The Impact of You

Chapter 16

Avery

Jase’s mom is gorgeous. She’s got long dark hair, neatly secured at the nape of her neck, and wide honey-colored eyes with the same thick, dark eyelashes as Jase. Her eyes are weary though, and are currently sizing me up. I wonder what Jase has told her about me. Does she think we’re dating?

When we reach the porch, she pulls Jase into a hug, and I wait nervously beside them.

“Avery?” she asks, releasing him.

I nod once. Her smile is wide and welcoming, and I see that I have nothing to worry about. “Hi, Mrs. Owens.”

“Call me Cathy.” She pulls me in for a hug too, and I hear her tell Jase over my shoulder “She’s gorgeous, Jase.”

He chuckles. “Trust me, Mom, I’m all too aware.”

I stand there stunned, trying to pretend they’re not talking about me like I’m not here, trying to pretend that Jase thinking I’m gorgeous doesn’t turn my insides to mush. We enter the house and the inside is even more immaculate than the outside. A large marble floored foyer with a round table holding a giant vase of fragrant peonies greets us. Wow. A staircase winds off one side of the foyer, and the other opens to a spacious living room with the highest ceiling I’ve ever seen.

Jase gives me a tour of the large, opulent first floor with Cathy trailing behind us, asking us each occasional questions about school. She leaves us after that, saying dinner will be at five, excusing herself to the sunroom where she perches in a lounge chair with a romance novel.

Jase leads me upstairs to his bedroom. The carpeting is so soft and plush beneath my feet as I trail after him down the long hallway. Their house really is beautiful.

His bedroom appears unchanged from high school – the walls are adorned with posters of supermodels and pro athletes, and a shelving unit holds various trophies and medals. When I get closer, I see they’re for swimming and tennis. Interesting. I didn’t take him for much of an athlete, though his lean physique begs to differ.

He crosses the room and tosses our bags onto a dark mahogany sleigh bed that sits under the window. He doesn’t expect me to sleep in here, does he? Surely his mom wouldn’t be okay with that. Surely I wouldn’t be okay with that.

“Jase?” I question, watching him walk toward me.

“I like having you in my space.”

Uncertain of how to answer, I remain still and silent as he approaches. His hand cups my jaw, his thumb skittering back and forth against my skin. My eyes flick to his mouth, lingering on his lips, that I know from experience are incredibly soft and full. His mouth curves up a fraction and I know I’ve been caught. His thumb continues its gentle caress on my cheek and his eyes are bright with desire.

“You know this isn’t going to work. Should we just get it out of the way?” he asks finally.

“Get what out of the way?”

“Sex.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’ve got to feel this raw sexual energy radiating between us.”

scoff. “I most certainly do not.” Lie. My

throaty chuckle that lights up my nerve endings and makes my skin tingle. “Despite your tendency to lie through your teeth

“Delicious?”

“Outrageously so.”

delicious? Isn’t that a cereal

And stop changing the

subject are we on?” I ask, suddenly

to have. I’m going to open you up in more

myself in the ovaries for the idiotic way I’m behaving. But he possesses the distinct ability to turn me into a pile of hormones, and there’s no denying that fact.

the humor has disappeared from his face.

I need more

eyes dart from my mouth to my eyes. “We’ll discuss this later. I’ll show

to keep my clutch on his arm

in front of me. On the car ride over, Jase explained the reason he needed to check on her – saying that she lost it several months ago and was briefly hospitalized. I’m sure there’s more to the story, but not wanting to pry, I allowed him to share only what he was comfortable with me knowing. Lord knew there were plenty of secrets I kept to myself. The fact that

across the table, the simple touch meant to reassure. “I’m on a low dose anxiety pill, but I told you, honey, I really am doing much better. I’ve been exercising again, gardening a little too. Things are good right now.” She smiles at him, but Jase’s face remains serious, guarded,

while his mom heaps a scoop of mashed potatoes and a slice of meatloaf onto my plate. It’s nice to have a home cooked

of my son. I can’t believe you’re a junior in college already. Your dad and I are both proud,”

“Don’t, Mom.”

Jase. He felt bad about how

it. I’m sure Avery doesn’t want to hear all the family

“Jase,” Cathy pleads.

and give it a squeeze. “It’s fine.”

off him, and feeling inspired by how open they’ve been, I take a deep breath and launch into the story about starting my search for my birthmom. Cathy leans forward, silently encouraging me with the

I focus on my meal, attempting a bite of the meatloaf. It’s horribly dry and I force the bite down.

fork down and frowns. “Sorry, I didn’t make any sauce or gravy, you guys. Is it

it’s great,”

I’m lying but isn’t going to call me on it.

* * *

from hell,” Jase says, slipping into the hot tub next to me. It takes a full minute for his words to register. His chest and abs are sickening. His entire torso is sculpted

it’s fine,” I manage when I realize he’s still waiting for a

warm water and gives it a squeeze. Chill bumps rise over my skin, despite the heat vapors drifting

took forever to change,”

to say goodnight to my mom and wanted

to wait in a wonderfully relaxing hot tub while he took care of his mom, probably tucking her in and everything like a good son. A bad boy who loves his mom? Oh Lord, I’m done for. I shift on the bench seat, suddenly finding things a bit cramped with Jase’s large form stretched out next to me. There’s nowhere to look that isn’t his tan, smooth skin, nowhere to move

my wrist effectively stops my squirming. “Hey, Whistle.

the panicked look on my

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