Chapter Twelve

“Oh my God, that spot right there. Oh, yeah. That’s so good.” Sarah moaned.

“Oh, for crying out loud, Sarah. It’s a massage, not sex. Quit it,” Becca yelled. The laughter of Bridget and Allison, Jack’s sister, filled the air.

“Sorry,” Sarah mumbled, more for the masseuse than anyone else. “I just…um, have been stressed and the spot between my shoulders is tense.” The warmth of the room, dim lighting and lavender scent in the air combined for the complete relaxing experience and Sarah was leaning all the way in.

“It’s all good. I’ve heard way worse.” The woman rubbing her back chuckled.

Sarah blew out a deep breath and let the magic of the massage therapist’s hands loosen her body. For the past two weeks, she’d gone through three video interviews for different companies in Seattle. She was getting interest at last, but nothing was coming up with an actual offer yet. The frustration at how slow things were moving had built until she felt like screaming. It wasn’t that she couldn’t keep busy or money was tight. In fact, she’d taken on four more local businesses for marketing campaigns. Between that and the odd shift at Three Sisters, Sarah wasn’t hurting for income.

Fallbank was considerably less expensive than Seattle and it also helped that she didn’t have to pay rent. Gran and Gramps had paid off the house long before Bridget had taken it over. It made Sarah wonder what would happen to it after Bridget moved. Maybe Gran would move back in? Although her grandmother had said before how much she liked driving less, being downtown and her smaller living space.

While money wasn’t a huge concern, Sarah had seen Cornelius with Jane twice more, once out for dinner and the other time they were walking through town. The sights caused her stomach to churn and hot jealousy swept through her each time. She needed to get her emotions under control. Cornelius seemed happy and she couldn’t stop him, even if her heart pleaded for her to try.

After they wrapped up their massages, all four of them went to soak in the hot tub. Reclining her head, Sarah closed her eyes and let the heat from the water soak into her bones.

“Sarah, how’re the interviews going?” Becca asked.

Sarah lifted her lids. “Good. Things move at a glacial pace in the corporate world. It’ll be another week or two before I hear about anything. I’ll have to go in for final interviews if anyone wants me.” She sighed.

Bridget piped up, “But you’re doing well in town. You’ve gotten a ton of clients by word of mouth. I’m amazed.”

“I am, too. Who knew Fallbank was so desperate for marketing? The mayor’s office reached out on Friday afternoon. They want to do some tourism creatives. They said if it went well, they would pass my information along to some of the other towns in the area.” The ego boost that phone call had given her was still glowing within her.

Allison beamed. “How great! Way to kick ass. You must be excited. What do you think you’ll end up doing? Coming back to Seattle or staying in Fallbank?”

Sarah jolted, causing small ripples in the water. “Seattle. I’m moving back to Seattle.” Why would Allison think staying was an option?

“Okay. I was curious since you acted more excited about the local work than the opportunities with the big agencies.” Allison scrunched her nose. “I didn’t mean to read into anything.”

Sarah waved a hand. “No big deal. My plan has always been to get back up here. It’s taking longer than I anticipated, hence the freelance work.”

Becca and Bridget exchanged a look. Becca said, “Options are never bad things to have.”

Bridget nodded. “I’ve been grateful you’re in town. With the wedding and house building stuff, you covering things at Three Sisters has saved me. I don’t know how I would have gotten so much accomplished without you.” She reached out at hand and Sarah squeezed it. Becca grabbed on, too.

Sarah loved the women in her life so much. The support they provided one another was immeasurable. “What are sisters for?”

Allison smacked a hand over her heart. “Aww, I’ve always wanted a sister! Brothers are big dorks who tease and dangle you upside down in front of your crushes.”

They all laughed and Bridget added Allison’s hand to their pile. “Well, now you have three of us.”

For a moment, they grinned at one another. Then Becca splashed the water. “Enough of this mushy, emotional stuff. Time to get all sexied up and hit the town. We have celebrating to do!”

Several hours later, they were dressed to the nines, well fed and fast on their way to a future morning of hangovers. They entered the club with its pulsing music and shimmering lights, packed with beautiful people. Heat rolled in waves from the dance floor. Sarah looked to her little sister and saw the hint of apprehension on her face. Sarah was glad Jack had pulled strings and gotten them a VIP booth upstairs. Bridget would need breaks from the crowds, despite wanting to go out on the town for her bachelorette party. Sarah also knew Jack and his crew would be here soon and that would put Bridge at ease.

If only the same could be said for Sarah when the guys arrived. She had no idea what to expect with Cornelius. Would he flirt with other women? Dance? How serious were he and Jane? Could she handle seeing him in this setting? Their younger lives hadn’t included much of a club life. Too young, too broke and too horny—and with the long distance—when they did get together, they spent it just the two of them. Tonight though, circumstances were a far cry from those days. How would he act here?

“Let’s head up to the VIP section. I need a drink,” Sarah shouted over the noise. They trooped up the stairs and were greeted by a hot, shirtless man. With a wide grin, he escorted them over to a massive curved booth covered in aubergine-colored crushed velvet with a low table in front of it. The position from the upper deck gave prime viewing of the writhing, grinding mass on the dance floor below.

“If you need anything at all, there are several of us circulating up here. Any of us are happy to help—just wave. We also have a bar in the direction”—he pointed to the left—“and restrooms are over there.” He turned his hand to the right. “Anything I can start you all with?” They requested champagne, tequila shots and water.

“I’m going to hit the ladies’ room,” Sarah said, then headed to the bathroom, grateful again for the VIP status and not waiting in the lines downstairs. When she returned it was to find the girls laughing and the drinks delivered. Snatching up a shot, she raised it up. “To my baby sister and finding her true love! You and Jack are the perfect couple. Now to make this a night to remember in bits and pieces through a hazy fog of alcohol. Cheers!”

“Cheers!” Becca, Allison and Bridget echoed and they all downed their tequila.

“Let’s go dance,” Allison yelled, tugging at Bridget’s hand. Trooping downstairs as a group, Sarah sighed and let the warmth of the alcohol loosen her muscles and her mind. She needed to get out of her head and enjoy celebrating her little sister.

 

* * * *

 

Cornelius slapped Jack on the back and barked a laugh at Hiro’s last joke as the three of them entered the club. From the texts exchanged, the women were already here and Jack couldn’t wait to get to Bridget. They’d had a great dinner and gone ax throwing after, but as soon as the picture of a dancing, veil-wearing Bridget surrounded by a ring of men popped up, Jack couldn’t be deterred from getting here. He’d raced over there so fast Cornelius almost thought the zombie apocalypse had started.

As they made their way in, Cornelius scanned the mass of people on the dance floor. The girls could be upstairs in the VIP section, but he had a hunch they would attempt to distract Bridget from Jack’s absence. Familiarity struck him as he saw a woman with flowing blonde hair rocking her hips to the pulsing music. He traced his gaze over those locks down her back to an hourglass figure encased in a red dress that clung to her curves with a glittering material that fell to mid-thigh. She lifted her arms as she swayed and tossed her head back with laughter. His heart galloped in his chest while his dick hardened to attention. Damn, but Sarah looked breathtaking. He wanted to slide up behind and wrap her in his arms, to feel that gorgeous body pressed into his while he brushed kisses along her neck. Cornelius took a step, then another in her direction.

“Hey, there they are,” Hiro said and pointed, not realizing Cornelius had already found them.

Shit. Cornelius shook his head. What was he doing? He was dating Jane. Sure, they weren’t exclusive or even all that serious, but he didn’t think she’d appreciate him fantasizing about his ex-girlfriend. He needed to get a hold of himself. Then Sarah turned, smiled and held her hand out to him.

Screw it. Dancing didn’t mean anything. He could control himself. They weren’t going to get back together, regardless. Their groups merged and Sarah was right there. She draped her arms around his neck as she moved with the music. He lifted his hands and placed them on her waist, holding her close.

“Corey, you’re here! We never did thisss when we were kids.” She winked and her body rubbed against his. “Shhhow me your moves, Superman.”

His stomach clenched as all of his blood swam south. She had winked and called him Superman. It was his fucking kryptonite and she knew it. Sarah used to say his glasses were his cover for how he turned into a superhero in the bedroom. She was also slurring her words, which meant she was already several drinks in. He tightened his fingers as the heat from her soaked into his skin. The material of her dress was flimsy and if he’d wanted, he could shred it along the seams with ease.

“Sarah,” he murmured, dipping his nose to inhale her scent. Peonies with a hint of sweet sweat filled his senses. Her soft hair tickled his cheek as she laid her head on his chest.

Tilting her face up, Sarah opened her mouth—

“Oh my God, Saraaah!” The female voice shook both of them apart as another woman bounded up. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Tyneisha, hi!” Sarah lurched on her heels and Cornelius kept a hand on her lower back to steady her. “I’m so excited to see you. You have to meet everyone.” She flung a hand at their group. “The couple over there looking at each other like they’re about to go at it right here and now is my little sister, Bridget, and her fiancé, Jack.” She pointed to Hiro and Allison who grinned at Sarah and her friend. “This is Hiro and Allison. Allison is Jack’s sister.”

Sarah patted a hand on Cornelius’ chest. “This is Corey. No! Wait. You can’t call him that. Cornelius, his name is Cornelius.” She wobbled again and giggled.

Cornelius smiled and said hello while keeping an eye on a very tipsy Sarah. God, she was adorable like this.

Snatching Becca’s hand, Sarah tugged her close. “This is my cousin, Becca.”

Tyneisha looked Becca up and down with appreciation. In tailored black pants and a fitted button-up shirt that was opened enough to showcase the mounds of her cleavage, Becca looked sexy in an understated way. “Pleasure to meet you,” Tyneisha said and bit the corner of her lower lip.

“Same to you,” Becca answered as she kicked up her grin. “Want to dance or grab a drink?” She held her palm out and Sarah’s friend slid hers into it.

“Yes, please.”

The two of them wandered off, leaving Cornelius blinking. That was fast. Why couldn’t he find that kind of instant chemistry with someone?

The lush softness of the female beside him pressed close again. Oh yeah, he thought as he looked down at his ex-girlfriend. Because Sarah stole my heart and never gave it back. Their chemistry was still off the charts given how he was responding to her tonight.

Another body stumbled into him, knocking both Sarah and Cornelius off-kilter and causing Sarah to laugh uproariously.

“Maybe we should sit down for a minute. Drink a little water?” Cornelius offered. He worried about how much she’d had to drink tonight and didn’t want her to be hungover in the morning.

She giggled. “You might be right.” He led them both upstairs, grasping Sarah’s elbow to steady her and ensure she didn’t trip. “Our booth is right over here.” She collapsed on the cushions and patted the space next to her.

Cornelius lowered to sit close and signaled a server. “A couple of waters would be great.”

“And a Chivas and seven! It’s his favorite.”

“You got it,” the woman in a short leather skirt and white cropped tank answered and headed to the bar.

“Corey,” Sarah sighed and smooshed against him. Laying her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes and a happy humming noise rose from her. “This is so nice.”

His heart clenched inside his chest. Hearing that nickname on her lips was everything. She’d been the lone person who’d ever called him that and the sound of it still made his skin tingle and his nerves light up. Dragging a hand over his face, he looked down at her. Damn, he was in trouble. He should be thinking of Jane and feeling excited about her. Yet here he was, mooning over his ex because she was cuddly-drunk and used an old nickname.

The server returned with their drinks. Cornelius snatched up his scotch and Seven Up and downed it in three gulps.

Giggles met his ears. “Doesn’t seem like you even tasted your drink, let alone enjoyed it.”

He was too sober to make a stupid move with Sarah yet too buzzed to not feel… everything with her so close to him. The warmth of her soft body soaked through his clothes reminding him of memories he’d worked so hard to bury…like those of them without any barriers between them, skin to skin, lost to one another in their love and lust.

She blinked up at him, her eyes shimmering under the club lights. Her lips were so full and right there.

God, he was screwed. Knowing he had no one to blame but himself, he lowered his head to hers.

“Woo-hoo! I found them!” Bridget shouted as the rest of their group stumbled up the stairs and over to their booth. She spun to Jack. “I win! You have to do anything I say in bed for a week.”

Jack flashed a sloppy grin. “Honeybee, I’ll gladly do that anyway. I’m not seeing how I lose here.” He leaned around her toward Cornelius. “I knew you were up here, I meant to lose this bet.”

Bridget grabbed Jack’s head and pulled him in for the kind of kiss Cornelius wanted to give to Sarah. Jack lifted Bridget up and Cornelius whipped his head away from watching his best friend push his next-door neighbor up against a column and dry-hump her.

“Get a room,” Sarah yelled as she covered her eyes with her hands. “I don’t want to see my little sister like this.”

Cornelius shoved at his glasses and turned to help shield the view behind him. Allison and Hiro collapsed down into the semi-circle booth next to him. “Girl, same,” Allison griped. “Except my brother. You know what I mean.”

Cornelius looked over their crew as Becca and Sarah’s friend joined them around the table. He was the sober-ish one here. His drink hadn’t done anything and the few beers he’d had during dinner and ax throwing weren’t coming close to getting him drunk. He was surrounded by couples—couples who were getting all kinds of frisky. Hiro had Allison smooshed into the cushions while they made out and Becca and Tyneisha had a heavy game of tonsil hockey happening. He looked at Sarah, who was staring at all the others with a bewildered expression. Then she smirked at Cornelius. “Maybe we should do the same? When in Rome and all that?” She fluttered her lashes up at him.

Oh hell. He was in so much trouble. Cornelius jumped up. “I think we should head back to the hotel.” He needed to get space from Sarah and the rest of the group.

“Good idea,” Allison mumbled as her husband kissed across her collar bone. “We have a kid-free night and need to make the most of our room.”

Like herding cats, Cornelius managed to wrangle them into a ride-share van to the hotel. When they arrived, Jack swept Bridget up to a suite he’d reserved as a surprise for them. Becca held Tyneisha’s hand and threw a look at Sarah. “I’m stealing our room. You good?”

Sarah grinned and shot her two thumbs up. “Have fun, you two!”

Allison and Hiro stumbled toward the elevators, oblivious to anyone else.

And Cornelius was left with a swaying Sarah who beamed up at him. “I guess you can stay in my room.” She was too out of it and he hoped she would fall asleep without propositioning him again. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to take her up on in, but not when she wasn’t aware of what she was doing. He refused to take advantage of her. He opened the door to the room and ushered her inside.

“Oh, look at that bed! It’s enormous.” Sarah dove into the fluffy bedding and rolled around. “Wait, you were going to share a bed with Jack?” She cocked her head like a confused puppy.

He laughed and shook his head. “I knew Jack was getting a suite for him and Bridge. I thought it would just be me.” One bed. Right. He scratched his neck. “I’ll sleep on the…couch.” He looked at the tiny sofa that would barely fit two adults sitting upright. It would do for one sleep. Maybe. He might need half a bottle of painkillers in the morning for his back, but he’d survive.

“That’s silly! Like we haven’t slept in the same bed before. Come on, it’ll be like old times.” She patted the space beside her.

“No, it won’t be like old times,” he mumbled.

Sarah ignored him and started wiggling out of the little red dress she wore and he flapped his hands at her. “No, no, no.” He dug through his duffle bag and threw one of his T-shirts at her. “Go into the bathroom and change into that.”

Her retreating footsteps and chuckles let him know she was at least following his request. Stripping, Cornelius switched into a pair of sweats and the other shirt he’d packed. Sarah emerged from the bathroom with his shirt hanging off one shoulder and the bottom edge flirting with her upper thighs. When she crawled onto the bed, the fabric gaped and gave him full view of her bare ass and the outlines of her breasts. Fuck, she wasn’t wearing panties. He was hard in seconds. “Dammit.” Averting his gaze, he willed his cock to calm down and shuffled to the opposite side of the bed. He climbed in and placed a pillow between himself and Sarah.

Ignoring it, she rolled onto her side and smooshed into the soft barrier, looking at him with big doe eyes. “Did you have fun tonight?”

He smiled. “I did. Hanging with the guys was fun.” The urge to reach out and stroke his hand over her hair was almost unbearable.

She stuck out her lower lip. “What about with the girls?”

“Them, too. You should get some sleep.” She needed to stop being so damn alluring. It wasn’t as if she was trying to seduce him. It came natural between the two of them.

Sarah shook her head. “Not tired. Tipsy, but not sleepy. Wanna watch a movie?” She flopped onto her back.

Maybe that would get her to stop looking at him and get him to stop feeling tempted to kiss her and explore the gorgeous body underneath a very thin layer of fabric.

He flipped on the TV and she snuggled into the pillows and fluffy duvet. She stuck her nose into her chest and yanked up the collar of the shirt. “This smells just like you.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “Like home.”

Her words gutted him. What was he supposed to say to that admission? That she’d been his home, too? His safe place? Why had she burned it all to the ground? Instead, he held his tongue and clicked through the options, landing on a rom-com.

Twenty minutes later he peeked over and found Sarah smiling with slow, lazy blinks at the movie. His tense muscles relaxed a little. She’d fall asleep soon. Ten minutes later, she grabbed the pillow between them and rolled over, then scooted back until she curved into him.

Huffing out a breath, he turned off the television and closed his eyes in an attempt to overlook that the ex-love of his life was sleeping right next to him.