/> Marquetta took one last sip of her drink before placing it on the coffee table and taking Bridget’s hand. “You’re incorrigible, but I love you to pieces.”
Bridget’s smile was all she needed to confirm that whatever she was up to, it was bound to get them both in a world of trouble. As they stepped out onto the porch, the sound of a car engine snagged Marquetta’s attention. She glanced toward her driveway and froze. Jensen? When he turned off his car and got out, their gazes connected. Her throat threatened to close up.
Oh hell, he had flowers.
“I feel like an idiot,” Jensen mumbled as he stood outside his car in Marquetta’s driveway, armed with his iPod, a portable speaker and two dozen red roses. He was all ready to go. He’d even practiced the lyrics after Jason and the rest of the crew left.
But the last thing he expected to see was Marquetta and another woman standing on her front porch. They were obviously prepared to go out, judging by the killer skirt and sexy blouse. She looked gorgeous. As she pushed the strap of her purse up her arm, her gaze turned angry. Shit, not a good sign.
“What on earth are you doing here?” she bit out.
Before he could ask himself that same question, feeling like a fool, Jensen walked to the porch. He smiled and hit his iPod’s On button. The soft, romantic notes of Aerosmith’s “Angel” filled the darkness. He took the plunge and began to sing, putting all he had into it. The song said it all. The loneliness he felt without her. The loss. The sadness. It was all there. And even though he was totally off-key, he poured his heart and soul into it. This was his chance to save something precious.
Marquetta’s gaze widened, and she didn’t move to leave. He was grateful for that much at least. Jensen didn’t stop until he reached the end of the song. By the time he was through, Marquetta appeared dumbfounded. Her friend had slipped away, thank God. With a knowing smile, she’d scooted to her car and discreetly driven off. Jensen took full advantage of the moment.
“I’ve been a fool, sweetheart,” he said, hoping she didn’t turn around and slam the door in his face. “Forgive me?”
Marquetta crossed her arms over her chest. “You think singing a love song is going to make me forget what you said?”
Jensen frowned. “No, but I had hoped it would get you to speak to me again.”
“You do realize how completely infuriating you are, don’t you?”
“I’ve been told, yes,” he replied as he stepped onto the porch. He fisted his hands at his sides to keep from tugging her close, and murmured, “I’m sorry for the things I said.”
“I don’t want to hear it,” she gritted out. “I mean it, Jensen.”
His frustration grew by leaps and bounds. He wanted to swat her bottom for being so disagreeable. At the same time, he was very tempted to take off her pretty skirt and make love to her where she stood. She was so beautiful, and he ached for her.
“God, I missed you,” he said, then covered her mouth with his, swallowing any protest she might have made. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, anxious to feel her curves and valleys nestled close. He licked her lips, and they parted. He thrust his tongue in and fucked her hot mouth.
Jensen lifted his head and stared down at her flushed face. “I’m sorry. So damn sorry for being a huge asshole the other night. You didn’t deserve it. None of it.”
Her chin quivered. “You really hurt me, Jensen.”
“I know, and I’ve been kicking myself in the ass ever since. Please, let me back in. I promise you won’t regret it.”
“I truly didn’t know Sheldon was married,” she explained. “Not that I owe you an explanation.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I reacted badly because of my dad. When he cheated on my mom, it tore our family apart for a while. It was years before things were good again. Still, you don’t deserve to be judged for something that happened way the hell before we even met. I have my own skeletons. I’m no saint.”
“I’m not trying to downplay my role in the relationship, but I was young and naïve, and he took advantage of that. The whole thing left a mark.”
“I can see it sucked rotten eggs, but I’m not your professor, and I’m betting you aren’t the same woman you were then either, am I right?”
“I don’t know. That’s the messed-up part of me. I truly thought what I had with Sheldon was my big, once-in-a-lifetime love. When he dumped me…” She paused, seeking the courage to continue. “I didn’t want to go on. And I sure as hell didn’t want to fall in love again.” She smiled up at him. “But then you came along, and all my plans flew right out the window.”
“Like I said, Sheldon and I aren’t cut from the same cloth, sweetheart.” He took her hand in his and placed a soft kiss to her palm. “I would never treat you that way.” Jensen’s voice caressed her senses as he kissed her palm again. “Give me a chance to erase Sheldon from your memory forever. Give me a chance to fix what I broke. You won’t be sorry, I swear it.”
Marquetta shook her head, needing him to know all of it before she lost her nerve. “There’s more.”
“More?” Jensen’s gaze shot to hers, a frown creasing his forehead.
“I ended up pregnant,” she explained, her voice shaking as the painful memories of that fateful day flashed through her mind. “When I went to tell him the good news… Well, that’s when I found out he was married. He wanted me to abort the baby immediately. Told me I was trying to trap him. He said a lot of awful things that day.”
Every muscle in Jensen’s body went taut, and his eyes turned cold. “That son of a bitch.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said too.” She stepped away, needing the distance, and wrapped her arms around her middle. “Well, that and a few other things.” Jensen started toward her, but she held up a hand. “No, let me finish.” He nodded, albeit reluctantly. “Anyway, about four weeks later, I lost the baby.” Marquetta shut her eyes, reliving a horrible moment in time all over again.