Surviving Broken(41)
Grasping her hand in both of his, he gently rubbed his thumbs in a circular motion against her palms. “You want me to drive you home? You’re trembling. Are you okay?”
She nodded unconvincingly. “Yeah. I..I’m fine. I’m just tired. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
Reed looked over her lazily, as if sensing her apprehension. Nonchalantly, he dropped her hand and opened her door. “I’m sorry I frightened you. Hopefully you sleep better tonight, since you know I’m a nice guy now. Not a burglar.”
She climbed into the car and started the motor. Having the car door between them as a barrier eased her smoldering tension. “Well, you are definitely not a burglar.” She put the car in reverse and timidly bit her lip. “But the verdict’s still out on whether or not you’re a nice guy.”
His face turned somber, deepening a groove between his brows.
“I’m teasing you Reed. We’re friends. Good night.”
“Good night, JC.”
****
The thirty-minute drive through the wooded canyon felt like hours. She drove home in complete silence with the windows down, breathing in the earthy smell of the forest, listening to the sound of crickets zooming by in the darkness. Tears chilled on her cheeks from the cool air and burned her cheeks as they streamed across her face in the cool night air.
She didn’t know why she cried or why all of a sudden she needed to escape from the bar, practically running away from Reed. Part of her wanted to turn around, drive back, and curl up next to the fire and Reed, even if they only talked all night. Oh, that is so not true. She sniffled. I wanted to touch him, kiss him, hold him. Haven’t I learned my lesson?
The vision of him naked in her pool caused her to break out into a sweat. “Damn you, Luca Santini. I’ve never been scared of a man in my life. You are out of my life and still controlling me!”
Walking through the garage door, JC did the only thing she could think of. She called her sister. After giving Tracy the lowdown of her evening, JC boiled over saying, “I feel like I’m over thinking every move I make. I keep waiting to feel normal again, but I don’t. I’m afraid if I run into someone I know, they’re going to see it written on my face like a badge of disgrace. Oh, did you see JC, she got her ass beat by her boyfriend. I couldn’t even flirt right! My hands were literally shaking. I was a complete ball of nerves. Honestly, I was scared to death, but I don’t know why. He was really nice.”
“JC, you need to talk to someone. This isn’t working. What’s so bad about talking to a professional?”
Full of pent-up frustration, JC paced barefoot in a circle around the sofa, drinking a glass of wine. “Every shrink I’ve ever met is twisted.”
“And maybe you shouldn’t be thinking about hooking up with a guy right now.”
“I wasn’t trying to hook up with him. I could barely talk to him. Just one look at the man made my heart nearly beat right out of my chest.”
Her sister sat silent as a grave on the other end of the line.
“Oh, great, are you mad at me now?” JC tapped her finger on the speaker of her phone, downing the last of her wine.
“No, I’m not mad at you. I’m listening to every word. What did he do that made you so nervous?” Tracy asked curiously.
JC held the phone between her chin and shoulder, tossing and waving her hands in the air. “All he had to do was stand there, all big and gorgeous in his damned white t-shirt and jeans. But just about the time I offered him a bite of my burger and he licked the barbecue sauce off my finger, I thought I might have a heart attack right in the middle of Mom’s! He didn’t even do it on purpose! It was as if we’d known each other for years, but…holy crap! I was sweating, Tracy! Sweating! Me!”
“I take it back.” Tracy gave a soft chuckle. “Maybe you should date the neighbor. He might be able to help you with your other problem.”
A flush of stimulation washed over her.
JC inhaled sharply. “Sure, okay. I’ll simply scale the block wall, jump in his bed and beg for an orgasm. Thanks a lot, Trace. I need that visual like I need a hole in my head. I appreciate all your help,” she snipped sarcastically.
She could almost hear her sister jumping up and down on the other end of the line when she giggled like a little girl. “I’m just saying, perhaps he could help you out. Big, strong, guy. Did I say big?”
“Oh, my God. I’m going to bed. Love you, sis.”
“Love you too.”
JC poured another glass of wine and cuddled up on the couch with a blanket. As darkness lingered, she waited for fatigue to set in. She wondered what Reed was doing next door. The mere thought of him lying in bed naked sent a spike of desire twisting through her gut.