Page 45 of You First
He was pretty sure the ache he felt for her wouldn’t go away, and just having coffee and just reaching for her hand would probably be torture. But getting to know her would be…a gift.One he’d gladly accept.
“I hope so too.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ON SATURDAY, MEREDITHchecked in on Gray but spent most of the day at home, planning a menu for the week. This was because Jamie would return the following afternoon, and she wanted a reason to be out of the house when he did. And if she’d be gone most of Sunday, she also wanted to spend as much time with Oscar as possible.
After Gray’s meals were planned and her shopping list made, Meredith and Brooke took Oscar to the park and completely wore him out. That night he crashed midway through story time, so Meredith curled up next to her son withShadow Quarter, the first novel in the Alex Booth series. From the first line, it was good. Really good. Alex Booth was witty and sharp and a bit of an outlaw.
But best of all, Meredith could hear Gray’s voice in the words.
After finishing Chapter Four, she lay the book across her chest and closed her eyes. Alex Booth, who, in her mind, bore a striking resemblance to a certain six-foot tall, dark-haired author, had just arrived in time to save Lyra Kingston. The twenty-something-year-old musician had attracted a follower as she walked home from a gig at The House of Blues. Her would-be assailant tailed her from Decatur to Camp Street, and as footsteps closed in, Lyra cursed herself for walking alone. As soon as a hand grabbed the collar of her leather jacket, Alex Booth struck, landing one punch to the jaw and another to the kidney before the attacker fled.
The scene left Meredith’s heart racing, but as she read, she couldn’t help but picture her walk around the coliseum the weeks before and Gray’s protective presence. She switched off the light and curled around the thought of sky-blue eyes and the smell of wood smoke and parchment.
But it was the odor of diesel and bacon grease that woke her a few hours later.
The mattress shook, and Meredith came to at once. She lay on her side, but she didn’t dare move.
“Hey, Mered,” Jamie whispered into the darkness.
Meredith cringed. She hated it when he called herMered.Even though his tongue couldn’t float over the “r” the French way, it was just close enough tomerdeto piss her off every time. And Jamie had thought it was hilarious the first time she told him why she didn’t like the nickname.
Lying on her side, she didn’t open her eyes, but she tried to keep her body loose, her breath deep and even. It felt late, so late he should be exhausted. If she pretended to sleep, he may just collapse beside her.
Or not,she thought as Jamie’s hand landed on her ass.
She pretended to stir just enough to roll onto her front so he couldn’t grab her anywhere else, and she let her breath come deeper.
“I’m home, bae,” he said, a little louder this time. If he wasn’t careful, he’d wake Oscar, who’d only be too excited to find his daddy home. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hip connecting with hers. “I know you’re awake. Quit fakin’.”
“Sshh,” she scolded, giving up.
Jamie snickered. “Busted,” he whispered. “Gimme a kiss.”
“No.”
“C’mon, I missed you,” he teased.
“No, you didn’t. You’re just horny.”
He snickered again. “I’m horny AND I missed you.” His hand rubbed down her behind to the back of her thigh.
She reached back, grabbed his wrist, and flung him from her. “Quit it. I was asleep. And you’ll wake him.”
“He’ll stay asleep if we’re quiet.” Jamie tugged on her hip to flip her over, but she held firm. He changed tactics and stretched out beside her, throwing a leg over hers and wrapping his arm around her waist. His palm pressed flat against her stomach and his lips met the back of her neck.
“Mmm… you smell good,” he murmured.
“You smell like a gas station. Please get off me,” she hissed.
“‘Cause I been workin’,” he bit back, anger touching his voice.
Meredith held her breath. Her options were disappearing. Jamie had never forced her. But she could feel his erection against her thigh, and his fingers slipped under her T-shirt. If she kept resisting, it would lead to a fight, and Oscar would wake up crying. And Leona and Big Jim would wake up, wanting to know what was wrong.
This was always the point when she gave in. She’d roll over and let him have his way for the next eight minutes. Six if she was lucky.
But the thought of him entering her now made her panic — more than usual. She’d fallen asleep thinking of Gray. She couldn’t wait to spend the whole day at his house. Just that afternoon, he’d taken a coffee break and poured her a cup. This had become their routine. But today, when he’d handed it to her, and their fingers had brushed, Meredith’s breath had stuttered. And she’d relived the feeling all day.
