Straight Up Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 2)

I narrow my eyes. “Are you even turned on?”

She shrugs. “I’ve got some lubricant in the bedroom. It’s fine. Let’s not make a big deal about this. Let’s just get it over with.”

I zip and button my jeans. Get it over with. Fuck. I’m ready to spend the night tasting every inch of her and seeing how many ways I can make her come, and she just wants me to get it over with.

How delusional was I to think this might have actually worked the way I wanted?

I drag a hand through my hair. “I think I should go.”

“What?” She shakes her head. “Jake, I’m sorry. If you don’t want to do this, I don’t want you to—”

“That’s not it.”

She tugs her pants back in place, sits up, and looks at her lap. “I’m so bad at this,” she whispers.

I feel like an ass.

I sink down to the couch next to her and tilt her chin until she meets my eyes. “When I’m finally inside you, it’ll be because you want me there, because you’re begging to have me there for reasons that have nothing to do with having a baby.” Her lips part at my words, and her eyes go darker. “When I get inside you, you’re going to forget why we even started this, and you’re sure as fuck not going to need any lube. Got it?”

She nods, and her gaze drops to my mouth. Fuck yeah, it does.

I slide a hand into her hair and lower my mouth to hers. Her hands go to my shoulders, tentatively at first, then with more conviction, pulling me closer as the tension leaves her body. I suck on her bottom lip and she shudders, her nails curling into my shoulder blades. I slant my mouth over hers one last time, taking one more taste before pulling away. “See you in the morning.”

Then I walk away, which is really fucking hard. But necessary.

Ava

I park in the circle drive of the McKinley McMansion and scowl at the house.

I cut the engine and force myself to climb out of the car. It’s only a couple of hours. I can get through this.

“Ava!” Jill greets me on the front porch, her blond hair falling gracefully around her shoulders. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“I always do.” Internally, I kick myself for that little jab at her daughter. I missed family dinner once, and Dad held it against me fo

r months. Colton rarely bothers, but he and Dad are total oil and vinegar. My stepsister, on the other hand, can get away with missing whenever she chooses, and all is forgiven. Hell, Molly didn’t even bother making it to my wedding. Not that I’m still bitter.

Jill wraps her arm around my shoulders and presses a kiss to my forehead. “How are you?”

“I’m good. What about you?”

“I’m great. Molly will be here any minute.”

“How exciting!” I squeeze Jill’s arm. I might not be excited about Molly’s visit, but I am happy for Jill. I know she wishes she could see her daughter more often.

I follow Jill into the house, and the second my feet hit the marble foyer, I’m slammed with memories. My first Christmas here after the divorce, sitting in a corner with Colton and wishing we could have stayed home in our PJs with Mom. My thirteenth birthday party that I only had here because I thought it would impress the cool girls, and then feeling like a fake when it worked and they were so much nicer to me after. Then the eighteen months before college that I lived here and felt like an unwanted guest the entire time. I can’t blame them. Jill, Dad, and Molly had been a family of three for seven years before I came along and rocked the boat.

“Too bad Colton can’t make it tonight,” Jill says over her shoulder. She leads the way into the dining room. “Your father is disappointed, but we understand that Colton’s training is his priority right now.”

“His priority should be finding a real job,” Dad says from the hall.

Jill gives him a cautious smile as he barrels into the dining room and grabs the bottle of wine from the bucket where it’s chilling and pours himself a glass. “Motocross is a real job, Nelson. Colton’s doing great and has a whole team behind him.” She takes the bottle from him and looks at me. “Wine, Ava?”

I nod. Judging by the volume of Dad’s voice, I’m already a few drinks behind. “Sure. Thanks.”

She fills my glass to the top—God bless her—and winks at me as she hands it over.

“Have you had your interview for the job in Florida?” Dad asks.