Debra Webb - In His Touch Box Set (Here To Stay, Up Close, Tempting Trace, Basic Instincts)

by Debra Webb

  The sound of another car coming to a stop jerked him from the spell Merri seemed to cast on him without even trying. Her eyes fluttered open in a heart-stopping show of blue and his gut clenched.

  Before he could do anything utterly stupid like grab her and kiss her again in full sight of the new arrivals climbing the steps only a few feet away, Jake pressed the doorbell and faced the night before him. The door opened instantly and they were ushered inside.

  The Landry mansion was a billionaire’s showplace. But at the moment, he felt like the richest man in the world. He glanced toward the woman at his side. And Merri was the reason. Not only was she the most beautiful woman there, she was classy. Old man Landry and the rest of his guests were charmed. Merri seemed able to speak intelligently on most any subject. Everything about her indicated an excellent education—and money. Jake’s brow furrowed into a frown. Why hadn’t he noticed that already?

  He suppressed a sigh. He hadn’t been able to look past her beauty and the powerful attraction between them to notice anything else. He suddenly wondered what she did for a living. She’d gotten the grand tour of his construction business, but Jake had no clue what Merri did to support herself. Considering her looks, charm, and intelligence, he’d bet she could do anything she wanted.

  He watched the naturally feminine grace with which she moved, listened to the soft lilt of her voice, and he knew he was doomed. For the first time in his life he wanted a woman to belong to him in every sense of the word. He wanted to know all there was to know about Merri Lang.

  He wanted her.

  Just thinking about it aroused him. Dan was right. Jake was hooked. And he had never felt so helpless before. He blinked and a smile tugged at his lips when she laughed at something Landry said. He could listen to that sound forever and never grow tired of it. Her gaze met his and Jake actually felt his earth, and all it entailed, move.

  ~*~

  Meredith fought back the urge to shiver when Jake touched the small of her back and guided her toward the dining room. The cavernous room held a long table set for twenty-four, surrounded by intricately carved mahogany chairs. A massive crystal chandelier illuminated the table and its damask tablecloth and glossy white china. Jake pulled a chair from the table for her. She sank into the red velvet upholstered seat and smiled her thanks. He took the seat directly opposite her.

  Her hand trembled when she reached for the long-stemmed wineglass. Meredith drew in a deep breath and ordered herself to calm down. But sitting directly across from him for the duration of dinner was not going to make it easy. The sound of linen napkins rustling snapped her back to attention and Meredith placed hers in her lap as the first course appeared.

  She stared at the soup and tried to decide why she had no appetite when the creamy concoction looked and smelled exquisite. She darted a glance at Jake, who seemed to be having the same problem. When his eyes met hers, Meredith couldn’t prevent the startled little gasp that stole her breath. The smile that lifted his lips was so masculine and so sensual that she felt certain that another breath would be impossible.

  The woman sitting next to him asked a question and Jake answered without ever taking his eyes off Meredith. Her pulse tripped and skittered, and her heart fluttered. She slowly licked her lips, all the while watching him watch her. The flash of desire that lit his dark eyes kindled a fire deep within her as well. He looked away for a moment, but it was no use. He’d started a fire and nothing either of them could do at the moment would quench it.

  Meredith tensed when his foot slid against hers, but she didn’t move away. Instead, she slipped hers from the black stiletto pump and rubbed his ankle. His back went rigid and a muscle in his jaw started to move rhythmically. A sense of power she had never known possessed her. His reaction to her simple caress filled her with boldness. What would he do if she...?

  She smoothed her arch along the muscled length of his calf all way to his knee. She watched his nostrils flare as he began to breathe faster. Her own breath quickened. Another wave of courage rushed through her as she moved her bare foot along his inner thigh as far as she could reach between his legs. The fingers of his right hand splayed over her foot, then closed around her ankle. Liquid heat rushed to that tingly place between her thighs. He pulled her closer, pressing the sole of her foot against his solid erection. Meredith’s fingers tightened around the stem of her wineglass. Desire, hot and fierce, throbbed insistently, making her want to squirm in her chair. His gaze was so intent on hers that the clink of silverware against china, the removal of soup bowls, their replacement with salad plates and the hum of quiet conversations faded into the background. There was only her and Jake and the tantalizing movement of his hand.

  His thumb slid slowly over her arch, then again, only this time harder. And harder still. His fingers encircled her foot, holding it against his thigh, while his thumb repeatedly stroked the sole. She could just feel his arousal with her toes, and the size and hardness made her burn with need. His fore-finger slid between her toes, in and out, while he caressed her foot with his thumb. His sensual massage put her in mind of something very different—but no less pleasurable. Lost to the feel of his skilled hand, she closed her eyes as her desire for him spiraled beyond any hope of control.

  Jake let go of her foot. Meredith pulled herself back to reality, losing her grip on the wineglass. The glass tumbled to the table in a spray of red over crisp white linen.

  “Let me take care of that,” someone said from beside her.

  She looked up to find the man who served the salad only moments before hovering next to her.

  “Sorry,” Jake mouthed silently.

  Meredith tried to gather her wits and get out of the man’s way so that he could clear the mess she had made, but she couldn’t quite decide what she was supposed to do. Complete silence had fallen over the table and all eyes were fixed on her. Heat climbed her throat, and spread over her cheeks like the wine staining the expensive table linen.

  She cleared her throat and patted her chest. “My,” she said lightly, “I almost choked on an olive.” She offered an apologetic smile and hoped like hell those staring at her bought it.

  “Good God,” Landry blurted. “Dexter, get Miss Lang another goblet of water, for Heaven’s sake.”

  Weak with relief, Meredith downed half the goblet of water the moment the man set it before her. Whatever had possessed her and Jake to fool around like that? She glanced right and left and breathed easier when she saw that all the other guests had resumed conversing and eating.

  ~*~

  Later, Dan stalked Jake to the bathroom.

  “I only want to hear one thing,” he said, “that you weren’t playing footsie with Merri under Landry’s big fancy table.”

  Jake cleared his throat. “Well, she put her foot in my lap—”

  Dan held up a hand in protest and shook his head. “I don’t want to hear this.”

  Jake plowed his fingers through his hair again and blew out a disgusted breath. “I don’t know what came over me. I just couldn’t... stop.”

  “Thank God Merri’s a quick thinker,” Dan said with clear irritation. “I think most everybody believed her story that she choked on an olive.” He shook his head in disappointment. “You,” he glared at Jake “ought to have more self-control.”

  Jake shook his head. “Look, it started out innocently but I got carried away. It was my fault.”

  Dan held up both hands to stop him from saying anything more. “That doesn’t matter right now. The only thing that matters is making sure the rest of this night goes smoothly.” He gave Jake a level look. “If you blow this deal, then the company’s going to have a long, slow winter. I’ve got a baby on the way and I need my job.”

  Jake nodded his agreement. “You’re right. I’ve got to focus on business. I’ll just keep my attention on Landry and off Merri.”

  “When dinner is over and you walk out that door, whatever happens is between the two of you, but right now you have to keep y
our eyes and your brain on the game. Got it?”

  Jake nodded again. “Got it.”

  Satisfied, Dan turned to open the door.

  Mrs. Landry was right outside. She stepped back and so did Dan. “Pardon me, Mrs. Landry, we were just on our way out.”

  Mrs. Landry stared, aghast at Dan, then over his shoulder at Jake. “No hurry,” she replied, her voice a little high-pitched. “I’ll use the one in George’s office.” She whirled in a flash of lavender and flew down the hall.

  Thoroughly humiliated, Jake followed Dan into the hall. Tonight was turning into a regular circus. He was afraid to wonder what would happen next.

  “Well, at least we no longer have to worry about the Landrys suspecting what really happened between you and Merri,” Dan said disgustedly.

  “What do you mean?”

  Dan glared up at him with renewed annoyance. “I’m quite certain Mrs. Landry suspects we’re gay.”

  The picture the two of them must have made exiting the guest bathroom snapped into vivid focus in Jake’s head. He swore again, whether from fear or anger, he couldn’t say. He only knew that they were royally screwing up this deal.

  The rest of the evening proved decidedly uneventful. Jake relaxed a little when the final after-dinner drinks were served. He had carefully positioned himself away from Merri. He only looked at her when absolutely necessary. When he did catch her eye, it was obvious that she was feeling as uneasy as he was. Deal or no deal, getting through this and saying goodnight would be a monumental relief. Jake wasn’t sure how he would survive driving Merri home, but he would just have to get through that, too.

  ~*~

  Almost an hour later when Dan had tucked Suzy safely into his Volvo, and Merri was secured out of reach on the passenger side of Jake’s Jeep, Mr. Landry shook their hands one last time.

  “This has been a very enlightening evening, gentlemen,” the older man said affably.

  “Sir, I’d like to—” Jake started.

  Landry shook his head. “Don’t try to explain, Brandon. I admire your ambition and your ingenuity. Why, you two actually hired a pregnant friend and a model so I wouldn’t get the wrong idea.”

  Jake felt his knees weaken. Dan had been right again.

  “But, sir, you don’t understand—” Dan protested.

  “An alternative lifestyle is nothing to be ashamed of in the twenty-first century, gentlemen,” Landry cut him off. “I’ve looked at your work. You’re good, and I want to do business with you.” He shrugged and threw up his hands. “Discrimination is illegal and I don’t believe in it anyway. What do I care if you’re two talented gay men?”

  Chapter Six

  Meredith’s fingers slowed on the keys of her laptop. It had been three days since the Landrys’ dinner party, but she couldn’t forget what had happened. She still tingled at the vivid memory of Jake’s fingers on her bare foot. She swallowed, squared her shoulders and forced the sensual episode from her mind.

  She had work to do.

  Her fingers moved to the keyboard once more, filling the screen with her thoughts. For the first twenty-four hours after the dinner party she hadn’t even been able to think about Jake or the emotions he had evoked within her. She had carefully avoided any kind of contact with him so as not to influence her conclusions. This was, after all, what she’d come here to do.

  She understood now what the term love at first sight meant. When men and women first encountered each other, they experienced varying levels of attraction or none at all. The chemistry involved could be explosive. It didn’t take a degree in psychology to explain that—and that’s what happened to her. At first.

  Admitting that she had very strong feelings for Jake was not really a problem when she considered the definition of the word love: a deep and tender affection for, and attachment to, a person. She certainly felt affection for him. Even attachment. The initial physical attraction had been the force that drew them together that first night. The time spent as a couple had formed the bond of affection and deepened the sense of attraction to an attachment of sorts. The extraordinary attraction, however, had been superficial at first. Now that bond had grown, deepened. The two of them were ready for the second stage: a consummation of their blossoming relationship.

  But this was only research, Meredith reminded herself. She could not prevent the feelings she had for Jake... she was human. But she would not allow them to go beyond this point. She’d done more than enough in-depth field work to develop her theory. The desires that drove men and women were generated by their most basic instincts to mate. Though she yearned to make love with Jake and experience the fulfillment of the bond growing between them, she couldn’t do that to him or to herself. It was bad enough that she had deceived him this long. She would not cross the line she had drawn when she set out to do this research personally, no matter how close she had already come to doing so.

  The telephone rang, startling her. Taking a breath, Meredith focused even more intently on the screen before her. She would not answer the call, just as she hadn’t answered the other dozen or so. She couldn’t talk to Jake and she certainly couldn’t see him again. She would not risk hurting him. If she disappeared from his life now, he would forget all about her soon enough. He was handsome, charming, and had so much to offer. Some lucky woman would come along and fulfill his every fantasy.

  She would eventually stop thinking about him. Her life would go on as before. The hollow feel of that last thought made her stomach roil.

  “Merri, it’s Suzy,” said a female voice from Shelley’s answering machine. “Please call me as soon as possible, it’s very important. I only...”

  Whether it was the words or the urgency in the other woman’s voice, Meredith sprang from her chair and rushed to the telephone. What if something had happened to Jake?

  “I’m here, Suzy,” she said in a breathless rush. “Is Jake okay?”

  Suzy laughed softly. “Jake is fine. Nothing’s wrong, I just have a favor to ask you.”

  Meredith sagged in relief. Thank God. If something had happened to him... she refused to complete the thought. Instead she shook off the lingering anxiety and focused on Dan’s wife.

  “What can I do for you?” Meredith rubbed at her right temple to assuage the pounding there.

  “I know we don’t know each other very well, but I know that Jake adores you and I thought you’d be the right person to ask.”

  Jake adored her?

  “Well, tomorrow is Dan’s birthday and I want to give him a surprise party.”

  Meredith felt a little ashamed. “His birthday? I didn’t know.”

  In fact, she knew nothing about Dan, and practically nothing about Jake. How could she care so deeply for someone about whom she knew so little?

  “He doesn’t want to have a party this year since the baby is due any minute.” She sighed. “He’s afraid it would be too much stress for me. But I have to do this. I can’t let his special day pass unnoticed. That’s where I need your help.”

  Meredith cringed.

  “Dan knows all my close friends. He’ll suspect something if any of them is involved. Jake is taking him out on the new boat tomorrow afternoon. Dan doesn’t have a clue it’s for him.”

  “Jake bought Dan a boat for his birthday?” Meredith heard the disbelief in her own voice.

  “Isn’t he great?” Suzy’s tone was so affectionate. “Jake is the most generous man I know. Last year it was cash. He uses Dan’s birthday every year to give him a big bonus. He says he couldn’t do it without Dan.”

  “I thought they were partners.” Meredith wasn’t sure how she’d gotten that impression, but she definitely had.

  “No, it’s Jake’s company. He’s offered Dan a partnership a dozen times, but he refuses. He knows how much the company is worth and he wouldn’t let Jake give him half, which is actually what he wants to do. Dan just tells Jake that when he can afford to buy his share, he will, but until then things stay the way they are.”


  “They make a good team,” Meredith noted aloud, her heart full with awe and respect for Jake. No wonder she’d fallen for him so easily.

  “So, anyway, will you help me out? I don’t think I can do this alone.”

  Meredith hesitated for only a moment. “Sure. I’d be happy to.”

  Over the next few minutes Suzy outlined her plan for the birthday bash. She would make all the calls, if Meredith would do the leg work. Picking up the balloons, the gifts, the food and drinks wouldn’t be so difficult. Jake would be busy keeping Dan occupied. Then tomorrow night, when the party got underway, Meredith would simply leave early with the old headache excuse.

  All she had to do was stay as far away from Jake as possible.

  ~*~

  Dan passed the business section of the newspaper to Jake. He breathed an audible sigh of relief. “No mention of alternate lifestyles there.”

  Jake slumped with relief as he accepted the paper. He quickly scanned the article and thanked his lucky stars that Mr. Landry had not seen fit to mention his assessment of their gender preference in the article announcing their new business deal.

  “We’ve got to figure out a way to fix this.” Jake pitched the newspaper onto his desk.

  “What’s the big deal?” Dan shrugged. “We’ve got the contract to build the most exclusive subdivision in Atlanta to date. Who cares if the old man thinks we’re gay as long as he doesn’t broadcast it? I’m a liberal thinker.”

  Jake glared at him. “That’s easy for you to say,” he growled. “You have a wife and a baby on the way. No one who knows you would ever believe him anyway.”

  Dan chuckled. “Like you’ve got anything to worry about. Do you think for one minute that anyone would believe you’re gay? Get real. You’ve had a whole stream of girlfriends since college, and we won’t even go into the ones before that. You’re a regular Casanova.”