Текст книги "Lovely Distraction"

Автор книги: J. J. Dorn

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Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

July 4, 2013…

“Yes, I’ll be there at 6:30,” I told Cain over the phone as I waited in line at Starbucks for my iced coffee.

His parents were having a huge Fourth of July party in Mobile so I was driving down to join him. They had a gorgeous house on the water and I’m sure it would have a fantastic view of the fireworks show. I was a bit bummed I wouldn’t be celebrating with Audrey and Livy. Audrey had recently broken up with Brad, the med school guy. The long distance thing wasn’t really working for them and Brad was exceedingly busy at school. At first Audrey seemed devastated, but now I was pretty sure she was bouncing back just fine. The girls were going to the fireworks show on the Tennessee River which I was sure would be super fun. I was a bit jealous. I was happy to spend time with Cain, but I wasn’t thrilled at spending the weekend with his family, especially his sister.

“Jenna?” I heard my name and turned around to see who was calling me.

As soon as I scanned the coffee shop I immediately saw who had said my name. A grinning Ethan Wellington smiled mischievously back at me.

“Hi Ethan,” I greeted him, leaving my spot in line and walking over to his table.

“Long time no -see,” he commented, still smiling at me. “You living here now?”

“Yes I moved back a couple of months ago.”

He however lost focus on our conversation and stared passed me. I turned expecting to see a long legged blonde or something similar he was tracking, but much to my surprise the person Ethan had been watching was most definitely not a girl, it was his brother.

“Jamieson,” I said in half question, half statement.

“Hello Jenna,” he greeted me quietly as he approached.

Ethan watched us intently and smiled slyly. “Well this reunion has been lovely but I think I will be taking my leave now. James, I’ll be in the car when you’re ready.”

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

“I live here,” he offered simply.

“But I thought you moved to London.” I was still confused.

“I did but I moved back a little over a year ago.”

“Oh,” is all I could say in return. I was in shock that he was actually sitting in this coffee shop talking to me. It had been so long since I had last seen him. It was surreal now being near him.

“I hear you’re living here again too,” he said lightly not looking at me directly.

“Yes, I moved back after graduation.” The minute the word graduation hit my lips I remembered his gift, the diamond pendent. I had tried to mail it to him but it was returned.

“Congratulations by the way.” He stared at me coldly.

“I got your gift.”

This caught his attention and he finally looked at me again. “Good.”

“I can’t accept it,” I told stoically.

“You already have.”

His response pissed me off. “I tried to send it back but it was returned.”

“I know that.” What a dick.

“Well then you know I don’t want it.”

“So don’t keep it,” he suggested.

“Give me your address and I will mail it to you.”

“I don’t want it back, Jenna, it was a gift to you. Do what you would like with it.”

“Fine,” I spat at him turning to leave.

“Jenna…” he called after me.

“What?” I spun back around.

“I hope you’re happy,” he said with honesty in his eyes.

“And if I’m not?” I don’t really know why I said that to him. It wasn’t as if I was unhappy, it was more that I didn’t understand why he would care either way.

He took a deep breath and stood up clutching my arm tightly. “Then I promise you I will do everything in my power to make sure you will be.”

I scanned his face looking for answers to why he would say something like that, but he gave nothing away. I shrugged out of grasp and glared at him.

“Yeah right, like you care.” I stormed out forgetting my coffee.

“What do you mean you saw Jamieson?” Audrey exclaimed.

“I saw him at the coffee shop near my house this morning,” I repeated into the phone as I drove to the coast.

“Oh no. What did you do? Did you talk to him?” she inquired.

“Yeah. I saw his brother, Ethan first and thought he was alone so I walked over to his table to talk to him. Out of nowhere, Jamieson showed up. It was so bad Audrey. I’m so upset right now,” I confessed to her.

“It’s going to be okay. We just need to talk it out,” she reassured me.

“Okay.”

“So what did he say?”

“He was just being his nonchalant self. Apparently he moved back to Huntsville a while ago. I told him I tried to send back the necklace he gave me for graduation and he said he knew. I told him I would give it to him but he refused it. He said for me to just do whatever I wanted with it.”

“Oh geez, he’s living here now? That is definitely trouble.”

“Audrey! You are supposed to be helping me not giving me more anxiety,” I scolded her.

“Sorry! Okay, well how did you feel when you saw him? Were you disgusted?”

I thought about it for a minute before answering her. “I wasn’t disgusted. I thought I would be if I saw him again. I thought I would be so angry but I wasn’t. I was upset for sure, but I mainly just felt confused.”

“What were you confused about?” Audrey asked digging deeper into my feelings.

I hesitated. I didn’t want to totally confess to her but I knew Audrey wouldn’t judge me, she would just listen. Just one of the many reasons I loved her so much.

“I was confused because seeing him I was excited. When I saw him I felt all of those old feelings instantly but then I remembered what he had done, how bad he hurt me,” I confessed.

“Did they go away when you remembered he broke your heart?”

“No my excitement to see him just turned to disappointment, but I still felt something for him even though I didn’t want to.”

“Oh Jenna…” Audrey sighed.

“I don’t want to have feelings for him. I know I should hate him. I know he broke my heart. I know I can never trust him again. Plus I’m happy with Cain. Cain is what I need. He’s sweet and we make sense, way more sense than Jamieson and I ever did.”

“Jenna, if Cain isn’t the one, don’t try to force him to be.”

“I know, Audrey and I promise you I won’t force anything. I do love Cain though. He treats me well and he’s what I need. I would be lucky if he was the one,” I assured her.

“Alright, just remember I support you no matter what.”

“Thanks friend. I need to let you go, I’m almost to Cain’s,” I said before we said our final goodbyes.

I needed to just digest everything that had happened earlier. I switched the radio on and rocked out to the cool ramblings of the Arkells.

“I’m so glad you are here, sweetheart.” Cain clutched me close to him on the dock.

I had made it to Mobile in record time and spent the day enjoying a BBQ at his parents’ house. Most of the guests at the party were his parents’ friends with only a few of Cain’s fraternity brothers and a few friends of his sisters friends.

“I’m glad to be here.” I smiled at him.

It was dark and we were waiting for the big fireworks show to start any minute. Most of the party was scattered on the lawn and back patio. Cain and I walked down to the dock to have some privacy.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he whispered into my ear just as the fireworks show began over the water.

I watched intently as the bright lights streamed across the sky in intricate patterns. I was mesmerized watching the beauty above me.

“I have a question to ask you, Jenna,” Cain said beside me clearing his throat.

I looked over at him and he was down on one knee next to me. My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach and then began to race out of my chest.

“Jenna Estelle Middleton, will you marry me?” Holy shit I can’t believe he’s proposing?

I stood completely still. I tried to get my brain to process what was happening but it couldn’t. I knew I wanted to be a wife. I wanted to share my life with someone and commit to that person forever. And I knew Cain loved me and I loved him. So I did what I thought made sense.

“Yes!” I exclaimed hugging him tightly and at that exact moment Jamieson Wellington’s face flashed before my eyes. I should have realized then that even my subconscious was trying to tell me what a monumental mistake I was about to make.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“Jamieson stop!” I squealed trying to duck away from his grasp. “I need to finish my makeup.”

“Fine,” he grumbled and left the huge master bath to enter his walk-in closet.

Since the night of our date weeks ago I have stayed in his room every night. Things had quickly gone from taking it slow to hot and heavy in one night. I tried at first to back away and put some distance between us, but Jamieson refused to let that happen. He was relentless until my barriers completely fell away. I guess I could lie and say that I was upset about that fact, but the truth was I wasn’t. Jamieson and I had found our way back to each other and we were blissfully happy.

“What are your plans today? Are you riding?” he inquired.

I still hadn’t found a job yet; instead I decided to help my sister more permanently at the farm until the baby was born. I was disappointed I was still completely shut out of my career, but on the other hand I was really enjoying riding full time. I knew I wouldn’t be doing it forever but for the time being it was just what I needed.

“No I have today off, but I did agree to Sunday dinner at my sisters.” I told him.

“Do you want me to go with you?” he asked peeking his head around the corner of the bathroom.

“No I think it’s best if we ease my family into this.”

I did want to bring Jamieson with me, but the problem was that I wasn’t sure how his presence would be received by my family yet. They knew I was living with him of course and I had recently told them that we were working on our relationship, but I hadn’t exactly come out and said we were together again. I planned on talking to them about that tonight.

“You know I can handle your family, Jenna. It’s my mess to clean up. I wish you would at least give me the opportunity to try to fix things.”

“I know just let me prepare them first, okay?”

“Alright,” he replied glumly and went back to the massive walk-in closet.

I instantly felt bad about hurting his feelings. I wasn’t trying to hurt him, I just needed more time before I brought him around my family again.

I followed him into the walk-in closet.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized wrapping my arms around him from behind.

He patted my arms on his chest with his own. “Nothing to be sorry for baby. This is just more fall-out from my mistakes.”

I leaned my forehead gently against his back hugging him tightly to me.

“Can I take you somewhere today?” He asked in an upbeat tone clearly trying to change the mood.

“Where?” I asked curiously.

“It’s a surprise. I have something I want to show you.” He spun me around to face him.

I was only in my bra and panties and I could tell he appreciated my choice of outfit for the morning. His eyes were hooded with lust. I leaned forward to kiss him and he met my lips with a frenzy.

We kissed for a few minutes before he broke free from my hold. “Go get dressed. Wear something somewhat warm; we will be taking the Ducati.” He said swatting me on the butt for encouragement.

I yipped in response and ran to my room to change my clothes. I was excited to find out what Jamieson wanted to show me.

“We’re almost there,” he yelled over the roar of his sleek Ducati’s engine.

Jamieson revved the engine once again as we raced down the highway. I loved riding on the back of his motorcycle clutching tightly to him, it made my adrenaline pump excitedly.

We turned off the highway and down a couple of old country roads before we pulled onto a long driveway lined by large dogwood trees on either side. There was a massive gate in the distance I could see that was propped open slightly.

Jamieson maneuvered the bike expertly through the gate and we pulled up to a massive barn. There was a small cottage just to the right of the barn.

I pulled off my helmet as Jamieson dismounted the bike.

“Where are we?” I questioned him.

“Come on. I will show you.” He held out his hand for me.

He rolled open the massive wood doors of the sleek modern barn. He flipped on a switch illuminating the interior. There was a beautiful carved wood bar in the corner and a cluster of round wooden tables. In the back there was row after row of huge wooden barrels lining the walls.

“Welcome to Wellington Winery.” He smiled brightly.

“Oh wow.” I breathed, walking around the barn taking it all in. The barn was huge and beautiful. It had stamped concrete floors and beautiful Mason jar light fixtures throughout.

“This is great, Jamieson.”

“Thank you. Would you like to see the rest of it?”

“Of course I do.” I smiled brightly at him.

“Come on then,” he said holding out his hand to me once again.

He led me out back to the rows of grapes. They stretched for as far as the eye could see.

“How many acres?” I asked.

“Eighty so far,” He explained proudly.

“How long have you been working on this?”

“Two years. We also have a vineyard in Italy. That is why I traveled there recently. I was checking up on the crop for this year.” He informed me.

“I’m sure the addition of wine will only strengthen the Wellington whiskey brand,” I told him.

“Oh this is separate project. Ethan and I purchased the vineyard and this property ourselves.”

“What did Uncle Phillip have to say about that?” I wondered out loud.

“Let’s just say he is not happy about our recent acquisitions,” he said dryly.

“I can only imagine, but everything is okay with the company isn’t it?”

“Yes, Wellington Whiskey is stronger than ever. But I decided a few years ago I needed to have something of my own, that I created and that I controlled.”

“Well I think it is great and I’m sure it will be a huge success.”

“Thank you, that means a lot.” He returned my smile. “Do you want to see the cottage now?”

“Sure,” I told him and we lazily walked toward the small white cottage.

It was quaint but it had a beautiful wrap around porch that held an exquisite white wood porch swing. It was rustic yet chic at the same time.

“We are planning on turning this into a cafe for visitors.” He opened the door to the small house, motioning for me to head inside.

I followed him inside and took in my surroundings. There was something special about the space; it had a cozy and comforting feel to it. The walls still hung old black and white photographs. I walked over to examine them.

“It was an estate sale. The farmer passed away and had no remaining heirs so the property was sold with all the contents left in the barn and house. We remodeled the barn obviously but we haven’t started in here yet,” he explained.

“I think you should keep some of this stuff in here. It would make a great country atmosphere while paying tribute to the original owner,” I said examining each picture before me.

“Ethan said the same thing.” He shot me a grin.

“I can envision it perfectly.”

“We are planning to remove the walls and restructure into a restaurant. There are two back bedrooms and one small bath.” He led the way to the back of the house.

I followed him into the first room which was tiny and housed only a small wooden desk. The second room was slightly bigger and it still contained a wrought iron bed with a colorful quilt.

I ran my hand over the bed imagining the farmer’s wife knitting it herself. “This is beautiful.”

“Sure is.”

I looked up to find him staring at me intently. He had been watching me as I examined the space. He stepped closer to me, taking me in his arms.

“Thank you for coming with me today,” he spoke softly.

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I can’t wait for our trip to Santo Domingo. I’m really looking forward to some alone time on the beach with you.” He smiled.

“You are huh? Well I haven’t exactly agreed to be your date yet,” I kidded him.

“Like you have a choice,” he smashed his lips to mine.

I moaned as he kissed me deeply. Since our date night our appetites for each other had been insatiable. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other.

“Bend over, baby.” Jamieson drawled in my ear, tipping me forward to hang onto the foot of the iron bed.

“Jamieson I don’t think…” I gasped as he unbuttoned my jeans slipping them down my hips along with my panties.

“I can’t wait Jenna. I need you,” he growled.

I released my hands at an attempt to turn around and face him but he stopped me. “Hands on the bed, sweetheart. This is going to be fast and not gentle at all.”

His words sent bolts of excitement low through my belly. I replaced my hands on the bed in anticipation of what was in store for me.

I heard Jamieson unzip his pants and the thud as they hit the floor. He hadn’t even really touched me and I was in a total frenzy. I was sure the second he did, I would come apart.

I felt him come up behind me. He ran one hand down my hair and settled on the base of neck.

“Hold on tight, Jenna.” He slammed inside me.

“Ahh!” I screamed at the impact.

Jamieson pulled back and pushed forward again into me, this time quicker. He set the pace and I now believed what he told me. This was Jamieson undone; this was the man I remembered all those years ago that could completely own me.

He slammed into me several more times before I screamed as I found my release. Jamieson pulled back unrelenting and slammed into me one last time and then quickly pulled out, his cum shooting on my back.

I had never had a man do that before but I can’t say that it bothered me. There was something incredibly carnal about having him spread his seed on my bare skin.

Jamieson steadied me indicating for me not to move while he grabbed something to clean me up with. He then helped me pull my jeans back in place. When he was done, he pulled me upright and spun me around to face him.

He didn’t say anything at first he just stared at me intently brushing the hair from my forehead.

“I love you Jenna,” he spoke quietly barely above a whisper. “I have loved you for a very long time.”

I closed my eyes as I felt tears prick my eyes. These were the words I had waited over five years to hear. This is what I had wanted all this time. My tears were not out of frustration but of relief. I was so incredibly relieved he had finally told me how he felt.

“I love you too, Jamieson.” I told him back opening my eyes to find his.

He wiped a lone tear from my cheek with his thumb. “I should have told you back then. I should have said it the moment I knew. I wish I could go back in time and do it over.”

“It’s alright,” I said halting his regrets. “You’ve told me now and we’re together. That’s all that matters.”

I watched as something caught his eye and his gaze traveled to my neck. “You kept it?”

He asked lightly touching the round diamond around my neck.

“Yes.” I told him.

“I knew it would look beautiful on you.”

“Thank you for giving it to me.”

He smiled at me making my stomach dip in appreciation. He could turn me own so easily and I’m sure he was well aware of that fact.

“Shall we go?” he asked threading his fingers through mine.

“Alright,” I gazed at him intently.

Jamieson pulled his motorcycle up to my sister’s house an hour later. I had planned on going home to get my own car but I was running short on time after our trip to the winery so he insisted on dropping me off instead.

I hopped off the bike removing my helmet and handing it to him. He removed his own helmet and stood pulling me close to him. He kissed me so tenderly it almost made me dizzy.

“Call me if you need a ride home.”

“I’m sure someone will give me ride home but if they can’t I will call you.”

“Tell your parents hello from me,” he said kissing me one more time before releasing me.

He started the bike as I ran up the stairs to my sisters beautiful country home. I waved just before I opened the door. When I spun around to walk through it I almost ran smack into my sister.

“Oh! Hi there, Jacks. Sorry I’m a little late,” I greeted her.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Jenna, because it looks to me like you are playing with absolute fire there,” she warned watching Jamieson leave.

I knew Jacks had my best interest at heart but I wish she would back off just a bit. I knew she didn’t get her happily ever with Ethan but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have mine, or did it?