Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“You do?” I say, watching her closely.
She beams, nodding. “You get expert help with your website, make a connection in the journalism world… and I get the chance to see him more often.”
I swallow, acidic discomfort swirling around my body.
“And you want that?” I ask.
Mom looks around the apartment. It’s like she’s purposefully avoiding looking at me.
“Of course, I do.” She turns away, heading for the bathroom door.
Of course, she does? What does that mean?
Imagining Mom wanting Jacob is too painful, almost as anxiety-producing as the thought of tomorrow—the meeting at the restaurant downtown with me, Jacob, and Clarissa. It’s work, I tell myself. It’s not a road to more heat. It’s not about lust and affection and everything that comes after.
Yeah, right.
“We have to be careful,” Jacob says, sitting across from me in the car.
He’s wearing a casual, pale blue shirt, the sleeves rolled up, his forearms firm and manly and so tempting I could melt.
I climb into the car and sit here, that’s all. No kiss. No sign of the lust we shared. Maybe we’re going to try to fight it or pretend it never happened.
As though reading my thoughts, he smirks at me. “That’s what I’m practicing now, Maddie. Being careful… that means no kissing, no touching in public.”
I glance at the divide separating us from the driver.
“He can’t hear us,” Jacob says.
“You wouldn’t want anybody knowing we’re together,” I mutter.
He leans across the short divide, staring down at me. This close, the memories of yesterday evening are even more potent. My sex and my nipples tingle, as if reliving the lust at double speed.
“What’s wrong with you, Maddie?”
“A smart man once said, ‘It’s silly to give away your motive unless you have to.’”
He smirks, laughing lightly. The laughter causes his warm breath to touch my forehead in that teasing way.
“If you want to quote me back to myself, quote this… I am not ashamed of you. I’d happily be seen with you in public.”
“If it wasn’t for the deal. If it wasn’t for Mom.”
With a groan—it’s a noise that says, I can’t hold back anymore—he guides his lips to mine. I tell myself I’m supposed to be pissed, determined to not kiss him, but the second I feel the contact, my resolve burns to dust. Burning is appropriate, too, since that’s what this feels like. He places his hand on my leg, then ends the kiss shakily.
“See, that’s another reason I should try to be good. You’re too damn tempting.”
“So, when we’re at the restaurant, we can’t do this?”
I’m not sure where this confidence comes from, except that I’m lightheaded after the kiss, my heart pumping as if urging me to let go of the nerves. Fine, things aren’t exactly simple. We have a lot to think about, but here in the car, it’s only us.
I lean forward, kissing him again. His lips shape into a smile, as if he approves, before our mouths open and we sink into the familiar feeling. Familiar, yeah, but each kiss has a spark of newness, too.
His hand squeezes against my pant leg, then slides higher. I reach down, touching his wrist and stopping him. With more crazy confidence, I pull him toward me, driven by the heat between my legs. It’s the memory of yesterday, the promise contained within his touch.
“Sir, we’ll be arriving at the restaurant in five minutes.” The driver’s voice comes over the intercom.
Jacob and I pull away from each other.
“Our first proper date,” he says with a grin.
I reach up and touch his face. “I remember a time when I never thought I’d see this face smile.”
“Well, we only met recently…”
“Yeah, but I’ve been crushing—”
I bite down. I’m getting too comfortable now.
He raises an eyebrow. “Don’t be shy.”
I’ve gone too far, but I press on.
“I had a crush on you pretty much as soon as Mom became your assistant. I didn’t know who you were, but then I looked you up online. I never thought anything would come of it. I never thought we’d meet, and if we did, I assumed you’d look right through me.”
“Impossible,” he growls. “You’re too beautiful, for one, but it’s not just that. It’s your energy too, Maddie. There’s an aura around you… It’s hard to explain without sounding like I’ve turned into a hippy.”
“No, I get it,” I say quickly. “I felt it, too, the first time we met.”
He takes my hand in his. After maybe thirty seconds, a question occurs to me. It was niggling at me last night as I was trying to fall asleep.
“Why do I get the sense there’s something you want to say?” he asks.
I laugh in pure delight. “How did you know?”
“I’m starting to be able to read you, Maddie.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s something. Don’t worry. I won’t turn into a cold jerk again.”
“Why did you do that?” I ask.