Chapter Five
“You’re daydreaming again.”
Jade started at the sound of Mariah’s amused voice and jerked her head in the direction of her office door, where her sister stood. Daydreaming didn’t even begin to describe the scrumptious fantasy she’d been weaving in her mind. She shuffled paperwork on her desk in an attempt to look busy, but couldn’t remember what she’d been doing before Kyle had invaded her thoughts and she’d drifted off to a forbidden dimension. Damn, she had to get a grip before she became completely obsessed with Kyle and the affair she’d agreed to. Or maybe it was the anticipation of their tryst that had her so preoccupied.
“I was, uh, just, um…thinking.” Good Lord, when had she become such a scatterbrain that she couldn’t even talk without tripping all over her tongue?
Mariah sauntered into Jade’s office, a piece of paper crinkling in her hand. “You seem to be doing a lot of that lately. Thinking, that is,” she clarified, a Cheshire-cat grin curling the corners of her mouth. “Would Kyle Stephens be the reason?”
Was she that transparent? Jade’s face warmed and she shifted in her high-back leather chair. “What makes you say that?”
“This.” Standing across from her, Mariah released the paper in her hand, and the document fluttered to Jade’s messy desktop.
Stalling the inevitable, Jade gave the familiar name and business typed on the contract a nonchalant glance. “Oh, that.”
“Yes, that.” Exasperation tinged Mariah’s voice. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d acquired Kyle Stephens as a client?”
She shrugged. “I knew you’d see a copy of the contract.” As partners, they each received a copy of all contracts, no matter who acquired them, so they both knew their client base should either of them need to take over an account.
“You could have told me personally,” Mariah said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Jade flashed a sugary sweet smile. “Why, so you could interrogate me?”
Mariah pursed her lips at Jade’s direct hit. “How can I not? Last I remember you didn’t want to have anything to do with Kyle Stephens. Then a few weeks later I find a contract for you to refurbish his bar and decorate his restaurant, which is quite an impressive account for Casual Elegance. You can’t blame me for being a little curious.”
“It’s just another business deal, Riah.” And so was their affair—a transaction based on their mutual attraction and desire. Once the passion and thrill fizzled, they’d go their separate ways, which she estimated should be right around the time she finished decorating his bar and restaurant.
“Sure it is,” Mariah murmured, her shrewd look not buying into the simple premise. She settled into the chair in front of Jade’s desk, and just as Jade dreaded, the cross-examination began. “The Black Sheep might be a business deal, but I want to know what’s going on between you and Kyle on a personal level. Hopefully more than business.”
Jade leaned back in her chair and considered her sister’s comment. She didn’t think Mariah would understand her decision to have a capricious affair with Kyle, not after what her sister had been through with Grey. Mariah believed solidly in commitment, love and the sanctity of marriage. There was no in-between with Mariah, and she’d never settle for an impetuous fling for the sake of mutual pleasure. Luckily Mariah had swayed Grey to her way of thinking.
An unexpected pang of sadness ribboned through her. Once, a long time ago, she’d had faith in a committed relationship, too. But her own lesson in what she’d thought was love had made her cynical.
Damn you, Adam Beckman, she thought, hating that his past influence could still affect certain aspects of her life in the present. Like her trust in men and their motives.
As much as she tried denying not wanting or needing a man in her life, that lonely, empty part of her still yearned to find someone special. Someone steady, strong, yet gentle and giving when it counted. Someone who’d give her the freedom to do what she wanted, and didn’t demand more than she was able to give. Someone who’d accept her for the real woman she was beneath the flamboyance and sass.
Someone like Kyle.
Startled by that thought, she dismissed it as meaningless and frivolous, considering he’d admitted to being a confirmed bachelor. And even though he’d promised her she’d be in control of how fast and far their affair went, she knew and accepted up front that theirs wasn’t a forever kind of relationship. That knowledge should have brought her relief, but left her with an elusive feeling of wanting.
“Well?” Mariah prompted.
Jade blinked at her sister, thinking back to the question that had put her on a tangent better left unexplored. Oh, yeah, she wanted to know what was going on between her and Kyle on a personal level.
“We’re just…” The right word eluded Jade. What were they? They weren’t lovers, at least not yet. And they’d never be a “couple.” And their association encompassed more than a business relationship.
Mariah drummed her fingernails on the wooden armrest of her chair. “You’re just what?”
Pushy broad. “We’re just friends,” she answered indifferently. Certainly she and Kyle were at least that.
“Oh.” The tiny frown of disappointment creasing Mariah’s brows gave way to a slow, mischievous smile. Standing, she grabbed her copy of the contract off Jade’s desk and winked at her. “Well, you never know where friendship can lead.”
Jade shook her head at her sister’s optimism. Mariah just smiled and turned to go, but stopped when their receptionist’s voice drifted out of Jade’s intercom.
“Jade, there’s a Kyle Stephens here to see you. He doesn’t have an appointment, but he’s insisting you’ll see him without one,” Pam said, her exasperation plain. “What would you like me to do?”
Kyle Stephens, bold as he pleased. Jade’s pulse picked up at the mere thought, warming her insides with every heartbeat “Send him to my office,” she said to Pam, then disconnected the line with a push of a button on the phone.
“He certainly doesn’t lack in the confidence department, does he?” Mariah commented, her tone filled with amusement.
If Mariah knew the half of how brazen and self-assured Kyle was, she’d be shocked. “He’s a client, which gives him certain privileges, like dropping by without an appointment” Her handy excuse sounded good, though she had to admit she was curious about why he hadn’t mentioned anything about stopping by when she’d left The Black Sheep last night. But then again, after his seduction and her surrender, her mind had been on anything but business.
Jade waited for Mariah to continue out her office, and when she realized her sister needed a little prompting, she stood and waved a hand toward the entrance. “The door is right behind you, just in case you forgot the way out.”
Expression aghast, Mariah affected a prim and proper look that would have made Miss Manners proud. “I wouldn’t dream of being so rude as to not say hello.”
Glaring, Jade opened her mouth to issue a retort, but the remark died on her lips at the sound of a brisk knock. Her gaze shifted over her sister’s shoulder to the sinfully sexy man standing in the doorway. Then nothing seemed to matter as she connected with dark blue eyes, soft and rich as velvet, and as warm as sunshine caressing her bare skin. A honeyed heat of awareness sluiced through her veins, settling in feminine places gone too long without a man’s touch. It was Kyle whom she wanted to ease the ache. Kyle, with a mouth that delivered hot, exciting kisses and strong hands that promised a wealth of pleasure.
Grinning that lazy, bad-boy grin of his, he strolled into her office, filling the room with his masculine presence. He wore a pair of Levi’s, faded in all the right places, and a blue chambray shirt, the sleeves rolled to mid-forearm. “Good afternoon, ladies.”
“Kyle,” Mariah said, reaching out to clasp his hand in greeting. “It’s so nice to see you again. Jade was just telling me you’re a new client of ours.”
“Yes, I am,” he said, his tone warm and pleasant. “I’m looking forward to working with Jade.”
“Umm,” Mariah murmured thoughtfully, a mischievous smile curving her mouth. “Well, I’ll let the two of you discuss whatever it is you need to discuss.” She turned to leave, but stopped in the doorway, one hand resting on the frame as she glanced back at Jade. “Oh, I almost forgot!”
Jade slowly rounded her desk, not trusting her sister’s wide-eyed innocence. “Forgot what?”
Mariah smiled sweetly—too sweetly for Jade’s liking. “I talked to Mom this morning and she mentioned having a family barbecue at their place for your birthday next weekend. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you brought Kyle along, him being a friend and all.”
Jade forced a smile, though her fingers itched to strangle her meddling sister. “I don’t think Kyle would be interested—”
“I’d love to go,” he interrupted, bestowing a dazzling, charming smile on Mariah that any woman would be hard-pressed to resist. “Thanks for the invitation.”
Mariah grinned. “My pleasure.” Before Jade could object, Mariah ducked safely from the room and closed the door behind her.
Damn her sister, anyway, Jade thought irritably. Her relationship with Kyle wasn’t supposed to get cozy, and meeting her parents was too cozy for comfort. She preferred to keep their affair private—the less her family knew about Kyle, the better, because this wasn’t going to be a lasting relationship.
She glanced up at Kyle, who stood next to her. His gaze, she couldn’t help noticing, was focused on her mouth, which made it difficult for her to concentrate. “My sister can be a bit pushy at times,” she said, attempting to change his mind about joining her family get-together. “You really don’t have to go.”
The corner of his mouth crooked in a half smile. “I really want to.”
Did she really expect Kyle to concede so easily? She drew a deep breath and opted for honesty. “The truth is…I haven’t brought a male friend home in a long time.” Not since Adam, and the significance of bringing Kyle to meet her parents wasn’t something she was ready for.
“I’ll be a perfect gentleman,” he promised.
He didn’t understand the complications of openly acknowledging their relationship. “I don’t want my parents to get the wrong idea about us, or get their hopes up for something more between us than there is.”
He slid his hands into the front pockets of his well-worn jeans. “Which is?”
“Well, an affair.” Feeling exasperated and flustered beneath his intense stare, she went back to her desk and shuffled papers. “My father will drive you nuts with the third degree about our relationship and your intentions—”
“Trust me, tiger,” he said in a soothing drawl. “I can handle your father and any questions he might have. And I’d never do or say anything to embarrass you.”
She met his gaze from across the desk. “I never said you would.” The thing was, he was so unpredictable, and having an affair was so foreign to her, she didn’t know what to expect from him, or their newly established relationship. Or what he expected from her. The whole idea of being intimate with Kyle was at once scary and thrilling.
“I’ll tell you what, if you still feel this way by next weekend, I’ll respect your wishes and not go to your parents’. The decision will be yours.”
“Okay.” She hadn’t realized how tense the whole subject made her until she felt her body relax. He was giving her the space she needed, and she was grateful for that.
His gaze turned warm and speculative. “So, how old are you going to be, anyway?”
Her mouth pursed in displeasure. She was having a difficult enough time dealing with the fact that she was hitting a major milestone in her life without voicing it aloud. “Don’t ask,” she muttered.
His rich, amused chuckles filled her office. “It can’t be that bad. Come on, ’fess up.”
She sighed, knowing she had to get used to the idea of getting older, but she didn’t have to like it. “I’m going to be the big 3-0.” She cringed as she said the number.
“Oh, yeah, that puts you way over the hill,” he teased. “I’ll be sure to get you a cane and a bottle of Metamucil.”
She made a face at him, though deep down inside she couldn’t stop thinking that she’d once imagined having a husband and family by now—but the future looked mighty bleak on that score. When she saw Mariah with Grey and Kayla, and how happy they were as a family, she sometimes experienced a twinge of envy that made her wonder if she was destined to live her life alone. It was a possibility, considering her timidity toward committing herself to another man.
Not caring for the direction of those thoughts, she reached for The Black Sheep’s file, which she’d left in her “pending” basket on the corner of her desk. “So, what brings you by? We didn’t have an appointment to sign your contract until tomorrow morning.”
“My visit has nothing to do with my contract.” Eyes glittering with purpose, he strolled toward where she stood behind her desk. “You see, I’ve got this problem, and it’s all your fault. And since it’s your fault, I think you ought to do something about it.”
He stopped behind her, but didn’t touch her. All at once she was aware of the silence and intimacy of her office. That they were totally and completely alone, and she still didn’t know why he was there. Could only imagine the reason for his visit.
A shiver of anticipation danced down her spine and settled in the pit of her belly. The Black Sheep’s file slipped from her fingers and landed on the paperwork on her blotter.
“What’s all my fault?” she asked breathlessly.
“That I can’t stop thinking about you. About the way you smell…” Lowering his head, he drew a deep breath of her scent “The way you feel…” Slowly he dragged his hands over the curve of her hips. “And the way you taste. Especially that. You taste like sweet peaches and rich cream.”
A moan caught in her throat. Resisting the urge to lean back against him and absorb his heat, she struggled to maintain her composure. Business was always a good diffuser.
She turned around, breaking the contact of his hands, but trapping herself in a more precarious situation—between him and her desk. “Uh, since you’re here you might as well sign your contract now.”
“In a minute,” he murmured, his long, tawny lashes sweeping downward.
Sifting his fingers through the wispy hair at the side of her face, he lifted her mouth to his. Her lips automatically parted, and she accepted the blatantly erotic, very thorough French kiss he gave her. A purring rumble rose up in her throat, and he returned the sound of pleasure with a masculine growl of his own.
A part of her mind not overwhelmed by desire wondered how far he planned to take their kiss…if he’d come to her office to seduce her and make their affair official. He moved closer, pressing his body against hers. His erection strained against her belly, and a frisson of panic doused the flames that had burned so brightly only moments before.
As much as she wanted Kyle, as much as she enjoyed his kisses and caresses, she still felt unsure of him, herself and them to advance to the next level of intimacy.
As if he sensed her emotional withdrawal, he ended the kiss and took a small step back.
“Damn,” he said softly, a lopsided grin full of masculine satisfaction on his face. “If I’d known how incredibly sexy and soft your mouth felt, no way would I have waited six months to kiss you.”
She willed her heart rate to stabilize, and reached for some much needed sass. “I’m surprised you waited at all, considering how presumptuous you are.”
His dark blue eyes sparkled with humor. “It’s always nice to have the other person’s cooperation when you try and kiss her. I didn’t want to find out if you had a strong left hook.” He touched her cheek, ran a fingertip along her jaw. “Now, about my contract?”
Collecting her poise, and welcoming the business diversion, she turned toward her desk, retrieved his contract from his file, and handed it to him. “These are just approximate figures and are estimated on the high side until we get the proposal for your restaurant and bar completely laid out, which we’ll start on next week. Read through the preliminary contract, and if everything meets with your approval sign on the dotted line.”
Mr. Presumptuous settled himself into her high-back chair and propped his boots on the corner of her desk, confining her to a cramped triangle constructed of his legs, her chair and her desk. He began perusing the contract, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she was trapped, and that he was sitting in her seat.
No way was she going to take one of the chairs in front of her desk reserved for clients and let him be in the dominant position, so she eased back onto the flat surface of her desk, crossed one leg over the other, and waited for him to finish reading the terms of their agreement.
After a few silent moments passed, he glanced up at her. “Got a pen?”
Remembering what had transpired the last time he’d made such a request, she held the pen just out of his reach. “Depends on where you plan to put your signature.”
He chuckled and ran a finger along the hem of her skirt, then lifted the edge half an inch as if to peek underneath. “You got a dotted line somewhere I don’t know about?”
Her thigh tingled where he touched, and she swatted his hand away before he got any bolder. “No,” she answered.
“Then you’re safe,” he said, plucking the pen from her grasp. “For now.”
She watched him sign his name in a bold, indecipherable scrawl. “Casual Elegance needs half of the estimated amount as a deposit, and we’ll bill you for the balance at the completion of the project. You can mail the deposit or I can stop by the bar and pick it up—”
“I’ve got a check on me.” He shifted in the chair, pulled his wallet from his back pocket, then withdrew a folded check. “I always keep a spare on me for emergencies.”
Less than a minute later she held a fair chunk of change in her hand. The check, written on a business account under the name The Black Sheep, had a single black sheep graphic in the upper left-hand corner. She’d decided she liked the catchy and original name.
Paper-clipping the check to his file for Pam to process, she glanced up at him, and asked curiously, “So, how did you come up with the name The Black Sheep?”
Kyle leaned back in Jade’s chair and briefly contemplated her question, and the complicated and personal answer he’d never expected to have to explain to anyone. “It’s a long story,” he said dismissively. “As long as I am old.”
His comment didn’t dissuade her. If anything, the interest in her gaze intensified. “Then how about giving me the condensed version?”
She didn’t take a hint very well, he thought, slightly disgruntled. He could have ended their discussion with a vague, “Inspiration struck” His past wasn’t something he was proud of, but how could he expect her to open up with him if he refused to do the same?
Knowing how important this moment of trust and sharing was to their relationship, he met her gaze. “I named the bar The Black Sheep because it’s who and what I am,” he said, simplifying his reasons the best he could. “The black sheep of the Stephens family. The rebellious son who was always a disappointment.”
A small smile touched her lips, still a little swollen from his kiss. “All kids are rebellious at one point or another in their teenage years. It’s a stage we all go through.”
It had been more than a developmental stage, he thought. It had been a lifetime of not being able to live up to his father’s expectations and of being constantly compared to his older brother. No matter how hard he’d tried to please his father, he’d never been as good as Nathan.
And Nathan had been far from a saint, just the firstborn son who’d learned early how to manipulate their father, and cover his ass when things went wrong by blaming Kyle.
“My rebellion started when I was seven and my mother died,” he said, remembering how his mother had tried to buffer his father’s favoritism when she’d been alive. After her death, there’d been no one to defuse the friction among him, his brother and his father. His new stepmother hadn’t had much patience for the bundle of energy he’d been and found it easier to ignore him than deal with the problem. “And it didn’t end until I was eighteen and my father finally disowned me.”
Her eyes widened in astonishment and shock. “What did you do that would make your father so mad he’d disown you?”
The tension tightening Kyle’s shoulders made him all too aware that the resentment and anger he’d experienced as a youth was deep and buried, but certainly not forgotten. “I was a regular juvenile delinquent,” he admitted, though his defiance had been a deliberate attempt to defy his father. “The only thing that kept me out of jail, and the Stephens name out of a nasty scandal, was my father’s money and his influence as a lawyer. But they got a scandal anyway the summer I got Jamie Ann pregnant, chose not to marry her, then joined the marines, which wasn’t exactly what my father had planned for my future.”
“So, you don’t talk to your family?” She asked the question tentatively, as if she couldn’t quite believe it was true.
“I haven’t in years. My brother is a self-absorbed, cutthroat lawyer who has made my father proud. I have a little stepsister, Veronica, who is the only one who stays in touch.” Ironically, she was the only real connection he had to a family who’d basically written him off. “When she told my brother and father I’d opened up a bar, my father said I’d sunk to new lows. How’s that for being supportive?”
She shook her head in dismay. “I can’t imagine what it would be like not to have a close family. My parents have always been so wonderfully supportive, and my sister is like my best friend. We share everything. Well, just about everything,” she clarified, remembering what she’d chosen not to tell her sister.
“You’re lucky. I’ve never really been a part of my family. I’ve always been the outsider looking in.” Like a kid with his nose pressed to a candy-store window, wanting the goodies, but never allowed to step inside to buy them. “I’m happy here in California, and even though it’s been a struggle at times being on my own, I’ve earned everything I have without the influence of the Stephens name or money.”
But it had taken him a long time to get to that point in his life, to come to terms with his past and the mistakes and choices he’d made. Choices that included forfeiting watching his daughter grow into the young woman she was today.
There had been times when he’d wished he could be a part of a family who accepted him for who and what he was, but long ago realized he was better off on his own. No expectations, except the ones he set for himself. No ties or commitments, which meant he had no one to disappoint or fail.
The phone on Jade’s desk buzzed, and she started at the interruption, then excused herself to reach for the receiver and take the call.
Kyle scrubbed a hand along his jaw and sank back into the chair, watching as she talked to a client. Jade was sexy, sweet and vulnerable in a way she’d never admit to, but strong in all the ways that mattered. Those facets drew him, seduced him, as did her fantasies that revealed so much about the woman she was. The woman he intended to claim and brand as his own, which was a startling revelation considering he’d never been the barbaric, possessive type.
She hung up the phone and gave him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. Business comes first.” And he’d never interfere with something so obviously important to her. He stood. “I’ve got to get going anyway. I’m meeting with the electrician at the restaurant in about half an hour.”
She nodded and slid from her desk, so that they stood a foot apart. Thrusting his hands into the front pockets of his jeans to keep from pulling her closer, he dipped his head toward her. She automatically lifted her lips, and he bypassed that particular temptation and gave her a quick, chaste goodbye kiss on her cheek.
He drew back, noting the confusion in her eyes, and a little disappointment, too. He smothered a grin. His little tiger had expected something wilder, sexier. “I’ll talk to you later?”
“Sure.” Her brows creased, enhancing her uncertain expression. “Kyle, about our…affair.”
He tilted his head and smiled. “Yes?”
“When you came here today…” She shook her head, and absently chewed on her bottom lip, as if trying to gather her thoughts. “I’m not sure I know what to expect from our…relationship.”
Certainly not his life history, he thought, inwardly grimacing. And then her hesitancy dawned on him. “Did you think I came here today to demand my first sexual favor?”
“Well, I have to admit that I wasn’t sure.” She laughed, but the sound was filled with a wealth of insecurities. “It’s not like I’ve had a whole lot of experience at this kind of thing.”
Something warm and unexplainable touched his heart at that moment “I stopped by today because I wanted to see you, not for any other ulterior motive.” He gave in to the urge and brushed his fingers along her cheek, then dragged his thumb along her jaw. “To be honest, I don’t think we’re ready for actual sex.” But that didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy a little mental and physical foreplay, or act out a fantasy or two of hers. “I want to get to know you, Jade. I’m hoping we can become good friends as well as lovers.”
Jade pulled in a deep breath while considering Kyle’s words, wondering if she was capable of giving him everything he expected from her, without losing that vital part of herself she’d spent three years conditioning.
“You’ve got that look in your eyes,” he murmured. “Why?”
Her gaze jerked to his. “What look?”
“Panic. Fear.”
She didn’t like being that transparent. Didn’t like that he was so connected to her feelings and emotions. It was startling and disarming and made her put her guard up.
“What are you afraid of?” he asked softly. “Do you think I’ll hurt you?”
She swallowed hard. How could he know her so well, without really knowing her at all? Physically, she knew he’d never harm her. Emotionally, she feared he’d destroy her if she let him.
It was all a matter of staying in charge of her emotional self. No problem.
Or was it?
“Of course not,” she said breezily, ending the whole subject by turning around and shuffling through the files and papers on her desk. “I’ve got tons of work to get through—”
“Say no more, I’m outta here.” He started for the door, but stopped short of opening it. He glanced over his shoulder, his gaze kind. “Just so you know, I’d never deliberately hurt you. You’ve got to let yourself trust me, Jade.”
With that, he walked out of her office, leaving her to wonder if it was him she didn’t trust or herself.
* * *
Kyle stepped beneath the hot shower spray in an attempt to unwind and relax after a long day and night at The Black Sheep. Friday nights at the bar were usually busy, but tonight’s crowd surpassed any other weekend record, in attendance and profits. From what he’d gleaned from the new customers he’d had a chance to chat with, word was already spreading about the new restaurant and plans to refurbish the bar.
As a result of the unexpected boom in business, he’d had to give up a promising evening with Jade in order to assist Bruce with the overflow of drink orders. He’d planned on taking her on their first real date: dinner at a nice, intimate restaurant overlooking the ocean where they could talk, then afterward a leisurely, romantic stroll along the beach.
Business had intruded on that great idea.
When he’d called her to apologize for cancelling, she’d understood his reasons, much to his relief. The past couple of days since he’d dropped by her office unannounced they’d established a comfortable, easy friendship. She’d finally given him her phone number so he could call, and just this morning he’d stopped by her condo, surprising her with fresh-baked muffins and Irish cream coffee for breakfast. They’d spent an hour talking and laughing, losing track of time until she’d absently glanced up at the kitchen clock and realized if she didn’t leave for the office, she was going to be late for an appointment.
He didn’t so much as kiss her, knowing how difficult it was to stop at one taste, one touch. Nearly impossible, though it had been just as hard not to take advantage of their “affair” and steal a kiss or two…or three.
He’d been pleasantly surprised when she’d shown up at The Black Sheep a few hours after he’d canceled their date, to sit at the bar and have a drink while he tended bar. She hadn’t demanded his time, just accepted whatever attention and quick conversation he could give her in between the tasks of filling drink orders, waiting on tables to help the cocktail waitresses and clearing off the bar as customers came and went.
While mixing martinis, blending frozen drinks and refilling bowls of pretzels and peanuts, he’d decided if he wanted to spend more time with Jade, he needed to hire another bartender, if not two when the restaurant opened. Business was flourishing, and fast, and he could no longer operate with a small crew and give the patrons the quick, friendly service he wanted associated with The Black Sheep. He wasn’t one of those owners willing to sacrifice good service for a small payroll.
Bracing his hands on the tiled shower wall, he dipped his head beneath the pounding spray, letting the hot water drench his hair and sluice over his shoulders and down his back. Then he reached for the soap and lathered up.
As a first date with Jade, the evening had been unexpectedly enjoyable, although frustrating because of his inability to completely focus only on her as he’d wanted to. But she hadn’t seemed to mind. While he worked, she sipped the peach daiquiri he’d made her and plugged quarters into the jukebox even though she’d claimed not to like country-western music. When he’d teased her about her frequent trips, she’d sheepishly admitted that certain songs were starting to grow on her.
He was more than a little relieved when she turned down at least half a dozen requests to dance—if anyone was going to teach her to two-step, it would be himself. His territorial thoughts might not have stopped a few of the regulars from ogling her and the tight jeans and formfitting, low-cut T-shirt she wore, but the off-limits look he cast their way made his message loud and clear.
She was his.
Jade had sat at what he was beginning to think of as “her spot” at the far end of the bar, watching the games of pool and darts in the adjoining room while jotting decorating ideas on a legal pad. She’d shared her notes and a soft smile with him when there had been a lull, which hadn’t been often enough. The time he’d given her had been brief, flirting, and over too soon before the next wave of drink orders swamped him and Bruce.
The women he’d dated since acquiring The Black Sheep hadn’t understood his any-time-of-the-day-or-night commitment to his business. Most had been under the misconception that since he owned the place, he had nothing but free time on his hands. None realized it was his dedication to the establishment, employees and patrons that made the place flourish and prosper to the point that he could justify adding the restaurant. Jade understood the unanticipated burdens and responsibilities a business required, and accepted the sometimes intrusive duties an owner was obliged to manage. She made no demands on him to choose between her and his business, gave no guilt trips for last-minute cancellations and more important obligations. Instead, she’d made the best of the situation. And when she couldn’t conceal her tired yawns any longer, he’d sent her home, promising her they were still on for the following morning to meet at The Black Sheep to start on her decorating consultation.
Her support meant a lot to him, he realized as he stepped from the shower and grabbed a towel. His own family didn’t condone his chosen career, or anything else he’d ever done in his life. And although he’d grown to not give a damn what his family thought of him, it was suddenly important that Jade knew him for the responsible, reliable man he’d become.
What about keeping her journal a secret? his conscience taunted. The journal, he justified, had been up for sale and anybody could have bought it. He’d just been at the right place at the right time. No way could he regret reading Jade’s fantasies, or fulfilling them, not when those intimate fantasies were the only chance he had of getting close enough to break past Jade’s defenses.
Yet there was still so much he didn’t know about her. So much he’d yet to discover and understand.
Shoving his fingers through his damp hair, he strolled into his bedroom and pulled on a pair of cotton shorts. It was past two in the morning, but he wasn’t tired, and the burgundy bound treasure tucked in his nightstand beckoned. The lure of Jade’s sensual, sexy stories was always stronger than he could resist, and he gave in to the temptation to indulge. Pushing his pillows against the headboard of his bed, he settled himself on the mattress, opened the journal to the last page he’d marked and began to read the entry.
The garden was dark and full of shadows, but she had nothing to fear. She was with her lover and felt safe and protected. Hand clasped in his, she followed him deeper into the night, knowing he intended to seduce her…and wanting him to. The heady fragrance drifting from the rosebushes lining the cobblestone walkway filled her every breath, the scent as arousing as the anticipation of her lover’s touch.
When they reached the high stone wall enclosing the garden, she waited for him to come to her, to embrace her, to kiss and touch her.
A slow, sensual smile curved his mouth. “Put your hands on the wall and keep them there.”
Heart pounding wildly, she laid her palms against the smooth, cool stones. For a moment, the position made her feel vulnerable, then the warmth and strength of his body pressed along her back, comforting and familiar. He murmured soothing reassurances into her ear as he reached around her and his fingers attempted to unbutton her gauze blouse. She grew anxious and excited.
Urgency made her thrust her unbound breasts toward his hands. A whimper of frustration rolled from her throat, and he answered the needy sound by impatiently ripping open her blouse. He filled his palms with her breasts, kneading the aching flesh before his hands skimmed down her belly, over her gauze skirt, then beneath the hem.
He touched the inside of her thighs, coaxed them apart with the pressure of his hands. She complied, eager and restless for what she knew he could give her. For what she wanted. His breath was hot and heavy on her neck, his body hard and demanding behind hers.
His fingers slipped under the elastic band of her panties, stroking her, then slipping deeper…until she lost herself in an exquisite climax that seemed to have no ending, only ripples of sensation and pleasure that went on forever.