Suite Dreams Read online

  “But don’t you want him forever?”

  “Yes, absolutely. But if it doesn’t happen, I won’t have regrets. Can you say the same if Jude leaves and you never took a chance?”

  I liked Jude a lot and that was scary. But she had a point.

  “You came to the party with a hot Aussie. Why are you in here helping me put cheese on crackers?”

  She’d handed Jude a beer when we walked in, and he’d taken it into the den to mingle with people and stand in front of the fireplace. I was only going to help Mel prepare some snacks before joining him.

  “Because you apparently lack creativity when it comes to food and you aren’t preparing anything more appetizing.”

  She shoved me on my shoulder. “Get out of here.”

  Jude was leaning against a wall, looking casual and sexy, watching a couple of guys bowling with their Wii. It was a small party, maybe a dozen people. Some people from work, some from the band. Others friends of Mel’s I’d never met. Everyone was talking and laughing, cheering on the players, taking sides, then switching sides based on who was winning.

  “Do you have one of those?” I asked, pointing to the Wii.

  Jude handed me his beer. I took a sip, handed it back.

  “Yeah,” he said. “I already lost one tennis match to Boomer. I may be Wii’d out.” He furrowed his brow. “So why did we have to wear bathing suits under our clothes?”

  Mel had called and told me that they had something special planned. I knew what it was, but I wanted it to be a surprise for Jude.

  “Guess we’ll find out.”

  “Aren’t you Miss Mysterious?”

  Not usually, but tonight I was feeling good.

  “Can’t believe I didn’t ask earlier. How was class?” Jude asked.

  “It was fine. Nothing too exciting. I really should be studying.”

  He handed the beer back to me. “Don’t think about it. Just relax.”

  Nodding, I took a couple more sips, finishing off the beer.

  “Come on. I want to build a snowman,” Jude said, taking my hand and leading me through the living room and into the kitchen. I threw the empty bottle into the trash can.

  “I’ve heard that before. I think you want to build a snow woman.”

  “And this one won’t be in a public park. We could have some fun with her.”

  He grabbed a bottle out of an ice chest, popped the top, and handed it to me. Then he reached in and got one for himself. He wrapped his hand around mine again and led me through the door leading outside. The porch light was on, illuminating the backyard, giving it a very Thomas Kinkade feel.

  “Oh, look,” Jude said, “a swing on the porch. Let’s sit for a sec.”

  “Thought you wanted to build a snowman.”

  “Did I?”

  “How many beers have you had?”

  “Not many.”

  “That’s not a number,” I teased.

  He dragged me over to the bench swing, sat, and pulled me down beside him. He lifted his arms to yawn, lowered one to the back of the swing, knocking the side of my head in the process.

  “Smooth move, Aussie,” I teased.

  “God, I’m sorry.” He tucked strands of my hair behind my ear. “You all right?”

  “I’m fine. You didn’t hit me that hard.”

  He moved in closer, pressed his head to mine. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

  I’d suspected that. He was referring to my earlier conversation with Rick. I’d been putting off talking about it with Jude. I didn’t know why. I’d told Mel, but it just seemed more was at stake with Jude, that it might change things between us.

  I sighed, deciding to just get this over with, like pulling a bandage off a scab.

  “We broke up a couple of weeks ago. The reason was…how do I put this? Lack of enthusiasm? It was like we were just going through the motions. Today was just…I don’t know. A final confirmation that it’s over between us.”

  “Is it not what you wanted?”

  I thought about that for a minute. “Actually, it was.”

  A heavy silence settled between us. He shifted his gaze away from me and drank his beer. I took another sip from mine and set it aside.

  “With the girl you broke up with,” I finally said, “how did you know when it was over?”

  He shook his head, still staring ahead. “I don’t know. There were no scenes, no real breakup. We just looked at each other one day and said cheerio.”

  “Have you ever been in love?”

  “I think so.”

  “Was it scary?”

  “Not really, no. It was rather nice actually.”

  “But it wasn’t the girl you broke up with?”

  “No.”

  “Did you date her?”

  “Not really. It was sort of a strange thing, a little complicated. I’m not sure she ever realized it, what I was feeling.” He glanced back at me. “This thing with Rick, coming to a definite end. Shouldn’t you be crying or something?”

  “You’d think, but it seems that I have no tears to shed.”

  “How can I comfort you if you’re not crying?”

  “Did you want to comfort me?”

  “Yeah. I really do.” He set his beer aside and shifted slightly so he was at an angle that gave him a clearer view of me—and gave me one of him. He skimmed his fingers gently along my cheek. I was surprised they were so warm. “I want to kiss you, Lys. I’ve wanted to from the first moment I met you.”

  “What? When I pepper sprayed you?”

  “All right. Maybe not from the first moment, but pretty soon afterward. Are you all right with that? Or do you need more time?”

  I nodded. Shook my head. Answering first one question and then the other. Finally I decided I wasn’t being clear. “I don’t need more time.”

  “I want you to know it’s not a pity kiss,” he said very seriously.

  “Okay.” I hadn’t thought it would be, but maybe after he left I’d wonder. My chest and heart tightened with that thought. I didn’t want to think about him leaving, was wishing he wouldn’t. He was only here for the winter break. Then he’d be gone and I’d never see him again.

  He leaned in and kissed me. His mouth was warmer than his fingers, gentle. It was better than any kiss Rick had ever given me. I so didn’t want to think about Rick. Not tonight. Not now. Maybe never again.

  And then all I was thinking about was Jude. I felt his hand at my hip, then his arm came around me and he pulled me onto his lap without ever breaking away from the kiss.

  Smooth move, Aussie, I thought.

  I wound my arms around his neck, my fingers toying with the autumn-colored strands of his hair.

  His kiss was tender and sweet. Everything that I needed at that precise moment. It seemed like he always knew exactly what I needed when I needed it.

  “We’ve decided to initiate you into the polar bear club.”

  Boomer, Mel, and a couple of the party animals had come out onto the back porch and rudely interrupted what was turning into an incredible kissing session. Mel gave me an apologetic look. The others were smiling gleefully.

  Horror swept over Jude’s face as he connected the dots. “Polar bear club? Isn’t that where you jump into a freezing lake? No offense, mate, but you’re mental if you think I’m going to do that.”

  “Don’t be a wuss,” I said.

  Jude snapped his head around to stare at me. “You’ve done it?”

  Truthfully, I’d have preferred to shoo everyone back inside and pick up where Jude and I had left off, but I knew these guys wouldn’t go away until Jude had been dunked.

  “Absolutely. I did it the night before I went home for Thanksgiving.”

  “But you grew up here. You’re conditioned to the climate. You don’t feel cold the way normal people do.”

  “Dude,” Boomer said in a very disappointed tone. “You can’t come to the cold climes and not join our polar bear club. You just can’t, dude.”