Full Contact (Worth the Fight #2) Read online

  “Good?” he asked.

  She nodded lazily. Because, really, words failed her.

  “I feel like doing a little fist pump myself.”

  He sat down and lifted her head onto his lap as he ran his fingers through her hair, both of them laughing.

  —

  The next morning, Jessica was sitting in front of her mirror brushing her hair, getting ready to head off to work. It had been late when Slade had finally left, and she was still feeling giddy.

  Her phone rang, and she cringed when she saw it was her mother. Not that they didn’t have a good relationship, but Jessica had been lying for months about what had happened with Dennis. All she had told her parents was that they had broken up. Plus, their conversations always ended with a remark about Jessica coming back to Charlotte, North Carolina.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Wow. I wasn’t expecting you to answer. It’s been over a week.”

  “Sorry. I’ve been busy. In fact, I’m kind of running late for my shift.”

  “When are you going to quit that godawful job and come back to Charlotte?” That took less than a minute. Possibly a new record. Her mother would probably bypass the hellos altogether next time and go straight for the kill.

  “Mom. We’ve been over this a hundred times. I like it here.”

  “Well, we miss you. I still can’t believe you broke up with Dennis, bless his heart. Respectable, in politics, good family…it was the only reason we warmed up to you moving to that hick town. Now, without him, we worry about you there. Your father and I had planned a trip to Europe, but now, with you there on your own, we don’t know if we should go. Your rash decision has really put a damper on our plans.”

  Jessica gripped the phone tightly and rolled her eyes. God forbid she should inconvenience her parents. “I miss you too, Mom. I know you worry, but please, go on your trip with Daddy and don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

  “You sure, honey? Is it too soon? You’re all alone there. We can cancel and you can come up and spend some time with us here.”

  “No. No.” Jessica realized she had answered way too fast, and she forced herself to slow herself down. “I’m fine. Really, I am. Just busy with work.”

  “Jessica, honey, you left Charlotte to go to school. You have a master’s degree in exercise physiology. I don’t understand what on earth you are doing waitressing at a bar.”

  And here it comes. This was precisely why Jessica had left Charlotte as soon as she turned eighteen.

  Her parents were great—good, hardworking Southerners. They were like a slightly pretentious, judgmental Ozzie and Harriet, just far too concerned as to what their social group thought about things. Everything was always done by the book. The plan was that she would graduate, return to Charlotte, work as a physical therapist, meet a nice young man—the kind who wore suits and played tennis or golf—and have 2.5 children and a dog and a cat, at which point Jessica would stop working to raise the children in a house a block from her parents. How perfectly suburban.

  Instead, she’d met Dennis.

  At first her parents were unhappy with the idea that their wonderful daughter would deviate from the plan by following a man to a different state—so unhappy that they stopped paying any of her expenses. But she was too proud to let that stop her, and anyway it had been time for her to venture out on her own. She was an adult, with a brand spanking new master’s degree. It was just the kick in the ass she’d needed to get out from underneath her parents’ thumb. Determined to make it on her own, she immediately found a job at the Pier as a waitress until she could find a job in her field. But apparently a master’s degree in exercise physiology wasn’t in demand. Two years later, Dennis was gone and she was still pushing drinks at the Pier.

  “Jessica? You still there?”

  “Oh, sorry, Mom. Um…what were you saying?”

  “I said that if you’re sure you’re okay, we’ll go on our trip—we were planning to leave in two days. We’ll call you when we can.”

  “No need to worry. Have a wonderful trip, Mom. Say hello to Daddy for me.”

  “Honey, think about what I said earlier. Dennis was a lovely young man. Whatever the reason for the breakup, get over it. He’s exactly what you need. He always fit in so well with us.”

  “You don’t really know him, Mom.”

  “What’s there to know? He’s terribly handsome and rich, went to the best schools, and is getting up in the political world.”

  “Yeah, Mom. Great guy.”

  “Think about it. Smooches.” And just like that, she hung up.

  An instant later, the phone rang again.

  “I said I’m fine. I’ll think about Dennis,” she said into the phone.

  “Excuse me?” a low, familiar voice said.

  “Crap. Slade?”

  “Why are you thinking about Dennis?”

  “Sorry, Slay. Thought it was my overly controlling, overly involved mother. She thinks that Dennis personally hangs the moon at night. She wants us to get back together.”

  “You should’ve told her what he did to you.”

  “I can’t, Slade. You don’t understand my parents. They’re…they’re not like the people in this town.”

  There was silence for a moment before he spoke again. “And how exactly are the people in this town?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. That sounded bad. I love the people here—that’s why I want to stay. My parents are great, but they live in their little social bubble. They don’t understand things like their daughter working in a bar. Or their daughter being hit by a man. And my daddy has a lot of connections; he’d want to investigate things further, not to mention force me to move back. They’re very controlling, Slade. They mean well, but it’s too much—I don’t need them to butt into my life right now.” Jessica took a deep breath. “Anyway, I’m sorry that I bombarded you with all my problems.”

  “Don’t be sorry about that, Jess. I want you to count on me. I want to hear about your problems. I want to be in your life. All in, remember? I just called to see if you were working today.”

  “Yep. I’m running late, actually.”

  “Do you want to do something later?”

  “I’d love that.”

  “How about I pick you up from work at—”

  “Seven. I’m off at seven.”

  “It’s a date.”

  “It’s a date,” she repeated his words with a smile.

  “And Jessica…”

  “Yeah?”

  His voice was lower than usual. “I can still taste you on my lips. I can’t wait to taste you again. It’s been driving me crazy since I left last night.”

  Jessica’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Luckily, he disconnected before she was able to formulate a thought.

  Quickly Jessica took off all her clothes. As it was, she was going to be late for work. But this was an emergency. She replaced her boring white cotton underwear and bra with a pair of black lace panties and a matching push-up bra. She pawed through her closet for a change of clothes, something casual that wouldn’t wrinkle, and stuffed it in her oversize purse, together with her favorite lipstick and perfume. Then she re-dressed in her work uniform, which consisted of black short shorts and a tight black T-shirt with the Pier logo on it, and ran out of the house to her car.

  Work dragged that day. She was so excited about her date, but the hours wouldn’t pass quickly enough. She checked the clock on the wall every ten minutes.

  “Hey, sweetie.” A sweet, almost melodic voice with a Southern drawl took her out of her thoughts.

  “Hi, JL.”

  “You look like you’ve been daydreamin’.”

  “Just a slow day.”

  Jamie Lynn looked around the bar. “Where’s everyone today?”

  Jessica shrugged. “Don’t know. It’s been dead all day. Guess no one in town’s drinking today.”

  After Jamie Lynn settled in behind the bar, she grabbed a handful o
f peanuts and began to crack the shells. Jamie Lynn, like her twin brother, Travis, spent all day eating. It was a wonder they stayed so fit.

  “We haven’t worked a shift together in a while.” She popped a nut into her mouth. “So, what’s new? I hear you’re dating Slade.” She gave Jessica an impish wink.

  “Sorta feels like it, but I don’t really know if Slade dates.”

  Jamie Lynn snorted. “No, that boy sure doesn’t date, hon. He’s one sexy piece of ass. He’s always been a screw-’em-and-leave-’em kinda guy.”

  Jessica cringed, but Jamie Lynn continued. “But people can change, hon. Look at Jack. That man dated half of Tarpon Springs, but now he’s all about Chrissy. It’s as if the world revolves around Chrissy and only Chrissy.”

  “God, I wish I had that,” Jessica said, and sighed.

  “Don’t we all, sugar.” Jamie Lynn sighed too. “But if the gossip mill was correct, Slade stayed with you and took care of you while you were recovering.”

  Jessica nodded.

  “Well, that seems like a good sign. And now you’re recovered and he’s still around.”

  “Yeah. We’ve been on a few dates.”

  “Nice. See? Men can change. When’s the next one?”

  Jessica looked at the clock over the bar. “In twenty-eight minutes.” She smiled and leaned her forearms against the countertop. “He’s picking me up as soon as my shift ends.”

  “Oh, sugar.” Jamie Lynn’s mouth curved down. “Bless your heart, sweetie. Please tell me you’re not going on a date with that man dressed like that. I hope you at least wore pretty underwear.” Jamie Lynn stepped closer to Jessica, stood on her tiptoes, pulled on the neckline of Jessica’s T-shirt, and looked down the front. Jessica swatted her away, laughing.

  “Actually, yes, I did wear cute underthings, and I brought a change of clothes. Nothing fancy. I don’t want him to think I’m trying too hard, ya know?”

  “Hon, that bra and what I will assume are matching panties are screaming, ‘I’m trying very hard for you to get into my very pretty panties.’ ”

  “Very pretty panties?”

  Both girls jumped and looked back at the man who was leaning against the bar. “Slade!”

  “JL.” He gave her a nod. Then he turned to Jessica. “Lady, are you wearing sexy lingerie for me?” he asked.

  Her cheeks flushed. “Uh…you’re early.”

  “I couldn’t wait any longer. I’ve been staring at the clock for the last two hours.”

  Her heart fluttered. She was so happy to know that he was as excited as she was.

  “Go.” Jamie Lynn pointed at Jessica. “It’s dead. I’ll cover the rest of your shift. You’re almost done anyway.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes, but I want details later. It’s been a while since we’ve had a girls’ night. And anyway, anyone wearing that hot-ass bra should be able to leave early.”

  “I was right. Sexy lingerie,” Slade said, a sly grin decorating his face.

  “At least someone should get some action,” Jamie Lynn said as she gave Jessica a gentle shove.

  “Thanks, JL.”

  “Anytime. Have fun, you two. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Jamie said, then turned around to tend to a patron who had just walked in.

  “Wait here. I want to change,” Jessica said to Slade.

  “You look great.”

  Jessica looked down at her uniform and guffawed. “Give me a few minutes.” She walked toward the bathroom.

  Ten minutes later, after brushing her teeth, applying some light makeup, and changing into a black cotton maxi dress with matching flats, she fluffed up her hair and walked out.

  Slade whistled. “Don’t you clean up nicely.”

  She nudged him playfully with her elbow. “Ready to go?”

  He nodded, took her hand, and interlaced his fingers with hers—Slade, who she’d never seen hold any woman’s hand. She felt like doing another fist pump. Hold it together, dummy.

  As soon as they walked out of the Pier, he stopped and turned toward her. “Hi.”

  She smiled. “Hi.”

  “Mouth.”

  He was so sweet, Jessica thought, yet so…imposing. She leaned forward and lightly kissed him, then pulled away.

  “I’ve been waiting hours for that mouth of yours,” he told her. “You look so good, and I’m pretty sure you’re wearing something underneath that dress that’s going to drive me crazy later, so don’t fuck around with me. I want your mouth.”

  He released her hand, placed his big hands on the sides of her chin, and brought his lips down on hers. Her eager mouth opened and her greedy tongue met his in a brain-numbing, panty-combusting kiss in the middle of the sidewalk right in front of where she worked.

  When he released her, she practically swayed. He leaned down to look at her face. His blue eyes smoldered. They freakin’ smoldered. As she looked up at him, she finally understood why all the women in town pretty much dropped their panties when he so much as spoke to them. His blue eyes were absolutely hypnotic, and she was completely under his spell.

  “So, what are you in the mood for, baby?”

  “Um…” More of your mouth on my body. Then I want to do the same to you. Goodness, that mouth, those eyes, those lips, that tongue. I need—

  “Jess? Dinner—what are you in the mood for?” He chuckled. Had she said that out loud? Or had he read her mind with his magical eyes?

  “Anything’s fine with me. You pick.” Please pick something fast. I want to get you home like now! Her internal dialogue was really getting out of control.

  “How about we grab a pizza and take it back to your place? Unless you want to go to—”

  “No!” she yelled way too quickly. He laughed, and she took a deep breath. “Sorry. I mean, pizza at my house sounds great.”

  Hand in hand, they walked around the corner to a pizza place, which happened to be her favorite. “Everything, right?” he asked. “That’s what you like?”

  He’d brought her pizza a few times when she’d been unable to do much walking. It warmed her that he had remembered. She nodded with a big smile.

  “Why are you smiling?”

  “No reason.” She got on the tips of her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Just happy, I guess.”

  He pulled her close to his side as he ordered. While their pizza was being prepared, they went to a little grocery mart next door and bought cookies and ice cream. When the pizza was done, they added it to their other purchases and headed back to the parking lot.

  “I’ll follow you.”

  “Let’s go in my truck. I’ll bring you back for your car later,” he said. Her heart dropped. That meant one of two things: one, they weren’t going to have sex and he would take her to get her car after they ate their stupid pizza and stupid ice cream, or two, they would have sex and then he’d take her back to get her car, which meant he didn’t want to sleep over.

  Just like he did with all the other girls.

  Before she could get herself fully riled up, he added, “Tomorrow.”

  Uncomprehending, she looked up at him.

  “I’ll bring you back to get your car…tomorrow.”

  She briefly contemplated playing a little hard to get, but really, she was ready to have sex with him right there in the middle of the parking space while he held a large pizza box in his hand. She smiled at the thought, but suddenly something else occurred to her that brought a frown to her face. Was that even normal behavior?

  She was in the midst of this major internal debate when he spoke. “Okay, Jessica. What’s all the thinking about? Spit it out.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Jessica,” he said more sternly.

  “Okay. So, I don’t want you to think I’m one of your sluts. Not that the women you sleep with are sluts, but you know what I mean. All you have to do is smile that perfect dimpled smile with perfect white teeth and dazzle them with those gorgeous cerulean e
yes and they hop into bed with you. But God, Slade…I want you so freakin’ bad. I mean, I wore the lingerie and all, and I really hope you’ll like it.” It all came out in one long breath.

  Slade looked at her with a small smile on his lips and his head tilted as if he was examining her.

  “Baby, I have no fucking clue what you just said or what cerulean is. But I think the CliffsNotes version of it was something along the lines of you want to have sex with me.”

  She nodded.

  “And you don’t want me to think you’re easy.”

  She nodded again.

  “And you wore a thong?”

  She nodded again.

  He put the pizza box on the hood of the car and cupped her face in both hands, forcing her to look up at him. “Okay, first of all, I’d never think you’re a slut. Never. Second, I think you’re sexy even without the shit you just talked about, although, not gonna lie, I really want to see that thong. But the point is, I thought you were sexy when you were lounging around my house in old T-shirts and sweatpants nursing broken ribs. You don’t need to do anything other than be yourself for me to think you’re sexy. Also, you’re so not easy, Jessica. The only thing I didn’t do to get you to agree to go out with me was get on my hands and knees and beg—which was next on my agenda if you’d said no to me again. I think in and of itself that might be the definition of not being easy. And lastly, I want you too. Real bad. Okay?”

  Her head still between his hands, she nodded.

  “Come on. All this talk about thongs is making me lose my mind.” He grabbed the pizza and her hand and pulled her to his big black Ford F-150.

  “By the way, it’s blue. Cerulean is blue,” she said as he drove.

  “So why not just say blue?”

  “Because it’s more than blue. It’s…cerulean.”