Moon over the Bay (Moonlit Nights)

by Morgan Emerson

  _____

  Jess was so flustered she didn’t know what to do, so she kept talking. The hottest man she’d ever seen was staring at her lips like he wanted to eat her up. She wasn’t totally against the thought at the moment. He stood at least a foot taller than her even in her high-heeled boots and had the typical laid-back-surfer look. Sun bleached hair and golden tanned skin, which made his sky blue eyes jump out. His chiseled cheekbones and a strong square jaw made him look like a movie star. But what made her weak at the knees were his full sensual lips. The very same lips he kept licking while gazing at her.

  She finally quit talking because she was pretty sure she had no idea what she was saying and casually leaned back against the counter, placing her hands on the edge behind her for support.

  “I think that’s it. Do you need anything else?”

  “Yes, this . . .” he said as he cradled the sides of her face and placed his luscious lips on hers.

  He was gentle, barely touching before he moved closer and increased the pressure. One of his hands moved to her back and pulled her into his body as he deepened the kiss. Nathan’s tongue coerced her lips until she relented and let him in with a sigh. He let out a faint moan once their tongues started a sensual dance, and she lifted her arms to wrap around his neck.

  Just as she pressed herself against him fully and felt how aroused he was, he pulled away from the kiss. Disappointment and embarrassment washed over Jess.

  “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” Nathan said as he let out a breath and shook his head, backing away, covering his mouth.

  “It’s all right. I could’ve stopped you.” Jess stated, turning away from him to hide the heat in her face. To top it off, she’d known him a whole five minutes before sticking her tongue down his throat and rubbing against him like a cat in heat. Maybe it was time to pull out her trusted battery-operated boyfriend, BOB, instead of assaulting strange men.

  “I’ve got to run, but here’s my card in case you need anything.” Jess left her card on the counter, grabbed her bag, and walked out the door without glancing back.

  She’d been planning to say goodbye to Sadie, but she had a pretty good idea what her friend was doing so she headed to her car instead. Once outside the complex, Jess took a deep cleansing breath. Gawd that man was hot, and his kiss was even hotter. Though he said he regretted it, she didn’t, and would be thinking about it later when BOB was hard at work.

  _____

  Nathan stood in the bathroom toweling off after his shower. He should’ve been tired, instead he felt invigorated. He had stayed up all night finishing his project a week ahead of schedule. While admittedly it was extremely difficult to concentrate on work after the scorching kiss he briefly shared with Jess, he also felt inspired.

  Maybe it was the northern California air, or the little quaint courtyard he had become fond of that had ignited the fire in him. It was only after he was done with his work that Nathan allowed his thoughts to turn back to the minx who’d caused him to take matters into his own hands while in the shower.

  A knock on the door startled Nathan from his thoughts.

  Wearing only the towel, he yanked the door open and found Kyle standing there with a very large cup of coffee.

  “Damn, I would kiss you, but I know where that mouth has been,” Nathan gushed as he greedily grabbed the coffee.

  “Hey, how did you know it wasn’t my coffee?”

  “Because I can smell the hazelnut, and I know you hate it.” He let out an appreciative sigh after taking a healthy drink.

  “Jesus, maybe I should’ve brought an IV for you. You look tired,” Kyle said as he followed Nathan into the living room.

  “If that were a feasible thing, I’d be all over it. I stayed up finishing my latest project. I like this place, and it translated into me being inspired. Who am I to fight it?” Nathan shrugged. Kyle agreed, dropping into a chair while Nathan sprawled on the couch.

  “Yeah, I like it here a lot too. Which is why I came up here this weekend, well, other than the obvious reason of course. Did you know Jess owns this whole building?” Kyle asked, causing Nathan to sputter in his coffee.

  “No shit?” The little fiery pixie owned the damn building? Whoa.

  “Yeah, I know. I guess the story goes, her grandma left it to her in her will. It’d been owned by her great grandfather at one point, and he gave it to his daughter as a wedding gift.” Kyle explained. “By the way, your junk is about to fall out of your towel.”

  Nathan shrugged indifferently. “Wow, that’s a pretty awesome gift. Explains why she was concerned about someone fixing the gate. I thought she owned this unit, not the whole damn building.” Nathan was a little shocked. If she’d inherited a whole building then what the hell kind of money did her family have?

  Nathan finished his coffee and, deciding he’d tortured Kyle enough and it was a good time to put on clothes, headed to the bedroom.

  “Sadie being the onsite manager was part of her rental agreement when she moved it. It helped both girls out in the end; Sadie had discounted rent, and Jess has someone here for emergencies. Actually, I recently spoke with her about buying the building,” Kyle called out. “For Sadie, of course.”

  Nathan almost fell over in shock as he pulled up his pants.

  “Are you serious? You want to buy your girlfriend of a couple of months a building? An apartment complex to be exact?” he said incredulously as he pulled a shirt on and came to sit back down next to Kyle.

  “Well, she’s a lot more than my girlfriend, or I hope she will be. I plan to ask her to marry me after I buy the building,” Kyle said, fidgeting with his phone.

  Nathan was a little blown away by the whole idea and at the fact that Kyle was nervous about it. The man with whom he’d been best friends since freshman year of college was never nervous about anything. Wait . . .

  “If you are going to buy her a building, does that mean you’re going to be staying here? You’re going to leave Los Angeles?” And I’ll be left alone.

  “I would be. I can get a job at any number of the firms here. She’s already well known in the art community. She has regular showings here, and I don’t want her to have to start over again in Los Angeles. My ultimate hope is you’d come to stay here too. I thought that if I bought this building, you could live here, and we’d use the other unit for my dad and Kat when they come to visit, or Olivia.”

  Olivia was Kat’s daughter, and even before Kat started dating Miles, the four of them spent a lot of time together. Olivia was like a little sister to Kyle and Nathan.

  “But, I understand if you don’t want to leave LA, with your acting and your business.”

  Nathan couldn’t help but snort before getting up to toss his coffee cup away. “I can design anywhere with an Internet connection, but the acting hub is LA. Of course, as you know, that hasn’t really been going well. Can I think on it a bit?” He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. He was touched that Kyle wanted him so close, and the thought of being alone scared Nathan more than he wanted to admit.

  “Of course, there’s no rush. I was just giving you a heads up about what I was thinking. Have to talk to Jess again before anything else.” Kyle stood and walked toward the door. “Come on and let’s go get some breakfast.” Nathan thought it was a great idea; maybe food would untangle the knot in his stomach.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jess left the last gallery on her list for the morning and headed toward her apartment. A couple of blocks down Beale Street, she glanced up from her phone and saw Sadie, Kyle, and Nathan sitting at a table outside a bistro.

  Knowing it would be entirely rude to put her head down and walk by, she took a couple deep breaths to slow her heart rate. No need to sound any more breathless than she felt seeing Nathan. Look at him, all sexy and relaxed in the morning light, brought the dirty fantasies she’d had of him last night right to the forefront of her mind. Of course, her blasted fair skin heated because of it.

  B
ut Jess ruthlessly pushed down her lust for the pretty boy. He confused her. First he had advanced on her and initiated the kiss, and then he’d pulled away and said he regretted kissing her. What kind of game was he playing? She’d learned long ago never to trust a pretty face, and she wasn’t going to start now.

  Later, Jess had slyly asked Sadie what the deal with Nathan was, and when Sadie explained he lived in Kyle’s house while he was a struggling actor, it made sense now. Men like Nathan didn’t date girls like her for her personality. He was probably one of those whose main goal in life was to screw their way to the top. Or better yet, find the shy vulnerable girl whose daddy had all the right connections. But why would he pull away, was it all part of a game to draw her in?

  She really didn’t want to be attracted to him, but it’d been a while, and her hormones were on full alert around this guy. Traitors.

  “Jess!” Sadie waved her over, abruptly ending the pity party Jess was having.

  “Hey, guys, funny seeing you here.” She smiled at everyone but avoided direct eye contact with Nathan.

  “What are you up to this chilly morning?” Sadie asked, motioning to the empty chair at their table and snuggling closer to Kyle. As Jess sat down, a waitress appeared and took her order for a skinny caramel macchiato. Sadie already had a hot chocolate in front of her, and Kyle was drinking what looked to be a latte. Nathan was drinking an espresso.

  “I was just checking in at the galleries I have a couple of showings at next week. I stopped in to say hi to Evan too, but I’m headed home now,” Jess said.

  “Oh fun! I brought the guys here because you know how much I love their hot chocolates, and then I’m going to take them over to Howard Street where my current show is. Do you know if the manager is at the gallery now?” Sadie asked before taking another drink. Jess checked the time and then consulted a list on her phone.

  “Yes, she should be there by now. She’ll be so happy you stopped in.” Jess accepted her drink from the waitress. She blew on it before taking a drink, all the while ignoring Nathan, and listening to Sadie chatter about their friend Evan who ran a gallery.

  “I was going to call you later. I heard back from Chicago last night. They want to show the black and white photos in a couple of months, and they want you there for the opening night.” Jess hoped Sadie was as excited about the news as she was. Going to a market like Chicago was a big deal. For both of them.

  “Oh my god! Are you serious?” Sadie half shouted. Since Kyle had reappeared in her life, Sadie’s happiness had become loud and almost overwhelming.

  “I’m very serious. Once I get a firm date, I’ll book us flights out there. I can include Kyle of course.” Jess smiled as she started to type out a reminder.

  “Are you always on your phone?” Nathan’s deep voice broke through Jess’s mile-a-minute thought process.

  “It’s the easiest tool I have to keep track of everything.” She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to defend her actions.

  “Oh, Jess looooves her lists. She may act all cool and confident, but if she doesn’t have at least two lists going, she starts to freak.” Sadie giggled and the guys laughed too.

  Didn’t they understand that lists were safe and made life easy? Once you made them, you followed them. No real surprises or mistakes, and if there were, you could plan ahead.

  “Laugh it up, sassy pants, next time you need to remember the name of some obscure painting you made, or who bought what from you, I’m going to remind you of this moment,” Jess teased.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m going to get a refill. Want anything?”

  Jess shook her head, and Kyle stood to follow Sadie into the bistro, taking their empty breakfast plates with him. This of course left her alone with the recent star of her sexual fantasies.

  “Boy, I’d love to know what you’re thinking about at this very moment. Your face just changed to the cutest shade of pink. Was it a naughty thought?” Nathan leaned closer and whispered the last part.

  “Of course it was. I was thinking you and I should take the cruise out to Alcatraz where you can ravish me in one of the prison cells,” Jess retorted. This earned a loud bark of laughter from Nathan. Gawd he was good looking. But potentially dangerous if he was a playboy, and Jess didn’t do dangerous.

  _____

  Damn, she was a delight, Nathan thought. Here she was looking all prim and proper in her pea coat, hair in a bun, but the big flashy earrings and the designer purse showed off her sass. Her humor was as charming as it was surprising.

  “Sounds like a plan, let’s go,” Nathan said and started to rise out of his chair. Her gray eyes grew large before they narrowed.

  “Ah ha, I knew you were full of it. But I do like your style.” He lowered himself back into the chair.

  “Uh huh, I’m not the only one full of it,” she quipped at him.

  “Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? I’ll have you know, I’m a wonderful person.” Nathan flashed his overly practiced movie-star smile.

  “You can put the megawatt grin away, it doesn’t work on me.” She raised her brow before turning back to her cup and her phone.

  “Oh, I do believe, fair lady, one doth protest too much. Your eyes have darkened and dilated, and you shifted in your seat, which are all signs of arousal,” Nathan murmured in her ear as he leaned closer. Being this close he could smell her. The cross between brown sugar and vanilla made Nathan’s mouth water. He had to hold his control in check before he licked her right here in the street.

  “Ah, so not only are you an actor, but you’re a womanizer. Awesome,” Jess said with a flat tone.

  Something about her opinion of him hurt. Sure, kissing her had been a mistake, and not because he wanted to use her, but because she was off limits. He pulled away from Jess and stared at her as she tapped away on her phone until Kyle and Sadie returned.

  “Nathan, Kyle just had the best idea! Why don’t you come to Chicago with us? We can do all the touristy stuff while we’re there,” Sadie pleaded as she made a face. Damn, saying no to her would be like kicking a puppy.

  He hadn’t wanted to like Sadie, not after the way she had hurt Kyle. But once he heard the full story, and could see the change in Kyle for the better, Nathan had no choice but to fall under her spell as well. It made him sick with jealousy to see the utter devotion the two had for each other. He wanted that someday, and maybe sooner rather than later. Nathan looked at Jess again.

  “I think that’s a great idea. Here let me give you my information for the flight, we can all sit together,” Nathan said before grabbing Jess’s phone and entering in his contact information. Little did anyone know he sent himself a text before giving back her phone.

  “Yeah, great. Thanks. Okay guys, I’m going to head home and finish up some contracts I have. I’ll see you later. You guys have a great weekend.” Jess waved as she got up and started to walk away from them.

  “Wait, aren’t you coming over for dinner tomorrow? We’re going to eat out in the courtyard.” Sadie gave Jess a pouty face.

  “Yes, okay. Do I need to bring anything?”

  “Nope, just yourself and be there at seven!” Sadie hugged Jess before she started walking away. Nathan jogged up to her before she’d gone far.

  “Hey, do you need me to walk you home?” he asked as he tried to keep pace.

  “No, thank you. I live over there, so it’s not far.” She vaguely pointed to a high-rise down the street.

  Nathan’s jaw dropped.

  “You live at the Millennium Tower?”

  Jess jerked her head around. “How did you know that?” Shock was evident on her face.

  “I’m familiar with it is all.” Nathan didn’t feel the need to tell her he had designed the brochures and website for the building. People usually made snide comments about sticking to acting with a face like his anyway.

  “I see, well Sadie and Kyle are waiting for you.” Jess turned and tilted her haughty little chin up before walking away.

  Damn. Th
at woman was a puzzle Nathan wanted to figure out. She acted uptight with her lists, constant working, upscale condo, and designer clothes. But, there were hints of someone fun; her joking about ravishment, obnoxious earrings, a wicked sense of humor, and above all else, hot, steamy passion. Good thing Nathan liked to play with fire.

  _____

  Jess had no idea why she had tried on fifteen different outfits. It was stupid. He probably had five other girls on call back in LA. And lord knew she wasn’t looking to be someone’s sugar mama. The fact he knew exactly which apartments she lived in was not only discomforting, but it was creepy too. Did he know who her family was? Of course, even if he didn’t, a quick Google search would give her away. It made her wonder if Nathan came up to San Francisco because he knew all about her and thought to get close to her?

  But wasn’t she the one who’d started flirting this morning at the bistro? Why would she bring up having sex if she weren’t trying to get his attention? Maybe because since the kiss they had shared, she’d had sex on the brain. Her ramped up libido was getting a tad out of hand.

  Standing in her favorite dark-purple silk bra and panty set, she decided on a matching purple sweater dress. It was low cut and went to her knees but was long sleeved, keeping it modest. Just because she wasn’t going to bite whatever he was casting out, didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate how he made her feel. He looked at her like she was the sexiest woman on earth.

  Jess had never had a man make her feel beautiful or special. Sure they said it, but after a time they always asked for something. Usually it was a business connection with her father, but sometimes it was little things like expecting her to always pay for dinner, or new clothes. One guy had even asked her for a sports car, and they’d only been dating a few months. Jess knew one thing about Nathan. Nothing had ever stirred her the way one kiss with him had. She wasn’t entirely sure she didn’t want to take a chance to see what else he could stir. A shiver moved down Jess’s spine at the thought.