"Sue was right. We should have stayed in." His stare was fixed pointedly at the bride-to-be as he grumbled.
"I'm sooooo glad you didn't. This," she said, dipping her head toward Sue who was busy gathering Jack's next bite of food, "would have been a shame to miss. When we picked you up at the hospital yesterday, your helplessness didn't even cross my mind. You really can't do anything for yourself, can you?"
He shook his head just as Sue looked his way.
"You don't want this? But you're the one that ordered the Mahi Mahi." Sue looked confused.
"I do want the fish, Sue. I was shaking my head at Lucy."
"Oh." Sue relaxed, smiling at both Lucy and Jack. "I guess I can't keep up with your conversation and help you eat." She shrugged her shoulders before returning to her task.
Daryl schooled his expression before turning to his fiancé. "Honey, why don't you change the subject? I think Jack would feel more comfortable talking about something else."
Jack nodded and sent Daryl a grateful smile. "Finally, a voice of reason. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Sue laughed, holding up a fork full of steamed asparagus. "I didn't know you got so excited about vegetables."
"You guys are no fun," pouted Lucy prettily while Sue was busy with her own food. When neither male responded, she crossed her arms challengingly. "Okay. I can do this." Keeping her gaze on Jack, she smiled like the cat that ate the canary. "Tell me what Sue has done." At his comical look of confusion, she elaborated sweetly. "She must have done something right. She's got you eating out of her hands."
"Oh brother." Scooting his seat back in irritation, he reached for his drink, knocking it over.
"Jack!" Sue reacted quickly, taking her napkin and soaking up the spilled juice. "Did you get any on you?"
He shook his head, embarrassed at the scene he had caused. He glanced up to see Daryl fussing at Lucy until Sue garnered his attention.
"Did you forget about your hands, like you did this morning?"
Sue felt Lucy's touch on her arm. "What'd he do this morning?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Sue missed the frantic shake of Jack's head as she focused on her friend. "I was helping him brush his teeth and he thought he could hold the brush between his hands and finish the job. Only he couldn't and he made a mess."
Jack groaned as Lucy's attention slid his way. Dropping his gaze to avoid hers, he couldn't help the smile that played around his lips at the earlier memory. He had wanted to salvage what dignity he could and had insisted on trying to do something for himself. She had argued with him, but he had remained stubbornly rigid in his decision. Reaching up, he had surrounded his toothbrush with his bandaged hands. Feeling a bit too much confidence, he exerted pressure on the irritating object only to have it flip away from his mouth and tumble to the floor. He had instinctively leaned down, bumping his head on the marble counter before realizing he couldn't pick it up. Stopping her with a glare when she stepped in to help, he leaned over to stick his mouth beneath the arched faucet and accidentally bumped it, sending it sideways to spill water all along the countertop. When he retreated in disgust, he slipped on the toothbrush that still lie on the floor and fell backwards, landing on his pride, hard.
She had watched his antics, reminded of a young boy set on getting his way. When he landed on his backside on the floor, he looked utterly defeated. Taking a moment to shut off the tap and place a thick towel on the counter to soak up the water, she moved to him and knelt beside him on the floor. Pointing to him, she raised her eyebrows and signed, "O-K?" Biting her lip when he nodded his head pitifully, she leaned over and brushed her lips against his forehead where the last vestiges of a red spot were fading. "Did that help?"
His eyes sparkled with renewed interest. "Yes. But I also hurt my jaw when I tried to get some water."
"Ah," she murmured, indulgently leaning forward and soothing the area with her attention. "Anywhere else?"
He nodded, patting his lips with a bandaged hand. "The water, it was a bit cold..."
"We can't have cold lips," she giggled. "I guess I better warm them up." She stretched and placed her mouth against his, steeling herself for the explosion of feeling. She wasn't disappointed and soon strained to get closer. Straddling his legs without breaking the kiss, she sighed when her arms closed around his neck and she surrendered control.
He felt her settle against him, her womanly curves flaming his desire. He explored her mouth with stroke after stroke of his tongue, fueled by her encouraging moans and avid participation. Reaching up, he groaned with frustration when his hands didn't cooperate. Changing his tactics, he used his arms to hold her close and lithely rolled until she was positioned beneath him.
She broke the kiss to stare into his eyes, her chest heaving from their activities. She gasped when he shifted, heat flaring and pooling deep within. "Jack," she panted...
"Jack." He shook his head and returned to the present, locking eyes with Sue, seeing the remembered passion lurking beneath her lashes. "The waitress brought you another glass of water. Do you want a sip?" She positioned the straw so he could take a long, satisfying drink.
Breaking away from Jack's visual hold on her, she returned her attention to Lucy. "This spill wasn't as big a mess." She glanced at Jack to confirm her statement.
"True, unfortunately," he added with a wink just for her.
"So this morning was difficult?" Lucy wanted to know. "With helping him, I mean?"
"Oh, it was nothing compared to last night. If I can help him take a sho...um, I mean, uh..."
But it was too late. "What? What were you going to say?"
Sue captured her bottom lip between her teeth and looked beseechingly at Jack. He held up his hands to show his innocence. "You opened this can of worms, Sweetheart. I'd say Lucy is about to go fishing." Feeling Lucy's hand on her arm, she hesitantly turned back.
"Spill, girlfriend. I want to hear all about the shower."