Burnout (Jack 'Em Up Book 0) (9 page)

Slowly, she approached, tentative and a bit shy in her movement. “Blake . . .”

I spun away and marched to the open bay door, letting the breeze cool me. Suddenly, her hand was on my shoulder. “Blake.”

Next thing I knew, she was in front of me, her body pressed up against mine as her fingers weaved through my hair. She guided my head down until our lips met the way I’d been dreaming of since that night on the beach.

I traced the seam of her lips with my tongue and she timidly let hers dip out to meet mine. I groaned and yanked her closer, as close as I could get her. Sensation rocketed through my body like a firecracker. I deepened the kiss as far as I could, feeling drunk and hoping she was feeling a fraction of the same thing. I wasn’t sure I could handle it if she let go now.

If she left me now.

She could crumble every one of the walls I’d built in the blink of an eye if she killed this thing between us, and as much as I wanted to hate that, I couldn’t. I found myself praying she’d see me, the real me, and care. That she wouldn’t break me.

With a ragged breath, she drew back and pressed her forehead into my chest. “What if I want to go further?”

I kissed the crown of her head, not sure what to say to that.

She lifted her head and peered into my eyes. “I know you think you’re some kind of loser, or unworthy, but you can’t hide from me.”

I blinked. “Dee—”

A quick, fierce kiss shushed me. “No. You’re not trouble. At least not the way you mean. You’re sweet and funny and smart. You might fool other people with your tough guy act, but you’re not fooling me.”

“What do you want, Delilah?”

“To have fun. To laugh. To live a little.” Her sweetness was killing me. “To be with you.”

I was afraid to hope. I nearly couldn’t, but some small, nearly dead part of me that used to know love, surged forward and clung to her words. But I had to ask, “And if you figure out everyone is right about me and my family?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

I shrugged. The Sheriff didn’t intimidate me. I’d seen too much.

Her hands on my shoulders moved to play with the hair at my nape. “Well, then I’m not worried about that either. I won’t judge you based on your family. I’ll judge you by how you treat me. Deal?”

That kernel of hope started to sprout. “Deal.”

She leaned up and kissed me again then drew back to grin at me. “So . . . you gonna show me how to fix a bumper?”

I found myself nervous as Delilah and I pulled up in front of Jesse’s house for the annual Joyner Christmas party. Maybe it was because she’d driven us in her Beamer, clearly illustrating the difference between us. Or maybe it was because this was going to be a declaration of ‘us.’ She may not realize it, but that’s exactly what we were doing. Heck, maybe we had been all this past week at school, but this was different. The Joyners were like my second family. Jesse’s parents were awesome, even his little sister, Leta, and older brother, Dwayne, were cool. It was the life I could only wish for after my mom died, and they knew me as well as anybody. They would see the writing on the wall when I showed up at their home with a girl. Something I’d never done before.

Delilah parked behind several other cars lining the curb and glanced over at me. “You okay? You sure it’s all right I came with you?”

She’d read my thoughts. But it was too late to back out now. I’d stepped forward in faith and I wouldn’t go back now. I squeezed her thigh. “It’s fine. We’ll have fun.” I studied her fidgety hands. “Hey, it’ll be great. Even if Rachel decided not to come, you’ll be good with me. I swear.”

Her tense shoulders loosened up a smidge. “Okay.” She grabbed her purse from the backseat and jumped out. I was left with no option but to follow. I loped to catch up with her and grabbed her hand, lacing our fingers.

I knocked and Dwayne Joyner answered, freshly shaved and bigger than I remembered. College obviously agreed with him. “Hey!” He smiled broadly at me, his gaze drifting to Delilah with obvious interest. “Merry Christmas!”

I shook his hand after he closed the door behind us. “Merry Christmas. Dwayne, this is Delilah Jackson. Dee, this is Jesse’s older brother, Dwayne.”

“Blake!” Leta skidded to a stop in front of us, a tray of Christmas cookies in her hand.

“Hey, squirt.”

Her eyes raked over Dee with a smile. “Hi, Delilah.”

“Hello,” Delilah answered, her hand unconsciously squeezing mine tighter.

I rubbed her knuckle with my thumb, trying to reassure her. “You know each other?”

Leta laughed. “Not really. But who doesn’t know who Delilah Jackson is?” She faced Delilah again. “Glad you could come.”

We made our way to the dining area, Delilah’s hand still firmly grasped in mine, as Dwayne and I talked about his classes at UT. He was studying Criminal Justice and wanted to be a cop. It suited him, too. His sense of justice and honor, his uncanny way of shooting it straight.

Mr. Joyner was hovering over the dining table, carving a big ham, and Mrs. Joyner was puttering around the kitchen, where heavenly smells were drifting out.

“Hey, Blake,” Jesse’s dad said. His eyes tracked to Delilah much like the rest of his family. “Hello.”

Delilah smiled as I introduced her.

“Nice to meet you, young lady,” Mr. Joyner said, before turning his attention back to me. “So, Jesse tells me you’ve decided on the Marines?”

I nodded, realizing that dream was quickly being replaced by dreams of Delilah Jackson.

“That’s great, son. I was a Navy man myself.” He glanced up. “It’s an honorable choice you’re making.”

I swallowed, wondering what my future would be now. Was she going to be a part of it? “Thank you, sir.”

Finally, Jesse came trotting in from the kitchen, his hands full of trays of steaming food. “Hey, dude. Hi, Delilah.” He, unlike the rest, didn’t look at all surprised to see her.

She brushed closer to me, her sweet scent mixing with the food pleasantly, making me want to consume her, too.

A few more people straggled in over the next hour. An aunt and uncle. A handful of cousins, and a few more friends, including Trace. It was contentedly crowded and I felt Delilah relaxing next to me as we ate, even laughing with Mrs. Joyner and Leta.

Dwayne plopped down next to us on the couch after the meal. “So, are you two—?”

Delilah tensed beside me and I would’ve given anything to know what she was thinking. I sure didn’t bring her here to make her uncomfortable. I opened my mouth to tell Dwayne it was none of his business, but she spoke up first.

“We’re dating.”

I shot her a look. She smiled.

“Exclusively?” Dwayne continued to pry, obviously thinking of all the girls in my past who I’d been less than faithful to. But, hey, it was always casual. And I never felt a thing like I did with her.

I continued to stare at her and she seemed to be waiting for me to answer. I raised my brows, letting her know this one was in her court. I had to be okay with whatever she wanted.

She slipped her little hand back into mine. “Yes.”

Dwayne hooted in amusement, but I tuned him out. Emotion flooded me like warm honey, bathing me from the inside out. This beautiful girl was mine? That was what she’d said, right?

She giggled, as if sensing my shock.

Dwayne jumped up and followed the herd back to the dining room when dessert was announced, leaving us alone.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked, finding my voice.

She bit her bottom lip. “Did you want me to say no?”

“No!” I breathed deep, not wanting to come across overly anxious. I softened my tone, “No. Of course not. I just wasn’t sure . . . I thought—”

“You thought I didn’t mean what I said in the shop? You thought I’d run just because of where you come from? Hide my feelings for you?”

“Feelings?” I echoed. “How could you possibly—?”

“Shut. Up.” Then she shut my mouth with a kiss, breathing life into me, making me think for once, I might be worthy.

Delilah

I
wasn’t sure what it was about Blake, but he brought out a million feelings in me that I had no name for and had never experienced before. Somehow, in a couple short weeks, he’d become something more to me than a boy I flirted with or the hellion of Baybridge. So much more. He was all I thought about, all I dreamed of, all I wanted.

And nothing scared me more.

I was afraid he could shatter me; make the “perfect” Sheriff’s daughter a quivering mess, spotlighting all of my deficiencies. The thing was, with Blake, I did feel perfect. As if I could see myself through his eyes.

Tonight had also been perfect, once I got over my nerves. He took me into his world with his friends at Jesse’s Christmas party. They were all wonderful. His mom reminded me a bit of June Cleaver, and his dad was kinda like what I pictured Santa Claus being like in his younger years. He’d asked Blake about his plans to join the Marines and something solid thunked in my chest. I’d just found him . . . I hated the thought of him leaving me. But I brushed it off—it was too early to think about stuff like that—and focused on the fabulous Joyner family and their party.

Jesse’s older brother, Dwayne, had teased Blake relentlessly, but it was in a good-natured way, like they’d done it for years. And he was the one who put us on the spot to name our relationship.

I could’ve backed away, or played it off. Even let Blake take the lead. But as he looked into my eyes, I knew, just knew, that if I didn’t dive in right then, he would forever be the boy who just flirted, feeling unworthy. And I wanted so much more. For both of us.

Though I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

He reached across the console of my car as I drove us away from the party and rested his palm on my upper thigh. I glanced over and he was staring at me, his expression hidden by the darkness. Something sparked and flared between us, and it felt . . . right.

I let go of the wheel with my right hand and rested it on top of his, loosely twining our fingers. His heated flesh and callouses sent a surge of awareness through me. “What are you thinking?”

His fingers gently rubbed my leg through my jeans. “Nothing.”

A smile burst free. “Liar.”

“You probably don’t wanna know.” His deep, low answer made me tremble. There were a thousand possibilities. Either he was still worrying about our differences or he was saying . . . as he flipped his hand over to cup mine palm-to-palm, I knew. He wanted me like I wanted him.

“So, what you said to Dwayne . . . does that mean . . . what? You’re my girlfriend?” Uncertainty was painted all over his voice. “Or were you just being nice?”

I kept my eyes pinned to the road. “I wasn’t being nice.”

Silence. I finally glanced over. “I
wasn’t
.”

“No?”

My heart drummed a fierce beat behind my ribs. Did he want me or not? I shook my head, unable to speak.

He was quiet a moment as I passed the farmer’s market down the street from school. “Pull over,” he finally said, his voice deep. Gravelly.

“What?” I shot him a look.

“Pull over,” he repeated.

“Okay.” I flipped on my signal and made my way into the empty high school parking area. I parked in a darkened spot, away from the bright lights interspersed in the lot.