Jack wasn’t fool enough to think he could show up on her doorstep the weekend before Valentine’s Day without the goods. The minute his rental was secured, he tamped down his impatience and set the GPS on a course for the nearest flower shop. Unfortunately, the chosen shop ended up being miles away from the Little Rock airport and somewhere on the other side of the Earth from Ellie Nichols’ apartment.
Seven weeks had passed since they’d met at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis. Six weeks crept by at a snail’s pace following his whirlwind trip to Little Rock on New Year’s Eve. Five weeks and six days of living with the memory of her perfume and the taste of her kiss on his lips. The forty-one-plus phone calls they’d shared since January second just weren’t enough. Jack wasn’t entirely sure he’d ever get enough. At the very least, he needed another taste, just to be certain.
He juggled the flowers and candy, shivering in the icy wind as he gathered his coat, laptop bag, and small duffle from the back seat. He hadn’t expected it to be so cold in Arkansas. Thoughts of Little Rock and the woman who lived there always made him feel warm.
Jack wrestled the straps onto his shoulder, tucked the coat under his arm, and sprinted for the wooden staircase. Crusty piles of snow clung to shaded spots of grass and in the corners of the exposed steps. He took the treads two at a time, his puffing breaths vaporizing in the chilly air.
At the top of the stairs he ran a nervous hand over his wind-ruffled hair and tried to calm his breathing. Jack closed his eyes and took a deep breath, ignoring the cold bite of the breeze whipping its way down the exterior corridor. He let the duffle and laptop bag slide to the floor at his feet. Pain shot up his wrist as his chilled knuckles rapped on the door. He winced and tucked the box of candy behind his back, his gaze fixed expectantly on her door.
****
Ellie jumped like a scalded cat when she heard his knock. A nervous laugh bubbled from her lips and she smoothed her hand over the wavy curls that clung to her neck and winged over her ears. The pixie cut she’d experimented with over the holidays was finally growing out. Unfortunately, she was only an inch or two into the awkward in-between stage. She glanced at her reflection in the toaster and sighed, envisioning a plethora of headbands in her future.
Giving her head a shake, she tugged at the seams of her black pencil skirt and smoothed the bunched sleeves of her slinky red sweater from her elbows. Her heart beat a tarantella as she snagged the ugly gray blazer she wore for work from the back of a chair and stuffed it into the closet. A snafu with her kitchen staff may have kept her from leaving the hotel where she worked as early as she liked, but now she had the whole weekend ahead of her. A whole weekend with Jack.
She gnawed her lip for a moment, mentally reviewing her preparations. She’d dumped bagged Caesar salad into a bowl and stashed the cellophane bags at the bottom of the trash. The shrimp for her scampi were rinsed and waiting in a colander in the fridge. A pot of water stood at a low simmer on the stove. All she had to do was drop the linguine and start sautéing.
A sizzle of excitement shot through her as she reached for the door handle. She closed her eyes for a fraction of a second before opening the door, clinging to the anticipation of Jack’s visit and terrified that the reality might not live up to the hype.
Then she fell right into his big brown eyes, drowning in deep pools of rich, dark chocolate. “Hi,” she managed to peep.
“Hey.”
Ellie barely had time to blink before he thrust a bouquet of blood red roses under her nose. She gasped, sucking down a huge gulp of fragrance. Almost immediately her breath tangled in her throat. Tears prickled her eyes. She tried to fight them back, but the pungent aroma of hothouse flowers tickled her nostrils. She made the mistake of sniffing ever-so-slightly and was rewarded with an explosive sneeze. Then another. And another.
Jack’s jaw dropped when she waved a hand in front of her face. Tears streamed from her eyes. She clamped one hand over her nose and mouth. It was no good. The sneezes came fast and furious. The next one made her double over.
“Are you okay?”
She shook her head, shooing him away with her free hand. “I’m ah-ah…achoo!” Ellie groaned her mortification.
“What?”
“’Lergic,” she gasped.
“Lergic? What’s that?” he muttered, frowning at her over the roses. “Oh! Allergic? Crap! Allergic!”
Ellie glanced up in time to see him back into the narrow hall and pitch the beautiful bouquet over the rail.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” he panted.
She waved him in with a limp hand. “Right back.” She wheezed.
Her heel caught in the low pile of the carpet and she stumbled away, catching her balance against the living room wall then beating a path to the bathroom off the hall. Ellie leaned against the hollow door, letting her head drop back as she tested her traitorous sinuses. She caught her own wary gaze in the mirror and winced.
“Dammit,” she hissed.
She pulled a long streamer of toilet paper from the roll and gathered it into a wad, leaning over the sink to mop at the dark smudges of mascara beneath her eyes. “Great,” she muttered. “Very smooth. Very sexy.”
A heavy sigh whooshed from her parched lips. Another sneeze lurked deep inside. Ellie pinched her nostrils and tossed the sodden tissue into the trash. She glowered at her reflection. Her hair stuck out in odd clumps. Her cheeks and nose glowed bright red, and baleful green eyes stared back at her.
“Cripes. I do look like an elf,” she muttered, finger-combing through a lump of tangled curls.
Living up to Jack’s annoying nickname was not what she had in mind for this weekend. Ellie gazed blankly into the mirror, mentally reviewing each and every scenario she’d played through her head over the course of the last six weeks. Nope. Not one of those scenarios involved her spewing snot all over Jack Rudolph the minute she laid eyes on him.
She huffed and opened the medicine cabinet, hoping a little pressed powder and a fresh swipe of mascara could repair some of the damage. As for the rest, maybe the red push-up bra and matching panties she’d splurged on could distract him. She sure hoped so, because every scenario she’d cooked up relied on the judicious use of lingerie. Every single one of them. New lingerie and a battle plan of tactics specifically geared to elicit the low, husky chuckle that made her heart flutter when they argued over ending their nightly phone calls.
Lingerie and laughter were a yes. Sneezing and wheezing were definitely a no. Still, a flutter of hummingbird wings took flight in her stomach when she conjured the image, but luckily not the scent, of those long-stemmed crimson roses. They were beautiful. And considering the habitual price gouging that takes place around the holiday, they must have cost him a fortune. A pang of regret tweaked her heart.
Ellie snapped the powder compact shut and shoved it back into the cabinet. Her fingers fluttered through her hair again and she gave the seams of her skirt another tug for luck. Bending at her waist, she leaned forward to coax the girls a little higher in the shallow cups of the push-up bra.
“I guess I should have stuck with chocolates, huh?” Jack called through the door.
She froze for a second then straightened, giving her boobs another encouraging lift. She smiled and shook her head at the pink blush her reflection wore. “That’s okay,” she answered, reaching for the doorknob. “I’m not a big chocolate fan…” The words died on her lips as she opened the door and was met with an enormous red and gold foil heart. “…either,” she breathed, wincing as his shoulders slumped and he visibly deflated.
“But I’ve seen you eat chocolate,” he protested.
“I mean, I like chocolate,” she said, bobbing her head like one of those ridiculous dolls. “I just…I’m not a chocoholic or anything, that’s all.” Ellie forced a bright smile and took the box from his hand. “Thank you. I’m, uh… Sorry about the roses. They looked beautiful.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think…”
“There’s no way you could have known.”
“I could have asked.”
“Asked out of the blue? On the off chance that one of the most common flowers in the world makes my head explode?” she teased. Ellie raised the lid and the sweet scent of rich chocolate wafted from the box. “These look wonderful.”
She smiled as she lowered the lid. Intending to offer him a drink, she glanced toward the kitchen and turned her head just as he was swooping in for a kiss hello. His lips glanced off her cheek and an exasperated huff of breath tickled her ear.
“I’m striking out all over,” he grumbled.
A nervous giggle burbled in her throat. Ellie swallowed hard and lowered the box of chocolates so she could step closer. “Sorry.” She raised her hand to his chest and tipped her chin up in what she hoped would come across as a clear invitation. “Hello, Jack.”
“Elfie,” he whispered, fingering a curl just behind her ear.
His lips were warm and soft. The kiss lingered, stirring the delicious cocktail of nerves and anticipation that fueled her through the day. Jack drew back but she stayed put, inhaling the woodsy scent of his aftershave. She swayed closer and he caught her, his arm banding around her waist as his lips met hers again. Ellie parted her lips, drinking him in, intoxicated by the hint of sugar she tasted on his tongue.
His eyes were dark and heavy lidded when he pulled away. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you, too,” she whispered.
A hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Even though I nearly asphyxiated you?”
“Yeah, even though...” Her fingers curled, bunching the soft wool of his sweater. “Thanks for coming.”
“You woulda had a hard time keeping me away.” He beamed a smile that made her knees quiver. “It’s been too long.” Jack wound the ends of a curl around this fingertip. “Speaking of too long, your hair has grown out.”
She ran a self-conscious hand over her hair. “It’s getting there.”
“I liked it short.” His fingertip grazed the sensitive skin behind her ear. “You have a birthmark.” Ellie leaned into his caress. “It drives me wild.”
“Does it?” The wispy timbre of her voice made her cheeks burn. “Well, I seem to specialize in driving men crazy.”
The words popped out of her mouth before she could stop them. A lame attempt at a joke that fell flatter than a pancake. Jack’s hand fell away. He cleared his throat, disrupting the awkward silence that hummed between them.
“So, uh...maybe I can salvage a little of my plan,” he said gruffly. “Where would you like to go for dinner?”
The heat in her cheeks migrated south, warming her thudding heart and pulsing through her veins. Her fingers trailed down the front of his sweater. “I thought I’d cook dinner for us,” she said, flashing what she hoped was a flirty smile.
His eyebrows rose and those warm brown eyes lit with pleasure. “Really?”
Ellie smiled, gratified by his enthusiastic response. “Well, you’ve been traveling a lot these past few weeks, and I’m always eating at the hotel. I thought a home-cooked meal would be good for both of us.” Taking his hand, she led him toward the kitchen. “I have it all planned. Caesar salad, a loaf of crusty Italian bread I swiped from the kitchen today, and my famous shrimp scampi.” She placed the heart-shaped box of chocolates on the table and waved him toward a chair.
Jack drew up short next to the table. The tips of his ears flushed pink. His voice dropped almost a full octave. “Shrimp scampi?”
Confused by his reaction, she gave his arm a pat. “Don’t worry. It’s a recipe I got from the chef at our hotel in Indianapolis and it’s killer.”
The color rushed from his ears to his cheeks. Jack plunged his hands into his pockets and shuffled his feet. “Uh, Ellie?”
She crossed her arms over her chest, fixing him with a level stare. “What? You think I’m going to poison you?”
“Well, kind of,” he hedged.
Ellie spun for the fridge and yanked open the door. “I can cook,” she asserted. Pulling the colander of washed shrimp from the shelf, she whirled to face him. Jack took a hasty step back and bumped into the table. Her jaw dropped. “I’m a good cook!”
Jack held his hands up in surrender. “I’m sure you are. It’s just... Uh, I’m allergic to shellfish.”
“What?”
“Kind of like you and the roses, but instead of sneezing, there’s a lot more wheezing. Usually followed by a trip to the emergency room,” he said, emphasizing his shrug with a grimace.
She blinked, dropping her gaze to the perfect pink shrimp piled in the bowl. “Oh.” Her head jerked up and her gaze flew to his. “Oh!” Ellie turned in a circle, panic gripping her gut as she tried to figure out what to do next.
“Ellie—”
She rushed to the trash can, dumped the contents of the colander into the bag, and tossed the plastic bowl into the sink. “Oh God, I’m sorry,” she muttered, yanking on the plastic handles of the trash bag to pull it from the can.
“No, I’m sorry. Here, let me,” he offered, stepping forward.
“No, stay back,” she cautioned.
Jack rolled his eyes. “I may not be able to eat them, Ellie, but I’m pretty sure they don’t work like Kryptonite.”
“Stupid.” She pulled the bag from the bin and quickly knotted the handles. “I mean, that’s a pretty common allergy, right?”
“I don’t know.”
Jack made another attempt to snag the bag from her grip, but she batted him away. “I’ve got this,” she murmured, rushing for the door.
“Ellie, it’s cold out there...”
His words trailed behind her as she shot down the hall to the trash chute. Ellie crammed the bag through the opening. The metal door clanged, swallowing her mistake. A shiver raced down her spine.
“What am I thinking?” she whispered.
The wind whipped the hem of her skirt and sliced straight through the thin knit of her sweater. Ellie squeezed her eyes shut and tipped her head back, welcoming the icy bite of winter on her flushed skin.
“What am I doing?”
“Ellie?” Jack called into the hallway.
The sound of his voice made her stomach knot into a ball. Tucking her hands under her arms, she hugged herself tightly as she made her way to the open door. Jack stepped aside and she side-stepped past him.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
She shivered again and rubbed her arms to warm them. “We seem to be saying that a lot tonight.”
Judging by the furrow that dipped between his dark brows, Jack caught the grim note in her tone. He stepped toward her, opening his arms to embrace her. This time, she did a quick two-step and ducked into the kitchen. She bumped the flame under the pot of water up a notch and busied herself with rummaging through the contents of the fridge.
“I don’t have any jarred sauce. I guess we can have salad and buttered noodles with cheese,” she mumbled.
“Ellie—”
“Or we can just order a pizza.” She twisted the dial, killing the flame beneath the pot, and snatched the package of linguine from the counter. “That’s a better idea, right? Right. Let’s do that.”
“Ellie!” he barked.
She stilled, her shoulders hunching to her ears as she gripped the edge of the countertop. “We don’t know each other at all,” she whispered. “A night in an airport, one dance on New Year’s Eve…” Her heartbeat slowed to a dull thud. “Why are we doing this?”
****
Jack’s stomach dropped to his feet. He crossed the room in two steps. His hands gripped her arms, trying to pull her away from the sink. “It was more than a night in an airport and a dance.”
Ellie resisted, shaking her head slowly. “We live hundreds of miles apart. You go where your job takes you, and I go where my job takes me… And seriously, when we do manage a weekend, we almost kill each other in the first fifteen minutes,” she said dejectedly.
“What’s the use?”
He wet his lips and leaned forward, trapping her between the edge of the counter and his chest, afraid if he gave an inch she’d slip away. “Don’t say that,” he rasped. “Don’t you know I’ve been dying to see you?”
She snorted. “Almost literally.”
His fingertips bit into the soft flesh of her upper arms. His muscles tensed. Jack suppressed the retort on the tip of his tongue, stepped back, and turned her to face him.
“Elfie.” His voice cracked when he whispered the silly nickname, but he didn’t care. It had the desired effect. Ellie’s reluctant gaze met his. “I just want to be with you. If that means I have to down the all-you-can-eat shrimp platter at Red Lobster, I’ll take my Epinephrine shot like a man.”
“Jack, we hardly know each other.”
A short, sharp laugh escaped him. He took another step back and plowed his hand through his hair. “Jeez, Ellie, how can you say that? I’ve talked to you more than I’ve ever talked to any woman!” She opened her mouth to respond and he held up a hand to stop her. “Yeah, I know that doesn’t sound good, but it’s true! You think I tell every woman about getting pantsed every day in sixth grade?”
“I hope not.”
“No! I don’t! Hours, Ellie, we’ve talked for hours.” He threw his hands up in frustration. “We don’t get to see each other very much. I get that. That’s why I didn’t know about the roses and you didn’t know about the shrimp. Yeah, maybe if we lived closer to each other I’d know you don’t like chocolates.”
A spark flashed in her bright green eyes. “I like chocolates.”
“I don’t care if you do or you don’t!” To keep from grabbing her and shaking her he lowered his hands to his sides, balling his fingers into fists. “I don’t care if you toss them off the balcony with the damn flowers! I just want to be with you!”
“Why?”
“Damned if I know!”
“Boy, you are a sweet talker, aren’t you?”
“You’re right. You’re making me crazy! You’ve made me crazy since the first time I laid eyes on you! Your eyes make me crazy, your mouth makes me crazy, and that crazy birthmark behind your ear turns me into a raving lunatic!”
Be Mine, Valentine Page 9