Raging Fires by Candace Camp

Chapter Twenty-Five

The date only lasted another thirty minutes or so before it was back to the Vespa to crawl their way to her house, but it was still in the running for the most excruciating date that she’d ever been on. And that was saying something after she got roped into the speed metal/speed date mash-up they'd done at the Blue last year.

But at least Kelli had made it home without any axe wounds and Tyler didn’t appear to be ramping up to try an end of the night kiss. It was all almost over. Maybe she would try Bumble again—now she could be confident in the knowledge that no date in the future could possibly be this bad. And at least this one couldn't get any worse at this late stage.

Then Jake stepped out on the porch. Of course. Here he was to prove her wrong.

He was shirtless, wearing only gray sweatpants that hung low on his hips. Feet bare. Kelli’s eyes involuntarily swept down from his broad shoulders to his washboard abs, following the line of hair down to the waistband of his sweats. He looked like an ad for Abercrombie and Fitch… or sex.

Heat flared low in her abdomen. She wanted so much to slide her fingers across the wide display of flesh that it was a physical ache. She could almost feel his skin under her fingertips as she drew them along the lines of his muscles. Kelli curled her fingers into a fist, just to make sure she didn’t do something stupid.

“Hey! I thought I heard you two out here. Come in and have a drink!” Jake bared his teeth in a wolfish grin and stepped back, waving them in like a maître d’.

Tyler looked like he'd rather chew off his own leg than walk into this trap. The heat in Kelli's body quickly turned to anger. What the hell was Jake doing? His flirting with Ashley and stupid digs about her being jealous were the only reason she’d even gone out with Tyler. It was Jake’s fault she'd suffered through stilted conversation that had exposed the depths of the already obvious age gap between her and Tyler—I mean, who didn't know who Elle Woods was—and now Jake wanted to crash their date like an overzealous mom?

Kelli slid her arm into Tyler's, plastering on a smile. “That sounds great.”

Jake’s grin grew even wider and scarier, if that was possible. The moment they walked through the door, Kelli's eyes flew to the fireplace. Well, not exactly. They flew to the space above it where a huge oil painting hung. A painting that had definitely not been there this morning. Kelli was not super observant before noon, but even she would've registered the ornate gold frame and the painted portrait of her and Jake preserved for all time in “Kents do it in Tents” T-shirts. On velvet.

“Good. God.” Kelli stopped short. Tyler’s jaw dropped.

“Do you like it?” Jake’s eyes took on a manic gleam. “I decided to have it commissioned after the wedding. The second wedding, I mean.”

“You two were married before?” Tyler's eyes got wide. “Like, for real married? Not just for the bar?”

“Yes, for real married.” Kelli's lips thinned as she stared Jake down. “An unfortunate experience I had hoped not to repeat.”

“Well, luckily for you, my Pops can only blackmail us after death once.” Jake kept his tone light. “Come in. Sit down. Want a soda? Coffee? Some wine to set the mood? Kells here has her own bedroom, you know. And I’ll be right out here.” He pointed at the bed off the living room. “In case you need a razor or something in the morning.”

Kelli breathed a sigh of relief. With the insane way Jake was acting she’d thought he was about to propose a threesome or something. But apparently even Jake had his limits of what he was willing to say to get back at her. For going on a date he’d suggested!

Tyler shook his head, his expression dazed. He was obviously still processing the information. Or maybe he was planning his escape from Kelli’s obviously deranged ex-and-current husband. 

Jake inserted himself between her and Tyler, draping his arms over both their shoulders, and propelled them forward to the sofa. “Come on in. It’s still early. Sit down.”  He all but pushed them onto the sofa, then took off to the kitchen.

Tyler turned toward Kelli and said hesitantly, “Maybe I should go.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” Kelli agreed.

But as Tyler stood up, there was Jake again, thrusting a can of soda into Tyler’s hand. He handed Kelli a beer. “Here’s your Heineken.” He glanced over at Tyler. “That’s always been her favorite. Kell’s an old-fashioned girl. None of those trendy craft brews for you, right, Kelli?”

“Actually… I drink several different brands,” Kelli responded, glaring at Jake. “I have broadened my tastes.”

“There are a number of excellent small-batch—” Tyler began.

But Jake plowed ahead, “Sorry, Ty—I can call you Ty, right?—I decided against alcohol for you. Don’t want you crashing your Vespa on the way home. So here’s a Fanta. Remember how you used to love Fanta, Kell?”

“When I was eight,” Kelli shot back.

“Well, there was that one time you were drinking Fanta with vodka.”

“Oh, God, don’t remind me.” Kelli couldn’t keep from letting out a little laugh.

Jake plopped down on the sofa in between them and stretched his arms out across the back.  He turned to Tyler. “I hope you weren’t drinking, what with Kelli being on your bike tonight.”

“I ummm...” Tyler looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Of a Mack truck.

Fortunately Jake didn’t need any answers to have a conversation. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here tonight to see you guys off.  Good move, taking her out on the old bike. Nothing Kelli loves like the wind in her hair.”

Kelli shot him a sour look and set her unopened beer down on the coffee table.

“I wanted to talk to you before you left. Hear where you were going and when you’d bring her home. Get better acquainted, you know.” Jake gave Tyler another wide fake smile. “Can’t have just anybody going out with our girl.”  He patted Kelli’s leg. She shoved his hand off.

“I don’t—I’m not sure I really understand, um, your relationship,” Tyler said tentatively.

“Well, Kelli’s free to do her own thing, you know, but I can’t let anything happen to her. She’s the only wife I’ve got.”

“Okay, but…”

“See,” Jake went on, ignoring Tyler’s attempt to speak. “Kelli and I have been together since college. She was—what were you, babe, nineteen?—when we got together. Good times.” He then launched into a long and detailed description of the many things he and Kelli had done together, from pool parties to movies to a trip to the Grand Canyon to a horseshoe tournament that Kelli was certain he had made up.

As if it hadn’t been bad enough having to listen to one guy shoot his mouth off all evening. Kelli scooted forward, about to stand up and send Tyler off. Or maybe she should just go to bed and let these two idiots chat away.

But before she could say anything, Tyler said, “You know, maybe you two have more going for you than you thought, Kelli. All that history. Maybe you ought to give it another chance." Tyler cocked his head to the side, looking like a confused dog. Kelli had realized tonight that it wasn't an uncommon look for him. "I mean, not that I didn't have a good time, Kelli, but you and I didn’t exactly..."

"Yes. I'm aware," Kelli said crisply. "You and I are better as bartender/bartendee. It doesn't make this marriage any less fake though."

"Maybe it's your communication skills,” Tyler said earnestly. “I did notice opening up doesn't seem to be your strong suit.”

Kelli wanted to scream at him that her communication skills were just fine when she was talking to someone with interests that extended beyond trying to sell her on power crystals, ketamine ‘enhanced’ therapy and made-up sounding charities.

Tyler went on, "Have you two ever looked into what your love languages are?"

"Excuse me?" Kelli was thinking about throwing Tyler's drink in his face. Or dumping it on his crotch. Or maybe Jake's. There were so many tempting targets right now.

"It's about the personal way you express and receive love,” Tyler explained. “Not everyone does it by speaking."

"Are we talking dots and dashes?” Kelli raised an eyebrow. “Because I don't know Morse code."

"No." Tyler laughed. "There are several categories."

"Well, Tyler," Jake grinned. "Without even knowing what they are, I can tell you my love language is MUTE." 

“That’s the truth,” Kelli muttered. She jumped to her feet. “Well, this has all been entertaining, but I think it’s time to call it a night.” She put on a smile that was as phony as Jake’s, though hopefully not as frightening, and extended her hand to Tyler to prevent any attempt from him for a hug. He seemed like the kind that gave everyone a good long squeeze if they let him. “Good night, Tyler. I had, um, it was a really… unique evening.”

Tyler was forced to stand and shake her hand, but he kept talking, “You should look into your love languages. There’s a really good book I could lend you.”

“That sounds great,” Jake said cheerfully, taking Tyler by the shoulder and propelling him toward the door.

Kelli stayed where she was, arms folded, thinking of all the tortures she’d like to devise for Jake. As soon as Jake closed the door behind the other man, Kelli burst out, “What the hell was that? Why were you acting that way?

“Acting what way?” Jake widened his eyes.

“Don’t try that innocent look on me. You know what way—you were rude and threatening. Not to mention creepy.”

“I didn’t threaten Man-Bun.”

“So you don’t think it’s threatening to have a six-foot-four muscular guy smile at you like Hannibal Lector just spotted his next meal?”

“Actually, Hannibal had that mask, so I don’t think you’d see—”

Kelli let out a screech of frustration. “Jake! Stop it. Stop dodging and deflecting and face the issue.”

He flung his hands out. “Fine! So tell me, Kelli, what is the issue?”

“Whatever the hell it is you’re trying to do! Greeting us, looking all sexy shirtless guy in gray sweatpants. Grilling Tyler like you’re my dad. Being all snarky and I-know-Kelli-better-than-you-ever-will.”

“What did you expect me to do? Clear out so that the two of you could bump uglies? You went on a date with the guy.”

“You told me to go out with him! You know good and well that I wouldn’t have dated Tyler, but you goaded me into it. You said you wouldn’t care if I dated someone. In fact, you urged me to go. You said you wished I would have sex so I’d relax.”

“I didn’t mean it!” Jake thundered.

“How am I supposed to know that?” Kelli crossed her arms and glared at him. She wasn’t about to let him know how much his words warmed her or how much what he’d said the other day had hurt. “I’m supposed to figure out when you mean something and when it’s a lie? When I can rely on something you say and when I can’t?”

“You knew I didn’t mean it.” His eyes narrowed. “You just told me I goaded you into it. You knew I was only pushing your buttons because you were all jealous about that waitress.”

“I was not jealous. And don’t you dare try to weasel out of this. What I knew was that you were pushing me, daring me, trying to pressure me into dating. And I know why—because you wanted to be free to hook up with Ashley and not feel guilty about it.”

“That’s total BS,” he shot back. “I don’t want to date Ashley. Hell, I didn’t even remember what her name was until you said it just now.”

“Then somebody else. I don’t know who. But because you’re such a dog-in-the-manger kind of guy, you didn’t really want me to hook up with somebody.”

“Why would I!” Jake threw his arms wide. “You were mine. You were only mine. I can’t stand thinking about what you must have done in the last four years. But I can’t help it. Visions of you naked with some idiot who can’t even begin to know how to touch you. The idea just makes me want to smash everything in this stupid, tiny-ass house!”

Kelli knew it was crazy, but even said in that tone, all she could think of was how right Jake was. No guy she’d been with since had managed to make her come as hard as he did when he wasn’t even trying. Even a quickie between them had been the hottest thing she’d ever known. And when they’d had the time… Jake had known exactly how to fill it. Over and over. And here she was in the middle of a screaming match, getting all wet. God, he was infuriating.

“See! That’s why you choose him,” Kelli told him. “You wanted me to go out with Tyler because you knew he was no threat to you. You knew I’d have a terrible time.”

“Yeah?” Jake’s expression changed, his mouth curving up into that annoying smirk that somehow managed to turn her on. “So your date was terrible?”

“We went to an ax-throwing bar, Jake. What do you think?”

Jake burst into laughter. “An ax-throwing bar? Seriously?”

“A Renaissance ax-throwing bar.” At those words, Jake’s laughter hit a new level. “In Tempe. Filled with college kids. College guys, I should say, since most of the men knew enough not to bring a date.  And Tyler talked all night about charities and tiny houses and the trauma of being tall.”

“Huh?”

Kelli waved a hand. “Don’t ask.”

“Is it a combination of being tall and having a tiny house that’s the problem?” Jake asked, his mouth twitching.

Much as she didn’t want to, Kelli began to laugh.

“That’d be pretty bad,” Jake mused. “Every time you stand up, you hit the ceiling. Have to shower on your knees. Probably you have to lie on your bed with your feet in the doorway.”

Kelli laughed harder. “Jake, stop.”

“You think all the appliances are tiny, too? Like, your fridge is four feet high? And your stove’s down here?” He lowered his hand to knee-level.

“Stop! Stop, stop, stop,” Kelli gasped out between laughs, tears trickling from the corners of her eyes. She picked up one of the decorative sofa pillows and threw it at Jake.

Of course, being Jake, he caught it before it touched him. Still grinning, he tossed it back onto the couch and walked over to her. He reached out and took her chin between his thumb and fingers and tilted her face up to look into his. “I can still make you laugh.”

“Yes,” she whispered. There was a wistful tone in his voice that made her throat clog up and her tears threaten to turn into a different kind.

“I missed you,” he went on softly. “I missed ‘us.’ I thought a hundred times about leaving Miami and going after you, hauling you back.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“What good would it have done? You wouldn’t have come back. It wouldn’t have been any different. I was still me; you were still you.”

“Jake, what are you doing? Where are you going with this?”

“I don’t know.” He gazed down at her, his eyes a midnight blue in the dim light. He released her chin and caressed her cheek, combing her hair back with his fingers. “I just… you’re still the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.”

“Come on; I’ve seen you with models and actresses.”

“They were pretty.” He shrugged. “But they weren’t you.” He bent and pressed his lips softly to hers. “I didn’t want you to go out with Man-Bun. I just wanted… hell, I just want you.”