He met her eye, slid a few inches closer. For a spit second she was tempted to say yes. Reality and common sense prevailed. “I’m not good at separating sex and feelings.”
His body instantly stilled and his lips pressed into a faint frown. He dropped his hand from her flower and leaned back. “That night, were you...”
She shook her head. “No. I meant what I said about not being mad about the outcome, but our night together did teach me that I’m not good at the love ’em and leave ’em philosophy when it comes to relationships. I’m also not good at having one-night stands.”
His retreat bolstered her confidence. She needed to see this. Needed to be reminded that Jacobe was looking for fun and nothing more. Better to be disappointed now than heartbroken later.
Danielle reached for the door handle. “It’s getting late.”
He stepped back and opened the door. “You’re right. I should get you home.”
Jacobe didn’t say much on the drive to her place. She was dying to know what was going through his head. Was he angry that he’d wasted a date with a woman he wouldn’t easily get into bed? Did he even care enough to be disappointed? An online search quickly revealed he had no shortage of women interested in him and that he was rarely photographed twice with the same woman. Her rejection might be just a minimal blip on his radar when it came to women.
When they arrived at her place, a small ranch-style home that she’d purchased the year before, he came around and opened the door for her. His hand was warm and solid when he placed it on her lower back to walk her to her front door. The porch light flickered, casting the porch in shadows. She’d been meaning to change that bulb.
“Thanks again,” she said, getting her keys out of her purse.
Jacobe took her elbow in his hand and turned her to face him. He stood so close that she had to tilt her head back even farther to meet his gaze. In the unsteady light of the porch, she couldn’t make out the expression in his eyes.
“I respect your honesty, Danielle.” His other hand came up to brush across her chin. “Don’t think this kiss means otherwise.”
Her heart fluttered and anticipation tingled every inch of skin on her body. “Who said you could kiss me?”
His dark eyes met hers and the corner of his mouth tilted up in a smile that would make a nun drop her panties. “Tell me I can’t and I won’t.”
The air crackled around them. Sparks of heat filled her chest. Her eyes lowered to his lips. Full and soft. Based on the smoldering heat in his eyes, desperately wanting to touch hers. A kiss wasn’t sex. It was just a kiss.
“One kiss,” she whispered.
“Good.”
His lips brushed hers before he slowly pulled her lower lip between his. The kiss was a slow tasting. Not one long press of the lips, but several small sexy touches and pulls of his mouth on hers. With each sweep her body heated and tightened with need. Danielle shifted forward, closing the distance between them. Finally, his tongue slipped across her lower lip. Desire pulsed through her midsection. Jacobe’s strong arm slipped around her waist and drew her flush against the hardness of his body.
He was so much taller. She automatically went onto her toes, parting her lips so he could deepen the kiss. The arm around her waist tightened, and a second later Jacobe lifted her off her feet. Her breasts pressed into the firmness of his chest, her arms wrapped around his neck. She shifted and her body rubbed against the growing bulk of his erection. Memories of the full length of him filling her completely flooded her mind. Heat pooled low in her midsection and between her legs.
Jacobe sucked in a breath and broke the kiss. His breathing was just as harsh and heavy as hers in the quiet darkness of her porch. She could feel him pulsing, growing between them. She bit her lower lip to keep from moaning and begging for more.
He slowly lowered her back to her feet and took one determined step backward. He cupped her chin and ran his thumb over her sensitive lower lip. “One kiss,” he said. “I keep my word.” He leaned down and pressed another quick kiss to her lips. When he pulled back, she couldn’t stop herself from leaning forward to prolong the touch.
“Good night, Danielle.”
Jacobe turned, jumped the three steps from her porch to the ground and strode purposefully back to his car. Danielle stood on her porch and watched him drive away until the taillights disappeared.
She pressed a hand to her pounding heart. “Don’t ever kiss him again if you want to keep your sanity,” she whispered.
Chapter 5
“How are you handling the suspension?” Isaiah asked Jacobe.
He, Kevin and Will, were all seated outside next to the full court in the backyard of Jacobe’s riverfront home. Jacobe’s suspension prevented him from going to the stadium, attending practices and doing anything related to the team. He’d expected to be completely ignored by his teammates. To his surprise, Kevin, Will and Isaiah had shown up on their off day to give him an update on what had happened at practice and the plans for their next game.
“I’m going to volunteer with the River Watchers.” He palmed the basketball in his hands. They’d played one game shortly after the guys had arrived. Jacobe and Isaiah had won against Kevin and Will. “And beat Kevin in pickup games.”
Kevin smirked “I’m just trying to make you feel better.”
Isaiah laughed. “If that’s what you’ve got to tell yourself.”
Kevin laughed along with Will before he looked back at Jacobe. “Why the River Watchers?”
“I’m going to volunteer with them. Do some good stuff for the environment, try to show I’m more than a troublemaker.”
Will frowned and ran a hand over the full beard covering the lower half of his face. “Don’t you think you’d get more brownie points showing up at the place that you give money to for mentoring?”
Jacobe shrugged. “Maybe, but what can I say to a group of boys? Hold on to your tempers and act like gentlemen? I can’t even do that myself. This will give me a new angle, and it’s a local thing. If I can get the locals to care, then the management will, too.”
“River Watchers,” Isaiah said suspiciously. “Isn’t that the group the woman you tried to hook up with the other night works for?”
“Yeah.”
Kevin nodded his head and gave Jacobe a sly look. “Now I get it. You’re trying to get in good with her because she turned you down.”
“Nah, it’s not like that.”
Will’s eyes turned skeptical. “You’re not trying to hook up with her?”
Jacobe thought about the kiss and how he’d had to call on every ounce of gentlemanly behavior he’d ever picked up not to press to get inside Danielle’s house and in her bed. Danielle wanted a commitment. He didn’t do commitments. He wasn’t opening himself up to a woman like that again.
“That’s not why I’m volunteering. She’d see through that, anyway,” he said. “Me and her knew each other back in college. I wouldn’t mind hooking up with her, but she made it very clear she’s looking for forever. I stepped back.”
Isaiah stood and held up his hands for Jacobe to toss him the ball. “Figures.”
Jacobe threw him the ball, then frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You aren’t ready to settle down. Figures you’d step back,” Isaiah said, dribbling the ball.
Will sat forward. “But you’re still going to work with her?”
“Why not? Her organization does good things—we can help each other out.”
Kevin shook his head. “It’s never a good idea to work with a woman you want to sleep with. That never turns out well for me.”
Isaiah laughed and passed the ball to Kevin. “That’s because you don’t know how to say no to a beautiful woman.”
Kevin stood, dribbled and threw the ball back. “Why shoul
d I?”
Jacobe shifted in his seat so he could better watch Kevin and Isaiah. “Just because it never worked for you doesn’t mean it won’t for me. I can handle working with Danielle.”
Kevin raised a brow. “And if she just happens to forget she’s looking for a commitment and you two end up in bed together? What then?”
“He’s right, man,” Will said. “It’s never a good idea to mix business and pleasure, especially for a guy like you.”
“A guy like me?”
“Yeah, you.” Isaiah dribbled the ball between his legs, then jumped to shoot for the basket. It went through with a swoosh. “You’re so anti-relationship and up-front about not wanting to settle down that women try even harder to change your mind. She’ll end up falling in love with you.”
Jacobe laughed. “Doubtful. I don’t think I’m the type of guy she’d want to be with long-term.”
He was relieved she hadn’t hated him all these years, but what had she meant when she said their time had taught her she wasn’t into one-night stands anymore? Had she had others? The thought made him tense with jealousy. She’d mentioned moving on after he left. If she hadn’t done the one-night stands, was there a serious boyfriend in her past? More than one serious relationship? If so, what had happened with those guys?
Isaiah had run to get the ball and jogged back over to them. “You make women fall in love with you without even trying. Believe me, she’s going to fall. You always have the ones who want forever coming on to you. Me, I always end up with the crazy women who aren’t about anything.”
Kevin snorted and slapped the ball out of Isaiah’s hand. “That’s because you’re trying too hard to find this perfect woman to marry. I’m telling you, she ain’t out there.”
“I want kids one day.”
“You don’t need a wife to have kids,” Kevin said. “Take one of mine.”
They all laughed. Kevin had four kids, two with his ex-wife and two from a woman he’d dated after his divorce. He took care of them all but had made it clear he didn’t want more, going so far as to get a vasectomy in the off-season.
“I’d rather have my own kids than bum one of yours.”
Jacobe held up his hands. “Can we stop talking about kids? You’re making my nuts uncomfortable. I’m not trying to make Danielle fall in love with me, marry me, or have any kids. I’m not looking for that at all.”
Isaiah studied him closely. “I think you’ll change your mind one day.”
Jacobe shook his head. “Hell no, I’m not changing my mind. I’m not setting myself up to get played for a fool again, and you know just as well as I do how hard it is to find a woman who’s for real in this business. I’m only worrying about making the suits happy until my suspension is lifted. That’s it. There will be no love or long-term commitments happening here.”
Kevin looked at Isaiah and Will. “Five hundred says he’s going to fall for this woman.”
The guys glanced at Jacobe, then back at Kevin. Will shook his head. “Nah, I’d rather keep my money.”
Isaiah held out his hand. “I’ll take that bet. He won’t fall, but she will and he’s going to drive her away.”
Jacobe shook his head and shoved up from the seat. He held out his hand to Kevin. “Make it a thousand. I’m not falling for anyone.”
Kevin laughed and slapped hands with Jacobe. “I’ll want my money the day after you propose to her.”
* * *
Danielle returned from her walk on the beach to find Debra standing on the back porch holding two cups from their favorite smoothie place in her hands. Danielle smiled and skipped up the stairs. Debra handed her one of the cups. Danielle took a sip and the delicious flavor of strawberries, blueberries and banana filled her mouth.
“What’s bothering you now?” Debra asked.
“Nothing’s bothering me. I just needed to get up and move around.”
“It’s the date with Jacobe, isn’t it?”
Debra never let her pretend there wasn’t anything wrong. “Why does this have to be about him?”
“Just tell me.”
Danielle leaned against the railing of the back porch and took another sip. A breeze ruffled Debra’s ponytail, but neither of them made a move toward the back door. The interns were working in the office today. Danielle didn’t want them to overhear her silly confusion over her date. That kiss.
“He says he’s only volunteering to help his image.”
“Which is great. Having him at the gala will bring in tons of money, and possibly even our odds in the upcoming fight with Clear Water, especially if you can convince him to speak up to the council.”
“I know, but...”
Debra’s brows rose. “But what?”
“I can’t really refuse his offer to volunteer. I wouldn’t turn anyone away who wants to help. But I just don’t want him to think that I’ll be so grateful for his help that I’m willing to sleep with him.”
“Did he hint around that that’s the reason he’s helping?”
“No. If anything he made it very clear that his volunteering and his interest in me were two different things.”
“And what did you say?”
“That I’m looking for a relationship and not interested in doing the colleagues-with-benefits thing.”
“That’s a perfect way to make a man run.” Debra took a sip of her smoothie. “Did he run away immediately?”
Danielle shifted from one foot to the other. “He kissed me.”
Debra almost dropped her smoothie. She caught it and eyed Danielle. “Well, that’s different. So, what, is he interested in you for more than a hookup? I’d think that’s what it meant if he kissed you after you said that.”
“I have no idea.”
“Just think,” Debra said, her face bright with excitement. “You could see Jacobe Jenkins in all his tall, muscled glory in your bed.”
A vision of naked, glorious Jacobe lying on the flowered sheets in her bed filled her head. Followed by an image of him flicking her lace pillowcases and frowning. She giggled. “It would be a sight to see.” She shook her head to clear it of the vision. “I can’t go there with him. Making money at the gala and stopping Clear Water are the most important things. As the executive director, I can’t turn away having someone as high profile as him bringing attention to our cause. As a woman, I can’t afford to sleep with him just because I think he might eventually be interested in a relationship. I’ve been in love and had the guy leave for bigger and better things.”
Debra held the smoothie between her hands and peered at Danielle as if she were analyzing her. Debra’s brow raised and her unwavering gaze stayed with Danielle’s. “What happened with Luke shouldn’t color your future relationships. Don’t let fear of not being enough prevent you from trusting your feelings for Jacobe.”
“Are you a therapist now?” Danielle groused.
“I’m no therapist, but I have had a lot of therapy. Enough to tell me you want to get closer to him.”
Danielle paced back and forth on the porch. “I don’t want to get closer to him. I’m curious about him. Something is different about Jacobe. He’s still a charmer, still as confident and sexy as ever, but he’s holding back. He’s not as open anymore. He’s been hurt.”
“And you can’t resist a project.”
Danielle’s gaze snapped to Debra. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You like to fix things. That’s why you’re great at this job.” Debra shook her head. “You can’t fix a man. Normally, I’d say don’t get sucked into trying to figure out what makes him tick and just have a little fun, but that look on your face means if you sleep with him you won’t be able to help yourself. Jacobe is sexy, but unless you can really sleep with him without getting your heart involved, stay away. Let him volunteer and help
the River Watchers, but send him home alone at the end of the night.”
“Is that your professional recommendation?”
Debra nodded. “It is.”
Exactly the recommendation Danielle’s sensible side gave her. The side that had sent her to a party in college with the hope that Jacobe might be interested said something completely opposite. She’d survived and moved on with just a bruised ego but no major damage to her heart. Could she do the same again?
One night is a lot different from multiple liaisons, the sensible side whispered.
“You’re right. I’m going to forget about that kiss and only focus on getting him to help us raise money and beat Clear Water.”
“Good,” Debra said, pumping her fist in solidarity. “And if you do dabble into the Jacobe pool of temptation, I sincerely hope you prove me wrong.”
Danielle hoped the same.
Chapter 6
The auditorium where the Department of Environmental Protection was holding the public hearing on Clear Water’s new permit was woefully empty. Danielle scanned the room and caught the familiar faces of the leaders of a few other environmental organizations there, including her River Rat friends, to oppose the new permit and only a few residents of the Crescent Acres community. Public hearings at ten on a Wednesday morning, when most people worked, typically were sparsely attended. Between the staff of Clear Water, the environmental groups and the residents, there were barely twenty people there.
Danielle gritted her teeth. This was one of the most disheartening things about her work. Fighting every day to protect something that people enjoyed using, but getting little to no attention for the cause.
Danielle walked over to the people who’d become the closest thing she had to family in the area. “Hey, guys,” Danielle said to the two ladies and one man.
Mason Kelly lightly bumped her shoulder with his. “Hey, Danielle.” His light brown eyes were friendly and he gave her a welcoming smile. He represented the local kayakers in the area. He wore his typical brown hat with a kayak paddle logo over his sandy brown hair, along with cargo shorts and sandals. “Ready to fight today?”
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