Page 46 of I'll Carry You

“I sincerely doubt the server has been staring at your jeans this whole time. His gaze has been distracted by two objects due north.”

She shot him a look, then pulled out her purse to reapply her lip gloss. But she’d caught the server staring at her breasts, too. And his banter with her made her happy. “So tell me this—you said you’re a CFO. But Everest must have been expensive.” Asking if he’d been born into wealth was gauche and nosy, but it would explain a lot about him.

“My great-grandfather started a family business that did well. It’s been in the family since then.”

So he’d grown up rich.

“You know, I rarely date rich guys.” She rubbed her lips together to smooth out the lip gloss. “In fact, the last guy I was dating—Brad—was apparently keeping a running tally on how much he’d spent on me. But he was an accountant.”

Jason leaned back in his seat. “I think we’ve established Brad was an idiot.” But he gave her a humoring expression. “What sort of guys do you normally date?”

“Broken ones.” She threw her hands up. “I seem to be a magnet for guys with issues. Colby’s dad was a drug addict when I met him.”

Jason stiffened, his steel-blue eyes flicking up toward hers, then back down. The server arrived and laid the check presenter on the table. Jason busied himself with signing it, and Jen felt a trace of tension constrict her chest. Did he think she had a past like Kevin had? “I—I mean, I was never into drugs. Just so that’s clear. I never even smoked—”

The look Jason shot her silenced her. “I wasn’t thinking anything bad about you.” He put his credit card away, then stood, holding his hand out for her. “Ready to go?”

She nodded briskly, then took his hand. Once again, his touch steadied any feeling of being off kilter. He led her from the dining room, then straight toward the elevators. They climbed inside, and she asked, “Where are we going?”

“To the room I reserved.” He pushed a button, then lifted his phone to a scanner on the elevator. The elevator started up.

She’d assumed they’d go back somewhere tonight but had figured it would be to his cabin. He’d rented a room at the lodge? “I didn’t pack a bag,” she said. “And I have to pick up Colby.”

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, her fingers tight between his. “I know. And we don’t have to go up if you don’t want to. I just thought it might be nice to have some time alone.”

The elevator chimed to announce their arrival, opening to a hallway with only a few doors. Jason led them to one of them and used his phone against the scanner on the door. A beep and flashing green light came from the scanner, and Jason unlocked the door. The lights were already on inside, revealing the largest suite Jen had ever seen. The décor was modern and lavish, the living space in the room bigger than her apartment.

Two double doors led to a bedroom with a massive bed, perfectly made with plush white bedcovers. The same floor-to-ceiling windows that had been a feature point of the restaurant were here as well, but a door led to a balcony, and there were curtains to be drawn for privacy.

Jen stepped into the room, her eyes falling on the champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries on a table beside the sofa. This room must have cost a fortune.

And he’d booked it just to spend a few hours with her?

She spun to face him as she set her coat and purse down on a nearby chair. “I’m not going to lie. I feel a bit like I’m inPretty Woman.”

He smirked, then set his phone down on the table. “You’re a lot prettier than Julia Roberts, to start.”

She went up to him and placed her arms around his neck. Nervous energy was ricocheting down her limbs, making her feel a little unsteady. They’d talked about what came next. Yet now that they were here and the opportunity was perfect for it, she felt strangely awkward.

What if she didn’t live up to his expectations?

Dinner had been wonderful—they’d talked about favorites and swapped some stories—but it hadn’t felt casual. And she hadn’t even come close to laying out guidelines on how things should go with Colby, especially since he was going to do her the favor of entering the baking contest as her boyfriend.

Jason set his hands on her hips, then slid them forward to slip his hands into her back pockets.Damn, that was sexy.

“You seem nervous.” He scanned her gaze. “We don’t have to—”

She kissed him to shut him up. Not a passionate one, just a soft brush on the lips. His lips curved upward in a smile against hers. “Why don’t we look around the suite? I’ve never been in a room like this.”

Taking his hand, she pulled him from the living room into the bedroom. The bedroom also had a balcony door. On the opposite side, it opened to an enormous bathroom, complete with a Jacuzzi. She let her fingers glide over the complimentary soaps and shampoos. “When I was a kid, I used to beg my dad to bring these back to me as souvenirs from his business trips.”

Jason came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. They were in front of the mirror, and she stared at their reflection as he kissed her neck. Her eyes closed, and she reveled in the feel of his lips against the soft skin by her jaw, trailing upward. She turned her face toward him, and his lips descended on hers.

Her heart slammed into her ribs. Something about seeing them together in the mirror was more of a turn-on than she’d expected. He was hotter than any guy she’d ever dated, and somehow, she felt beautiful and sexy as a result.

His kiss was commanding and purposeful, his mouth opening against hers. His tongue stroked against hers, determined and sensual, the taste of wine still on his lips.

She pressed back against him and pushed herself against his groin, rubbing against the hardness she found there. He pulled away briefly, scanning her gaze. “Is this okay? I don’t want to rush you if you’re not ready.”

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