by Andre, Bella
But she knew why he’d made her that promise. It was too easy to get lost in the sensual sparks that always lit between them, so much easier than making sure they built a true connection, a real bond that would withstand the test of twins…and a possible life together as husband and wife.
She refused to let him go and reached out to take his hand. She wouldn’t give that up, too. Not when it felt so right. Not when holding his hand was almost better than having sex with him.
Her body all but laughed at that thought, and she silently acknowledged that there was very little in life that was better than having sex with Jake McCann.
Just then, the conductor announced they were heading into Chinatown, and her stomach immediately answered the news with a loud grumble that carried even over the sound of the cable car rattling down its tracks.
She grinned at Jake. “I think our kids like Chinese food.”
***
Our kids.
The two little words reverberated through Jake’s chest, holding steady in the center where his heart was beating too fast.
He should have made sure she’d eaten more for breakfast. But instead of putting her needs first, he’d been too busy roughly taking her on the kitchen stool, then pushing her away as soon as they were done.
When the cable car stopped at the next light, he jumped down and reached for her. It didn’t count as touching her if he had to make sure she got to the ground safely…even if he held on to her waist a few seconds longer than he needed to.
He was surprised when Sophie took his hand and started leading the way. “I know a place that has the best cha siu bao.”
“Chasu-what?”
He loved the sound of her laughter. “You’ll see.” She shot him a happy glance over her shoulder. “I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
Thank God she was back to her normal self, smiling and happy. Every time he did or said something to extinguish that joy in her eyes, he hated himself more and more. It was one of the reasons he’d stayed away from her as long as he had…because he’d known he would hurt her.
He hadn’t spent much time in this part of Chinatown, where the tourists were. The parts he knew were the back alleys where the gangs came together. He hadn’t rolled with that crowd since high school, but he still recognized the route through the narrow alleys. So when Sophie headed off the main street and started to turn down one of them, he had to stop her.
“There are plenty of places to eat on this street.”
“None as good as the one I’m taking you to,” she replied, clearly not understanding his concern.
Jake knew he’d spent too much of their time together dictating what she could and couldn’t do. And she clearly wanted to take him to one particular place. So he let her lead them down alleys and back roads, keeping especially close to her, even though he couldn’t understand how perfect little Sophie Sullivan knew her way around this part of the neighborhood.
Finally, she stopped in front of a bright red door and smiled at him. “We’re here.”
She pushed through the door, and he saw that it was a bakery, more industrial than a retail business.
A very thin, clearly exhausted middle-aged man looked up with a huge smile. “Miss Sophie!”
She let go of Jake’s hand to give the man a hug. “Mr. Chu, I hope you don’t mind us dropping by like this. Jake and I were in the neighborhood, and I couldn’t focus on anything but eating one of your steamed pork buns.”
Jake knew exactly why the man looked so pleased. Sophie had always had that effect on people.
She looked over his shoulder at the kitchen behind him. “I hope we’re not too late. I know how early you sell out.”
But the man was already clearing off the small white plastic table in the corner, holding out the seat for Sophie as if she really were a princess. Jake shook the man’s hand, and as he introduced himself, he knew what the guy was thinking as he studied him with narrowed eyes.
“You own those Irish pubs.”
He nodded, saying, “I do,” while making sure Mr. Chu heard what he was really saying: I know I’m not good enough for her, but since I can’t let her go, I’m going to do my damnedest to take care of her.
Mr. Chu studied him before nodding once and disappearing into the back.
“What was that all about?” Sophie asked.
Jake shrugged as he put a stack of magazines on the floor and sat on the other chair. “How do you know this place?”
Before she could answer, Mr. Chu was back with tea. “How is Stanley’s freshman year going?” she asked him.
“Good. Although he says none of the girls there are as pretty as his tutor.”
She laughed out loud at that. “Let him know I miss him, too.” She was still smiling as he moved back into the kitchen. “Stanley always was the world’s biggest flirt.”
Jake knew it was crazy to be jealous of a teenager, but just because it was crazy didn’t mean he didn’t feel it. Especially when he thought about the fact that she must have spent plenty of time alone with the kid if she’d been tutoring him.
“You have a full-time job. When do you have time to tutor kids?”
She blew the steam off her cup of tea. “Free time is overrated. I’d much rather be doing something I enjoy with people I care about.”
Now he knew why he’d liked his tutor, Mrs. Springs, so much. It wasn’t just because she’d been the only one he hadn’t been able to scare away. It was because she’d reminded him of Sophie. Gentle, but with a spine of steel beneath that soft exterior.
“Besides,” she said, “it’s really all about my secret mission.” She propped her elbows on the table and put her chin in her hands. “I want everyone to love books as much as I do.”
She was so beautiful, so pure, his chest clenched tight as he looked at her across the small table, knowing how badly he was going to disappoint her.
He might not be illiterate anymore, but books would never be fun.
And he would never love them.
Mr. Chu brought over a plate of steaming pork buns, then left them alone again. Sophie broke off a piece and held it out to Jake. “Here, you should have the first taste.”
Thanking God that he’d never needed books to know how to give a woman pleasure, he wrapped his hand around her wrist to hold her hand steady as he put his lips around the food. He let his teeth graze her skin as he did so and was rewarded by the desire that lit her eyes.
“Good, isn’t it?” she asked in a slightly husky voice.
“Give me another taste, princess.”
She had to know what he was doing, that he was playing outside the rule book by touching her when he’d promised not to. But a moment later, she was back with another piece of the pork bun. Again, he made her part of their snack.
“Yes,” he told her after he finally made himself let go of her hand, “it’s very good.” He slid the plate away from her and broke off a piece. “Your turn now.”
She flushed but didn’t hesitate to open her mouth. At first he thought she was only going to take the food, but at the very last second her tongue came out to curl over his fingertip.
He barely bit back a groan. Why the hell had he made that stupid promise not to touch her?
***
Sophie felt happier than she had in a very, very long time. Just being with Jake, slowly walking hand in hand through downtown San Francisco, was better than any of the fancy evenings out she’d had with the men she’d dated before him.
Not, she supposed, that they were technically dating. No, they’d skipped right past that part, hadn’t they? From one kiss to twins-on-the-way so quickly it made her head spin.
She was glad he’d insisted on this day together, on wanting to prove to her that they were compatible outside of the bedroom. She flushed as she realized they’d had sex in far more places than the bedroom.
Still, she couldn’t shake the sense that the tenuous connection she and Jake had been forging with each other had broken
slightly when they’d been at the bakery in Chinatown. Something kept coming between them, and she wished she knew what it was, wished that he would open up and tell her.
But she’d known Jake long enough to understand what would happen if she pushed too hard too fast. He’d shut down completely…and it would break her heart to lose him just when it looked like they might have a chance of making things work.
Her newly overactive bladder had her stopping in front of a Starbucks. “Nature’s calling. I’ll be right back,” she told him, leaving him standing out on the sidewalk while she went to go wait in the surprisingly long line inside.
Jake was holding a fairly large plastic bag when she came back out. The only store anywhere near the coffee shop was one that sold cheap little tourist trinkets. Just the kind she absolutely adored, as a matter of fact.
But what could Jake possibly have bought?
Before she could ask, he grabbed her hand and said, “If we run, we can probably catch that cable car before it heads back down the hill.”
Hand in hand, they dodged people and dogs and garbage cans. Laughter and pure, unfettered joy bubbled up inside her at a side of Jake she hadn’t known existed until now.
The cable car slowed down just long enough for Jake to lift her up before getting on behind her. The conductor seemed happy enough when Jake flashed their tickets at him, and she figured he must recognize the McCann’s owner like everyone else had so far.
“Where are you taking me?”
Instead of answering, he pulled her against him, her back to his front, breaking his promise again, thank God. She slid her hands along his forearms and leaned her head against his shoulder as the sights of San Francisco passed by them one after another. She closed her eyes and wished they could stay like this forever.
“Here’s our stop.”
Sophie felt groggy as she felt his breath warm against her ear, and realized she must have dozed off into a light sleep on the cable car, probably from the combination of the movement, her pregnancy…and finally being right where she’d always wanted to be.
Safe and warm in Jake’s arms.
The wind had picked up, but the afternoon sun was still shining brightly. He’d taken her to a large strip of grass at Chrissy Field on the bay. To their right was Alcatraz, to their left the Golden Gate Bridge. In the middle of a workday there weren’t many people out, just a few people flying kites.
“Do you remember coming out here when we were kids?”
Of course she did. “Lori and I had new kites, but mine ripped when she stepped on it before I could even use it.” She paused. “You told me kites were for babies, but you made Lori share with me.”
“I hated it when you cried.” He stroked a hand down her cheek. “I still do.” He pulled something long and colorful out of the big bag. “I wish I could have given this to you fifteen years ago.”
“Oh, Jake.” She could hardly believe it. He’d found a kite in the shape of a rainbow, so similar to the one she’d had as a child. “I can’t believe you got this for me.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I don’t just like it. I love it.” And you, she thought. I love you so much.
He helped her tear open the package, and soon the wind took the kite way up high in the sky. She had to run to keep up with it, and when she finally caught hold of it enough to look back at Jake, he was staring at her with that same wonder she’d seen on his face when they’d been making love and his hands had been on her belly.
This time she knew it couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that she was pregnant with his children. But just because he’d stopped hiding his attraction to her, and the fact that he enjoyed spending time with her…did that necessarily mean he would ever fall in love with her the way she’d always been in love with him?
Eighteen
Jake saw Sophie shiver as the sun disappeared behind Alcatraz. He knew he should take her home, but he wasn’t ready for their day together to end yet. He’d thought he was doing this for her, but the truth was, he couldn’t remember a day where he’d had a more enjoyable time.
Her stomach growled again, and she laughed. “I swear, it doesn’t normally sound like there’s a crowd in there.”
“I should have fed you—and them—” he looked down at her stomach “—before now. Good news, I know of a pretty good place in one of the converted Fort Mason buildings just around the corner.”
He loved the way she automatically reached for his hand for their walk across the grass into the parking lot where the old military base had been turned into galleries, shops and restaurants.
But when they got close to the restaurant, she abruptly stopped walking. “You can’t be serious. I can’t go into the fanciest restaurant in the city wearing this. And I’m sweaty from running around on the grass.”
“I like you sweaty,” he said in a low voice, but despite the answering desire that flared in her eyes at his reminder of how good it was to get sweaty together, he could see she was hesitant about where he was taking her. “You always look beautiful, Sophie. And we need to eat.” He put his hand on her lower back and led her through the elegant entrance.
The maître d’ recognized him immediately. “Mr. McCann, welcome. Please follow me.”
Sophie was clearly startled by the greeting—and the fact that they were immediately seated at one of the best tables. He understood her confusion. A guy like him shouldn’t be allowed within a hundred feet of a place like this. He should be in back washing dishes, not being led to one of the best tables in the place, with the most beautiful girl in the world on his arm. He didn’t usually come to places like this, despite the fact that he knew most of the chefs in the city. He just never felt comfortable in them, never felt like he actually belonged there.
“Enjoy your meal. I’ll let Chef know you’re here.”
Sophie lowered her voice to a whisper. “Did you have a reservation?”
She was so cute when her eyes went all big like that. So cute that he actually whispered back, “No.”
Just then, his buddy Chris walked up to their table, smiling widely. Jake could see how much his friend appreciated Sophie’s looks. She was by far the most beautiful woman in the room. The fact that she’d put absolutely no effort into it—and that she was utterly unaware of her effect on people—only increased her beauty.
“I’m so glad you’re dining with us tonight, Miss—”
Sophie blinked up at the celebrated chef as she lifted her hand to his. “Sophie Sullivan.”
She licked her lips, and as Jake watched Chris’s eyes drop to her sinfully sensual mouth, he realized his mistake in coming here tonight.
He was going to have to kill his friend for looking at his woman like that.
“I’m very happy to meet you, Miss Sullivan.”
“Please, call me Sophie.”
“Miss Sullivan works just fine,” Jake interjected.
Sophie looked mortified. “Jake!”
Surprise flickered in Chris’s eyes as he looked between them. You’ve got it right. She’s mine. Forever. So you’d better back off—and quick.
“It would be my pleasure to suggest the tasting menu tonight.”
Sophie smiled that shy, radiant smile, and Jake had a sudden flash of what the rest of his life was going to be like, watching men fall at Sophie’s feet. It was going to be hell.
What if their twins were girls? How was he going to protect them all?
Chris had more women at his beck and call than even Jake could keep track of. Something about the combination of gourmet food, a big ego and a few muscles seemed to make women salivate. But it was clear that if Jake stepped aside, Sophie would shoot straight to the top of the list, all the others instantly forgotten. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was classy. Smart. And way the hell too good for him.
“The tasting menu sounds fine,” Jake told his friend. “Now get lost.”
Not missing a beat, Chris told Sophie, “It would also be my pleas
ure to suggest that when you get tired of this guy—”
Jake cut him off with a hard, “Later, Chris.”
This time, thankfully, Sophie wasn’t mortified. Instead, as Chris bowed to her before heading back into the kitchen, she started laughing, one of the sweetest sounds Jake had ever heard. Making her laugh would become his top priority.
“I can’t believe how rude you were,” she said, but she was still grinning. “I take it you know each other.”
He buttered a piece of freshly baked bread and handed it to her. “I taught him everything he knows about washing dishes.”
She bit into the bread, still chuckling, and he enjoyed watching her eat. He’d never taken care of anyone before, had never wanted that kind of responsibility. Now, keeping Sophie safe and healthy consumed his thoughts.
“I also taught him about women. He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
Sophie blushed and looked at her plate. “He was just being polite.”
“Don’t you know the effect you have on men, princess? All your perfection, your elegance…you make us desperate to know what you’d look like sprawled naked beneath us in our beds, your silky hair tangled in our hands, your classy mouth begging us to—”
She kicked him under the table, hissing, “You can’t say that kind of stuff here.”
“Jesus,” he said as he leaned forward to rub his shin. “That hurt.”
“My brothers taught me how to deal with guys who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
A violent vision of one of her brothers walking into this restaurant tonight and instantly knowing what he’d done to their baby sister was abruptly halted when Sophie exclaimed, “Oh, no, I just realized. I should have told Chris that I can’t eat any soft cheese or raw fish.”
Damn it, if he’d read that book the doctor had given them, he’d know that. But just thinking about trying to read all those tiny words on a subject he was already freaking out about made his head swim.
“I’ll go tell him.” He got up and pressed a kiss to her temple. “But if any of these guys try to hit on you, tell them—”
