She reached for the instrument of torture. “Hello,” she spoke groggily. A rare state, she usually got up bright-eyed and alert. But she had been too excited to immediately return to the land of slumber earlier. Judging by the weak, early morning sunlight filtering through her closed curtains, she'd only had a couple of hours of rest.
“It’s me, baby.”
At the sound of his voice, she was suddenly wide-awake. “Baron.”
“Yes. I'm sitting on a plane. I didn't relish calling and waking you any earlier than I had to. I wanted you to get your sleep. So you’re well rested for our date. My flight leaves in a few minutes, then I’ll have to turn off my phone. I get in around eleven-thirty. I’m on Southwest flight 79. If you can’t pick me up, I'll rent a car at the airport, go to a hotel and wait for you.”
“Eleven-thirty.” So soon. She wanted to both shout for joy and scream in fear. “Yes. I can meet you then at the baggage claim.” The thought of finally meeting him had her mind spinning and her temperature soaring. Her heart banged against her ribs as she clutched the phone in her hand, her lifeline to him. “Hurry.” The word came out on a rush of air.
“I’m coming, baby. Hang on. I’m coming.”
The call disconnected before she could ask him what he looked like so she'd recognize him, or told him what she would be wearing. Well, she'd just call him after his flight landed. But she felt she'd know him on sight. He'd be the one who made her heart race.
Chapter Three
Baron tightened his grip on the weekend bag he carried, and since he sat in first class, he was one of the first passengers off the plane. He breathed a sigh of relief as he exited. Like a mantra, one word kept repeating through his head. Soon. He'd finally see her. Be with her, hold her. Soon.
Even though he had his things with him, he followed the signs to the baggage claim area where they’d agreed to meet. His long strides took him quickly to the conveyer marked off for his plane. Passengers from other flights were in front of him and they, too, stopped in the area. There were many people standing around waiting on travelers and the bags from adjacent areas. Some were older, some younger, all different hues and representing different cultures. One of those faces could belong to his Jasmine. Narrowing his gaze, he turned it more slowly over the crowd, examining all the women. He'd almost called her from the phone on the plane to tell her what he looked like so she'd be able to find him. Then he changed his mind. He wanted to see if he'd know her. The same way he knew her voice, or if she'd recognize him.
There were quite a few bodies around and more passing by. A family of four moved aside to wave at someone behind him. At that moment, he noticed two women standing a little apart beside a pillar, one glanced around as though searching for someone rather than waiting for luggage, the other stared in his direction. Both were stunning.
Long blonde hair cascaded around one lady’s shoulders like a cloud. Dark sunglasses covered her eyes. She possessed one of those bodies young men fantasized about and grown men dreamed of. But when she looked at him, the look on her face was one he'd seen on women many times before. He wasn't conceited, but he'd been aware of the power of his looks since he turned fourteen and was initiated into sex by a twenty-year-old. But something wasn't quite right. A different kind of recognition clicked for him. Been there, done that.
He focused his gaze on the other equally stunning woman beside her. Both about the same average height, even the same body type, enough curves to make their gender unmistakable. Her generous breasts, stuffed into a similar V-neck T-shirt, strained against the fabric. The blonde glowed from her tan by the sun. The other had straight, dark chestnut-colored hair just passed her shoulders, but her complexion looked like rich, creamy milk chocolate. No shades covered her large onyx eyes, a beautiful contrast to her skin tone. A smile didn't grace her lush mouth, but the sparkle in her eyes drew him to her like the sea to the shore.
He came directly to her, never hesitating or stopping until he pressed against her and enclosed his arm around her waist. “Hello, Jasmine. I'm here.” Then his lips found hers, and the world rocked.
Jasmine's emotions warred between anger at his presumption, amusement at his arrogance, and downright triumph at the sight and feel of him. And the fact she had known Baron as soon as she'd spied him heading toward the baggage claim area for his flight. She wasn’t sure how she sensed the panty-soaking guy was the one she’d been waiting on in more ways than she’d admit aloud but she knew. In spite of his high-handedness, the emotion dominating over all was a pure rightness of being infused her soul. She was exactly where she belonged—tucked in his embrace.
When she first saw him, she clutched her friend Karen's shoulder for support. The phrase ‘weak in the knees’ held a whole new concept for her. About six-four, just the height she liked, built a mite larger than a soccer player. It also didn’t hurt his biceps almost wanted to pop out of the seams of his polo shirt. His thick, wavy hair, long enough to fall just above his eyes and cover his ears, reminded her of the shade of her mother's sable coat. High cheekbones defined his face, his lips soft but firm, extremely kissable, and his midnight-blue eyes drifted closed as he covered her mouth and used his tongue to suck her soul out of her body and into his safe keeping.
Jasmine shut her eyes, inhaled his woodsy fragrance, and wound her arms around his neck. She reveled in the soft silkiness of his hair against her bare arms, and quite frankly had no intention of letting go until she realized someone else tugged on her elbow making funny sounds. Not the moans of bliss coming from him or her. Then time and thought intruded. She remembered where she was, who she was, and that her friend stood at her side. Opening her eyes, she leaned away, but her world remained off its axis. His eyes immediately flickered and stared directly into hers. She felt herself reversing direction and moving back into him, connecting her mouth with his once more. Finally, he stepped back but didn't release his hold from around her waist.
“I can't believe you made me wait six months to do that.” His voice was just as she’d heard it in her ear for so many nights. But deeper, throatier, and she wanted to make him growl or purr.
She grinned. “I know. But…I don’t understand…how?”
He placed his forehead against hers. “I don't know, babe, nor do I care. I just know it is. By the way, I'm Baron. Do you mind that I'm white?”
“Do you mind that I’m not?”
Like crazy people, they started laughing, but this was so not funny. As they began to sober, they shifted toward each other again. Before their lips could make contact, a pale hand with red polish on the nails spread between their faces.
“Ahem! I’m still here. If anyone cares to know.”
They both leaned away from each other. Jasmine turned, still in Baron's embrace, and looked at her friend, laughing again. “I'm sorry, Karen. This is Baron.” She cocked her head to glance at him. “Baron this is my best friend, Karen Desmond.”
“Hello,” he said, grinning. He moved one arm from around Jasmine's waist but gripped her hand instead. He squeezed it like he meant to hang on to it forever.
“How did you know?” Karen asked. She looked around. “There are lots of passengers and other people waiting here.”
“Yeah,” Jasmine asked. “How did you know?” When she told Karen she was meeting Baron, her friend wouldn't let her go by herself, just in case. She'd talked to her about Baron a while ago, about how he made her feel like he gave a damn. He had her entertaining thoughts of the possibility of him being part of her life. Karen, a newlywed and a certified romantic, claimed she and Baron were having some sort of weird over-the-phone courtship. Jasmine had laughed at her at first, but she wasn't now.
Baron shrugged wide shoulders. “I just did. How did you know, or do you let just any strange man walk up and kiss you?”
“Hey,” Jasmine cried, trying to tug away from his grasp. But he coaxed her closer and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Kidding.” He grinned. “I know you don’t. Just as
I know this is a first for the both of us.”
“Oh, okay,” Karen said. “I know when I’m not wanted.”
Jasmine turned and glanced sheepishly at her smirking friend. “Thanks for coming with me, Karen. I'll drop you back at the store.” She explained to Baron. “Karen is the regional manager for a trendy chain of teen stores. She travels from store to store around San Diego checking on things.”
It felt both strange and natural to have Baron at her side holding her hand as they all went out to her car. In the past, handholding was not something she enjoyed doing. Either the guy was too tall or short, or it was just awkward. Usually, the man walked too fast or slow and she was pulled along or the one doing the pulling. But with Baron, they moved in sync.
“How was the flight?” Jasmine asked.
“Not fast enough.”
Karen rolled her eyes, but she grinned at his reply. Jasmine couldn’t stop grinning since he’d taken her into his arms. She only wanted to return there again.
They arrived where her car was parked. She opened the trunk of her car, and Baron threw his bag in, released his hold on her before climbing into the front seat since Karen had already gotten into the back.
After they drove onto the freeway, Karen moved between their seats and spoke.
“So, Baron, have you been to San Diego before?”
He looked over his shoulder. “No, not San Diego. But I’ve been to Baja and L.A. That’s it for the West Coast.” He returned his attention to Jasmine.
“How about you, Jas, ever been to D.C.?”
It didn't escape her notice he'd just shortened her name. Surprisingly, not many people did, but she liked the sound of it coming from him. She suspected he could call her pretty much anything and get away with it, as long as he called her. Sad but true.
“Nope. The nearest I’ve been are New York and Florida.”
“You’ll have to come to D.C., soon. Real soon,” he said.
Jasmine remained quiet, allowing her talkative friend to drive the conversation and pump Baron for information. Details she starved for, but didn't dare ask. But her witch of a friend waited until she’d pulled up to the mall entrance to drop her bombshell question. The one they never got around to asking.
Karen opened the door and set one foot on the sidewalk. “Thanks for the lift, Jasmine. Call me later, if you can. By the way Baron, where are you staying?”
The blaring truck horn behind her car had her yelling at Karen to get out of the car. She heard her friend's laughter as she closed the door.
“I apologize for her,” she said as they drove away. “She's nosy, what can I say, but that’s kind of a good question. Where are you staying?” With me, with me, say with me. What, was she nuts? She barely knew the guy. That’s what this trip was for, wasn’t it? Christ, she wasn’t sure what the hell the trip was for.
He gazed at her. “I was hoping you'd have a suggestion.”
She glanced at him before she made a turn onto another street. “Finally, you're leaving something up to me?” Sighing and resigned, she said, “I have a two-bedroom place on the water. You can take the guest room.”
Jasmine made her position clear. She owed him a room but that’s all. As hot and promising as their kiss had been, and as much as she looked forward to more, she was not sleeping with him. At least...not yet.
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Yes.”
Her head snapped around to look at him. From the sparks glowing in his eyes, he wasn’t talking about food. She turned her attention back to the road.
At the next light, he took her hand off the wheel and kissed her fingers. “I'm glad you let me come. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she croaked. She cleared her throat twice before she thought she could speak without sounding like a damn frog. “Ah, I know of a little Italian place not far from my condo. They have great pasta dishes or pizza, if you’re in the mood.”
“Sounds good.” He released his hold on her and sat back in his seat, but he kept watching her. And she couldn't stop her gaze from drifting to him every chance she got.
The restaurant wasn’t too crowded, so they were served quickly. At first she was hungry but now seated across from Baron at a little table, a half-eaten pizza between them, Jasmine wasn't sure she was going to be able to stick to the arrangement. How could she have this drop-dead-gorgeous man in her house, steps away from her, knowing he wanted her—yeah, he made it clear in every look, every touch—and not want to jump his bones? No, that’s not what she desired. She needed to crawl so far inside his soul there’d be no way to remove her without tearing out his heart. The thought froze her brain. The slice of pizza halfway to her mouth suddenly lost its appeal. Slowly, she placed it back on the platter and raised her head looking at him. What was happening to her?
He met her eyes, and his gaze never stopped blazing. “Let's go,” he said. He waved the waiter over and took care of the bill. Taking her arm, he guided her out of the restaurant and to her car. “Do you want me to drive? You can direct me.”
“No, I’m fine. I’ll drive.”
Chapter Four
Baron could tell from their first kiss she was just as caught in an unfamiliar flood of emotions as he was. It was good to know he wasn't the only one out of his element. When he’d called his best friend and business partner, Tony, to let him know he’d be gone for a few days to meet a woman, Tony told him the harsh truth. “Man, you are nuts.”
“Maybe,” Baron had replied. “But I won’t know unless I try.”
“I hope she’s worth it.”
“Hey, she’s got me jumping on a plane at six in the morning to travel some twenty-five-hundred miles just to spend a day with her. Yeah, I think she is.”
But he’d always known twenty-four hours would not be enough. Which was why he took the rest of the week off. With the weekend, that would give them four days together. After actually holding her and having a little taste of her, he also knew it wouldn’t be near enough time.
She pulled into a parking spot in front of a ten-story condo unit. Without saying a word, he followed her out of the car and into the building. At the elevator, he watched her press the number seven. A lucky number. Once the door closed, he had to touch her. He tugged her to him and claimed her mouth. Her arms snaked around his neck, drawing him closer. The ding of the elevator opening had them reluctantly separating.
“This way.” Her voice came out breathless.
He took her hand and let her lead him. Stopping in front of a condo midway down the hall, she opened the bag strapped across her shoulder. Her fingers trembled as she got her key ring out. It fell to the floor. Bending down, he picked it up. There were two and one was on a silver heart-shaped ring, a little smaller than the other. He tried the larger of the two first, and the lock clicked. Turning the knob, he pushed against the wood and returned the keys to her.
“Thank you,” she whispered, brushing against his chest as she passed him.
He inhaled sharply from the heat of her touch. The scent of honeysuckle wafting off her had him stifling the groan threatening to erupt from his depths. “You’re welcome.”
After they entered, he closed the door behind them. They stood in a small hallway foyer with a narrow, waist-high wall separating it from the rest of the room. On the other side, a spacious living area boasted a white rattan furniture with large, comfortable and colorful cushions dominated the room. A narrow kitchen on the left seemed ample enough to accommodate two people working side-by-side to prepare a meal. Directly ahead of him, windows composed the entire back wall. Beyond the panes, a deck overlooked a beautiful view of vast blue water. He stepped further into the room, dropped his things on the carpet, and then headed toward the sliding glass doors. Jasmine already stood in front of them, fiddling with the latch, trying to get them open.
He covered her hand with his. “Here, let me try.” He flipped the level and pushed the latch back.
“Th
anks,” she said. “Sometimes it sticks.”
They stepped onto the balcony, and he drew a deep breath, inhaling the smell of pure sun, sand, and Pacific Ocean. “I love this scent and the view’s beautiful, too,” he said. But he no longer looked at the ocean.
“Wanna take a stroll?”
She didn't wait for him to reply but moved past him toward the front door. Before she reached the entryway she paused, glancing down at his travel bag he’d dropped there.
“Let me show you where to put this and then we’ll head for the beach.”
He got his stuff and followed her to the hallway that ran to the right of the kitchen. Scenic pictures lined one wall of boats on the water, and two open doors stood directly across from them. Jasmine stopped in front of the first room and turned to him.
“You can put your stuff in here.”
She moved aside for him to enter, and he glanced around. The queen-size bed in the center of the room took up most of the space, and the windows behind it offered a great view of the ocean beyond. Even this room reminded him of a beach home in that the walls were painted the color of sand and the short headboard was also white rattan matching the four-drawer dresser with sea-shell handles. The aqua-tinted comforter offered most of the color in the room. He placed his bag down on the sandy-colored rug.
“Come on,” she said.
They left the building and strolled through a little hedge flower garden with four stone benches scattered around it. A brick walkway wound them past the garden. The path led to a locked iron gate taller than an average man.
Jasmine used the second key on her ring to open it, this time without fumbling and dropping them. They followed a bridge over the dunes, descended a few steps, and at the bottom, stopped. She removed her sandals, left them on the steps, and rolled up her pants. Baron followed her example and did the same. He straightened, offered her his hand, and she took it.
His chest expanded. He loved the feel of her soft skin touching him and the way the fingers on her other hand wrapped around his arm like she was claiming him. He hoped she would, because he’d like to claim her. The thought seized hold of him and wouldn’t let go.
Come To Me Page 2
