CHAPTER FIVE
Two small smiling faces were staring at me when I woke. I pinched my eyes shut and tried not to smile. Remember, I'm no good at that. I felt a little finger tapping my forehead, and my eyes popped open again.
"What?" I used my low, growly voice, the one I saved for the bears in the stories I would read to Max when he was little. This put both kids into fits of laughter as they climbed onto the bed.
"Good morning, Mom." Max was still grinning ear to ear.
"What on earth is causing you two to smile so big this early in the morning."
Max, still grinning, of course, pointed at the bed beside me. I turned my head to find Jack on his side, his head resting on his hand, and he was making the silliest face. His lips were curled under and stuck to his teeth, and his eyes were crossed.
"Did I fall asleep in my house and wake up in wacky world?"
"Nope, this is still your house," Jack said and rolled toward me, wrapping his arm around my waist.
I laughed along with the kids, and it felt wonderful. I hadn't laughed like this in almost three years, and before then, it had been over five. My soul needed this, and so did Max. The smile had returned to his eyes, and I knew the reason why. He had a father in his life once again.
Jack put his arm around my son and pulled him down beside him, and the two curled up and started talking about a football game that was on that afternoon. Alex moved beside me, laid down, and pulled my arms around her. She pressed her back against me as I tightened my hold on her, and the two of us closed our eyes and fell asleep to the sound of male bonding.
An hour and a half later, when I woke for the second time, I was the only one remaining in bed. I stretched my arms out, getting that good pull across my upper back, then rolled out of bed. I picked up my favorite pink and white robe. I really loved that robe. It was thick and soft, and, on many occasions, I had fallen asleep curled up inside of it.
I pulled it around me as I walked down the hall. A glorious smell was coming from the kitchen and drew me in to investigate. As I approached the corner, Jack was moving something from the skillet onto a plate, and the kids were setting the table.
"What's all this?"
"Beth!" Alex ran to me and wrapped her arms around my waist.
"Good morning, sweetheart." I kissed the top of her head before she returned to her task of the silverware.
I could see now that Jack was pouring a bowl of whisked eggs into the skillet, and I moved in behind him and put my arms around his midsection.
"It smells delicious in here."
I pressed my nose to his neck and sucked in. Jack knew I loved his cologne, and I could tell by the way his cheek had drawn up that he was grinning. He set the bowl on the counter and dropped one hand to my thigh, gripping it tightly as he tipped his head against mine.
"What's on the docket today, Sarge?"
"My parents will be here in an hour to pick up the kids. They were already planning to take Alex to the zoo and asked if Max could join them. I told them yes; I hope that was okay."
"Of course. He'll love that. Can I do anything to help?"
"You can start by letting me go, or I'm going to burn breakfast." Jack looked over his shoulder at me and winked.
"I can do that." I reached across his arm and snatched a strip of bacon from the plate, then helped the kids pour four glasses of orange juice.
After breakfast, Jack and I helped the kids pack an overnight bag. Luckily, I had grabbed a few of Alexandria's things the day before, so I would have some at the house because Charlotte, Jack's mother, had called to see if the kids could spend the night with her and Thomas. Max was nervous as he'd only had a few short visits to their place three years prior, but he was also excited about a new adventure. He knew Charlotte and Thomas were fun, and they liked to play board games with Alex.
Jack and I stood in the doorway, waving goodbye, as the Chevy Tahoe backed out of my drive with our children inside. When it was out of view, Jack turned me to face him.
"Between all of their grandparents, it seems like most of our weekends will be free." He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned that silly crooked smile.
"You're a mess, Jack."
I gave him a light slap on the arm and started to the door, but Jack quickly overtook me. He'd surprised me so severely that a blood-curdling scream left my mouth before I could stop it. I covered my mouth with both hands as Jack scooped me into his arms.
"You've got a set of lungs."
"And you've got a set of guns."
What?! Did I just say that? Oh my gosh. I hoped it hadn't sounded as lame to him as it had to me. I really hated it when my mouth went off before my brain did.
"Hmm. You like my guns, do you?"
I rolled my eyes as he carried me down the hall and into the bedroom. Once my feet were on the floor, I placed my hands on my hips and stared at him.
"Now what?"
"What do you mean, now what?"
"You've got me to the bedroom. So, now what are you going to do with me?"
I honestly had no idea why I was asking him this. I knew what I wanted to do with him, so I assumed he wanted the same. I mean, he had carried me to the bedroom.
"I could arrest you. You did ask me to, you know."
"What? No, I didn't. But it does sound like fun." I'm not going to lie; I have thought about those handcuffs a time or two...or three.
"Yes, you did."
"When?"
"On your birthday." Jack was staring at me, his arms crossed, his feet spread wide, and a grin on his face.
"On my birthday. I never...oh." Yep, I sure did. As Jack helped me into the back seat of his cruiser, drunk me held her arms out and said it. Lovely.
"Remembering things now?"
"Yes, I am."
"Maybe that will teach you not to drink so much."
"Maybe." I smirked.
"I have a question for you."
"Okay. Ask away."
Jack seemed antsy as he moved around, almost bouncing. "What is your take on motorcycles?"
"Ummm, they're loud."
"Yes. That is correct. But, what do you think about riding them?" He pointed at me with both hands, and the grin on his face made me laugh.
"I think it's fine."
"Have you ever been on one?"
"My dad had one when I was a kid, but Mom made him sell it before I was in middle school. I remember that I loved riding it with him. Why are you asking me this?"
"Because it's a beautiful day out, I would love to take you for a ride."
"On what?"
"My motorcycle."
"Since when do you have a motorcycle?"
"Since last year."
I'm not going to lie. This thoroughly excited me. I had always noticed when a good-looking guy passed me on a bike. I thought it was sexy and immediately began to imagine Jack on one.
A smile covered my face, and I nodded my head.
"Yeah? You'll ride with me?"
"Sure. It sounds like fun."
"Awesome." The excitement in Jack's eyes thrilled me even more. I loved how passionate he was about the things he loved. Especially me. "Okay. You get ready, and I'm going to run the Jeep home and grab my bike."
"What should I wear?"
"Jeans and boots of some sort. I'll have the rest of the items you'll need."
"So, you're bringing me a shirt? Or am I just riding in my bra?"
"Well, who said for you to wear a bra?"
Oh, he's ornery. I really just wanted to rip his clothes off and throw him onto the bed, but this whole motorcycle thing intrigued me.
"You're a funny bloke. But I think I will opt to wear both a bra and a shirt."
"If you insist. Give me an hour; I need to run by a store on my way back."
"Okay. See you in an hour."
...
I was sitting on my front step again when I heard the roar of a motorcycle approaching. It was louder than I'd expected and echoed through the small neighborhood. My heart was racing frantically. And when Jack came into view, all I could hear in my head was Janice from Friends saying, "Oh...my...God."
I thought Jack looked great in his uniform, but this...this was a whole 'nother level. He rolled up on a Harley wearing all the gear you'd see a biker wearing. The black leather jacket, black boots, black helmet, and blue jeans. Good Lord. We're never going to make it away from the house today.
As he stopped in the drive and pushed the kickstand down with his heel, I stood and walked to him. My heart was racing. Jack brought out a side of me that I had never met before. Hell, I didn't know it even existed. And it was a bit of a wild side.
Jack remained on the bike as I walked around it, taking it all in. When Jack told me he had a motorcycle, I hadn't expected this. I don't know what you were thinking, but I had pictured a smaller one. I don't know bikes...Honda maybe? They make motorcycles, don't they? But this, this was a Harley-Davidson, all black, hard-sided saddlebags, sleek and sexy machine. And oh my Lord, did Jack look good on it.
"What do you think?"
"I like it."
I don't know what my face looked like, but it made Jack laugh. Jack stood, got off the bike, opened the lid to one of the saddlebags, and pulled out a bag. He reached inside and removed a black leather jacket, holding it up in front of me.
"You'll need this if you want to ride with me," he informed me with a grin.
The jacket was beautiful, and I slipped my arms through it. I gripped the zippered front and pulled it around me, and it fit me like a glove, and the leather was so soft.
"How did you know what size to buy?" Max was a sweetheart, but the man couldn't pick stuff out in my size to save his life.
"I peeked in your closet before I left."
His grin, his dimples, those eyes, and seriously...he thought ahead enough to look at my clothing sizes before he left my house this morning? I must be stuck in a dream. Oh, if this is a dream and I wake up soon, I'm going to be so pissed.
I connected the zipper of the jacket and pulled it halfway up. When I looked up, Jack was waiting with a helmet in his hand.
"Mine?" I asked with a grin.
"Yours," he replied with his grin.
The helmet was black with a bit of purple tribal design scrolled across it. Purple. My favorite color. He really has listened to everything I've ever told him. This fact made me feel even worse about our first couple of weeks together. What else had he shared with me that I'd ignored? I wanted to know everything about this intriguing man now – every...single...dirty...detail.
I pulled the helmet onto my head; thank goodness I'd left my hair down. Jack reached up and fastened the buckle beneath my chin. His finger brushed against my skin, and that familiar electric spark shot up through my jaw. Every second I've spent with him has opened my eyes to a world that I have been missing. My blinders have been slowly pulled back, bringing into view the exciting and colorful world that Jack was a part of. And I loved this world. Since I'd gotten to peer behind the curtain that had been my life, my dreams and needs had been expanding across this vast valley so many other people already resided in and had for decades.
"Before we go, you'll need to run in and pack an overnight bag."
Jack was resting on the bike now, his ankles and arms crossed. What I really wanted to do, was grab his hand and drag him into the house, but the fact that Jack had just said I needed an overnight bag had me giggling like a little schoolgirl.
I ran inside, grabbed my smallest bag, and began to throw things into it. I had no idea what I'd even packed. I could have just put ten pairs of underwear in there and nothing else. I decided to double-check it before running back out, and it's a good thing I did – three pairs of panties, a torn tank top, four pairs of socks, shorts, and nothing else. I dumped the contents onto the bed and tried again. This time, I got it right.
When I returned to Jack, he was still leaning onto the Harley just with his butt on the seat and his legs kicked out. When he saw me, he stood and opened one of the saddlebags. I handed him my things, and he placed them inside and secured the lid. Before getting on the bike, Jack put his arms around me and kissed me.
He really needs to stop doing that, or I will drag him back into the house.
"Ready to go, Baby?"
"More than you know."
Okay, now, once again, I'm not sure what my face looked like, but Jack's expression turned into his "I'm going to rip your clothes off" look. But he was able to restrain himself, and he swung his leg over the bike and started it. I hopped on behind him, wrapped my arms snuggly around his waist, and held on for dear life. Before backing the bike down the drive, Jack reached down and squeezed my calf. The simplest ways Jack touched me always sent me over the edge, and this was one more for the list.
"Where are we going?" I asked loudly in his ear.
"Beth..."
I almost fell off the back of the bike when Jack said my name. It was in my ears as if his mouth was inside my helmet. Jack grabbed my leg until I was holding onto him again.
"You don't have to yell. The helmets are Bluetooth with mic and speakers."
"Oh," I said too loudly again. "Sorry."
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, I'm ready."
I tightened my hold on him, and Jack pushed the bike forward until the kickstand popped up. He rolled backward, turning the front wheel, until he could begin moving forward and onto the street. The excitement was building in me so much I thought I might actually burst. I had tightened my arms around Jack more than I'd thought, and he pulled on my arms, trying to get me to relax.
"You can hold onto me, Beth, but don't cut me in half." He chuckled as he spoke, and I relaxed my grip a bit. "That's better. We'll be on here for a little while, so if you need to stop for anything, just let me know. Okay?"
"Okay," I said too loudly once more. "Sorry, okay." That was better. I need to get used to this before I damage Jack's eardrums.
Once we reached the edge of town and the speed limit had gone up, Jack told me to hold on before he punched it. The adrenaline that coursed through my veins had been unexpected and caused me to smile from ear to ear. And I mean, I was literally smiling from ear to ear. Ten minutes into our ride, my face hurt so much that I had to force myself to relax. And that wasn't easy to do.
I looked down at the pavement and tried to count the yellow dashes as they zipped by, but they were moving so fast I couldn't keep up with them. Well, we were moving so fast. I looked up before I got dizzy and started to look at all the fall foliage that lined the edges of the fields. It was gorgeous. I didn't care for the Iowa winters, and the summers weren't always pleasant, but the fall leaves and spring blooms were my favorites. Iowa has such a variety of trees; every color appears as the leaves begin to turn this time of year. Oranges, golds, reds, purples – an array of colors scattered across the landscape along the fields and roads.
Jack's hand came back again. This time he rested his arm on top thigh as he held my calf. He kept it there as we hummed down the highway. I thought that was the sexiest thing, pressed my chest against his back. We remained this way for a very long time until Jack had to use both hands to stop at an intersection and turn onto a different highway.
"Hey, you never answered me before. Where are we going?"
"I found a little place to rent on the Mississippi River."
As Jack sped the bike back up to cruising speed, his hand returned to my leg. His touch was electric. I tightened my arms around him again, and Jack moved his hand along my calf, rubbing it up and down. I know I've said this before, but this was sexy as hell.
About an hour and a half after we'd left my place, Jack turned into a little 'ma and pop' restaurant on the edge of a small town.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes, I could eat." I didn't tell him, but food was not what I was referring to. Do you get my drift?
I stepped off the bike and removed my helmet while Jack got the kickstand in place. He pulled his helmet off, rested it on top of his thigh, and watched me while I shook my hair out in an attempt to tame the crazy ends that had been waving in the wind.
"I should have picked a place much closer," he said as he stared at me.
I couldn't have agreed more. I looked at him as the corner of my lip curled up. Jack knew what was on my mind when I did that, and he reached out for my helmet. He set both on the ground beside the bike, slid back on the seat a few inches, then held his hand out to me.
"I've always wanted to try something."
"What?" I just stood and stared at him, then quickly scanned the parking lot.
"Girl, get your mind out of the gutter. It's nothing like that. Well, maybe a little like that, but not that."
I laid my hand in his, and he pulled me to the bike. He motioned for me to straddle it in front of him but facing him. Oh hell, I'm going to need to search for someplace to take him, and well, you know. I got onto the bike and moved toward Jack. My legs flanked him and draped across his thighs, and he's got some great thighs, and Jack hooked his hands under my ass and drew me even closer.
"If you're feeling anything like I am right now, you're going to have to take a minute before you can get off this bike and stand up in public," I said to him, grinning.
"Already there," he said.
He pulled on my butt and kissed me hard, bringing my body flat against his. I moved my hands up into his messy hair and pulled him to me until our tongues were deep and dancing wildly. I could feel him, and he wasn't lying when he said he was already there. I pulled my mouth from his and sucked his earlobe between my lips.
"How far away is this place?" My voice was low as I whispered into his ear. I knew that drove him wild, and that was the goal.
"Too far," he whispered back.
"I need you now." And I did. My body ached and throbbed, and I didn't want to wait another minute.
"I have an idea," Jack said. He pushed me off his lap and helped me up. "Stand right there," he said as he stood behind me, hiding his obvious reaction to the heated moment on the bike. "Give me a second."
I couldn't help but giggle, and I reached back and clutched onto the back of his thigh. Jack bent down, and his mouth was right beside my ear.
"That isn't helping," he whispered.
I released his leg and shoved my hands into my pockets. That was the only way I would be able to keep them off him.
"Come with me," he said and grabbed my hand.
He practically dragged me across the parking lot and into a large truck stop. I had no idea where he was going, but he frantically moved about the building, never letting go of my hand, until he found what he was looking for. We turned down a hall, and I saw above our heads a sign that read 'showers.' Ah, quick thinking. I'm pretty sure my heart did a flip inside my chest as Jack pushed on each door until he found one unlocked. He opened it and pulled me inside. As soon as he locked it, we pushed each other's leather jackets off, then began working on one another's clothes.
Why is it that one's hands don't work properly when you're in a hurry? I really want to know the answer to that one.
Jack was working on my jeans when he began kissing me. He'd pushed me against the wall and pressed his whole body against mine.
"I can't get this," I finally said and let go of his buckle. I started working on my own clothes, so Jack took the cue and removed his. That way worked much faster, and once everything was discarded onto the floor, Jack grabbed the back of my thighs, picked me up, and had me pressed against the wall again. Damn. This man knew how to get things done.
"Shit," Jack said and froze.
"What?" I was breathing so hard that my shoulders were moving with my chest.
"Umm, the condoms are in the bike."
Well, shit was right. I quickly did some math in my head and came to the conclusion I was hoping for, then did the math once more just to be sure.
"We're fine," I said.
"We're fine?"
"Yes," I said sternly. "We're fine."
That was all Jack needed to hear, and his body was pressed firmly against mine once more.
...
I ran my hands down my hair, trying to smooth it out. Jack had really done a number on it, and I giggled as I looked at myself in the mirror.
"What are you laughing about," he asked and put his arms around my waist.
We looked at our reflection in the mirror, it was the first time we'd ever done that, and I must say, we looked pretty good together. We both grinned, then Jack pulled my hair back off my shoulder and pressed his lips to my neck. There he goes again, my neck.
Contentment – that is precisely what I was feeling at the moment. I turned to face him and tenderly kissed him. I can't explain how good that felt after so many years of it being absent from my life.
"I love you, Jack."
He moved his hands to my face, gently pressing his rough palms against my cheeks, and kissed me again.
"We should probably go eat," he said and stepped back.
I reluctantly put my hand in his, and he led me from the room. Just as we came out, a trucker stepped out of his. He took one look at us, grinned, and shook his head. I really thought I would die of embarrassment right there in the middle of the hall.
As we ate, we talked about many topics, including my college experience, how difficult it was when my grandmother passed away, and even Jason and Beau.
"Those boys are nuts," Jack said after I finished my story. "I would have never left you."
"You say that now."
"I would have said it then, too."
"So, who was your first love?"
"Ciara Childers, and I was twelve."
This made me laugh. "Oh, well, if we're going back that far, I have you beat. Mattie Johnson, and I was ten."
"Aw, young love."
"So, what made you get a motorcycle?"
"I had a Harley for years in my early twenties. I had it when I met JoAnn. She was scared of them and refused to ride with me. I tried to get her to take a short trip around the block so I could show her how safe I was, and she wouldn't even do that. After we married, she insisted that I sell it, so I did."
"I can tell you love riding. I'm sure that was hard to do."
"It was, but JoAnn and I were still new in our marriage, and I loved her. So, I did what she asked. Marriage is about compromise, right?"
"Yes, it is. Why did you wait until last year to get another one?"
"I had Alex to think about and spent all my free time raising her. Now that she's getting older, I started considering it, and when I saw that one come up for sale, I had to have it."
"I'm glad you did."
"Me, too."
That familiar glint flashed across his hazel eyes as Jack stared at me from across the table. We could easily end up in the shower again if we weren't careful.
"Shall we get going?" I was ready to go wherever Jack was taking me so we could be alone.
"Absolutely."
...
Jack turned the Harley onto the highway, and we were on the road again. Yes, the song is playing in my head now, too. The trees were beautiful, the weather was perfect, and my love was in my arms. It had been years since I'd been on a bike, but never with someone I loved intimately. This was a whole new experience. I have seen these Midwest views all my life, but somehow, they looked different from the back of a Harley. Maybe I had been seeing all of life through different lenses since I'd been with Jack, but everything was becoming more exciting, more vivid, and a whole lot more fun.
As I have mentioned before, I loved Maxwell with all my heart. So please don't take these thoughts and comments as signs that maybe I didn't. He was wonderful and perfect for me at that point in my life. But since I'd lost him, my life has been dull and grey. Jack has revived things in me that had been dormant for years and is bringing something to light that has never been present in my world before. Our love was different than mine and Max's, so there really isn't any way of comparing them. Of course, it's hard not to compare the two people as men, but our love – I will not disrespect either man by trying. This love is new, fresh, colorful, exciting, and everything I needed to wake me up from the hiatus that my life had been on for years. Max was my 'then,' Jack is my 'now.'
"How are you doing?"
"I love this." The words came across as a bit more exciting than I'd expected. I sounded like a teenage girl that just found the same sweater she'd seen on a famous actress and couldn't wait to buy it and put it on.
I could hear Jack laugh; these Bluetooth helmets were quite remarkable.
"Want to listen to some music?"
"We can do that?" I was embarrassed by my naivety with all of this, but Jack seemed to take everything in stride.
Jack's hand left my calf, where it had been since we returned to the highway, and before I knew it, Bruno Mars was singing to me. I started to sway back and forth to the music, and Jack quickly clutched his fingers around my leg.
"Please try not to dance to the music and make me lose control of the bike," he said in a tender voice.
The heat from my cheeks filled my helmet, and I could feel sweat beads forming across my forehead. "Sorry." How embarrassing!
Jack patted my leg and relaxed his hand, but it never left my calf unless he needed it to steer. Oh, or wave at oncoming motorcyclists., which was another thing I loved. Every single time, without fail, as we met another bike on the road, each driver would hold their left hand down in the familiar 'biker's wave' that I've seen so many people do throughout my lifetime. And now I was a part of it, and I loved it.
That afternoon, we reached our destination, and Jack turned into the drive of a little house on stilts. It was right along the edge of the Mississippi River, which flooded frequently, and the area was gorgeous. I got off the bike, pulled my helmet off, and walked to the bank of the river. The water was murky and brown, as always, but that didn't bother me. The trees that lined the opposite side were in their full fall glory, showing off every color imaginable in a leaf.
I felt Jack's arms slide around me as his face moved in beside mine. We took in the scene together and breathed in this moment of utter tranquility. I closed my eyes, tipped my head to the side against Jack's, and cried. Remember? I told you I was a crier.
Jack must have sensed they were tears of joy as he tightened his hold on me and amorously kissed my neck. I leaned my head in the other direction, exposing my neck even more, and Jack's lips grazed along the skin and up to my ear. Oh, my God. I've mentioned my neck and when he kisses me. Well, his mouth on my ear did even more things to my body.
I turned toward him, and as I did, his hands moved up to cup my face, and his lips devoured mine. It's amazing what it feels like to be wanted so badly by someone. Jack desired me just as much as I desired him, and he proved it with every look, touch, and action. He startled me when he swiftly scooped me into his arms. So much that I let out a squeal. I looked at the tall stairway that led up to the house and thought, there is no way he's going to carry me all that way. I was very wrong. He did and did it with ease.
We spend the rest of that day and evening in each other's arms, making up some more lost time and getting to know each other more. We shared childhood stories, and he asked me to share more about Maxwell. I loved that he wanted to know about Max. His circumstances with JoAnn were very different than losing a loved one to an illness. He hadn't spoken about her much, and I didn't want to press him into doing so. What I do know is she really hurt Jack on more than one occasion, and it took him a long time to trust again. That was a big part of why he'd remained single – well, married and single – for so long.
As we prepared to leave the following day, I stood beside the bike while Jack loaded our overnight bags. I had just put my helmet on, and Jack moved in front of me. He reached up and fed the nylon strap through the metal hoops, but his eyes never left mine. When he was finished, he pulled me to him with his arm around my waist and held me tight.
"Thank you for coming up here with me."
"Thank you for bringing me. It's so beautiful."
"Yes, the view is breathtaking." Jack wasn't looking at the trees. "Are you ready to go home?"
"No. But I guess we should."
"Did I make up for missing your birthday?"
"You didn't miss it." I grinned.
"I guess, technically, that's true." He winked at me, another thing I loved. "But I wanted to give you something special. Not just hold your hair back for you."
I rolled my lips in to keep from grinning, but it didn't work. God, the look in his eyes when he looked at me. It was intense. I hoped he saw the same thing in my eyes for him. I felt it, but I didn't know how he perceived it.
"Let's go," he said, then smacked me on my ass.
I jumped a little. It stung, but at the same time, it felt kind of good. As I said, he's bringing a wild side out in me that I didn't know I had.