"I suppose we could do that," she said, already tugging Jason towards the bumper cards. "If you insist that is."

  Jason looked back in time to catch Mitch leering at Haley's ass.

  * * *

  "That was so much fun," Haley said dreamily as she pulled her shoes off.

  "It was okay," Jason mumbled.

  For the past four hours Jason had been uncharacteristically quiet. He didn't seem to do much more than glare at Mitch. A few times there she thought he was going to kill the man. She wasn't sure what she missed or if she should even get involved.

  A few minutes later they were naked and crawling beneath Jason's sheets. That's when he really frightened her. He didn't initiate any kissing or touching. In fact he didn't even glance at her breasts and Jason always looked. Always. They were like magnets for his eyes.

  Now he was lying on his back with his arms behind his head. He made no moves to get closer to her or to pull her against him. He was truly starting to scare her now. She rolled over onto her stomach and watched him for a moment.

  "Are you okay?" she finally asked.

  He shrugged. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

  "You're quiet."

  "I just don't feel like talking."

  "Do you want me to go home?"

  He hesitated before answering, "No."

  "Then what do you want?"

  "Nothing. I just want to lay here."

  "So, you just want to lay there and nothing is wrong," she said, summing it up.

  "Yeah."

  She rolled her eyes. Seemed she didn't have much choice about getting involved now. It was either that or get up and leave because she wasn't about to stay here for another moment of this.

  Before he could stop her she was up and straddling his hips. She made another shocking discovery. Jason wasn't hard. Jason was always hard when they were in bed, the shower, or making out on the couch and all those times in between. She was pretty sure the man would never have to worry about needing Viagra.

  He made no attempts to push her off, but neither did he look at her.

  "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong," she said softly.

  "Nothing's wrong."

  "Don't make me use my fists of fury to get an answer out of you," she threatened.

  His lips twitched, but still he said nothing.

  "Okay, you just lay there and sulk then. I'm going home," she said, moving to climb off him.

  Jason's hands shot out, stopping her by gripping her hips.

  She raised an expectant brow.

  He sighed heavily. "You pissed me off."

  Well, that was totally unexpected....sort of.

  "Hey, I said I was sorry about hitting Mitch with that sword. How was I supposed to know the thing would leave a welt?" she said defensively.

  "That's not what I'm talking about. That didn't bother me."

  "Is it because I kicked your ass at skee ball?"

  "No! And that game is rigged anyway so it doesn't count."

  "Riigghhht," she said, drawing out the word. She thought over the rest of the night and couldn't figure out what she'd done. "Okay, you're gonna have to help me out here because I'm drawing a blank."

  "I'm pissed because all those men hit on you and not once did you tell any of them to fuck off because you had a boyfriend!" he yelled.

  Her face went expressionless. She blinked once and then again. Then she burst into uncontrollable laughter.

  ****

  "It's not funny," he snapped. That only seemed to make her laugh harder.

  All day at the carnival he'd been forced to watch men notice Haley. Every time she smiled or laughed they smiled as if they couldn't help themselves. Every time she jumped up and down excitedly their eyes zeroed in on her jiggling assets. He caught them checking her out and sending her appreciative looks. Mitch, the rat bastard as he was now known, completely ditched his date and focused entirely on Haley.

  It only got worse when they went to Joe's Tavern. The place was large, homey and clean and today Joe put out a huge buffet. So with an all you can eat barbeque and several flat screens and five pool tables the place had been filled to the rim with men.

  When Haley went up to get food they crowded her, offered to carry her plate, get her a drink, sit with her, scoop her food. When she played pool, and she really sucked at pool, but clearly loved it, they offered to "show" her how to play. Two guys had the balls to send drinks over to their table while she was with him. Several actually had the balls to come over and flirt with her in front of him!

  Mitch was no help. When he wasn't trying to pick up some bar tramp he was watching Haley and hitting on her like there was no tomorrow. The bastard didn't even try to hide his leers from Jason. What the hell kind of friendship was that?

  Okay, granted in the past, before Haley, he'd been a complete jerk. He openly checked out and hit on his buddies' girlfriends. If he was out and he liked what he saw he never let a boyfriend worry him. But that was no excuse for what Mitch was doing. This was Haley! His Haley!

  "Sweetie, I think you had too much sun today," Haley said once she calmed down.

  "You should have said something!"

  She rolled her eyes. "First off, I have absolutely no idea what the hell you are talking about. I don't think anyone was looking my way any differently or flirting. They were just really friendly."

  He snorted.

  "Secondly, even if they were, and they weren't, I don't know why you're complaining. I didn't exactly hear you tell every woman that was drooling over you today that you had a girlfriend."

  Another snort.

  "I don't give a damn about those women. I've got what I want," he said, gently massaging her hips.

  Haley leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to his lips before sitting back up. "Exactly. I didn't notice any other man but you," she said softly as she ran her hands over his chest and stomach.

  He rolled his eyes. "Of course you don't. I'm awesome."

  "I'm glad to see you're humble."

  "Hey, I could have said I was the epitome of manliness, but I didn't." He pursed his lips up thoughtfully. "Even though we both know that it's true."

  "We do?" She arched a brow.

  "Yes, I believe we both do."

  "Fine, whatever, as long as you stop paying attention to your hallucinations then I don't care."

  He watched her for a moment. The expression on her face was shy and sweet as she traced shapes on his stomach. She truly did not know how desirable she was. He would bet money that she didn't think men noticed her and she'd probably broken a hundred hearts unintentionally up to this point. She was just so damn sweet and innocent, well except for in bed of course. There she was eager, insatiable and thrilling. He never thought foreplay could be so pleasurable before. He had no doubt sex with her would be life altering.

  "You are so beautiful, Haley," he said softly. He'd said that to other women before, but he'd never meant it more. She was beautiful inside and out.

  Even in the dim light he could see her blush and shyly avert her eyes. "Thank you," she mumbled, sounding unsure.

  She truly didn't realize how beautiful she was. That made her even more beautiful to him. He skimmed his hands over her flat belly and up until he was palming her breasts. He brushed his thumbs over her nipples, loving the way she licked her lips and arched her back into his hold.

  Haley began squirming on him letting him know she could feel his body harden. He loved the way she looked, the way she reacted, he loved everything about her. She was the most precious thing in the world to him. So beautiful, so sweet, so giving and too damn good for him, but he was a selfish bastard and wouldn't let her go.

  Ever.

  He slowly massaged her breasts while playing with her nipples, just enjoying the way she licked her lips, moaned and whimpered. His erection was pressed firmly against her. Her bottom nestled it very nicely and he loved the way it caressed him as she squirmed on him. He could feel her getting wet against his stomach.

  "You want to try something different?" he asked in a husky voice.

  She licked her lips slowly, nodding as she looked down on him with an expression of pure trust. It humbled him.

  "Hold on," he said as he pulled her down to him, kissing her slowly as he rolled them over until he was on top of her. He deepened the kiss as he pulled her knees up and over his shoulders, angling her where he needed her, giving him better access to her hot wet core.

  "Jason....," she said nervously.

  "Shhh, don't worry. No penetration," he said against her mouth. "I just want you to feel how much I want you." He settled himself more firmly between her legs, making sure his hard shaft was nestled between her warm wet folds.

  He deepened the kiss as he pulled back and then slid forward rubbing the underside of his cock against her hot wet core and clit. They moaned into each other's mouths as he continued to grind against her.

  Haley's moans echoed off the walls as Jason fought for control. His body screamed for him to arch back and slam into her, but Haley wanted to go slow. He would do anything for her even torture himself with being so close to the prize and not going for it.

  She fisted her hands in his hair as she licked and sucked his neck. He groaned loudly as he pressed himself more firmly against her and thrust harder. Haley's grip in his hair tightened seconds before she started screaming his name. It triggered his own violent release.

  "Haley......oh, Haley.....I..oh god, Haley!" he yelled while his mind shouted "I love you" over and over until he released her legs and lay bonelessly on top of her.

  As he was gasping for air he realized something. He was in deep shit. Haley was his life now. His woman. His heart.

  He was so screwed.

  Chapter 16

  "Oh my god, stop eating that!" Haley said, trying not to laugh and failing miserably.

  Jason popped the fudge brownie in his mouth and winked at her. With an exasperated sigh she reached back into the backseat to fix the plastic wrap on the plates of brownies, cookies, and cupcakes.

  "If you keep stealing food there won't be any left for your family's cookout," she said, knowing that wasn't a good enough reason to stop him from eating. She was willing to bet there wasn't much that would come between him and food.

  He turned his attention from the road to pout. "But I love your cooking."

  She rolled her eyes at his lame attempt. "Uh huh."

  "Well, at least I'm not touching the potato salad. You really should appreciate the little things in life, my little grasshopper."

  Haley scoffed in disbelief. "The only reason you're not scoffing that down is because I have that and the pasta salad in a cooler safely locked away in the trunk."

  His brows shot up. "There's macaroni salad? Why was I not informed of this?"

  "Probably because I wanted it to at least make it to your parent's house before you devoured it."

  He shook his head sighing, "So little trust."

  "You ate an entire bowl of cookie dough yesterday when I made the mistake of running out to the market without hiding it first. Seriously, I thought it would be safe."

  "You were wrong."

  "Your obsession with food is starting to scare me," she said wryly.

  "It's not an obsession. I'm a growing boy, damn it."

  She raised one brow in disbelief.

  "Thank god we're here. I'm starving," he grumbled as he parked in the only empty spot on the street, which just happened to be in front of a large white Victorian house with black trimming where a party was clearing being held, judging by the amount of people walking around the property.

  They loaded their arms up with all the plates Haley made and headed for the front door. Jason kicked the door lightly since his hands were full.

  The door was opened by an older woman with pepper hair. She took one look at Jason and smiled.

  "It's my baby boy!" she announced loudly to the crowd in the house as she cupped his face and pulled him down to give him a sound kiss on the cheek. She stepped back and noticed Haley. Her expression went from excited to stunned in a matter of seconds.

  Jason smiled sheepishly. "Mom, this is my girlfriend, Haley Blaine." He gestured with the plate of brownies. "Haley, this is my mother Megan Bradford."

  "It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Bradford," Haley said, feeling a little awkward with his mother standing there gaping at her and her hands too full to offer to shake the woman's hand. Not that his mother seemed to be able to respond or anything at the moment. Actually, Haley was starting to become a little worried.

  "Girlfriend?" Megan finally choked out.

  "Yeah, why do you sound so-" Jason started to say only to be cut off by his mother.

  His mother turned her head and yelled into the house. "Jared!"

  Haley shot a nervous look at Jason who was muttering something about putting his mother into a nursing home that only served green Jell-O. She looked back at the door in time to see an older man, who was clearly Jason's father by the almost identically features, step into the doorway. He smiled when he saw Jason.

  "What's going on?"

  "Mom's freaking out," Jason said. "Any chance we can get in there before my girlfriend's arms fall off?"

  The man noticeably started and looked at Haley and then did a double take.

  "Girlfriend?" he asked in clear disbelief.

  "Yes! Girlfriend!" Jason snapped, but his parents didn't seem to notice because they were staring at her like they couldn't believe such a person existed. On top of that her arms were starting to feel like they were about to drop off.

  "Ah, about to drop the cupcakes," she mumbled as she tried to readjust the three plates in her arms.

  "Oh, sorry," Jared said, reaching out and relieving her of the cupcakes while his wife grabbed the plate of peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies from her.

  Jared looked from her to the plate in his hands. "Where did you buy these? They look good," he said as his hand expertly snuck beneath the plastic wrap. Ah, like father like son, Haley thought. She looked him over quickly. The man was clearly in shape, a good sign for Jason since the man couldn't stop eating.

  "I made them," Haley said, feeling a little embarrassed by the attention.

  "You made these?" Jared asked with a cupcake in his hand.

  She nodded.

  "She's a great cook," Jason announced proudly.

  Jared took a big bite, closed his eyes and made a yummy moan sound. In seconds he had the entire cupcake devoured. He reached out and snagged the second plate of cupcakes from Haley and headed back into the house without a word.

  "My cupcakes!" they heard him snap at someone. Haley just barely stopped an eye roll. Definitely like father like son.

  "Hey, old man, she made those for me!" Jason yelled, charging past his mother to go after the cupcakes, leaving Haley with Megan who was still staring at her.

  "Um," she gestured to the car. "I have two more plates of cupcakes. I didn't think those two would survive the trip over here," she said, feeling foolish. Perhaps she should go hang out in the car until after the party was over. Seven hours in a car with nothing to do sounded better than being gawked at.

  Megan's eyes narrowed on her. "You're really his girlfriend?"

  "Yes."

  "This isn't just some sick game he's playing?"

  "Uh, no...is there something wrong?" She was really starting to feel self-conscious.

  "Nothing other than you are the first woman he's ever brought home and you'll have to forgive me if I seem a little surprised. For a moment there I thought hell had frozen over." She put her arm around Haley's shoulders as if they were old friends. "Now, let's go in there and give a few dozen people the shock of a lifetime."

  * * *

  "Mom," Jason growled in warning.

  She ignored him. Again. He leaned forward and tried to grab the photo album off Haley's lap only to have his hand slapped away by two women.

  "Damn it, mom! This is supposed to be a barbeque. Shouldn't you be mingling and being a good hostess or something instead of sitting here and embarrassing me?"

  "The hell with the barbeque! I've waited over thirty years for my only child to bring home a woman and I'll not be denied!" Several people around his mother smartly moved back while he just glared.

  "Ah, you look so cute-"

  "Naturally," he said with a sniff.

  "-playing dress up in your mother's clothes," Haley said with an evil little smile. He turned his glare on her. She simply smiled sweetly and returned to the pictures from hell.

  "Haley?"

  She ignored him pointedly and laughed along with his mother.

  "Haley? Do you want to go get something to eat?"

  "Huh? Oh, yeah, I could go for a burger and potato salad, thank you," she said dismissively before laughing at something his mother pointed out.

  "Oh, that sounds good. I'll take the same. Thank you sweetie, oh, and get us each another soda since we seem to have run out," Megan said, gesturing to their empty cups without looking away from that damn album he was going to have to torch.

  Where the hell was the adoration and love? His mother normally babied him. Hell, at this point she normally was getting him a third plate of food and a drink. Let's not forget Haley who should be loading up a plate for herself with food for him to steal. What was wrong with his women?

  He walked into the kitchen where food covered every surface. As he made up their plates his father, who was licking icing off his fingers, walked into the room with two of Jason's uncles and three of his cousins. The bastard hid the cupcakes and wouldn't share. When Haley made the mistake of mentioning the two plates of cupcakes still in her trunk he ran for them with his father close behind. The man actually tackled him to the ground, stole his keys and his beloved cupcakes.

  "Those were without a doubt the best cupcakes I've ever had," his father announced happily.

  "We wouldn't know since you wouldn't share any of them, you greedy bastard," Uncle Chuck said.

  "I don't share," Jared said simply.

  The men rolled their eyes.

  "So," his cousin Trevor said as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his massive chest, "how much did you pay her?"