Love Under The Big Sky: Falling For Jillian Part 14

"Yeah, and then the roads got too icy for me to drive back to town, and then one thing led to another, and then next thing I knew it was Sunday and Seth was home and we were snowmobiling and playing video games and having dinner." I pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around my legs.

"So it didn't suck," Cara says.

"No, it was fun."

"What's the problem?" Lo asks.

"Well, I spoke with Zack that night after I got home, but haven't heard a word from him since then. I've texted him a couple of times, but nothing." I shrug in exasperation.

"It's only been three days," Cara says with a frown.

"He said he wanted to see me this week and would call." I sound ridiculous. "Am I becoming one of those girls who checks her phone every three seconds and stalks his social media?"

"Zack doesn't do any social media," Cara replies with a grin.

"I know, I checked-and that makes me a tiny bit psycho."

Lauren laughs. "Did you drive past his house? Call his mom? Hire a PI?"

"Of course not."

"Then I'd say you're good."

"Why didn't you just call one of us to talk it out?" Cara asks. "I live on the same property. I have the inside scoop, you know."

"What do you know?" I lower my legs and help myself to a brownie.

"Well, he probably didn't call because he's been in the barn with a sick horse for the best part of the last few days." Cara sips her coffee and I feel like the biggest idiot on the face of the earth.

"I'm a moron," I whisper.

"No, you're just a woman who wants attention from the man she's currently sleeping with," Lauren replies and pats my shoulder. "That's understandable."

"He said he'd call, and when he didn't, it p.i.s.sed me off. Most men promise the world and then typically end up disappointing you."

"Not always. You've just had s.h.i.+tty luck with men." Cara crosses to the coffeepot to refill our cups. "He'll call. He and Josh have been out with the vet and that horse almost nonstop. The poor thing."

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. "He could have at least returned my texts."

"Zack's famous for forgetting his phone in the house. It's not yet habit to grab it-he spent too many years in the field and they didn't have cell phones out there."

I nod thoughtfully. She's right. Of course he was too busy being worried about getting blown up by a roadside bomb to think about carrying a cell phone.

And I'm acting like a lovesick teenager. "I need to get a grip," I mutter in disgust.

"I think it's great." Lauren stirs her coffee and then props her elbows on the table and takes a sip. "I hope it works out."

"We're just getting to know each other better."

"Yeah, while nekkid," Cara says with a giggle.

"That's the best part," Lo agrees. "What about Seth?"

"What about him?"

"How is he reacting to it?"

"Good question," Cara agrees.

"He doesn't know that we're seeing each other. We all hung out together on Sunday and it went really well." I shrug and smile. "Zack's a great dad. They're adorable together. I don't know who's more endearing: Zack, Seth, or that sweet dog of theirs."

"So you're cool with hanging out with Seth. It's not just about the s.e.x with his dad." Lauren is watching me calmly and Cara tips her head to the side, waiting for my answer.

"I don't know what this is yet, but it's not just s.e.x," I admit softly. "If that was the case, I wouldn't have stayed around after Seth got home. The s.e.x is great, but so is just being with them. I like them."

"Awesome." Cara grins as Lo yawns.

"I'm sorry," Lo says and blinks rapidly. "I'm not sure why, but I get so tired around this time of day."

"Late nights with Ty?" Cara asks with a knowing smile.

"That must be it."

"Ew." I wrinkle my nose and shudder. "I do not want to hear about my brother and late nights."

"It's not just late at night," Lo adds with an evil grin.

"Yuck." I cover my ears with my hands and laugh. "Stop talking."

"Okay, okay, since you've had a rough week, I'll go easy on you." Lo laughs and then claps her hands. "Oh! The torchlight parade up at the Whitetail Mountain ski resort is happening next weekend! We're all going, right?"

"Absolutely," Cara replies immediately as I nod. "Grace and Jacob invited us all to join them at the lodge for the best seats up there."

"I love it when we know the right people." I sigh happily and sip the last of my coffee. "How are they, anyway? I haven't talked to Grace in a while."

"They seem to be having fun," Cara says. Grace was a college cla.s.smate of Cara's and they've been good friends ever since. After we all gave Grace lessons at the ski resort last month, Grace fell in love with the owner of the resort, Jacob Baxter.

"They make such a cute couple," Lo says with a sigh. "I love a sweet love story."

"Of course you do. You write them," I remind her. Lauren is a successful author. We couldn't be more proud of her.

"I wouldn't say I write sweet love stories."

"You write s.e.xy love stories," Cara agrees. "And we appreciate them."

As the conversation segues to Lo's current project, I sit back and nibble a brownie, thankful for these two women and their amazing friends.h.i.+p.

Men may come and go, but my friends will be a part of my life forever, and that is the best thing I could ever ask for.

The girls have just left and I pop the last bite of brownie in my mouth just as my phone rings. I grin when I see Zack's name.

"h.e.l.lo?"

"f.u.c.k, it's good to hear your voice," he replies. His voice is rough and low, and my thighs immediately clench.

"How are you?" I ask and bite my lip as I lower myself onto my couch.

"It's been a s.h.i.+tty few days. I'm sorry I didn't respond to your texts, sugar."

"Is everything okay now?" I ask, trying to keep my voice level.

"We had a very sick horse on our hands, but it looks like she's out of the woods now." He sighs deeply and I can hear the fatigue in his voice. "I just woke up from a few hours' sleep, and I'd like to come to town and take you out to dinner."

"I can hear how exhausted you are, Zack," I say softly. "You should rest."

"The only thing I need right now is food and you."

"What about Seth?" I ask tentatively. "I don't want to take you away from time with him."

"He's been staying with Mom and Dad for the past few days because I've been in and out so sporadically. He's happy as can be, getting spoiled by my mom and decorating his bedroom over there."

"They gave him his own room?"

"He's the only grandchild. Of course they did." He chuckles softly. "So, Seth is fine, and I want to spend some time with you."

"I'd like that," I admit quietly. "I just have to change my clothes and I'll be ready to go."

"I'm on my way." Just as I think he's going to hang up, he says, "And Jilly? Don't bother with panties. You won't need them."

The line goes dead and I stare at my phone for several seconds before laughing and rus.h.i.+ng to the bathroom to take a very quick shower. I touch up my makeup and brush out my hair, then dress in a tight pair of jeans and a black low-cut blouse with a push-up bra that shows the girls off to their fullest potential.

I slip on a pair of boots with four-inch heels and take a twirl in front of the mirror.

Not bad, if I do say so myself.

I walk into the living room just as the doorbell rings.

"Hey, handsome." I grin and step back as Zack's jaw drops and his eyes roam from the top of my head down to the heels on my feet.

"f.u.c.k me, you're beautiful, Jilly." He pulls me into his arms and kisses me, urgently. "I missed you this week."

"I missed you too. I thought maybe you weren't going to call."

"f.u.c.k," he whispers and leans his forehead on mine. "I'm sorry. The days just got away from me, and I was in the barn more than I was at the house."

"It's okay." I shake my head and push my fingers through his soft, dark hair. "I hope the horse is better now?"

"So far, yeah." He nods and then grins down at me before gently brus.h.i.+ng his lips over mine one more time. "Are you really going to try to walk through the snow in these f.u.c.k-me boots?"

"I'll be fine," I insist. "I was going for s.e.xy."

"You've achieved it. I can't get much harder." I c.o.c.k a brow and boldly glide my hand down his chest to cup his hard-on in my hand. "I stand corrected. That did it."

"Very nice, Sergeant King."

"Dinner first," he growls and cups my face in his hands, kissing me yet again.

"Let's go."

He helps me out to his truck, patiently guiding me through the snow in my heels.

"I can't believe you're wearing those in this weather."

"I won't fall," I a.s.sure him and then d.a.m.ned if I don't slip. I catch myself, but Zack turns and lifts me into his arms, carrying me the rest of the way to his truck. "This is excellent service."

"Yes, ma'am," he says with a grin. "I can't have you falling. You'll break your neck in those things."

"You don't like them?" I pout.

"I f.u.c.king love them, sugar. Wear them anytime you want. I'll carry you." He winks and kisses my cheek before setting me gently in the cab of his truck.

"What are you in the mood for?" Zack asks as he pulls out of my driveway.

"I already ate a third of a pan of brownies today, so we might as well indulge in some greasy bar food."

"Bar food it is." He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles as he easily maneuvers through the streets to downtown Cunningham Falls.

"My house is so close, we almost could have walked here."

"Not in those boots." He laughs and parks, helps me out of the truck, and leads me into the dimly lit bar. There is a small kitchen immediately to the left, where we place our order, then go to find a table in the heart of the bar.

Because it's a weeknight, it's relatively quiet. We choose a table near the back, by the pool tables.

"Shall we play?" Zack asks, pointing to the table.

"I don't really know how." I shrug and bat my eyes innocently. "But I guess we can play. Will you show me?"

"Sure." He grins widely and hangs our coats on the backs of our chairs before choosing two pool cues. He's delicious in another pair of faded blue jeans and a fitted blue T-s.h.i.+rt. He's wearing Chucks, which surprises me but completes his outfit perfectly.

He's just yummy.

"I'll break," he offers and sets up the b.a.l.l.s while I order us both a beer from the waitress.

"Good idea."

He takes his shot and scatters the b.a.l.l.s, and when a solid goes in the corner pocket, he says, "Looks like I'm solids."

"You are solid, yes," I agree and run my hand down his arm, feeling his muscles. "I like it."