Chapter 17

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

Jody jerked open the door and watched as Baker pulled in behind her van in the driveway. He’d called about an hour and a half ago, letting her know he was home, had a few things to do on base, then was headed straight for her house.

She’d been watching impatiently for him ever since. Earlier, Ben had run out to grab food from Aji Limo Truck, a food truck that was permanently parked near Shark’s Cove, a popular snorkeling spot on the North Shore. He’d considered taking a job there, but had decided to concentrate on school and Tressa instead, and Jody approved.

She’d been almost too excited to eat, but had managed to choke down a delicious poke bowl. Ben had also gotten extra for Baker, in case he was hungry when he got home.

Jody couldn’t wait for Baker to come to her. She met him at the driver’s side of his car and the second he stepped out, she threw her arms around him.

“Hey, Tink.”

“I’m so glad you’re home,” she mumbled against his chest.

Baker’s arms tightened around her as he whispered, “Best homecoming I’ve ever had,” against her ear.

Shivers raced down Jody’s spine. She was perfectly fine being on her own, had been for a very long time, but being in Baker’s arms right this second was one of the best feelings she’d ever experienced.

Pulling back, she kept her hands on his biceps as her gaze went from his head down to his toes then back up, checking to make sure he really was in one piece.

“I’m good,” he said, obviously knowing what she was doing.

“Are you tired? Hungry? Did you get any sleep on the plane? I don’t know how long your flight was, but you look exhausted. What do you need from me?”

“You’re doing it,” Baker said with a pleased smile.

Jody shook her head. “I’m not doing anything,” she protested.

“You couldn’t wait the extra five seconds it would’ve taken me to get to you,” Baker said. “You’re eyeballing me as if you can see through my clothes to inspect for any boo-boos. And the first thing you did was try to take care of me by offering food and rest. You’re doing everything, Jodelle.”

His words made tears spring to her eyes. “Shoot,” she said, pressing back into him. “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.”

Baker chuckled, and she felt the rumble under her cheek. “As long as they’re happy tears, I’m good,” he told her.

“Welcome back,” Ben said from the doorway.

Jody felt Baker’s chin lift—then his whole body tensed. He said just loud enough for her ears, “There a reason Ben looks completely fuckin’ petrified?”

Jody sighed. She hadn’t wanted to get into this the second Baker got back, but maybe it was for the best. “Something happened two nights ago,” she told him.

Baker’s muscles coiled even tighter against her. “What?”

“His stepdad and mom came by. Tried to take him home.”

Baker frowned. “What the fuck? How’d they know where he was? Better yet, if someone told him he was living at Miss Jody’s house, how’d he know where you lived?”

“I don’t know. I handled it, but Ben’s terrified of his stepdad. I think he’s holding something over his head.”

“Blackmail?” Baker bit out.

“I don’t know that I’d go that far, but there were definitely some things said that weren’t good.”

“He touch you?” Baker asked.

Jody immediately shook her head. “No.”

“He touch Ben?”

“No. I wouldn’t let him in the house.”

Baker didn’t look mollified by her response. “He talk to you? Ben, that is?”

“He told me some things before his stepdad made an appearance that made me really not like the man, but there’s a lot more he’s not saying. I think he’s trying to protect me from whatever it is. He wanted to leave after his stepdad left. To keep me safe.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Baker said.

“Okay. I’m sorry.”

“About what?”

“That you have to deal with this two-point-three seconds after you got home.”

“Don’t care if it’s two-point-three seconds or three days, Jodelle. Something’s happening that puts not only a kid I respect and like at risk, but my woman too? The sooner that shit gets dealt with the better. Thank you for not hiding the fact that asshole came by from me.”

“Why would I?” Jody asked with a tilt of her head.

He stared down at her for a beat, then said, “I haven’t kissed you yet.”

“No, you haven’t, but seriously, Baker, why would I keep something like that from you? I know the kind of man you are. And you promised you wouldn’t lose your mind and do something stupid that would take you away from me—in this case, like storm to his house and challenge Al to a duel. Besides, Ben needs to talk to someone, and if it’s not going to be me because he wants to shield me from the shit in his life, it should be you. I know you’re strong enough to not only take whatever he wants to tell you, but you’ll have the wisdom to advise him on what he should do next.”

Jody’s voice lowered even more. “And with the connections you say you have, I’m hoping you can use some of them to teach Al a lesson…namely, that it’s not cool to kick your stepson out of his house to ‘teach him a lesson,’ knowing he’ll be living rough and out of his car and most likely going hungry.”

In response, Baker looked up at Ben and said loudly, “I’m gonna kiss Jodelle now. There’s gonna be tongue, and it’s gonna be long, deep, and hard. So I suggest you go back in the house. We’ll be inside in a bit.”

Ben smirked. “I’m going,” he called out. “But I’m not sure Miss Jody’s neighbors will appreciate an X-rated show in her driveway.”

“Not gonna be X. Maybe R though,” Baker told him. “And she’s welcoming her boyfriend back from a dangerous trip…I’m sure they’ll understand.”

The smile on Ben’s face never wavered. He gave them a chin lift, emulating Baker yet again, then turned and went inside the house.

“Baker,” Jody said when he looked back down at her with an expression so intense, she couldn’t even start to interpret it.

“All my life, I’ve dealt with people doing everything in their power to deceive me,” he said, his voice low and rumbly, almost like a growl. “They lie about every fuckin’ little thing, from what they had for breakfast to more important shit, like who they’re colluding with to try to fuckin’ kill me and my countrymen and women. You? I haven’t even taken two steps out of my car and you’re spilling the beans about Al Rowden paying you a visit, giving me a heads-up that Ben has some serious shit he needs to share, and you’re doing so while trusting me not to lose my shit. That means something to me, Jodelle. Means the world.”

“Baker,” she whispered.

“I’m gonna sort this shit,” he vowed. “Might not be tonight. Might not be tomorrow. But I’m gonna make sure Rowden knows you’re off limits. He doesn’t talk to you. Doesn’t show up at your house. Doesn’t even fuckin’ look at you. It’ll be Ben’s choice if he wants the same, but if he does, then I’ll send that message too. And it’s good that you aren’t spooked by the fact I might call in some markers to deal with this.”

“I’m not,” Jody said. “If Al’s as big an asshole as I’m guessing he might be, he deserves everything he gets.”

Baker shifted, putting his finger under Jody’s chin and tilting her head back at the same time he lowered his own. Jody met him halfway, going up on her tiptoes and moving a hand to the back of his head. She tangled her fingers into his hair and immediately opened to him as their lips met.

His beard was a bit longer than it’d been a week ago when he left, but Jody didn’t mind in the least. She was consumed with need for this man. She went from zero to five hundred in a matter of heartbeats. Their tongues twined together as they relearned the taste and feel of each other. Jody could feel Baker’s erection hard against her belly, and she shamelessly rubbed against him. Wanting more. Needing to be closer.

When Baker finally pulled back, Jody’s leg was hiked up on the outside of his thigh and her nails were digging into his scalp. One of his hands was under her shirt on the small of her back, holding her tightly against him, and the other had shifted to her nape, holding her still for his assault on her mouth. An assault she wanted more of. A small whimper left her throat as he stared down at her.

“Want to make you mine tonight,” he said.

“I’m already yours,” Jody said without thought. “But if you’re talking about sex, yes. Please, yes.”

Baker took a deep breath, then smiled.

“What?” she asked.

“Plumeria. Fuckin’ missed that.”

Jody melted into him. She lowered her leg and forced herself to unclench her hand from his hair. “I missed you so much, Baker.”

“Anything else happen while I was gone other than Rowden being a dick?”

“I got a bunch of new jobs to do, including a contract to completely redesign a large sportswear company’s website. Which is gonna take a long time, but they’re paying me a huge chunk of change, so it’ll totally be worth it. Tressa and Ben are now boyfriend/girlfriend. She came over for dinner the same night Al came by, but Ben had already taken her home by the time he showed, which is a good thing. My surf kids are all doing great. Apparently Kenna’s planning a sleepover to happen sooner rather than later, and if the group chat I got added to is any indication, that could even be in the next week or so. Truthfully, I’m really nervous to go, but also excited, which I know is crazy. Anyway…Ben picked up some poke bowls for dinner. I’ve already eaten, but there are two inside for you.”

Baker was smiling now. “Sounds good, Tink. I’m starving.”

“Then why are we still standing out here?” she asked.

“Because I’m enjoying my welcome home from my woman. Would take having you in my arms over food any day.”

Jody shook her head. “Well, how about we go inside, you let me feed you, then you can have a chat with Ben and we’ll go to bed.”

“Sounds like a plan. Missed you, Tink.”

“I missed you too,” Jody whispered.

“Thank you for not playing games. Or hiding anything from me. And I’m sorry I wasn’t here to have your back with Rowden.”

“You’re welcome. And nothing to be sorry about. I’m not helpless, and while the encounter wasn’t fun, I was fully prepared to scream my head off if he tried anything. My neighbors would’ve called the police in a heartbeat.”

“Good to know. Come on, let’s get inside so I can eat and get to talking with Ben. Can’t wait to fall asleep with you in my arms again.”

“Same,” Jody agreed.

Baker let go of her long enough to open the back door of his car and grab his duffle bag, then he put his arm right back around her waist and led them to the door.

Jody brought his bag to her bedroom while Baker greeted Ben with a manly hug and some slaps on the back. As Baker ate, he didn’t talk much about where he’d gone or what he’d been doing, but he did say that it rained almost the entire time and he was glad to get back to Oahu and the sunshine.

After Baker ate and put the takeout containers in the recycle bin, Jody said, “I’m going go and get a head start on that website project I’ve got. You guys can hang out here. And I’ll have my headphones on, so if you need to say bad words, don’t feel guilty because I can’t hear anything with my music in my ears.”

Baker’s face got soft. “Thanks, Tink.”

“Of course. Ben, you need anything?”

“No, I’m good, Miss Jody.”

“All right. If I don’t see you before you head to bed, sleep well. You going surfing in the morning?”

Jody wasn’t surprised when the young man looked at Baker.

“I haven’t been in the waves for a week. I know I’m in for some surfing tomorrow.”

Ben nodded. “Me too.”

“Good. Make sure you get all your homework done,” Jody said.

“I will.”

“Okay. Good night.” Then she took a deep breath and added, “I’m so glad you’re here, Ben. You’ve made the last week much less lonely. And you’ve been a huge help, with the yard work and other chores you do.”

Ben pressed his lips together and nodded. “It’s nice to be appreciated. Good night, Miss Jody.”

Taking that as her cue, Jody turned and headed for her bedroom. She so wanted to eavesdrop and find out once and for all how big of a jerk Ben’s stepdad was, but she didn’t want to lose either Ben’s or Baker’s trust if they discovered she was listening. So she sat down in front of her computer, picked up her headphones, clicked on the app to bring up her favorite playlist, and pressed play. Then she got to work.