His mind went to the carnal position he had just had her in just five minutes before. He thought about arguing, but there was no reason. He turned and closed the door behind him, giving her the space and privacy she needed.
Chapter Six
Tuesday, Jake sat in his truck while he waited for her to show up. She was at least thirty minute late, by his estimation. He thought about texting her, but figured she was driving and wouldn't look at it anyway. It was getting close to four-thirty. Jake watched her driveway while the blood began a slow boil in his veins. The impatience he felt for her was a burn in his gut. He was already calculating how fast he could get her in the house and how soon he could reasonably sink into her. His erection was already pressing against his jeans.
Finally, she pulled in. She glanced his way and saw him slam out of the truck. He followed her through to the garage. He opened her door for her and held out his hand. She hesitated only momentarily before putting her hand in his. He brought her to her feet next to him. "Where the hell have you been?" His words were low and controlled.
Amy turned and retrieved a stack of manila folders from her car. She put them in his arms. "I have after school duty every Tuesday. Geez, Jake." She rolled her eyes at him. "Impatient, much?" She shouldered past him and went in the house, feeling him hot on her heels.
He dropped the files on the counter and turned to reach for her. "Yeah, I'm impatient. And you will be too when I tell you what's about to happen." He watched her eyes widen and felt a fine tremor in her body. Yeah, he liked this. He reached out and touched her collarbone with the tip of one finger.
"W-what's going to happen?" Her heart skipped a beat.
He pulled her hand up between their bodies and laced his fingers with hers. His words were slow and deep. "Just a little something we're going to call 'Ladies Choice.' Her hand gripped his tighter as she reached up to pull his mouth down to hers.
Wednesday, Amy received a text from him that read, 'Situation here. Catch up later.'
Panic exploded through her. He was in danger! Her breath was coming in ragged gulps as flashes of lights, sirens and ambulances flashed through her head in an imagery that was both painful in its intensity and upsetting to her state of mind.
She knew she couldn't handle this. No way. She couldn't keep this up. The worry and anxiety would kill her.
She attempted to put it out of her mind until Kayla got home to take her attention away from the many possibilities. She made them a light meal and they shared it before her daughter went off to her room to do her homework.
It was just past seven when the worry came back in full force. She couldn't stop thinking about it. She couldn't stop the worry. What would it hurt if she texted him? She grabbed her phone. 'u ok?' That was simple enough. If he didn't like it, oh well. She didn't want this damn thing between them anyway.
Her phone vibrated. Well, thank God he could at least answer her text. Relief poured through her. 'Sure. What's up?' Anger simmered through her veins. This was his fault. This was his fault that she was a mess. She didn't need this in her life. She felt like punching him. Now she was left having to compose a text that wouldn't make her seem like a bunny boiler. Crap.
Keep it simple, Amy. She knew she only had a minute to think it through, or he would know she was having difficulties replying. Damn. She wasn't good at this game. She started keying. 'Nothing. All's good.' She pressed send and grabbed her purse.
She tapped on her daughter's door. "Kayla, I have to run to Wal-Mart. Do you need anything?"
*
Amy pulled up outside of Jake's house and saw that the lights were on. She really didn't have any time to waste before she had to get back home. She flung off her seatbelt and opened the car door.
What happened next wasn't how she played it out in her brain. He opened the door and took one look at her standing there and grabbed her and pulled her inside. His mouth swooped down on hers and she felt his tongue thrust deep. He devoured her with his mouth and Amy felt her knees start to give out on her. No! This wasn't the way this was supposed to go.
"How'd you get away?" His slurred words barely penetrated her brain as he moved his mouth to her neck and started biting and sucking. His hands were pushing her tee-shirt up and over her head.
She saw what they were doing, as if from a distance. The intensity of need and the dark swirl of desire consumed them both. My God, they were having an affair! Everything was all true, just as he described it. They were fuck buddies, they weren't dating, they were secretly sleeping with each other, and they were doing it every chance they got.
Amy tried to clear the fog from her brain. He was so not good for her. She had to keep remembering that. She stepped away from him. Since he wasn't expecting the move, her escape from his arms was easily accomplished. She pulled her shirt back into position. "I said that I had to run to Wal-Mart. Jake, listen to me. I can't keep doing this. You got what you wanted, and we both had a good time, but this has to end. "
He stood in stone silence during her recital. A loud buzzing noise was pulsing through his veins in time with his blackening mood. "Why?" The single word was barked in her direction.
Amy didn't even think about prevaricating. "When you sent me that text today, I started to worry. I thought about ambulances, and shoot-outs, and bank robberies. I thought you might be hurt. I can't do this. Please. You know why." Her voice dwindled off.
She cared for him. Jake was shocked to feel a stabbing rush of elation hit him. She got scared because she cared for him. He wanted to savor the pleasure of that. But first he had to avert disaster.
He gentled his voice. "Babe, it was just a pension meeting. It was unplanned and the department guy was in Baton Rouge. I promise, nothing bad, sweetheart. No reason to panic." He wanted to move toward her, but she was holding herself so still and quiet.
She let out a shaky breath. "But you called it a 'situation.'
Jake cursed silently in his head. God, he was a stupid shit. Amateur mistake, Fontenot. "Yeah, I did. I should have called it a meeting. I wasn't thinking. My bad. My fault, babe. I shouldn't have done that to you." His words were gentle and he waited for her reaction.
She didn't make one. She just stood there, her eyes mournful as she stared at him.
He tried again. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I won't worry you again. I promise." He opened his arms and took a step toward her. She hesitated, then slowly walked into them. Jake buried his face in her hair and felt a huge knot of relief loosen inside him. He hugged her to him and savored her sweet scent.
Amy mumbled into his shirt, "I have to get back to Kayla. I also have to make an unnecessary trip to Wal-Mart." She tried to break free of his hold.
He lifted her chin and asked, "We okay?"
She whispered "Yes," and moved toward the door.
Chapter Seven
The rest of the month flew by. The weekdays were spent in anticipation of the two stolen hours they had together. Almost every day. Almost every day they saw each other. Had sex together. Held each other. Weekends went quickly for Amy. All the cleaning, washing, shopping, and parenting she could fit into two days. Errands that needed running, and cooking ahead for the week was accomplished.
Weekends for Jake were sheer unmitigated torture. Too much time on his hands, too much fast food, not enough Amy. Not any Amy, goddammit.
He took to accepting extra jobs. Cops were always needed for private security detail. He didn't need the money, but he needed something to occupy his time.
He was standing outside the local cinema one Friday night when he saw the teenager. Dressed like the other three young girls she was with, he didn't know what it was about her that caught his attention. Until he started looking more closely. Probably a little over five feet tall, she had the look of Amy about her. Same long, dark hair, same slender build, same facial features. Could this then be the Kayla that was protected so fiercely by her mother? He couldn't see a reason not to find out.
The four girls bought their tickets and started toward the door. He was close enough to speak to them, but far enough away that it wasn't necessary. "Girls." He tipped his head. All four stopped and gawked.
One in the group, the bravest, spoke up. "Hi, Officer."
All the girls were looking at him. The one that he thought was probably Kayla was standing closest to him, at the end of the group. "You look really familiar to me. Does your mom happen to be Ms. Sanford, from the elementary?"
The girl brightened. "Yep. That's my mom. Wow. Do you think we look that much alike?"
He laughed. "You bet. You're going to be just as pretty as she is."
Kayla giggled. "Thanks! How do you know my mom?"
"I'm a D.A.R.E. officer at the school. I taught in her classroom." He could see her eyes light up. A devilish gleam came over her face. He could see the calculation in her face.
"Oh cool. And you think she's pretty, huh? She is pretty. She's not married, you know. Are you married? How old are you? Are you going to be at the school next semester? Why don't you ask my mom out? She's thirty-seven. She needs a boyfriend. My Granddad is a sheriff. My Dad lives in Dallas. I'm going to see him next weekend. You could ask her out then. Do you want her number? Are you married?" She paused to breathe.
Jake was in shock. What the hell had he done? Amy was going to kill him. Crap. He had expected the child to say 'yes' and that would be that. He didn't even know anyone could string that many words together at once. Now what was he going to do? He had to answer her. "Um, no. I'm not married." He needed an excuse. He had to honor Amy's wishes. "I'm not married, but I have a very serious girlfriend. So, I'm sorry, as pretty as I think your mom is, I can't ask her out right now."