Aware of the slight distance between them, she picked up the food carton and leaned forward until the back of her hand pressed against his shoulder. “Won’t you eat something? Please?”
“No.” He gently pushed her hand back.
“Why not? You bought enough food for an army.” She pointed at the mountain of containers on the cart.
“Because I know how you are about stocking your fridge. I figured whatever you didn’t eat now you could take home and eat later.”
“Oh! But I went shopping. I have all kinds of food at home. Enough to feed a small nation, in fact.”
“You didn’t.” The disbelief in his voice was unmistakable and comical.
She laughed. “Don’t look so surprised. I bought meat, vegetables, fruit...even some ice cream. I can prove it to you. Once they spring me from this place, how about coming over for some dessert? That’s the least I can do. But before you can have any sweets, you have to eat something solid. How about some steak?”
He laughed, a sound so delightful, she couldn’t help laughing right along with him. Then he opened the container and polished off the remaining steak and lobster.
By the time he’d finished, the nurse returned with Jane’s discharge instructions. Jason left the room while she dressed and within a half hour, they were on their way back to her place.
The minute they walked inside, she led him straight back to the kitchen, threw open the refrigerator and freezer doors and displayed the contents with pride. “See? You didn’t believe me, did you?”
“No, I didn’t but I do now.” His eyes were wide as he nodded. He didn’t move, so she rearranged a few things in the fridge and took the containers stacked high in his arms and put them inside. After closing the door, she went for the ice cream.
As she dished out their dessert, she watched him move about the kitchen, opening the cupboards, evidently to see if there was food inside, and inspecting the baked goods sitting on the counter.
“You did all of this because of your friend?” he asked, standing next to the full pantry.
“Kind of.”
He closed the cabinet door. “Someday I’d like to meet her.”
A bit of regret tugged at her gut. That would probably never happen. And even if it did, she’d have to pretend she didn’t know him, didn’t like him, didn’t care for him...wasn’t falling in love with him... How could she hide her feelings from Monica? “Maybe you will, someday.”
“She sounds like a terrific person. What’s her name?”
“Jane.” Jane handed him a bowl and motioned toward the living room. “Want to eat in there?”
“You never let anyone in your living room with food.”
“I do now.”
They sat on the undoubtedly expensive leather couch. The leather was so soft, it reminded her of silk. But it was about the only thing in the room that was warm, comforting—outside of the man sitting on the other end of the couch. The rest of the furniture was hard, metal, cold with sharp lines. Nothing like the furniture in Jane’s living room.
He was too far away for her comfort, but she did nothing to close the distance between them. She feared another touch, no matter how innocent, would completely obliterate her failing self-control.
There was no doubt about it, she was not only falling in lust with Jason Foxx, she was falling in love with him.
“Where’d you meet this friend, Jane?” he asked.
“Work.” She spun around, facing him and sat cross-legged. It was fun watching him eat. The way he captured the spoon between his lips. The way his tongue darted out to lick away the droplet of ice cream that sat in the center of his lower lip.
“Maybe we can plan a get-together? A foursome for golf?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t think she’s much of a golfer.”
“Please. I’d like to thank her for whatever she did. We had our problems in the past but you’ve changed. It’s...incredible. Maybe that couldn’t happen if you weren’t ready for it, but she still had a part in it and both our futures may be changed. I need to thank Jane...what’s her last name?”
“Brown. I’m sure she realizes how much it means to you.”
“I don’t think anyone does, including you.” He took her bowl from her and set both of them on the coffee table. Then he palmed her cheeks and gazed deeply into her eyes. “Monica, this is what I’ve been waiting for. You’ve become the woman of my dreams overnight. I’m falling in love with you all over again, and this time it could be forever.”
Jane sat mute, not knowing what to say, what to do.
The words, I’m falling in love with you too, sat deep in her throat but she refused to let them come out. For one thing, if she said them, she would be admitting something she wasn’t ready to accept yet.
Then he tilted his head and lowered it, and knowing what he was about to do, she reached up, her hands flat on the backs of his and pulled, hoping he’d release her face before their mouths made contact.
No, no, no! she screamed in her head.
Oblivious to her inner struggle, he chuckled and closed the distance between them. His mouth touched hers in an erotic but very soft kiss. His lips were moist, pliable as they moved over hers.
She was in heaven.
Before she knew it, she was kissing him back. But she knew her kiss wasn’t as patient as his had been. She opened her mouth and explored his, sighing when his tongue slipped inside. He tasted wonderful, sweet. She felt her hands shake as she slid them down his forearms then up over thick biceps to his chest. Her fingertips traced the line of his developed chest muscles through his shirt. She felt his hands fisting, gripping hair on either side of her head.
He groaned when her right index finger found the tight nub of his nipple and circled it. His tongue darted in and out of her mouth in a quick rhythm that brought to mind another kind of thrusting.
Heat slowly uncoiled low in her belly and wound its way down...
A firm but surprisingly gentle tug on her hair made her tilt her head back. With a growl, he set upon her neck, kissing and nibbling. She reached up and dug her fingernails into the hard flesh of his shoulders as chills warred with mini-blazes for control of her body. Goose bumps erupted on flesh that felt stinging hot. A steady throb began between her legs and she yearned to rub it away.
Her eyelids closed, shutting out the visual world, yet she still found herself overwhelmed by too many sensations. The sounds of his groans, the scents of man and tangy aftershave, the feel of his weight pressing over top of her, his chest grazing her tight nipples, his hands roaming up and down her torso.
“Monica, oh, Monica,” he murmured into her ear. His words, the name he’d called her—Monica—acted with swift effectiveness, cooling her heating libido.
She pushed against his chest and lowered her head, opening her eyes. “Stop. Please. I can’t.”
“No, you don’t understand—” He leaned back and ran his fingers through his tousled hair. It fell right back where it had been, in slight disorder. Sexy, rebellious, perfect.
“I’m sorry,” she said, glancing down to see if any of her clothes had been misplaced. “I just...I can’t...shoot! I don’t know how to explain.”
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t know how to handle this, what to think of it. This has to sound strange, but I feel like I’m falling in love with an entirely different woman. How can this be?”
“It’s strange for both of us.”
“Glad to hear I’m not the only one suffering.” Still looking a little uncomfortable, he winked.
Her face warmed as she saw the shimmer of love in his eyes.
This wasn’t fair! She’d never seen that expression in a man’s eyes before. Now that she had, she couldn’t be sure who it was meant for—the Monica he saw with his eyes or the Jane he saw with his heart. If only it were meant for the latter...
He glanced at his wristwatch. “I’d better get going. How about we go to the orchard next weekend? Get some cider and donuts.”
>
“Sounds wonderful! Do they have a hayride? I love hayrides.”
“You do?” He shook his head. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this new Monica. You’re so different.”
“Is that bad?”
“Heck no! And to answer your question, yes. They have a hayride later in the evening. We can get some hot cider and take it with us.”
“Sounds wonderful,” she said, imagining herself curled up in the hay with Jason, a blanket wrapped around them both, a sky full of sparkling stars overhead. Her whole body tingled. It had been eons since she’d last gone on a hayride. And never had she been snuggled close to a guy as hunky and sweet as Jason.
“Good. See you next Saturday.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Have a good week,” he whispered. Then he left.
*
The workweek dragged by. Jane felt like a kid waiting for Christmas as she prepared for her big date with Jason. That Saturday, she dressed in her cutest blue jeans, took extra long to fix her hair and makeup and bundled up in a sweater and jacket. Just in case she got cold—Monica was always cold—she folded a warm wool blanket to take along.
Jason showed up at six on the dot. Her heart rapped as loud against her rib cage as his fist did on the door. Nervous and giddy, she opened the front door to let him in.
His smile was warm and oh so sexy. “Hi,” he said as he stepped inside. One hand was noticeably hidden behind his back.
“Please tell me you didn’t bring flowers again,” she teased as she stepped aside to let him enter her living room.
“Oh no. I won’t make that mistake again.” He drew his arm out from behind his back, displaying a small paper bag. “Brought something safe instead.” He looked extremely proud of whatever it was.
Curious, she reached out and took the bag in her hand, reaching under its bottom. She knew what it was immediately, thanks to the cold that seeped through the paper and into her skin. “Mmmm... What flavor? Do I need to guess?”
“Chocolate Therapy of course. I know we might be too chilly after the hayride to eat some but figured it was worth a risk anyway.”
“I’ll put it in the freezer. With that blanket,” she pointed at the green wool Army blanket folded into a neat square on the couch, “I expect we’ll be plenty warm.”
“Excellent.” He clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Hungry?”
“Not really.” There were far too many butterflies in her belly to leave much room for food.
“That’s just as well. By the time we get to the orchard, it should be dusk. We can take the wagon ride out to the woods. They have a bonfire. We can roast hot dogs, toast marshmallows out there. They have a little store where we get everything we need beforehand.”
“Sounds like a plan!” Extremely nervous and feeling awkward, she bent to grab the blanket and gathered it to her chest.
Jason followed her to the door, reaching around her side to pull open the door.
She glanced over her shoulder to thank him but before anything came out of her mouth, she found herself kissing him.
His lips slid over hers so slowly she thought she might scream in protest. It was sheer torture. She’d never been kissed with such skill, such patience. This was not the kiss of an inexperienced man. Not sloppy, or hurried, or vulgar, it was pure seductive ecstasy. It took her breath away and left her legs wobbly and weak.
The blanket dropped from her arms as she turned her body toward him and lifted her hands. Her fingers tangled in his soft hair. Her body pressed against his wide, hard bulk. The stiff bulge of his erection pressed against her belly. Heat crept through her entire body.
He broke the kiss and looked down into her eyes with such profound affection she wanted to cry.
Who did he see when he looked at her like that?
“We better get going,” he whispered, “or we won’t leave at all.”
I wouldn’t object. Shoot! What am I thinking? “Yes. Good idea.” She let her arms fall to her sides.
He bent his head and pointed at the floor. “Better not forget that.”
“Huh?” Her gaze dropped to the floor and found the green blanket lying in a heap at her feet. She laughed nervously. “Oh, yeah. That.”
He bent low and picked it up, bundling it into a ball in his arms. “After you.”
She walked out the front door, double-checking to make sure she had her house key in her pocket before allowing him to pull the front door closed behind them.
They walked to the car. The air was crisp and cool, touching the tip of her nose. Good thing she’d thought to wear layers.
She settled into the passenger seat and tried like heck to sooth her jittery nerves as she waited for him to walk around the car and take his seat. He tossed the blanket into the backseat then got in, shut the door and started the car.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready.”
“Let’s go have some fun.” He put the car into gear and they sped off down the road.
Chapter Nine
The drive to the apple orchard/cider mill was short but very enjoyable, and not only because of the doll of a man sitting next to Jane. The scenery changed quickly as they drove, going from spacious sprawling suburban homes to empty farm fields, to bundles of trees cloaked in green and gold leaves. There wasn’t a single cloud to spoil the cool hue of the clear sky. Picture-perfect. To the east, the beginnings of a deepening color—closer to purple—hovered near the horizon as the sun squatted low to the west.
Jason parked the car on the dirt lawn that served as a makeshift parking lot for the orchard and got out. After collecting the blanket, he opened her door. “Careful. The mud’s pretty deep here.”
“Yikes. You weren’t exaggerating.” No matter how she wished to avoid it, the deeply rutted mud was everywhere. It wasn’t looking good.
As she feared, when she stepped out of the car the heel of her ankle-high book stuck in the thick muck. She tried to pull it out, but the harder she struggled, the deeper her boot seemed to sink, threatening to pull her with it. Finally, her foot slipped out and she teetered on the other, flailing, expressing her concern in mild expletives, and grasping any part of Jason she could reach to steady herself. Her fingers grazed something on their way up to his arm and she heard him gasp sharply.
With the distinct feeling in her clumsy, undirected flailing she’d touched a sensitive spot or two, she glanced his way the minute she’d managed to steady herself on one foot—as steady as one could be standing on what could best be described as an oil slick.
He looked surprised...or pained, she couldn’t be sure which. “What can I do to help?” he asked.
“Rescue my boot?” She pointed at the defenseless, expensive shoe that was in danger of being sucked out of sight at any moment. “That’s no normal mud. I’m quite certain it’s quickmud—you know, like quicksand.”
“There’s no such thing.” He chuckled and carefully bent to retrieve the sinking article before it was lost forever. Supporting her with one arm, he helped her sit back in the car without putting her stockinged foot in the muck then went to the trunk. “I think I have some paper towels in here.”
“Is there anything you’re not prepared for?” she joked as she waited for him to return.
He slammed the trunk and handed the roll to her. “Sure, plenty. I’m not ready for you to dump me.”
She felt her cheeks flaming. He was worried about her ditching him? He had that backwards in her opinion. She’d be out of her mind to dump him. There had to be dozens of women standing in line waiting for their chance at dating Jason Foxx, women who wouldn’t sell his grandmother’s art glass to junk dealers or rack up attorney’s fees for auto accidents. “You’re just saying that to be funny.”
He stooped so his eyes were level with hers. “Oh no I’m not. I mean it. I can’t believe how things have changed between us. Practically overnight. I don’t want this to end. Tell me it’s for real and I’m not going to wake up tomorrow morning and learn
it was all a dream.” He took her shoe from her then pulled a paper towel off the roll she’d forgotten she was holding. Without looking down, he began rubbing the dirt away.
“If you’re dreaming, then I am too. We’re sharing the same dream and I don’t want to wake up either.”
He wadded up the soiled paper and tossed it into the car then took her foot in his hand and eased it into the boot. “There you go,” he whispered. His gaze never once left hers. It delved deep, beyond her body to the furthest reaches of her soul.
This was the most amazing, erotic moment. She felt like he was literally bound to her—mind, body and spirit—for a brief, heavenly instant.
“Thanks,” was all she could utter. She licked lips that suddenly felt very dry and stared deep into his eyes. What did she see there? Fear? Hope? Uncertainty?
A child screamed nearby, slowly breaking the spell and gently nudging Jane back to the world around them. She looked up and caught sight of a woman and man both struggling to subdue an angry toddler and strap him into the vehicle next to theirs.
Still trying to gather her wits and find a footing as she stood, she motioned toward them. “Will that be us someday?”
“Probably,” he answered, supporting her with an arm. “With our tempers we’re bound to produce a houseful of hotheads.”
Her heart did a couple of back flips with a twist. He said probably! They would probably be married and probably have kids. That was almost as good as a promise.
Back-stepping, he pulled her with him until they were both standing on firm ground. Even though he no longer needed to hold her, he didn’t release her.
She didn’t mind. Being in his arms was like being in heaven, it had to be. Although she’d never actually been to heaven—never had a near-death experience, outside of a close call ages ago when she’d accidentally turned the wrong way down a one-way road and hit a cab head-on—she was sure nothing outside of sitting before God himself could be better than being held in Jason’s arms. “You? I haven’t seen any sign of a bad temper in you.”
Tangled: A New Adult Romance Boxed Set (12 Book Bundle of Billionaires, Bad Boys, and Royalty) Page 63