17. Had Questions

17

HAD QUESTIONS

" I didn't think it'd be tonight that I'd find myself in this tub," Jarrett said.

Andi was between his legs, her back against his chest, his fingers lightly drawing circles around her ribs on each side.

"It seemed like the thing to do," she said. "You suggested it."

Only because, with as tight as she'd been when he sank in, he was terrified he'd hurt her.

Guess she was telling the truth that it'd been a while since she'd been with a man.

Though the fact she came so quickly both times could have been an indicator.

There was somewhat of an ego boost there that he needed in his doubts.

He did believe her, but there was a tiny part of him that had questions, knowing there were secrets.

Secrets she wasn't denying existed even if she couldn't tell him what they were.

He couldn't focus on that though.

Not after what they shared.

She talked about a future and it was what he wanted.

He was honest when he said he'd deal with things as they came. It was the only way he could look or think of it.

"Maybe it was a way to keep you naked for a little longer."

"I would have stayed that way if you asked," she said. She rubbed her foot up and down his leg. His dick which had been somewhat satisfied was starting to stir again.

"Good to know for the future," he said.

"I'm going to cook you a nice big dinner after this," she said. "Give you strength to wear me out some more tonight. I bet I sleep like a baby."

"Did you want to stay the night?" he asked. "No pressure. I didn't know we'd end up like this. I don't have a ton of food either so we can pick some up and then get you clothes if you want."

"I'd like that," she said. "What are you in the mood to eat?"

"I had the best thing imaginable already today," he said. "Nothing is going to top that."

She turned her head and looked up at him. She had a big messy bun on her head and it was flopping around with her head movements. "Kind of sweet."

He squinted one eye. "Only kind of?"

"I'm not used to talking about sex like that. Just doing it."

"You do it well," he said.

He wasn't one to talk about it either. Lots of men did. He didn't. Even Alex, for as loose as he was with women and not taking them seriously, they all kept things to themselves.

"Why, thank you," she said. "I was only following your lead and letting my body do what it felt it needed to."

"Sometimes that is the best thing to do. Go with your gut."

"Just like I did asking you to dinner weeks ago when you came in to get your haircut. Well, to check on me and then get your hair cut. Admit it. You didn't need it."

No use in fibbing at this point.

"No," he said. "I saw your vehicle and thought I'd pop in. Once I did, I realized I needed an excuse."

"No excuse needed to stop in and see me now," she said. When there was silence, she added, "Unless this is supposed to be a secret."

"It's not," he said. "I'm just not used to volunteering much. It's a small island."

She laid her head back. "And because you don't have all the answers you want you don't want others to know about me."

"It's not that," he said. "Don't think that. It's more that once my mother finds out, she's going to want to meet you. She knows about you."

"You told her?" she asked. Her head turned again and she was watching him.

"My mother knows a lot of what goes on on this island. More so when it involves her boys. I don't think I said your name, just what happened that day. Nothing more. But she will ask how we met."

"Do you think she'll have a problem with it?" she asked. "I thought you said she'd like me."

"Oh, she's going to love you," he said. "Not sure you're ready for that."

His mother was going to eat this up. Someone who understood everything there was about him. Yeah, he might have been waiting a long time for this.

Even the fact that she talked about their future before he could.

It's as if she knew he had to have that conversation to move on.

Part of that was scary. The other part...comforting.

He supposed he understood what Andi was saying earlier about how he reminded her of her father.

"I can handle just about anything," she said. "But since it's your family and your island, then we can do this your way. I'm good with that."

"Thanks," he said. "I'm just going to let things happen as they do."

She shivered a little. "That's been my motto for a while."

"Cold?" he asked. The water had been getting cooler. He'd emptiedouthis hot water tank to fill the tub. That was a first for him and he didn't realize it until the water ended up coming out cold and cooling it down some.

"A little," she said. "The air in the room is cooler than the water and not enough space in here to sinkdownmore. At least with two bodies in the tub."

"Why don't we get out," he said. "Or we are going to look like an old wrinkled couple."

"Time yet for that to happen," she said. But she shifted and did stand up and he held her steady to get out and then he did the same, both of them drying off and getting dressed.

"We can run to the store if you want," he said.

"Sure you want to go in together?" she said. "We might be seen."

He sighed. "I'm not worried about anyone seeing us together. I just wasn't going to go announcing it nor was I going to go into your workplace where I know people. The store is something else."

"And not many know who I am. I'm still a newbie on the island. They might just think you picked me up in a bar. Want me to put some makeup on and do my hair like a bimbo?"

She was laughing while she said that. He hated to think she was two different people from when they started to date and was going to chalk it uptoshe just felt more...comfortable around him.

That she could let her guard down and be more of herself.

He was going to try his hardest to not read more into things. It was the best he could do.

"That might be funny and it would stand out even more. I'm not known to pick women up in a bar unless they are being arrested."

"Did you just make a joke?" she asked. She had her bra and underwear on and was pulling her shirt over her head and then letting her hair down before she put her jeans on.

There was something sexy about her standing in his bathroom with her shirt that hit her hips and a pair of navy cotton panties while she brushed her hair in the mirror.

"A poor one if you had to ask," he said.

He had his jeans on and unbuttoned while he tucked his cotton shirt in.

"You're trying though and it's nice that you are." She was looking at him while she pulled her jeans up. "What's going on in your brain?"

"Nothing," he said.

"Jarrett. Tell me. Is it something I can help with?"

"No," he said. "It's on me."

She sighed. "You're having doubts about me, aren't you?"

"Not like you think," he said.

"You don't know what I'm thinking. You didn't ask. And I won't say it without all the facts."

She had a point.

"You're different now. Lighter. Friendlier. Funnier. All those things are different than when I first met you. I'm trying to figure out if you're just more comfortable around me and it's coming out."

"Or if I'm not who I say I am," she said. "Rest assured, the person before you right now is the same person that was like this ten years ago with friends. With strangers not so much. I'd think that is natural for most people."

"That is what I was hoping for."

"It's the truth," she said. "It's easier to let go than to hold back. I've learned to hold back for a while and it's tiring. Maybe I'm just sick of being tired."

Which said everything he needed to know. And maybe more than he wanted to hear.