Page 91 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

At first, Jasmine thought Jack was angry. He just stood there staring at her. Then his face broke into a grin, and even though she fought it, her heart melted a little.

“Of course, it’s okay, Jasmine. I left the door unlocked for you. Had dinner?”

“Oh. No.”

She hadn’t even thought about food.

“But I’m really not hungry.”

Jack glanced at his watch.

“It’s nearly eight o’clock. You barely picked at your salad at lunch. Can I at least get that for you?”

She probably should eat, but.

“Thanks, Jack. I’m fine. More than anything I would like to head to bed early. I’m a little tired. Would you mind?”

“Of course not.”

He crossed the deck toward her.

“Let’s get you settled.”

Jasmine followed him into the great room. She’d left a couple of packages and her purse on the table.

“I’ll just grab these.”

He turned.

“Did you find what you need in town?”

“I did.”

Small talk. Maybe they were both tired.

Maybe that was a good thing.

“I really do appreciate your hospitality, Jack,”

she added.

His gaze didn’t falter.

“Hospitality? Jasmine…”

His words trailed off.

“Come on, we don’t have to be so formal. Look, I—”

She cut him off, not certain where he was heading, or why she’d even said what she said. Weary confusion was setting in. “Sorry.”

She placed a hand on his forearm.

“I know that sounded stilted. My brain is just spent. I think I’m talked out, and thought out, for the day.”

He placed his hand on top of hers.

“Same here. It’s been a long day. C’mon.”

Their hands dropped and Jack moved through the room toward the staircase. She followed him up to the second level and then across the second story landing, which was actually a balcony over the great room. The rich wood logs of the walls looked to be cedar, and as she glanced down at Jack’s comfortable home below, a pang deep as Falls Lake landed with an ugly plop in her gut.

Jack’s home.

All these years she’d wondered about him. Where he was, how he was living, with whom… And he’d never left this spot. He was here all along. Just where she’d left him.

“My room is down the hall.”

He thumbed toward a door at the end of the landing, and then twisted the doorknob to the room in front of them.

“This one is yours.”

He stepped out of the way and shoved his hands into his pockets. She wondered if the gesture was to avoid touching her, and if she was projecting that hands-off attitude. He nodded toward the room; Jasmine followed his gaze and stepped inside.

The room was lovely. More than lovely. It was awesome.

An antique cherry sleigh bed sat in the center; a log cabin quilt draped over the mattress. Matching nightstands bookended both sides and a tall, antique highboy dresser stood to her right. The walls were the same rich cedar logs, and the curtains to the two huge windows were pulled back, revealing a dusky view of Falls Mountain and the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond.

Her breath caught.

“Wow, Jack. That is some view.”

He stood directly behind her, she knew, because she heard his intake of breath, and felt the warmth of his exhale on the back of her neck.

“Best view in the house,”

he said.

“And the sunrise is guaranteed to wake you in the morning if you don’t pull those curtains.”

She shook her head.

“Naw. I want to wake up with the heat of the sun on my cheeks.”

“I’d rather you wake up with the heat of my kisses on your cheeks.”

Jasmine turned. “Jack!”

He caught her up in his arms.

“Jasmine, don’t talk.”

“Why?”

“Because you are all talked out. Me too.”

She shook her head.

“I don’t understand.”

“Sh…”

Jack cupped her face in his hands, drew her closer and touched her lips with his. He leaned in closer, the pressure of his mouth increasing over hers—warm, firm, soft. Heaven.

A sensation Jasmine had not felt in years zinged up from her tummy to her chest, and she found herself crowding closer. A piece of her heart, missing for years, locked back into place. Her packages landed on the floor with a thud and a rattle, and her arms went about his neck.

Jack’s fingers threaded through her hair, and his lips parted slightly. Jasmine teased back with hers and, daringly, with the tip of her tongue. Jack groaned and walked her backward toward the wall, trapping her between him and the cedar logs.

That action was nearly her undoing. His lips caressed hers, his heated breath played over her mouth, the length of his body fit snug against hers. Her hands traveled down to his shoulders, biceps…

He broke the kiss with a sigh.

“Oh, hell, Jazzy…”

Pulling back, Jack’s gaze played over her face. He swept the hair back over her forehead and trailed his fingertips over her cheek and down to her chin.

Jasmine bit her lip and glanced to his mouth.

“Kiss me again,”

she whispered. It was the last thing she needed.

Jack pressed against her in response. That action sent another curl of desire racing through her body. “Jasmine,”

he said softly.

“I don’t want to mess this up.”

Her chest lifted and fell.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m still in love with you, Jazzy. I’ve never stopped. I knew it the moment I saw you in the bank. But I don’t want to do anything tonight that is going to confuse things.”

“Meaning you want to kiss me.”

“I want to kiss you and more, but I want you to be sure. And I don’t think—”

She stopped him with a forefinger to his lips. Jack’s eyes closed at the touch and Jasmine relished in the feel of his firm, moist lips beneath her fingertip.

“Jack, just kiss me once more, and then tell me good night.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

His eyes flickered open and Jasmine let her finger drag off his mouth. Jack pressed her back into the wall and angled his mouth over hers.

He tasted her, holding her face still, raking his mouth over hers. Jasmine breathed deep of his scent, inhaling his kisses over her lips, and moving in sync with his rhythm. She combed through all of her emotions, sensations, imprinting the moment in her brain. On her heart. She didn’t know if this would ever happen again, this kiss, this closeness, and if it didn’t, she wanted to remember the feel of everything she was experiencing. Forever.

She grasped him at the waist, her fingers splayed over his ribs. It took everything in her not to snake her hands to his chest and rip his shirt free from his body.

But she didn’t.

Jack’s kisses slowed, and so did her breathing. Finally, with one last nibble of her lips, he pulled back, peering deep into Jasmine’s eyes.

After a moment, he stepped back, pushing away from the wall. And from her. His gaze lingered for another small moment, and then he whispered.

“Good night, Jazzy. See you in the morning.”

Then he left. The room was suddenly cold and impartial. And she had to remind herself that being alone was what she wanted. Right?

****

Jasmine, 1999

Section by section, I watched the lights on the football field blink off, darkness filling the void between the school and the bleachers. Standing next to Jack’s truck, I suddenly felt alone in the dark and a little frightened, but I kept my eyes glued to the light over the door at the back of the school where I knew Jack would soon be exiting.

Coach Blanton had asked him to hang back after the game and team meeting, because he’d wanted to talk to him about something. Jack didn’t know what, and I was a little worried.

I waited because we were going for late pizza at Mario’s. Usually the football crowd gathered there after the game. This would be the third Friday night date with Jack, and I was looking forward to it.

I sighed, trying to rid myself at my nerves, anticipating him walking out that door. Whenever I thought of Jack, I felt giddy inside. Just looking at him made me breathless. Sitting next to him in his truck, made me almost dizzy with pleasure. I was falling for him, hard. And I think he was for me, too.

I could only dare to hope.

The back door burst open, and I jerked upright, watching. Three of the players left the building, punching each other and walking off toward their trucks, a little to my left. I recognized them but didn’t know them personally. One was Andrew Pointer. Everyone knew Andrew. Class jokester and quarterback.

They stopped up short, and Andrew looked my way. I glanced off, trying to appear disinterested. I heard them talking, low and under their breath. Then Andrew shouted.

“Hey! What are you doing over there, honey?”

I didn’t answer, just kept looking toward the door, praying for Jack to come out any second.

But they sauntered closer and as they did, my chest lifted and fell with the up kick of my heartbeat. When they stopped right in front of me, I turned my stare their way.

“If you are looking for Jack, he’ll be out in a minute,”

I said, wanting them to realize that I wasn’t here alone. Not for long, anyway.

Andrew stepped closer. He angled his face, staring into my eyes.

“So, you’re with Jack, huh?”

He chuckled and looked to his friends, right and left.

“Not for long from what I hear.”

My face must have screwed up because he laughed at my expression. What did he mean?

I said nothing.

He continued to taunt.

“So, I always wondered what it would be like to have a piece of black ass. You want to show me, sweetheart?”

He crowded closer and I dropped my purse, putting my hands up on his chest and pushing. Where is Jack?

“What are you doing?”

I shouted.

“I can hold her, Andy, if you want.”

Panic tore up through me.

“Get away! Help!”

I clawed at his face.

He grabbed me by the shoulders and shoved me back against the truck. Pain rattled my spine. His mouth smeared across mine while I whipped my head back and forth in protest. His hot hand fumbled for my breast. His pelvis crushed into mine.

I whimpered and tried to fight him. Another set of hands grabbed mine and jammed me back against the truck. I tried to make as much noise as I could, squealing and kicking backward, trying to pound my foot into the sidewall—but his mouth and body stifled my feeble attempts.

The other two crowded closer, as if they were shielding Andrew. I knew the parking lot was dark and barely anyone was around. I prayed Jack would come out soon.

Andrew burst back.

“Damn, I’m hard,”

he said.

“Get ready, bitch. This ain’t gonna be like Jack.”

Then he added.

“Hold her against the truck. Eric, watch that damn door.”

This ain’t gonna be like Jack. All I could think about was that Jack would never want me, after this. Jack and I had never… I had never….

I kicked and screamed. A hand went over my mouth. I watched Andrew jerk down his zipper and his sweaty hand went under my dress. Groping.

Oh, God, no…

Inside, I was frantic. My mind blurry. Everything was fast and slow, all at the same time. Didn’t know what to do. Couldn’t do anything.

Hands were pinned. Body numb. Couldn’t scream any longer…

I prayed. Please, God. Let Jack—

“Hey! Hey!”

“Goddamn. Coach!”

One of them yelled.

My hands fell limp against my body, released. Andrew pushed back and my skirt fell in front. He gave me an intense look and zipped up his jeans.

“Later,” he said.

Then he was gone because out of nowhere, Jack sailed into him and tackled him to the asphalt. I screamed as they rolled and then Jack was on top, pummeling the hell out of Andrew’s face. In seconds, two men jerked him up and away from Andrew. Coach Blanton and someone else. He pulled Jack back and held him, while Jack looked to me and flailed his arms, yelling.

“Let me go!”

“Jasmine!”

Couch yanked him.

“Hold on there, Jack. Dammit.”

Jack stilled but his expression was frantic. I felt cold and confused, like I was standing on the perimeter. Outside looking in.

Coach kicked at Andrew.

“Get up and get out of here, goddamn it. Go!”

Jack wailed and shrugged out of Coach’s grasp.

“You goddamn sonofabitch!”

He yelled at Andrew and darted forward, but then whirled back and raced toward me, instead. His hands cupped my face and he brushed the hair out of my eyes. He stared into me, his chest heaving.

“Are you all right. Goddammit, Jazzy,”

he said, breathless.

“Are you all right?”

I could hear the other trucks leaving the parking lot, and silently breathed a sigh of relief.

I nodded.

“Y-yes. I’m. Okay.”

I was shaking like hell.

Coach Blanton stepped up and looked at Jack.

“See what I mean? Think about what I told you. For everyone’s sake.”

Jack stared back and gathered me closer, protecting me from what I suddenly realized, was more than Andrew. Breathing hard, he held the coach’s stare for a few more minutes, and then turned to me.

“Let’s go.”

He sheltered me as he unlocked the truck and helped me inside from the driver’s side. He followed. Doors locked, he started the truck, revved the engine, and peeled out of the high school parking lot, staring at the coach until he was out of sight.

****

Jasmine sat up, panting. She flung the covers back and let her legs hang over the side of the high bed, exhaling deep, as if she’d been holding a massive breath for years. Slowly, the air eased out of her lungs and her shoulders stopped shaking.

Propping her elbows on her knees, she rubbed the heels of her hands over her eyes. Finally, she took another deep breath and looked across the room and out the window. A full moon sat over the mountain, spilling light into the room.

She supposed it was normal that she would dream about Jack. About Harbor Falls. About Ms. Leinie. But she hadn’t thought about the attack in the high school parking lot for years, and she wasn’t sure why she would dream about it now.

Much like every other bad life experience, she’d pushed that scene to the far recesses of her brain and out of her heart. Less painful that way, of course. Safer. But ever since she’d stepped out of her car in Harbor Falls this morning, memories long repressed came zinging back, playing out in her head, her mind, and now her dreams.

Perhaps that’s why you can’t go home again, Jasmine. Things forgotten still lay in wait, poised and ready to inflict unwelcome memories upon your return.

She slipped off the bed and padded to the adjoining bathroom. Jasmine turned on the light and splashed cold water into her face, and then dried off with a towel. Looking up, she studied herself in the mirror.

Bare. Exposed. No makeup. Hair mussed. Wearing only Jack’s T-shirt and a pair of panties she’d picked up earlier while strolling some of the shops on Main Street in Harbor Falls.

Stripped bare, she was herself. And deep down, what did that really mean?

What was left?

What does one really have, when everything else is gone?

She pondered that, watching the rise and fall of her chest in the reflection. Her heart was still beating fast from the dream. The memory.

Jack had shielded her, protected her, and later when they were far away from the school, and those awful boys, and the coaches—when they were safe parked back on the farm in their spot—

This spot—

He held her all night. He didn’t touch her inappropriately. He didn’t ask anything of her. He cherished her and told her he loved her. He made her feel safe and secure and wanted.

Safe.

I am still in love with you, Jazzy. I’ve never stopped.

Then a few weeks later, she gave herself to him fully. He protested, said no, for a long time. But she had wanted him so badly, and then once they did….

Jasmine looked long at her reflection, then turned and left the room.

****

The bed squeaked and Jack rolled over, his eyes adjusting to the dark.

“Jasmine?”

“Jack.”

He sat up quickly.

“What are you doing?”

“Tell me what the coach meant.”

“What?”

He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. He hadn’t been kidding earlier when he said he’d sleep better tonight than he had in fifteen years—he’d been sound asleep until just this moment.

“I don’t understand.”

She moved on her knees, closer. She looked like an angel, backlit by the moonlight coming in the window. Wisps of short hair, golden at the edges, framing her face.

“Tell me what he meant. That night. Remember? That night in the parking lot after the game. That boy, Andrew….”

At once, Jack’s gut tightened.

“Sonofabitch.”

She huffed out a breath.

“It’s okay. And yes, he was. But I need to know what the coach said that night. What he meant. He said something like—”

“Think about what I told you.”

Dammit. Why bring this up now?

“Yes. What did he mean?”

Jack fell back against the pillow and reached for Jasmine.

“Come here. Please.”

Sighing, she did. Jasmine fell into his arms, her head in the crook of his chest and shoulder.

“It was about me, wasn’t it?”

He waited a minute and said.

“Yes. He told me not to date you.”

“Why? Oh.”

He fiddled with a strand of her hair.

“Hell, Jazzy. Coach thought he owned all of us. He didn’t want any of us to date, period. Didn’t want us distracted. But he was on me a lot for dating you.”

“Because my mother was black.”

“Probably. Yes.”

“You were a star player.”

“Yep.”

“You could have gone pro.”

Her voice was soft, wispy. Tired.

“Maybe, if I’d gone to college, Jazzy, but I didn’t. And anyway…”

“You quit the team.”

Jack turned and faced Jasmine.

“Why are we talking about this, Jasmine? I mean, as much as I am loving having you in my bed, I hadn’t expected that when you were here we’d be talking about my high school football career, or lack thereof.”

“You quit for me. Because of me.”

“I quit because I love you, and I’ll be damned if anyone was going to make me do something I didn’t want to do—like give you up.”

Her eyes misted over. He watched the even rise and fall of her breasts.

“That night… You protected me. You were like an angry lion protecting what was yours. You took care of me, held me, made me feel so safe. Safer than I had ever felt in my life.”

Jack ran his fingertips down Jasmine’s cheek.

“I’d do it again a thousand times over. Then. Today. Whenever.”

“You still love me.”

His heart swelled. Hooking a finger under her chin, he lifted her head until her eyes met his.

“I never stopped, Jasmine.”

He caught the tear spilling over her bottom eyelid and swiped it away with a forefinger. She tilted her head and ever so gently kissed his lips. Softly.

“Jack?”

she whispered.

“Yes?”

“Make me feel safe. Hold me again tonight, all night long. Just like you did that night all those years ago. Would you?”

Jack pulled her closer and exhaled. Her head rested on his chest. His heart absorbed her presence.

“There is nothing more in the world I could ever want.”