The kids cheered and instead of searching the entire house to find a matching pair of shoes, they went right to the foyer, where they were lined up in a neat row by the door. As the children tied their laces, I turned to Amelia. Today’s tank top said, “I am the Storm.” beside a sketch of a woman holding a sword at her side, her hair blowing in the wind.
She caught me looking and grinned. “Like it?”
I nodded, promising myself I was only appreciating the shirt, and not the full breasts hiding underneath. “What’s it mean?”
“It’s the second part of one of my favorite sayings. ‘Fate whispers to the warrior, you cannot withstand the storm. The warrior whispers back, I am the storm.’” She chewed on her thumbnail as she studied my reaction. “I do the designs myself.”
I studied the shirt again, appreciating both the artwork and the breasts. I only had so much willpower and I’d used it up the first time. “No way.”
“Yes way. It’s very relaxing. I know my silly little sayings aren’t for everyone, but they remind me of who I want to be.” She shrugged as the kids tumbled out the door and into the yard. “Who do you want to be?”
The question took me off guard and I paused in the doorway. “Myself, I guess.”
“Yeah, but, which version?” Amelia leaned on the porch railing, and I took the moment to appreciate her ass before she turned around. “Like, if you could line up all your traits and hand select the ones you want to highlight, who would you be?”
I closed and locked the front door. “I just want to be what the kids need.”
“Which is a wonderful thing, but what about you? What does Jack Cooper need?”
I shook my head as the kids collapsed in a pile of shrieking play. They’d be grass-stained, scraped, and bruised before they even got in the car.
“I need a clone.”
Laughing, I dropped her a wink.
A wink.
What the hell came over me?
A fucking wink?
What happened to not needing someone else in my life to worry about?
Still trying to recover from whatever that was, I corralled the kids into the car and drove us to dinner. We talked about soccer and karate. About Evie and Alex’s wedding in the fall. About the kids’ favorite subjects in school.
The children were happy and easy. I was happy and easy.
And Amelia?
Her smile lit the room and her laugh chased away the darkness in my heart. I couldn’t deny the companionship was nice, but a relationship was still a hell-fucking-no from me for so many reasons.
After we finished eating, I drove her back to my house. “Why don’t you kids head inside and find us something to watch,” I said as we climbed out of my car. They raced into the house, calling out ideas and suggestions while I stood in the driveway with Amelia.
“I can’t thank you enough for what you did today.” The sun had started its drop in the sky. The light danced in her hair like shining strands of gold and my fingers ached to run through it.
“It’s truly my pleasure. You have good kids….”
I huffed a laugh. “Try convincing the rest of the town.”
“It doesn’t matter what the town thinks. You guys have had it rough and if people can’t cut you a little slack while you adjust, then you shouldn’t waste energy on them.”
“That’s easier said than done in a small town. Word gets around.” I held up my hands as she started a reply. “It’s also good advice and I’ll try to take it on board.”
“That’s all you can do.”
We stood there, smiling at each other, aware the night was over, but not ready to say goodbye. It left me feeling energized, alive for the first time in a long fucking time.
“Well…” Amelia glanced at the house with a sigh. “I should let you get in there before the kids get antsy. Sage is powerful, but there’s only so much it can do.”
“It’s also stinky.” I gave her a smile that felt a lot like Jude’s pantydropper, then physically wiped it off my face. It had no place in the friendship I was trying to build.
Amelia giggled. “You can’t have everything, I guess.”
“Sure would be nice if you could, though. Speaking of having things I want, any chance I could get your number?”
The segue had sounded smooth in my head but tripped into the conversation like I was still sixteen and clueless.
Nevertheless, Amelia grinned as she unlocked her phone. “Tell me yours and I’ll text you so you can add me.” As I stood in my driveway, rattling off my phone number, beaming like I’d just won the Olympics, she took a picture. “Needed a contact photo,” she explained as she zoomed in on her screen. “And you looked absolutely perfect. Couldn’t let the moment pass.”
Her text came in and I added her as a contact, then surprised us both by wrapping her in a hug. I’d meant it as a friendly embrace, something I’d do with Izzy, or even one of the guys. A quick pat on the back, an easy smile, and an “All right then! See ya later!” What happened was nothing like that. I pulled her close, and her arms wrapped around my shoulders, her breasts pressing against my chest, her scent enveloping me. My hands ran down her back, gentle and soothing as her breath whispered across my skin.
Her lips were right there, so close, and the urge to brush her hair out of her face, close the distance and kiss her blew every other thought right out of my mind.
I lingered.
Too long to be a friendly hug.
Too hot to mean nothing.
So close to kissing her until she let out a nervous chuckle.
Shit, man. You’re still lingering.
I released her with a nervous laugh of my own.
Her eyes were dilated, her cheeks flushed, her gaze locked on mine as she bit her pink lip. “Anytime,” she breathed.
I ran a hand through my hair to cover the steady stream of ‘what the fuck was that?’ pounding through my brain. “I’ll catch you again soon?”
“I hope so.” Amelia lifted a hand and climbed into her car, then drove off as I let myself into the house to enjoy the evening with my kids and pretend not to obsess about whatever the hell that was.
Chapter Eight
Amelia
My heart pounded the entire way home. What in the history of things happening was that hug? That was not a friendly hug. That wasn’t even a ‘thank you for helping with the kids’ hug.
That was full of intention and longing and my body reacted like Jack had touched me with lightning. The saying on my shirt took on a whole new meaning as electricity tingled across my skin.
Hell yes, I am the storm.
On a whim, I pulled into Evie’s driveway instead of mine, knocked on the front door, then let myself in. “Helloooo! In case you guys are celebrating your love for one another with smexy times, you should know I’m here!”
I paused in the foyer as I realized how ridiculous that sounded. I should have rung the doorbell and waited like a normal person.
Evie poked her head out of the kitchen and laughed. “You almost have the Prescott greeting down right. When you’re entering a home or place of business without permission, you bellow the person’s name to announce your arrival.”