The Harder You Fall (6 page)

No one paid her a bit of attention. With Harlow marrying Beck—this freaking weekend—and Brook Lynn marrying Jase—in less than five freaking months—the girls were caught up in a conversation about the weddings while the guys reminisced fondly about Ball Busters they'd injured.

Dude. I think you broke his femur. Congrats!

The waitress arrived and, to Jessie Kay's irritation, placed her hand on West's shoulder, as if it had every right to be there. “Y'all know what you want to drink?”

Overfriendly much?

The group snapped to attention, Jase kicking things off. When it was West's turn, the waitress stripped him with her predatory eyes and said, “Don't worry, sweetie. I remember what you like. I'll take real good care of you, promise.”

With a wink and a grin, she sashayed off, and dang it, even Jessie Kay had to admit her milkshake would bring all the boys to the yard. Short and slender, she had the kind of curves most women spent years in a gym—or thousands on surgery—trying to achieve. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail and swished from side to side, acting like a summoning finger, demanding anything with a penis follow fast.

“Looks like you have a groupie.” The venom in Jessie Kay's voice baffled her.

I'm not jealous. I can't be jealous.

West meant nothing to her.

She tried for sweet. “How nice that must be for you.” And how nice for Ponytail. The fact that she hadn't made the horrendous gaffe of sleeping with both West's friends, well, she might actually have a chance to score him.

“
A
groupie?” He shook his head, the picture of masculine confidence. “How cute.”

“You should have seen the one who showed up at the office a few days ago.” Beck draped his arm over Harlow's chair, something Jessie Kay's dad used to do whenever he was seated next to her mom. Daddy could never go more than a few minutes without touching Momma.

When we're not together, Anna Grace, I think of you. And when I think of you, I smile.

“She and West shook hands,” Beck continued, “and I swear they made a baby.”

“Twins.” West rubbed two fingers against the dark stubble on his jaw. “Maybe triplets.”

“You are
such
a romantic.” Jessie Kay clutched her napkin to her chest. “How does anyone resist you?”

“That's a very good question.” He met her gaze, and it shocked her—thrilled her—to watch his pupils expand, black spilling over all that gold. A forest fire wafting smoke. “Why don't you provide the answer?”

All eyes landed on her, and she shifted uncomfortably. “My opinion doesn't count. To me you're like a third cousin twice removed.”

“So...kissing cousins?” Jase asked her.

As she sputtered with indignation, Ponytail returned with their drinks, making sure to shove her cleavage in West's face. Did she have no shame?

“Y'all ready to order?”

“Sure.” West petted the woman's hand, which had once again migrated to his shoulder. “I'll have the special, whatever it is.”

After everyone else had placed their orders— requesting the special as well—Ponytail skipped off to give their ticket to the cook.

“I take it back.” Jessie Kay frowned at West. “You don't have a groupie. You
are
a groupie.
Her
twins had you completely entranced.”

“Hardly.” He peered at Jessie Kay for a while longer, the wheels clearly turning in his head. Finally he nodded, as if he'd just made a decision. He leaned toward her, coming closer and closer. His voice a rasp of heat, ensuring only she could hear him, he said, “I happen to be a fan of someone else's twins.”

Her jaw dropped, and her mouth went dry. Had he just—no, no, impossible...but...maybe. Had he just come on to her?

Wide-eyed, she turned her attention to Jase. “Did West sustain a massive brain injury during the game?” First he'd been nice to her. Then he'd complimented her movements—in heat? Yes! Now he flirted with her.

Actually he might be more than injured. He might be dying.

“Why?” Brook Lynn and Harlow asked in unison, instantly concerned.

“What's wrong?” Brook Lynn demanded.

The guys merely smiled slyly at her, as if they were privy to a secret.

“Maybe he finally had some sense knocked into him,” Beck said.

“Maybe someone else wanted what he wants, and he decided to take it. At long last,” Jase said.

Meaning...someone else had wanted her and West had decided to make a move?

No way. Absolutely no way. No one but Daniel wanted her, and he didn't count.

Reeling, needing a moment to regroup, she tossed her napkin on the table. And, just to be tactless, she added, “I'm headed to the lady's crapper. Alone,” she added for the girls' benefit. “If I take a while, don't come looking for me.”

Brook Lynn dropped her head in her upraised hands and moaned. “My sister did
not
just say those words at such a loud volume. I'm in a happy place. With butterflies and roses.”

West continued to stare at her, the forest fire growing hotter...so hot all that smoke reached her, twined around her. Barely able to breathe, she backed away from him. Whatever this was, whatever had changed between them, whatever he was doing, she wanted no part of it—because deep down she wanted
all
of it.

CHAPTER FOUR

W
HAT
IN
SAM
HILL
was wrong with him?
Had
he suffered a brain injury? West wondered.

He'd teased Jessie Kay. He'd flirted with her, had actually come on to her, and he hadn't been subtle about it. Before that, he'd even shared little tidbits about his past, something he'd only ever done with Jase and Beck. He'd even asked about
her
childhood, and he'd sincerely wanted to know!

And in the car, when she'd paled, gasping for breath, he'd felt an instinctive need to help her, whatever the cause of her distress. To make things better for her. To
be
better for her. The beautiful girl with the keen mind, sharp wit and vengeful nature. Who else would tell him about a pap smear?

She charmed him, and the madness had to stop. For every reason he'd already considered, and a thousand more.

If they ended up together, the relationship would fail in two months. No more, no less. Because yes, he scheduled his relationships like everything else. He never deviated, never would, for reasons he would never share.

He could handle Jessie Kay's upset over the situation, but not everyone else's. Brook Lynn and Harlow would side with her and hate him, and though Jase and Beck would side with West, they'd also have to side with their girls. Eventually, West would find himself cut from the family.

He needed his boys like his needed his lungs. Couldn't live without one, couldn't live without the other.

Brook Lynn threw her straw wrapper at him. “You better start being nice to my sister, Lincoln West.”

“I wasn't mean. Not today,” he added with a grumble.

“She has a tough outer shell, but inside, she's actually a marshmallow.”

Was she? He only knew a little about her past.

There's more to both stories...a lot more.

If he knew everything about her, would he want her less? Or even more?

Could
he want her more? He already ached for her every minute of every day.

Neither of his friends realized the attraction had flared at meeting one, and he would never tell them, didn't want them dealing with guilt for taking something—someone—he wanted. The predicament was his fault, anyway.

He'd met Jessie Kay at a Fourth of July BBQ and a few hours after he'd walked away from her, he'd returned, thinking he'd reintroduce himself to the woman he hadn't been able to get out of his mind. But by then, Beck had set his sights on her. And when either of his boys expressed an interest in something,
anything
, West moved heaven and earth to ensure they got it. Period. Such deprived childhoods deserved extravagant adulthoods.
Owe them everything.

He'd walked away again. And he didn't regret his failure to step up and stake a claim on Jessie Kay. Nope. Not even a little.

Jase kissed his fiancée's knuckles. “You just made a huge tactical error, angel. Never tell a man a woman is a marshmallow.”

“Why not?” she asked, truly confused.

Beck arched a brow. “Why else? Because he'll want to eat her.”

Harlow slapped his chest. “Oh, my gosh! You are
such
a pig.”

But the guy wasn't deterred. “Tell her, Westlina.”

He smiled without humor. “It's true. If the guy has a sweet tooth.”

“The way you were looking at my sister...you better not have a sweet tooth.” Brook Lynn wagged a finger in his direction. “I worry about her enough, thank you very much. She lives alone in a crumbling house. She's struggling to make ends meet, and she's determined to trek the straight and narrow. There's no reason to tempt her onto the winding and wide.”

Do I tempt her?

Every muscle in his body hardened like a rock. Every—single—one. “Don't worry. I prefer savory to sweet.” At least, he always had before.

The stiffening got worse as Jessie Kay strolled around a corner. Her navy gaze avoided him. Probably a good thing. The scent of her—pecans dipped in cream and sprinkled with cinnamon—invaded his senses, more potent than any drug, heating him to the point of sweltering, intoxicating him until his head spun. A warmth and high he'd missed with every fiber of his being. A warmth and high he couldn't allow himself to enjoy. The more he liked it, the more he'd crave it...the more difficult it would be to let go.

Clearly, he needed to select his next relationship. He usually had someone hooked and reeled by August and thrown back into the sea by October, avoiding the holidays. The move to Strawberry Valley had screwed with his schedule.

And even though sexual relief wouldn't be a cure-all, it would be a bandage, and that was good enough. Anything was better than nothing right now.

“Y'all are suspiciously quiet.” With a frown, Jessie Kay eased into her chair. “I don't like it. Makes me want to slap you to sleep, then slap you for sleeping. Someone say something before I go into detail about my last period.”

“
Please
say something,” West said, almost desperate.

Brook Lynn moaned. “Happy place, happy place.”

“Jessie Kay, why don't you tell everyone about the indoor soccer team you'd like to start,” Harlow suggested.

Beck set his beer on the table with a clink. “You want to start a team? Have you ever played?”

“No, but I have plenty of experience knocking people around.” Jessie Kay threw a one-two punch at air. “I just need a coach...someone like West. His skill is—”

“Oh, no, no, no.” West shook his head for emphasis.

She ran her tongue over her teeth but still didn't face him. “Why not?”

“We'd kill each other.” And, more important, he'd be on her before the end of session one.

“For all you know, I'm the next David Beckham,” she said, lifting her chin.

“Ball handling is not a skill you pick up like this.” He snapped his fingers.

Her gaze narrowed. Through a haze of fire and heat, a storm brewed, lightning flashing. “Well, good news. I'm already quite good at
ball handling
. Just ask your friends.”

He pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth.

Brook Lynn moaned, once again hiding her face in her hands. “Happy place. Happy place.”

Beck choked on the drink he'd just taken.

Harlow rubbed him between the shoulders, saying, “Jessie Kay Dillon, you lock that snark up tight right this second. You know my he-slut likes to pretend I'm the only woman he's ever been with. Reminders of past escapades only confuse him.”

Jessie Kay wilted, looking like the very picture of remorse and shame. “Sorry. My temper...”

Maybe she
was
a marshmallow.

“Wait. Did I just win our bet?” Brook Lynn vibrated with excitement. “Huh, huh, did I?”

“No! Are you kidding me?” Jessie Kay pointed her fork at her sister. “You wipe that smile off your face. The parameters of our bet say something has to be thrown. A fist, an elbow, even a handbag.”

“Insults can be thrown,” Brook Lynn insisted.

“They sure can, but I just
complimented
myself. Everyone heard it.” She flipped her silken hair over her shoulder, the feminine action making his gut clench. “Since West is being ridiculous, I'll just hire Beck—”

“No way.” Beck shook his head. “I love you like a sister, but no.”

She tried again. “Jase will—”

“No, Jase will not.” Jase gave a more insistent shake of his head. “I love you like a sister as well, but it ain't gonna happen.”

Jessie Kay released a heavy sigh. “Fine. I'll hire a stranger. If he falls in love with me, stalks me and murders me when I refuse to return his affection, it's on you guys. It's just... I
neeeeed
an outlet for my...temper.” The most adorable blush spread all the way to the collar of her shirt. “Yes. My temper. You heard Brook Lynn doing her best to provoke me, right? She's a dirty, dirty cheater, and I can't allow her to beat me.”

How much farther did that blush go? How hot did it burn?

Need for her, now sharper than razors, scraped at West's chest. He gripped the arms of his chair in an effort to fight the desire to reach for her.

Just one touch...

The waitress arrived a second later, handing out plates piled high with a chicken-fried-steak burger, smothered with cheese and gravy, tater tots on the side. She was a new hire, and he'd interacted with her a grand total of four times, but she smiled at him as if they were the best of friends. Something she hadn't done during his last three visits. He wondered if she'd looked him up and found out how much he was worth.

Wouldn't be the first time.

“Thank you,” he muttered.

“You are so welcome, honey.”

“Get a room,” Jessie Kay said under her breath.

The waitress pretended not to hear and bent down to whisper into his ear, “You want to put in an order for dessert? We're about to sell out of our world-famous brownie pie, but I'll put one aside if you'd like...”

“Yes.” His gaze returned to Jessie Kay. “I suddenly have a craving for something sweet.”

“Well, then, maybe you'd like a side of me instead?” With a wink, the waitress sauntered away to help another table.

Jessie Kay took a bite of her burger. Her eyes closed, and she groaned the most rapturous sound of satisfaction. “Is this the best thing I've ever eaten? No.” She scooped up a dollop of gravy with the tip of her finger and sucked it into her mouth. “But try to take it away from me, and I will cold-bloodedly murder you.”

West had to fight a sudden grin, oddly charmed by her brashness. Unlike the waitress, he'd never had to wonder about her motives. She enjoyed what she enjoyed, disliked what she disliked, and wanted what she wanted. Very little else ever factored into her decisions.

“Try to take it away from her,” Brook Lynn whispered to Jase. “Help me win the bet. Please, please, please.”

Jase's brows winged into the locks of hair hanging over his forehead. “Victory is more important than my life?”

“At this precise moment? Yes!”

The way they were together, leaning into each other, totally at ease, playful, flirty, assured of the other's affections, made West envious. Made him miss Tessa more than usual—her laugh, the way she broke into song at random times and danced around the room. He more easily forgot the hard times, when she'd sunk into a deep depression and refused to eat or leave their bed.

Jessie Kay bumped her shoulder against his. “Hey. You never spoke up at the arena. You
are
paying for everything, right?”

“Right.”

She raised her arm, signaling the waitress. “I'm gonna need one of these to go.” She gave her sandwich a little wave. “Oh, and a dessert of my own. The brownie pie, to be exact. And don't try to tell me you're sold out. Bad things will happen.”

“But—”

She hiked her thumb in West's direction. “Everything goes on his tab. He
insisted
.”

“Sure thing.” The waitress pursed her lips and hurried off.

“Happy place,” Brook Lynn muttered.

“What?” Jessie Kay gazed around the table. “What'd I do this time?”

Brook Lynn heaved a sigh. “Just because someone else is paying doesn't mean you should order the lobster.”

Those bedroom blues brightened. “They have lobster?”

“Happy place. Happy place.”

Jessie Kay threw a tot at her sister. “Hey! I love you, and my lifelong goal is to show you just how much, but that's not going to stop me from shaking your brain out of your ear if you don't tell me whether or not they have lobster.”

“They do not.”

Jessie Kay's shoulders hunched with disappointment, and West had to fight another grin. She might not like him for his money, but she sure wasn't afraid to spend it. Strangely enough, he liked her more for it. She didn't give a shit about his opinion of her. A singular experience.

The waitress reappeared, pouting at him. “Bad news. Because your sister demanded the last brownie pie, the only dessert we have left is the s'mores trifle. It's really good though. That okay with you, gorgeous?”

“Sister?” Jessie Kay scowled. “Do I really look like his sister? I clearly come from grade-A stock while his ancestors made a few poor choices along the way.”

Singular
creature. “Yes,” he told the waitress. “I'll take the s'mores trifle, but make sure you add extra marshmallows.”

* * *

T
HE
NEXT
WEEK
flew by, with only a few necessary adjustments to West's schedule. Adjustments he made only because he'd found his next relationship. Monica Gentry, owner of Bodies by Monica.

She'd shown up at WOH Industries on Wednesday, hoping to hire him to film her first workout video, not realizing he only created computer programs, video games and animated commercials. They'd had lunch instead.

He'd found something familiar about her, but when he'd looked her up later that night, he'd realized he knew nothing about her. What he learned: A handful of her former employees hated her. They'd posted scathing reviews about her leadership style, calling her intense and neurotic. But who wasn't neurotic?

And really, she'd had to be fierce to build her gym franchise from the ground up. A feat he admired. He and Beck had had to claw their way over, under and through wall after wall of rejection; but all the while West had continued creating games and programs and Beck had continued making calls and pitches, going door-to-door until Dane Michaelson of MG&E paid millions for exclusive rights to his flow software, a program tracking oil and natural gas from the ground to its buyer. Not only had the deal put WOH Industries in the crosshairs of other business, but Dane had become a close friend, even introducing West to Strawberry Valley, his hometown, which had led West to introduce Jase to the town when the desire to move struck.