“Like what?”

Ryn smirked. “I don’t know. Do you have any suggestions?”

He raised a single brow. “Maybe a candle?”

Gathering their plates, she took them to the sink. “I’m not going to just buy a candle at a Lascivo party.”

Jackson carried the rest of the dishes over to her. The fact that she gave careful consideration to purchasing sex toys confirmed he’d been off his game earlier.

A do-over. That’s what he needed to prove that nothing Lascivo sold would compare to him.

“Tell me what you think you want and I’ll prove you don’t need it.”

She closed the dishwasher and leaned against the counter with her arms crossed over her chest. “And how exactly are you going to prove it?”

Holding up both hands, he spread his fingers wide. “Sharp teeth, one tongue, two lips, ten fingers, and a very large cock. Take your pick.”

A blush crawled up her neck, slack jaw, lips parted.

Jackson smirked. Yeah … he still had it.

Chapter Seventeen

Day

Samovar defined tea at its best. Jessica loved stealing the occasional evening with her dad working in his garage, but she also cherished Saturday morning tea with her mom.

“How’s my girl?”

A smile overtook her face as she poured her favorite Golden Phoenix Oolong tea. “In love, Mom. But you already know that.”

Sunny winked. “Yes. I do. Have you been making any other progress?”

The other progress always referred to her past.

“I think so. He still devotes several hours three times a week to listening to me. Sometimes it’s just going over what we’ve already talked about and other times he asks me the harder questions.”

“Like what?” Sunny bit into her scone.

“Like things that involve G.A.I.L.”

“If you two get married—”

“I know.” Blowing on her tea, she took a cautious sip. “And we will someday because he is … everything. With each passing day he becomes my new past, and I feel like eventually he’ll be the only past I need. It’s ridiculous, I’m sure, but I wonder if our life together can erase those memories. You know what I mean?”

“I think so. I hope so because I love who you’ve become with Luke. Each week, more and more, the woman before me resembles the girl I used to know: that innocent smile, the renewed sparkle in your eyes—amber like the desert sun.”

“It’s my boys. It’s all my boys.”

Sunny grinned. “How does Luke feel about being referred to in the same company as the dog?”

“The dog? You know Jones is our baby. In fact, my boys are meeting me here in a little while for a jog.”

“Jude said you wouldn’t take him to obedience school.”

“I see Luke’s been running his mouth.” Jessica rolled her eyes. “I did take him. He just didn’t fit in.”

“I heard it’s because you gave him a treat even when he didn’t do what he was supposed to be doing.”

“Mom, the other dogs were being rewarded and he saw it. I didn’t want him to feel like he was being punished.”

“Well, if he wasn’t following directions like the other dogs then maybe he really didn’t deserve a treat. If you don’t make him work for the reward, then the reward system won’t work.”

“Now you sound like the instructor. It doesn’t matter. We didn’t return after the first day because all the other dogs were giving Jones a complex.”

Sunny held her tea cup, letting the steam rise near her face while she studied Jessica. “How’s the sleeping going?”

“You mean have I put him in the hospital?” It felt impossible to look her mom in the eye.

“I’ve never blamed you for what happened to me.”

“What happened? Are you serious? I happened to you, that’s what happened. Don’t make it sound like you fell down the stairs.”

“It was an accident.”

Pain gripped Jessica’s heart as her mom’s hand rested on hers.

“Luke’s fine. We’ve sort of figured it out.”

“I’m glad.”

She nodded.

“Your father will be flying out to D.C. for the week so I’m going to visit Cathy while he’s gone.”

“I can’t believe you’re still friends with her.”

“We’re still friends because she has been my friend since first grade. It’s not fair to judge her.”

Jessica guffawed. “She cheated on Daniel with. His. Brother.”

Sunny stared at her tea. “Yes, but it’s not that black and white. You don’t know all the details.”

“You’re right. It probably isn’t, but I don’t want to know the details. Cheating is cheating, period.”

“Love is reckless because true emotions are immune to logic. The most beautiful love stories are often the most tragic.”

“God, I hope not. I want my love story with Luke to be beautiful, but not tragic.”

Sunny’s lips pressed into a smile that failed to disguise her concern.

“What is it?” Jessica asked.

Her mom shook her head. “Nothing, dear.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.” She looked out the window. “There they are.”

Jessica waved at Luke then stood. “Safe travels. Call me when you get to Cathy’s.” She bent down and kissed her mom on the cheek.

“I will. Love you, Jess … and hey…” she grabbed her hand “…I hope you know, I guess I hope you’ve always known. What happened after you came home from the hospital … I forgave you the moment it happened. I’ve always forgiven you. Okay?”

Tears stung her eyes as she looked to the ceiling, blinking them away. “Thank you. I love you too.”

*

“Hey, boys!” Jessica beamed as she began to squat down.

“If you kiss the mutt first, you can forget about kissing me.”

Wetting her lips, she stood back up and wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck, holding on tight as he lifted her up. Luke kissed her whenever, however, and wherever he wanted—except his office. They’d had more than one argument about that.

“How’s our girl?” He nipped at her neck before sliding her back down his body.

“I’m good. You could say I threw another shovel of dirt onto my past.”

They held hands and walked toward Yerba Buena Gardens. “How so?”

“My mom forgave me for the attack that put her in the hospital.”

Luke squeezed her hand. “She hadn’t before now?”

“She did right after it happened and many times since.”

“Today you forgave yourself.” His words stopped her. Jones tugged at the leash while Luke bent down, level with her face.

“How did you know?” she whispered.

Cupping the back of her head, he pressed his lips to her ear. “I have a degree in psychiatry.”

“That makes sense.” She smirked.

“Luke? Is that you?”

He turned toward the woman’s voice as Jessica stepped to the side to see past him.

“Jones!” Jessica chased her disobedient dog after Luke dropped his leash. He just … let go of it. “Dammit, Jones, come back.” Thankfully, another dog captured his attention allowing her to grab the leash. After giving the other dog’s owner an apologetic smile, she tugged Jones toward Luke and the tall blonde in a black, short-skirt business suit, with a good mile of legs and stupidly high heels, who happened to be embracing him.

“Excuse me, sir, I think you lost your dog.” Jessica grinned with bared teeth as the blonde pulled away and adjusted her messy bun of hair while giving Jessica a coy smile.

Luke grimaced, taking the leash in one hand and Jessica’s hand in his other. “My apologies. Jessica this is Dr. Eva Lorenzo. Eva this is my girlfriend, Jessica Day.”

His girlfriend. With a quick look up at him and the hint of a smile, she forgave him for the dog-chasing incident.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Eva extended her hand and Jessica released Luke’s to accept it.

“You too. Are you in town for the medical conference at the Moscone Center?”

“How did you know about that?” Luke asked.

“While I waited for my mom at Samovar, the waiter said they’d been pretty busy because of it.”