I’d heard he'd actually made a record and had gone on tour in Canada, of all places. That was over four years ago. There’s really been no one else since. Not more than a casual hookup here and there. My one-night stand with Jase wasn't my first, only the one that came with a little extra baggage.
Though none had ever made me feel the way I did with Jase. So, how do I admit I’m so reluctant to start anything with him because I’m still utterly terrified of him and what could become of us? That I haven't left the house other than to hang out with my friends at their apartment or the safety of Bailey’s bar for fear of running into anyone in town who is going to agree with how Jase and I are not meant for one another? Specifically, because of how scared I am to hear another person gossip about how I tricked Jameson King into getting me pregnant so I could take him for all he has.
He lets out a groan, a low raspy sound so deep my entire body sizzles with awareness. It’s as if he cannot stop himself from touching me further.
“Jase,” I moan, as I press my ass to his groin, feeling his hardened erection pushing against me. I’m instantly aroused,my pussy tightening as if begging for him. God, I hate these pregnancy hormones that get me so ready in a matter of seconds.
How do pregnant women get anything done?
“Baby, just think about how fucking good this will feel.” His hand creeps lower, his fingers toying with the drawstring of my pajama bottoms, and I want nothing more than to let him tug them undone. To dip his finger underneath the fabric and touch me, sliding his fingers through the arousal already building between my legs.
When the reality of it all hits me like a splash of cold water, I set the knife down before turning around to face him. Oh, but what a mistake that was. The look of desire in his eyes has me leaning toward him, though as he lowers his head, his lips grazing mine, we hear a car coming up our driveway.
We both turn and look out toward the large windows, though where I’m confused as to who it is, I feel Jase stiffen behind me. With no explanation, he releases me, heading straight toward the front door, his silhouette filling the doorway as he steps outside. The screen door slams shut behind him, but I head toward it, knowing I shouldn’t be eavesdropping but doing so anyway.
“Indy?” he asks the woman who looks like she just stepped off a movie set.
Her high heels click along the gravel as she heads towards us, and her light blue sundress flutters in the breeze. She wraps the ivory knit cardigan around her body as a breeze flows through her hair and heads straight toward Jase, who's rushing down the steps.
“Jase, it’s so good to see you again,” she shouts as she wraps her arms around his middle. Jase stands like a deer in headlights, arms outstretched like he doesn't know what to do until he carefully wraps them around her too.
My heart jumps in my chest at the sight of them, and I immediately recognize the woman cradled in his arms. Indigo Harper, his ex-girlfriend. The same girl he had wanted to make jealous the day he kissed me.
Well shit. It looks like we’ve come full circle.
Jase doesn’t smile, his eyes flicking up to look at mine as he keeps his arms around her. My chest tightens, making it harder to breathe as I look at the two of them, feeling like I’m intruding on some intimate moment and not vice versa.
Something inside me cracks. This here is a rude awakening, a moment of understanding that what I was about to let happen between Jase and me was a mistake. I let him touch me. Let his fingers graze my skin as his mouth hovered closer to mine. He was about to kiss me again, and worse, I wanted him to this time.
Indigo showing up now is exactly what we both need to realize this thing between us will never work. I’m living in a borrowed space with a man who doesn’t love me. Even if I’m carrying his baby. A baby he never planned for. Now the woman he loved, or loves if the way his arms hold her close are any sign of lingering feelings, is back.
Just when we agree to make things work for the sake of our little bear, he suggests the preposterous idea of acting like we’re in a relationship in order to appease his mother. Now, his ex-girlfriend shows up. Well, if that isn’t a fucking sign.
Chapter Fifteen
Jase
Present
I couldn’t sleep. Not after what happened. Not knowing Monroe was upstairs, lying in bed, probably replaying what almost happened tonight in her mind like I was. The way my fingers lingered for a second too long on her hip reminded me of the way they explored every inch of her body during our night together, and how badly they ache to do it again. To find out if her needs have changed at all in the months since we were together.
Does she still like to have her head stroked while she takes my cock in her mouth? Will she come harder if I pull her hair back to give me a better angle so I can hit her throat? Does she still have the imprint of my fingers on her ass, as I took her from behind only to flip her over to do the same to her as my lips devoured hers? Do her lips taste the same?
I was lucky enough to discover the answer to that question, and it only made me want her more.
If I’d known Indy was going to show up tonight, bombarding me with unrealistic expectations, I never would have agreed tothe friendship she was so adamant about keeping. I never would have answered her call or shown up at her door offering my help. I would have kept my distance the way I knew I should have from the start.
Instead, I pretended she didn’t want me back even though I knew it was exactly what she was scheming. Her supposed need for me to be a phone call away, running to her when she called was her way of showing she still had some power over me.
Now she’s back, and worst of all, she showed up on my doorstep at the worst possible time. Just when I’m finally hitting a turning point with Monroe, as I’m gaining back her trust, she barges in with a declaration of love and wanting me back only to find out I have a pregnant woman living with me.
I don’t know where Monroe and I stand. I could have figured it out before Indy showed up, but now, I don’t know what we are. I asked her to consider faking a relationship with me for the sake of pacifying my mother, when in reality there’s nothing I want more than for her to finally accept there’s something more between us.
This isn’t just dealing with the consequences of knocking up my sister’s best friend, this is starting a family with a woman I like. I know this can be a bad idea, one that might end with me heartbroken, but I am helpless when it comes to her. I can’t continue the way things are. I want Monroe to be mine. If making her believe I’m pretending, while doing everything I can to convince her it’s what she really wants, is the way to go, then that’s what I’ll do.
When Indy showed up, it looked like Monroe had seen a ghost. I didn’t know what to say.Why couldn’t I like dudes?I’m pretty sure there's a lot less drama. Then again, all of my friends are pretty high maintenance too. Take Nash, for example, a whipped man thanks to my sister. He’d do anything the woman asked of him to please her. I’m sure if his brothers were in arelationship, they’d be the same way. Then there’s Tucker, who’s been too in love with the same girl since I’ve known him and has yet to find the courage to ask her out. Then we have Jake, who, although he works for my father, I’ve never let that impede our friendship. He could have been a good catch. The ladies seem to love him, and although we aren't as close as we once were, particularly now that Nash has returned and is dating my sister, Jake’s always been a loyal guy.
Here I am, unable to comprehend my inability to tell Indy to go fuck herself. She’s back two years after dumping me because she didn’t feel like our relationship was going anywhere. It left me with a horrible taste in my mouth, because I had seen our relationship going somewhere. Yeah, I spend most of my time working with my father, letting him dictate my priorities, but it was something I was contemplating changing until she texted me we were better off as friends.
