Until Lexi

Leaning back, looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world, he stares me down while he takes a long drink from the paper cup in front of him. His gaze is like a full body caress. I feel it over every inch of me. I felt the same sensation the entire time I waited in line to get my coffee, which means he’s had his eyes on me from the moment I walked through the door.

Jake nods to himself, placing his drink back on the table. “We’ll do this your way… for now.” His lips tip to a grin, but only for a second before his expression hardens. “I can’t give you the full story.”

“But you said—”

“Hush. Let me finish.”

Eyes widening, my lips part on a quick breath.

The audacity of this sexy motherfucker.

Why does it turn me on?

Glaring at him, I wave a hand for him to continue, then cross my arms over my chest.

“The full story is for Riley to hear first, but I know you’re not gonna let me near her until you know why I’m looking for her.” I open my mouth to speak again, but he shoots me a quelling look and my lips snap shut. “It’s something I respect you for, Lexi. I admire how fiercely you protect those you consider family.”

His words put a dent in my tough shell, but he still hasn’t told me anything. Jake must see my impatience because he gives me a soft smile and keeps going.

“A friend of mine has been looking for siblings he didn’t know he had until last year. I believe Riley is one of them, and I’ve been looking for her so I can find out for sure.”

“Oh.”

That is… not at all what I was expecting, but at the same time, I’m not shocked.

People like me and Riley...

We’re products of the system.

The orphaned, abandoned, abused.

Let down in the worst ways by those who were supposed to love us the most.

We all have different stories, some more fucked up than the rest. Riley’s isn’t mine to tell, but from what I know, I’m not surprised to discover she might have other siblings out there in the world.

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“I’m not.”

Jake studies me for a minute before a smirk tilts the corner of his mouth. “Does that mean I can come by the house again without you coming after me with a bat?”

A laugh slips between my lips before I can stop it.

“I went after your car, not you.”

His smirk transforms to a wide smile, and I’m momentarily stunned. It’s seriously unfair for one man to be this goddamn gorgeous. I don’t know how he does it. Jake manages to find a crack to slip through in every single wall I try to erect around myself. Seems like my subconscious is intentionally leaving spaces for him to find. I’m starting to wonder if I should bother trying to put the walls up at all. It might not be so bad to let my guard down with him now that I don’t have to worry about protecting Riley as well.

“Which is why you owe me a headlight.”

“How much?” I ask, moving to pull a wad of cash from my front pocket. “I’ll own up to the damage I caused.”

“I don’t want your money, Lexi.”

My hand stills in my pocket. Caught by surprise, I leave it there to prevent Jake from seeing the way my fingers tremble when I look back up at him and see the downright sinful gleam in his eyes. It’s a wasted effort. He knows. His eyes darken, every salacious thought he has playing right across his face. My breath hitches.

Jake grins, waiting.

He wants me to ask, but I hesitate.

I never hesitate.

I always know exactly what I want, and never have trouble going after it.

This should be no different.

Heshould be no different.

We watch one another, silently taking the other’s measure, both wondering who’s going to break first.

The answer is me.

“What is it that you do want?” I ask with more confidence than I feel.

His grin morphs to a feral smile.

My core clenches.

I bite back a groan at the way my body involuntarily responds to him. There’s something about Jake that calls to my baser urges, unearthing a heady desire I’ve never felt for another man.

“A date.”

Taken aback by the simple request, I blink.

Jake keeps surprising me.

He could have asked for anything, and he wants a date?

My mouth opens and closes, but eventually I manage to sputter out a response. “A-a date? That’s what you want?”

Relaxing in the booth, he stretches both arms across the back of it and nods once. “That’s what I want,” he confirms. “After we figure things out with Riley, and I have answers to give my friend, I want a night out with you.”

The mention of Riley’s name reminds me how far we’ve gotten off track.

“I’ll talk to Riley,” I tell him. “If she’s interested in meeting you to hear what you have to say, I’ll arrange a time and make it happen.”

Jake tips his head, scrutinizing my every move as I slide from the booth and stand.

“And the date?”

Snatching my keys from the table, I pick up my cup of now-cold coffee and offer Jake a flirty smile. “It better be a damn good date.”

His chuckle follows me out the door, and I resist the urge to look back.

Thoughts of Jake take up prominent space in my head as I make the short drive home. When I see Riley’s car parked out front, I breathe out a heavy sigh. I feel an immediate sense of relief knowing that she’s finally home. I can only hope that when I tell her what Jake revealed, she’ll choose to face it head on like she does most everything else instead of using her recent avoidance tactics when it comes to the situation with Hope.

By the time I get out of my car and up to the porch, Riley is already waiting for me. She pushes open the storm door, eyeing me carefully as I slip past her. Despite her attempt to appear unaffected by the possible outcome of my meet-up with Jake, the stiffness in her posture is noticeable.

“Where are the others?” I ask, dropping my keys into the bowl by the door.

“Watching a movie,” she says, nodding in toward the living room.

I head that way, Riley following close behind. Glancing back, I wonder if she realizes how much tension is rolling off her. She’s practically vibrating with the need to know what Jake said.

So much for her always being cool, calm, and collected.

Penny, Mercy, and Hope come into view as I reach the end of the hallway. I pause to take in the room. Hope is in the recliner in the corner, as far away from the other two as possible while still being in the same room. She’s not paying attention to the movie at all. With her unfocused gaze staring out the back window, she’s not even trying to be convincing. Penny rests on the couch, Mercy snuggled comfortably against her side, eyes locked on the red-headed princess on the television screen.

Brave, of course.

It’s Mercy’s favorite movie.

Riley nudges me, silently urging me to keep going. The movement draws Penny’s attention, and she glances back, gracing us with a smile. Tossing Pen a wink, I let Riley lead me to the bar stools along the kitchen island, and slide onto one.

“What’d this guy have to say, Lex?” Riley asks, point blank.

Guess her patience has run out. Can’t say I blame her.

“He was hired by a friend of his. He’s looking for you because he thinks you might be his friend’s sister.”

“That’s it? That’s all he said?”

“The gist of it, yeah. He wouldn’t tell me the full story. Says you deserve to hear it before anyone else.”

“Huh.”

She moves to the fridge, grabbing two bottles of water. Passing me one, she keeps one for herself, picking at the label rather than opening it. I wait, giving her a few minutes. I know she’s processing the information, limited as it may be. Glancing over at Penny, I find her watching Riley, concern lacing her features. It’s obvious she heard what I said, and like me, is wondering how Riley’s going to react. We lock gazes, communicating without words how we plan to support our sister in whatever way she needs.

“I want to talk to him.”

My attention moves swiftly back to Riley, who’s still picking at the plastic label.

“I’ll text him.”

“Tomorrow,” she says, finally looking up at me.

Her eyes are full of something I can’t even begin to decipher.

“I’ll make it happen,” I tell her. “Whatever you want.”

“I want to know the truth. I want to know if I have any real family out there, especially if they’ve been looking for me.” The part about “real family” hits me straight in the gut. I flinch, and she notices. Riley bites her lip and a second later, changes her words. “Blood family.”

“I knew what you meant.”

And I did.