woman he had lost that locked him in a lonely cage of his own making.
Thinking about the past was never fruitful. Jake shoved aside the baggage and sprawled in a chair, his focus returning to the present. What would Nikki and Roberta do with their windfall from Black Crescent? Jake had thought about asking if Joshua could add Nikki and her mom to the list of people Black Crescent was repaying, but Josh had beaten him to the punch.
Would Nikki and Roberta want to return to Falling Brook?
His turbulent thoughts were eventually interrupted when Nikki appeared in the doorway. Her ponytail was mussed from being in bed with her daughter.
“Is she asleep?” he asked.
“Close,” Nikki said. “She played hard today.”
Jake patted the sofa beside him. “Come sit with me.”
Nikki hesitated, but did as he asked. It didn’t escape his notice that she left a good four feet between them.
Didn’t matter. He felt connected to her and drunk with wanting her. He didn’t know what to do about that.
“Emma is delightful,” he said gruffly.
“Thank you.” Nikki’s response was subdued. In fact, she seemed to be having trouble looking at him.
He sighed. “You’re right about me. I don’t know that I’m father material. I’d still like to hang out with her now and then while I’m here. But I won’t cross any boundaries, I swear. I would never tell her she’s mine. That would be cruel.”
Finally, Nikki lifted her head. “I don’t know if you saw it, but what happened between you two tonight was extraordinary. She’s usually shy with strangers, especially men. But with you, she was happy. Excited. How can I not tell her the truth?”
Now the roles were reversed. Nikki wanted full disclosure, and Jake was uncertain about the future. “Let’s give ourselves time,” he said, feeling some unseen noose tighten around his neck.
“So, what? You’ll just stay away until we figure it out?”
“Do you have a better idea? If our goal is not to hurt our daughter, we both have some thinking to do.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose you’re right.”
“But let me be clear about one thing.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh?”
He reached for her hand, stroking the back of it with his thumb. “I don’t think I can stay away from you. I’m feeling the same things I felt five years ago. Seeing you face-to-face destroys me. Everything inside me says, ‘Hell yeah!’ I want to make love to you, Nikki. Rather desperately, in fact.”
Her eyes flashed with anger. “Those feelings in Atlantic City didn’t last ’til morning, Jake. You’re a flight risk.”
“What does that have to do with me wanting you? Besides, I don’t think this attraction is one-sided...is it?”
Tears sheened her eyes. Her chin wobbled. Her fingers curled around his. “No. But at what cost?”
“It will be our little secret. Just the two of us.”
“We both know that secrets can tear a family apart.” Her gaze clung to his, begging for assurance.
“Not this one. I give you my word. Come here, Nik. Let me show you.”
They met in the middle of the sofa, a ragged curse from him, a low moan from her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, kissing her recklessly, telling himself there was no danger. Sex was good. Sex was healthy.
Her body was soft, pliant. Her scent tantalizing.
She was perfection in his arms. That one night in Atlantic City had haunted his dreams. He told himself he had embellished the memories...the way their bodies seemed to recognize each other. But something had been different that night, and it was different still.
He wanted Nikki to be his teenage sweetheart, but she was not the same woman now. She had made a life for herself. What had Jake ever done but run?
Despite his unease, he couldn’t walk away. Touching her, kissing her, needing her. It was as simple and perfect as falling asleep in a feather bed. But the dark edge of lust was something more. Dangerous. Powerful. He was a man who respected women, yet in this fraught moment, he felt capable of behavior that frightened him.
Why, after so many years, did Nikki still have the power to push him beyond all reasonable boundaries?
When she put a hand to his chest and shoved, he was almost relieved.
“Wait, Jake. Please.”
He released her instantly, still recognizing the beast inside him. “You changed your mind.” His tone was low and flat, his mood mercurial.
She met his stormy eyes bravely. “I want you every bit as much as you want me. But I don’t have