Love at 11 (24 page)

He paused for breath and I wondered if I should say something. But he didn’t look finished, so I remained silent, contemplating what he’d just revealed. It made sense, really, and explained a lot of his mixed messages. But the question was, what would it all mean for us in the end?

He continued. “So I did the cowardly thing—I pushed you away. Tried to make you hate me. I guess I figured in the end that would make it easier for both of us. You’d think I was a jerk who didn’t deserve your love and I’d never be able to go back to you, even if I was tempted. I’d marry Jen like I’d committed to and things would slowly get better between us as memories of you faded away.”

He cleared his throat. “But at the same time, I couldn’t bear the idea of you hating me. And I don’t want to hurt or disappoint you, either. Especially since I have real feelings for you. Strong ones. And I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to do about that.”

I held my breath, nervous butterflies flapping through my stomach as I tried to figure out what the hell he was trying to say.

“I went up to LA and met with Jen yesterday evening,” he blurted out at last, staring into his coffee cup, not ready to look me in the eyes quite yet. “And I told her I couldn’t marry her.”

I stared at him, unable to believe my ears. He’d called off the wedding? He was no longer engaged? He was a free man?

“I told her that I felt we’d been drifting apart for a long time. I no longer felt a hundred percent into the relationship and I didn’t think it was right to go through with it when I was having so many doubts. It wasn’t fair to me and it wasn’t fair to her either.”

I nodded slowly. “How’d she take it?”

“Really well, actually,” Jamie admitted. “She told me she wasn’t shocked I felt this way and that she’d felt the growing distance between us as well. In fact, I think in a lot of ways she was relieved, to tell you the truth. This way she gets to stay in LA and not give up her career and her friends. Which I totally understand and support, you know? She told me she loved me, but realizes that we are two very different people, destined to live two very different lives.” He stared down at his hands. “I can’t say it wasn’t a little weird to have her be so accepting about it, but in the end, I know it’s best.”

“Did … did you tell her about me?” I asked.

“Yes. It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I figured it was better to be honest,” he said. “She was bound to find out sooner or later anyway, and I’d rather she hear it from me. She told me she knew I had a crush on you from that first night at dinner. Something about the way I looked at you.” He shrugged. “As usual, you women are a lot more perceptive than us dumb men.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I said truthfully. “It’s a lot to take in.”

“I know. And I’m sorry. Don’t think this puts any pressure on you,” Jamie added. “In the end, this is something I had to do for myself and had nothing to do with my feelings for you. Well, in a way it did, but it goes much deeper than that. So you shouldn’t feel guilty or anything. You were just a catalyst for something I should have done a long time ago.”

Okay, I was confused. Was he interested in dating me now that he was free? Or did he need time on his own for a while to figure things out? “I understand,” I replied at last, even though of course I didn’t.

He chuckled. “Do you? I’m glad to hear that. I’m not sure I understand it all myself.” He rose from his Starbucks chair. “Do you mind if we swing by my apartment on the way back?” he asked abruptly, his voice sounding almost nervous. “Jen had been dog-sitting for me in LA. Once we had the wedding conversation she sent the pooch back with me. I want to make sure he’s adjusting to his new surroundings.”

I hesitated. Go to his house and check on his dog? Was this some kind of lame pretense to hook up? And would I mind if it was? After all, he was suddenly a free man. And he’d definitely admitted he had strong feelings for me. Maybe it was time to see where this potential relationship could go—for the first time without feeling guilty about it all.

Then again, what if he suddenly pulled another reversal on me? Loved me and left me? I had no desire, after all, to play rebound girl. It could only lead to more hurt and I’d already had more than enough of that to last a lifetime.

I glanced up at him and he smiled shyly at me, his gaze hesitant but hopeful, and it made my heart melt as I saw the love in his eyes. Whether he would admit it or not, he had broken up with the girl he was supposed to marry and a lot of it had to do with me. He’d taken the first step toward a new life path and he clearly wanted me along for the ride.

Really, how could I say no?

“Oh, a dog?” I forced myself to coo. “I’d love to see him.”

*

We arrived at Jamie’s apartment a few minutes later. It was a cute courtyard building with a pool in the center, à la Melrose Place. He unlocked the door and we stepped inside. He hadn’t been lying about the dog. A bundle of brown fur attacked me with excited yelps the second we walked through the door.

“This is Bowser,” he said, kneeling down to play wrestle with the pooch. “Bowser, this is Maddy.”

“Hi, Bowser,” I greeted, crouching down to pet the dog. He responded by licking my face with his sloppy pink tongue. He was some kind of terrier mix and extremely cute.

Jamie rose. “So do you, uh, want a tour?”

I took a deep breath, reminding myself this was no mere dog visit. The sexual tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I sucked in a breath. “Sure,” I said, squaring my shoulders. Too late to back out now. Wait—did I put on good underwear this morning? I so had not planned this. I tried to nonchalantly lower the hem of my skirt to catch a glimpse.

“This is the—are you okay?” Jamie asked, catching my skirt-lowering maneuver. My face flamed in embarrassment.

“Oh, yes. Fine, thank you.” I stammered. I quickly pulled my skirt back up. “Just, uh …” Checking to make sure my panties were appropriate for sex? Probably not something I needed to admit at that moment. “… had an itch.”

Blue cotton. Not terribly sexy, but not ripped at least. Not huge like Bridget Jones’s had been, either. Still, if only I’d had some clue today would be Sex Day, I would have grabbed one of those barely worn thongs I’d been saving for just such an occasion.

“Well, as I was saying, this is the kitchen …” I followed him into a rather large farmhouse-style kitchen with a center chef island, lots of counter space and a small table with a cheery red checked tablecloth in one corner. “I love to cook,” he said, running a hand over the island. “Sometime I’ll make you something, if you’d like.”

“That’d be nice. I’d like that,” I said, feeling awkward and shy all of a sudden. Wanton sex goddess I was not. And besides, what if I’d completely misread the situation? What if all that had been on his mind was dog walking and today had not been Sex Day after all?

“Did you want to give Bowser a treat?” Jamie asked.

“Uh, sure,” I said, trying to come out of my haze. To be completely truthful, I’d have preferred to give Jamie a treat, but I was getting less and less sure he’d be interested in such a thing. Or maybe he was too nervous to follow through, now that we were here. I leaned against the counter, kind of wishing we’d never left work.

“They’re up here.” He pointed at the cabinet above my head. “Duck for a minute, will you?” I ducked out of the way only to have my head smack into his solid chest, which did nothing for soothing my raging libido. He closed the cabinet and I raised my head.

He was standing very, very close. And there could be no mistaking the look in his eye.

A moment later, he was on me, the box of treats crashing to the floor. (Bowser was going to have a field day.) His body crushed against me as he attacked my lips with his own. I struggled to breathe as want consumed me and fire burned in my belly. No longer shy, I clawed at his shirt, yanking it above his head so I could run my fingers along his chest.

He scooped me up onto the counter, spreading my legs. I wrapped them around his waist, feeling his desire, pressing against me. He wanted me, too. Badly, by the feel of it. He tugged up my skirt and peeled off my panties, not even giving them a second glance, which was probably for the best. As his mouth lowered to nibble at my neck, his hands fumbled with my button-down blouse, parting it and exposing my Vicky Secret’s lacy bra underneath.

God, his touch felt so good. Delicious torture. “Hurry,” I begged between kisses. “You’re going to make me explode.”

He grinned against my mouth. “Good things come to those who wait,” he murmured, reaching under my skirt and stroking me with a rhythmic pulse as his other hand cupped and teased my right breast. I shivered as the sensations coursed through me, too many to catalog individually.

“Jamie, please,” I moaned, dying for him. I reached in front of me to unbuckle his belt, then unbuttoning and unzipping him until his pants fell to his ankles.

I realized he wasn’t wearing any underwear at all. My gaze dropped down, taking him in. I couldn’t believe he and I had already had sex once and I’d blacked it out. I mean, how the hell did a girl forget a man like him?

He grabbed my ass and pulled me to the edge of the counter. Then, after slipping on a condom I didn’t see him grabbing, he pushed himself inside of me, filling me completely. I cried out in pleasure and bit his bare shoulder. I’d wanted this for so long. Maybe my whole life. And I was determined to enjoy every minute of it. At this moment, rocking against him as one, nothing else in life mattered. Nothing except his burning mouth, relentless fingers and hard, fast thrusts against me. Soon I was seeing the stars that heroines in romance novels always blabbed on and on about. And, let me tell you, they were more beautiful than I’d ever imagined.

Jamie came a moment later, crying out then collapsing against me, burying his face in my hair. His breathing came hard, fast, erratic, tickling my ear. I could have come again just from that.

“Gurp,” I managed, not ready to form real English words yet.

I could feel his smile against my neck. “Gurp,” he agreed. Then he scooped me up in his arms and carried me gently into the bedroom. He lay me down on the bed and climbed in next to me, pulling a soft blue comforter over us and cuddling me close.

“Maddy,” he said, stroking my cheek and looking at me with big puppy dog eyes. “Oh, Maddy.”

I knew exactly what he meant. I felt the same way. Words were completely unnecessary. Useless to describe what had just taken place between us.

I leaned forward and planted a kiss on his nose. I wanted to lighten the mood. Otherwise I’d probably break into helpless tears of joy.

I’d never thought this would happen. I didn’t even dare pray or wish for it. But now here he was, mine all mine, no strings attached. I could scarcely believe it.

“Great tour.” I grinned. “I feel like I know the place … intimately.”

He brushed a piece of hair from my face and studied me with thoughtful eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked. “Was what happened … okay with you? I mean, I know it was kind of sudden. It’s just—well, I’ve been holding back for so long … and I just couldn’t wait a second more.”

“Trust me, I know the feeling. And it was very, very okay. More than okay, actually. Pretty awesome, to be exact.”

He kissed me on the mouth. “Good,” he said with a shy smile. “‘Cause it was pretty awesome for me, too. But I don’t want to rush things, either. So I’d like to start over. Do it the right way this time.” He sat up in bed. “Ms. Madison, would you consider going out on a date with me?”

I nodded and grinned. “I’d like that very much, Mr. Hayes.”

From the Desk of Madeline Madison

Maddy Hayes

Mrs. Maddy Hayes

Mrs. Madeline Madison -Hayes

Mrs. Madeline Leigh Hayes

M. L. Hayes

Mrs. Jamie Hayes

Mrs. Hayes

Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Hayes

The Future Mrs. Madeline Leigh Madison -Hayes

Chapter Fifteen

Unfortunately what often happens when one leaves work for wanton sex first thing in the morning, one must return to work before one’s coworkers and, more importantly, one’s boss realizes one has left the building. So while Jamie and I would have much rather cuddled in bed all day, at noon we were instead sitting in my cubicle, discussing the drug cartel story and trying to keep our hands off each other.

“So,” I said, explaining my findings. “According to the records you found in Calla Verda, the property’s owned by Reardon Oil, right? Well, on the Internet I found a photo of some Reardon Oil guy shaking Senator Gorman’s hand. Evidently the company was a campaign contributor the first time Gorman ran for office. I gave David the photo to show Brock, Gorman’s son. He and David are having a hot affair, by the way.”

“Oh, my. What does Gorman say about that?”

“Evidently he’s through the roof.” I snorted. “Anyway, Brock says the guy’s an old crony of his dad’s—named Rocky Rodriguez. He owns that Pacific Coast Cars dealership down in Mission Valley and is also the president of the Association for California Car Dealers.”

“The guy with the llama commercials?”

“Yup. One and the same.”

“So he owns Reardon Oil?”

“I don’t know. No one’s ever heard of Reardon Oil. And I have no idea how it’s connected to Rocky Rodriguez and Pacific Coast Cars. But they’re connected somehow. That’s for sure.”

“Maybe Reardon Oil is part of a larger company that owns both?”

“Maybe.” I thought about that for a moment. It would make total sense. I turned to my computer and pulled up Internet Explorer, then went to the Secretary of State’s business-lookup Web site and entered “Reardon Oil” in the blank field.

Corporation

Reardon Oil

Date Filed
: 1/1/2000

Status
: Active

Jurisdiction
: California

Mailing Address

PO Box 9003, San Diego, CA 92110

Agent for Service of Process

COASTAL KINGS