NextMoves (10 page)

Her words. God help her, he was right. She loved him, but
had never fully trusted him, never let him into her life in a way that
mattered. What an idiot she’d been. Her throat choked up, eyes stung with the
hint of tears. Hip deep in her own shame, she couldn’t breathe or process a
single thought. The need for air overwhelmed her, she had to get out of there.

“I’ve never been any good at relationships, Jared. I was
crazy to give it a try again. I’ll let myself out.”

Before she walked out the door, she turned to face him. “For
whatever it’s worth, I love you. I’m just used to taking care of the people I
love.” She ran to her car.

Jocelyn hit the showers after she and Kylie finished a
five-mile run late Sunday afternoon. The demanding pace she set did nothing to
exorcise the demons eating away at her heart. Once the hot water sprayed her
back, the tears turned on and wouldn’t stop. The tremors rolling through her
threatened to rip her body apart. She had lost so much—the trust of her board,
the Chamber’s reputation, and Jared, mostly Jared. The secret hope that he
would forgive her dwindled more each day. At sea, alone and directionless, for
once she didn’t know what to do.

When tears ran out, she turned the shower off and went to
make dinner. Sleep-walking through spaghetti sauce, she sliced her finger
instead of the mushrooms, added vinegar instead of wine, and then over-boiled
the spaghetti, leaving an inedible gelatinous mess. Dinner in the garbage, she
ordered pizza and poured herself a scotch. Propriety be damned.

When the phone rang after dinner, Jocelyn raced for it,
hoping beyond hope it was Jared. Her brother’s number flashed on the screen.
Disappointment was a physical lump in her throat.

“Gideon, what a surprise. What do you need?”

“Joci, you wound me. I don’t just call you when I need
something.”

“Yes you do, big brother.” A smile snuck across her face.

“Well, tonight I’m just calling to connect. I can turn over
a new leaf, can’t I?”

“Why are you really calling?”

“Kylie asked me to. She’s worried about you.”

Her mouth opened so wide birds could nest in it.

“What’s going on, Joci?

Pacing tracks through her carpet, Jocelyn started to talk
and couldn’t stop. Grateful for someone to confide in, she unloaded everything—the
collapse of Health Corp, the board’s betrayal, the school budget and Jared.

“Oh, Gideon. I’m so used to fixing everything that I just
froze him out of something that concerned him. I guess I figured if I saved his
job, he’d be forever grateful.”

“Like everyone else is?”

“I’m really awful aren’t I?”

“No, little sister. You just don’t trust anyone else to take
care of things. It’s why you’re good at what you do.”

“Now, Gideon, it’s my turn to ask something of you. I need
help taking care of Dad. We have to figure this out as a family, but you must
start shouldering some of it.”

* * * * *

Jared entered AJ’s Gym, ready to beat the punching bag into
a pulp. His heart was still in tatters, anger a constant companion. A tall,
blond-haired man had gotten there first. Jared recognized the right cross.

“Gideon?”

“Jared, you come here now?”

He nodded. “Twice a week. What brings you to town?”

“Joci called a family pow-wow. We’re looking into options
for our dad’s care. We’re interviewing home health aides, get dad used to me
taking some of his calls. She’s been doing it all and finally put her foot
down.”

“She did?” Had Joci heard him?

“You want the bag for a go? You look like you could use it.
Hanging out with my sister is not always easy.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He took his sweat jacket off and threw it on
the bench behind him. A white envelope dropped to the floor. The note Kylie had
given him. He’d forgotten about it. Maybe it was time to read it. Jocelyn’s
clear, firm cursive greeted him.

Dear Jared,

I’m sorry I can’t be at the game and have been hard to
find lately, but the need has been urgent. I had a last-minute opportunity to
earn double the money. If I don’t raise the funds, I will follow you if you
need to move elsewhere. Whether we decide to stay or go, I needed to do the
best I could for Madison. Here is my private number (321-988-4357). Only Kylie
and my father have it. It’s always on. Use it when you need it. I know it may
not feel this way now, but I have not abandoned you. In my heart, you come
first. I miss you desperately. I love you.

Joci.

“What you have there?” Gideon asked.

“A note from Joci giving me her private number.” And so much
more.

“Even I don’t have that. That’s huge for her. It’s for those
she’s willing to drop everything for. Only Dad and Kylie have it.”

A smile started in his gut and worked its way up to his
lips. God, he loved her and he’d been a complete idiot. She’d been speaking in
her language, he’d been listening in his.

“I need to find Joci.” He moved to a corner for privacy and
dialed the private line. She picked up on the fourth ring.

“Jared,” she said hesitantly into the phone.

“Hi, babe.” His throat tightened, forcing him to take a
breath before continuing. “I’m sorry for the other day. Could we talk?”

“Of course. I’m at the office. Do you want to meet me here
or come to my house later?”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” he said, unwilling to wait.
He said his goodbyes to Gideon and ran to the Chamber of Commerce two blocks
away.

At the building, he raced up the six flights to her office,
taking the stairs two at a time. He found her absorbed by the computer screen,
chewing on the tip of a pen as she tapped her fingers haphazardly on the table.
A notebook lay sprawled out in front of her on the desk and it appeared as if
she had been jotting down notes.

“What’s got you so engrossed?”

She looked up and gave him a shy smile. “A new job offer.”

“Joci?” His eyebrows rose high in a question.

“At the Madison Foundation. Derrick’s retiring in a few
months and they’re looking for a replacement.”

“Are you considering it?” He edged in closer to her, wanting
to trace his fingertips along the black circles marring her peaches-and-cream
skin.

“Yes. The board’s betrayal devastated me but it also gave me
the jolt I needed to do something. I don’t belong here anymore. This job no
longer reflects my values and it’s been eating away at me for some time.” Her
eyes closed for a brief moment before fastening on to his. “Jared, I’m so
sorry. You were right. I didn’t trust you enough to really let you in. I’ve been
playing games in local politics for so long, keeping my own counsel, I don’t
think I know how to trust anyone anymore. Losing you showed me that’s not who I
want to be any longer.”

He moved to her side of the desk and gently cupped her face.
“I’m sorry too, Joci. All I saw was what you weren’t giving me. When I bumped
into Gideon and finally read the note you sent that I had buried in anger, I
understood that you wanted to build something together. I didn’t trust you
enough to recognize that you’d always been there for me.”

“Don’t let me off the hook. I’m so used to taking care of
everything that I neglected to give you a choice in the matter.”

“I’m not. I’m also owning up to my own failings. We’ve both
been struggling to overcome the scars carved by our pasts. I like the idea of
you taking care of me, Joci, as long as you let me take care of you. Equal in
all things.” He kissed her softly, her nearness a healing touch.

“I would enjoy being taken care of every once in a while.”
She laughed as she stood to encircle him in her arms and snuggle her face
against his neck. Relaxing into her embrace, his soul light with joy, he knew
he could never let her go again.

“I do expect you to make amends for missing the state
championship game however.” He stroked her back while planting several kisses
on top of her head.

“Amends, how?” She looked up and frowned.

“By not missing any more games for the rest of the year,” he
nibbled at her ear, “or the year after that or the year after that or the year
after that.”

“Jared?” Her eyes shone bright, a rainbow of hope and
questions.

“I’m in love with you, Jocelyn Wade. Marry me.”

“I love you too, Jared, but wouldn’t that be jumping in too
quickly? Trust takes time.”

“I know, babe, but we need to figure the future out
together. What better way than building a new game—our game?”

She nodded. Her smile, flushed cheeks and glistening eyes
were all the answer he needed. Jared kissed her, leisurely at first,
intensifying the passion as he pressed her closer to him with one arm. His free
hand traced a path from her hip to her breast, finding the nipple peaked with
arousal. “Now, my love, we have some unfinished business in the conference
room,” he purred in her ear, his fingers massaged her breast, eliciting gasps
of pleasure.

With a wicked grin, Joci took his hand, led him to a sleek
business center and locked the door behind them.

After kicking a chair out of the way, he lifted her onto the
conference table. Those long, lean legs wrapped around his hips and drew him to
her. His hands on the table to steady his weight, he showered kisses on her
lips, along her chin, down her throat. Apparently as eager for this as he was,
she jerked his shirt out and groped underneath to knead the corded muscles
running down his back. Her hands moved lower to unzip his pants and stroke him
from tip to sac. He closed his eyes and gave himself over to the sensation of
her hands on his cock and her mouth nibbling at his neck.

“God, I’ve missed you” he said thickly. His hands traveled
up her legs to push her skirt up to her waist. Lace-edged black thigh-highs and
a satin black thong a visual tease that had white heat burning through the base
of his spine. He ripped that thong off to tickle the crisp auburn hairs and
swollen flesh demanding his attention. Liquid dribbled from her channel, dewing
his fingers. “You’re ready for me, babe.” He entered her in one deft motion and
lunged, deep and fierce. They made love frantically, desperately. Pent-up
emotions flooded into his bloodstream unlocked with every clench of her pussy
around his cock. When she cried his name, he poured himself into her, claiming
her body and soul.

“I love you, Joci.”

Resting on her elbows, she flipped her head to dislodge
several strands of hair that had fallen out of its knot and into her eyes. “I
love you too.”

The hard table did not invite cuddling, so he stood and
pulled her into his arms for a searing kiss.

When he caught his breath, he needed one question answered.
“Joci, when we had dinner at the airport restaurant, did you turn off your
phone?”

“I turned my Blackberry off, so I kept my word to you that
night, of a sort. I never turn the private phone off. I’m always there for
those I love. Angry now that you know?”

He hugged her close. “No, babe, I’m proud of you. That’s
always the right move.”

Nine months later

Joci ran into the house, kissed Jared and Kylie on the tops
of their heads and raced upstairs to get ready for the black-tie gala. Jared,
she observed on her way in, already wore his tux. She made a mental note to admire
him in it later. They had been married for three months and her heart still did
little flips when she saw him. Out of her clothes, she jumped into a hot shower
to scrub herself squeaky. This was the first big event since starting her new
job as Foundation President, and she wanted everything to be perfect, including
her appearance.

Shower done, hair dried, makeup applied, she headed to her
closet to choose just the right suit for the evening. She opened the doors to
find nothing but two very slinky black dresses and two high-heeled pairs of
sandals.
Not her stuff.

Anger blistered down her throat. She knew Jared wanted her
to diversify her wardrobe beyond suits and jeans, be a little sexier for him,
but she didn’t think he would actually try to force her into it. That man
needed a piece of her mind. She stopped her rampage short at the top of the
stairs when she heard Jared and Kylie laughing together.

“You think she’s discovered her closet yet?” Kylie giggled.

“No, it’s too quiet upstairs. We’ll hear her once she’s seen
it.”

They were in on it together, Jocelyn mused, not sure what to
think about that. She was glad they were bonding, but not at her expense.
Needing more information, she decided to listen for a while before stomping
downstairs to take them both to task.

“Even if she refuses to wear them, I had fun shopping with
you, Jared, more than I have with Mom. She hates to shop and does it too fast.
Maybe you could take me when I have to buy clothes?”

“I had fun too, Kylie. It would be my pleasure to take you
shopping, whenever you want.”

“Jared, uh, can I tell you something…” She hesitated.

“What is it, sweetheart? I hope you know you can tell me
anything,” he urged gently.

“I think, maybe, I’m ready to start calling you Dad. I never
really had one and I can’t imagine one better than you.”

Jocelyn’s heart constricted in joy. They were melding into a
true family.

“Kylie, I told you whenever you were ready I would welcome
it. There’s nothing I would love more than for you to call me dad. Sweetheart,
I can’t imagine a better daughter than you.”

Unable to hold back the tears, she tiptoed to the bathroom
to let them loose. When her eye faucets drained dry, she washed herself up and
started all over again. This time when she got to her closet, she selected a dress
and a pair of shoes. Her new life deserved a new look, one that included the
input of her loved ones—the people she trusted to take care of her.

A glance in the mirror launched a smile. Not bad. The black
silk hugged her curves deliciously, the top cut perfectly to emphasize her
enticing cleavage while hiding her silver tattoo. The Jared-Kylie team had good
taste and the sizing was perfect.

“It seems you two were busy when I was out today,” she said
from the stairs before entering the living room.

Jared’s jaw dropped. Kylie’s eyebrows rose. “You look
amazing,” they said, almost in unison.

“Thank you,” she replied, inclining her head.

“You’re not mad?” Jared asked.

“At first. But I heard you talking. When I learned that you
two conspired together, I decided I should give it a try and trust the judgment
of my family. I think I like it.”