Page 60 of Love Unbound
Jodi blushed furiously. She knew he had noticed the evidence in the trash can earlier in the day. She nodded. At least they knew she wasn’t pregnant.
Free’s phone rang from the bedroom. He kissed her soundly before padding into the bedroom to answer it. She heard him say, “Hey, yeah, we’re almost ready. Meet you there in half an hour?”
When he came back into the bathroom, she was just finishingher hair. She had deftly applied her makeup while he’d been in the shower. “That was Shane. They’re on their way into town.”
Jodi nodded in the mirror. “I just have to get dressed and then I’ll be ready.”
Free disappeared back out the door, and she heard him shuffling around the bedroom. By the time she exited the bathroom, he was dressed in his typical jeans and a heathered gray t-shirt. His ball cap was in his hand, and as he reached up to put it on his head, he caught sight of her. He whistled long and low, his arm stilling halfway to his head.
“Damn,” he breathed. Jodi blushed again and offered a small curtsy.
She had chosen a form fitting little black dress. It was simple in design, with a halter neckline that connected at the back of her neck and down her spine, racerback style, leaving large swaths of tanned skin on her shoulders bare. It hit mid-thigh, leaving her legs bare. Low heeled, black sandals adorned her feet. Turquoise and silver jewelry completed the outfit, and she had a black jacket over her arm, in case it got cold later in the evening.
“You’re breathtaking,” he whispered in awe. She blushed again.
“Thank you,” she said appreciatively. She nodded to the black hat in his hand, that still hadn’t made it to his head. “Have I ever told you how much I like when you wear that hat backwards?”
He grinned lopsidedly, reaching up to put it on finally. “No, but I’m glad you like it. The cowboy hat can be cumbersome sometimes.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I love the cowboy hat, too,” Jodi said and smiled broadly. “But this is… sexy… in a way I wasn’t expecting. The same with your beard. I was never a beard girl, until I saw you on my porch two weeks ago. All of a sudden, my main character needed a beard, too.”
“Oh really?” he asked. She nodded, smiling. “I’ll have toremember that,” he growled and she laughed. He reached out his hand for hers. “Ready?”
“Yes,” she said, placing her hand in his. They drove into town, pulling into the parking lot of the dive bar Free had brought her to that first night. He took her hand and they walked through the parking lot toward the door.
The place was jam packed, a band playing loudly. The billiard tables were all occupied, and the bar was three people deep. But Kyle the bartender saw them as they walked in, over the other patrons’ heads, nodding to them in greeting. In minutes, they each had beers in hand, sliding away to find an empty table, waiting for Shane and Cassie to arrive.
It was noisy and hard to hear each other over the crowd, but Jodi smiled, happy to be with Free, in what might be one of their final evenings together. They still hadn’t talked about it. And she wouldn’t tonight. She wanted to enjoy this.
Shane and Cassie found them, and Jodi jumped out of her seat to hug them both. They each looked sun kissed and gloriously happy, if a little exhausted from travel. Cassie wore a kelly green sundress that floated around her legs, showcasing her tropical tan. Shane had a tan line on his face from wearing sunglasses for the last two weeks in the tropical sun. Free and Shane hugged, congratulations were exchanged, and as they sat the newlyweds launched into a tale of how their luggage had been lost for the first two days of their trip. By the time drinks had been dispersed, Jodi and Free were rolling with laughter.
Jodi saw the look that Shane passed between her and Free, no surprise showing on his or Cassie’s faces. Free must have told him. He simply smiled at her, reaching out and squeezing her shoulder gently. She nodded and smiled in return.
Sheila and Brad were there again, as usual. They joined the table and Sheila regaled them all with the story of the tiny morel, using her pinkie nail for reference. Free shook his head andgrinned, taking a long pull of his beer, emptying it. When Sheila noticed, she stood and hollered over the crowd, “Shots!”
Jodi was rolling in her seat. Before she knew it, a tray full of shots and fresh drinks had been delivered to their table, the shots each adorned with a wedge of lime and a salt shaker in the middle. “Cheers,” Sheila crowed, downing her shot.
Jodi smiled at Free and they clinked their shots together in a cheers before downing them. Jodi lifted the slice of lime toward her mouth, but Free caught her wrist, bringing the lime to his own mouth and sucking on it. Jodi gasped, white hot desire ricocheting through her as his tongue laved at the lime between her fingertips. When he released her wrist, he leaned forward, grasping the back of her neck in his hand, and pulled her toward him for a scorching, open mouthed kiss. Her body thrummed. As his mouth left hers, he remained leaning close. He slid his thumb over her bottom lip, his eyes searching hers fervently.
The cacophony of the bar surrounded them, people laughing, shouting, the music blaring. And despite the noise around them, it was as if they were the only two there. Her eyes never left his, his thumb still on her lip, stroking softly. She had just enough liquid courage in her system to make her brave, and she whispered, “I love you.”
Chapter 45
Jodi thought her heart was going to pound out of her chest. She couldn’t believe she’d just said it out loud. Free’s eyes widened as her words processed, and she closed her eyes, suddenly terrified of what he would say. When she opened them, he was still staring at her, though a smile tugged at his lips.
As he opened his mouth, Shane snarled loud enough to bring their attention around to him. He had risen from his chair, his body taut. “Can we help you?”
Jodi and Free looked toward what had caught his attention, and Jodi blanched. Free shot to his feet, taking a step between Jodi and Josh, who had just walked up to their table. Jodi stood too, placing a hand on Free’s bicep, though she remained half behind him. His body was tense with rage.
“What do you want, Josh?” Jodi asked around Free, thankful for the noisy room. She didn’t want a scene.
“Idle curiosity,” he said, the same as before, and Jodi’s teeth ground together in anger. He crossed his arms over his chest where he stood just a couple feet away from their group. He turned to Free. “Did she tell you I came to see her the other day?”
To Free’s credit, he hid the surprise well, his only tell was a stiffening underneath her fingers that still clutched his bicep. Warning bells went off in her head. She knew what Josh was doing, what he was trying to do. But Free didn’t.
“I’m guessing that’s a no?” he asked, bouncing his hazel eyes from her to Free and back again. Jodi made to step around Free, but he moved his arm to keep her as far away from Josh aspossible. Josh’s eyes landed on hers. “So am I right?”
“Go away,” Jodi snapped. She knew the glaze in his eyes, knew he was drunk and looking to cause trouble. And she was terrified that Free would give him exactly what he wanted. Tugging at Free’s arm, she begged, “Free, let’s go, please. He’s looking for a fight. Please, let’s go home. Please.”
