How to Romance a Stranger

by Kirk, Cindy

  “Hey, beautiful.” Todd stepped into the room with a swagger that reminded her oddly of Drew. “How’s my girl?”

  Jack had been on his way to the kitchen when he saw the guy open the door and call out to Lexi. He clenched his jaw at the familiarity in the man’s tone. The door remained open and Jack stopped just out of sight, curious about Lexi’s response.

  “I’m not your girl, Todd.” Lexi’s voice was pleasant but firm. “And I shouldn’t need to remind you that guests aren’t allowed in the kitchen area.”

  From where he stood, Jack could see the man lounging against the counter, watching Lexi with an insolent smile. He wondered why Lexi didn’t just tell the man to buzz off. Why was she being so nice?

  “Coraline won’t care.” Todd took a step closer, his body between Lexi and the door. “I’m one of her best customers. Not to mention I send a lot of business her way.”

  Ahh, now it made sense. Lexi was stuck…and not just in front of the stove. She couldn’t risk offending a repeat customer. Unfortunately the guy was obviously too stupid to pick up on her “not-interested” signals.

  “Is there something you need?” Lexi asked politely. “As you can see, I’m kinda busy here.”

  “I heard through the grapevine that there’s a fund-raising dinner and dance for the local food bank tonight at the Spring Gulch Country Club,” he said. “We could go together.”

  “Todd, I’m—”

  “I don’t want to hear any excuses about the roads.” Todd raised his hand. “The plows will have the snow cleared off in the next couple hours. We can meet at seven in the lobby.”

  His hand was on her arm now and Jack’s blood began to boil. A roaring filled his ears. He didn’t remember entering the kitchen but suddenly he was there, at Lexi’s side.

  He slid an arm around her shoulder and brushed a kiss against her cheek. “Hey, Lex. You should have woken me this morning.”

  Jack caught the look of startled surprise on her face before he turned to the man behind her. Instead of punching him as he’d have preferred, Jack extended his hand and offered up a friendly smile. “Jack Snow. Lexi’s…significant other. And you are?”

  He felt a surge of satisfaction at the shock on the arrogant man’s face.

  “Todd Cox.” The man’s gaze shifted from Lexi to Jack. A suspicious gleam replaced the surprise. “Why is it I’ve never met you?”

  Beneath his arm, Jack felt Lexi’s shoulders tense. Jack lifted a brow. “Is there some reason we should have met?”

  Jack swore he heard a low chuckle come from Lexi’s throat.

  “I suppose you’re right.” Todd cast one last look at Lexi before taking a step back. “I’ll see you at the fundraiser tonight.”

  Jack waited for Lexi to reply but she merely shrugged.

  “I need to check the road conditions.” Todd made a great show of glancing at his watch. “I have a very important meeting in Jackson this morning.”

  An important meeting? Jack cocked his head. On Saturday?

  Todd started out of the room but stopped in the doorway and turned. His gaze settled on Lexi. “One piece of advice. If you want to keep your job, pay more attention to your cooking and forget about the new boyfriend.”

  When Lexi remained silent, the salesman smirked. “Your brioche is burning.”

  At the same instant the words left Todd’s lips, the smell of scorched egg hit Jack’s nostrils.

  Lexi whirled. With a shriek she scooped the scorched bread off the griddle and onto a large plate. By the time she dumped the whole batch into the trash, Todd had vanished. This surprised Jack. He figured the guy to be the type to stand around and gloat.

  “Can I help?” he asked.

  “It’s under control,” Lexi said between gritted teeth as she dipped then plopped more brioche on the griddle. “And I can take care of myself.”

  A shiver of unease slithered up Jack’s spine. “Don’t you mean you can take care of the brioche yourself?”

  She met his gaze. Her eyes flashed amber fire. “No. I mean I can take care of myself. I have for years. I didn’t need you to step in and play the caveman card.”

  Her voice trembled with emotion and Jack’s heart sank. His impulsive gesture of support had obviously been misconstrued. “I saw him crowding you. I may have overreacted.”

  “You may have overreacted?” Lexi’s voice began to rise but she quickly brought it under control. “You told Todd you were my boyfriend. You implied we were lovers.”

  Now Jack was thoroughly confused. “I got the feeling you didn’t like him. If you do, I’ll—”

  “I. Don’t. Like. Him,” Lexi said, her voice a harsh whisper. “But I can handle him. And the last thing I need to happen is for rumors to get started about you and me. You’ll eventually leave but I still have to live here. Having people think I sleep around is not the reputation I want to have when I’m raising a daughter.”

  Jack swore under his breath. He’d only meant to help her. To protect her. Instead he’d made everything worse. As he gazed into Lexi’s beautiful eyes now filled with hurt and anger, he realized he’d screwed up…big-time. The trouble was he wasn’t sure how to make it right.

  * * *

  Lexi fought to make sense of the myriad of emotions slamming into her body. When Jack had put his arm around her and done his Sir Galahad act, her knees had gone weak. But he wasn’t her boyfriend or her lover. And he never would be. She lived in the real world. She had a daughter. She had to be able to handle what life threw at her, even if that meant dealing with a sleazy salesman like Todd Cox over and over and over again.

  “I’m sorry, Lexi.” Jack’s voice was low and filled with contrition. “I see now that I put you in a bad position. That truly wasn’t my intent. I hope you can forgive me.”

  As Lexi gazed into his warm brown eyes she could feel her anger begin to fade. She knew she shouldn’t let him off the hook so easily, but he had chased Todd off. And his intentions had been honorable.

  “It’ll be okay.” She waved the spatula in the air. “It’s not like he’s going to be talking to anyone about you and me.”

  “Still, I should have kept my mouth shut.” Jack gently removed the spatula from her hand and began methodically flipping each piece of bread. When he looked up, regret was written all over his face. “Seriously, you’re the only friend I have. I don’t want to ever do anything to hurt you.”

  Maybe it was the lost look in his eyes. Or the genuine contrition he’d shown. Or how approachable he looked in blue jeans. Whatever the reason, Lexi had to fight the urge to take a step closer and console him. Which made absolutely no sense at all.

  Instead she took the spatula back and moved the brioche from the griddle onto the cookie sheet with well-practiced ease. Keeping her gaze firmly fixed on the food, she covered the golden-brown slices with foil and put them in the oven.

  But when she straightened, Jack was right there, standing beside her with an unnerving glint in his eyes. Her traitorous body immediately reacted to his nearness. The blood in her veins began to flow like an awakened river. Desire pooled deep and low in her belly.

  An invisible web of attraction kept her feet firmly planted though she wanted to flee. Okay, maybe wanted was too strong a word. The red flags popping up in her head were telling her to run—not walk—out of the kitchen. But the waves of testosterone coming off him kept her tethered where she stood.

  “I think this is the part where you tell me I’m a thoughtless jerk but say you forgive me.” His gaze remained firmly fixed on her face.

  “Oh, the kiss-and-make-up part.” Her words sounded slightly breathless even to her own ears.

  His eyes turned dark as coal. “Kissing and making up works for me.”

  Laugh and say you accept his apology, the voice of reason inside her head urged. Then tell him he needs to leave and let you work.

  It was a good plan, but instead of following it, Lexi took a step forward. She’d lectured Addie many times that if you got t
oo close to a fire you could get burned. But wouldn’t a brief brush across the lips just to say “no hard feelings” be on the same level as a warm handshake or a friendly hug between friends?

  Lexi took a half step forward and placed her hands on his shoulders. Around his neck would be much too personal.

  The heat from his body wrapped around her like a favorite blanket. She let him pull her tight against him, his arms closing around her.

  Lexi lifted her face to him. “I’m glad you made it out of that avalanche alive.”

  He smiled, his eyes dark. “I’m glad you were the social worker assigned to my case.”

  “Me, too,” she choked out, finding it difficult to breathe, much less speak coherently.

  “So you forgive me for screwing up things this morning?” He brushed back a strand of hair from her face, his fingers leaving a trail of heat in their wake.

  The look of tenderness in his eyes vanquished the last of her irritation. “You meant well.”

  “I did and I am sorry.” He leaned forward and brushed an all-too-brief kiss against her lips. “Very sorry.”

  She paid little attention to the words. His warm sweet lips were too much, yet not enough. God help her, she wanted a real kiss from him.

  “All’s forgiven and forgotten,” she said in a low, husky whisper.

  Impulsively she pressed her lips firmly against his. For a second she worried he might push her away but then his tongue swept across her lips. She opened her mouth to him and when he deepened the kiss desire, hot and insistent and for so long forgotten, rose up inside her.

  She raked her fingers through his hair pulling him even closer, molding her body against his. The hard, firm length of him pressed against her belly. Still, she didn’t break off the kiss.

  All she knew, all she wanted to know, was right here in her arms. The feel, the taste, the touch—

  “Is there more French toast—?”

  Coraline’s gasp was like a splash of cold water. Lexi wrenched herself from Jack’s arms, realizing with sudden horror where she was, what she’d been doing and most of all, with whom.

  “I just put another batch of French toast in the oven.” Lexi somehow managed to force a smile.

  Coraline’s puzzled gaze shifted from Lexi to Jack before returning to Lexi. “I didn’t believe it.”

  Lexi’s heart pounded like a bass drum against her ribs. “Believe what?”

  “Todd said you and Jack were lovers. I told him he was full of hot air.” The older woman paused, a thoughtful look on her face. “Now I’m not so sure.”

  Chapter Five

  “I’m not sleeping with Jack,” Lexi stammered, taking a big step away from her supposed lover. “I barely know him. And you know I’m the last woman to fall into bed with someone I just met.”

  “The kiss I gave Lexi was a simple thank-you gesture.” Jack stepped forward, putting himself between her and Coraline. “Nothing more.”

  Coraline didn’t argue the point, but the suspicion in her eyes remained.

  Lexi wasn’t surprised. She couldn’t think of one person who’d believe there was anything simple about the kiss she’d shared with Jack. Their mystery man might be a great kisser, but he was a poor liar. She tucked the knowledge away and refocused on Coraline.

  “Todd has this fantasy that I’m going to be his girlfriend,” Lexi said. “That’s not happening.”

  But Coraline had already shifted her attention to Jack. “You could very easily be married, young man. Yet, here you are kissing a woman you just met.”

  Jack opened his mouth but didn’t have a chance to speak because while Coraline might be through with him, she wasn’t finished with Lexi.

  “I’m proud of the choices you’ve made so far in your life,” Coraline said to Lexi. “But your contact with this man needs to be kept to a minimum.”

  Warmth stole up Lexi’s neck. What Coraline had said was nothing she hadn’t told herself. Still, she was an adult, not a wayward child, and she didn’t appreciate the chiding tone.

  “You’re right,” Jack said before Lexi could respond. “Though I don’t believe I have a wife in the wings, until I know for sure, I’ll be keeping my lips to myself.”

  Coraline nodded approvingly. Her gaze shifted to Lexi. “I better get the french toast out. I think that will be enough, so if you want to start cleaning up—”

  “I’ll help.” Jack rocked back and forth on his heels. Perhaps he should leave. But to walk out the door now seemed like it would be running away, and he had the sense he’d never been a running away kind of guy.

  “She means well,” Lexi said once Coraline was out of earshot. “She never had any children. She thinks of me as a…surrogate daughter.”

  “There are worse things than having a mother hen clucking around.” A wave of sadness washed over Jack, though he wasn’t sure why. Had his mother died? Were they estranged? Otherwise wouldn’t she be looking for him?

  “I know you’re right.” Lexi dumped the egg and cream mixture into a plastic container and popped on a lid. “I just wish Coraline would deep-six the matchmaking.”

  “She’d like you to date Todd.” A twinge of something that felt an awful lot like jealousy stabbed Jack in the side and gave a cruel twist.

  “What was your first clue?” Lexi straightened and her lips tipped upward. “Coraline has always liked Mr. Salesman-of-the-Year and for whatever reason she can’t see past his slick exterior. Though Todd isn’t the first guy she’s tried to push on me.”

  “Are you serious?” Jack lifted a brow. “She’s a matchmaker?”

  “Oh, the stories I could share.” Instead of saying more, Lexi laughed. “It frustrates the heck out of her that I’m not interested in the guys she picks out.”

  “What’s the issue? No chemistry?” Jack couldn’t help thinking of the electricity that had been snapping and popping in the room when Coraline had walked in.

  “That’s part of it. I’d sooner kiss a moose than Todd Cox.” Lexi wrinkled her nose. “But it’s even more basic than that. I’m not in the market for a man. I have Addie to raise. She’s my priority.”

  “You don’t plan to ever marry?” Jack could hear the surprise in his voice. But heck, he was surprised.

  “Ever is a long time.” Lexi sprayed the stovetop with a special blend of cleansers and wiped the surface with a paper towel. “But probably not until Addie is out of high school.”

  Jack resisted the urge to try to change her mind. Instead, he simply nodded.

  He reminded himself that whether Lexi married or remained single was none of his concern. In a matter of days he’d be back in his old life. Assuming enough people shared his story. The writeup in the Jackson Hole News had been specifically put together to draw attention to his plight.

  “The news of my accident should end up making the rounds on most social media sites.” Hope rose inside him. As soon as tonight he could be on his way home.

  Lexi paused, baking sheet in hand. “Unless the story about the blizzard buries it.”

  The snow. Jack hadn’t even considered that the blizzard might present an obstacle. He fought to hide his disappointment but must not have been successful, because Lexi’s eyes softened.

  “I know you’re eager to get home,” she said.

  “I’d just like to know who I am.” Jack raked a hand through his hair. He hated peering into his mind and finding only a void. “When Coraline talked about me having a wife, I wanted so badly to tell her I didn’t. But I couldn’t.”

  “It won’t be long.” Lexi leaned over and slipped the baking sheet into the dishwasher. “You’re young and attractive. Once your story starts getting posted and shared, someone is bound to recognize you.”

  Would the fact that he was found with a wad of money and no identification spark interest in the story? Would the pictures tip the scale? Jack’s adrenaline surged. There was nothing he liked more than analyzing a case….

  A case?

  Whatever had been there onl
y seconds before was gone. He pushed hard but couldn’t get close enough to get a handle on the memory.

  A gentle hand settled on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

  “I remembered—”

  Her fingers tightened around his sleeve. “What?”

  “Something about…a case.” Whatever certainty had gripped him moments before was quickly slipping away.

  “A suitcase?” Lexi prompted. “A briefcase?”

  “No.” Jack shook his head, which had begun to ache. “Not an object. A realization that I like to analyze situations.”

  “Anything else?” Lexi’s eyes snapped with excitement.

  He thought for a moment. “Earlier I had a feeling I’d been under pressure and I was here on vacation.”

  “Oh, my goodness.” Lexi leaned back against the counter. “You’re starting to remember. That is so exciting.”

  “It’s not so much exciting as puzzling.” Jack massaged the back of his neck with one hand. “I also remembered a stone building with a bell tower.”

  The memories couldn’t have been more disjointed or any less clear, but Lexi’s smile was like the sun breaking through the clouds. “Don’t worry about the memories making sense or not. It won’t be long until the thoughts organize together in your mind. Then you’ll have it all. I’m happy for you.”

  Jack found her joy infectious and the light scent of her perfume intoxicating. It took all his strength to keep his hands off. Yet, while he may have promised not to kiss her, he hadn’t promised to stay away. “You were right. The more we talk, the more things I experience, the more it jogs my memory.”

  A dimple Jack hadn’t known she had flashed in Lexi’s left cheek. “I sense a question.”

  “Not knowing my circumstances, let me say first this wouldn’t in any way be a date,” he began with a confidence and smooth manner that was as puzzling as it was refreshing. “But in the interest of helping me regain my memory, would you be interested in attending the fundraiser with me tonight?”

  “I’d love to go with you,” she said without hesitation. “Under one condition.”