Like she knows I might leave to escape the lust that’s growing inside my gut, she quickly says, “I called because I need you to help Dad. I can’t do it anymore. I’m a wreck after this accident.” I meet her look, and see that she’s earnest. “My roommate just told me she’s moving out. No notice! It’s like one thing after the other is coming apart in my life and I just can’t hold him up anymore, too!” Anger flashes behind her eyes. “He’s supposed to be looking after me!”
I clear my throat. “He doesn’t have to look after you anymore.”
“He should look after himself, then!” she snaps, crossing her arms and saving me from those nips getting harder with her fury. “I’m sorry Mom cheated on him. But I didn’t know about it, either. It was a shock to me, too! I lost my Mom just as much as he lost his wife. Give me a break! And he’s been picking off my girlfriends one by one.”
I wince and rub my face. I’m very aware that David has been doing that. To be fair, many took him up on it. He’s a good looking guy — there’s a reason Marion is so beautiful — and he has a lot of money. Some girls just want to be wined and dined the right way. But I can’t tell his daughter that. Instead I only shrug, “Yeah, well…”
Marion and I look at each other and don’t look away. She drops her arms and her lips part, expression softening and becoming more vulnerable, which is deceptive as fuck. She’s never been weak a minute of her life.
“Stop staring at me like that.”
“Like what, Jack?”
“You know what.” My voice is thicker as I demand, “What brought this on, huh? Is this really about David? You’ve gotta cut it out.”
She leans closer to me. “Jack, what if I just…” Her fingers reach toward me and I’m frozen. I want them to touch my skin. I’m dying to touch hers. That hug made things worse, when she was crying. I never hug. It’s not my thing. But she was weeping and instinct took over to gather her up and tell her everything was going to be okay now that I’m here.
But is it?
I think it’s worse.
She’s in trouble.
I’ve got ideas I can’t shake.
She felt so good in my arms. How would I feel between her legs?
I’m staring at those butterfly-like eyelashes as her fingertips trace the line of my jaw. My chest is rising sharply as I master my own breath. I grab her fingers, pull her whole body against mine. “Mar, I don’t know what your game is, but this is never going to happen.”
“I’m not playing any game,” she frowns. “You’re hurting my hand.”
I drop it, and push her gently back. “I knew I shouldn’t have come over.”
“I’m sorry, Jack! I am in a bad place! I don’t know what I was thinking!” Her hands cover her face again.
“Holy shit, are you kidding me?” I groan and rub the back of my head. “Stop crying, I mean it!”
“I’m fine! I just have to let my feelings out. This is healthy! I’m really fucking hurt right now. Everything is shitty. I lost my shot at Broadway! Broadway, Jack! You come over and you’re so handsome and sexy and I can’t ever touch you. And then stupid Teeka is moving out and leaving me half-rent-impaired! And now I need a tissue and I don’t have one!”
“Hang on.” Quickly, I find her bathroom, grabbing a Kleenex for her nose. On the way back I hear the trashy roommate on the phone with someone, voice muffled by her bedroom door.
It’s a good thing that girl is leaving. I don’t like the idea of Marion living with a coke-head. It’s a slippery slope, that drug. One second you think you’re partying, the next you’re in a ditch wondering where everybody went.
Trudging back to the devastated daughter of my pal, I’m scraping my brain for ideas of how to help. The first that come to me are no good, naughty acts that would leave us both sweaty and ashamed. After that, I’ve got nothing.
I always have solutions.
I’m CEO of my company.
There’s a reason I’m so fucking rich. Not only can I turn any problem into an opportunity, I pride myself on being a man who can take care of the people he cares about, but here I am only thinking about tearing off those silky shorts and practically see-through tank and showing her how good I can make her body feel.
And mine.
The blood has left my brain and headed to a less productive place.
I pass frames in her hallway, distractedly scanning images of Italy. Has she been there? I don’t remember any family vacations to fucking Europe. David and Lorraine never took time off for things like that. Maybe if they had there’d be no Kyle. But what do I know? I’ve never been married. Never saw the point. Or found the inspiration.
Sniffling on the couch, Mar reaches for the tissue before I even extend my hand. Her face is away from me as her fingers clasp the flimsy paper and she blows her nose like a man. I almost laugh it’s so loud and obnoxious. But she looks miserable.
She could use a sandwich. Those shoulders are a bit too bony. I bet pasta in Italy would help.
Jack, what the fuck?
Knock it off.
Yeah, take her to Tuscany.
Great plan.
“I’ve got an idea,” I grunt, glad her tears made my erection disappear. “Mar, look at me.”
Her red face turns up, eyes big. “Jack, kiss me.”
“What?” Dropping to my knee I groan, “No no no. That won’t solve anything.”
“It might.”
A grin flashes on my face, despite myself. “No, it won’t solve anything. But I know what will.” She sniffs, attention held. I stand up to put some distance between us. “Troy will move in with you.”
“What?” She blinks at me like I’m nuts. “Who’s Troy?”
Pacing, I run my hand over my hair. “A friend of mine. He looks like a viking. He’s more your age.”
Her nose scrunches with distaste. “You’re setting me up with a roommate and a boyfriend at the same time, in order not to kiss me?”
“I didn’t mean to say that out loud about his age! I was thinking it! Look, you’re a beautiful girl and I get that you need someone to help you feel better. He’s your guy. And if he’s not, then at least he’ll pay rent and be a friend. I trust him. He’s good people.”
Marion stares at me. “That is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard of.”
“Thanks.”
“Seriously?! You’re setting me up with some guy I’ve never met because you don’t—” She covers her face. “I can’t believe I was about to say… You’re Jack! My Uncle Jack!”
I point at her, and see her shorts hiked up a little on one side, showing a glimpse of pink panties. Pink? Come on! Is she trying to kill me?
“Hey! Don’t ever call me that! I told your Mom not to pull that shit long ago! We are not related!” Turning to the wall, I punch it and almost break my hand. The pain feels so sweet! “Troy is perfect. He’s a good guy. I’m not.”
“You’re the best guy I know!”
Locking eyes with her, I grunt, “No good guy would be thinking the things I’m thinking about his best friend’s daughter.”