Standby (Open Skies Book 4) by Becca Jameson (popular e readers .TXT) 📕

get out of a previous relationship, but he kinda was,” Christa pointed out. “With his crazy neighbor.”

Everyone groaned. That had been a mess.

“So, what you’re saying,” Raeann redirected, “is that you’re scared.”

“Basically. He’s too…perfect. There’s no other word. I’m half in love with him. If it turns out he changes his mind, I’ll be devastated, and I can’t handle any more devastation right now.”

Heather narrowed her gaze. “So, you’re hiding here at the condo so you don’t have to deal with the remote possibility he might not actually ask you to marry him in like six months?”

Shayla groaned. “Yes. It sounds ridiculous when you put it that way.”

Libby cleared her throat. “Okay, now I’m curious. If he’s that amazing and devoted and you’re here with us instead of with him, I’m concerned because, hands down, I don’t spend many nights away from Jason because he rocks my world between the sheets. Don’t tell me Jake isn’t equally attentive.”

Shayla cringed. “Well… See…”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t had sex with that hunk of man,” Destiny blurted.

Shayla pulled in a slow breath. “I have not.”

“Why?” She wasn’t sure who yelled that one word the loudest. It was collective.

Shayla chuckled. “On our first date, I was totally all in, thinking I was going to score big time. But then he wanted me to move in with him to keep me safe and he made this random decision that we shouldn’t have sex for one week. He figured that would essentially be seven dates since we would be together every day.”

Everyone had a goofy starry-eyed grin on their face. They were mumbling about how romantic and sweet and cute and adorable he was.

Shayla rolled her eyes. “The deal was that if he could keep his hands off me for one week, he would get to dominate me in a way that basically ensured I ended up screaming loud enough to alert the neighbors.” She couldn’t help but giggle at her exaggeration.

“That sounds like quite the challenge. I’m sure you pulled out all the stops?” Raeann asked.

Shayla grinned. “You have no idea, but that man stuck to his guns.”

Destiny laughed. “I bet that hunk is a total dominant in the bedroom.” She swooned. “I bet he has amazing toys. And rope. I bet he has rope,” she exclaimed.

Laughter filled the room again.

Shayla groaned and flattened her palm on her forehead. “I’m sure of it. He mentioned it more than once.”

“What if you won and he touched you?” Christa asked.

“I would get to dominate him.”

Destiny laughed. “I doubt that would go over well.”

“Exactly, so I spent that week determined to win. I tried everything. I’d be too embarrassed to list the things I did to get his attention.”

“I can imagine,” Libby said, pretending to cover her ears.

“And he won?” Heather asked.

“Apparently. He did manage to keep his hands to himself until Saturday.”

“That’s so hot,” Bex said. “It was also five days ago.”

Shayla nodded. “That was the day Marilyn called and all hell broke loose. We were too distracted to seal the deal, so to speak, for that entire weekend. Then Monday, that asshole Hawke put a wrench in my life. We got back this morning. And, well…”

“You got scared and called a girl’s night,” Libby completed.

“Basically. But also, I didn’t want him to see the bruises all over my body, so I’ve been dodging him for the last two days, keeping myself covered, locking the bathroom door, etc.”

“Is it bad?” Heather asked softly.

“Yes. It’s just bruising. It doesn’t hurt too badly, but it’s ugly and distracting and it will take time to heal. I didn’t want our first time together to be consumed with Jake wincing in anger every time he looked at me. He was onto me though, so finally today, I showed him. He kissed every spot on my body that was bruised, and I was so emotional that I had to get away for a while. And here we are.”

Everyone was quiet for a bit. Bex poured more wine into everyone else’s glasses.

After a few minutes, Destiny spoke. “You can’t spend your life worrying about the future. You’re in love with the man. Tell him. Take a chance. Don’t run just because you’re scared it might not last forever. Better to have loved and lost and all that shit.”

“Also,” Libby added, “it’s time to get that man naked. Do it in the dark if you don’t want him to be reminded of the bruising. Sex in the dark is amazing. Especially blindfolded.” She wiggled both brows.

“Yeah. You’re right. You’re all right. I’m being a wuss.”

She knew she had no good reason to be concerned. Jake was beyond devoted and caring. She just hoped her heart could survive if for some reason it didn’t work out. Love wasn’t something she had any experience with, and the truth was she’d been half in love with him since their first date.

Chapter 26

Jake took a swig of his beer and set it on the table a bit more forcefully than necessary.

Hatch chuckled. “Punchy much, Tank?”

Jake sighed. “A bit.” He glanced at all the guys around Hatch’s kitchen table.

Zip was shuffling the cards.

Kraft was passing out the poker chips. Sweets was opening a bakery box filled with whatever delicious concoctions he and Bex had created that afternoon.

Besides Hatch, Zip, Kraft, and Sweets—the usual group—they had two new members at the poker table—Shooter and Hornet, the two new hires to join his team at Westside Programmers. Deacon and Neil were their real names, but none of the guys went by their real names when they were together.

“Let me guess,” Shooter said, “trouble in paradise.”

Jake shrugged. “Not sure. She’s giving me mixed signals. She’s cute and fun and flirty and sexy, and most of the time I know she’s into me. But every once in a while, she pulls back. It’s maddening.”

“I assume girls’ night at her condo was her idea tonight?” Hornet asked.

“Yeah. And I get it. She’s been through a lot in the last two weeks. She needs