff.

“Look, I’m sorry okay. I didn’t know what I was doing until you pointed it out. I’ll stop doing it, if you’ll stop sulking.” I looked at him and watched a smile appear.

“I’ve stopped sulking, but I don’t think it will be as easy for you to stop looking for my brother.”

I frowned. Realistically I didn’t either.

“Thalia, I’m only thinking about you. You know that right? Yeah, I got pissed because when you’re with me, a guy, you can’t stop looking for him.”

“Liam…”

“I know there’s nothing happening between us like that, but it’s still hard on the male ego you know.”

He was so serious that I burst out laughing and, thank God, so did Liam.

He walked over sitting down beside me, nudging me with his shoulder. “I know he moved out because of you.”

I quickly met his eyes.

“He didn’t say anything. In fact, it was in passing. He just said he needed space before he did something he shouldn’t and I got the feeling he was referring to you.”

“I can’t explain my attraction to him. It’s more than lust.” I let out a sigh.

He choked. “I’d rather not know any details.”

“I feel drawn to him – a connection. Oh God, I sound like an idiot, right?”

“No. No you don’t. Just be careful, okay,” he answered.

“I will. Thank you for caring.”

“Come on, let’s walk to the lake, it’s not far from here.”

Liam took hold of my hand and pulled me up from the ledge. We quickly crossed the road and were walking down the sidewalk when Mia came barreling out from a boutique with another girl.

“Liam and, oh you,” Mia said as though I was an insect on the floor.

“Yes me,” I replied and felt Liam tighten his hold on my hand.

Obviously remembering her manners, she turned to her friend. “Rebecca, this is Liam’s little friend, Thalia. Thalia, this is my best friend, Rebecca.”

I wanted to scream. The bitch had the guy that I couldn’t get out of my head and she was also one of the rudest people I’d ever met.

“Thalia, that’s me. If you’ll excuse us, we were just about to go and find a secluded spot in the forest to make out.”

With that comment, I dragged Liam in the direction we were already heading, leaving Mia and Rebecca on the sidewalk in shock. I grinned, because that had felt damn good.

Liam had a frown on his face when I glanced at him. “That was a good one. I can’t remember the last time someone spoke to Mia like that,” he said, grinning.

“It felt good. You’re going to have to carry on leading the way though, because I have no clue where we’re going.”

“Head through the gap in the trees up ahead.”

Once we started walking through the forest I let go of the death grip I had on Liam. “Sorry.”

“I’m fine, but you do realize that she’s going to go and tell Jack what you said about making out in here.”

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Crap. I hadn’t given much thought to anything getting back to Jack. I chewed my lip wondering how he would react if he thought I’d been making out with his brother. I mean my thoughts had been running rampant these past couple of weeks imagining him with ‘her’. Perhaps he’d crack and come see me. I could dream.

Chapter 23

Jack

It had been two weeks and ten hours since I’d been sitting on the porch with Thalia in my arms, and I’d missed her like crazy, which was totally insane considering I’d only known her for a short time.

After she’d gone upstairs to dress, I’d hurried to my room and packed a bag. On my way out, I’d bumped into Liam and when I told him I was bunking with Donovan for a while, he’d shaken his head. He’d known the reason I was leaving, although it stayed unspoken between us.

I’d thrown myself into work, which had given me headache after headache thanks to the couple who wanted a divorce one day and to live happily ever after the next. Then back to square one the following day. They had basically driven me crazy and my dad had told them not to enter his practice again until they were one hundred percent certain it was what they wanted.

Donovan, Reece and our music had prevented me from going completely mad. Ryder had decided that we made the most money for him so he’d keep us for Wednesday and Saturday evenings, which suited us fine.

A couple of days after I’d moved in with Donovan, Mia had come paying me a visit, wanting to know what was going on. Mia had looked – odd – and I still couldn’t put my finger on what had been wrong with her.

It was nearly four weeks to the wedding and it was creeping closer and closer to d-day. I needed to put a stop to it once and for all, but yeah, I kept putting it off.

Donovan had said I could stay with him for as long as I wanted too, so at least accommodation wasn’t a problem. If I was honest no matter how much I hated them occasionally, I didn’t want to lose my family. My mom wouldn’t be too bad, but my dad would be pissed to hell and back and I wasn’t too sure he’d come round, and carry on paying my tuition.

“I’ve been sitting in front of you now for about five minutes and not once have you acknowledged me.”

I blinked in surprise, ran my hands through my hair and looked at Donovan. “My life is so ****ing screwed up. Have you got any idea how bad Mia is going to react when I tell her the charade is over and the wedding is off? She’s going to be so pissed. I just pray my dad doesn’t react the way he said he would if I don’t go through with it.”

Sitting back I looked out into the forest, spotting a squirrel, which I watched for a short time, munching on some berries.

“Do you want some advice?” Donovan broke the silence.

“Do I get a choice?”

“Wear body armor,” Donovan suggested as we heard a car pull up outside the cabin.

Neither of us moved, but hearing the beep from the lock engaging I knew it was Mia and by the look Donovan threw at me, so did he. She was the only one I knew who locked her car.

“I’m inside if you need me. Get it over with before it’s too late.” With that he disappeared through the door.

“Jack, what the hell are you doing living in this dump?” she asked marching up the steps.

Why she always insisted on calling Donovan’s home a dump, I had no idea because it was always spotless. His parents had been killed in a car accident two years ago, and for some reason Donovan always had to keep the place neat as a pin, like his mom used to keep it.

“Nice to see you too.” I tried to ignore her, but no such luck. She was standing with her back against the porch railing, after testing it to make sure it was secure.

Yeah, I hid a smile.

“We need to talk about the wedding and the fact that I don’t want, you know who, standing for you.”

I gulped the rest of my beer down and slowly put the empty bottle on the floor at my feet while I watched her. “I need to talk to you about the wedding.”

“I’m waiting.”

Sighing, I asked, “Do you love me, Mia?”

She opened her mouth to reply then shut it again. “What kind of question is that?” she finally asked, standing up and flickering her keys in agitation.

“A simple yes or no will do.”

“Well, do you love me?” she asked me with one of her come-hither looks, which I seemed to be immune to.

It was now or never. “No, I don’t.”

Her face fell as she fussed with her bag.

“You still haven’t answered me.”

“We’ll start to love each other. What does love matter? Now about your…friends.”

****.

“Let’s not discuss my friends; they are not open for discussion. They’re more than friends; they’re like family. Do you want to marry me?”

She hesitated. “Jack, stop asking stupid questions. Of course I want to marry you. You’re just being silly.”

Sitting up, I rested my elbows on my knees and stared at her. “I can’t marry you Mia.” I’d said it, now to face the music.

“Yes well, we both know the wedding will be going ahead, so I suggest you get any fantasies you are having out of your head, because this wedding will take place in four weeks. Now as you’re unwilling to co-operate about guests, mainly the two you want to be part of the wedding party, I’ll leave you alone to do whatever it is you do up here,” she said without missing a beat, leaving me stunned on the porch.