Tart (12 page)

“I want you, Jules. This kiss wasn’t just a drive-by moment. It was my declaration. You and I are meant for each other. Do you have any idea how many people came by work or my house since Gideon has moved back to town? Everyone knows we should be together and I’ve known it too and I kept telling myself that I couldn’t risk our connection.” He swallowed hard. “We are meant to be. You know it.”

“What I know is that
I’m with Gideon
. He’s a good man. He takes care of me. He’s good to his granddad. He makes me happy. He respects me. And he makes me feel wanted and beautiful.”

“He’s a great guy. I can’t argue. But you and he have been together just shy of a month. I’ve loved you for years. I can’t let you go without a fight. You kissed me back, Jules. You were just as into that kiss as I was. And if you were so totally committed to Gideon, you would have socked me.”

“I should sock you right now.”

But she didn’t argue.

“You don’t get to judge how long I’ve been with him. You’re not the boss of my fucking emotions! He and I, well, he’s special. What we have is special. I’m falling
in love
with Gideon. You’re too late.”

Which was worse than arguing.

“I know what you need. I know what you are, who you are.” He stepped close enough to brush the hair back from her face and then he kissed her again. This time she pushed him back after a few beats.

“Stop that.”

“Are you denying your attraction to me?”

“I’m attracted to lots of people. I don’t fuck them all. I have self-control. Attraction doesn’t mean anything.”

“You said you’ve wanted me for years. As long as I’ve wanted you. I know the timing sucks, but you can’t expect me to let you lie to yourself. If it was anyone but you, I might just step back and let Gideon have you. I know you two have something, I can see it. But I loved you first.”

She swallowed hard and he knew he’d landed a few direct hits. But this thing between her and Gideon was far more serious than he’d thought. He tried to wall back the panic. He could do this. This was his job after all. He made arguments for a living.

“I have to go. I have to talk to Gideon.” She tried to move around him but he took up next to her and walked along with her instead.

“Fine. Let me come along.”

She stopped. “Are you high? No. Go home, Cal. Jerk off a few times. Call one of your many,
many
admirers and fuck one of them. You only want me because someone else does.”

He grabbed her upper arms, bringing her close. “That’s a lie and you know it. Don’t demean it that way.”

Her hurt had washed away, replaced by anger. “Fuck you, Cal! Demean it? You’ve fucked your way through dozens of men and women when
I wanted you
but now you’ve decided you want me? Isn’t that convenient? Now that someone else does?”

“Convenient? Is that what you think? You think it’s convenient to watch another man touch you the way I want to? When I know it’s my own fault for waiting too long? You mean too much to me and I won’t accept that I’ve lost you until we have this out with Gideon.”

“How dare you give me ultimatums. This one-sided bullshit pisses me off. You have had
years
to make a move and you didn’t. Now that I’m happy with someone you decide you want me and that if I don’t break up with Gideon to be with you, we’re not friends anymore?” Her voice broke and he felt like a shithead.

He shook his head; the hurt on her features tore at him. He never wanted to cause her all this upset. “No, that’s not what I mean. I’m
always
your friend. Always. That won’t change. I mean lose my chance to be with you. It’s not an ultimatum, it could never be. I’d sooner cut off a limb than lose you in my life.”

He leaned in and kissed her again. Softly this time. “I don’t want to imagine a world without you in it. I know this is unfair. I know I should have done this years ago. But I can’t go back and change my mistakes. I’m trying to learn from them.”

“I have to go. I was going to have an early night. A bath. Some reading or a movie and now I have to go to Gideon’s and tell him another dude kissed me and that you’re the other dude. Oh my god.”

There was no way she could skirt who it was who’d kissed her. Cal knew that. She was an honest person. She’d never let this go without telling Gideon because it was the right thing to do. But man, Gideon would be pissed off. Cal didn’t want to lose his friendship with Gideon either.

Since Gideon had come back they’d had dinner one night and talked a lot of cattle ranching, some gaming and books and then family law as they’d discussed his grandfather and the divorce too.

Gideon and Jules together would have been a hell of a fantasy to fuck his fist to. The both of them so beautiful and perfect. He liked to watch them together, liked the way Gideon had spoken about her.

Except for that part about how Gideon had the woman Cal wanted. That part wasn’t so sexy.

“I’m sorry that this will be uncomfortable.”

She rolled her eyes and shoved past him, muttering. She was well and truly angry by that point and he wanted to smack himself because it always got him off when she was like this.

All that pretty blonde-haired, blue-eyed sweetness turned topsy-turvy into righteous anger. She was truly the hottest pissed-off person he’d ever seen. He’d made enough people pissed off to have a sizable comparison to make as well.

She spun when she noted he’d blocked her car in. “Really, Calvin?”

He grinned. “I had to be sure you couldn’t get away before I spoke with you.”

She shook her head. “Move your car.”

“Not until you agree to let me come out to Gideon’s with you.”

“I will knock the shit out of your pretty little car, Cal. Don’t test me.”

Goddamn, he wanted to fuck her right then. Oh, she meant it. She was dangerous, pissed off and frustrated. But she’d never have gotten this far along if she hadn’t cared about him.

He knew she wanted him. That kiss had been all the proof he’d needed. And then her confession about how she’d watched him with men and then other women had shredded him.

He’d spend every moment until forever proving to her that choosing him was the best choice. He just had to get her to that point.

•   •   •

Gideon had received a short and somewhat terse call from Jules, asking him if she could come over. Silly, that, considering her open invitation and the way she’d been with him most nights since that evening at Delicious just two weeks before.

He could hear the upset in her voice though and when she said Cal was coming along, Gideon began to wonder if his suspicions were correct.

It wasn’t very long until she showed up and he met her at the door, hugging her tight. Their connection clicked into place and he felt a little less worried.

“Are you all right? What’s wrong?” He lifted his chin in Cal’s direction as he moved to the couch and settled in, Jules snuggled next to him.

“There’s no other way to say it.” She licked her lips. “Cal kissed me.”

“You mean back when you were fifteen? I know about that.” He kissed her forehead.

“No, back just about half an hour ago. Outside Tart’s back door.”

He froze and narrowed his gaze at Cal, who shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal to have laid a kiss on Gideon’s woman.

“Without your permission? Do I need to punch someone’s face?”

She laughed and he felt better. And then worse.

“Not against my will. He’s got issues, but he’s no rapist.”

“She’d cut my balls off if I tried.”

Gideon interrupted this little exchange, brushing his fingertips over her cheek. “Why are you upset?”

“I’m not prone to kissing other people when I’m in a relationship. It was icky of me. He caught me off guard. I did kiss him back for a few moments. I’m sorry.”

Cal cleared his throat. “Yes, we’re both sorry. But I want Jules, Gideon. I want her. I loved her first and I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”

“Oh my god, Calvin, shut up!” Jules’s spark came back and it made Gideon feel better.

“If she was breaking up with me, why is she snuggled into my side?”

Momentarily off balance, Cal tossed back, “You’re awfully calm for a man whose girlfriend just confessed to kissing someone else.”

“She kissed you back for a few moments in an alley. And then came over here to confess to me. I’m old enough to cut her a break. You on the other hand, I don’t know about. I’m on the fence between punching you and being magnanimous because I happen to see Jules’s appeal just as you do. I can afford to be the bigger man here because Jules is worth it.”

And as he’d thought, she snuggled into his side more. Oh, he’d known about the attraction between Cal and Jules. He’d seen it, heard others refer to it. He’d seen the way Cal watched her at dinner. But Jules was
his
.

None of this bullshit shenanigans in the alley was going to stop that from being true.

Cal sighed. “Jules knows I want to be with her. I believe Jules wants me too. I’m sorry it had to happen this way.”

“But she’s
not
with you, Cal, she’s with me.
She came to me
. Because I’m here. And I have been since day one.”

He caught Cal’s flinch and knew that arrow struck true.

“Hello?” She snapped her fingers. “If you two would like to continue this manly conversation without me, great. Otherwise, as I’m
right here
and all, let’s move on. Okay, Cal, you made your confession, now go.”

As Gideon had expected, Cal rolled his eyes and tossed himself into the chair across from the couch.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Why? Do you want to watch as I kiss her? Touch her?” Gideon slid a hand up her thigh and she slapped it.

“Don’t be an asshole.”

“I’m not.” He tipped his chin to Cal. “I’m trying to figure out what Cal’s bottom line is. What mine is for that matter. Or yours.”

She put her face in her hands. “Good lordamighty.”

“My bottom line is clear. I want Jules. I want to be with her. I’m sorry to do this because I know this is not what a friend does and it’ll undoubtedly impact or even ruin our friendship. But it’s Jules. Anyone else and I could be honorable. But . . .” Cal shrugged.

She looked at him and Gideon saw it there, the spark between them. But her hand remained in his.

He knew she’d choose him. They’d begun to put down roots and grow closer. He was in love with her. He knew this as well as he knew his own name. He knew her feelings for him were deepening.

But there was something between her and Cal. It would probably die as his relationship with Jules went along. But he saw on Cal’s features that it wouldn’t be over. That the kiss in the alley was his way of staking a claim. He’d never give up until he had her.

“I’m not a pork chop. You can’t walk in circles around me, growling.” Her voice held frustration, yes, but also amusement and maybe a little bit of curiosity. He could work with that.

Gideon laughed, surprised. He kissed her. At first it was meant to be reassuring. But it deepened and she opened against him. He tasted her and the rightness of it sang through his system. But there was Cal too, that subtle taste and he sucked her tongue into his mouth and she groaned, clutching his biceps.

Cal’s attention on her, on
them,
was so sharp Gideon felt it.

“As it happens, I also want Jules. I’ve said this already.” He licked his lips and she pushed to stand.

“What it is you want, Jules? Hm?” Gideon watched her carefully. He knew from experience what a terrible poker player she’d be. Everything she felt broadcast all over her face and in her body language.

Right then she was annoyed, which amused him though he took care not to let that show. “Do you think I’d have come over here this way if I wasn’t with you? If I didn’t want to be with you?”

Gideon shook his head. “No, which is why I’m not feeling entirely angry or jealous right now. Because I can see it, Jules. I can see the spark, that connection you and Cal share. I’ve known you both a long time, but I’ve been friends with Cal just as long as you have. He’s not going to let go or give up. And I can’t say I’m interested in even the idea of letting you go. I’m in love with you, Jules, and that’s that.”

Her lips curved up as her emotions softened. “You are?”

“Hell yes. But the thing is the problem is still there. He’s still going to want you. You’re still going to want him. And you’re friends. Close friends so you’ll see each other and it’ll be there. Between us all.”

He sat back and put his ankle on his opposite knee and tapped a forefinger on his leg, thinking.

“What are you up to?” Jules, being her usual self. It made him laugh.

“You’re a very suspicious woman.”

Cal snorted.

“You like cock, don’t you, Cal?”

She froze in place, her eyes widening at his question.

“I do. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want Jules, or that I can’t give her my whole self. I like cock, but I like cunt just as well. And that one”—Cal tipped his chin toward Jules—“well, I don’t need anything else if that’s what’s waiting for me every day when I get home from work.”

Her brows flew up and Gideon knew they needed to tread carefully. “Shall I box it up for you? Gideon can have my tits. Cal can have my pussy and you can take them out and pet them every night and everyone can be happy to have a piece of Jules. Don’t bother, you know, consulting me about it or anything.”

Cal got up and moved to her, his gaze darting back to Gideon, who allowed it for the time being. Hell, Jules might kick or punch Cal, which would be interesting too.

Cal addressed her. “I know you’re worried about that. It’s best to just get it out in the open. It’s not about a preference for cock or pussy. It’s about the person. It’s about
you.
You’re all I want or need.”

“What I propose,” Gideon interrupted, “is that you come into our relationship.”

“What?” They both asked this, in unison.

“Rather than fear it being torn apart, which is what I think will happen. Things can’t be the same now. Why not invite him in? To share. Unless you’re opposed.” He spoke directly to Jules because this whole thing was up to her.