Nope. The knock sounded again. With a sigh, she tossed down the pencil and padded into the kitchen. The tile was cool against her bare feet. Opening the door a crack, she peered through. Jason stood on the tiny porch at the top of the stairs. She pulled the door wider. “What are you doing here?”
He grinned.
Her heart stuttered.
“I wanted to bring you this.” He held out a flat package wrapped in brown paper tied with a green ribbon. “And tell you I had a really good time last night.”
“Come on in.”
In two long strides he crossed the tiny kitchen. He leaned his hips against the counter. “Open it.”
The ribbon gave with a gentle tug, and she slid a finger beneath the overlapping edges of the paper. She flipped the book to look at the title: A Tour Through Giverny with Claude Monet.
Her breath caught at the sweetness of the gesture. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She gave a rueful smile. “You’re working too hard, you know.”
“What?”
“You don’t have to do all this. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love the book, but to quote Julia Roberts, ‘I’m a sure thing.’”
He thought a moment. “Right. The strawberries and champagne were overkill.”
“Well done. Score one for you in Eighties Movie Trivia.”
He inclined his head. “Thank you.”
“Seriously. Impressive work on Pretty Woman. Isn’t that kind of chick-flicky, Williams?”
“What can I say? Julia Roberts makes a good hooker.”
“Right.”
“Although, to be honest,” he continued, “I prefer blondes.” His gaze swept over her.
“Oh.” Chloe tucked a stray wisp of hair that had escaped her ponytail behind her ear. Why hadn’t she taken the time to do something with it today? At the very least washed it this morning. She planned on a working day and hadn’t expected company. Especially not Jason.
Then she gave a mental shrug. What did it matter?
So she ignored the pleasure his compliment brought and rolled her eyes. “Seriously. This is what I mean. You don’t need to say things like that.”
“Just stating a fact.”
“Fine.”
“So, do you have plans tonight?”
“Jason. Come on. We’re not supposed to be dating. We’re supposed to be sleeping together.” She pointed to herself. “Sure thing, remember?”
“Well, maybe I don’t work like that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She put her hands on her hips. “Are you backing out? You promised you’d sleep with me. I didn’t ask for any of this other stuff.” Her hand swept out. “Gifts. Dinner. I just want a night of great sex.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’m not some gigolo who performs on command.” Anger, and a touch of hurt, tinged his voice.
She stepped closer and laid her hand on his forearm. Soft, light hair covered firm muscle. “I never said you were.” She’d never thought about her plan from his point of view. Is that how he saw it? “All I’m saying is, I don’t need the build-up. I’m ready whenever.”
He tucked another strand of hair behind her ear. She shivered as his fingers brushed her cheek. “Have you ever thought that I’m not? Maybe I need the build-up?”
“Wha—”
He put a finger to her lips. She swallowed the word. And the earthy taste of him.
“You said you asked around about me.” The expression on his face told exactly how he felt about that. “But apparently you didn’t ask the right questions. And you should know me well enough to know I don’t sleep around. I don’t go from girl to girl on a whim. If I’m dating someone, and it feels right, sex becomes part of the relationship.”
“So you’re saying you’ve never had a one-night stand?”
He ran his fingers through his hair leaving it sexily mussed. “No, I haven’t. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe two people should be committed to each other before having sex. The other night you said you didn’t want the emotional part of sex. But if you’re looking for really, really great sex…emotion has to be there. It’s the feelings you have for the other person that makes it great. You can’t have that with a stranger.”
“You’re not a stranger.”
“True, but like I said, I like a little bit of build-up.”
They’d already kissed. A kiss that had nearly caused her to go up in flames like a backyard barbeque. Her knees wobbled just thinking about it. How much build-up did he need?
She looked into his familiar blue eyes. Despite the toe-curling kiss he’d given her, he probably still thought of her as Danny’s little sister. Not someone to take to bed. Okay, so she could understand needing a bit of time to get used to the idea.
But, he’d agreed to help. No way in hell was she letting him back out.
She lowered her lashes, and then peeked up through them. Injecting a husky note in her voice, she murmured, “So, was that kiss last night all part of the build-up?” She ran a fingernail down the front of his T-shirt.
For a moment he looked nonplussed, then he shook his head. A bemused smile curved his lips. His hands spanned her waist and drew her close. Her legs fit between his wide stance. Their hips meshed.
The breath caught in her lungs. Her heartbeat jumped like a rabbit darting through a cornfield.
“How did that kiss make you feel?” The lower octave of his voice sent her pulse skittering.
That and his proximity scrambled her brain. How could she even begin to answer? How could she possibly admit her body had hummed and tingled for hours after he’d left? How she’d lain awake staring at the ceiling. How even the next day she couldn’t stop thinking about it. About him.
She couldn’t admit that. It was way too embarrassing. Way too close to the emotion he’d described, and she’d sworn she didn’t want.
His mouth brushed the spot on her jaw right below her ear. Goosebumps peppered her arms. She closed her eyes. “How did you feel after I kissed you, Chloe?” The words were as soft as the touch of his lips.
“I…I felt like…like I didn’t want you to stop.” Ever. Was even that saying too much?
“Ah.” The single syllable whispered across her skin. “Now we’re getting somewhere. And did you think about that kiss today?”
“Y…yes.” When she woke up. When she was in the shower. When she was supposed to be working. Pretty much every hour of the day so far.
“Good.” His voice reverted to its original tone. He set her away from him. Her eyes snapped open. His held an edge of satisfaction, along with something else that looked almost calculating. “Then that’s today’s lesson.”
“Today’s lesson?” She fought to switch gears as fast as he apparently had. Not easy when her heart was beating faster than the blur of a hummingbird’s wings. “Is that why you came over here today? For another one of your stupid lessons?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “No. I came to give you a book.” His chin jutted toward the table. “You turned it into a lesson.”
She mimicked his pose. “So what exactly was I supposed to have learned today?”
He touched his finger to the tip of her nose. “For really great sex, there has to be some build-up. You can’t just jump into it willy-nilly.”
She batted his hand away. “Great. Thanks.”
He chuckled. She glared, not finding his amusement amusing. Build-up, schmild-up. She was ready.
Were all of his supposed ‘lessons’ just a way to put her off, hoping she’d change her mind? Well, he had another think coming. Nothing was going to change her mind about this. Especially his uncooperative attitude.
“Are you sure you’re taking this seriously? Because if you’re not, I’ll find someone who will. I still have my list, you know.” The threat was empty. After the way he’d kissed her, she was more sure than ever Jason was the one she wanted for her one great night. If his kiss was anything to go by, nothing she’d heard when
she asked around was an exaggeration.
His eyes darkened. He looked almost dangerous. “I don’t think so. I told you I’d do it. But, remember, I’m the ‘expert’ you chose, so we’re doing this my way.” He jabbed a thumb toward his chest.
“Is this bad boy attitude supposed to turn me on?” Because if it was, it was kind of working.
He looked appalled. “No. I’m just reminding you of our agreement.”
“Okay fine. Whatever.” She’d waited this long for really great sex. It wouldn’t kill her to wait a little longer. Besides, if more of Jason’s kisses were part of the build-up lessons, she could definitely handle that.
“So, about tonight. Are you heading to Easy Street?”
“It’s Saturday night, isn’t it? Where else would I be?”
“Great. Then I’ll see you there.”
Chloe stared at the closed door for long minutes after he left. What the hell had that been all about?
****
As usual, Easy Street was crowded on a Saturday night. Fortunately, Chloe, Jason, Danny, and his new girlfriend—what was her name again? With her mind preoccupied with Jason, she’d only been paying half attention when her brother told her—had found a table on the outskirts of the dance floor.
How many countless times had she sat with Danny and Jason? This time, their cozy foursome had taken on a double-date-esque quality. Is that what it was? Were she and Jason on another one of his stupid lesson-dates? And what could he possibly have to teach her in a place she’d been to a million times? With her brother sitting less than two feet away.
She grimaced and took a sip of her margarita. The cold drink sent a stab of pain to her brain. She winced and rubbed her forehead.
“You okay?” Jason asked.
“Brain freeze,” she muttered, but took another sip anyway.
“So how was your date last night?” Danny asked.
Chloe set the drink down so hard the slushy liquid spilled over the side. Her gaze darted from Jason to Danny. “We didn’t have a date last night.” But her pulse sped at the lie. And the memory of Jason’s kiss. When she licked the stickiness from her fingers, her breath caught as his eyes tracked the gesture.
“What?” Danny shot her a strange look. “Why so defensive?” His brow furrowed. “Who’s ‘we’? I was asking Jason about his date.”
Beneath the table, Jason squeezed her knee. Instead of calming her, her pulse raced faster. And not only from the contact. Jason told Danny he’d had a date last night?
“Oh. Right. I uh…never mind…I have a headache from this drink.”
Danny took the glass from her fingers as she raised it to her lips. “Then stop drinking it.”
“Oh. Right.”
“So who is this girl?” Danny put his arm around What’s-Her-Face. “Maybe we can double-date sometime.”
Chloe choked on the drink she’d picked up again. Little did he know. They were already kind of on one.
Danny frowned and took the glass, sliding it across the table and out of her reach.
Jason’s mouth quirked as his gaze met hers briefly. “Let’s just see how things so first, before we get ahead of ourselves,” he said in answer to Danny’s question.
“Keeping this one a secret, huh?”
Jason took a sip of beer. “Something like that.”
“Fine. Hey, honey, let’s go dance,” Danny said to his girlfriend. He looked over his shoulder at Chloe as they walked away. “See if you can get the goods on this girl while we’re gone.”
Chloe let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “You told him we had a date?”
“No. I told him I had a date.”
“Why?”
“He asked what I was doing last night.”
“You could have lied.”
Jason put down his beer bottle. His gaze zeroed in on hers. “Danny is my best friend. I don’t lie to my friends.”
“You’re not going to tell him about agreeing to help me with my plan, are you?” Would he? Jason’s loyalty was to Danny. Not her. Would he think telling Danny would get her to forget the whole thing?
Jason grimaced. “I don’t have a death wish either.”
“Why did you agree to help me?” She’d asked before. Would he give her a straight answer this time?
He covered her hand with his own and squeezed. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
She looked down at their entwined hands. Not getting hurt again was the whole reason she’d come up with the plan in the first place. Would he understand better if she told him everything?
“Look, Jason, I—”
“Any luck?”
Chloe snatched her hand out from under Jason’s as Danny and…crap, she really needed to figure out the girlfriend’s name…sat down. She forced a bright smile. “Nope. He’s keeping this girl under wraps.” Jason wouldn’t tell. His loyalty to and relationship with Danny would compel him to keep her plan a secret. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize their friendship. Having sex with Danny’s little sister would definitely put their friendship in jeopardy. So there was no way he would tell. Another reason Jason was the perfect choice.
But was it fair to ask him to keep this big of a secret from Danny? Guilt pricked like the thorn on a rosebush.
In the background, the music shifted. Needing to shake the serious turn her thoughts had taken, and get her plan back on track, she turned to Jason. “Want to dance? This is a great Two-Step.” And if they danced, even though it wouldn’t be anything like their good-night embrace yesterday, at least she’d be in his arms. After all, her plan was all about being as close to Jason as possible. As close as two people could be.
“Sure.”
His warm hand in the small of her back as they headed out onto the floor caused a flutter in her stomach. He’d used the same gesture last week when they danced. But tonight the light touch seemed more personal. Intimate.
He was an excellent dancer and led her through a series of spins and turns as their feet followed the pattern of the steady beat of the song. The exertion left her breathless, but her breath caught when the upbeat music shifted to something gentler and Jason drew her close for a slow dance.
She’d danced with Jason dozens of times. Too many to count. But never like this. Not when she couldn’t forget the heat of his mouth on hers. His taste. How his strong, sure hands had held her to him to keep bodies perfectly aligned.
Could he hear her heart pounding? Did he know she was remembering and replaying every second of their knee-weakening, pulse-racing, turning-bone-to-liquid-mush kiss? And not only remembering but wanting - hoping, longing - to do it again.
She stumbled. Jason tightened his hold. Her breath hitched. The sexy scent of his aftershave made her head spin. His body rubbed against hers and his heat poured through her. Consumed her. Made her tremble.
“You okay?”
She swallowed before answering. Before she was able to answer. “Fine. I, uh, hit that uneven patch on the floor.”
When he released her back into the conventional dance position, she bit back a tiny stab of disappointment.
All too soon the song ended, and Jason smiled. The hint of a dimple winked in his cheek. How had she never noticed it before?
“Thanks for the dance.”
“You’re welcome.” She hooked her arm through his as they made their way off the floor.
“Hey, Jason. Want to dance?”
Chloe glanced toward the voice. A petite brunette had grabbed his other arm. She bit back the primal urge to snarl a menacing ‘hands-off’ warning.
“Maybe later, Melonie. I’m heading to the bar for another round right now.”
“Okay,” the brazen brunette simpered. “Just come and get me when you’re ready.”
Hussy.
“What?”
Oops. Had she spoken out loud? “I’m thirsty. Another round sounds great. In fact, this one’s on me.”
****
Chloe’s arm brushed his
when she set his beer on the table. To counteract the rush of awareness from her inadvertent touch, he took a healthy swig. The ice-cold beer wet his dry throat, but did nothing to diminish the pulse of the electrons still skimming along his nerves.
Instead of resuming her seat, she stood next to his chair. The soft scent of her honeysuckle shampoo teased him. Made him want to thread his fingers through her hair and anchor her to him for another long, deep kiss.
“How about a game of pool?” Jason jerked his head toward the tables in the back room. Anything to keep Chloe at arm’s length. His body still wore the imprint of hers from when she’d stumbled. He’d nearly been unable to stop himself from sliding his hands from her waist, over the flare of her hips, and onto the enticing curve of her backside. Which filled out her jeans so well it should be illegal. How was it possible he’d never noticed before?
Dammit. He needed to stop thinking about her like that.
He never should have kissed her. Because now instead of thinking about her as Chloe, the sister he’d never had, all he could think about was her as Chloe, if he didn’t taste her again soon he might explode.
He’d had no choice but to play along last night. No way in hell was he letting her find someone else to help with her bucket list.
Bucket list.
How many twenty-somethings even had a bucket list?
“Care to make it interesting?” she asked over her shoulder as they made their way through the crowd.
Her saucy, flirtatious grin caused a hitch in his stomach. “What do you have in mind?” he asked, warily.
“Winner’s choice?”
That was trouble if ever heard it. He knew damn well what she would claim as her prize if she won. So far, she hadn’t budged one inch on her plan.
“How about winner buys the next round?” he countered.
“Lame.”
“Take it or leave it.” No way was he giving her carte blanche.
She stuck out her tongue. “Fine.” She tossed him the plastic triangle. “You rack. I’ll break.”
He readied the table and then stepped back. “All yours.”
Chloe lined up her cue stick with the white ball. She slid the stick back and forth between her fingers a couple of times. His misbehaving libido turned the innocent movement into something sensual. Erotic. What would her fingers feel like on him? He yanked his thoughts away from the forbidden fantasy as she sank a solid on the break. She pocketed two more before missing on her fourth shot.
One Great Night Page 3
