They jogged up the stairs on the side of the cliff, parted ways, and Jasmine headed back to the restaurant.
She guessed Lucy was right. Micah was doing his own kind of running, but hopefully not into another woman’s arms.
A couple of weeks had gone by with no word from him.
It was like he’d dropped out of sight, much like the workers on the building across the street. The exterior had been repainted and new windows had been installed. The paper was gone, and when she’d looked inside, the space was stripped bare, down to the studs in the walls.
Jasmine still didn’t know what type of business would be residing across from Lucy’s. City Hall was a five-minute walk away, but because Gregory was Micah’s brother, she didn’t feel comfortable going over his head to get the answer. There had to be a reason why he hadn’t contacted her.
Any mention of the space resulted in stress for her grandmother. They’d find out soon enough. The building couldn’t stay empty forever.
In the meantime, Jasmine stayed busy. Her life didn’t revolve around a man. Never did, never would. Even though she missed him so much it hurt.
The decline in lunchtime patrons had turned out not to be a fluke. If Lucy wasn’t concerned, Jasmine was worried enough for the both of them. She was finding it difficult to sleep, and when she wasn’t thinking about Micah, she was researching other restaurants and menu ideas. Jasmine hadn’t gotten up the courage to tell Lucy that the entire menu needed a revamp and needed to include healthy options, too.
Breakfast remained their most popular dining time, likely because they were the only option in town for a hot meal that wasn’t fast food. Ruby’s Tasty Pastries was too small to hold many customers and didn’t serve hot food at all. Lucy’s pancakes and chicken and waffles were favorites of many townspeople and tourists, but Jasmine couldn’t bank on anything staying the same.
Lucy was still pressuring her to go to her lawyer, so that she could sign over ownership of the restaurant. Though she hadn’t spoken about permanently shutting down, Jasmine knew that was still an option.
Jasmine continued to spend time with Gloria in the kitchen, learning how to prepare all the dishes on the current menu, and her skills were improving. She still felt nervous about cooking Lucy’s famous jerk chicken because the ingredients weren’t an exact science.
She checked her smart watch as she climbed the stairs to the apartment. There was just enough time for a quick shower before Lucy opened the restaurant at 7:30 a.m.
Her grandmother got up at 5:00 a.m. every day, and she and Gloria prepped for breakfast. Although Jasmine had offered to help, Lucy had declined, insisting that she take time for herself. On days she didn’t run, she would either do yoga in her room or catch up on the stack of novels on her bedside table.
Life with her grandmother was pleasant, if not somewhat monotonous. After her time with Micah, she yearned for more excitement.
It was just after seven-thirty when she got downstairs and there were already a few customers in the dining room. Maisie and Liza waved her over to their booth. She hadn’t seen them since the dessert taste-testing event.
“Good morning, ladies! What can I get you?”
Maisie gave her a broad smile. “My usual, chicken and waffles.” She turned to Liza. “What about you?”
“I’d like to order five coconut cakes.”
“Did I hear you correctly?” Jasmine gasped, one hand cupped behind her ear.
“Yes, but not for me,” Liza responded, laughing. “I have five new clients, so I’m going to give them each a cake as a welcome gift.”
Jasmine sank down into the booth in disbelief.
“Congratulations! I hadn’t thought about selling my desserts outside of the restaurant.”
Liza frowned. “Oh, but you will bake them for me, right? I was counting on you.”
“Of course,” Jasmine said, quickly. “It’s just such a surprise.”
“Why do you act so shocked,” Maisie asked. “We all told you how delicious everything was that day. Didn’t you believe us?”
“I did, but I guess I didn’t believe in myself,” she confessed.
Maisie patted her hand. “Honey, this is living proof that your baking deserves more attention.”
As of right now, Lucy had only agreed to add her Triple Berry Crumb Crust pie to the dinner menu. Maybe this would pave the way to more of her desserts being served.
“I guess you’re right, Maisie.”
She turned to Liza. “I’ll be happy to make the cakes for you.”
After they discussed timing and delivery, Liza left for an appointment. She put Maisie’s order in and came back with a pot of coffee.
“Sit with me for a moment,” Maisie urged. “It gets lonely by myself sometimes.”
Though she had work to do, Jasmine nodded.
She poured two steaming mugs, before setting the pot down. She added a little cream to hers and took a sip.
“Where’s your beau?”
“Prentice?” Maisie pursed her lips. “Working as usual. Sometime I think that man loves his post at City Hall more than he loves me!”
Jasmine smiled. “Any news from the mayor’s office?”
“If you like turning yourself into a human pretzel, I hear there’s going to be a new yoga studio in town.”
Jasmine laughed. “I enjoy the meditative qualities of yoga, but yes, some of the poses are challenging.”
“Try impossible for a woman of my age,” Maisie retorted. “Lord A’mighty, I hope Mayor Langston doesn’t turn Bay Point into a hipsters’ retreat. Some people can pay twelve dollars for a burger, but I can’t.”
Keep prices affordable.
It was obvious, but she made a mental note anyway.
Some of the recipes she was considering had exotic ingredients. Anything that drove up costs would have to be passed on to the customer, and they couldn’t risk losing more. It was a delicate balance, and if she ever saw Micah again, she would ask him how he dealt with the issue.
“Trust me, I can’t either. Have you heard what’s going into the building across the street?”
Maisie shook her head. “No, but they did a wonderful job preserving the historical integrity of the building’s facade didn’t they?”
Jasmine had to agree with her on that point. “Even the new windows are quite attractive.”
Maisie gave her a conspiratorial wink. “Plus, I can finally peek into them! Though I don’t have a clue what it’s going to be.”
“Don’t you think the businesses that are already here have the right to know who’s moving in next to them?”
Maisie looked up to thank Donnie, as he set her plate before her, and then back at Jasmine.
“I know it’s hard, but I have to believe that Mayor Langston is doing the best he can for this town. It’s not easy trying to please all of the people, all the time.”
“It’s impossible, I imagine,” Jasmine said.
“And it’s not for us to know everything, all the time.” Maisie patted her hand and laughed. “Not even me.”
Though she did not agree, Jasmine smiled politely. “You’re right. I’ve got to get back to work. Enjoy your breakfast.”
The rest of the day went quickly. That night, after a hot bath, she checked her phone. Her breath caught in her chest as she listened to a voice mail from Micah, inviting her to join him in New York City for a couple of days.
Jasmine tossed the device on the bed, excited to see him again. The timing was bad, but there was no better way to find out if the feelings she had for him were real.
Chapter 9
Micah gazed out of the floor-to-ceiling windows and twiddled his thumbs behind his back. Taxis and trucks, small as ants, inched bumper-to-bumper down the traffic-clogged road. He barely noticed the carpet-like autumnal beauty of Central Park’s
trees spread out as far as the eye could see.
He should feel like a king.
But without Jasmine at his side, he was quickly discovering how empty his world was, and had been, for a very long time.
He’d spent the last couple of weeks in meetings with his agent and his production company, as well as builders, suppliers and employees. Everybody wanted something from him.
Not Jasmine.
The edges of his lips lifted into a smile.
All she wanted was his body and he didn’t have a problem with that at all. But if she wanted his heart and to share his future, would he be so willing?
The thought of giving his life to one woman made him feel like he was choking. He tugged at the collar of his shirt and then loosened his tie.
Jasmine could never accuse him of making promises. Since their time at the winery, he hadn’t called her. It was to her benefit that she hadn’t called him, either.
Though he wouldn’t admit it, he was testing himself.
Even when he couldn’t stand being away from her any longer and had invited her to New York, she hadn’t said yes immediately. Gave him the “I have to check my calendar” bit.
But in the end, it didn’t matter that she’d made him wait three days for an answer. She was on her way and would arrive any minute.
His lopsided world would be right again.
He turned away from the window and walked over to the phone. His apartment was undergoing renovation, so he’d booked a room in a luxury hotel. Everything must be perfect, he thought, as he ordered room service. The flight from California was long and he knew that Jasmine would probably be tired.
Flowers. Dinner. Candlelight.
All should help to stem the effects of jet lag, and hopefully, get him and Jasmine back on track.
To where, he wondered, as he plopped into a chair. He stared at the last text message he’d received from Jasmine.
Can’t wait to see you.
He wondered if she would feel the same way once he told her that he was the one who not only owned the building across the street from Lucy’s, but was weeks away from opening up a restaurant there.
In one way, he knew that he was taking a huge risk inviting her to New York, only to let her down.
But he had made a commitment to his business partners and to his brother Gregory that he would honor, even if it broke Jasmine’s heart.
Micah stretched out his legs and leaned his head back to wait. Due to all the traffic, he wasn’t sure when she would arrive, but it wasn’t long before he heard several knocks at the door.
Opening it, his eyes widened in surprise and he hardened with desire. He wanted nothing more than to swoop her up in his arms, lay her down on the bed and kiss her all the way into tomorrow.
“Hi!” Micah flushed at his simple greeting, but that was all he could muster.
Although Jasmine was casually dressed in a pink V-neck sweater and black jeans, she might as well have been wearing an elaborate ball gown.
He wanted to kiss her, but held back unsure of how she would react. He took her bag and gestured for her to enter the room, hoping she could not see the growing bulge in his pants.
She nodded her thanks and made a beeline straight to the windows. He wasn’t offended, as he’d done the same thing earlier.
“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” he remarked. Only he knew that he wasn’t talking about the view.
The sweater clung to her body, hugging the curves in her skinny jeans in a way that made a permanent stamp on his mind. She kicked off her strappy gold heels and they landed near the bed.
Her toes curled into the plush beige carpeting, as if she was trying to gain purchase.
“We’re so far up.”
Her voice breathless with awe, she swayed in place and he swore she was going to faint. He looped his arms around her waist and pulled her toward him.
“I’ve got you.”
She leaned against him and sighed. It took everything in his power not to rub his tight length against her tight bottom. Her lips parted and he knew that she could feel him pressed against her, and how much he wanted her. A few seconds later, she stepped away and he stifled a groan.
“It’s beautiful.”
She started to turn around, so he loosened his grasp, but didn’t let her go. If he had it his way, if he could put life on hold, he would never let her go again.
“But I still prefer the view of the ocean to this.”
Micah put his fingers to his lips and looked around surreptitiously. “Shhh. Don’t let a New Yorker hear you say that or you and I might not make it out of town alive.”
Jasmine laughed. “It’s just that when I see all the buildings, it seems like everything that could be accomplished has already been done. But when I look at the ocean, it’s a blank slate of possibilities.”
Though her rationale made sense, he didn’t care what was outside the window at the moment. He only cared about her, and the chance he was about to take.
Micah pressed his lips together, wondering whether it made sense to tell her the truth now. His lips moved to her neck, pulsing and throbbing against its gentle curve.
Tilting her head to the side, she moaned and melted back against him. He inhaled a whiff of her perfume, dark and syrupy sweet, like the taste of skin.
“I’ve missed you, Jasmine.”
Words whispered into her ear collapsed into a deep sigh as she turned and flung her arms around his neck. Mouths smashed together, they slowly sank to the floor in a tangled heap of unbridled desire with tongues that wanted nothing but to devour.
Micah wasn’t the type of man to take anything without asking, but when Jasmine broke away and yanked her sweater over her head, all he could do was reach, and pull, and finally, suck.
She giggled out loud and whipped the remnants of her bra from where it had caught on her arm. It hit the window and slid to the floor.
Seconds later, she was moaning with him, grinding against him. He closed his hands around her bare waist and slipped them around front, not bothering to unbutton her jeans.
It was the challenge of the deep dive, moving his hand down toward a warm, wet place, known only to him. Palming the coarse hairs, tickling the twin crevasses of smooth flesh. The joy of finding his treasure warmer and wetter than he’d initially expected was the reward for his effort.
Jasmine halted further exploration with a smile, as she undid his belt buckle and slid down his zipper with her teeth. After removing the rest of her clothes, she sat back and watched as he struggled to remove his pants.
“This is one view I’d never get tired of,” she purred.
She stroked his penis jutting like a wild sentinel through the gap in his boxers. Her grasping and pulling motions on his flesh made him want to howl.
He started to undo his shirt, but his fingers froze on one button. Her smile was demure, but what she was doing to him was anything but innocent.
Jasmine seemed intent on destroying his resolve to maintain some level of control, and he loved her tenacity. Loved the way she pumped her hand faster and faster, her eyes dark with heated determination.
The sensual sight of Jasmine’s mouth closing over his penis was too hot to bear. Micah heaved a loud sigh and tore at his shirt, ignoring the buttons that took to the air like birds released from a cage.
He groaned all the way to the floor. Lying flat on his back, he stared at the ceiling. Though it was white, he saw colors, as innumerable pleasurable sensations tumbled through his lower half and spread throughout his body.
“Baby, you better stop,” he said, haltingly.
All of a sudden, he heard some furious knocking at the door, but that didn’t deter Jasmine. She moaned, him in her mouth, licking him into near oblivion.
“Who is it?” he shouted, clenching his abdomen as Jasmine’s hands cupped and
gently massaged his swollen sac.
“Room service,” a cordial voice responded.
“Leave it outside, please,” he yelled, lifting his head up to watch her pleasuring him.
Now on all fours, she placed her palms on his abdomen and stared into his eyes as she slowly released his painfully hard cock. Jasmine was so beautiful that he felt tears smarting in his eyes, as he panted slow breaths.
When she ran her tongue over her glossy wet lips, Micah almost lost it. He got up on one elbow and with his other hand, tilted her chin up with his finger, not trusting himself to speak.
For a moment, he was embarrassed at his emotions. Before he knew what was happening, she mounted him. He strained to lick at one taut nipple, but she wouldn’t let him and pushed him back to the floor.
She consumed him fully with a loud moan, and immediately began to rock slowly, back and forth.
“Oh, god,” he croaked.
The pressure to explode inside her was agonizingly sweet. He cupped her bare buttocks, holding on, bringing her as close to him as he could get without melting into her.
It was the only control she would give him.
This woman, his woman, was tight. A wet, warm flower yet to bloom.
Her hips danced and stroked, and Micah swallowed hard, watching her move. Not missing a beat, she leaned over and kissed him, her tongue moving inside his mouth.
Before he could return the favor, she was upright again. Breasts bouncing, nipples hugely erect, head thrown back as if he were merely a guest in her pleasure-filled world. Her loud moans, melding with his, seemed to reverberate throughout the room.
They crushed and swiveled their perspiring bodies together in a whirlwind of motion that he never wanted to end. When Jasmine began to pant uncontrollably, he grabbed her hips, knowing she was close to breaking through the erotic haze they’d created together.
As she slid down his flesh, he dug his heels into the carpet and ricocheted his pelvis up to meet her in a deep, penetrating jolt that caused her to gasp aloud. As he emptied his soul inside her, she closed her eyes and bit his shoulder to muffle her screams.
* * *
Winning Her Heart Page 12