Let Me Love You: Beautifully Broken Book 1

by Samantha Wolfe

  "So, I guess I should ask who that dumb-ass was?"

  "That was a mistake I tried to rectify recently," I answered after a long sigh. "Apparently, he didn't figure out that it was really over until you hit him."

  "I'm glad I could help you with that." His eyes flashed briefly with that same fire they had when he confronted Clay. I felt a pulse of desire glide through me. Why did I find Jensen's anger so hot?

  "Thank you," I said sincerely. "If you hadn't shown up..." My words trailed off. I didn't want to think about what could have happened. I shivered at the thought.

  He stepped closer to me and wrapped his arms around me. I let him pull me into him, relishing the feel of his strong arms around me. "I told you I would be here," he whispered into my hair. I inhaled his scent, and my desire magnified.

  "Thank you," I repeated in a whisper and wrapped my arms around his body to return his embrace. His arms pulled me tighter against him, and I enjoyed the contact for a few moments. What would it be like to do this naked? I fought down another shiver caused by an entirely different reason.

  "Are you hungry?" he asked me, and my brain interpreted that inappropriately.

  "Uh..." I replied slowly. He laughed in a low voice.

  "For food?" he clarified in a wry tone. I pushed on his chest, and he let me go reluctantly. I glared up at his smirking face and found I couldn't stay annoyed with him like I wanted to, so I stuck my tongue out at him instead. His eyes darted down to my lips, and sudden lust dilated his pupils. He leaned in putting his lips mere inches from mine. "What would you like to eat, Sydney?" he asked in a husky voice. I leaned closer until our lips were mere millimeters apart.

  "I've heard there's a new Italian place a couple of blocks from here," I answered innocently. Now it was my turn to smirk. A smile danced in his eyes as he straightened.

  "Italian sounds great." He gestured toward the nearby sidewalk. "Lead the way." I grabbed his hand in mine and pulled him along behind me for a few moments. I suspected he was lagging behind to stare at my ass, but before I could call him out on it, he came up to walk beside me. Then when I tried to let go of his hand, he grasped my fingers tighter instead. We walked hand in hand to the restaurant in comfortable silence, exchanging furtive glances at each other all the way there.

  When we arrived at the restaurant, we were seated immediately; the perks of eating in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday. Jensen placed his right hand at the small of my back as the hostess took us to our table. She led us to a quiet booth in a back corner of the room. He broke our contact to sit down, and his hand left a warm feeling where his touch had been.

  The twenty something hostess handed us our menus and beamed appreciatively at Jensen before leaving us. I had to agree with her; the man looked absolutely edible. I watched him over the edge of my menu, admiring his perfect nose and full kissable lips as he looked over his menu. I wanted to rub my face on his stubble like a cat.

  "If you don't look at your menu, you'll have no idea what you want when the waitress gets here," he said not looking up at me once.

  "What if I already know what I want?" I huffed as I put my menu down on the table.

  "That will make two of us then," he teased as he put his down as well. His eyes sparkled with the double meaning as he met my eyes across the able.

  "What can I get you two to drink?" The waitress asked us. She was an attractive middle-aged blond woman with a kind face.

  "Moscato, please," I said smiling at her.

  "I'll have a Coke." Jensen thanked her, and she left to fill our drink orders. I decided I had better actually look at the menu and settled on the stuffed shells. I looked up to find Jensen staring at me intensely. His gaze had that same weight to it that it had the first time he had looked at me in the bar last night. I felt a blush heat my face from the attention. I had never been looked at like that by a man until meeting him. It should have made me uncomfortable, but for some reason, it didn't, and I returned his stare with one of my own.

  The waitress broke the moment as she placed our drinks on the table between us. "Do you know what you'd like to have?" I placed my order, and Jensen asked for the spaghetti and meatballs. She left once again.

  "How long have you worked at the coffee shop?" Jensen asked me as I took my first sip of my wine.

  "Well, I guess it's been about two years now," I answered him. "Rob's pretty flexible so it's been easy to work my schedule around my classes."

  "What kind of classes?" he asked with what seemed like genuine curiosity. It was refreshing; Clay never seemed to be that interested in my education.

  "I just graduated from nursing school. I start my new job next week." I waited for his eyes to gloss over in disinterest.

  "Really," he said and leaned forward conspiratorially with a sparkle of mischief in his eyes. "You know; I've always thought nursing uniforms were kind of hot."

  "Ha!" I laughed loudly. "And what exactly do you think we're wearing?"

  "You know, the usual," he said with mock sincerity. "Short white dresses with zippers up the back, white stockings and garters, and that weird-looking hat thing."

  "I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but that is definitely not our uniform." I giggled at him as his face fell in disappointment.

  "You sure know how to destroy a guy's fantasies."

  "I'm sure you'll manage some new ones," I said. "Besides scrubs are pretty hot, you know."

  "I imagine you'd look hot in just about anything," he said as he looked up and down my torso. "You look pretty good right now. I think I feel a barista fantasy coming on."

  "Do you even like coffee?" I laughed.

  "No, but a man can change can't he? Given the right incentive, of course." His face became serious, and I sensed a deeper meaning to his words. I changed the subject.

  "What about you?" I asked. "What do you do at Hayes Construction beside sit around looking pretty?" He looked startled for a beat of my knowledge of him. A brief flash of panic crossed his eyes and disappeared just as quickly.

  "Well, I guess my official title is construction manager," he answered without elaborating. I sensed he wasn't comfortable talking about the family business. Given his recent loss, I couldn't blame him and talking about the family members I'd lost didn't sound appealing on a first date to me either. Time for some humor.

  "Does that mean you stand around telling all the other hot construction workers what to do?" I asked with a wink. He burst out in sudden laughter, and the uncomfortable moment was gone.

  The waitress came with our plates and placed them in front of us. It looked and smelled amazing, and we spent the next few minutes in Italian heaven as we dug into our dinners with gusto.

  I was interrupted by the chirp of an incoming text on my phone. I looked at Jensen apologetically, but he waved his fork and told me to go ahead between bites. I opened the screen to see that it was from Lauren with a twinge of guilt. I hadn't told her I was going anywhere after work. She was making dinner and here I was eating out.

  Hey, sorry I'm not home, it read. I forgot Adam is taking me to his parents for dinner tonight.

  That's okay, I replied with relief.

  Will you be okay if I spend the night at Adam's place? Even better. Now she wouldn't even know I had a date at all. I didn't want to tell her about Jensen yet. I did not want a lecture about rebound guys. Lauren took taking care of me very seriously and sometimes what she didn't know couldn't hurt her.

  Sure, have fun! ;-), I sent back with a sigh of relief. I looked up to find Jensen watching me expectantly.

  "That was my sister," I said.

  "The blond from last night?" he asked. I nodded in reply. I expected him to say something more about Lauren, but he seemed content not to pry.

  "You know," he began, "It occurs to me that I don't even know your last name."

  "It's Harper, Sydney Harper."

  "Okay, Harper, Sydney Harper." He smirked again. "I'm Hayes, Jensen Hayes. I don't have a license to kill, but I do like martin
is."

  I laughed again. His smile was replaced by a sudden hungry expression.

  "You look beautiful when you laugh," he stated in a low tone. I felt my face flush, and his eyes dilated as he watched me intently. I felt a sudden almost unbearable need to touch him and reached my hand towards him. He met my hand halfway across the table with his own, and began rubbing his thumb along my fingers in soft caresses. My lips parted as I imagined his fingers somewhere else. A warm feeling of arousal pooled between my thighs, making me squirm. His eyes sparked into green fire as his mouth stretched into a knowing smile, and it made me even wetter.

  I was grateful when the waitress chose that moment to bring us our check. Jensen took it from her before I even had a chance to grab it and pulled out his wallet. He glanced at the amount, nodded, and handed it back to her with some cash from his wallet. He told her to keep the change with a wink.

  "You two have a great day!" she said with a smile and walked away.

  "You ready?" he asked as he returned his wallet to his front pocket and looked at me.

  "Oh, yes." I answered. I was ready alright. I needed to get a grip on my raging hormones. I definitely didn't want to rush into anything physical, but my traitorous body had other ideas. I stamped down my overstimulated libido as we rose to leave, but when he placed his hand at the small of my back again as we walked out, I realized it was a lost cause. He took my hand in his as we walked back to the coffee shop, the constant contact leaving my body aching for more. When we finally reached the parking lot in front of the shop, he slowed to a stop next to a beautiful classic Camaro. He noticed me eying it appreciatively.

  "Do you want a ride in her?" he asked. My eyes flew up to his face.

  "This is yours?" He nodded as he watched me run a hand up the car's front fender reverently. "It's...beautiful!" It was. It's bright green paint gleamed in the sunlight with twin black racing stripes that stretched from front to back across the top. They set off the green of the body perfectly. Chrome accents flashed fire in the sunlight. The black leather upholstery looked soft and supple. The car was in pristine condition.

  "Well?" he asked again.

  "Oh, please!" I nodded enthusiastically. "But could I go home and change first? I really need to get out of these clothes." I ignored his smirk about my comment regarding my clothes.

  "I'll follow you home, then I'll take you out for a ride in her." I smiled gleefully then jumped up and down in giddy delight. His smile at my antics was heart-stopping, and it made me want to go for a ride on something else. I jumped up and kissed his cheek before heading over to my car.

  "I'll see you there!" I called over my shoulder as I rushed across the parking lot to my suddenly inadequate Honda Civic. I heard him laughing at my enthusiasm the whole way.

  I threw my purse onto the passenger seat, buckled in, and started the engine. I backed out and drove across the lot past Jensen's Camaro, rolling down the window, so I could hear its engine running. The low rumble of the car's motor as he started it, reminded me of Jensen's growl in my ear at the bar last night. He smiled at me from the driver's seat and waved me on with a flourish that made me snort in amusement.

  I drove home careful not to spend too much of my attention looking in the rear-view mirror to watch Jensen driving that beautiful car. I thought I was turned on earlier, but seeing him behind the wheel of that Camaro fired my need into overdrive. The ache of my desire throbbed in time with my racing heart as I imagined Jensen taking me in his car. I was so distracted by that thought that Jensen had to tap his horn at an intersection to remind me to go when the light turned green. Fortunately, he couldn't see me blushing in embarrassment.

  When I finally pulled into the parking lot of my apartment building, I was a needy desperate mess of hormones. Jensen pulled in next to me and got out of his car. He came around the front of his car to my driver's side door and pulled it open for me before I could open it myself. His hand reached out to me, and I took it, allowing him to help me out of my vehicle. I ended up standing so close to him that I was staring at his muscular chest right in front of my eyes. I pressed the palms of my hands against his chest, and I could feel his heart pounding. God, I wanted to rip his shirt off and lick him all over. I wondered what he would taste like. I raised my eyes up to his and gasped at the dark, feral hunger in them. He looked like he wanted to devour me, and God help me; I really wanted to let him do just that.

  "The sooner we get to your apartment, the sooner you can ride the Camaro," he finally said and stepped away from me with a deep sigh.

  But I want to ride something else, my sex addled brain protested. I ignored that thought and nodded in agreement. I closed and locked my car door then led Jensen toward the entrance of the building. We walked through the front door into a small entryway, and I paused at another door to enter the numeric code to get us in. The lobby was empty as we approached the elevators. The doors opened immediately as I pressed the up button. Jensen followed me in silence, and I pressed the fifth floor button as the doors closed us in. I started to say something, but Jensen was suddenly pressing me against the elevator wall with his body. His hands snaked up to tilt my head back, and our eyes met. The primal need in his face seared into me, and I gave myself over to it, as he brought his lips to mine.

  I lost myself to him as his lips began to move. I parted mine to let his tongue in and shivered at the low growl that escaped his mouth. His grip on the sides of my head tightened as our tongues met and the kiss intensified. The stubble on his face rasped against mine as we fed on each other's mouths. I lost all sense of time or place, relishing the way our lips and tongues fit together, until the ding of the elevator snapped me back to reality.

  Jensen abruptly stepped back, ending the kiss as the elevator doors slid open to reveal a middle-age couple. The woman was too busy talking to notice our flushed cheeks and heavy breathing, but the man gave us a knowing smile as they stepped into the elevator. I felt my face flame hotter in embarrassment as Jensen nodded to the guy and led me by them out into the hall. The doors slid closed, leaving us alone again.

  "I've always wanted to do that," Jensen announced to me with a huge grin. I shook my head at him with a smile, unable to speak in the aftermath of his kiss, and turned leading him down the hall toward my apartment. When we reached my door to unlock it, I could feel him standing just behind me. His presence was both comforting and distressing. The powerful sexual tension between was electric and overpowering, yet I felt safe with him. The feeling was disconcerting to me.

  Jensen followed me into my apartment and stood just inside the doorway. I felt my heart rate speed up as he looked around the room with interest. He looked so boyishly sexy, just standing there with his hands jammed into his pockets. I turned away reluctantly and walked across the oak floor to lay my purse down on the dining table.

  "Nice place," he said with a nod.

  "Thanks, Lauren decorated it for us." Lauren had insisted on the white walls and furniture, and I had resisted at first. However, after she had added the distressed wood dining table, and a few pops of color on the walls and in the accessories strategically place around the room, I had been convinced. "Make yourself at home. I'll be right back."

  He nodded, and I left him to head to my bedroom. I closed my door as I entered, and leaned back against it to catch my breath. I stared at my bed and contemplated going out there and dragging Jensen back here to have his way with me. Instead, I thought better of it and went to my closet to find something to wear. I contemplated my wardrobe for a moment. Did I want to torture him with something sexy? That would probably torture me too.

  I went with sensible and grabbed a pair of skinny jeans and a slim fitting gray T-shirt. I paired that with black ballet flats and my favorite red zip up hoodie. My reflection in the full-length mirror convinced me that my choice worked. I looked cute, but not overtly sexual. I didn't want to give Jensen the wrong impression here. I pulled my hair tie out and ran my fingers through my hair, letting it cascade ar
ound my shoulders. With a nod at my reflection, I turned and left the room.

  Jensen was sitting on the sofa as I entered the room. He turned to me, and his face lit up in another heart-stopping grin as he looked me up and down. I returned his smile, and the sexual tension between us burst to life again. So much for not being overtly sexual. I was starting to think he'd find me sexy even in a burlap sack.

  "You ready?" he asked as he stood in a single fluid motion that I found mesmerizing.

  "Oh, yeah." He held his elbow out to me chivalrously, and I hooked my arm in his eagerly. "I can't wait to ride that gorgeous car." You can't wait to ride that gorgeous man, the primal part of my brain said. That option was becoming more and more appealing; either way I was happy to spend time with Jensen. I couldn't remember the last time I smiled this much or felt so good about myself as he escorted me out into the hall. The thought brought another smile to my face.

  Jensen opened the passenger door of his Camaro for me, and I lowered myself onto the soft black leather. I gazed at the car in wonder. I had never sat in a car that gave me such an emotional, visceral reaction. The black leather gleamed, and I ran my hands along the sides of my seat reveling in its texture. I admired the wood accents on the steering wheel, on parts of the dash, and around the shifter. There was no other car I'd seen that compared to this one. My smile widened.

  "You like her?" Jensen said next to my right ear. He was leaning in through the open passenger door watching my reaction. His scent, and my delight with his car were a heady mix in my head.

  "Oh, yes," I breathed out with a sigh.

  "Good." He pressed a quick kiss to my cheek before closing the door with a solid satisfying thump that only a classic car could have. He walked around to open his door, and as he sat down in the driver's seat, I took my opportunity to check out his backside. Yummy.