Chapter 1

Chapter One

Mara

Here I am back home, and I have to say that I feel a lot better about it than I thought I would. Don't get me wrong. It's not like coming home to take over the family business is something I was unhappy about or anything. It's just that the circumstances that led me to do it are kind of difficult. See, my mother got in a car accident when I was in junior high.

She needs full-time care. The accident settlement pays for her care just like it paid for my college and paid off the house and all of that. My father, though, hates being away from her while he works. So, I'm coming home to run the business so Dad can take care of Mom. You can see why I'm surprised to be feeling good about it.

But I saw Dad's smile. When he picks me up at the airport, he skirts around the subject of the business. I didn't realize he was doing that until I asked him to drive me by the warehouse on the way home. Then, he's bright and happy suddenly. I realized he thought I was going to get home and tell him I didn't want to take over. I guess I also realize he wasn't going to give me a hard time about that.

Well, it's not important now. I am taking over. It's the right thing to do for Mom and Dad. It's also the right thing to do for me. I mean, I've been handling contractor rentals for years.

I started in junior high. I know the business, and I have ideas about making it better, too. With some of the things I've learned over the last four years, I think I'm going to accomplish a lot.

I'm not at the office now. I'm at the grocery store. I have a little starter home, Dad's graduation gift to me. It has a nice, large lot. So, I'll be able to add a room sometime down the line. That's great.

In any case, the plane landed three days ago. I've got the furniture in place. Now, I'm getting what I need to use in the kitchen instead of living on takeout forever.

It's Thursday. I start running Lightman Equipment on Monday. After I'm done with the shopping, I've got nothing to do until I get to work Monday morning. I'm planning on relaxing until then and then hitting the ground running.

"Or dying," I whisper. Holy shit, I think I might actually die. He's here! He's fucking here at the fucking grocery store, and I don't know what the hell to do about it. Holy crap. Crap! He's here!

He.

Jonah Parker.

Jonah Parker is here in the grocery store. The man I love. The only man I ever will. The man who broke my heart because he thought eighteen was too young for a girl to be in order to love a man in his thirties. I spent a perfect year with him and then went to college when he broke up with me.

Well, I started college online. I just switched, flew three states away, and finished college there afterward.He's a fireman.And he still looks just as fucking sexy as he did when we parted.

"Mara?" I hear from behind me. I turn my head and see Lisa Ramone, my high school guidance counselor.

"Mrs. Ramone!" I exclaim and quickly give her a hug, trying hard not to let my irritation show about being distracted from my thoughts about and my hope for a potential conversation with Jonah. "So good to see you!"

I absolutely love this woman. She was more than a guidance counselor in many ways. When things got rough, as they will for teenage girls navigating the trials and traumas in life, she was always there with some good advice and willingness to just listen. On the other hand… Jonah Parker!

We hug and she gives me a big smile. "Well, what are you doing back in town?"

I feel like she must guess the answer, after all, she knows about Mom's accident and all that, but I fill her in anyway. "Yeah so, I'm going to be running the family business, well, I mean, helping, you know."Not helping, running it completely. I don't know if I hedge on that to be humble or out of nervousness.

"Wow, that's a lot, but you were always capable of balancing a lot."

"Maybe. But, Mrs. Ramone, you look amazing." And she does. I envy how happy and content she looks.

"Oh yes, I'm retired now and Paul and I are enjoying it immensely."

"That's so good. Maybe we can get together sometime." My eyes are already searching around the spot where I saw Jonah. It's wonderful to see Mrs. Ramone but there's another old acquaintance I'm really curious about.

"Absolutely, mija ." I smile at the sweet name she used with me when I was in school. I mean, sure, she probably used it for all the girls. I mean, that's what it means in Spanish, right? It always made me feel special, though. I feel special now. High school all seems so long ago. We exchange information and hug again.

Now, I'm looking everywhere for Jonah while trying to not seem like I'm looking for him. I don't see him anywhere and as I drive home, I feel a familiar sadness hit me. It feels like it was just yesterday that Jonah was telling me that there was no hope for a future together and that he was "letting me go."

Yeah, that's how he put it, like I was losing a job with him. It made me furious at the time, and sad ever since. Because I understood what he was saying, but felt he was just wrong about me, about us.

I sigh. What kind of heavy thinking do I need to be doing while putting away groceries? I should just be grateful that I ran into Mrs. Ramone. She probably kept me from a very awkward and painful moment. I mean, do I really need Jonah back in my life?

We had some wonderful times and, really hot times. I smile at that. No one could compare to Jonah in that department."Stop serializing your life, you dip. This isn't a rom-com, you know."I always talk to myself.

I hear a knock at the door and think it must be my dad. I rush over, ready to give him a big hug, but when I swing the door open, I'm stunned to see Jonah standing there.

We stare at each other. Holy fuck!

And then, I grab him and pull him in and we're kissing and groping and pulling our clothes off. His hands and mouth are everywhere, and I just feel emotions and sensations that have been held back for so long that they overwhelm every nerve in my body, every thought in my mind.

I feel like laughing with joy and weeping inconsolably at the same time! Jonah is just as incredible as I remembered. He kisses me hungrily, moving down my body. I end up pressed against the wall while his hand moves between my legs.

His fingers toy with me and I shiver, my legs shaking to the point that he has to practically carry me over to the couch. He sets me down and then kneels between my legs, separating and pressing them down with his large hands. His mouth travels over my stomach and finally, moves to my pussy.

He barely makes it there, tonguing me and sucking and kissing, before I'm gasping with the power of my need as it races through me. I grip his head and shudder. "Oh fuck, oh fuck! Jonah. Jonah!" I almost feel like I'm crying as he keeps things going until I can barely breathe.

I want more. He is driving me crazy but I want so much more. And he just won't give it to me. Damn it, I'm so close. Why won't he give it to me?

And then he gives me a little. His tongue hits just the right spot and I cry out again.Fuck all! I'm on the edge of an orgasm unlike any I've experienced.

Except for every orgasm with Jonah.

And then I scream. I intend to scream, "Yes, Jonah! Yes!" but it's unintelligible because I just can't form words effectively as the orgasm hits.

No fucking rom-com could ever be as good as this moment.