Lakeshore Love: The McAdams Sisters (By The Lake Book 3) Read online

  “But you can’t do it over.”

  “You’re right, I can’t.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. That was that. It was exactly what she wanted to hear, that he wouldn’t leave her again. It didn’t make her feel better. Why not? It saddened her that the peace she’d thought she would find with those words were missing. What more did she want?

  “I can’t do this right now.” Because she didn’t know what she wanted.

  He nodded. “I can wait.” He held the patience that was typical of her.

  “I don’t even know if I want to do this now.” Liar! Yes you do!

  Jake looked so sad. “That’s your decision Syd. I support whatever you decide. If you want to be friends, I will always be your friend.”

  Ugh! Why was he being so nice? “Good night Jake.”

  “Good night Syd.”

  Sydney closed her cabin door and leaned against it.

  What was wrong with her?

  Chapter Twelve

  THE NEXT MORNING after a restless sleep Sydney cringed at the sunlight. Self control had never been hard for Sydney. She knew right from wrong, she knew when to speak and when not to.

  During the night, envisioning a shirtless Jake sleeping just above her on one of the sunbeds, self-control seemed new to her. She’d had to dig into every deep part of her brain to keep herself from not to crawling out of her bed, climbing up the stairs and curling up beside him and asking him to promise to never leave her again.

  Is that what you need? A promise from him? She had no idea, but after sleeping alone, craving Jake she wished she knew exactly what her mind needed so she could stop engaging in her self-control.

  Holding her pick-me-up tea, she scanned the harbor. Beautiful. Sydney and Haylee were lucky to have the opportunity to vacation to such gorgeous spots via boat while Joan covered all the expenses for them, including their shopping. Sydney had long ago stopped trying to pay Joan for the outings and meals she bought for them. Joan never accepted reimbursed money.

  Where was everyone?

  Sydney heard Haylee laugh and found her on land playing horseshoes with Jake...shirtless Jake. Really? Was it that hot out already that he’d had to rip his shirt off? Thinking of ripped, it was amazing the body he’d acquired with his morning visits to the gym. That was his venting post. Jake wasn’t a man who gave any consideration to how he looked, much less what other people thought of him, and the gym was no exception...no matter his teasing about glorious mountains as he called them...he went to pound out any frustration he was feeling.

  Sydney straightened the grin that had crept across her face at the memory. Glorious mountains. The memory of the breathtaking comments he’d made about her body sent a wave of burning desire which jolted her awake more efficiently than the tea she was holding.

  Joan came up behind her. “It's nice for Haylee to have someone her own age to play with,” she said comically, passing by and settling on a lounger.

  Sydney chuckled watching him run around acting like an adolescent cheering and flaunting his scores at Haylee.

  Sydney settled beside Joan. “What are the plans for today?”

  Joan flipped through a magazine and shrugged. “I don’t know, your daughter has it all figured out. We are running late however, since you decided to sleep in.” Sleep in? What time was it? “Jake had to practically drag her off this boat so she didn’t wake you up.”

  A chuckle passed her lips before she sipped her tea.

  “Does Jake’s presence have anything to do with you?” Joan asked. “Haylee mentioned you’ve been acting weird around each other lately and after yesterday morning and then the two of you snuck off last night...”

  Sydney wasn’t sure how to answer Joan. If she told her the truth and then it didn’t work out between them she would be stuck in the middle.

  “Mom!” Haylee yelled, boarding the boat and giving Sydney the break she needed to avoid Joan’s question. She needed to figure out what was going on between her and Jake before she could talk about it with anyone else. “What are you doing still not ready?”

  Waking up. Sydney cradled her tea and sent her daughter a leave me alone look. She’d just crawled out of bed and she needed a moment.

  Jake was right behind her, shirt in hand and his tanned torso flexing another good morning to her.

  Go away. As if I didn’t see enough of that wonderful body all night wanting to reach out and touch and now first thing in the morning was the real thing. Ugh!

  “Morning,” he said.

  Last night’s conversation seemed so far away with the fresh morning and her groggy mind.

  “Morning. This is a first, you up before me.” There were days she’d arrived at the bar in the afternoon and he was still in his loft sleeping.

  He hiked his finger at Haylee. “She’s not a quiet morning person.”

  Haylee shook her head. “Suck it up,” she said to Jake. She looked at Sydney. “And you, get up and go get ready.” Haylee started listing their day and times.

  Sydney stood up. “I’m going.” It was way too early to cram an entire day into one minute without fully waking up, besides...Jake was distracting her.

  Below deck in the kitchen, Sydney gulped the rest of her tea before jumping in the shower for a long warm, pelting, body relaxing private time to herself.

  She wrapped the towel around her wet body, tucked the top to secure it, and then grabbed her makeup bag off the counter. Pulling it open she saw Haylee had been rummaging inside and her facial sunscreen was missing. She wasn’t spending the day outside in the sun without protecting her face. Racoon eyes were not a good look and the body lotion was too oily for her face.

  Groaning, she quickly slipped into Haylee’s cabin looking for the sunscreen. The cabin looked like a tornado had gone through. Her suitcases of clothes now spread across the bed, her make-up across the trays on the counter, and...Sydney caught sight of one of her dresses. Then another one and another. Was she going to have any clothes left in her cabin?

  Forgetting about the sunscreen, she grabbed the loose, above the knee rosette print dress letting her towel slip away. Before she slipped into it, she noticed the belt missing. Her eyes roamed the disaster of a room. Haylee!

  Sydney tucked the dress under her arm and started looking for the belt with no luck.

  The bathroom?

  The sunscreen was likely in the bathroom. This bathroom was smaller than her own and she and Haylee hardly fit in together with a wood shutter closed around the bathing area. She wasn’t complaining about the size and found it incredible they each had their own private baths no matter the size.

  Her sunscreen was below the mirror. She took the three steps and reached for the small bottle when she heard the shutter sliding open behind her.

  Her daughter was showering after the rush she gave her? Was she kidding?

  Sydney opened her mouth to make Haylee aware of her presence as she turned and slapped straight into Jake’s drenched water soaked and naked body.

  Come on! It was like last night’s dream come true.

  She stilled, her eyes staring at the dripping tanned chest that had played wake-up in her dreams all night and now only inches away from her face.

  She gulped.

  The sudden urge to close in the distance and kiss...lick...away the water made her suck her bottom lip in and clamp down. Sydney never had thoughts like these and it was only Jake that brought them out in her.

  Jake stilled and she was afraid to look up. She wasn’t feeling embarrassed pressed against him, both of them naked...okay maybe a little bit...but it was the feelings their connection was pulsing through her body that she feared would be written across her face after she told him she wasn’t ready. Ready to talk and ready to touch seemed like two entirely different things that second.

  “What are you doing in here?” she snapped instead and could have sworn he chuckled at her flustered self.

  “Having a shower.” That was obvious, but why was
he in Haylee’s cabin? That was obvious too...he certainly wasn’t going to shower in Joan’s cabin. “Did you come looking for me?”

  Her eyes fell closed. She couldn’t tell if he was serious or joking. She couldn’t tell if the answer, yes that flashed in her head should be taken serious or not.

  “I needed sunscreen,” she pushed out.

  “You search for sunscreen naked? In your daughter’s cabin?” Humor now threaded his words.

  This was not funny. Nothing about his growing manhood against her body was funny. Did he not even notice? Of course he noticed...did he not care?

  Back up. Walk out the door and put your dress on.

  Her feet stayed suctioned to the floor.

  “Did you find it?” he asked.

  “Find what?”

  “The sunscreen.”

  Sydney opened her eyes and braved a glance at him. Big mistake. His appetite for her met her straight on.

  He pushed her damp hair away from her face and she couldn’t wait to feel where is hand would land afterwards. “My body could use a rub down,” he said

  “Jake?” At the sound of Haylee’s voice coming into the cabin and knowing the bathroom door behind them was wide open, Sydney shoved Jake back into the shower and pulled the shutter around them. The shower was smaller and there was no getting away from him now, but with her hands against his chest at least they were separated...a bit.

  “Yeah?” Jake called.

  Sydney felt the wet warmth of the arm he kept wrapped around her from the tumble backwards into the shower. She felt his lower body pressed against her and she almost forgot why they were in there.

  “Have you seen my mom?” From the distant call Sydney was sure she was on the other side of the bedroom door, but she couldn’t be positive so they didn’t move.

  Jake grinned down at her.

  Sydney shook her head wildly.

  “Uh, nope.”

  Sydney sighed in relief and caught Jake’s eyes move to her chest with an approving gaze.

  “Oh,” Haylee said.

  Sydney slapped his chest and glared at him. His blue eyes didn’t hide the humor.

  “Grandma and I went to go check out breakfast at the yacht club but when neither of you texted me back so I thought I better come tell you.”

  Thank God! That gave her an alibi to have already gotten off the boat.

  “Your mom is probably already headed there.”

  “Alright. If not and you see her will you tell her?”

  “Sure thing kid.”

  “Thanks.”

  The door didn’t shut and that meant Haylee had stayed on the other side of the bedroom. Good because Sydney’s towel was bunched up on the floor at the door.

  How had they gotten into this predicament?

  How were they going to get out of it? Sydney wasn’t even sure she wanted to get out of it.

  “I think the coast is clear,” Jake said.

  Sydney was standing in his path and until she moved, he was stuck, against the wall, naked.

  “Sydney?”

  Her eyes found his again. “Yes?”

  His deep breath pushed their chests together. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He released the air and it danced across her face. “Are you going to walk away or do you want me to kiss you?”

  I want you to kiss me. Kiss me now. Kiss me hard.

  “Walk away Syd.”

  Why was he telling her to walk away after offering her a kiss? “What?”

  He let go of her and pushed open the shutter. “We’re not here yet. If we do this now it will only add one more thing that we have to figure out later.”

  Huh?

  Jake lifted her, turned and wiggled his way out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist. He held one out to her.

  She took it angrily and wrapped it around her body holding the corner, knowing her shaking fingers wouldn’t be able to secure it in place. “Is that your solution to everything? Walking away?” She couldn’t believe the words came out of her mouth when she knew he was doing the right thing. The right thing hurt. It felt like he was rejecting her, no matter what he was saying. He was good at walking away, she had a point!

  “Damn it Syd, I’m trying not to make this any more of a mess.”

  “Why?” she snapped. “Is messy too hard for you to deal with? Don’t want to talk about it?” Why was she fighting with him? “Oh forbid Jake Stow actually had to have to share a part of his life!” She threw her hands in the air dramatically.

  His tone didn’t raise in anger like her own which made her even angrier. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “How is this going to hurt me?” She was yelling at him now.

  “You’re angry at me. Engaging in this isn’t going to fix the problems we already have. You’re all over the place, you want to talk, you don’t want to talk...”

  “Oh I’m all over? I wanted to talk Jake and you made it clear it was none of my damn business.”

  “I didn’t mean it.”

  “When do you talk and not mean it? You watch and calculate every word that comes out of your mouth, that’s why nobody can get close to you. You keep everyone at a short distance with warning stares and a clamped jaw.”

  He clamped his jaw. “It’s a subject I don’t like Sydney, but I’m offering to tell you anything you want to hear about it, but having sex before we’ve talked will end with you getting angrier with me or yourself...”

  “Don’t tell me how I feel!”

  His patience was thinning. “Would you rather I kiss you, make love to you and afterwards when you’re thinking straight, let you regret it?”

  “Yes, Jake! It’s my decision!”

  ***

  JAKE KNEW HE shouldn’t. Every single sensible part of his brain told him to walk out of the bathroom and let her settle down because she would regret it.

  He didn’t listen.

  Letting all the restraint he’d been holding go he crossed the room and lifted her off her feet and against the back of the shower kissing her saucy lips. She’d never spoken to him so forcefully angry and damn it if her arguing to have sex didn’t turn him on more.

  Whether she’d been expecting or ready for him to claim her, she was quick to respond. Her hands gripped the sides of his face pulling his mouth deeper into hers. Her legs had worked their way around him and he felt her towel slip to her waist and she arched her chest against him. She wanted this.

  He ploughed into her mouth and she matched his forcefulness, sucking, biting and moaning. In all the love making scenarios that had played out in his head, never had he taken Sydney for an angry lover.

  His hands found her breasts and she arched back at the touch opening her throat for his mouth. He lifted her higher and his mouth found the mounds taking each one in. She moaned in delight her nails digging into his back. He wanted her. He needed her.

  Lifting her away from the wall he carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed landing on top of her and finding her mouth again.

  They could sort things out later. He’d given his word he would talk to her and whatever she needed he would give her. This would not ruin anything between them. It might even push her to talk to him sooner.

  He reached his hand down and found the wetness between her legs. She was ready for him. She wanted him.

  “Jake?” she breathed against his lips. He licked her word away and dipped in to search for her tongue while his hand played below, teasing her.

  “Jake?” Her hand pushed his away and he stopped. He lifted his head and looked at her. Just as he’d suspected would happen, regret consumed her face.

  He dropped his head against her rising and falling chest. Why hadn’t he walked away?

  Without a word, he didn’t really think talking right now would be a good idea, he stood and walked away.

  Chapter Thirteen

  SYDNEY HAD NEVER dressed so quickly in her life. Carrying her s
andals she high tailed it away from the boat before Jake and didn’t slow until the clubhouse came into view.

  What had she been thinking?

  She dropped her sandals on the ground and slipped into them.

  Was Jake going to come for breakfast? Her eyes darted the path behind her but no sign of him.

  He would be furious. She wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t talk to her again for the whole trip. She’d dangled herself in front of him then when she landed on Haylee’s pile of clothes there was no way she could go through with it. Not when Haylee could be affected by their sloppiness. Not when she really didn’t know what was going on between them, just like he told her before she got all wired.

  She’d messed up now. Great, just great.

  Lacking an appetite, but not wanting to explain why to Haylee and Joan when she found them, she went through the buffet then scanned the tables. They weren’t in sight. Where were they? Had she taken that long on the boat that they’d already eaten and left?

  Sydney sat alone and tried to eat, but her knotted stomach couldn’t handle it so she quickly disposed of what was left on her plate...everything.

  On the way back to the boat she saw Joan and Haylee sitting by the fire pit in the distance. No Jake.

  Sydney didn’t know how she felt about that as she walked toward them, noting they had their purses, so they were waiting to get the day started. Did she want to see Jake? Or was it better if she didn’t?

  “I don’t regret it.” Sydney jumped away from Jake at the sound of his voice and covered her chest with her hand. Why was he sneaking up on her? Where had he come from?

  She glared at him. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

  “I didn’t really sneak. You were just lost in your own world.” Lost in our world.

  Sydney bit her lower lip. “Why is this so hard for us? I mean usually people meet, date, get to know each other and are looking for the same things to move forward. What are we doing?”

  Jake didn’t appear angry like she had thought he would be after her all over the place mind. “We’ve already known each other for years, better than most married couples. We’ve had breakfast, lunch and dinner together probably as many times as married couples. We know each other pretty good...except that time in my life I am waiting to talk to you about...so I guess we’re already like an old married couple we’ve just been missing out on the intimate part...” He grinned. “...so it’s making us a little randy.”