Dare to Love by user (read dune TXT) 📗

Jake arched a brow, then withdrew from her only long enough to dispose of the condom and reach for the box in the bedside drawer. “Good thing I’m well prepared.”

She laughed, loving that she could be herself with him. She reached into the box and

took out a packet, handing it to him with a smile. “Good thing.” He grabbed the packet in his hand, then gathered her in his arms. “I have a feeling neither of us is going to get any sleep tonight.” As Jake took her mouth in a deep, lingering kiss, Lucy had a feeling neither of them

was going to complain about the lack of sleep.

Chapter Ten

Lucy stood at the door to Jake’s trailer a little before noon on Monday, her heart pounding in excitement and trepidation. She had a bag of sandwiches and thought she’d

surprise him by bringing him lunch. A little presumptuous on her part, but after spending

the weekend with him, she was pretty certain things between them had changed.

Still,

maybe she should have called first.

You’re being ridiculous. He’ll be happy to see you. Just knock.

She did, and cringed when his curt “What?” followed. Maybe she should just turn around and hightail it out of there. No, that would be stupid. She’d walked all the way

over here from her office. She was going to suck it up and tell him she was here.

He

would be happy to see her, she knew it.

“Jake, it’s Lucy.”

He jerked the door open, and her smile died. Maybe it wasn’t a good day for lunch

after all.

“Did I come at a bad time?”

“No. Come in. Sorry.”

He held the door open while she climbed the stairs up and into the trailer.

“Am I interrupting?” She smoothed loose tendrils of hair back from her face, then took a quick glance at his desk. Papers and blueprints were spread out everywhere, and

lots of other paperwork—crumpled up and tossed—littered the floor of the trailer.

“No. I’m just dealing with some…stuff today.”

“Bad stuff?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Obviously. “I brought lunch.” She tried again for a smile.

“Uh, I already ate.”

Again, her smile died. “Oh. I’m sorry. I should have called first. I just thought you might enjoy a little break.”

“Like I said. It’s a bad day, Lucy. I don’t have much time for a break.” Heat rose up her neck and cheeks. She snatched up the lunch bag and crushed it between her hands. “I’m really sorry, Jake. I should have called. I just assumed…”

“Well, call next time, okay?”

Oh, God. This hurt. It was like being dismissed by her father all over again. That taciturn look of disapproval, like she was bothering him when all she wanted was a little

attention.

You are so needy, Lucille Fairchild. When are you going to get over that?

Never.

The throb of hurt swelled through her body. She wanted to crumple right there, but

she couldn’t, refused to do it. She’d never let Jake see that he’d hurt her. It was such a

silly thing, really. He’d never understand. It wasn’t his fault. It was hers.

Tears welled and she had to get out of there before she made an utter fool of herself.

“Of course. I only had a few minutes, anyway. I need to go.”

“Lucy…”

“No, really.” She already had the door open. “I’ll talk to you later, Jake.” Just a few steps down and she could make her escape.

“Lucy, wait.”

Please, please don’t follow me. She felt stupid already. She pulled the door shut behind her and nearly flew down the stairs, grateful she’d worn a pantsuit and flats today.

She made quick time across the gravel yard and onto the sidewalk, hurrying back to the

office. Thankfully it was the lunch hour and no one was about. She tucked herself into

her office and shut the door, leaving a message for her secretary that she didn’t want to

take any calls for the rest of the afternoon. She pulled off her jacket and fell into her

chair, tossing the lunch bag on her desk with a grimace.

She grabbed a tissue and wiped away her foolish tears, then leaned back in her chair.

Stupid idea, anyway. What was she thinking? That one weekend of sex and she and

Jake were now a couple? That she could just show up on his jobsite and interrupt his day?

He was busy. Just like she was. Instead of mooning over her all day long, Jake was actually doing his job. Which was exactly what she should have been doing today.

Instead, she’d spent the morning thinking about Jake, about their weekend, about the time

they’d spent in bed together.

Ugh. She was such a…woman.

Damn estrogen anyway.

They weren’t a couple. They weren’t even dating, for God’s sake. She’d helped him

out with his party. They had chemistry together, so they’d made a mutually agreeable

decision and had sex. They were both mature, consenting adults who could do what they

want. There was no commitment, no relationship.

They had nothing together.

And she thought she was in love with Jake.

She had to grow up, had to stop living out this fantasy where she could find the perfect guy who would swoop in and take all the hurt away.

That kind of guy didn’t exist. Not in her world. Maybe he didn’t exist at all.

She really needed to get out more. She’d already invested too much of her heart in a

man who clearly didn’t want the same things.

It was time for her to move on, before she really got hurt.

She spent the rest of the day deeply involved in work projects, which helped to rid her mind of anything and everything having to do with Jake. By the time she got home

that night, she felt immensely better.

That is, until she’d changed clothes and went in search of her father, hoping spending the evening with him would be a nice distraction.

She found her father in the library.

With Alex.

Ugh. As if the day hadn’t already been a disaster. She plastered on a polite smile and

walked in.

“Alex.”

“Lucy. You look lovely, as usual.”

“Thank you. What a…surprise to see you here.” She couldn’t bring herself to call it a

nice surprise.

“I had a