Page 22 of Enough

“It’s really not a big deal.” Claudia meant to say it normally, but it came out throaty. Her body was in constant need of him ever since their rendezvous in Puerto Rico. And she was about ready to throw caution to the wind. After all, Claudia hadn’t been very deterred up till this point. Why start now?

“Where are you?” She asked.

“Sitting in my car.”

“Going someplace?”

He went silent for a moment. “I’m returning something to a friend.”

That answer was vague and Claudia didn’t like it. But why should she care?

“So what are you doing on the phone with me?”

“I wanted to hear your voice, chérie.”

“Liar.”

A deep sexy rumble escaped him. “A liar I am not, I also wanted to know about this correspondence between you and your mother that you are set on keeping a secret.

“You want to know that badly, huh?”

“I do.”

Claudia’s mind swirled with thoughts of I do. Again her eyes closed and she massaged her temples. How could she build a friendship with him if she couldn’t keep thoughts of a romantic relationship from assailing her mind.

“She wants to meet you.”

“Is that right?”

“Don’t worry, I don’t plan to drag you over here. I’ll come up with something.”

“Why, I would love to meet her.”

Claudia’s brow raised. “I don’t think you understand. She’s going to feel you out and question you to death like you’re my high school prom date.”

A dark rumble of laughter boomed from Jaden. “I think I can handle it.”

“Yeah, but I don’t think I can.”

They chuckled. “You’ll be fine. When would she like to meet me?”

“Next year. By then you’ll have found someone to marry, and she can stop wondering about the guy I never brought home.”

Their conversation went silent. Claudia glanced at the phone to see if he was still there. The timer ticking down indicated that he was.

“You know something I don’t?” Jaden asked.

“I’m just,” she sighed and mumbled, “speaking too fast again.”

“We’ll have to do something about that.”

The indiscreet warning made her squirm, and Claudia’s thoughts fled straight to the gutter.

“I need to call you back, chérie.”

“I’m heading for a shower then climbing into bed. If you call and I don’t answer, I’m already fast asleep.”

Jaden imagined the dark chocolate glow of her legs, thighs and swollen breasts under the shower’s waterfall. Keeping his hands to himself had proven difficult and staying out of her bed would present an even bigger challenge.

“How about I just give you a call tomorrow.”

“That’s fine.”

“Good night, chérie.”

“Good night.”

Jaden sat his phone in the middle console of his Lamborghini. Now outside of Cassie’s house, he reached for her studio key and left the car.

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