Straight Up Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 2)

“Hey, Jake.” I offer a smile—not nearly as carefree as his.

He looks me over, head to toe. “Did something happen? Are you okay?”

I shake my head and wave away his concern. “Just a crap day. But it’s Friday, so I have a couple of days to pretend asshole students don’t exist. I’ll be better.” I scan the gutter he was working on. “What are you doing up there?”

“It was falling off again. Your soffit’s rotting out. I’ll get the materials and take care of it this weekend.”

I shake my head. “You don’t have to do that.”

“With the rain we’re expecting this week, I really do. If I don’t, best-case scenario, you’re going to have a lake in your flowerbeds. Worst, a flooded basement.” He climbs down the ladder and wipes his hands on his jeans. “Stop looking at me like I’m offering you a kidney. I don’t mind the work. The fresh air is good for me.”

My belly warms. Jake has always been the kind of friend who takes care of me. I like to think it goes both ways, but I know I benefit more from his friendship than he ever has from mine. And we’re about to take that to a whole new level. “I can hire someone. You can get your fresh air doing something more fun.”

“Av, I really don’t mind. I know this isn’t where you want to spend your money anyway.”

I press my lips together. The truth is, he’s right. And a job that’ll take a couple of hours of Jake’s weekend and fifty dollars in materials would otherwise cost me several hundred. “Thank you,” I say. “It means a lot. It really does. How was your day?”

He shrugs. “Nothing special. Inventory at the bar, meeting with Brayden about getting some of the new brews bottled for distribution.”

I grin. “Between your brewing and his business sense, Jackson Brews will be all over the country soon.”

“Hope so. Want to order a pizza?”

Order a pizza. As in, spend our evening in. Together. Alone.

The warmth in my stomach cools then ties itself into a bunch of ugly knots. Is it just me, or does this suddenly feel awkward? Like everything either of us says is loaded with suggestion and innuendo?

Of course we’re going to start trying. The whole idea behind Jake’s plan is regular sex. I agreed to this. I wanted this. “Sure.”

He steps forward and tucks my hair behind my ear, his eyes scanning my face. “Relax,” he whispers. “I’m not gonna tie you to the bed and fuck you till you’re pregnant, okay?” He drops his gaze to my mouth, and his lips part. “No matter how much I might enjoy that.”

The knots in my stomach shimmy with delight at his words. I step back, swallowing. “I’m not worried.”

Jake

Ava came home wound as tight as I’ve ever seen her. She had a shit day at work, but it wasn’t just that. She was spooked by seeing me at her house. I brought a growler of her favorite imperial stout from the bar, and after a couple of glasses, half a loaded veggie pizza, and three-quarters of a movie, she’s on the couch smiling and relaxed, like she has not a care in the world.

And I can’t stop staring at her.

Ava’s curled up on one end of the couch, me on the other, her eyes on the movie, and mine on her. Attraction is such a strange thing. It seems impossible to me that I could have such an instinctive pull to her—that I could be gutted with wanting her when she’s around—and she doesn’t feel any of that for me. Something so elemental shouldn’t be unrequited. I guess I don’t believe it is. After all, here we are, planning to make a baby together. She wouldn’t have agreed if she didn’t feel something. And I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t believe I stood a chance.

She changed into pajamas while I ordered the pizza. While the black yoga pants and pink tank top wouldn’t be considered seduction attire in any other circumstance, for me, right here, right now, I can’t imagine her looking sexier.

“You have a busy weekend?” I ask, more to distract myself from my thoughts than anything else. “I noticed Cindy’s covering your shifts the next two days.”

She nods. “Yeah. Dinner at Dad’s tomorrow and then Harrison’s baby shower Sunday afternoon.”

I cough. “You’re act

ually going to that thing?” Jesus. It was a dick move for Harrison to invite her to begin with, but I never imagined she’d feel compelled to go.

“I don’t see how I could get out of it without looking like the jealous ex. Then Dad had Jill double-check to make sure I hadn’t forgotten to RSVP, and I knew I didn’t really have a choice.” She frowns. “It might not be so bad, but it’s a co-ed shower, so I’ll have to see Harrison. That might be the part I’m dreading most.”

If seeing the invitation screwed her up, I can’t imagine how much an afternoon with the happy expecting couple will mess with her. “I want to go with you.”

She laughs, as if my offer is a joke. “Yeah, sounds like fun, doesn’t it?”

“It’s a co-ed baby shower, isn’t it?”