Colliding With You

  Once he grabbed the handle, he had a paralyzing thought. What if Maggie had tracked him to the cabin? He’d managed to keep a low profile since the band came back from California a few months ago. Neither he nor Maggie had been in the same room since the meeting Southern Scandal had with the label head.

  According to Theo, Jesse barely missed her at the Christmas Eve party when she arrived about five minutes after he and Cori left. Josh and Joel had clear instructions about not telling Maggie where he was. It couldn’t possibly be her on the other side of the door.

  There was only one way to find out.

  The moment he opened the door, his body began to prickle. He blinked several times in hopes that his eyes were playing tricks on him. No matter how many times he did, the image didn’t clear. There was no denying the truth, especially after he heard an array of voices shouting two words.

  “Merry Christmas.”

  It wasn’t just the shitty timing that caused his jaw to flinch. It was the group gathered in front of him, waiting for an invitation to come inside. There was no way he could refuse them without getting a ton of shit for it later. Besides, the snow was coming down harder. If he turned them away and they had an accident, he would never forgive himself.

  As guilt consumed him, he stepped out of the way while Theo, Cassie, Allen, and Nora piled inside. It wasn’t just the sight of their luggage that made his heart sink. It was all the presents he spotted in the back of Theo’s SUV. His friends had every intention of staying. While he would have appreciated the gesture earlier in the day, he couldn’t deny the disappointment flowing through his veins.

  He wouldn’t be able to go back to Cori and finish what they had begun . . .

  Cori sat on the end of the bed in the room where Cassie and Theo were staying. She watched her sister search through her suitcase for her pajamas. It was hard to believe she was there at all, especially after their last conversation.

  As happy as she was to know they would spend another Christmas together, it disappointed her too. She enjoyed having Jesse to herself. Now Theo and Allen were taking up his time.

  Perhaps that was the reason Nora said her goodnights before slipping downstairs to her room for the evening. Cori wished everyone would do the same. Her body ached for Jesse’s touch. They’d been so close to . . . It didn’t matter. That opportunity sailed away the second they heard the knock on the door.

  “Why are you here, Cassie?”

  Her sister continued rummaging through her suitcase, not once looking her way. “I told you why. I didn’t want anything to separate us on Christmas.”

  “I know what you said. Now I want to know the real reason you’re here.”

  This time, Cassie focused on her. Her brow rose and she stood. “There is no other reason. I thought about everything you said to me last night and decided you were right. I couldn’t let anything keep us apart. We’ve never been separated on Christmas.”

  Guilt burned through Cori. Had she misjudged her sister, or was there something more?

  “Are you sure you’re not just checking up on me because I’m here alone with Jesse?”

  Cassie’s gaze lowered to the bed. “I won’t deny that it concerned me, but you’re a grown woman, Cori. I can’t stop you from living your life.”

  “So you’re assuming that because I’m here with him, I must be fucking him, right?”

  After a long, awkward moment of silence, Cassie proceeded toward the window. She leaned against the sill and placed her hand on her rounded belly.

  “You’re my little sister. Don’t blast me for trying to protect you.”

  Cori slowly rose from the bed. Everything around her seemed to pulse. Maybe it was just the anger coursing through her body.

  “Protect me? Do you honestly think Jesse would hurt me?”

  “No, but I know you lash out when you’re upset. I don’t want you doing something out of anger. If you’re into Jesse, I have no issue with that, but do it for the right reason.”

  Was she serious? How could her sister think so little of her? Furthermore, why did she assume she was using Jesse to lash out?

  “So you think I’m using Jesse to get back at who exactly?”

  Her sister stared out the window and shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe Dad, or me . . . or even Theo.”

  A cold chill raced up Cori’s spine. She fisted her hands and took a couple of steps backward. “Theo? How does any of this have anything to do with—?”

  “You admitted you crushed on him once. Hell, you tried to fuck him in the closet of that nightclub, pretending to be someone else. Ever since he and I got together, you’ve acted differently. Is it because you still have feelings for him?”

  Knots formed in Cori’s stomach. She couldn’t deny that it was part of the reason she’d kept her distance. Still, the feelings she had for Theo . . . They were gone. Jesse helped with that. He’d shown her that she was lovable, that someone would want her for who she was.

  “So let me get this straight. You think I have unresolved feelings for your husband and I’m using Jesse to get back at him?”

  When silence regained control of the room, she felt a piece of her heart breaking away.

  “It hurts to know that you think so little of me. But let me be the first to assure you that you’re wrong.”

  “What else am I supposed to think? You’ve never shown any interest in Jesse. You always complained about how much he teased you.”

  “We’ve both grown up. He’s not the same annoying guy, and I’m not the same bratty girl. He actually listens to me when I talk.”

  “Well, knowing how much your mind stays in the gutter, I can only imagine why he would listen.”

  Cori had heard enough. She did not have to stay there and listen to her sister’s insults. Cassie was a hypocrite anyway. Before Theo, she slept with whomever she chose. To chastise Cori for the same . . . It wasn’t right and she wouldn’t take it.

  “I hope you’re finished with your lecture because I’m through listening.” She stormed toward the door and grabbed the handle. Just before she opened it, she glared at her sister. “You want to know the real reason why Jesse brought me here? He respected me enough not to pressure me to go home for Christmas, but he didn’t want me to be alone either. He helped get me away from the chaos. Now you’ve brought it back.”

  “Cori—”

  “I don’t want to hear anymore! You should have stayed home with Mom and Dad. I don’t need you here. Go home, Cassie.”

  The door swung wide, then Cori rushed into the hall. On her way to the staircase, she caught a glimpse of Jesse as he stood in the den with Theo and Allen. He’d noticed her too, but she hoped he didn’t see her face. Then he’d know something was wrong.

  She didn’t want him to worry. He had already done so much for her. Now her sister had undone this special day in a matter of minutes. There was nothing more he could do. He couldn’t change Cassie’s mind, and having him close to her was dangerous. If they slept together now, it would only convince her sister that she’d been right about her assumptions. Cori refused to give her the satisfaction of thinking she was right all along.

  She wasn’t using Jesse. She was falling for him.

  Jesse shifted his stance and gazed into the front of the house. He couldn’t listen to Theo and Allen ramble about their trip to the cabin when Cori was out of his sight. She consumed his thoughts. How could he think about anything else when he noticed the tension between her and Cassie? Now they were alone together in the room down the hall.

  The whole point of bringing her to the cabin was to get her away from the stress her family was causing. He’d succeeded for a little while until Cassie showed up. Hopefully, she meant what she said about coming to spend the holiday with her little sister.

  While he didn’t doubt that was part of the reason she convinced Theo to come to the cabin, he knew it wasn’t the only thing. She was checking up on him and Cori. Had Theo convinced Cassie that Jesse was taking advantage of
her sister?

  Maybe this wasn’t all Cassie’s doing. Theo thought he could protect Cori from getting hurt again. He was sure that Jesse would be the one to do it. Fucking idiot. His friend had no clue how he felt about Cori. He never told him that he was interested in her when they were younger. Part of him wished he had. Maybe they wouldn’t be going through this bullshit now.

  All he wanted was for them to go away or at least go to sleep so he could have time alone with Cori. The more he thought about her, the more restless he became. Fuck, he’d been so close to having what he wanted. Leave it to Theo to screw it all up.

  The thoughts faded from his mind the instant he saw Cori pass by. She was moving so quickly that he didn’t get to see her but a second. The brief moment their eyes connected, he saw the pain in hers. Something was wrong.

  Instinct had him stepping away from his friends. He hesitated on walking any further, yet something in his gut kept urging him forward. If Cori was upset, she needed him. He had to go to her.

  “Jesse, where are you going?”

  He stopped a few feet away and glanced back at Theo. “I need to check on Cori. I just saw her walk by. She looked upset.”

  “That’s because of me.”

  He turned in time to see Cassie walking into the den. Her arms were wrapped around her belly as she made her way toward Theo.

  “I’m pretty sure my sister hates me right now.”

  Theo placed his arm around her and pulled her close. “Why do you think that?”

  “Because I may have let my insecurities get the best of me.”

  Jesse couldn’t decipher her riddled answer any more than Theo. His friend’s brow furrowed as he shook his head at her. “What are you talking about? What happened?”

  Cassie eased out of Theo’s embrace and onto the sectional. She glanced toward Jesse and then to the fire. “Cori thinks we’re here to check up on her. I may have told her that she was right, and I may have accused her of using Jesse to get back at you because of the crush she had.”

  Just when Jesse thought this night couldn’t get any worse . . .

  Her admission caused Allen’s face to flush. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he scratched his head. It wasn’t long before he left his position near the double doors and walked toward the hallway.

  “I’m going to go check on Nora and then hit the sack. See you guys in the morning.”

  Jesse waited until everyone said their goodnights, then he glared at his friends. Cassie wouldn’t meet his gaze, and neither would Theo. He was too busy coddling his wife.

  “You two are unbelievable,” he gritted the words as he shook his head at them. “It’s bad enough that Cori had to defend her choices with her father. Now she has to do it with you two. What gives either of you the right?”

  “That’s my little sister. I’m trying to prevent her from making a stupid mistake out of anger.”

  “Oh, so I’m the stupid mistake?” He pointed to himself as Cassie observed him. Her lips began trembling a second later.

  “I didn’t mean it that way, Jesse. I told Cori I had no problem with the two of you being together, as long as it was for the right reasons.”

  “You’re assuming an awful lot. First off, Cori works for me. I gave her the job because I knew she wouldn’t accept a handout. Second, I care a hell of a lot about her. I always have.”

  Cassie swiped a tear that escaped down her cheek as Theo squeezed her shoulder to comfort her. “What do you mean, you’ve always cared about her?”

  Inhaling deeply, he counted to ten and did his best to diffuse his anger. Cassie was pregnant, and he didn’t want to cause her any more stress. Still, he wasn’t about to allow her or anyone else to hurt Cori. Those days were gone.

  “I know Cori a lot better than you think I do. She spent a lot of time at my house with my sister. Yeah, I picked on her as much as I did Jamie, but there was a part of me that found Cori fascinating. I liked her. If Theo and I hadn’t left for New Orleans, I probably would have found the nerve to ask her out.”

  Cassie’s gaped mouth spoke of her bewilderment. “Are you saying you had a crush on my sister?”

  Jesse nodded. “It was innocent back then. Hell, she was only fifteen. When we ran into each other at the rehearsal, I saw the woman she’s become. I won’t deny that I’m attracted to her, but I care about her too. I want what’s best for Cori.”

  “Do you think it’s you?”

  He didn’t miss the cynical tone in Theo’s question. His friend was doing it again. Playing the hero. He needed to take care of Cassie, not Cori. He didn’t doubt how much Theo loved Cassie, but he also understood why she felt insecure. Whatever was causing him to go into protective mode needed to stop.

  “Cori has dreams she’s going to follow, and I’m going to make sure she has the financial support she needs to achieve it.”

  “That’s not what I asked.” Theo released his wife’s shoulder and approached Jesse. “Do you think you’re the best guy to be involved with her? For Christ’s sake, you were told not long ago to find a girlfriend to help dissuade the hoards of women waiting for us wherever we go.”

  “Fuck off, Theo.”

  An icy sensation shot through his body. He couldn’t believe Theo revealed that information in front of his wife. Perhaps it wasn’t the first time she’d heard it because she didn’t appear shocked by his admission. That would explain why she had such a low opinion of him.

  Beautiful. Fucking beautiful. How long before Cassie told Cori?

  “I brought Cori here to get her away from all the drama. She was happy until you guys showed up. Maybe you two should worry less about my intentions and more about the damage you’re doing to her. Trust me. You’re hurting her more than I ever could.”

  When neither of them said a word, he glanced toward the window. Snow had begun to build on the rail of the deck. They had a good couple inches by now. Had Cori noticed?

  She filled his thoughts once more, how her face lit up when she saw the snow, how she looked like an angel when the snowflakes caught in her hair. All he wanted was for her to smile like that every day of her life.

  She deserved to be happy. She deserved to be loved.

  “Maybe I’m not the best man for her. I’m sure there are a million other guys that could give her a perfect life. I also know some guys are a lot worse than me.”

  “Jesse, no one is saying you’re a bad guy,” Cassie added. She stood from the couch and joined Theo near the edge of the coffee table.

  “You could have fooled me. Isn’t that why you guys rushed up here? Didn’t you think I was going to take advantage of Cori while she was vulnerable?”

  Cassie slumped her shoulders as Theo rubbed the back of his neck. Neither had to say anything else. Their reactions said plenty.

  “It’s late. I’m going to check on Cori, then I’m going to bed.”

  He pivoted on his heel and stormed toward the hall. He had to get away from them before he let his anger get the best of him. None of them were thinking clearly, and he didn’t want to say something he would regret later. Still, there was one more thing he needed to get off his chest.

  As he stood in the archway, he faced his friends one more time.

  “Just for the record, your sister and I haven’t slept together. If we do, it won’t happen because I need a piece of ass. It’s because I care about her. Maybe one day you two will understand that.”

  Chapter 16

  Cori wiped away the tears from her cheeks and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She hated crying, especially when they were angry tears. Never in her life had she been so insulted by her sister. It was as if she’d been arguing with their father instead. Cassie was just as judgmental.

  Turning off the lights around the mirror, she walked back into the bedroom. She stared at the king size bed, hoping she could sleep in it. Too bad Jesse wasn’t there to share it with her.

  Like she could think about any of that after what Cassie said.
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  As she walked to the switch to turn off the light, a soft rapping came from the door. She froze in place, hoping like hell it wasn’t Cassie. She didn’t want to speak to her sister anymore tonight. Maybe if she were quiet enough, Cassie would think she was asleep.

  “Cori, are you still awake?”

  A burst of excitement filled her at the sound of Jesse’s voice. She drew the door open slowly, making sure he was alone.

  “What’s up?”

  “Can we talk for a second?”

  Nodding, she moved out of his way then closed the door behind him. He stopped near the foot of the bed and tucked his hands in his pockets. She couldn’t help but stare at him. His jeans hugged his ass just right. Her fingers itched to grasp it as he slammed his cock into her.

  What a lot of good it would do to get herself all worked up over thoughts of fucking him. She had to keep her distance.

  “Is everything okay?” She asked the question as she approached him. He kept his rigid position, back to her, face toward the ground, until she moved in front of him. “Jesse?”

  “I’m sorry for what happened this evening. I had no clue they would come here.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” He pierced her with his eyes. “We both know why they came here. Cassie admitted that you questioned her intentions. Then she told Theo and me about your conversation. I know that she hurt you.”

  Cori couldn’t even shrug her shoulders. Tears began to form despite how much she tried to fight them back. “I’ll be okay.”

  Jesse said nothing as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Fuck that shit, Cori. You don’t deserve to be treated like that.”

  “Maybe I do. I mean, Cassie was right. I used to like Theo. I tried tricking him that night in the club. And I have kept my distance from them because of it.”

  She didn’t miss the pain she saw on his face or the way his grip loosened.

  “I know you used to have a thing for Theo.”

  “I don’t feel that way anymore, Jesse. I don’t want Theo, and I’m not envious of my sister’s marriage to him. I want them to be happy. I want the same for myself.”