The Keys to Jericho (38 page)

Before I go downstairs, I peer down the hall to Jared’s room, but his door is still closed.

Entering the kitchen, Dash says, “I texted Jared to come out of his room, but he won’t answer.”

Liberty frowns. “Really? He can’t be bothered to answer his door?”

“I didn’t want to try. I just fixed my hair and he might have a bucket of water.”

She says, “He’d use clean water for you. If I went up there, it’d be from the toilet.”

Rio says, “I knocked on his door, but he didn’t answer, either. Maybe he’s taking a nap.” He did have a tough morning, taking advantage of me.

I pick up my purse from the counter and say, “Well, I guess we’ll have to go without him then.”

Dash unwraps a blue and white, swirled sucker, taking a lick of it before popping it into his mouth just as something behind me catches his eye. With a mouthful, he says, “Hey, Jericho.” Keeping my back to Jared, Dash pulls the sucker from his mouth to ask, “You going with us?”

He irritably replies, “What else am I going to do?”

“You could go to the beach and push people into the ocean.”

“Done.”

Dash pulls on my arm, and when I turn around, I see Jared with his hands gripping the edge of the counter, looking out the window over the kitchen sink. Unable to help it, I covertly check him out, noticing his khaki shorts and bright blue polo shirt. As he shifts, I hurriedly look down to my purse as I let Dash tow me to the living room.

Liberty grabs Rio’s arm when Dash opens the front door, jingling the house keys, waiting for us to leave. As Rio and Liberty go out the door, Dash says, “Liberty has shotgun, since I hate when Diet Dr. Pussy grabs my leg.”

Going down the stairs, Rio says, “Dream on.”

As I follow them out the door, Dash grins. “Save me a seat, Merrick.” I smile at him and as I step out onto the porch, he says, “There’s enough of me to share. You like the window seat, right, Jericho?”

“Whatever.”

As I climb into the back of Rio’s truck, I pray that Dash takes the center seat. How ridiculous to pray for something so juvenile. I know I may be pouting, or licking my wounds, but that doesn’t ease the humiliation I still feel.

From the other side of the truck, Dash slides into the backseat, purposefully smashing me against the door, earning him a pinch to his thigh. When Jared gets in and shuts the door, Rio backs out of the driveway.

Liberty and Dash spend the beginning of the drive debating the best way to get to the winery. After five minutes of their going back and forth over shortest versus fastest routes, Jared says, “Jesus Christ. With Dash’s directions, we’ll end up in fucking Rhode Island in 15 minutes.”

“Stop being dramatic, Jericho.”

“Stop being annoying, Calder.”

Beyond them finally choosing a route, the truck is quiet, with only the sound of the radio to fill the awkward silence. Well, it’s awkward to me, at least.

Each time Dash leans forward or shifts, I subtly glance behind him to Jared, observing him looking out his window or staring at the back of Liberty’s seat. I have to remind myself not to stare too long, but it’s rather a feat. I told Liberty the truth. Jared is hot. He always has been, but now that I’ve seen a different side of him, literally, he remarkably looks different. His muscles seem more defined and his facial hair is more conspicuous. Even his ruffled hair is more noticeable, and every move he makes, be it just leaning his head back on the headrest, or mindlessly tapping on the door handle, are sexier.

As much as I try not to think about having sex with him, it’s all I can think about, and every thought is amplified now that we have. I know the feel of his hands all over my body, the feel of his lips and tongue fighting mine, and having the scent of him lingering on me after he leaves my room.

When we arrive, Jared is out of the truck before anyone else. With Jared in the lead, I walk with Dash as we head to the ticket table underneath a white tent.

I get to flash my new driver’s permit, which makes me smile for a second. Dash tries to pay for my ticket, but even my arguing with him doesn’t help. When the man takes Dash’s credit card, he says, “She’s already paid for, by that gentleman in the blue shirt.”

“What?” I peer beyond Dash, only to see Jared’s back as he talks to Rio. Liberty is keeping her distance, already perusing the displayed racks of wine.

Grabbing our tickets, Dash shakes his head with a grin. “That’s his way of apologizing for this morning.” I nearly gasp, Jared told Dash about having sex with me?

“What
about
this morning?”

He laughs. “You know. Being jealous.”

I glare at Jared’s back. “He’s infuriating.”

“But, you still love him, right?”

“Quiet,” I irritably tell him, slyly double-checking to see if Jared is within hearing range.

Talking to Jared, Rio glances at me, and smiles, which inadvertently causes Jared to look over his shoulder, and like a chain reaction, I turn to Dash.

“I don’t know. I have to protect my heart and I can’t do that if I continue to love him. What he said, and how he stormed out this morning was ridiculous.” If Dash thinks
that
to be the reason I’m upset, then that’s good. I don’t need them thinking I’m a whore, even if it was Dash’s idea. I was stupid enough to take his advice. Furthermore, Jared would flip out even more if his friends knew what we were doing last night and this morning.

Damn it. Why in the fuck do I care about what they say about him?

“That’s Jared, though. He wasn’t trying to be mean to you. He was looking after you.”

“Well, he should worry about himself. He’s already helping me get my license.”

“But, he
will
worry about you, though.”

“Why? I don’t get him. I truly don’t. I put it out there with him, but he doesn’t want any of the strings attached or baggage I carry.”

Dash puts his arm around me and leans close. “Wrong. Everything Jared says or does is because he doesn’t want to admit to himself, or to anyone else, that he’s crazy in love with you.” After this morning, I’m convinced even more now that he isn’t.

“Not likely. I think he’s just crazy.”

“Well, yeah.”

“I didn’t tell you I love your dress,” Liberty says, coming up to me, which I’m relieved it’s not Jared to start an argument.

“Thanks. I love yours, too.”

“Ladies, I need to not be a part of this conversation.”

“Up and away, Dasher.”

He makes a face at her, sticking out his tongue as he walks over to Rio and Jared. “Ding-a-ling, Liberty Bell.”

We laugh, and I ask, “How did Rio like your hair?”

She grins, touching her head. “He loves it. As soon as we were in our room, he had my clothes off, and me coming before I was even on my back.”

“Shit. I need to go to
your
salon.”

“Yes, you do because my new mission is to find you a man.”

I hurriedly shake my head. “Oh, no. I’m like a project for people. Ever since my divorce, my mother has been riding me about finding a new man. I’m fine for now.”

“For now, maybe. When was your divorce?”

“Two years ago.”

Her blue eyes pop. “For Christ’s sake, Kat! We need to work on your happiness. First, get your license. That’s Phase One. Phase Two will be all mine.”

“I’m scared.”

She laughs. “It’ll be fun! I’ll get you laid.” This is what I was afraid of happening.

My mouth fails me. “Oh, my God.”

“I’m guessing you really need to.”

Not with some arbitrary stranger, but knowing that my one-way street tryst with Jared has to end, I sigh. “Yeah, I do. Maybe I do need your help finding me a man.”

“Yes!”

From nowhere, Jared storms past us, nearly knocking over a trashcan and taking out a wine display as he leaves the tent.

Liberty rolls her eyes. “There goes Mr. Sunshine spreading his light and warmth everywhere he goes.”
His warmth
. I impulsively squeeze my thighs together, wincing at the sudden reminder.

I watch him swiftly walking away from the tents, along the vineyard’s fence, with his hands in his hair. What’s his problem now?

Catching me staring at Jared, Liberty bumps into my arm. “Come on. Don’t worry about his newest drama. Let’s get wasted.”

Turning to her, I readily nod. “Fuck, yes.”

Liberty and I stop at the first table of many on our tour. We sample everything more times than we can count, taking turns buying new bottles and carrying them while we walk. Eventually, carrying and pouring becomes too much of a balancing act, so Dash holds our bottle-of-the-moment, giving us refills on demand, and when we’re finished with a bottle, he fetches us something different to try. Thank God he’s an enabler, because I really need to be enabled.

Rio follows us, but seems to be preoccupied watching the area around us, and stepping to the side to text. I imagine he’s keeping tabs on Jared, but if Jared’s going to act like a pouting child, then let someone else worry about him.

Needing a pit stop, Liberty and I head to the main building, where there are signs posted for public restrooms. We hold onto each other, giggling, with Dash hanging outside on the sidewalk for us, and Rio further back, playing with his phone.

Since Liberty is drunkenly trying to fix her makeup, I leave the restroom and walk along the hallway, looking at wine bottles on display, behind glass, encased in the walls. I have to concentrate more on not bumping into people; however, I don’t make it very far when I see a blue polo shirt, leaning against the opposite wall, studying his phone.

Without thinking, I leap into the light current of people, dodging and weaving, until I make it to the other side, sneaking up to Jared.

I say, “I thought you left us.”

“Huh?” He promptly raises his head, and his eyes slightly widen before they narrow. “What are you doing here?”

Jared is so sexy, even when he’s ticked off. I loftily smile. “I rode with you. Remember?”

His frown deepens. “I thought you were having a pretty good time out there, so you’d better get back to it.”

I cuddle up to him, leaning my cheek on his bicep, and his muscles tense. He smells and feels good, and I begin to forget why I was pissed at him in the first place. “Why are
you
in here? You should have some drinks with us.”

Jared shrugs his arm, taking it away from me, and he rolls his dreamy eyes. “No, thanks.” He looks back to his phone, which irritates me.

Crazed, or not in total control of my drunk brain, I shove his hand and step against him, making his eyes pop open this time.

“What are you doing, Kat?”

I press my breasts onto his chest, and I can feel his pounding heart and fast breath as he looks down at me. “I missed you, Jericho.” I slide my hands up to his shoulders, playfully clawing at his shirt. “Don’t you miss me?” His lips are so close and I want to kiss him, but I know there’s a reason I shouldn’t want to, yet can’t recall it. Fuck. Alcohol can be a spiteful bitch.

He lightly pushes on my shoulders as he glances around our vicinity. “You don’t even want to acknowledge me.”

I hazily ogle him, peeved that he’s still being a dick to me. “It’s the other way around!”

He adamantly shakes his head, glaring at me. “Not even close.”

“You don’t want me for a girlfriend!”

Jared checks our surroundings again before he growls, “We talked about this. Just go back outside.”

I cross my arms. “No!” Sounding whiny, I demand, “Aren’t we even friends?”

Jared slides along the granite wall, out of my reach. “Just leave me alone, Kat. Go.” He bites down on his lip as he taps into his phone.

I shadow him. “You were okay having your way with me last night and this morning, weren’t you?”

His green and hazel eyes blaze with repressed profane sentiments when he looks up from his phone. “We’re
not
doing this here.”

Feeling bold and stupid, I put my arms around his waist, gripping onto his belt. “That’s okay. Because I want to do
you
here.” I lick my lip and bat my eyelashes. “I know you want me again.” I know nothing, drunk or sober.

Heaving an impatient sigh, he shoves his phone into his pocket, and grabs my arms, trying to pry me off him. “Kat, stop.”

I’m truly slow on the uptake. “Didn’t you just tell me to go?”

Jared rolls his eyes. “Yeah. I mean, stop, but …go. Jesus!” He manages to unhook me from him, and crosses his arms over his chest, keeping me at a distance, but not just physically.

Feeling hurt, I pout, but again, it’s my own fault, yet my alcohol-laden mind carries on. “Why won’t you let me touch you? I thought you liked when I touch you.”

He closes his eyes and growls, “Fuck. If you don’t go, then I will.”

“What the hell are you so upset about now? You’re always mad at me!”

Jared opens his eyes, and snaps, “No, I’m not, but you give me good reason to be!”