She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, the thin bandage soft against her lips. Dropping her hand to her side, she asked, “What…how did you get in?”
“I ran into your upstairs neighbor, who buzzed me in and showed me where you kept your hideaway key.”
Donny’s loud departure wasn’t a coincidence. “Yeah, he waters my plants from time to time when I’m away.” She scanned the room again, filled with delight. “What is all this?”
“It’s my first attempt at a romantic gesture.” He advanced toward her.
She mindlessly kicked the door closed and set her purse and keys aside. “Wow. This is your first attempt?”
Steps away, he placed the flower bundle on the counter before he closed the space between them. He nodded, running his thumb along the curve of her cheek. “How’d I do?”
“Oh, Jacob…you have my attention.”
His stifled laugh seemed to release some bottled tension. She held her breath, anticipating his next moves.
“I realize I put rules into place to protect myself. But after meeting you, getting to know you, well, I had no choice but to bend—no, break—those rules.”
He cupped the nape of her neck as his gaze roamed her face. The sensation of his hand on her skin again easily broke her resolve, especially in the romantic moment.
He licked his lips. “I’ve never been as impulsive as the day I first kissed you. I’ve never worked so hard to convince myself how you weren’t my type—yet I made every excuse to see you, spend time with you, eat your baked goods. Hell, I even read you way too many pages from a romance novel.” His eyes twinkled with laughter. “The point is, I’d do anything for you because I care for you.”
Standing in this dreamland, snug in Jacob’s arms, her spirits buoyant, Olivia was euphoric. As the sea of softly rustling balloons cocooned them, she rose to her toes, her mouth inches from his.
He pressed his lips to hers, magnifying the sentiment behind his devoted words, behind the grand gesture he’d taken so much trouble to pull off. She grasped the arms of his elegantly fitted, smooth suit jacket, which obstructed what she yearned for. Desiring to feel his heat, she slipped her hands inside and clutched his starched white shirt.
Magically her hair was freed to spill over her cheeks. He buried his hands in it and growled internally. At the sound, she sagged against him in utter abandonment, knowing they were finally on the same romantic page.
He broke the kiss and nuzzled her neck as he stroked the hair streaming down her back. “I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”
“You mean someone with so many quirks?” she teased, tears of joy brimming.
Grunting, he said with conviction, “I find all your quirks endearing, from your love of romance to your gutsy, infectious laugh. I love that you bake and want to help kids. And your sexy curves drive me wild.” His hands roamed her hips and rounded behind, and she sighed. “From the moment I met you I’ve felt this indescribable connection—an attraction I couldn’t ignore. Hell knows I tried.”
He lifted his head, his gaze penetrating deep into hers. “Despite the facts that you challenged my authority, vomited in my Porsche, and turned my world upside down. I want you to know…” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Like your Aunt Edie said, you blow my socks off.”
She blinked back her tears and swallowed the emotional lump in her throat. His words entered profoundly into her tender heart. Aunt Edie would have liked him. “You blow mine off too.”
In her heart she knew his endearment was true. Though he’d talked a tough game, giving her every excuse for why they shouldn’t be together, she could always see the raw emotions in his eyes, and his actions spoke volumes. This grand, romantic gesture surpassed her dreams!
“I love you, Olivia Ward.”
“It’s about time.” She let the tears fall. “I love you too, Jacob.”
About the Author
Jennifer W. Smith lives inNew England, USA. A former flight attendant and interior designer, her love of adventure and attention to detail is evident in her novels. When not writing, she spends time with her husband and two children, along with their blue-eyed cat and rough collie.
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Website:
www.jenniferwsmith.com
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Defying Gravity (Landing in Love Book 1) Page 16
