Longing For You (Never Too Late Book 1) Read online

  “Yeah?” Her shy smile reminded him of the girl he once loved so many years ago.

  “Yeah, babe.”

  “Okay. I'll go get ready,” she whispered, not moving off his lap. His hand went to her face and he leaned in. He couldn’t stop himself.

  He kissed her.

  Jess

  She saw him move in closer but didn't stop him.

  She let him kiss her.

  She used to love kissing him and that fact hadn’t changed even after all these years. Her mind grew fuzzy and blurry with his sweet kisses, slowly kindling the fire inside of her. He kissed her like he had all the time in the world, like he was in no hurry, and she reveled in it, basked in the beautiful sensation of it. She shifted in his lap and sure enough, felt him hard beneath her. Moisture was building at her center.

  She should’ve blushed, been embarrassed, but she wasn’t.

  She liked the way his body reacted to her. It had been a long time since she made anyone's body react that way. Hell, it had been a long time since her own body reacted in a sexual way. In the back of her mind, she knew she should stop this. She should put as much space between them as possible, but she couldn't get herself to stop. Not when it came to Scott.

  Especially not after he shifted their bodies, rolling her over, his strong body hovering over hers. She loved how graceful he was, his movements mimicking the way the male leads in movies did it. He’d always done had, moving with nothing but confidence, without stumbling, swift.

  His mouth moved down to her jaw line, to that sensitive spot right below her ear he knew sparked brilliant sensations throughout her body. It was his spot. The spot that came alive the moment his mouth touched it, remembering him as if it had only been yesterday.

  She was so caught up in the riptide that was Scott and his lips she didn’t hear the knock on the door.

  She didn’t hear the doorbell.

  She didn’t hear the jingle of keys and she most certainly didn’t hear the door open.

  She sure as heck didn’t hear her son’s voice calling for her at the door.

  “Shit, Mom!” Drew’s deep voice bellowed in the living room. Both she and Scott froze solid at the sound. She hid her face in his chest, holding on to the front of Scott’s shirt. “Chloe, we gotta …”

  “Oh my God! Dad?” Chloe’s usually calm voice shrieked loudly, and Jess couldn’t help but want to jump into a black hole and disappear.

  “Umm,” Scott started to say but cleared his throat, his lips at her ear, his breathing tickling her. “To be continued,” he whispered low enough she knew she was the only one who’d heard his words. His body lifted off of hers and he stood up, his back to the kids. She looked at him.

  He was so handsome. Vital, rugged, and sexy. How one man could make her head spin like a damn yo-yo was beyond her. When their eyes met, she took in the way he was trying to calm down. She frowned because it didn’t make sense, until her gaze traveled his body, her eyes widening at the still very obvious and impressive tenting happening down below. It made her mouth run dry. She stood up immediately and saved him from further embarrassment by standing in front of him. She felt him turn, his body deliciously close to hers. The embarrassment she felt from being caught making out with her son’s future father-in-law didn’t taper down everything Scott made her feel.

  Chloe and Drew stood there, staring at them, their jaws on the floor, horror blanketing their faces.

  “Hey guys, I wasn’t expecting you,” she said lamely, pulling her sweater closer around her.

  “No shit,” her son answered angrily. Drew never talked to her like that. He always saved that tone for his father.

  “Is this…” Chloe started to say, the horror now gone from her pretty face, her eyes clouded with confusion. “I…was this going on before you two met this week?”

  “Yes.”

  “No,” they answered at the same time. Jess ran her hands through her hair.

  “How would you guys like some coffee?” She tried to shift the subject and didn’t miss the glare that came from her son.

  “Mom! What the hell is going on?” Drew growled.

  “Hey, Bud…” Scott started to say, putting his hand on Jess’ shoulder to move her behind him, to protect her, but she stopped him.

  “Drew, I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk to me like that.”

  “And I would appreciate it if my future father-in-law kept his tongue out of my mom’s mouth.”

  “Drew,” Chloe tried to warn him.

  “How are you not freaking out?” Drew asked Chloe. Jess could tell she was trying not to laugh at the situation.

  “They’re both single, Andrew! They aren’t doing anything wrong,” Chloe exclaimed, her cheeks pink.

  “What?” Drew’s eyes widened with surprise.

  “Guys…” she tried interrupting.

  “We dated a long time ago,” Scott’s deep voice filled the now silent room, and dizziness washed over Jess. Why did he have to share that?

  “What? Mom?” Drew’s face was full of shock, his hands gripping his hair.

  “Chloe, I didn’t know he was your Dad, sweetheart. Your last names are different. It was more than a surprise for me, for both of us, to see one another at brunch. I…I didn’t react well and pretended I didn’t recognize him,” she admitted and looked at Drew.

  “Scott and I dated a long time ago, before I even knew your Dad, honey.”

  “Fine. I get being surprised,” Drew scowled and pointed toward the couch. “But what the hell was that?”

  “Bud...” Scott started to talk, but Jess shook her head.

  “That,” she pointed at her couch, “is none of your business.” She wasn’t sure where she was channeling the calm in her voice from, but that was the only answer she could give him. Especially since she wasn’t sure what couch time had been about, either.

  “Are you shitting me right now?” Drew growled and she closed her eyes.

  “Drew!” Chloe hissed, and Jess stood still, ready to have her son lay into her. She’d seen him do it in the past to others, never to her, but she was ready for it.

  “It is my business, Mom. He dates…a lot. YOU don’t go out. You don’t date. You hardly leave your place. All you do is work and stay here. You were fucking dying and you didn’t tell us, Mom!” he yelled, his face turning red, but he wasn’t done. “I found you! On the floor only steps from where you are. Right. Fucking. Now. But it’s not my business?” he roared. This wasn’t just about Scott. It was about how she had lied and kept something important from them. She deserved her son’s fury, even though it had been a while since everything happened. Jess felt Scott take a step forward. He was now flush against her, his hands on her shoulders ready to move her behind him. The gesture melted something frigid inside of her.

  “Son…” Scott tried to say, but Drew was on a rant and wasn’t going to let anyone get a word in edgewise.

  “It fucking is my business, Mom. It’s my business because Scott’s a nice guy but he isn't the type to stick around after he gets what he wants!” Drew lashed out just like she knew he would.

  “Andrew,” Jess warned. Her eyes landed on Chloe.

  Chloe’s hands were on her hips, her pretty eyes glassy. Jess wondered what she was thinking and their eyes locked. Chloe looked at her as if she’d just seen Jess for the first time. Her stomach turned, not liking whatever Chloe thought she was seeing.

  “I think we should go,” Chloe said quickly, grabbing Drew’s hand.

  “What?” Drew looked down at Chloe.

  “Your mom is her,” Chloe’s voice was unsteady.

  “What? Who?” Drew scowled, his anger radiating off of him in waves.

  “The woman my mom never shuts up about after three glasses of wine.” Chloe blushed and Jess looked at Scott. Scott tilted his head in obvious confusion. “Drew, we need to go.”

  “Honey,” Scott took three steps forward. Chloe put her hand out to stop him. Jess had no idea what was happening.
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  “I love you, Dad, but I just…” she shook her head and looked at her father. “I always thought Mom was kind of crazy when she talked about her, but now…” she wiped at her eyes. “I get it. Maybe one day you can tell me more, but not now. We promised Chrissy we’d check in on Jess. We came and she’s, umm, okay,” Chloe blushed, not meeting Jess’ eyes.

  “Honey…” Jess started to say, but the look on Chloe’s face shut her up instantly.

  “I love you, Jess. I think you’re an amazing woman. My mom…my mom is nuts, but she is who she is. Drew and I will keep this between us until you are ready to talk, because as much as I love my Dad, Jess, Drew’s right.” Chloe’s eyes moved behind me to Scott, “I love you, Daddy. You’re a good man, but...”

  “What are you talking about?” Drew asked, but Chloe shook her head.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she held Drew’s hand, and all Jess could do was stare at Chloe. “Since you two have, umm, plans, we’ll see ourselves out,” Chloe finished, and Jess let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

  She watched in silence as Drew and Chloe walked out, closing the door behind them.

  Chapter Ten

  Scott

  Fuck. Not only had their kids caught them making out, but he had finally heard what his daughter thought about him.

  “I don’t think I have ever been caught making out with someone.” The unsteady surprise in Jess’ voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

  “That’s not true. Remember when your dad walked in on us after we watched that Molly Ringwald movie?” he reminded her, looking at her. She hadn’t turned around since the kids had left and he was starting to worry. He was expecting her to kick him the hell out, which was the last fucking thing he wanted.

  “Jess.” Her shoulders slumped forward at the sound of her name.

  “What are we doing?” she asked. He didn’t like the tone in her voice.

  “Honey…”

  “We don’t know one another anymore. Though according to your daughter...”

  “Jess…” his voice got stuck in the center of his throat when she turned around. The look on her face was new, one he didn’t want to become familiar with.

  “You should go,” she stood straighter, running her fingers through her blond tresses. “I…this…” she shook her head. He watched as her fingers touched her lips, her eyes distant, looking past him. She was processing, captivating him more in that moment than she ever had.

  “The nerve!” she clipped, her hands going in the air and her eyes meeting his. “You know, that kid is usually sweet. He’s mine, flesh and blood and what not, I love him, always will…but where does he get off?”

  She took a step forward and his eyebrows rose. He was expecting her to be pissed at him, not her son.

  “And he was mean about it. Not only mean but rude, to you. I didn’t raise him to act like that!” she told him, her face pink with anger. She looked cute as hell. So cute he struggled not to laugh out loud at her reaction.

  “Babe”, his lips twitched, thinking about what just happened. “He walked in on something he was really not expecting.”

  “And?” her eyebrows rose, fire burning in her eyes. Watching her so alive and spirited, his body started to react. “He’s a grown man now. It’s not like he caught us with our pants around our ankles!” she hissed, and he was about to choke with laughter.

  “Five minutes later, babe, I’m sure that’s exactly what he would have walked into,” he muttered under his breath. The room filled with her laughter.

  She had a great laugh. She always had. But right now, standing in front of her, watching her at that very moment, it was more beautiful than he could remember. Her laughter was real and wholehearted. It filled a void in his soul that had been empty for so long. Nothing had filled it. Not until now. The hollowness was now plugged up with her laugh.

  Her eyes sparkled at him as she bit her lip and shook her head. “That was fun.” Her eyes moved toward the couch, and he couldn’t stop the cocky smile that fell over his face.

  “Very,” he agreed. She bit her lip, a pretty pink stain on her cheeks, and smiled.

  “I’ll go get ready and we can go get breakfast,” she announced.

  “You still want to go out?” he asked, the surprise evident in his voice. She looked at him, her eyes full of mischief.

  “Of course,” she replied without any signs of second thoughts or doubt. He walked to her and grabbed her hand. Jess looked at him.

  “I never messed around…” he started to say.

  “Scott…” she began to interrupt him, but he stopped her.

  “Wait. Let me tell you this. My ex, Leah, as much as I loved her for giving me my girls, she’s nuts. I should have seen it before we got married, but I didn’t. I’m not going to hold my tongue and not lay shit out on the table. We are too old to keep secrets…”

  “Too old?” she raised a cute little eyebrow. “Speak for yourself,” he opened his mouth to speak, but she shook her head and placed a finger on his lips. “The past is the past. None of us are perfect....” but he shook his head. He had to be crystal clear about this. Whatever was going on now, he wanted her to know the truth. He took her finger off his lips.

  “I don’t mess around. I date, yes. I’m not a saint, but I’m far from the player my daughter obviously thinks I am.” Jess stared at him, something playing behind her eyes. He gave her time to process.

  “What did Chloe mean I was ‘her’?” she asked, ignoring what he’d just said.

  “You’re the one that got away, Jess. Leah knew from the get go. I never lied about how I felt and what I lost,” he admitted, his heart racing, wondering what she’d do next.

  Jess

  Her heart felt like it literally stopped beating.

  “You’re the one that got away, Jess.” His voice was playing on repeat in her mind as she quickly got dressed in her room.

  After he dropped that bomb, she’d stood suspended in time and stupidly nodded like a bobble head. She’d had no words. She still didn’t.

  Maybe part of it was because he had caught her off guard, but she was afraid it was mostly because she felt the same way about him. He was the one that got away. Sure, she’d found love with Kevin, but it had been different. She’d been devastated after Scott, had changed. A light had dimmed within her.

  She quickly changed into a long sundress with thick straps and an empire waist. It was a pretty dusky rose with a beige tribal print, and it was loose and comfortable. It also hid the extra bit of curves she carried, but mostly it made her feel pretty. She matched it up with a dark brown floppy hat and flat strappy sandals, leaving her hair down. Grabbing her wallet and phone out of her everyday purse, she placed them in a dark brown canvas tote she used when she went to the farmers market.

  She looked into the mirror and ran her hands over her face. Her hands moved from her face down to her neck and then to her chest. Her skin wasn’t as tight as it once was and if it weren’t for the corrective push-up bra she was wearing, she definitely wouldn’t fill the dress the way she once would have.

  Don’t doubt yourself! Her lifelong best friend, Shelly’s, voice rang in her mind, giving her a surge of confidence. Scott had seen her and if couch time had done anything, it proved that his body definitely liked what he’d seen too. With that thought, she grabbed a tube of lip-gloss her daughter had left behind and put on some mascara before lightly spritzing on some of her perfume.

  Walking down the stairs to the first floor, she found him staring out the French doors into her small yard. He turned around and took in the sight of her. She held her breath, only two thoughts in her mind. The first was how kind time had been to him; he’d aged so damn gracefully. Sure, some men aged better than others, but Scott Kostas was fucking beautiful. The second thought was a fleeting worry. What in the hell was she doing? All her apprehension and doubt faded, though, as he raised an eyebrow, a sexy grin on his face.

  “You look beautiful,” he g
rinned, and she felt heat on her cheeks.

  “Thanks.” Pressing her lips together, she noticed how his gaze went back down to her mouth, and she felt a tingle move down her spine to her toes. “We should go.”

  They really should, before they found themselves in another situation.

  He laughed and she realized she’d said it out loud. He walked to her, grabbing her hand and lifting her chin with a finger so that their eyes met.

  “I’m taking you to breakfast and then to your farmer’s market. We’ll probably go to lunch too. But you have to know, the entire time we are out…” he leaned lower, his mouth at her temple and hairline, his voice sending shivers of desire throughout her entire body like a lightning bolt. “I’ll not only be thinking about the couch time we had earlier, but how we’re going to continue it once we get back.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Jess

  The whole day had been surreal, beyond anything she could have imagined. She found out Scott loved to cook, which surprised her, though she thought it was incredibly sexy. They talked about so much they got to know one another again. When they’d walked, he’d grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together, and she’d let him. It was nice. Better than nice, it had been fun. She hadn’t had that much fun in a very long time.

  They talked about their marriages, the end of their marriages, their kids. The one thing they didn’t talk about was how they ended. He told her about his contracting business and she told him about her flower shop. He’d been surprised to hear she owned a flower shop.

  They’d shared two meals together, a trip to the farmer’s market, and a walk on the beach. Now, he was walking her back to her front door. As much fun as she’d had, reality was starting to set in and she remembered her doctor’s appointment on Tuesday. She needed to call or stop by and see Drew so that they could talk before then too.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” His voice brought her out of her thoughts.

  “Nothing…”