Someone Like You by Vanessa Devereaux Read Free Book Online Page B

want
to come in for coffee?” asked Gen.
    “No, I should
be getting home, but I’ll give you a call.”
    “I’d like
that. And I know you said no kissing, so I hope you don’t mind me planting one
on your cheek as a thank you for tonight.”
    She leaned
across the seat as her lips made contact with his right cheek. He smiled as she
got out of the car. He waved to her and waited until she was safely inside
before driving away.
    He touched
the spot where she’d kissed him. He’d been so tempted to end their evening by
kissing her, not on the cheek, but the lips. Guess he’d have to be more guarded
around her because he sensed she was the kind of woman who could quickly steal
his heart.

Chapter Seven
     
    Gen woke up
the next morning with mixed emotions. Being with Jake, him riding along to help
her find Nicky, had actually spoiled her. All night
she’d fantasized about what it would be like to have a man in their lives after
all these years by themselves. Someone to share the burden of
keeping Nicky in line. Someone to wake up next to
every morning. And yes, someone to have sex with
whenever you wanted it. A man to cuddle you when the
world got too much for you to handle.
    She turned
onto her side, a tear sliding down her cheek. They’d only had sex once, spent a
total of four hours together, but she already knew she’d have a tough time
keeping their relationship to only friends who have sex. What’s wrong with us women? Why are we made this way? If I come back on
this earth again, it’s going to be as a man. Their lives are so less
complicated than ours.
    Still she’d
have to settle for whatever he offered. If it meant them just hooking up for
sex now and then, that’s what it would have to be, better that than nothing.
    Gen ran her
hand over the quilt, remembering the night before and her and Jake lying on it
mutually enjoying one another’s bodies. She wished he was here right now
because she was tense.
    She suddenly
had a terrible thought. He’d said he’d call her, but would he? Wasn’t that what
every guy said? The polite way to brush you off? He
probably thought that she and Nicky were baggage he just didn’t need in his
life. After losing his wife, dealing with her cancer, more trouble was probably
the last thing the poor man wanted.
    Gen flipped
over onto her back and squeezed her eyes shut.
    She’d never
hear from him or see him again.
     
    ****
    For the first
time since he’d been back in
Idaho
Falls
, Jake went jogging. He’d been too depressed to
think about getting back to his usual routine, but today, despite the rain,
he’d gotten up early, put on is running shoes, shorts, and t-shirt, and headed
out of the door with a sliver of optimism about what lay ahead for him.
    He waved to
another jogger on the opposite side of the road. At least he wasn’t the only crazy
person out on the slick streets today. He took a deep breath, picking up the
pace of his run as the wind and rain whipped over his face and ears.
    Jake had
slept all through the night without waking up. He hadn’t done that since Katie
had first been diagnosed. He usually found himself awake in the early hours of
the morning, thinking about the life that was ahead of him. A
future without his wife and filled with despair.
    The sex last
night must have been just want he needed to totally unwind. There was an added
plus to it besides the pleasure factor.
    Jake stopped
at the newspaper machine outside the pancake restaurant and got himself one to
read later when he got home. He glanced at the back of it and saw there was a
baseball game today. He hadn’t been to one of those since the year before Katie
got sick. He loved going to them. Should he? And would it be wrong of him to
invite Gen and Nicky to tag along with him? Okay, she’d grounded the boy but
maybe it’s just want all three of them needed.
    He looked at
his watch. He’d have time to get home, call Gen, shower, and then get ready for
the game.
     
    ****
     
    Gen