Wrecked (Clayton Falls) (6 page)

“Well, that’s good. That way if you ever want to do something else, you won’t be leaving your dad without help.” I pushed the lemon wedge from the rim of my glass into my water.

“I never thought of it that way. You’re such an optimist.”

“Not really.” What I meant was that I was an optimist about everyone’s life but my own.

“If you say so.” He shrugged again. “I’m going to be working a second job soon too. It’s technically community service, but it’s still work.”

The waiter came over and refilled Jake’s water glass. He’d already downed all of his. I scanned the menu. The shrimp salad sounded perfect.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“Coaching the high school football team.”

“Really? I’d have thought community service meant trash pickup or something.”

He played with the straw in his water. “I thought the same thing, but evidently I have special skills.”

“Are you looking forward to it? Is that more your speed than boats?”

“It would be if I had any idea how to coach. I can play, but throwing a football is different than telling someone else how to do it.”

“They wouldn’t have asked you if they didn’t think you could handle it.”

He rested his hand on the table. “And you’re telling me you’re not an optimist?”

I laughed.

“What brought you to Wilmington?” He took another sip of water, not bothering to look at the menu.

“Oh, I just wanted a change of scenery really.” I so didn’t want to go into my past. It was definitely not good first date material.

“You do realize how sketchy that sounds, right?”

“Sketchy?”

“A change of scenery?”

“Are we really going to talk about sketchy? You hit on me right after waking up from a medically induced coma.” The best deflection was usually humor.

“Good point. Okay, new topic. Where do you live in Wilmington? Are you in the city, or outside a little?”

Before I could answer, the waiter came over to take our orders. I ordered my shrimp salad and Jake ordered crab cakes.

“I have an apartment about twenty minutes from downtown.”

“Cool. That’s got to be fun.”

“It is most of the time.”

My stomach growled.

“I guess you’re hungry.”

“Yeah, I forgot to have breakfast.”

He shook his head. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

“I know. Does coffee count?”

He laughed. “Not at all.”

“All right, I’ll try to remember that.”

The waiter returned with our food, and I dug in. The shrimp was perfect. “Have you always lived here?”

“Yeah. I’ve been here my whole life.” He didn’t sound too thrilled about it, and I wondered if it was the town or something else.

“That’s cool. Does your brother still live in town too?”

“Uh huh. He and Molly actually bought her parents’ house.”

“Really? I didn’t realize she was also from here.”

“Yeah, we all grew up together.” He took another bite of his crab cake.

“That’s nice.”

He leaned back in his chair. “Are you an only child?”

“Nope. I’m the baby of the family. My brother was three years ahead of me in school.”

“Oh, okay. Ben and I are only eighteen months apart.”

“Really? Isn’t that called Irish Twins or something?”

“I think that’s even closer. But we might as well have been. I don’t know how my mom did it.” He earned points by saying that. Any guy that thought about his mother’s wellbeing deserved credit.

“I bet you gave her a run for her money.”

He laughed. “Maybe just a little.”

The waiter came by to clear the dishes and leave the check.

Jake grabbed the check before I could. “I’ve got it.”

“It’s okay. I can get mine.”

“You drove here. It’s the least I can do.”

I smiled. “When you put it that way...”

“Want to take a walk on the beach?” Jake waited to get his credit card back from the server.

“Sure. It’s beautiful out.”

He took my hand again, and we walked down to the sand. I started to bend down to unstrap my sandals. “Here, let me help you.” He quickly unstrapped them, and I slipped them off.

I couldn’t ignore the thrill that went through me as his hands touched my legs. “Thanks.”

“You’re very welcome.”

I picked up my sandals, and we walked down toward the water. “I forgot to mention it earlier, but my friend Mel said hi.”

“Oh, cool. Are you guys close?”

“Very. She’s my best friend.” I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

“I don’t remember her too well, but if she’s your friend, she’s got to be cool.”

“She remembers you.”

“Yeah?” He bent down to pick up a shell.

“I have a feeling most girls do.”

He shrugged. “A few.”

“You asked about my recent dating. What about yours?” I don’t know what it was, but being out on the beach made me more forward.

“There isn’t much. I just
hadn’t
met anyone too special.” He emphasized hadn’t.

“That’s too bad.”

“I have a feeling that may have changed though…” He once again took my hand. I liked that he kept doing that. It was sweet. The last guy I was with never held my hand.

“If you haven’t figured it out yet, I like you, Emily.” He tugged on my hand slightly to pull me closer. “I really like you.”

“I— ” I was cut off when his lips met mine. He moved his against mine gently. He pulled away, and I looked up at him. “I like you too.”

He smiled. “I figured that out when you kissed me back.”

“I could have just been so surprised I didn’t know how to react.”

“Let’s make sure.” He leaned over and kissed me again. This time it wasn’t quite as gentle. Even so, he didn’t move to deepen it. I’d have expected a guy like him to move things fast. I liked that he didn’t. He let it stay just as it was meant to be—a kiss.

“Yeah, I like you.”

He laughed. “Good.”

He wrapped his arms around me. I leaned my head on his chest. It was strong—muscular, just the way it looked.

“When can I see you again?” he mumbled against my hair.

“I’m not sure.”

He moved away so he could look at me. “I thought we just established we both like each other. We kissed—twice. Are you really doubting whether I’m getting a second date?”

“No. You’re getting a second date, I just don’t know when.”

“Oh. Okay, I can handle that.” He smiled, and I could see the relief on his face. “Are you working every night this week?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“And next weekend?”

“I’m going away. Back home actually.” I’d been looking forward to the trip for weeks.

“Oh, when do you get back?”

“Sunday, but I’m not sure what my schedule will be.”

“Can you at least promise me a date in the next month?”

I laughed. “How about in the next two weeks?” I wasn’t sure how I’d manage it, but I knew I would.

“Even better.”

“I should probably head back.” As great as the date was going, I needed to catch up on sleep.

“All right, let’s go.”

He held my hand the whole time, and entirely too quickly, we were standing by my car.

I reached for the handle.

“Not yet, there’s one more thing I need to do.” He leaned over again. This time his lips crushed into mine. He wrapped one arm around me while his other hand cradled my head. I moaned, and he took it as an invitation to deepen the kiss. There was nothing chaste about this one.

Normally, I would have been embarrassed to be kissing outside in the middle of the day, but I was too caught up in the moment to care. I reached my hand around to his back, slipping my hand just underneath his t-shirt to touch his warm skin.

After a few wonderfully intense moments, he broke the kiss and grinned. “Now that I’ve really kissed you, you can go.”

“You’re proud of yourself, aren’t you?”

“I’ve wanted to kiss you since I first saw you.”

“You were barely conscious.”

“That just makes it more impressive.”

I laughed. He made me laugh a lot more than I was used to. “You can do that again anytime.”

“Even now?”

“I’m going home, Jake.”

“Fine, but remember you said within the next two weeks. I’m holding you to that.”

Still spinning from the kiss, I made a decision. “Wednesday.”

“What about Wednesday?” He laced his fingers with mine.

“I get off at seven, and I can probably get here by eight. If that’s not too late…”

“I thought you weren’t free this week.”

“Yeah, well…some time opened up.”

“I knew I was a good kisser…”

I nudged him. “Do you want me to come or not?”

“Of course, I do. I’ll even make you dinner.”

“You want to make me dinner?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry, I know how to cook.”

“I wasn’t worried.”

“Good.” He leaned in, pushing me back up against my car. “The next few days better fly by.” His lips brushed against mine. When he pulled away, I groaned—disappointed.

He grinned. “I’m going to take that as an invitation.” He leaned in again and gave me what I was hoping for. His lips connected with mine, and he didn’t waste any time. He pushed his tongue into my mouth, and I gladly welcomed it. His hands left the car, pulling me against him.

I broke the kiss. “I better go.”

“Wednesday.” He looked at me hungrily, but backed up and opened my door.

I got in and started the car. “Wednesday.”

“Bye, Emily.”

“Bye, Jake.”

I waited until I was back on the interstate to call Mel.

She answered on the third ring. She’d probably left a patient’s room to pick up. “How’d it go?”

“Well. Very well.”

“Is that all you’re giving me?”

“He’s a good kisser.”

She squealed. “Alert the authorities! Emily Taylor got her first action in years.”

“It wasn’t action. It was a kiss. Well, four—or I guess five.”

“Five? You kissed five times? Were they consecutive?”

“Not consecutive, but all towards the end of the date.” I smiled thinking about it. I might have liked that he was taking things slow at first, but I definitely enjoyed discovering what more he had to offer.

“When are you seeing him again?”

“He’s making me dinner on Wednesday.”

She laughed, but it came out more like a snort. “That’s sweet—or just an excuse to get you in bed.”

“What does it say about me that I don’t care which one it is?”

“Emily!” she shrieked.

“What?”

“Nothing, it’s just awesome to hear you talk like a normal girl.”

I didn’t even respond to her comment. “He called me an optimist.”

“Haha. Did you tell him you were about everyone but yourself?”

“No. But I thought it.”

“Fine. Want to do dinner?”

“Maybe take out?”

“I’ll be over at seven.”

“Awesome. See you then.”

I spent the rest of the drive thinking about those kisses—and Jake.

Wednesday couldn’t come fast enough. I’d gotten through my first meeting with the assistant coaches, but looking through playbooks wasn’t nearly enough to distract me. If I had a license, I probably would have shown up at Emily’s door. Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t have one.

I checked my watch again. She was at least ten minutes late. I didn’t care if she was late, but I hoped she wasn’t going to bail on me. Finally, I heard a knock. I jumped off the couch like my life depended on it and opened the door.

“Hey.” I took Emily’s hand, pulling her inside. I barely let the door close before I kissed her. I’d missed those lips.

“Hi.” She ran a hand down my chest. That small touch drove me wild.

“I was worried you weren’t coming.”

“I’m sorry. I got held up at work.”

“Don’t apologize. I wouldn’t have cared if it were one a.m. I’m just glad you’re here.” I knew I sounded sappy, but I didn’t care. I seriously couldn’t get enough of her. I looked it up, and you weren’t supposed to remember much when they sedate you like that, but I swear I remembered seeing her. It made me feel connected to her in a way I didn’t actually understand.

I took her hand again and led her into the kitchen.

“That smells good.”

“You said you liked Italian.” I’d called her to make sure before catching a ride to the store with Ben. If he thought it was surprising that I needed the ingredients for lasagna, he didn’t show it.

“I do.”

She seemed to really enjoy it. I liked that she ate. Some girls didn’t, and it just seemed weird. I think I scored points by remembering to make a salad, and not one that came from a bag. After dinner, I cleared the plates while she tried to insist on doing the dishes. I wouldn’t listen and made her sit while I did them. Usually I would have offered her wine, but I was still staying away from alcohol and figured she wouldn’t expect it.

We moved into the den, and I sat down right next to her on the couch.

She brushed some hair behind her ear. “Thanks for dinner.”

“My pleasure.” I put an arm around her shoulder.

She leaned into my arm slightly. “My first impression of you was so off.”

“Hmm. Is that good or bad?”

She turned a little to look at me. “Neither…or mostly good, I guess.”

“What did you think I was like?”

“I don’t know. Maybe stuck up, self-absorbed.”

“Because I had a DUI?”

“Yeah. I know that’s judgmental…”

“Nah, it’s human nature to make assumptions about people.”

She ran her fingers over the edge of her dress. “Did you make any assumptions about me?”

“Of course.”

“What were they?”

“Oh. Well, my initial impression was that you were incredibly beautiful, sweet, smart, and sexy.”

She snuggled into my arm more. “Do you think those first impressions were accurate?”

“Yes. Every single one of them.”

She leaned in and kissed me. It was the first time she made the initial move, and I liked it. I swear, I’d never get tired of those lips; so soft, yet so demanding—absolutely perfect.

She might have started the kiss, but I quickly took over. She was good, but going way too slow. I needed more of her. I pushed my way into her mouth, loving that it made her moan.