Home To You (25 page)

She stared at the envelope—her name printed with broad, slashing strokes that cut her to ribbons before she even opened it. She kept her hands tightly wrapped around the now-cool coffee cup to keep from reaching for it. If she opened it, it would be real, undeniable. There would be no question, no hope, no dreams. Everything would be final.

When her dad shifted in his seat and broke Kendall’s stare, she realized she had no idea how long she’d been staring at that envelope. She tried to ignore it, but it was like a living, breathing thing, calling her. “Your mom told me what happened with David. I’d like to say I’m sorry, and I hate that he hurt you, but, baby girl, I never thought he was the right man for you.”

“Yeah, thanks for the heads-up. It seems as if everyone knew he wasn’t the one but me, and no one bothered to mention it.”

Her dad took a sip of his coffee and smiled. “One day you’ll see that the hardest part about being a parent is watching your children make their own mistakes. If I had said anything, you would have gotten your back up and done your best to prove me wrong. I was afraid you’d run to the nearest justice of the peace and marry the little bastard just to spite me.” He smiled at Erin. “She gets that from her mother. My Gracie is one hardheaded woman.”

Erin laughed. “I’m so not taking that bait. I know better—I’ve heard all the stories about you, Teddy Watkins.” She rose, returned the creamer to the refrigerator, and stuck in her head. “Kendall, there’s no food in here.”

“What did you expect? I’ve been gone for two weeks, remember? I just stopped to pick up cream for coffee. I thought I’d do the big shopping today.”

Her dad raised his eyebrows. “So, you’re planning to stay in Boston?”

Kendall couldn’t take her eyes off the envelope lying on the table. “Only long enough to give my landlord notice and pack my things. I want to move back to Harmony.”

Her father let out what seemed like a relieved breath.

“I need to find a place to live and at least a part-time job, and I’m going to look into getting a SBA loan. I want to open my own practice, even if I have to start part-time. Even if I get a full-time job, I can still have office hours at night and on weekends until I build up my patient list.”

“That’s great, Kendall. I’m glad you’re coming home. No offense to Boston, but I never felt like you belonged here.”

Kendall touched the envelope with the tip of her fingernail. “Neither did I.”

“Jax said you can stay at the cabin if you want while you’re looking for a place of your own. If you’re not interested, let me know, and I’ll go and clear out the rest of the food and winterize it.”

“He wants me to stay at the cabin?”

Her father nodded. “He mentioned that he probably wouldn’t be back until spring.”

She pictured Jack grabbing ahold of that tree branch
and swinging down from the roof. Her eyes filled again. “Yeah, he mentioned finishing the roof once the weather warmed up. I guess it’s not good to put shingles on in the cold.”

“No. No, it’s not. I’d forgotten he could swing a hammer; it’s been so long. He got into a fight with his uncles one summer, and they held his trust fund over his head, so he told them to stuff it and got a roofing job the next day. Jax always said he liked that job.” Her dad stood, put his coffee cup in the sink, and then stepped in front of her. “Well, I’d better get going. I have a lot of work to catch up on. Addie’s helped a lot while we were away, but there are some things I have to do myself. Besides, your mother is probably pacing the floor, waiting for a report. She wanted me to check to make sure you’re okay. Do me a favor and give her a call to tell her when you’ll be home.”

“Mom didn’t tell you to scare the crap out of me, did she, Daddy?”

“Um, no. And if she finds out I did, she’s going to give me such a rash. Why don’t we agree to keep that under our hats, and I won’t tell her that her youngest daughter went out and bought three large boxes of condoms. Deal?”

“Oh, my God, Jack did not tell you that, did he?”

“Baby girl, he didn’t need to. I saw the evidence myself. So, do we have a deal?”

She got up and hugged her father. “Yeah, we have a deal.”

Erin made herself scarce while Kendall walked her dad to the door.

He grabbed the doorknob and then stopped and gave her a long, hard look. “Kendall, I’ve known Jax all his life, and I’ve seen him go through a lot of tough times—the loss of his parents, having his Olympic dreams dashed.
He sat by Racquel’s bedside for days on end while she recovered from the accident, but I’ve never seen him look more lost and alone than he did yesterday.” He took a deep breath. “If he wasn’t sick as a dog, I would have kicked his ass, and, believe you me, I called him on the carpet. But he looked me square in the eye and told me that he loves you more than his own life. He said he told you, but you didn’t believe him, and he wanted to make sure that you knew.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because that’s the only thing he’s ever asked me to do for him.” Her dad shook his head. “He must know how stubborn you are and didn’t trust that you’d read the letter.”

“I’ll read it.” Eventually.

Erin stopped beside them at the door with her bag slung over her shoulder. “I’ll ride down with you, Teddy. I need to get home.” Kendall was pulled into another hug.

“Thanks for coming. I’ve missed you.”

“Remember what we talked about, and call me if you want help packing or want to chat. Anytime.”

“I will. Give Janie and Cam a kiss for me.”

Kendall watched them leave, then closed and locked the door behind them, knowing that her father waited on the other side to hear the dead bolt thrown and the slide of the chain. She grabbed the envelope on her way back to the couch, holding it close to her chest, tugged the blanket up over her head, and cried.

J
aime stumbled into his house and found Addie asleep in his favorite chair by the fire. Addie was using one of his jackets as a blanket and had pulled it up under her pointed chin. She’d kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet under her. He sat on the ottoman and watched her sleep. The seemingly permanent worry line above her brows had disappeared in slumber, and her perfectly shaped mouth was curved up in a sexy little
Mona Lisa
smile—the kind that made him wonder what dirty thoughts were going through her mind, or if it was just wishful thinking on his part. “Probably wishful thinking fueled by lust and tequila. Not the best combination.”

He and Jax swiped a bottle of tequila from the lake house—although technically it wasn’t stealing, since Jax owned the property. Still, if Grace had gotten wind of it, she wouldn’t have been too happy with either of them. Jaime had driven Jax around the lake to the cabin, and the two of them proceeded to put a pretty big dent in the bottle.

Jaime put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a shake. “Addison?”

Her smile got wider, but she didn’t wake up. Shit. He
took his jacket off and threw it over the hook on the wall. What the hell was he supposed to do with her? If she slept like that for much longer, she’d have a crick in her neck.

He knew what he’d like to do with her: slip that ugly jumper off her, stuff it in the fire, and take off the rest of her clothes using only his teeth and mouth. Damn, he was getting hard just thinking about her.

He turned down the bed in the guest room and prepared himself for a long, painful night, and then spent the next five minutes trying to decide how to pick her up. He didn’t think she’d appreciate the fireman’s hold, which left him . . . what? The Rhett Butler carry. Damn, he hoped to hell she’d sleep through it. He wouldn’t want her to think he was copping a feel.

“Addison, come on. Wake up.” She slept like the dead. He shook out his arms, then took a deep breath before sliding one hand under her thighs and the other behind her back. He got a firm hold and did a dead lift. She was a lot lighter than she looked, and her head lolled against his biceps, so he lifted her a little higher until it rested against his shoulder. Then her breath hit his neck, and he nearly groaned.

Jaime carried her to the spare room, trying to tamp down all the Me, Tarzan feelings zinging through him. This was definitely not the time to start the whole chest-pounding thing. No, he just needed to lay her down, cover her up, and get the hell out of the room. And he did just that, stopping only to turn on the light in the bathroom, in case she woke up and didn’t know where the hell she was. He closed the door behind him and released a breath. “Damn, Addison, what the hell are you doing here?”

He went to the kitchen and heated up a cup of coffee
in the microwave; if he brewed a pot, he was afraid the scent would wake his houseguest. He knew it was senseless to go to bed, because there was no way he’d ever get any sleep with Addie sleeping one room away. He took a sip of the reheated coffee and shook his head. Addison Lane could make him drink reheated coffee. He tugged his sweater over his head, then kicked off his Timberlands and booted up his computer. He might as well get some work done.

At six in the morning, he put on a fresh pot of coffee and poured her a cup. He tapped lightly on the door, and when he didn’t hear anything, he stepped in. She’d kicked off her covers, hugged a pillow to her chest, and thrown her leg over it. Her dress had slid up enough to show off a nice length of creamy thigh but nothing else, which was a damn shame. “Rise and shine, Addison.”

Her eyes shot open, and when she saw him, they widened farther. She sat straight up, hugging the pillow to her chest like a shield. “Jaime, what are you doing here?”

He just raised an eyebrow. “I think that’s my question. You were the one in my living room, Sleeping Beauty.” He handed her the coffee and watched her take a sip.

She closed her eyes and groaned. “God, that’s good.”

Addie definitely wasn’t a morning person, and she looked a mess—her mane of hair was wild, like she’d been dragged through a hedge backward, her dress was twisted, and she had a pillowcase crease on her cheek.

“I just sat down for a minute to warm up. Hey, where were you, anyway?”

“Oh no. Where I was is none of your business.” He stood because if he didn’t, he’d be tempted to kiss that torqued look right off her pretty face. “I didn’t know what time you needed to get up. It’s a little after six.
There’s a spare toothbrush in the medicine cabinet, towels on the counter, and shampoo and stuff in the tub. Use whatever you need. Breakfast will be ready in about ten minutes. Come on out whenever you’re done and tell me what was so damn important that you felt the need to camp out in my living room. And you might want to remember that an unlocked door is not an invitation to enter.” He left her sitting there with her mouth hanging open.

Jaime was not in a good mood. He slammed a cast-iron pan on the stove, turned on the heat, and tossed in the bacon, then grabbed a loaf of bread to make toast and took the eggs out of the refrigerator.

He had a nightmare day scheduled, so he took out the makings for a few sandwiches. He wouldn’t have time or the energy, thanks to his sexy little houseguest, to go out and pick something up. “Addison, do you want me to make you a sandwich?”

“What?”

He turned around, and she was standing there in nothing but a towel wrapped around her, the corner stuffed between her breasts. Her hair was wet and drops of water slid down her chest.

“Did you say something?”

“Yeah . . . um . . . Do you want me to make you a sandwich?”

“Thanks, but you don’t have to.”

He stepped back, because his finger itched to pull out that corner and see what was hiding under the terry cloth. What was she thinking coming out of the room naked? “That’s not what I asked. Do you want a damn sandwich or not?”

“Yes, please. If you don’t mind.”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I minded.”

“Jeez, Jaim. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning or are you always like this?”

“I didn’t get to bed.” He mumbled.

“Why not?”

“Roast beef, turkey, or both?”

“Both.”

“Mustard or mayo?”

“Both, please.”

“Fine.” He shook his head.

She stood there dripping and stared at him. “Thanks, Jaime.”

“Just go get dressed before you freeze to death.”

“Oh.” She looked down like she just realized she was standing there wearing nothing but a towel. She might not have noticed, but he sure as hell did.

Five minutes later, she came out wearing the same clothes she’d slept in. Her hair was dried and tied in a ponytail hanging down her back.

“More coffee?”

“I’ll get it.”

“Suit yourself. You always do anyway.”

She leaned up against the counter and watched him.

“How do you like your eggs?”

“Over easy.”

“One, two, or three?”

“Two, please.”

“So, what the hell was so all-fired important that you needed to come all the way here and wait for me?”

“I wanted to find out what you learned.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And it wasn’t something that could wait until morning?”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay too. I know
how close you and Teddy have been over the years. I thought if it didn’t go well, you might need a friend.”

“Uh-huh.” The last thing he wanted from her was friendship. Damn, didn’t she get that?

“Kendall left me a note telling me she was going to be in Boston, packing up the apartment. I know she met with Grace at my place before she took off, because Grace brought over a loaf of pumpkin bread.”

“Yeah, well, Jax is getting ready to fly to Chicago. I think he has an eight o’clock flight. Teddy was pretty adamant that he leave Kendall alone until she cools off. Besides, he needs to get his shit together too.”

“Kendall’s going to think he left her. Just like David did.”

“That’s ridiculous. Jax told me he was going to write her a letter and explain everything. He has responsibilities in Chicago—he has to at least go back and decide what he’s going to do. He’s been away more than six weeks.”

She shrugged. “Kendall is coming off a bad relationship. David was manipulative. What seems reasonable to us might not if you’re looking at it from her vantage point. Desertion sucks, and twice in a few weeks would tend to put a woman on the defensive. Kendall might just see his explanation as nothing more than a Dear Jane letter.”

“It’s nothing of the kind. Or at least I don’t think it is. Jax told Teddy that he loved her.”

“He did?”

“Yeah. He’s got it bad.”

“And what about you?”

“What about me?”

“Are you doing okay?”

Hell, no. But it had nothing to do with Teddy and everything to do with her. He turned her eggs, threw a few pieces of buttered toast and bacon on her plate, and then plated the eggs. She stood way too close to him, and even with different soap and shampoo, there was something about her that made him want to nuzzle her neck and drink her in.

“Go sit down.” He finished cooking his eggs and sat beside her at the breakfast bar. Shit, he should have just eaten standing up in the kitchen.

“You didn’t answer the question. Was Teddy that upset with you?” She slid a piece of bacon between her lips and he couldn’t look away. Everything she did seemed erotic. “Jaime, what’s the matter with you?”

He spun her barstool around, put a hand on either armrest, and leaned in. “You come to my house uninvited and fall so soundly asleep in my chair that it would take an atomic bomb to wake you. I had to pick you up and put you to bed without so much as copping a feel. I’ve been awake all night, fighting a hard-on and trying not to think about you sleeping in the next room, and you’re asking me what in the hell is the matter?”

Her gray eyes looked green in the light and seemed to darken. Her color came up and she licked her lips.

He almost groaned. “Addie, the last thing I want to be is your friend. So if that’s all you want, I’m not interested. Eat your breakfast, take your lunch, and leave.”

“And if it’s not?”

“If it’s not, you should probably eat your breakfast, take your lunch, and leave anyway, because I have a full day of work ahead of me, and so do you.”

“Oh.” The pulse in her throat beat like the wings of a
hummingbird, and he had an overwhelming urge to slide his tongue over that spot and suck on it.

“Are you going to wear a turtleneck today?”

“Maybe. Why?”

“Because I want to suck on your neck.”

“You do?”

“I do. Bad. It might leave a mark. I want to do a whole lot more to you too, but I’m in a rush. I just need to taste you, okay?” As he slid a hand behind her head and drew her close, his nose rubbed against her and he smiled. “Breathe.”

She let a breath out and sucked in another.

He kissed the corner of her mouth and slid the tip of his tongue across the seam to the other side. Her eyes were still wide open, either in shock or excitement. Then he went in for the kiss. Her lips were tense and her whole body vibrated. He wanted to soothe her, excite her, and then shock the hell out of her. He started out soft, sweet, and slow, and waited for her to relax. It wasn’t happening. When he opened his eyes, hers were filled with terror. He pulled away slowly and stepped back. “Addie, you’re okay.”

As soon as he gave her space, she vaulted off the barstool. “I have to go.” She wrapped her arms around herself, shaking, and stepped way back. Out of reach.

“Don’t forget your lunch.” He didn’t make a move; he just held the bag out for her to take.

“Thanks for . . . Well, thanks for everything. I’m sorry . . .” She brushed her hair back with a shaking hand. “I really need to go.”

He sat at the counter and did his best to shoot her a smile. “Make sure you call Kendall after school today and tell her to read Jax’s letter, okay?”

“I will,” she grabbed her coat and missed the armhole twice. “You know Kendall when she’s hurt. Once she finds out he lied and then ran . . .” She shook her head and punched her other arm through the sleeve before hugging herself again, the paper bag crunching in her hand. “There’s no telling what she’s going to do.”

The food he’d eaten sat like lead in his stomach. Jaime nodded, like nothing out of the ordinary was going on, like she hadn’t just about jumped out of her skin, like he hadn’t just scared the shit out of her with a simple kiss. He felt sick. “You have a good day, Addison. I’m glad you came by.” He grabbed both plates and put them in the sink. “Take your time getting your stuff together. I’m just going to get in the shower. I was supposed to be at the shop fifteen minutes ago. I’ll see you later. Let me know what Kendall says, okay?” He didn’t wait for a response; he just turned and headed to his room to give her time and space to calm down.

His first thought was to put his hand through a wall, but that was the old Jaime. The only thing that would get him was another cast, if he hit a stud like he had the last time he’d lost his temper. No, what he needed was about an hour in the basement—just him and his seventy-pound punching bag.