Leap
Cindy Jacks
Just when Lila has resigned herself to the fact the most exciting chapters of her life are over, a blast from the past walks into her bakery. Six feet of gorgeousness named Gavin drops by as she’s closing up shop. They were once high-school sweethearts and it’s been more than twenty-five years since they’ve seen each other, but time hasn’t diminished the sweet heat between them. Soon enough the sparks"and the frosting"
begin to fly.
As they rediscover each other’s bodies, it’s clear Gavin’s no longer a boy as he
shows Lila the man and skillful lover he’s become. Though Lila knows this whirlwind romp could be an act of insanity, his touch unleashes the sensual woman she’s forgotten she could be. And she thinks"maybe"she has one more leap in her.
An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Leap ISBN 9781419930096
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Leap Copyright © 2010 Cindy Jacks
Edited by Jillian Bell
Cover art by Syneca
Electronic book publication November 2010
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
LEAP
Cindy Jacks
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the
following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Band-Aid: Johnson & Johnson Corporation
Camry: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
Glenfiddich: William Grant & Sons Limited
Jeep: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Lady Gaga: Ate My Heart Inc.
The Police: Roxanne Music Ltd.
Cindy Jacks
Chapter One
With perfect, even pressure, Lila piped flourishes of buttercream around the edge of a four-layer chocolate cake. She’d already filled the confection with raspberry ganache and coated the outer surface with chocolate fondant. Emotion clutched at her throat and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks but she choked them back. Lila had made it to closing time once again without breaking down. She wouldn’t give in now.
Drawing in a shaky breath, Lila did her best to suppress the bubble of emotion
pressing at her rib cage. Damn it. She threw the pastry bag on the counter and wiped her hands on her apron.
śNo crying in the kitchen,” Lila murmured to herself as she made her way to her
office. śNo crying in the kitchen.”
She’d promised herself she wouldn’t lose it in front of the staff. Granted, most of them had left for the evening, but Franco was still finishing up the mixers and Justine was closing up the storefront.
Struggling against the impulse to cry her eyes out, she sank into her desk chair. Lila swiped at each tear that defied her will to stay calm.
Alan had moved on.
It was over.
Another teardrop streaked down her cheek.
śMiss Lila?” Franco’s deep voice intruded on her mental breakdown. He stood in
the doorway, chef’s coat half-unbuttoned.
She rubbed desperately at her wet lashes and cleared her throat. śWhat’s up,
Franco?”
śEverything’s done. I’m going to walk Justine to her car.”
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śOkay.” Lila stood up and smoothed her hair.
śYou all right?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
śYep. Peachy keen. Fucking allergies, you know?”
Franco gave a nod and wished her good night.
A sigh of relief escaped her at the sight of his retreating form.
śDon’t forget to lock the front door,” she called after him.
Alone at last. It’d been a long day. Hand to her throbbing head, she walked back to the cake she’d abandoned. It sat on its turntable, only half-decorated. Lila had no idea why she’d started making the damn thing in the first place. All the orders for tomorrow morning had been ready since four in the afternoon and the display case would be filled with goodies made fresh tomorrow morning. A cake without purpose, really.
She pilfered a fingerful of icing from the edge of the cake and popped it in her
mouth. MmmŚdelicious purposeless cake.
Purposeless cake for a now-purposeless woman, she thought. Tears prickled again at the edge of her eyes. No reason to fight them now as she had all week. The crying jag had to come sooner or later. Might as well give in. She sank her head onto the counter and succumbed to the swirl of raw emotion that lay beneath her bravado.
The flood of tears started with a whimper. Then a couple more spontaneous bursts
of sound broke free from her throat, like a freight train building up steam. Her
shoulders shook and salty teardrops leaked onto the sleeve of her chef’s coat. Lila could let go now, let it all out.
* * * * *
Ring-a-ling"
The bell on the front door announced that she was no longer alone in the bakery.
Fucking Franco. He always forgot to lock the front door.
Lila straightened her uniform and blotted her face with a kitchen towel.
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Cindy Jacks
Opening the swinging door that led to the storefront, she said, śI’m sorry we’re
closed.”
A silhouetted figure stood lit only by the street lamp outside the bakery, his hand in the back pocket of his jeans. śI was wondering if you could help me find someone. I think she works here.”
śEveryone’s gone home for the night.” She took a shaky breath. śTry back
tomorrow, sir.”
Ordinarily Lila would’ve offered the stranger a pen and paper, asked if he’d like to leave a message or at the very least asked for whom he was looking. But not tonight. In no mood to be helpful, she turned to retreat into the back of the bakery but the stranger stopped her.
śI’m looking for a Ms. Stevens. La-La Stevens. Maybe you know her?”
She froze and turned to face him again. śWho are you looking for?”
śLa-La Stevens.”
Narrowing her eyes, Lila studied the man. śI’m sorry, do I know you?”
One eyebrow arched, he gave her a hint of a grin. śI think maybe you do.”
La-La. No one had called her that since high school except her older brother, Sam. In fact, it was because of Sam she’d gotten the nickname. When she was born, he was two years old and couldn’t say śLila”. The name came out śLa-La”, and the
mispronunciation had stuck. But this tall, slender man with dark wavy hair looked
nothing like her ginger-headed brother.
Lila scooted out of the doorway, eyes still on her unexpected guest. Something
tickled at the back of her mind. She knew that angular jawline, the high cheekbones, the Romanesque nose. His cocky contrapposto stance. A lightning bolt of recognition broke over her. śGavin? Gavin Reilly?”
His grin widened. śSee, you do know me.”
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śOh my God!” She rounded the counter and planted herself in front of him. Jesus,
he’d grown since last she’d last seen him. Or maybe she was shrinking. No, she wasn’t at that age yet. He’d definitely shot up a couple inches since sophomore year of high school. Before she could stop herself, she threw her arms around him. His crisp, fresh scent caught her off guard, bringing with it a flood of long-forgotten memories.
śIt’s been ages, La-La,” he murmured.
śIt really has been.”
Despite the urge to remain in his warm arms forever, she released him and took a
small step back. Lila looked up at him, her mouth a little ajar. Was he really here or was he a figment of her grief-stricken imagination?
śIs this a bad time?” he asked.
śCouldn’t be worseŚ” She shook her head. śOr better, depending how you look at
it.”
śAnd how do you look at it?”
She shrugged. śI haven’t decided yet. SoŚwhat brings you back to Richmond?”
śJob transfer. I’m working for the city now.”
śStill a paramedic?”
He furrowed his brow. śNow how’d you know that?”
śThe mom network. Several years ago, your mom bragged to so-and-so’s mom,
who told my mom. The Śhandsome and brave’ Gavin Reilly.”
śHa! And Momma still calls you Śthe one that got away’.”
Lila chuffed a humorless laugh. śYeah, I’m a real catch.”
śSo, how should we celebrate this reunion?” he asked.
śI"I don’t know.” A lump formed in her throat. In no mood to celebrate anything,
she rubbed her forehead and studied the floor. śI don’t think I’d be very good company tonight. Maybe another time.”
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Cindy Jacks
His eyes widened and he tilted his head like a puppy dog. śYou’re going to make
me spend my first night back all by myself?”
śOh, all right.” She sighed and locked the entrance. śLet me finish up. Come on.”
Gavin followed her through the swinging door to the back. With a low whistle, he
looked around the kitchen and asked, śIs this place all yours?”
śAll mine.”
She walked over to the Purposeless Cake and stared down at it. Pulling a box from
beneath the worktable, she started to put it away, but then thought better of it.
śAre you hungry?” asked Lila.
śI could eat.”
śGood.” She pulled a knife from a drawer, cut slabs of cake and served them up on
heavy-duty ceramic plates. Gavin grabbed two stainless-steel forks from a gray plastic silverware tub to his right.
She handed him his plate.
śThis looks great,” he said.
śTaste it.”
He shoveled a bite into his mouth and moaned. śOh my God. This is" Damn.”
Lila grinned. śThanks.” She took a bite of cake. śNot bad, if I do say so myself.”
Pulling up two barstools, she sat and motioned for him to do the same. Lila studied him as he moved to take a seat. Taller, broader. Gavin had become fully a man. Though he was clean-shaven, she wondered what he’d look like with a beard. Could he grow
one now? His dark hair led to about an inch or so of well-filled-out sideburns. Yeah, she was sure he could grow out his facial hair and he’d look pretty damn good if he did.
Not that he didn’t look great as he was. The cropped, clean-cut look worked for him. A whisper of gray touched each of his temples and he wore that well too.
Her gaze wandered down his frame. No excess flesh or jutting bone. His tight
musculature shifted his frame with ease. Clearly he took care of himself, worked out 10
Leap
often. A picture of him shirtless in some imaginary gym, sweat dripping down a cut
chest and abdomen, appeared in her mind’s eye. She blinked away the thought, trying to focus on his words and ignore the pounding of her heart. Her hand strayed to her matronly bun and the bobby pins holding it in place. She picked them out of her hair, one by one, and shook out her shoulder-length tresses.
śMom said you’ve been at this location for the past ten years. I can see why,” said Gavin.
She cleared her throat. śJack helped me set it up after we got divorced.”
śAfter?”
śIt was a pretty amicable splitŚas divorces go.”
śMy ex, Irene, and I went through a pretty rough one a couple years ago.”
śI’m sorry to hear that.”
He took another bite of cake. śIt’s all good now.”
Lila worked on her piece for a few minutes in comfortable silence and then asked,
śWhy did you come here tonight, Gavin?”
He glanced around the room and gave a little shake of his head. śTo see you.”
śI get that. I mean what were you expecting from me?”
He rubbed his hand on the front of his jeans. śNo expectations. It’s"it’s just good to be back. You’re part of my memories of home. I guess. No, I mean you are.
Definitely.” He grunted and rolled his eyes. śI’ll stop rambling now.”
She let out an amused huff under her breath. śYou’re fine.”
She slid her fork over her plate and scraped up the last of the frosting and crumbs.
Her tongue darted over the fork tines and licked them clean.
Gavin reached out his hand. śYou got a little chocolateŚ”
He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. She let her tongue graze the tip of it.
Shocked by her own audacity, she shied away from his touch but he cupped her face in one hand.
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Cindy Jacks
Eyelids lowered, Gavin leaned in. Dark lashes rested against his cheek. Warm lips
skimmed across hers. The hand under her jaw slipped beneath her hair and cradled her neck. Lila’s body relaxed into the kiss, sliding her tongue over his. For a moment she lost herself in the scent and the taste of him"chocolate richness and the citrus
undertones of his cologne, but all too soon, she remembered the shards of glass lodged in her heart. Pain at the memory of Alan’s departure stabbed at her.
śMaybe we shouldn’t be doing this,” she murmured.
śMaybe not.” He gave her a quick, soft kiss and then a longer, more urgent one.
Shouldn’t be doing this, Lila thought. A list of reasons she should rebuff his advances scrolled through her mind. She was still getting over Alan. She hadn’t seen Gavin in over twenty-five years. Jesus Christ, a quarter century. Nothing good ever came from rushing into sex. But who said they had to go that far? Well, she did want to fuck him.
No denying that. But the last thing she needed wasŚwasŚ?
The feel of his heated mouth against hers overrode her common sense. Oh, to hell with it. Why not?
śGive me a second.” She hopped off her stool and ran to her office.
* * * * *
Rifling through her handbag, Lila prayed to find what she was looking for.
śCome on. Come on.” She knew she had a couple condoms in her purse
somewhere. The telltale rustle of a plastic wrapper told her she’d found one. She
plucked it from her bag and then pulled out a makeup compact. Ay. Not good. Her chestnut-colored hair sported a couple fierce snarls and dark circles ringed her green eyes. She brushed out her hair and dabbed a little powder onto her face. There. Now her skin looked milky smooth instead of shiny and pale. After a couple swipes of lip gloss, it was time to get back to the kitchen.
Gavin sat waiting for her, a look of concern on his face.
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śListen, I’m sorry if I was out of line. I just said I didn’t expect anything but"” Lila cut him off with a kiss and pressed the condom into his hand.
He stood and pushed his stool out of the way. It clattered to the ground with a loud crash. Gathering her into his arms, he crushed his hard body against hers. She wrapped one leg around him and he wasted no time responding. Hands beneath her ass, he
boosted her up onto the counter, pushing the cake out of way and easing her onto her back.
His mouth still on hers, he slid a hand under her chef’s coat and pushed up the
camisole beneath. Fingers toyed with one hard nipple, gently rolling and pinching it.
Desperate to strip off her clothes, she worked at the closures on her coat. Damn Chinese buttons. But with the little patience she had left, she popped them free and shimmied out of the garment. Gavin retreated for a moment and slipped off his T-shirt.
Every muscle of his torso pushed against the surface of his smooth, golden skin, his strong shoulders sloping into a thick, sinewy neck, his broad chest accentuating his tight, narrow waist. A neat patch of hair rested between his pecs and extended down his lower abdomen in a thin line that disappeared into the waistband of his loose-fitting jeans.
He unbuttoned her slacks, pulling them off along with her underwear and casting
them to the floor. A jolt of insecurity passed through her. Gavin knew her when she was young and firm, fresh and dewy. Despite her best efforts to keep in shape, her belly had grown softer over the years, her muscle tone less delineated, not to mention the stretch marks Billy and Lauren had given her. At least she’d shaved her legs the night before.
The moist heat of his mouth on her labia brushed away the stray thoughts. She
sucked in a deep breath as he pushed two fingers inside her. He worked her clit
between his front teeth and his tongue. Flexing his fingers, he sent bursts of pleasure through her. She gasped and clutched a handful of his hair.
Her body shook and her leg muscles contracted, the pressure of an impending
orgasm drawing her abdomen taut. Breath ragged, she panted through the first tremors 13
Cindy Jacks
of the climax. But as the sensation peaked, she quaked more violently. He didn’t ease off, continuing to lick and suck at her despite her squirming. Finally, once the ecstasy began to recede, he slowed his pace, finishing up with a few languid kisses between her thighs.
He worked his lips up her torso, meandering over her breasts and then to her
throat.
śI want you inside me,” she said, her voice scarcely above a whisper.
śSoon.”
Gavin picked up the pastry bag and squeezed a dollop of frosting onto each of her
nipples.
She gasped. śWhat are you doing?”
śNothing,” he replied, but swooped in to lick at the icing. She wriggled against the stainless-steel work surface. He piped more frosting along her curves and laved at the trail of chocolate, eliciting a groan from her. How many times had she imagined doing just this with the dark, untamed mystery lover who populated her fantasies? Gavin ran his tongue over her hips to her breasts"giving each nipple an extra dollop of frosting and sucking them clean. Unable to hold back a girlish squeal, Lila nearly squirmed off the counter while he worked at her ticklish abdomen. Clearly enjoying her reaction, he continued to work diligently until he licked the last of the icing from her collarbone. He pressed his body against hers and gave her a sticky-sweet kiss.
She took the bag from him and pushed him to stand up. Lila moved off the counter
and tugged at his jeans button. After sliding down his zipper, she fished his hard cock from his boxer briefs. The shaft twitched as she put a crown of icing around the head.
Dropping to her knees, she took him into her mouth. The sweet chocolate mixed with
the slightly salty taste of his pre-cum as she relaxed her throat, working him farther into her mouth until she’d engulfed all of his long cock. A few more strokes and he pulled back, a hungry smirk on his face.
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śC’mere.” He pulled Lila to her feet, turned her around and bent her over the
counter. She heard the wrapper tear and looked over her shoulder to watch him roll the condom down his cock. She’d forgotten how lovely it was fully erect.
Gavin parted her labia and then pushed his shaft into her. Just the head at first,
teasing at the opening until she dug her fingernails into his thighs. Then he buried himself inside her, his pelvis flush with her ass. With smooth strokes, he set a fast but steady rhythm. His hands roamed over her breasts and then he captured each nipple
between his fingers, pinching them with just the right amount of pressure. She groaned and tossed her head back. Brushing her hair from her neck, he pressed his mouth to her skin.
He reached between her legs and rubbed her clit. Pleasure rippled through her.
With each thrust, she grew slicker and he pushed deeper into her. Lila cried out his name as another orgasm ripped through her. Gavin hooked his arm around her waist,
bending her forward. She braced herself against the counter. He drove himself into her until he too came, his body shaking. Heavy exhalations grazed her shoulder.
After their bodies grew still, he carefully withdrew from her. Lila turned to face
him.
She looked into his dark brown eyes. A smile played across his lips. He kissed her
forehead and cradled her face in his hands.
śOf all the ways I expected to spend this evening.” She blew out a sigh and rested
her head against his cheek.
She felt his grin widen. śIt’s a pleasant surprise for me too. I was expecting dinner, a few glasses of wine. Maybe a hand job, but that’s it.”
Lila gave him a playful shove. He leaned in and brushed her lips with his. śYou’re
amazing.”
śYou’ve learned a few tricks yourself.”
śGlad to hear it. I’d hate to think I still fumble around like a sixteen-year-old.”
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Cindy Jacks
śI don’t remember you fumbling.”
śThat’s because you didn’t know any better at the time.”
Very true. Images of Gavin’s younger self flashed through her mind. He’d always
been strong, handsome. Fearless. But now, with some maturity under his belt, he
radiated something far more intoxicating. He’d been her first lover"they’d spent the whole summer of ’83 attached at the hip. The roller rink. Making love to The Police’s Every Breath You Take.
When Gavin’s parents split that fall, he’d opted to live with his dad. His father
moved north to Alexandria and though the two vowed to stay in touch, stay together, time and distance led the relationship to its inevitable conclusion. She saw him a couple times around Christmas and once the next summer. After that his mother moved to
Maryland and Lila never saw Gavin again.
śYou broke my heart back then.” The confession escaped her before she had time to
think better of it.
He pulled her close and caressed the small of her back. śI was a stupid kid.”
śSo you’re not stupid anymore? Now that you’re all grown up?”
śHa, I didn’t say that.”
Lila smiled and took his hand. śCome on. Let’s get more comfortable.”
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Chapter Two
Lila led him through the kitchen to her office, stopping to put on her panties. Gavin stepped into his boxers and threw the prophylactic into the trash. Once behind closed doors, she took a pint of whiskey and glasses from her desk drawer.
śCare for a drink?” she asked.
śPlease.” He reclined on the leather sofa across from her desk.
She brought over two tumblers of Glenfiddich and settled in next to him, lying
across the sofa, her head against his shoulder.
Gavin took a sip and exhaled. śYou keep single malt scotch in your bottom
drawer?”
śFor special occasions,” she replied. śAnd for serious bouts of depression.”
śAnd which is this?”
śWell"” she took a gulp, swirling it in her mouth before swallowing. śIt was
supposed to be a bout of depression, but turned out to be a special occasion.”
śWhy were you down?” he asked.
She wrinkled her nose and chewed at her bottom lip. śIt’s a long story.”
Gavin brushed the hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. śWe’ve got all
night.”
Another sip of scotch and Lila began to relay the details of her difficult week. Alan had left last weekend. The demise of their relationship had been a long time coming.
He’d been filtering out his things over the past month, but finally ripped off the Band-Aid on Sunday. She saw him off at the airport, one final kiss and that was that. He’d called a couple times, but Lila let the calls roll over to voice mail. At least they’d never been foolish enough to get married.
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Cindy Jacks
śWhy did you two part ways?” asked Gavin.
Lila took a drink and swallowed hard. śIt wasn’t due to any animosity. In fact we
get along really well. We’re just at different places in our life. He was offered a job in California. He wanted to take the position, I didn’t want to move. My life is here, you know? My bakery’s doing wellŚ My kids are close by. I’m done taking big leaps. I feel like it’s just little tweaks for me from here on out.”
śDon’t count yourself out yet. You’re only forty-thr"”
śShh. I know how old I am.” She waved off his statement. śHow old we are.”
Gavin chuckled. His fingers traced the contours of her face. śRemember when we
were both sixteen and I’d coast on my motorcycle up to your house?”
śAnd I’d climb out the window. Those summer nights by the river. All we needed
was a six-pack of beer.”
śAnd a twelve-pack of condoms.”
Lila clapped a hand over her mouth to contain her laughter. śOh my God. Were we
ever that young?”
śYeah. We were. But I think I like you more now.” He leaned in for a kiss.
When he retreated, Lila said, śLiar.”
śIt’s true. You’ve got this confidence now. You seem to know what you want.”
śI guess I do.”
He kissed her again. śAnd I know what I want.”
śOh yeah? What’s that?”
Instead of telling her, he rolled her beneath him on the sofa. Unlike the heated rush of their earlier lovemaking, Gavin took his time. He explored her body with his
fingertips and his tongue. Lila relaxed into his ministrations. His movements slow and methodical, he seemed to take a survey of every curve, every dip, every sensitive spot"
the soft patch of skin between her collarbones, along her rib cage, down to her
bellybutton and behind each knee and ankle. A shiver dashed through her.
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His mouth engulfed the folds of skin between her legs, suckling gently at first but growing more forceful as she responded. He continued to flicker his tongue over her engorged clit and slid two fingers into her, toying with the same spot he’d discovered earlier. Her body tensed and shook, she grasped his hair to keep from sliding off the sofa. A sudden climax gripped her and she clamped a leg over one of his shoulders,
arching her back.
She tried to repress a few boisterous cries but failed, praying the folks in the
bookshop next door couldn’t hear her and if they could, that they didn’t think someone was murdering her.
Once the orgasm began to recede, she expected him to make love to her again or at
least come up for air, but he didn’t. He continued to lave at her, a few lazy strokes when she was at her most sensitive, but more in earnest once she relaxed beneath him again.
Her legs quaked as Gavin plunged his tongue inside her and then licked upward.
He repeated the pattern with a steady rhythm, setting her afire, her abdomen tight from the gathering wave of pleasure. He closed his lips around her clit and the heat of his mouth sent her careening over the edge of another climax. Violent ripples of ecstasy broke over her.
She tightened her grip on his hair, but his only response"a small grunt. Lost in the throes of a second orgasm, Lila couldn’t have released him even if she’d wanted toŚbut she didn’t want to. Hooking a leg over his shoulder, she held him fast between her
thighs.
Gavin seemed to take the hint and worked his mouth against her clitoris and labia.
He made her come again and then once more for good measure. The heightened
sensation on her already sensitive lips sent another jolt of electricity through her. She choked on a strangled cry. Tears stung her eyes and her body rocked against his.
He took her down the other side of the crest with gentle nuzzles and kisses between her thighs. Slowly, Lila’s breathing calmed and she released her grip on him. Stroking 19
Cindy Jacks
his broad shoulders with her opened palm, she let out a sigh. He rested his head against her belly and looked up at her, a puckish smirk lighting up his face.
Eager to give as good as she got, Lila reached for the waistband of his boxers. He
caught her hand in his.
śThis time’s just for you.” The edges of his eyes crinkled in a gentle smile. śThat’s the one thing I miss about being sixteen. Or, hell, even twenty-six.”
śBite your tongue,” she chided. śDo you know how much of my twenties I wasted
on bad sex?”
Gavin’s eyebrows shot up. śOuch. Somewhere, poor Jack just sat up and cupped his
balls.”
Lila gave a self-conscious twitter. śWell, I’m not trying to be mean. But it was one of the things about our marriage that didn’t work and we were both too inexperienced to understand what we wanted.”
śBut you’re not inexperienced anymore.”
She pursed her lips and made a locking motion with one hand.
śMy bad. A lady never kisses and tells, right?”
śRight.”
He circled his arms around her and her stomach grumbled. śYikes. I think I need
more than a piece of cake to hold me over.”
śThis is your town.” He ran one finger over the swell of her hips. śYou choose the
place. My treat.”
While Gavin retrieved his clothes from the kitchen, Lila changed into a pair of jeans and a red silk blouse. She excused herself into the bathroom and brushed on a little powder, lip gloss and mascara. No blush needed. Her cheeks flushed with a natural
pink glow courtesy of Mr. Reilly.
Emerging from the restroom, she watched him pull his jeans over his rounded ass.
Her breath caught in her throat.
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Breathe, Lila. Breathe, she told herself.
śShall we?” she asked.
śSure.” He smoothed his shirt and offered his arm. śMy Jeep’s out front.”
She hooked her arm in his. śIt’s a nice night. Is it okay if we walk?”
śSounds great.”
They strolled out of the bakery and Lila locked up behind her. Gavin stopped to
feed the meter at his parking space.
śWhat happened to your motorcycle?” she asked.
śOh, I got rid of that thing about the second time I had to scrape an organ donor on a crotch rocket out from under an eighteen-wheeler.”
śSounds wise.”
He nodded. śYeah.”
They walked to a diner one block over and took a seat in a booth toward the back.
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Cindy Jacks
Chapter Three
Over dinner, they continued to catch up and reminisce. In twenty-five years he’d
changed so much in some ways and in others not at all. True, his face was a little harder and his voice had grown deeper, but he still punctuated his words with hand gestures.
While he stopped to think about what he wanted to say, his tongue would dart across his bottom lip, a signature gesture she’d always loved. He wasn’t as quick to laugh as she remembered but when he did laugh"laugh with real abandon"his eyes lit up and
he seemed not to have a care in the world. The boy was there, just under the surface. It warmed her heart that he’d managed to hang on to part of the young man she’d known.
He flipped through the song list on the table’s mini-jukebox. A grin tugged at the
corners of his mouth. He dug a quarter out of his pocket and made a selection. Every Breath You Take began to play.
Lila clasped her hands together and shook her head. śOh my God. I was just
thinking of this song earlier. I haven’t heard it in ages.”
śMe neither. My daughter, Kelly, insists on that Lady Gaga noise when she’s
visiting.”
śHow old is she?”
śFourteen. So it’s all, ŚRah rah, oh la la, blah blah’.” He mimed the video for Bad Romance. śOr however that stupid song goes.”
She arched an eyebrow. śI’ll forget you just did that.”
He grimaced and scratched the back of his head. śYeah. Please do.”
Lila listened to Sting’s mellow voice crooning the suddenly eerie lyrics. śYou know, I used to think this song was romantic, but listening to it now, I think a restraining order would be called for if some guy told me this.”
22
Leap
śThere’s a fine line between romance and stalking.” He winked at her. śLearned
that lesson the hard way.”
She chuckled. śI bet.”
The waitress appeared, offering coffee and dessert, but they declined. Gavin settled up the tab and they headed out into the night air.
śWhere to now?” asked Lila.
He took both her hands in his and shrugged. śMy place?”
She pretended to think over the offer, but who was she kidding? śAll right. Let me
pull my car around and follow you there.”
śOr I could drive you to work tomorrow morning.”
śAt four a.m.?”
śOr you could pull your car around and follow me home,” he teased.
She rolled her eyes in mock annoyance. śI’ll be right back.”
Her burgundy Toyota Camry sat in her parking space behind the bakery. She
started the engine and drove up to Gavin’s Jeep. Once she stopped, giving him room to pull out, he headed into traffic. She followed him downtown to a sparkling tower of newly renovated condominiums. They turned into the parking garage. Gavin rolled
down his driver’s side window, motioning for her to come around. Lila stopped next to him and lowered her passenger’s side window.
śThe guest parking is up top, next to the elevator,” he said. śI’ll park in my spot and meet you up there.”
She nodded and made her way to the roof. After settling the Toyota into a space to
the left of a bank of doors, Lila hopped out and waited for Gavin to appear. A ding and a rustle of elevator doors yielded his smiling face.
śHey, you.”
Her knee-jerk response came, śHay is for horses.”
23
Cindy Jacks
He whinnied and tugged her into the elevator. The doors shushed closed and Gavin
folded her into his arms. He peppered her face and neck with kisses. Half-tempted to press the stop button, Lila allowed him to slide a hand into her jeans. He brushed his fingers along the patch of hair just above her opening, stroking the very tip of her clit and pinning her against the back wall. All too soon, the elevator came to rest at the fifth floor.
She straightened her hair and he smoothed out his rumpled shirt before exiting into a long hallway lined with sconces and oriental carpeting.
śI’m up here, on the right.” He motioned to unit E1260.
* * * * *
Gavin led her through the doorway to reveal a spacious foyer and living room,
mostly bare of furnishings except a sofa and a glass-top dining table off to the side of the kitchen. Unpacked cardboard boxes littered the glossy hardwood floors. French
doors led to a balcony devoid of any chairs or benches, but the panoramic view of the James River made up for all that the interior lacked.
śI love what you’ve done with the place.” Her voice echoed in the barren
apartment. śIt’s soŚSpartan.”
śI just lugged everything in this morning. Give me a month and you’ll see what a
pack rat I am.”
The implication that this was more than a one-night stand sent a jolt of excitement through her.
Gavin took her hand and led her to the bedroom. An austere mahogany bedframe
held a plush king-size mattress set covered in white cotton linens. A matching
nightstand stood next to the bed, a wrought iron lamp its only occupant. A couple half-opened boxes of clothes and books sat in the corner. He walked over to the window and pulled the blinds. They lowered with a snap that reverberated through the room.
24
Leap
Easing himself to sit on the mattress, he caught her wrist and pulled her to him. He folded his arms around her, hugging her midsection. Lila slid to her knees, now eye to eye with him, and ran her hands over his thighs as he cradled her jaw with one hand, drawing her into a deep kiss.
She broke away, her breath coming in shorter, faster bursts. Tasting his fragrant
neck, she traced a path to his lips, then his collarbone. He tugged his shirt over his head and cast it aside. She continued down his torso, fighting with the button on his jeans.
Once it popped free, Lila unzipped the pants. Gavin took over and kicked off his
sneakers, taking off his jeans and boxers too.
She wasted no time engulfing his erection with her mouth. It grew harder with each
pass of her tongue. But to her surprise, he pulled back.
Wiping her mouth, she said, śI was going to pay you back for earlier.”
śSome other time. Right now, I want you in my bed.”
Lila crawled onto the mattress. śYou don’t have to tell me twice.”
After he rummaged in the nightstand for a condom, Gavin wasted no time himself.
He stripped off her jeans as she unbuttoned her blouse and took off the camisole
beneath. Covering her body with his, Gavin lowered himself between her legs. His arms bore the brunt of his weight, as he pressed down on her just enough to meld their
abdomens together. His mouth captured hers, his breath hot and urgent against her
cheek.
He pressed his cock between her thighs and she arched upward to guide him inside
her. A groan rumbled in the back of his throat. Tearing away from the kiss, he sucked at her throat and breasts.
Lila spread her legs more and grasped his ass, pulling him deeper with each stroke.
He moved his pelvis forward and up, the base of his shaft sliding against her clit. She dug her fingernails into his back, heat surging between her legs.
Gavin lowered himself onto his elbows, grazing his lips over hers. He nuzzled her
cheeks, her eyelids, her chin"an endless trail of kisses. She sought out his mouth, 25
Cindy Jacks
hungry to taste him and inhale the scent of his skin. Threading a hand in her hair, he cradled her against him. His body heat enveloped her and she clung to him, desperate for release.
She grew slicker each time he plunged into her, the pressure of his pelvis sending
bursts of pleasure through her. Exquisite tension built between her legs and she ground her hips against him. Her body tensed and trembled the closer she grew to coming. He kept up an unhurried pace, his abdomen contracting and relaxing, each muscle working with the same steady rhythm until a massive shudder overtook her. Then he pressed
close, pulsing his hips rapidly to push her over the brink.
Ecstasy broke over her body and gathered into a sharp peak. Even then, the orgasm
grew in intensity. She gasped and tilted her head back.
śGavin,” she moaned.
He pushed into her with more urgency, working through her climax. Still caught up
in a tide of sensation, writhing beneath him, Lila panted. She wouldn’t be able to bear the stimulation much longer. One more thrust. His cock delved deep inside her, his
shoulders tight and arms shaking. He closed his eyes, expression slack as he too came.
Once his breathing became less ragged, Lila felt his muscles relax. She melted
against the bed. He gave her a lazy kiss and carefully withdrew. After snapping off the condom, he wrapped it in a tissue and tossed it in the wastebasket.
śMy God.” Gavin wiped his brow and flopped onto his back. She scooted next to
him, lying on her side, one leg draped over him.
Lila mumbled, śI’m going to be so sore tomorrow.”
His hand caressed her backside. śI’d apologize, but I’m not really sorry.”
śMe neither. I’m just sayin’.”
He brushed his lips against her brow and nose. Her fingers tripped over his large
chest, playing with the hair between each pec. The natural scent of his skin brought back memories"flashbacks really. If she closed her eyes, Lila could imagine she’d
26
Leap
sneaked over to his house in the middle of the night and they were ensconced in his attic bedroom. Holding up his hand, she compared it to hers. As a teenager, she used to marvel at its massive size. Even now, she half-expected to see his high-school ring there.
Funny to think they’d taken such different paths only to wind up back where they’d
begun.
Apparently, he’d been thinking along the same lines. Out of the blue, he said, śYou know what I’m wondering? How’d the girl who got a D in home ec wind up as a
baker?”
śPastry chef, thank you. I’m a pastry chef,” she replied facetiously.
śRight. Sorry. How did the girl who got a D in home ec wind up as a pastry chef?”
She interlaced her fingers with his. śWho knows? It was just one of those things.
One year Lauren wanted a princess castle cake. Jack was still in law school, we couldn’t afford to buy something so elaborate and I decided to give it a go from scratch. How hard could it be, right?”
śDid it turn out well?”
śNope.” She chuckled at the memory of a heap of chocolate rubble that had served
as her daughter’s fourth birthday cake. śIt was a freaking disaster. The whole thing fell apart while I was trying to construct it. I guess then I kept working at it because it was a challenge. The next year I made her a three-tier palace complete with chocolate
fountain. The more I learned how to do, the more I wanted to learn. I took some classes, worked with a pastry chef. I learned how to sculpt with gum paste and marzipan. He
taught me how to make mille-feuille by hand. Several years later, I decided to open my own shop.”
śIt must be great to learn you have a talent you never suspected you had.”
śI don’t know. I think in this case my only talent has been that I’m too stubborn to quit.”
śHey, tenacity goes a long way.”
27
Cindy Jacks
She rolled over to face him. śDid you ever want to be anything besides a
paramedic?”
Gavin blew out a long breath. śNo. To be honest, I never wanted to be a paramedic.
You remember after my parents’ divorce, I was angry a lot. I started getting in trouble.
When I went to stay with my dad, he gave me a choice"find a positive outlet for all the pent-up energy or he’d put his foot up my ass. On my seventeenth birthday, I started as a junior member of the volunteer rescue squad. I think at the time, the blood and guts appealed to me. But in the end, it was the other guys, the older ones, who pushed me to get my certifications and make something of myself. It was like I had ten fathers, all of them with a foot at the ready to kick my ass if I stepped out of line. Once I passed my first test and got my first paid position, that was it. I knew what I was going to do for the rest of my life.”
śHmm.” She nestled her head against his chest. śI should send Billy your way. He’s
floundering in college. Almost flunked out last semester.”
śSure. The city has a youth recruit program.” He smoothed her hair away from her
forehead.
She had more to say but the words dissolved in her mouth. Lila closed her eyes. His strong heartbeat thumped out a muted rhythm against her ear. She drifted on the warm comfort of his embrace, the scent of their bodies commingled. There were a thousand questions she could ask, doubts and fears that would have to be addressed, but not
now. Passion and warmth, that’s all she wanted tonight. And a good night’s sleep.
* * * * *
Beep beep. Beep beep. Beep beep.
Lila’s cell phone intruded on her slumber. Three thirty already? Lila felt as though she’d just closed her eyes. Still cradled in Gavin’s arms, she was loathe to disentangle herself. They’d slept in the nude. His body heat tempted her to stay. Franco could get by without her. Though she longed to blow off work, she knew she needed some time"
28
Leap
a little distance to process the events of the night before. Lila forced herself from the bed and trudged into the bathroom.
Her tangled mass of hair startled her. Raking a comb through her Bride-of-
Frankenstein tresses, she thought about how she’d thrown caution to the wind. What
the hell was she thinking? The body of her last relationship wasn’t even cold yet and here she was, waking up in the arms of another man. Stupid. Very stupid. She knew
better than this, didn’t she?
Lila met her own gaze in the mirror. To her surprise, a strange woman looked back.
She stared not at Lila Stevens the pastry chef, mother of two, ex-wifeŚex-lover. La-La stared back at her. La-La Stevens"fresh, adventurous and full of hope. Yes, hope.
Screw the self-recrimination. She deserved to enjoy herself no matter the outcome.
Right?
She gargled with mouthwash"proper oral hygiene would have to wait until she
got to work where she kept a spare toothbrush. As quietly as possible, she pulled on her bra, undies, jeans and blouse.
Gavin’s chest rose and fell with the regularity of deep sleep. In its relaxed state, his face appeared as smooth and unlined as it had twenty-seven years ago. Her stomach
did a flip-flop. Not in a million years would she have thoughtŚ
Lila leaned down and gave him a gentle kiss.
He stirred. śHey, you leaving so early?”
śSorry, I gotta get to work.”
śRight.” He caressed her cheek and drew her into another kiss. śDo I get to see you later?”
śYeah.” She nodded, suppressing a ridiculous grin. śI’d like that. Now, you get
some sleep.”
Rolling over, he said in a joking tone, śDon’t have to tell me twice.”
One more kiss and she let herself out.
29
Cindy Jacks
On the way to the parking garage, her thoughts raced a mile a minute. What was
she doing? What had she started? Wasn’t she too old to jump intoŚinto whatever she’d jumped into?
She sat in the driver’s seat and buckled her seat belt. As she turned over the engine, Gavin’s words from the evening before replayed in her head. Perhaps she had counted herself out too soon. Maybe more lay ahead of her than just little tweaks. Despite the darkness of the early morning, the day to come felt bright and sunny, replete with endless possibilities.
Maybe"just maybe"she had one big leap left in her.
Lila could but hope.
30
About the Author
Prior to becoming a multi-published writer of romantic and erotic fiction, Cindy
went to college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated with a BFA in Art.
After a brief attempt at an art career, she decided the śstarving artist” life wasn’t for her.
She worked for ten years in the corporate arena, but now spends her days as a full-time author.
When not chained to her laptop, she enjoys hanging with her family, belly dancing
and exploring the culinary arts.
Cindy welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email
address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at
Comments@EllorasCave.com.
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning
publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer ebooks or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC
on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
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