A roar of arousal rumbled through her, making her nipples tingle and her core throb. It had been so long, too long, since she’d been with a man, and even longer since she’d experienced the pureness of sexual energy.
It felt good. Really, really good.
She stepped away, startled and confused by her reaction to a man she barely knew.
“Mama?”
Ronnie stared into Jack’s blue, blue eyes. His pupils were dilated and his obvious interest in her made her want to throw her arms in the air and scream “Huzzah!” She still had it. Stupid reaction, but there it was. Now she had to tuck it back into the cave and focus on Ace. There was no time for what Ronnie wanted.
Chapter Three
Ronnie hadn’t slept much the night before. Her body had nearly vibrated for hours after the incident with Ace and Jack’s help. The stranger had overtaken her thoughts and that bothered her.
She’d forgotten how it felt to be with a man, not that any of her experiences were sparkling memories. But it was the closeness of bodies that she remembered most. The rasp of whiskers, the sleekness of muscles, the weight of his body, and the heat. Jesus, Jack was good-looking, and she might make a fool of herself if she saw him naked.
But, most of all, she must’ve deliberately forgotten how it felt to find pleasure with another human being. The rush of adrenaline when they got into bed, or the feel of his hot mouth on her bare breast. And, of course, the moment a man entered her, filling her and nearly making her come.
She’d deliberately set aside her own needs to focus on being a mother. Now those neglected needs roared to life after a single touch of a man who brought her back to life. It didn’t mean anything, right?
Ronnie started at the thought she had found a kernel of something with a man she’d just met. Yet she’d had a very intimate moment with him. What did she really know about him? Hell, his name might not even be Jack Reilly.
She was well aware of how crabby she was as she stomped around Beans for the next few hours. Patty had kept her distance and had blessedly not asked questions about what happened the day before. Ronnie knew she had been disheveled and wild-eyed when she got to work, but her boss and friend had simply hugged her and left her alone.
Coffee and pastries grounded her, gave her something to focus on instead of her foolish obsession with Jack. Customers were plentiful this morning, buying her Wednesday brew, Hump Day Heaps. She had gone through gallons already and it wasn’t even ten o’clock. Patty was handling the table orders while Ronnie kept the java flowing.
The bell over the door rang again but she focused on the orders, one right after the others. Her hands shook from hunger, but she kept going. The bell rang again and again. A warm touch on her arm pulled her attention from the coffee.
Jack stood there smiling, his dark hair tousled and his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Good morning.”
The tension she’d felt tightened up once again. “What do you want to order?”
He blinked, surprise clouding his expression. “Uh, large size of today’s special.”
“Fine. That’s $3.25.”
“Keep the change.” He handed her a five and stepped to the side with the others who waited for their coffee.
Ronnie powered through the next few minutes, making coffee for those who had already ordered. She tried not to look at him although she was aware every second that Jack stood there, waiting. Watching.
She finally poured his cup and turned, dreading looking him in the eye again. There was no reason for it. She was too strong to be weak now. When he stepped up to get his cup, Ronnie raised her gaze, expecting that handsome smiling face.
He wasn’t smiling. In fact, he was frowning. She didn’t know how to react to that. He was supposed to be charming and try to get in her britches. Yet he wasn’t.
She handed him the cup. “Cream and sugar?”
“No, I’m good. Somebody taught me that good coffee doesn’t need it.”
At that, her annoyance popped like a bubble. “I’m glad you listened to that wise person.”
“I had to. She has coffee mojo I don’t possess.” He sipped at the cup and closed his eyes. “Ahhh. That’s some good stuff.”
“Wednesday is Hump Day Heaps.” She found a smile creeping onto her face and wondered if she’d been replaced by an alien pod person.
He smiled and her heart gave a big-ass thump. “You have a way with coffee and unusual monikers.” He gestured to the table. “If you have time to sit for a minute, I wanted to talk to you about work for Ace.”
“I can’t right now, but I can give you one of the pastries to eat if you can wait a little while.” She wanted him to be there when she took a break. Foolish as that was.
Like majorly foolish.
“Pastries?” His eyes lit up. “They’re my second favorite food.”
She reached for the container on the counter. “What’s your first favorite?”
The grin that spread across his face made her stomach dance. The man was ridiculously handsome. “Ice cream.”
“I’m sensing a theme.” She handed him a plate with one of the apple pear tarts. The pastries were something she enjoyed making. Coming up with the recipes and experimenting had saved her sanity when Ace was a baby.
Flour and sugar were cheap and, fortunately, she found she had a knack for baking. She’d started selling them to bring in some money and that was how she’d met Patty.
“I have a bit of a sweet tooth. Elsa used to say I was a walking sugar bowl.” He sniffed at the tart. “Apple and pear?”
“Yep. I used pink lady apples and Bartlett pears.” She jumped on the bit of information he’d offered. “Who’s Elsa?”
His expression shuttered instantly. “Nobody. I’ll pay for the pastry when you’re done working.”
With that, he turned around and sat at the table by the window again. She shouldn’t be disappointed he pulled away from her.
The next hour went by in a blur of coffee. Jack snatched another pastry and left a ten-dollar bill on the counter. She tried not to pay attention to him, but it was hard. Her body wanted him already, and she told her nipples to step back. Ronnie had to get to know him better. Her sanity, and her son’s safety, were at stake.
She told Patty she was taking a break and then brought her own cup of coffee to his table. It was time to find out if she was going to have more than a strange series of conversations with this man. She sat down and speared him with her fiercest look.
“So, who are you, Jack Reilly?”
Chapter Four
Jack was prepared for it, but he didn’t want to lie to her. Something told him she would be able to spot a lie and he wanted to be as truthful as he could.
“My name is Jack Reilly.”
“Will you show me your driver’s license then?” She sipped at her coffee, that sharp blue green gaze locked on his.
“Sure.” He pulled out his wallet and flipped to the ID window.
“It says S. Jackson Reilly. What’s the S stand for?” She fingered the tiny picture of him and he wished he could be just a guy from nowhere. Then maybe they could see where this relationship might go.
He shrugged. “A name I don’t use.”
That was a true statement. His parents, however, used that S to the point he couldn’t even stand to hear it spoken aloud.
“I’ve never seen anyone with just an initial for a first name on a driver’s license. How did you make that happen?” She was too perceptive by half.
“When I was sixteen, I asked my parents to legally change my name to S. Jackson Reilly.” It was a partial truth. They’d conceded but only if he kept the initial.
“Wow, you must’ve really hated the S.” Her brows went up.
“Like you can’t imagine.” He shoved aside those thoughts with effort. “Now I’m just Jackson.” He hoped his smile wasn’t as crooked as it felt.
“Okay, where did you grow up, Jackson?”
He found himself genuinely grinning a
t her use of his full name. Especially because she sounded like a police detective grilling a suspect. The woman was intense in a multitude of ways. She was so damn forthright, too. A combination of traits he’d not found in the women in his life, and he liked it. A lot.
“Right around the Dallas area. And before you ask, I didn’t go to college.” He knew what was coming next and frantically tried to think of a plausible answer.
“And what do you do for a living, Jackson?” She snatched a piece of his pastry and popped it in her mouth, then proceeded to lick the sugar from her long fingers.
Woof. Lust whooshed through him. It was a shame he barely knew her, because he wanted to find a quiet spot and take her against a wall. His dick heartily agreed with the plan.
Slow down, Jack.
“At the moment, I’m renovating a house, or at least I’m trying to. Then I plan to run a horse farm and board horses in the barn.” That was most assuredly the truth, at least a piece of it.
Her eyes lit up. “Horses, really? I haven’t ridden in so long I’ve probably forgotten how.” She took another sip of her coffee. “When I was growing up, my cousins had horses and I’d go over on Saturdays after chores to ride.”
He had a vision of a young Ronnie on a horse, her hair floating behind her like a banner as she raced hell for leather across a field. She’d have put her soul into that ride, he’d bet on it.
Now he really needed to get those horses.
“Do you ride, too?” She watched him intently.
“All my life. My plan is to get a couple mares, some good breeding stock. Quarter horses probably. Maybe even raise a few colts.” That part of his dream he hadn’t shared before but it tumbled from his mouth at her urging. She didn’t laugh or scoff, though.
She smiled. “That sounds amazing. I like your plan, S. Jackson Reilly.”
“Now my turn. Tell me about you.” He glanced at the nametag. “Veronica.”
She made a face. “My full name is Veronica Meredith Graham, but I only use Ronnie.”
“Why is that?”
She shrugged. “I’m a twin. My sister Victoria turned her back on the family and I don’t want a reminder of her. Besides, my mother always used my full name and there’s some ugly memories there.” He was surprised, but pleased that she shared something so personal with him.
“I never had any brothers or sisters. I hope you can find peace with her one day.” He ran his finger along a crack on the tabletop. “And you work at a restaurant.”
She picked up the thread of her story. “I’ve had a lot of jobs doing anything I needed to for a paycheck. Patty is a dear friend and she lets me experiment with coffee and pastries.”
He grinned. “You’re a magician.”
“Thanks.” She clearly wasn’t used to praise, since she glanced away, her cheeks pink.
“Do you have a dream like my horses?” He wanted to know what she hoped for. Something about this prickly redhead clicked with him, a kindred spirit who’d put up her dukes to fight for what she believed in. He respected that.
She examined her nails like they were fascinating. “Maybe.”
“Hey now, I shared with you.” He really wanted to know what she wished for.
“I love baking. It’s something I’ve done for years and it keeps me sane.” It was surprising, but somehow it fit.
“You want to own a bakery.” He wanted to buy one for her tomorrow.
“Maybe.” Her eyes shuttered, and he knew she wasn’t going to talk anymore about it.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-six.” She stuck up her chin as though she was prepping for a punch. “I had my son when I was sixteen.”
“You’ve done an amazing job with him. He’s a good kid.” He was earnest in his praise. From what he’d seen, the boy had some growing up to do, but he’d been responsible for his actions and rolled up his sleeves to work. Not necessarily a common thing with today’s generation.
“I think so, too.” She got to her feet. “I’ve got to get back to work. Ace is out of school at three, but he needs time to do homework. Is five okay to come by?”
“I’ll be there all day. You can come over when it’s good for you.” He hoped she heard the invitation in his words. They were in the cafe where others could overhear.
“I’ll see you later then.” She took her cup and walked away from the table. He couldn’t help but watch the swing of her hips as the ginger braid bounced against the big heart on her shirt.
He let out a breath and thought he’d handled the questions well. There were parts of his past he wished he could erase, but they were public. Very public. He didn’t want her to change her opinion of him because of what his parents had done in his life.
Jack knew he’d been a child and wasn’t responsible for their choices, but he did have to live with the knowledge Ronnie could discover who he really was. Someone could recognize him, but it had been years since the last time he’d been on television. He’d been about Ace’s age at the time and had grown a lot since then.
He wasn’t ashamed of who he was, but he wanted to get to know someone before they realized who his parents had been. The world had always seen him through their bright idea to use him as their spokesperson for the restaurant.
Just thinking about the commercials when he was kid and they’d dressed him as a leprechaun made him nauseated. It had been fun at the time. Hell, what did he know? He’d been five. But then as he grew older, everyone associated him with the one place that prevented him from being loved by his parents.
Meat Place BBQ. The Best Meat in Texas!
His parents’ chain of restaurants had taken over the central and eastern parts of the state, popping up so fast, they became a staple in many small towns. His parents had loved each other so much, they’d spent their time together, running the business while Jack had spent his days with his nanny.
The only one who stuck around long enough was Elsa, an older woman who’d emigrated from Sweden when she’d been a girl. It was Elsa who taught him to read, to play, who showed him to tuck his baby teeth under the pillow for the tooth fairy, and the one who made him pastries. Everything good in his life had been in that kitchen in the sprawling ranch house.
Nothing good had come from Meat Place BBQ. Not even the money. That was why he’d sold everything after his parents died. He didn’t want to be part of that world any longer. The board thought he was crazy, as did his lawyer, but Jack needed a fresh start.
He had enough money to last him ten lifetimes, but he kept most of it locked away in investments. His monthly allowance was comfortable and allowed him to live as a normal guy. Not that he really knew what that meant, but he was trying to learn.
Having a relationship with a woman who didn’t know he was heir to a fortune or famous in his own right was a novelty. He would hold onto that for as long as he could.
*
Ronnie had been tempted to go see Jack earlier, but she stopped herself. She didn’t want to be involved with a man. It wasn’t the right time, and she didn’t think she had the energy to be a part of an “us.”
She arrived in her wheezing Honda, wondering just how long the old car was going to last. Ace jumped out and raced for the door. Ronnie was surprised to see her son’s enthusiasm to work off his debt.
The shiny red car was gone and a different black car was there instead. Instead of a low-key rental, he had another fancy ride. She shook her head at the waste. The man had money, at least enough to afford an expensive ride, but she couldn’t condone wasting even a penny.
As she walked up the front steps, the door stood open, Ace’s excited voice echoing from inside the house. She walked, not knowing what to expect, but she found her stomach dancing.
The smell of pizza hit her first, and she smiled. It explained Ace’s reaction. She walked into the main room to find a blanket on the floor and a picnic set out with pizza, paper plates, and napkins, along with a bucket of bottles of soda and beer.
It
was perfect.
Ronnie wasn’t the type of woman who needed fancy. She appreciated simple and uncomplicated. Perhaps because she herself was too damn complicated. She set her purse down by the doorway and walked in.
When Jack turned to look at her, his smile made her breath catch. When was the last time, if ever, that a man gazed at her with joy on his face? She felt it in her soul. This man could own her heart if she let him.
The thought terrified her. She almost turned and ran from the old house. Raw courage kept her rooted in place. She’d spent her entire life running from entanglements and anyone who threatened her hard-won shell.
If she were ever going to take a chance, she’d have to step out of that shell. Jack was still a stranger, but he was already more than that. She took a deep breath and returned his smile, her heart beating like a goddamn bass drum.
“I didn’t know what kind of pizza you liked, so I ordered two. One plain and one with everything.” Jack gestured to the floor.
Ace hooted and threw a fist in the air. “Garbage pizza!” He plopped onto the floor, and Ronnie whistled.
“You think you’re going to eat without washing those dirty paws? I don’t think so.” She turned to Jack. “Tell me there’s soap and water somewhere.”
“First floor bathroom.” He pointed, and Ace got to his feet with a scowl.
“It’s not like dirt’s gonna kill me.” The boy walked off, the common squabble over clean hands a daily occurrence.
She was alone with Jack again. Her temperature notched up as she looked at him. He’d obviously been working, since his shirt was plastered to his muscled chest. She’d imagined the feel of that body beneath her hands. She itched to touch him.
“Thanks for this. We could’ve eaten when we got home.”
He shrugged. “It seemed a small thing to do. I had to eat, too. I took the wallpaper down in the bedrooms today. I damn well needed pizza.”
“What do you plan to do with the house after you fix it?” She glanced around. “It’s awful big for one person.”
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