LOGINI pushed him away, struggling to stand on my feet and ignoring the smirk on his face.
"What are you doing here?" His smirk widened and he stepped closer while I staggered backwards. "I think what you mean to say is," he trailed a finger down my hair, "thank you." I slapped his hand away, giving him a stern look. "I mean it, Jason. What are you doing here." He shrugged. "I could ask you the same thing." From the look on his face, I could tell immediately that he wouldn't answer my question and it bugged me. This was exactly why I didn't do one-night stands, they never ended well. And I never had the best of luck. Of course, it made sense why he suddenly showed up here after our rendezvous. "Regretting it already?" His voice snapped the rest of my thoughts away. "Don't tell me you really think we shouldn't have fucked that night?" I narrowed my eyes at him, "What are you, a psychiatrist?" "Close enough," he lifted a shoulder casually, and leaned to press a kiss on my cheek. "I'm a dentist, honey." I rolled my eyes and pushed him away, giving him a dirty look. "Stay away from me, Jason." "Ouch! That wasn't what you said the last time I was inside you." My eyes grew wide and I looked around frantically, hoping no one heard him. "Keep your voice down, will you?" "Why? You remember how loud you were the other night?" "Jason!" "Different intonation last night." I scoffed, glaring at the stupid smirk on his face. "It was around three in the morning, idiot." He stepped forward, closing the distance between us. "So you remember what happened then?" A tingle shot down my spine at his callous expression and I sucked in a sharp breath. "Of course, I do." He reached for my hair, playing with the strands. "Tell me, do you still think about it?" I shut my eyes as his minty breath fanned my face, a sizzling electricity sparking between us. "Jason," I moaned despite myself. He chuckled, the sound dark and wicked, "there it is. I love the way you breathe out my name, Tara. Makes me really hard." I didn't know if we'd both lost our minds or we just didn't care anymore. But we were in the middle of the road, where people were actively passing by and yet, Jason was still flirting with me. Making me aroused and telling me about his hardness that I could literally feel with my thighs. "You think you should be walking around with a boner?" I asked, looking up to meet his seductive gaze. As if he knew what I was thinking, his lips curled up and I caught sight of pearly white teeth. "Not if you helped me ease it up," he tipped my chin up so I could get a better look. "What do you say, darling?" I opened my mouth to respond but Tracy's voice stopped me in my tracks. "Tara, goodness!" She hurried towards us and I quickly tore myself away from Jason. "I was looking everywhere for you, where did you-" She stopped, eyeing Jason who had tucked his hands into his pockets in an effort to conceal his arousal. I tried hard not to snicker at that but there was a small smile on my lips. "Jason?" She called and I straightened but she turned to look at me. "Do you know him, Tara?" "No!" "Yes." I glared at Jason, giving him a warning look which he ignored. Tracy, on the other hand, didn't know who to believe between the two of us. "We met at the Rivers motel just outside of town," Jason provided even though no one asked, "she kept me company for a long time-" "By talking," I interjected before he could say more, throwing him a look. "We barely know each other, just our first names." Tracy cocked a brow and I realized how untruthful I sounded but I didn't want to drag the conversation any longer. "Were you able to get everything?" I asked cheerily, slipping my arm through hers. She rolled her eyes. "Yes, you practically left me to do the entire haul myself. I knew I said I would do the work but you should've watched to see how we do things around here." "I know. I'm sorry," I batted my lashes at her, squeezing gently. "I just got distracted." Jason mumbled something under his breath and we both shot him a look. "What was that?" Tracy quipped and he shook his head. "Nothing, I was just wondering why Tara here is pretending not to know me," he placed a hand on his chest, feigning hurt. "I'm deeply insulted." I rolled my eyes, pulling Tracy's arm. "Come on, Tracy. Ignore him and let's go." "And you're sure you don't know him?" "Yes!" I groaned, exasperated. "But, I do," Jason cut in with a smile. "Tara Henry from Chicago. My mouth dropped open and Tracy turned to me. Now, I looked like the liar. "I must have said a lot that night," I sputtered, throwing my arms around but she didn't buy it. I threw Jason another 'what the hell' glare but he winked, looking too proud of himself. Of course, I told him my full name. I was incredibly loose mouthed when I was stimulated. At least, I didn't tell him my real name. "It was nice to see you, Jason," Tracy mumbled, tugging me gently. "Come on." "Hold on," Jason stepped forward, crossing his arms across his chest. "If I'm not mistaken, you girls are moving quite a few things to an apartment." "It's none of your-" "Yes," Tara cut in, giving me the side eye. "Tara will be staying with us at Suzie's." Jason clapped, grinning brightly. "I was heading in that direction anyways, let me give you girls a ride." "No, we'll be fine on our own. Thanks," I said through gritted teeth and was about to walk away but Tracy was staring at me. "What?" She shrugged. "We can't carry all of that by ourselves, Tara. Let him help." Oh, come on! I groaned under my breath, turning to look at Jason who still had a smug grin plastered on his face. "Fine," I sighed, tucking my hands into my jeans pockets. "I suppose Jason could give us a ride."Tara’s POV The hospital discharged me by late afternoon with strict instructions to rest and see a therapist. The doctors gave me more recommendations I nodded along with while having absolutely no intention of following through on the therapy part.Jeremiah drove me home himself, and the moment we pulled up to the boarding house, it became clear that word had spread.Susie was on the porch before we even came to a complete stop, her face creased with worry. "Oh, Tara! Thank God you're okay! Thank you so much for bringing her home, Jeremiah.”"I just took her to the hospital," he said with a bright grin, but Susie was already ushering me inside like I was made of glass.Tracy appeared from nowhere, immediately taking my arm. "Come on, let's get you upstairs. You need to rest."Chuck bounded down the stairs, practically vibrating with energy. "Tara! I heard you collapsed! Are you okay? Do you remember anything? What did it feel like?""Chuck," Tracy said, stifling a laugh. "Let her
Jeremiah's POV The hospital lights were too bright and the smell of antiseptic made my stomach churn in distaste. But I didn't care. I rushed through the automatic doors, Tara's limp body cradled against my chest like she weighed nothing at all."I need help! Someone help me!" I was yelling, my voice cracking in a way I haf never heard before. "She suddenly stopped breathing and collasped. Her pulse is barely-”About four nurses swarmed me immediately, asking different questions and I rushed out the answers, trying not to focus on how pale she. They took her from my arms and placed her on a stroller, but it felt like they were tearing away a part of me. I watched as they rushed her toward the back."Sir, we need you to fill this," one of them called, but I could barely hear over the roaring in my ears.I hastily told her that I was Tara's boss and explained exactly what happened, making sure not to leave out any detail. “Thank you,” she said with a smile. “You can go to the waiti
Tara’s POV My heart was drumming anxiously as I pulled back from the kiss."What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound light.He played with a strand of my hair, twirling it around his finger. "I had some business with the mayor. Some kind of dental health initiative for the town's youth program."“I didn't know dentists and mayors ran in the same circle." I teased, a small grin playing on my lips. He laughed, that easy laugh that had attracted me in the first place. "What about you? What brings you to the mayor's office?""Work.” I said with a playful shrug. “My boss abandoned me here for a tour, so I'm doing a little sightseeing." The joke came out before I could think better of it but Jason kissed me again, then nipped my bottom lip. I squealed at the sting, suddenly hyperaware that people might be watching us in this public hallway."What are you doing?" I laughed, pushing him away gently."Reminding myself how beautiful you are." He pulled back with a teasing grin. "Co
TARA’S POVI opened my mouth, but no words came out. My brain had completely short-circuited.He removed his hand, and I could finally breathe again, although part of me mourned the loss of that warmth."You've been jumpy since we got in the truck," he observed, his tone maddeningly casual. "Won't look at me. Keep fidgeting with your purse strap. That's three tells already."A nervous laugh escaped me. "I'm not nervous.""Liar." But there was no heat in it.I finally risked a glance at him. He was focused on the road, but there was the hint of a smile playing at his lips.He shifted gears into work mode. "The mayor's office called yesterday. The town hall renovation is going over budget. We want to renegotiate our bid, see if we can bring the costs down without compromising quality."I blinked, turning his words over in my head. "How much over?""Fifteen percent. Which is actually reasonable given the foundation issues we discovered.” He said and clicked his tongue against the roof of
TARA’S POVI was walking through a garden bathed in golden afternoon light, flowers bloomed in different bright colors, and the air smelled like honeysuckle and freshly cut grass. I felt... happy. Genuinely, deeply happy in a way I couldn't remember feeling in years."Mummy!"I turned to see a little girl running toward me, pigtails bouncing, her face split wide with joy. She couldn't have been more than five or six, wearing a yellow sundress covered in butterflies.My heart swelled with a love so fierce it nearly brought me to my knees. I knelt down and swept her into my arms, covering her face with kisses as she giggled."Mummy, guess what! Guess what me and Daddy caught!"I smiled, leaning back to stare at her. "What did you catch, sweetheart?""A butterfly! A real one!” She was bouncing excitedly on her toes now. “It was blue and so pretty and Daddy said we had to let it go but first we got to look at it really close and-""That sounds amazing," I said, smoothing her hair back fr
TARA'S POV No. No, it couldn't be him, right?I pressed closer to the crack in the door, trying to see, but they were positioned just out of my line of sight in the living room."You have responsibilities to this family too," the brother continued. "I’ve always been there for her while you were off trying to revive the construction company. Why can I have this break?”There was a loud thud that made me flinch, followed by Jeremiah’s growl. "You know why I had to fucking do that! And we had a deal but you broke it, why?”"I had things to do. A life, remember? You're not the only one who-""Things to do?” Jeremiah snapped. “Or someone to do?"There was a sharp intake of breath. "That's not fair."Jeremiah scoffed. "Isn't it? How many months has it been since you actually showed up for a family dinner? Since you spent more than five minutes with Nana?"There was a heavy silence that pressed against my ears then angry footsteps heading toward the door."You know what? Forget it. I came h
The next morning, I felt like a live wire. Every sound made me jump and somehow, I felt he knew what I had done."Morning, Tara!" one of the crew called out as I clocked in.I nearly dropped my coffee. "Morning!" I squeaked back, my voice was too high.He looked at me strangely but did not say anyt
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice coming out more breathless than I intended.A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I should be asking you the same thing."I swallowed hard, trying desperately not to notice how tall he was, or how achingly good he smelled."My friend's birthday," I
JEREMIAH’S POVDaniel appeared in the doorway, his eyes darting between us with open curiosity. "Good morning, boss."I kept my gaze on Tara, watching the blush creep up her neck and flood her cheeks. Without looking away, I said, "Rally everyone outside. I'll dress up and meet you there."I walked
"Well, that's the last of the stuff." Jason announced proudly, dusting his hands as he straightened to his full height. I nodded, taking a look at my bare apartment filled with a dozen cardboard boxes. In a few moments, this place would look more like a home than a bare space and I couldn't wait







