Checking It Twice

chapter Eight


Despite the wintery weather, the shopping district in downtown Rochester was jam-packed with people out looking for gifts and holiday bargains. As Nick searched for an available parking space, he debated the sanity of braving the crowds just so he could find a souvenir to ship off to his mom. He knew how much she appreciated and looked forward to the little mementos from his various travels though. Deciding her happiness far outweighed his inconvenience, he circled the city parking lot again until he spotted a tan SUV with evergreen garlands decorating its roof rack vacating a spot. Mentally pumping his fist in victory, he stepped on the gas and cruised into the parking space. After double-checking that he had his wallet with him, he climbed from his car and hit the locks.

The bracing air giving him a brisk slap, he rushed toward the cluster of shops up ahead. The first store he entered was too crowded to be comfortable. Fortunately, a fast scan verified that most of the merchandise appeared to be ultra-modern home furnishings and the like. Definitely not his mom’s style. Leaving that shop behind, he tried his luck at the neighboring one and hit pay dirt when he noticed they sold mostly local, handcrafted goods and folk art. Stuffing his gloves in his coat pocket, he ventured toward a rack of quilted hobo sacks. A bright pink and lime green one catching his eye, he freed the strap and held up the tote for a closer inspection.

“Personally, I think blue is more your color.”

The familiar, humor-filled voice poured over him like warm butterscotch. Nerves tingling in pleasure, he glanced over his shoulder and met Jana’s amused gaze. A shock of lust splintered through him. Jesus Christ. Would there ever come a time when he wouldn’t be insanely aroused every time he looked at her? Probably not. Which was why he f*cking hoped to God that Kevin came around, and soon. Jana was the best damn thing that could have happened for Kev, and there was nothing Nick wanted more than to see Kev and Jana together and happy. But he’d also be a damn liar if he didn’t admit that he was experiencing a struggle of epic proportions to not want Jana for himself.

F*ck. He did want her. With every breath inside him. God knows, if Jana loved him the way she did Kev…

Nothing on this Earth would keep Nick from being with her. Maybe not even Kev.

The thought making him feel suspiciously guilty, he hooked the tote back on the rack. “I’m looking for a gift for my mom.”

“Ah, now it’s making sense.”

“You’re a long way from Wicked Delights.”

“My part-timer, Allie, mans the store all day for me on Thursdays and Saturdays, so I’m officially off the clock.” She glanced at the rack of tote bags. “Do you want me to help you find something for your mom? I’m pretty good at picking out presents.”

The prospect of time spent with her was too irresistible to pass up, regardless if it ended up tormenting him. “I’d like that.”

Her smile threatened to blind him. “Okay, tell me about your mom so I can get an idea of what the perfect gift for her would be.”

He stroked his chin. “Well, I don’t know. She’s…mom-like.”

Jana snorted. “Not only is that incredibly unhelpful, I’m sure your mother would love the description.”

He offered her a sheepish look. “She’s kind of a homebody. Loves to read and knit.” He gestured toward the bags. “I was thinking she could use one of those for holding her yarn and needles.”

“Hmm, that sounds like a good option. There’s another rack of these in the back that feature animal prints.”

“You mean like cheetah and zebra? I don’t think she’d be in to that.”

“No, you goofball. Like whimsical cats and ducks.”

“She does love cats.”

“Then we might have a winner.” Snatching his arm, she dragged him toward the rear of the store. The tote in question proved to be the ideal present for his mom, according to Jana. He definitely agreed with her. She also convinced him to purchase coordinating slippers and a handmade journal. One hundred and fifty dollars later, he followed Jana through the front door and huddled with her beneath the protective awning. “I don’t know whether to thank you or weep for my bank account.”

She tossed him a cheeky smile. “I’m extremely skilled at spending other people’s money.”

He stared at her mouth, remembering its addictive softness. “How about you spend some more of my money by having lunch with me?”

“I thought our complicated situation precluded noshing together.”

He frowned. “It does?”

“Well, I don’t think so. But I thought you did.”

“Why would you think that?”

She nibbled her lip. “You backed out on taking me to dinner the other night.”

F*ck. I did. Sticking to that plan would probably go a long way in preserving his sanity. Then again, sanity was highly overrated. “I’d really like to take you to lunch. Assuming I have the willpower not to ravage you while we’re waiting for the soup to arrive, we should be okay.”

He wasn’t sure if the sudden color in her cheeks was due to the cold or his statement. Regardless, it was going to make it doubly hard for him to keep his promise about the non-ravagement.

“There’s a really good bistro within walking distance, if you’re up for it.”

“Hell, a little subzero windchill isn’t going to turn me into a wimp.” Hugging Jana tight to his side, he used his body to block most of the arctic gusts as she tugged him down the sidewalk.

Less than five minutes later, their teeth chattering, they piled through the doorway of the cozy cafe. The blessed warmth felt nearly as wonderfully welcome as Jana cuddled against him. Heeding the sign that told them to seat themselves, they headed to a small table situated near one of the windows overlooking the street.

Jana shrugged from her long leather trench coat and draped it over the back of her chair. She caught him eyeing the garment and chuckled. “I know, it’s not practical. I’m worse than a six-year-old when it comes to things like dressing appropriately to avoid frostbite.” She plopped down on her seat and shivered.

He removed his coat and sat across from her before reaching for her hands. They were blocks of ice. He speared her with a stern look. “Gloves?”

Her expression remained chagrined. “Forgot to put them on.”

“What are we going to do with you?” He rubbed her hands between his before lowering his head and warming her fingers with his breath. A shuddery exhalation slipped from her. Not failing to note the tremble in her hands, he lifted his gaze. The hungry way she was staring at him fired his blood more effectively than the cafe’s central heating. “Sweetness, if you don’t stop looking at me like that, we won’t even make it to the soup.”

She licked her lips before carefully extracting herself from his grip and dropping her focus to the menus stacked in the nearby holder. Sliding two free, she handed one to him before studiously unrolling the paper napkin folded around her silverware. “At the risk of me sounding nosy for the millionth time, I couldn’t help noticing that you didn’t pick up a gift for anyone else in your family.”

“That’s because my mom is the only one I have left.”

Compassion softened her features. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. My dad died when I was a baby. My mom was an only child, which means no aunts and uncles. And she was never close to my father’s side.”

“You don’t have any brothers or sisters, right?”

“Nope. Kev’s the closest I’ve ever had to a sibling.” Which probably explained why they’d gravitated toward each other. They’d both lived in single-parent households. Though shit knows, his had been—and continued to be—infinitely more loving than Kev’s.

“Your mom was a single parent?” Jana asked, apparently intuiting his thoughts.

He nodded. “And a damn good one. God knows, it wasn’t her fault I was such a carouser growing up.”

“Hmm, maybe you’ve always loved women because you have such strong respect for your mom?”

He cocked his head to the side, considering. “Possibly.” Recalling his horndog past, he grimaced. “Though if you were to ask some of the women, they’d probably say it had a lot more to do with my love to get them naked.”

A soft laugh fell from Jana. “Something tells me they weren’t complaining.”

“Perhaps. Regardless, I certainly haven’t been much inspired to get a woman naked. Until recently.” As if it possessed a will of its own, his gaze dipped to her mouth again.

Her lips parted and he detected her quickened breath. “Nick.”

He closed his eyes, battling temptation. “I damn well said I wouldn’t do this.”

“We aren’t doing anything.”

But I want to. I want to spread you out on this table and feast on your p-ssy for hours. Opening his eyes, he found her watching him, her hands clenched so tightly on the table her knuckles were white. He dug deep for the overtaxed strings of his willpower. “No, we’re not.”

The waitress arrived finally and took their orders before making tracks for the kitchen. He reached for one of the ice waters the girl had left for them. “I hear that you and Kev shared an interesting conversation the other night.”

Her hand in mid stretch toward her own glass, Jana gaped at him. “H-he told you?”

“Yeah, after I dragged it out of him.” He quickly interpreted the cause for the crimson flush charting a journey up along her neck. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’m glad you were able to break through his barrier.” Now if only we can find a way to jackhammer through that sonofabitchin’ resistance.

“You’re…okay with it?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Sure, he’d be a motherf*cking liar if he didn’t admit to being a little envious. He’d give his left nut to be on the receiving end of hot phone sex with Jana. Though God knows, a few of their past convos had sure as shit straddled the line a time or two. He’d have to content himself with that.

Jana swallowed. “I wasn’t sure what you’d think of being included the way you were.”

He frowned. “Included? What do you mean?”

Jana’s squinty gaze slashed sideways, ensuring no prying ears, before sliding back to him. She held up her hand, blocking the side of her face. “Hello. You know, this?” She did a thing with her tongue that made him choke on a stunted cough. “Not to mention this.” Dropping her hand, she made a tight circle with her thumb and forefinger before thrusting her other finger through the gap.

He didn’t know whether to groan or laugh. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Those are the universal symbols for oral sex and bumpin’ nasties.” She rolled her eyes. “How could you not know this?”

“Bumpin’ nasties?” His lips twitched. “That’s charming, sweetness. You could have just used your oh-so-descriptive word choices. Why the tongue and hand gestures?”

“Everything’s better with tongue and hand gestures.” She shrugged like he should have already realized this obvious news. “Or sock puppets. I didn’t have any of those, so I compromised.”

He shook his head. “Okay, so during phone sex with Kev, you two did this and this.” He imitated her raunchy gestures. Hell, she’s right. It was better using them. Or at least more entertaining, anyway.

She chewed her lip. “Uh, not exactly.”

“What, did you leave a gesture out? Something involving your big toe, perhaps?” he teased.

“No, more like something involving your big cock.”

He stared at her.

“Holy shit balls. I totally didn’t mean to say it like that. I mean, how the hell would I even know if you have a big cock? Not like I’ve seen it before. Although, I felt it on my hip when you hugged me that day in my shop, and it felt huge. A freakin’ bratwurst ain’t got nuthin’ on that bad boy.” She stopped in mid spiel and cleared her throat delicately. “Long story short, I have a tendency to blurt things out.”

“You don’t say.” He offered her a wry look, but inside he was shell-shocked by her admission, his mind reeling. He’d been an involved—no, make that a pretty f*cking active—participant in Jana and Kev’s phone sex? Why the hell didn’t Kev mention that juicy tidbit last night? He could only think of one possibility.

Kev hadn’t wanted him to know. But why? For f*ck’s sake, they’d shared plenty of women. What difference did—?

He broke off in mid muse as his suspicion went from seed to full blossom. “What was Kev doing during all of this and this?” He repeated the gestures with his tongue and hand.

“Watching. Well, and sucking my nipples.” Jana circled her fingernail in the ring of condensation left by her glass of ice water. “I got the impression he liked it. A lot.” She looked at him then, the heat in her eyes practically glowing. “He wasn’t the only one.”

Their gazes remained locked for an endless moment, the sizzle and spark snapping between them. The magnetic pull almost distracted him from the bigger picture looming on the horizon. With a resounding crack, it managed to break through his trance, and he jolted like he’d literally been struck.

Jana gave him a perplexed look. “What just happened?”

His pulse kicking from the adrenaline rush, he blinked before giving his slow smile full rein. “Sweetness, I’ve found the motherf*cking jackhammer.”