by Jo Leigh
“It’s not that I don’t want to.”
“But…?”
“I can’t explain. Except, it’s not time yet.”
“I understand.”
“I guess I’m really not like the other women you date.”
He touched her cheek with his palm. “No, you’re not. And I’m glad.”
Her smile warmed him, and he kissed her gently on the lips.
“I have to warn you,” she said. “If you get hit by a bus, I’m going to be really pissed.”
He laughed, kissed her nose, struggled not to change her mind. “Good night, Amelia.”
She frowned. Crossed her arms over her chest. “Good night.”
“Are you pouting?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because being mature sucks.”
He kissed her again, hard on the lips, then got the hell out of the cab while he still could. The heavy rain soaked his hair as he pulled out a twenty and gave it to the driver along with her address.
Then he winked and shut the door before everything went to hell in a handbasket.
The rain kept on falling as the cab drove off. He didn’t move until the taillights disappeared from view. He just stood there sincerely hoping he hadn’t been a world-class dope just now. She’d been close. Close enough for the right word to tip her over.
No. He’d stick with the plan. It was a damn good plan, and it was gonna be worth it. So what if he was stiff as a rod and about to split his pants.
He’d get his bike tomorrow. Tonight, he’d grab a cab, take a shower, and become one with his right hand. Again.
AMELIA CONTINUED TO POUT the whole ride home, even though it had been her decision to say good-night. It was too soon. And she wasn’t sure she could have gone through with it. Not yet. It was just such a good day.
How extraordinary. She felt like the heroine in a fairy tale. A very frustrated heroine. Plucked from obscurity by a dark prince. Unfortunately, now she had to go back to her real life, and the prospect numbed her.
She was treading on dangerous territory. It would be easy to fall for Jay. He was so much of what she wanted in a man. He’d be a wonderful father—
Whoa. Two dates, and she was already thinking about love, marriage, commitment, a family. Pretty soon she’d be writing Mrs. Amelia Wagner on all her textbooks. How pathetic!
Her thoughts went back to the museum—standing inside the door while Jay hailed the cab. The guy with the backpack had come out of the woodwork. He’d smiled at her. She could tell he’d wanted to come over, talk to her. Why hadn’t she seen it before? What else had she missed in her myopic state? Had Brian really flirted with her?
She didn’t like being clueless. Clueless was scary. What if Jay was sending out signals and she missed them? She’d shoot herself if she blew this because of her naiveté.
Her aunt Grace, God bless her, hadn’t done her any favors keeping her so in the dark. Amelia hadn’t helped matters by continuing to hide. Tabby had told her time and again that life wasn’t going to come to her door…she had to go out and find it.
Tabby, however, wasn’t shy. Neither were Donna and Kathy. All three of them were extroverts and they couldn’t understand how difficult it was for her to meet people.
Perhaps it was time to face up to her fears. How on earth was she going to keep Jay if she wanted to disappear every time she faced something new or challenging?
The cab stopped, and she thanked the driver before getting out and dashing to the door. The rain hadn’t abated, and she hoped Jay had taken a taxi home instead of his motorcycle.
As she unlocked her apartment door, she prayed she’d be alone so she could think. No such luck. They were all home, in the living room, watching TV. Three pairs of eyes turned her way.
“You sly devil,” Donna said. “Where did you find that tall drink of water?”
“Yeah,” Kathy said. “You’ve been holding out on us. He’s gorgeous.”
“I know,” she said, heading to her room. “He’s really nice.”
“Who cares about nice?” Donna got up and stretched, her cropped sweatshirt baring her flat tummy. “He’s a major hottie. Does he have a twin brother?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Hey, where you going?” Tabby turned down the sound on the TV. “I want to hear about this guy.”
“I’ll be back. I just want to change.”
Tabby smiled at her. “This is so cool.”
She blushed, then darted into the bedroom. It was chilly in the apartment and she pulled out a flannel nightgown. Looking through her drawer, her dismay grew as she realized all her sleepwear was long, old or ugly—and she had no money to do anything about it. She just sighed and headed for the bathroom.
A bath sounded like heaven. She wanted the private time to think, to go over every detail of her day. Tomorrow she would write it all down, but tonight she would just relax and remember.
She turned on the water, added a dash of lavender bath salts. The good part about the tub was that it was large and the water stayed hot for a long time. The bad part was that it took forever to fill. She had time to talk to the roommates, which she didn’t particularly want to do. Oh, well.
They had turned up the volume on the sitcom, but as soon as she returned to the living room, the set clicked off.
“Who is this guy?” Tabby asked.
Amelia sat down on the couch, debating a cup of tea. “His name is Jay and he owns the Harley shop next door to the cyber café.”
“Owns the shop?” Donna said, giving a significant glance to Kathy.
Amelia nodded. “I’ve seen him there for a long time, but we just started talking a few days ago.”
“Wow.” Kathy, who’d been stretched out on the floor, sat up and hugged her knees. “I just can’t believe how gorgeous he is.”
“You mean, you can’t believe anyone that good-looking would want me.”
“That’s not fair.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I just…I don’t understand it, myself.”
“You looked great today,” Tabby said. She stood up, then stretched down and put her hands flat on the carpet. She was amazing. “You should dress like that all the time.”
“I don’t have any money, remember?”
“You’ve got three wardrobes here to choose from. And Donna, you just shut up. You’ve borrowed everything that wasn’t nailed down.”
“Hey.”
Tabby straightened and gave Donna a don’t-screw-with-me look.
“Fine,” Donna said, but she obviously wasn’t thrilled about it.
“I don’t want to impose.”
Tabby frowned at Amelia. “Knock it off. You’re not imposing. We’re your friends. We want you to be happy.”
Amelia smiled, knowing Tabby was telling the truth about herself. She wasn’t so sure about Kathy and Donna.
“When are you going to see him again?” Kathy asked.
“I don’t know.”
“You didn’t make plans?”
She shook her head.
“That’s brutal,” Donna said, with just a hint of glee. Or not. Amelia didn’t want to jump to conclusions.
“He’ll call her,” Tabby said, her confidence rock solid. “Why wouldn’t he?” She came over to the couch and plopped down next to Amelia. “I’d love to meet him.”
“I’d like that, too.”
Tabby stared at her with pensive dark eyes. “He had to do some convincing, didn’t he?”
She nodded.
“That’s excellent. I like him already.”
“He’s very bright. And funny.”
“And he really is nice?”
Amelia smiled. “Yeah.”
Tabby kissed her on her forehead. “I hope it works out, kiddo. I truly do.”
“Thanks.”
“Now, go get in the tub before we have a flood.”
She’d forgotten the bath. She hurried into the bathroom, although she hadn’t needed to. The water was so slow
that the tub was only just over half full. It was enough.
She locked the door and undressed, careful with her friend’s clothes. Then she lit the five candles she kept in the bathroom and turned off the lights. The room was transformed with the flickering flames, the soft illumination, the tranquil scent. Sighing happily, she stepped into the tub and sank down.
Her eyes closed and Jay’s image came to mind. So vivid, she felt she could reach out and touch him. She remembered the feel of his lips on hers, the taste of his tongue. He kissed like her dreams. Better.
Her hand ran a slow trail down her chest, under the water, until her fingers reached the soft patch of curly hair. Lingering there, teasing herself, she fell into her memories.
His touch had been so gentle, and yet so firm. That was it, of course. The contrasts. The soft skin of his chest covering hard muscles. Oh dear.
This was heavenly torture. It still felt unreal, as if it had been another Amelia. She’d caught him looking at her so often, and each time, she’d been shocked at his intensity. There was no mistaking that he saw her. And she saw him.
And what he’d done to her at the museum…touching her so brazenly in such a public place…God, she’d been so embarrassed, and so turned on. How could the two go together like that?
She touched her nipple, the way he had. They were hard already from her thoughts, the air on her damp skin, and she moaned at the sensations that went straight between her legs.
She’d never realized, until right now, how safe her fantasies were. They were all in her head, and they served to get her through the night, but they certainly weren’t real life. Nothing could come close to that. He’d only kissed her. Touched her. Making love with him would be an experience she couldn’t even imagine.
If she didn’t mess up.
No, she wasn’t going to think about that now. Now, she was going to believe in herself. In dreams.
Her fingers moved lower, and as she pictured Jay taking off his clothes, she pleasured herself. Tensing, almost there, she stilled her hands, breathed deeply. This wasn’t going to be fast; she wouldn’t let it be fast.
If this thing, whatever it was, with Jay was going to happen, she was going to have to get brave. Not just think about being brave. But actually be brave.
He was worth it. Even if, in the end, it all crumbled like puff pastry, it would be worth it. Wouldn’t it?
Then logic fled as her body demanded one hundred percent of her attention. Heat pulsed, her breath became shallow and fast, and Jay’s lips, the feel of his tongue…
No longer able to stem the tide, she quickened her pace, threw her head back in a long, aching keen, and she came. A shuddering climax that was everything and nothing.
She wanted to be with him. She would be with him.
JAY FINISHED HIS DRINK and looked around the bar. He came here a lot—too often, maybe. It wasn’t a fashionable New York nightspot. More a neighborhood gathering place, mostly for bikers. He knew people here. It was comfortable. Most of the time.
His radar told him there was a woman approaching at six o’clock. Normally, that would have been welcome news. Tonight, he couldn’t muster much enthusiasm.
He felt her heat at his arm and turned to her. A dark-haired beauty with big brown eyes. He’d seen her in the bar before, and they’d shared a steamy glance or two. Wouldn’t you know she’d make her move now? While he was so busy with Amelia?
Thoughts of Amelia, at least. The urge to call her had pestered him for hours, and he wondered if he could distract himself with the smiling lady at his arm. Maybe. But it wasn’t going to happen. He couldn’t do it.
Wrong. He didn’t want to.
“You look so serious,” she said.
He nodded. “Got a woman on my mind.”
“Anyone in particular?”
“Yep.”
Her smile faded, and she shifted her gaze to the bartender. “Well, good luck.”
“Thanks.”
She ordered a cosmopolitan and gave Jay one last hopeful look, but she must have seen he wasn’t interested. She paid for her drink and left. He didn’t even look to see where she went.
Wonderful. He was obsessed. His life wasn’t complicated enough? That made him smile. His life wasn’t complicated. He had money, the shop was doing well, he wasn’t in trouble and he wasn’t bored. The only thing complicating his life was his own thoughts.
His father was supposed to come by and pick up some books Jay’s grandfather had left for him. Jay strongly considered boxing the books and leaving them with Jasper. But he wouldn’t. He hadn’t talked to his father in a long time. Maybe the old man had mellowed, now that he’d seen Jay’s success with the shop. Doubtful, but possible. Nothing would appease his father but for Jay to go back to school, write another novel. Fit in to his father’s life.
Not gonna happen. He was happy. He hated academia. He’d had one book in him and he’d written it already. He just wished his father could accept that.
Jay ordered another scotch, and after he paid for it, he went over to the pool tables and put up a quarter for next game. He hadn’t brought his stick, hadn’t thought about playing. But a game would get his mind off things.
As he waited for the two college jocks to finish their marathon game, he leaned against the wall and sipped his drink, the heat spreading through him slowly. A woman smiled at him from a chair across the way, and it happened again…he wanted to call Amelia.
He’d tried to stay home. Take it easy. But restlessness had pushed him out the door. At least here the music was good, the pool tables were level, and the scotch was smooth. What more could a man ask for?
Amelia.
He shot back the rest of his drink, slammed the glass down on the closest table and headed for the door. The rain had stopped while he’d been in the bar, and now the air was crisp and clean and cold. His gaze moved up to the skyline, and he just stared at the sight for a long while.
He loved this city. Everything about it. Well, maybe not everything. But a hell of a lot. He fit here. Amelia did, too, although she didn’t believe it.
This was a town for eccentricities. For complexity. And she was both of those things. He headed home, but he took his time, enjoying the night. This was making-love weather. Bath weather. Oh, shit. He was right back where he’d started. Thinking about her. Thinking he’d been an ass to let her go. Wondering how long he should wait to call her.
The thought sobered him completely. What the hell was going on here? He was acting like an idiot, and it was going to stop. Now.
Sure, she was interesting, and he was attracted to her—but shit, this was about sex. Hot, hard, down-and-dirty sex with a woman who wanted it just as badly as he did. That she didn’t know that yet was the game.
He wasn’t about to get caught in any kind of relationship. It wasn’t his style. Hell, he’d just finished thinking he had everything a man could want, including his freedom.
No way he was going to let himself get crazy over her. Not now, not ever.
He turned back toward the bar. Maybe he could still find that brunette.
12
THE PHONE RANG, and Amelia’s heart stopped. It was probably for one of the others. The only person who ever called her was Aunt Grace, each and every Sunday at eleven forty-five.
She didn’t answer it. Tabby and Donna were both home, and they usually raced to be the first to pick up the cellular. She should just get back to her book. It wasn’t him.
The ringing stopped. The words in front of her blurred as she waited. The seconds ticked by, and after sixty of them she let go a sigh. It really wasn’t him.
Focusing once more on the textbook, she tried not to be disappointed. It wasn’t the end of the world. He hadn’t said he’d call. As Donna had pointed out, they’d made no—
“It’s for you.”
Amelia looked up at Tabby approaching from the bedroom door. “For me?”
Tabby’s grin told her who was on the line.
Ameli
a took the phone, trying to control the heat rushing to her face, but it was useless. Even his calls made her blush.
“Hello?”
“Hey.”
His voice. Oh God. She melted. “Hey.”
“How was school?”
“Fine.”
“I went to the café. You weren’t there.”
“I know. I had to go to work right after class.”
“I missed seeing you.”
She grinned and hunkered down on her bed. “You did?”
“I have something I’ve got to do tonight, but maybe tomorrow we can get together.”
The sharp stab of disappointment didn’t surprise her. All she’d thought about since the moment he left was when she could see him again. “That would be great.”
He was quiet for a long time, but she could hear his soft breath. “I’ll call you.”
“Okay.”
“Amelia?”
“Hmm?”
“I had one hell of a dream last night.”
“Tell me.”
“I will. Tomorrow.”
“Okay.” She wanted to stay on the phone. To talk to him forever. “Tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
She hung up the phone and rested it in her lap. He’d called. He wanted to see her again. And, oh, how she wanted to see him. It was great, wonderful, and yet…she’d hoped…
It would give her a chance to finish her book. She needed to iron, too. No big deal.
Only, it was a big deal, and when she tried to read, nothing stuck—pages full of words with no meaning. It was only six-thirty, and the night loomed in front of her like an empty cave.
She got up, headed for the kitchen. Tabby was there, making a grilled-cheese sandwich.
“He sounds luscious.”
Amelia smiled. “He is.”
“Am I going to meet him tonight?”
She shook her head. “He has other plans.”
“Oh, man.”
“But we’re going to get together tomorrow.”
Tabby nodded. “So, why don’t you come with us tonight?”
“Where?”
“The frat party at Tri Delta.”
“Thanks, anyway, but—”
“Don’t dismiss it out of hand. You need to get out. If you stay here tonight, all you’ll do is drive yourself nuts thinking about Jay. And don’t tell me you’ve got to study. You study more than anyone I know, and you’re going to ace every class, and when it’s all over and done with you’re not going to regret a few hours of lost cramming. But you will regret staying home. Hiding. You’ve made such a big breakthrough. Why not keep it going?”
