by Rhian Cahill
Her stillness must have registered because he brought his gaze up to meet hers. The fire in his eyes singed. Any part of her that wasn’t alight before instantly sparked to life delivering a full-body shudder.
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as his throat worked. “I —”
“I’m not sleeping with you,” Elle blurted.
He jerked back. “You’re not?”
“No.”
“Care to tell me why?”
“You said it yourself. There’ve been no other women.”
“And this is significant how?”
Had he moved closer? He seemed to be only inches away instead of feet. “I don’t like messy endings.”
“Messy endings?” One eyebrow arched. “I’m not following.”
“We work together.”
“Not really.”
“I don’t shit in my own backyard.”
Jack laughed. The full-body, throw-your-head-back kind. “I would hope not,” he said when he finally got his laughter under control. “But I still don’t see why this means we aren’t sleeping together.”
“I’d be your rebound.” She had no intention of being anyone’s rebound. She’d been there, done that, bought the fucking t-shirt.
“Okay.” He drew the word out, obviously still not getting it.
“Rebounds never last, therefore we’d end, and that would be messy.” Elle had no intention of being in that situation again. She’d barely survived the first time.
“Interesting theory.”
“It’s not a theory.”
“No?”
“It’s a well known fact.” It was one of the first things she’d learned about dating.
One side of his mouth hitched in a cocky grin. The corresponding eyebrow angled in the same jaunty way. “There’s scientific evidence to back it up?”
“There has to be.” Surely something that was so universally true had facts to prove it. “Everybody knows it’s true.”
“Mmm…” Jack rubbed his fingers along his chin, the rasp of his stubble loud in the quiet surrounding them. “You know, I think you’re right. My last rebound relationship was with me ex.”
“See!” Elle sat up straight. “That ended.”
Jack chuckled. “Yeah, about twelve years after it started.”
“Oh.” She slumped back on the lounge. That kind of blew her argument out of the water, didn’t it? “But it did end.” Lord. She wasn’t even convincing to her own ears.
Elle took a sip of the wine she’d all but forgotten was in her hand. “Oh. This is nice.”
“Yeah, it’s not a bad drop.”
They sat quietly, each in their own thoughts as the sun went down and the chill started to set in.
“You know. You could sleep with me and get my rebound out of the way,” Jack murmured.
Elle chocked on her mouthful of wine. He leaned over and thumped her on the back a couple of times.
“Then we could get together again and you wouldn’t be my rebound, so we wouldn’t have to worry about the messy ending.”
He grinned at her. Elle couldn’t blame him. She had to look comical with her mouth hanging open. It took her a few seconds, but then she couldn’t help the laughter that burst from her chest.
* * *
Jack wasn’t sure what was so amusing. He’d been deadly serious about getting the rebound out of the way. He should take offence except the sound of her laughter ringing out in the darkness vibrated in his gut, leaving behind an unfamiliar warmth. The way her breasts jiggled heated other areas of his body, but he’d ignore those. If he didn’t he’d be climbing on top of her and rebounding away.
“Ahem.”
“Sorry.” She placed a hand over her mouth and tried to smother her remaining amusement. “Trust a lawyer to find the loophole.”
Jack smirked. “I don’t think that’s a compliment…”
Elle sat up and swung her legs over the side of the lounge. “Yes. And no.”
“Hmm…” Jack put his feet on the ground, his toes almost touching hers, and stood. “C’mon. Let’s go eat.”
He held out his hand and was surprised Elle didn’t release his hold when he walked towards the house. They finished their wine and he put the glasses in the dishwasher before grabbing the bottle and reaching for Elle’s hand once more.
Neither of them spoke as he led her from the house and locked the door behind them. The walk was slow and easy, their strides in sync, their hands clasped together so naturally anyone observing them would think they’d been taking evening walks for years. Jack found it amazing that the height difference didn’t make strolling hand in hand difficult at all.
It felt comfortable — right — to be beside Elle in the cool night air.
He couldn’t recall ever feeling this relaxed with Annabelle, not even in the early days when the rush of new love had overtaken every part of him. Pushing those thoughts away, he concentrated on the woman walking next to him. Her size gave her a fragile air, but Jack already knew not to judge this book by its cover. She didn’t seem the type to play games either. He’d had his fair share of manipulation at the hands of his ex-wife; he wasn’t about to let another woman make him lose his centre.
They turned the corner at the end of his street and the row of storefronts came into view.
“When you said around the corner, you meant it,” Elle said as they walked past the closed doctor’s office. “You know I’ve lived here almost three years and I’ve never once ventured along here.”
“There isn’t much, but I did discover the Italian is good. They do takeaway too, which is handy, especially when you’re a bachelor with an empty house.”
“You don’t cook?” Elle asked as he led her through the front door of Antonio’s.
“Oh, I cook, but when I first moved in not only was there no furniture, but I hadn’t had the fridge delivered or the new stove hooked up.” Jack waved at Antonio and pointed to his usual table in the back corner. Getting the man’s nod, he wove his way through the tables and pulled out a chair for Elle.
“If the smell of this place is anything to go by, the food is delicious,” Elle said as she glanced around. “It could do with a décor update, but who needs new and fancy if the place lives up to the hype.” She grinned.
He placed the bottle of wine on the table. “Be back in a second.” Jack left her and headed for the kitchen. The second he got through the door he was enveloped in a bone-crushing hug from Rosa, Antonio’s wife.
“You not come by in ages,” she scolded.
Jack chuckled. “I was here last Friday night.”
She slapped him on the arm. “One week I no see your handsome face.”
“I’ve been busy and I thought you would have had enough of me by now.” He reached over Rosa’s head for two wine glasses.
“Never.” She gave him a shove. “Now you go out there with that pretty woman and I bring you dinner.”
“Ah, we haven’t ordered yet…”
Rosa glared at him.
Jack backed up a step, held up his hands, a glass in each. “Okay, okay. I’m going.”
He wasn’t sure Elle would be impressed by having her dinner choice made for her, but if he’d learned anything in the weeks he’d been coming here, he’d learned that Rosa had some sort of ESP and knew, down to the last drip of gelato, what you wanted to eat. There hadn’t been one bad meal and with each one Jack had marvelled at the older woman’s ability to pick what his tastebuds craved.
When Jack reached the table again, he picked up the bottle and filled the glasses. Taking his seat, he held his glass up towards Elle. “A toast.”
She picked up her wine and held it beside his.
“To new beginnings and new friends.” He clinked their glasses.
“New beginnings and new friends.” Elle smiled as she moved her glass to her lips and took a sip.
Jack ignored the way her mouth pursed around the rim, but he couldn’t ignore the carnal sight of her tongue
slipping out and sliding over her bottom lip. He’d been riding the edge of desire for Elle all day, and now that he had her full attention he really wanted to taste her.
Would she be sweet or tart from the wine? Would her lips be warm or cool?
“Jack.” Elle waved her hand in front of him. “Jack.”
“Huh? Sorry. What?” He felt his cheeks heat. God, he was such an idiot around her.
“Menus? We don’t have any.” She looked at the nearby tables.
“They don’t have them.”
“What? How can a restaurant not have menus?”
He shrugged. “It works for them. In fact, you don’t even pick what you eat. That’s Rosa’s job.”
Elle stared at him, her mouth hanging open.
Jack lifted a shoulder once more. “She just seems to know what you want.”
“But what if you’re allergic to something?”
He leaned closer. “Don’t say anything, but I think Rosa is a witch or mind reader. Honestly, if you’re allergic or don’t like something she knows.”
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him.
“Trust me. I’ve seen it happen over and over again,” he explained.
“We’ll see. I don’t like onion and most Italian dishes are full of it.” She leaned back in her chair, an air of challenge about her.
Jack held up a hand. “Hey. I was as sceptical as you when I first came here. I’m a complete believer now.”
“Mmm…”
He smiled. She had a right to be suspicious. Rosa’s ability was definitely unbelievable.
“How do I know you didn’t order when you went into the kitchen?” Elle asked.
“I guess I could have.” He took a sip of wine. “But I didn’t know about your aversion to onion and I bet you another bottle of wine and a movie at my place after dinner that Rosa not only knows, but delivers you a meal without onion.”
She sat up and thrust her hand across the table. “You’re on.”
Not one to let a sure thing slip past, Jack reached over and shook on the deal. He grinned. “What type of movies do you like?”
“You’re awfully sure of yourself.”
“Rosa won’t let me down.” He topped up both their glasses. “Do you have to work tomorrow?”
“No. One of the assistant managers is on, but I’m always on call. Unfortunately, the buck stops here.” Elle aimed her thumb at her chest. “Not that I’m expecting any problems. With Frosty’s Snowmen onsite twenty-four-seven for the next three weeks, I’ll be able to enjoy my weekends without worry.”
From the corner of his eye, Jack saw Rosa heading their way with two large steaming plates in hand. “Here comes dinner.”
Rosa arrived with a big beaming smile. “For you, my Jack, penne and chilli tomatoes. And for your beautiful lady friend, meatballs in red wine sauce, no onion.”
Elle stared up at Rosa.
“I know it upsets you tummy.” Rosa patted Elle’s shoulder. “Enjoy. Let me know if you want anything else.”
The older woman walked away and Elle followed her with eyes so wide Jack thought they might fall out of her face. He laughed. “C’mon.” Picking up his fork he pointed to the plate in front of her. “Eat up before it gets cold.”
“But– But– How’d she know?” She turned her stunned gaze to him.
“Haven’t a clue.” He dug his fork into his food and grinned at Elle. “So what movies do you like?”
Chapter 4
Elle wasn’t sure if it was the wine, the couch, or the company, but she was more relaxed than she remembered being in months. Bringing her glass to her lips, she took a sip of wine as the hunk on screen took his shirt off. She barely managed to swallow without choking. The guy was hot. Ripped muscles glistening with sweat…
She’d never admit to anyone the only reason she watched action flicks was for the eye candy. Better that everyone thought her testosterone-dominated childhood had developed a love of blow-’em-up, smash-’em-up movies.
“You want more wine?” Jack asked, indicating her almost empty glass.
“Mmm…” She thought about the completely empty bottle in the kitchen — then the one they’d left at the restaurant — and decided any more and she’d be crawling home. “Nah. I think I hit my limit three glasses ago.”
“You don’t have to drive anywhere.”
“No. But I do need to be able to operate my legs.” She leaned her head back and looked over at Jack. “At this point they’re feeling a little rubbery.”
He reached over and palmed her thigh. “Doesn’t feel rubbery.”
Heat shot through her. His hand was large and, placed on her leg like it was, demonstrated just how much bigger he was. He could cover a lot of skin with that hand. If he used both…
Obviously her reflexes were sluggish, drowned in wine as they were, because before she saw it coming, Jack was kissing her.
Kissing her until her toes curled.
Kissing her until her fingers curled in his shirt.
Kissing her until desire coiled hard and hot in her belly.
He knew what he was doing too. Knew when to push forward. When to retreat. And when to tangle his tongue with hers so there was nothing on her mind but him.
Desperate for air, she tore her mouth from his. Panting hard, her eyelids fluttered open, the skin and lashes suddenly too heavy for her to lift with any speed. When her gaze met Jack’s the need burning in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine. “We said we weren’t going to sleep together.”
“No. You said we weren’t. And we’re not.”
“But—”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “We’re just going to make out on the couch.”
If her mind hadn’t been so befuddled from that amazing kiss she might have argued. Except with the hot rush of arousal still zipping through her veins Elle could only nod.
He grinned before bending closer and taking her mouth with his again.
Elle wasn’t sure who moved first. Which one of them had twisted so they were lying on the couch — her pinned beneath him. Maybe they’d moved together. They seemed to be in sync. Their mouths mated in a natural rhythm while their hands explored above and below the barrier of cloth that separated them.
His skin was hot, smooth, the muscles beneath hard and rippling as she skimmed her hands up his back under his shirt. She pushed the material up and out of the way so she could touch every inch of him. And there were so many inches.
Jack moved his mouth from hers, trailed his lips over her cheek to her ear. “You keep going and we’ll be in trouble.”
Elle laughed. “From where I’m lying we’re already in trouble.” She raised her hips, pressed against the heated ridge of flesh constrained by his pants.
He dropped his forehead to her shoulder. “Fuck.”
Yeah. They were in serious trouble. But she’d meant what she said. She wouldn’t sleep with him tonight. As for tomorrow night or the one after… Well they’d just have to see.
“Okay. Let’s put the brakes on before we can’t.” Jack levered up on his hands, separating them from the waist up, except the action ground his cock into her sex and both of them shuddered and moaned. “And can’t is about half a second away.”
Leaping off the couch, he stood staring down at her through hooded eyes. His cheeks were a slash of red, his lips swollen and wet. Air sawed in and out of his nostrils, raising and lowering his chest in heavy rasps, while his hands fisted at his sides. The shirt she’d untucked hung in front of his zipper, but the erection he sported wasn’t hidden. His length and breadth were clearly visible.
Elle swallowed.
Like the rest of him, his cock was big. She’d bet a year’s salary it would be the biggest she’d seen and the need to get her hands on him surged through her. Her fingers flexed. Her pussy clenched. And her tongue slid across her dry lips.
“Stop.”
Her gaze darted up to meet his.
“Don’t look at me like you want to lick me
.” He took a step backwards. “I’m trying really hard to abide by your decree. But there isn’t one part of me that doesn’t know I could change your mind in a split second.”
She didn’t say a word. There weren’t any. Jack was right and they both knew it.
“I’m going to make us coffee.” He strode from the room and Elle was pleased to see his steps weren’t all that even.
Drawing in a deep breath she puffed out her bottom lip and blew it out. The air cooled the sheen of sweat on her forehead and ruffled the strands of hair stuck to her face. “Jesus.”
If Jack hadn’t stopped, they’d be naked by now. She wasn’t ashamed to say she wouldn’t have stopped. But she was disappointed in herself for wanting one thing, but saying another. She wasn’t a prick tease. She’d never been the type to delude herself either. She really wanted to have sex with Jack. He had the potential to be the best she’d ever had, and she was obviously denying both of them by holding out.
Rolling to the side, Elle got to her feet and hoped her legs would hold. When they seemed to cooperate, she risked a couple of steps. When she didn’t end up crumpled on the floor, she walked towards the hallway and the bathroom.
She needed a splash of cold water on her face. Maybe a bucket of ice over her head.
The door stuck as she tried to push it open and no matter how hard she shoved against it, the stupid thing wouldn’t budge further than the three inches it was open. “Dammit.” She slapped the timber, making her hand sting.
“Use the bathroom off the main bedroom,” Jack called out from the kitchen. “I haven’t fixed that door yet.”
Great. Just what she didn’t need. She was trying to stop thinking about Jack and sex. Seeing his bedroom — his bed — would only remind her of what she’d purposely deprived them of out of some stupid fear left behind by a guy who didn’t deserve any more of her energy.
Anger rolled through her. She’d given Gavin her heart. She’d given him her trust. But worse than that, she’d given him power. Power to hurt her even after he’d walked away.
No more.
She was a grown woman in control of her mind and body, and if she wanted Jack she should have him.
