Page 47 of Friends with Benefits

We both understand the secret isn’t out of the bag yet. Only Brooks and I know that Drew is going to propose this week. Well, us and now Jess. Come on, it’s not like I can hide anything from her; she can read me like a basic traffic sign: quickly and easily.

I scoop her up, her legs wrapping around my waist and locking across my naked behind. ‘Yeah, I guess I did.’

She pecks my cheek before I lower her to the ground and hand her a plate of bacon to carry outside. She slaps my bare ass cheek as she makes her way to the table.

I stack the pancakes I’ve made onto a large plate, then set the two pancakes I have made for Jess on her own plate and carry them outside.

‘Dig in, guys.’

I place Jess’s plate down in front of her, making sure the smile of the blueberry face I have cooked into her pancake is the right way up. Her smile disappears as she stares at it and I panic. Shit, I called this wrong. Very, very wrong.

I see her jaw tighten and her cheeks dip in as she bites down on the inside of her lip the way she does when she’s trying not to cry. Shit and bigger shit. I take the empty seat beside her and tuck her wet hair behind her ear.

‘I’m sorry. I’ll change them. I didn’t mean to upset you.’

She turns to me, her eyes full of unshed tears. ‘I don’t even remember telling you about this. How would you remember such a small detail as how my dad used to make my pancakes?’

‘There’s a very big part of me that’s designated solely for Jess, babe.’

She looks at the pancakes again and lets out a big exhale. ‘You’re incredible, Jake Harrington.’

I press my lips to her temple. ‘Eat up. They’ll go cold.’

She gives me a gentle smile that doesn’t fully dry her eyes. ‘Okay, for being amazing, you can put some clothes on, bet or no bet.’

I twist on my chair and pour myself a coffee, finding Marty’s eyes watching Jess too closely through his light glass shades.

‘Nah, I think Marty kind of likes it,’ I say, blowing him a kiss across the table. If he thinks I’m over the way he keeps trying to get close to her, he’s got another thing coming.

‘He might, but my soft furnishings don’t,’ Becky says, shaking her head around a mouthful of pancake. Ah, already bickering with my sister-to-be… We’re a real family.

‘Don’t worry about it, Becky; I was checked a few weeks back. I’m clean.’

‘Oh my gosh! Enough.’ She balls the linen napkin from her lap and throws it across the table at me.

‘Putting Jake’s nakedness aside,’ Sarah says, leaning forward on her elbows and taking her coffee cup in two hands, a sign her one pancake was enough for her. ‘Since the boy-men are going on a fishing trip today, I took the liberty of arranging a little surprise for us ladies. I have booked us a luxurious pamper day. And the best part is, we don’t even have to leave the sofa.’

‘Oh, I love a pamper day,’ Izzy says. ‘It’s been an age. My feet are ruined from dance shoes and the skin on the tips of my fingers is like granite from playing the guitar.’

Sarah purses her lips. ‘Honey, that’s disgusting. We’ll get that fixed. We have three masseurs coming to the house. They’ll do manis, pedis, whatever you like. Aaaaand… I’ve got bubbles!’ She sings the last words as all the females around the table start up an excited conversation.

* * *

Jess was quiet through breakfast. Not obviously to other people. She smiled and joined in conversation. But I know her better than that and I’m wondering if I pushed her too far with the reminder of her childhood. That wasn’t my intention. I wasn’t thinking beyond doing something nice for her.

Since we’re going to be apart for the day, I want to make sure she’s okay before we leave the girls and head out on the water.

I tap on the bathroom door and poke my head inside. I risk a glance at her in the shower, watching water run down the arch of her back as she rinses shampoo from her hair. It’s a test. I don’t know whether I believe in God but I raise my eyes to the ceiling and ask him what the hell game he is trying to play with my self-restraint.

‘Jess, I’m going to help pack up the truck. Come and find me when you’re ready, yeah?’

‘Yes. Okay. I’ll be down in a few.’

As I pass Sarah’s bedroom – the one she is being forced to share with Marty for the week, God help her – I see her fluffing the pillows on the bed, then folding the sheets from the sofa in the room. Huh, Marty took the sofa? That’s surprisingly decent of him. I’d have thought any chance to get his arms around Sarah and he’d jump. Maybe he’s not such a tool after all. I quickly change my mind. Nah, of course he is. More likely he’s just conscious Sarah is Drew’s legal secretary at the firm.

‘Sarah, can I come in?’

‘Course. What’s up?’

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