Vulnerable Pieces (Cape Isle, #4): A Cape Isle Novel Read online

  I know she’s serious. I can hear the firmness in her tone. I drop my playful expression and thread my fingers through her hair again. She responds instantly by arching her back and pushing her hips against mine. She can’t deny our chemistry. Her body wants mine even if she thinks she doesn’t.

  I bring my mouth close to hers, but keep my eyes on her face. “I’m not looking for a relationship either, Jenna. My law practice is my life. I work way too many hours to even try to have something normal with someone, but I want you. I have since the moment I saw you. I’ll take whatever you can give me. That may make me sound pathetic and I know I shouldn’t want you so badly. You’re a fucking hurricane baby, but it just so happens that I love it when it storms.”

  I don’t give her any time to respond before I take her mouth in another hungry kiss. I taste and tease and show her how fucking much I want her. Eventually I slow the kiss down and nibble on each corner of her mouth before pulling away. I use my thumb to wipe the moisture off of her lips. She looks up at me with lust filled eyes and I kiss her forehead before stepping back.

  We stare at each other for a long heat-filled minute. She looks down and smooths her dress out before clearing her throat. “I’m not sure what to say to that.”

  I want to laugh at how she is trying to look so composed when I know her panties are soaking wet, I could feel the heat of her through my pants, but I don’t. I nod my head and button my suit jacket.

  “Just think about it, Freckles. I’ll see you soon.” I step towards her and open her car door, careful not to touch her because I know if I do, I will have her pinned right back against that car and I’m not sure I’ll have the strength to be gentleman this time.

  She studies my face for a second before slipping into the driver seat.

  “Get home safe, baby.”

  She cranks the car, as I shut the door.

  I watch as she backs out and drives down the road, before getting into my truck and doing the same.

  Her house isn’t far from mine, so I decide to drive by just to make sure I see her car in the driveway before I make my way home. When have I ever worried about that before? Never. My mother raised me to be kind and to be a gentleman, but I seem to take it to the extreme with Jenna. Something tells me that I need to handle this with care. I know she’s guarded and I know that under that hard exterior lies a woman who has secrets, but damnit if that doesn’t make me want her even more. I want to see her in ways that no one else gets to. I wasn’t lying when I called her a fucking hurricane, she is and I know that if I were to let her, I could drown in her storm. I have to remind myself that this is not what that is. This is me wanting a woman on a basic level. This is me being extremely attracted to someone and wanting to fuck her, nothing more. So why in the hell am I driving by her house right now to make sure she gets home safe? Mother fucker, she is already under my skin.

  I slow down as I pull down her street. I can see her car parked in her driveway and I let out a sigh of relief. She made it home fine. Now I can go to my house, jack off, go to sleep and try to forget what her lips feel like against mine or the way her body responded to me perfectly. This is just physical, I remind myself, nothing more to it. I have a business to run and my case load is fucking insane. I don’t have time for anything more than physical.

  I pull into my driveway a few minutes later and I lay my head back against my seat. I am so fucked.

  Chapter Seven

  Jenna

  I GRAB MY BLACK HEELS out of my closet and slip them on my feet. Tonight is Nick and Katie’s housewarming party and somehow I got talked into going. When I was growing up and while I was with David, it seemed like there was a party to attend at least once a week, sometimes more. The parties in Cape Isle are so different. Instead of a heavy ball gown, I’m wearing a light chiffon dress that comes to about mid-thigh. I’m grumpy today, and part of me doesn’t want to go, but I know once I get there I’ll actually have fun. I love these people. They don’t have a fake bone in their body. What you see is what you get and I love that about them.

  Once I have my heels on, I study myself in the mirror. My hair is down and is flowing across my shoulders and back in waves. My makeup is done a little heavier than normal. I decided on a smoky eye look tonight and I like the way it makes my brown eyes pop. I grab my pink lip gloss out of my purse and swipe it across my lips. I turn around so that I can see my back and make sure everything looks good back there. This dress is partially backless, which means I can’t wear a bra, but I have those sticky things on my nipples so it’s not too obvious. I turn and walk towards the front door.

  Coconut is sitting on the back of the couch and I don’t dare disturb her. I don’t want to bleed on the way to a party. “Be good,” I tell her as I pass.

  She opens her eyes and I swear she rolls them at me. Whatever.

  The drive to Nick and Katie’s house is fairly quick. They have been renovating all summer and just got finished a few weeks ago. I haven’t seen the house since they moved in, but I did come over and help a little with the painting.

  I pull into the driveway and look around at all of the cars. I see Grant’s truck and Lexie’s car, but the others I don’t recognize. Grabbing my purse and the bottle of wine off of the passenger seat, I make my way up the stairs. Their front porch is so cute. There is a huge swing off to one side and the other has several other seating areas. There are flowers everywhere and I have to wonder how she keeps them alive in this heat.

  I knock on the door and Katie greets me with a smile. “Hey, Jenna.”

  “Hey, girl.” I hold up the wine and pass it to her. “For you.”

  She looks at the label and her eyes bulge. “Holy shit, Jenna. You didn’t have to do this.”

  I wave her off. “You worked your ass off on this house, you deserve it.”

  “Well, Nick did most of the work, but if this is my reward, I’ll take it. Thank you so much.”

  It makes me feel guilty that she doesn’t know my money situation. She doesn’t know that my parents probably have thousands of bottles of wine more expensive than that in their wine cellar, but I quickly push those thoughts away, reminding myself that I keep my life private for a reason. “You’re welcome.”

  She steps back and waves me to come inside. “The bar is set-up out back and the food is in the kitchen. I think mostly everyone is outside. Make yourself at home,” she smiles.

  I nod and smile in return before making my way to the back patio. Good Lord, this view is beautiful. I love Summer and Grant’s view from their living room, but I think this one is better. You are almost on the water. It looks like you could reach out and touch it.

  I see where the bar is set-up and I make my way towards it. Lexie and Zack are standing at one end and I slide up next to them.

  Lexie glances over at me and smiles. “You made it!”

  “You forced me.”

  She rolls her eyes and looks at Zack. “I did not force her.”

  I look to Zack and he smirks over at me.

  “If you know your girlfriend at all, you know that she forced me.”

  He laughs and pulls Lexie close while kissing her cheek. I look away when I see Lexie look up at him with those star struck eyes. I’m so happy for them, but I remember a time that I looked at a man like that and it still fucking hurts to think about.

  I order a whiskey and coke from the bartender before looking around the party. I see Summer and Grant talking to another couple who I don’t recognize. Summer gives me a little wave and I smile, as I wave back. She’s so damn cute.

  When the bartender comes back with my drink, I take a sip as I look out at the ocean. I have the day off tomorrow and I plan on going to the public beach so I can soak up some sun. It’s going to start getting cooler here in about a month and I feel like I haven’t spent enough time with the sand this summer.

  I feel someone walk up next to me and I don’t even have to turn to see who it is. It’s like I can sense him.

  “Hey,
Freckles.”

  I haven’t talked to him or seen him since the other night. Things got out of hand quickly and I’m a little embarrassed that I practically dry humped him in the parking lot. I don’t know what to say or how to act now that I know what his dick feels like pressed up against my stomach. On that thought, I take another large drink of my whiskey. I can feel his eyes still on me as he lets out a quiet chuckle. Surely he can’t read my mind.

  He greets Lexie and Zack and they both say their hellos as I study him from out of the corner of my eye. He must have just come straight from work again. He has on black suit pants and a blue button up shirt that’s rolled up at the sleeves. As he reaches across to shake Zack’s hand, his forearms flex. Damnit, why do I have to be attracted to him? I’ve known that Parker was my type from the first time I saw him. He is ridiculously attractive, but now that I know what his hands and mouth feel like, it’s worse.

  Lexie and Zack excuse themselves to go mingle and I’m left alone with him.

  “Are you not speaking to me?” he asks, turning his body towards mine.

  “What do we have to talk about?” I ask with an eyebrow raised in question. He is so close to me and when he speaks again, he leans even closer. I can feel his body heat and I can smell that intoxicating cologne he wears.

  “How about we start with that fantastic kiss we shared the other night?”

  “How about we forget that ever happened?” I counter. I’m impressed that my voice sounds so controlled when inside I am anything but composed. I don’t like how this man makes me feel. He makes me feel things I haven’t felt in a long time. He makes me want to know what his lips would feel like on my body and that’s dangerous. I built my walls for a reason and I’m not going to let him in just because he is hotter than hell.

  He leans in and his lips brush across the shell of my ear. “There’s no fucking way I could ever forget that kiss or the way I could feel the heat of you through your wet panties. I know you want me, Jenna. I can feel the sparks between us. What I don’t understand is why you’re trying to lie to yourself.”

  His voice has gone husky and I squeeze my thighs together to try to relieve the ache. He leans back and catches my eyes with his. I try to put on my mask of indifference, but it doesn’t work. I know he can see how much I want him.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he whispers.

  I usually have a witty comeback or something I would say here, but my mind is drawing a blank. The heat in his eyes is almost overwhelming. I’m the first to look away and I finish off my drink in one gulp, before turning to the bartender for another one.

  Shit. Shit. Shit. I’m so fucking screwed.

  I can see him studying me out of the corner of my eye, but I don’t acknowledge him and luckily Summer and Grant pick that moment to come over. I breathe a sigh of relief.

  Grant gives Parker a couple of pats on the back while he orders Summer’s and his drinks. She is of course having water and I smile over at her. “How are you feeling?”

  She puts her hand on her belly and smiles widely. “Fantastic.”

  Grant pulls his wife into his side and kisses the side of her head. “I think we are both still shocked that it happened so quickly.”

  Parker chokes on his drink a little. “You were trying to have a baby? I didn’t know that.”

  Grant scowls at his brother and shakes his head. “Yes, we were trying, asshole, and I don’t have to run everything by you.”

  “You’re an asshole. I was just asking a question.”

  I roll my eyes at Parker’s response and Summer giggles. He sounds like a twelve-year-old.

  “Alright, we are going to mingle with someone other than my idiot brother. It was good to see you, Jenna.” Grant winks at me and leads Summer inside.

  “Nice. That’s the second time you’ve insulted your brother,” I laugh.

  “I wasn’t trying to insult him. He was so different before he met Summer, and I didn’t hang out with him a lot after I went away to school and he was in the Marines. I feel like I barely know the guy anymore.” I sneak a glance at him and see that he kind of looks sad about that.

  “I’m sorry,”’ I murmur. I didn’t mean to sound like a bitch and for once I’m actually sorry I was so rude to a man who was obviously really close to his brother at one time.

  He smirks over at me. “Did you just apologize to me?”

  “Don’t let it go to your head, Hamilton.”

  He laughs and drinks the rest of his drink before setting it down on the bar. “Come dance with me, Freckles.”

  I look at him like he’s grown two heads. “No.”

  “Come on. Don’t make me beg for one dance.”

  “There are plenty of women here who I’m sure would love to dance with you.”

  “But I only want to dance with you.”

  “Smooth.” I finish my drink and take his outstretched hand. One dance won’t kill me and I can admit it to myself that I do want to feel his body against mine, no matter how badly I wish that wasn’t true. What is so different about this man? What is it about him that makes me want him so badly?

  The music is slow and he pulls me into his arms. One of his hands his dangerously close to my ass, but I don’t say anything. I look around to see if we’ve drawn attention and I’m relieved that it looks like most of our friends are inside and the others are lost in their own little world.

  “Thank you,” Parker whispers, drawing my attention back to him.

  I look up and his eyes are burning down into mine with an intensity that almost throws me off balance. “For what?”

  “For letting me touch you.” His other hand comes up and brushes my hair behind my ear. The combination of his touch and the sincerity in his words is causing a thousand butterflies to take flight in my belly.

  Oh my God, I am so screwed.

  Chapter Eight

  Parker

  I STARE DOWN AT JENNA while I hold her in my arms and I can see the heat in her eyes. I know she wants me just as much as I want her, but I don’t know what’s holding her back. I’m not asking her to marry me. I just want to be her friend and spend time with her. Yes, I want to fuck her badly, but I genuinely like her too. I like her attitude and I like how she doesn’t take shit from anyone, but I can still see something vulnerable about her right below the surface. She intrigues me.

  After the song ends, I lead her to the bar where we order another drink before going inside and talking with our friends. Jenna keeps her distance from me most of the night, but I see her occasionally sneaking glances at me. I stop drinking after three drinks and switch to water so I can safely drive home. I notice Jenna does the same and it makes me breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t know why I worry about her, but I guess I would just worry about anyone I’m friends with.

  The party begins to die down around midnight and everyone starts saying their goodbyes. Jenna and I are the first ones to leave. I look around the dark street, as we both walk down the pathway to our cars. She sneaks a glance at me and I smile to myself.

  “Did you have fun?” I ask.

  She nods her head and smiles a genuine smile. “I did. I always have fun around that group.”

  “Me too. I missed this town while I was gone.”

  We walk up beside her car and she surprises me when she turns to me and leans up against the driver side door. “You didn’t come home much while you were in school, did you?”

  “No.” I shake my head and stuff my hands in my pocket. “I was focused on getting my degree. I rarely did anything but study.”

  She cocks her head to the side and smirks. “Why do I find that hard to believe?”

  “Because you want me to be someone I’m not. You don’t want to like me. I work my ass off, I told you that. My career is everything to me and if you let yourself, you would like that a little too much.” Damn. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.

  I watch as her mouth opens and closes a few times, but no words come out.

&
nbsp; I remove my hands from my pockets and step towards her.

  “I’m sorry. I was being an asshole again. It seems that I have no brain to mouth filter around you.”

  “No, it’s okay. You’re probably right about some of what you said. I don’t know you and I’m judging you.” She drops her gaze to the ground and I move my hand to her face to lift her chin. “So get to know me. I already told you I’m not looking for a relationship either, but give me a chance to be your friend.

  “My friend with benefits?” she asks, with a smile.

  “I certainly wouldn’t complain if we explored this crazy chemistry we have,” I chuckle.

  Her eyes search mine for a second and I can’t take it anymore. I need her lips against mine. I keep my eyes open as I bend down and place my mouth to hers. I would never force Jenna to do anything with me, but I also know when it comes to us, her body and brain fight each other. I give her plenty of time to push me away, but she doesn’t. Her hands grab onto my sides and pull me closer.

  I tilt my head and deepen the kiss, swiping my tongue across her lips before diving inside and tasting her. My hands find her hair and I pull on the silky strands until I have her right where I want her. She moans into my mouth and her hands tighten on my shirt. After a few minutes of tasting her, I pull back and kiss my way down her neck.

  “You know we could be amazing together,” I pant against her skin.

  My hands move from her hair down her back. The dress she is wearing has been teasing me all night. It’s completely backless and I keep getting glimpses of the little dimples above her ass. Her skin is so fucking soft and smooth and I’m hard as a rock.

  “I know,” she says through a moan, as I squeeze her ass in my hands.

  That little admission makes me feel like jumping for joy, but instead of acting like a complete idiot, I kiss my way back up to her mouth. I nibble on her lips and she parts them before her tongue comes out to meet mine. I pull her hard against me, so she can feel what just kissing her does to me.