Page 6 of Just Curious

“Hmm, well, like I said, I’ve had sex.” She started to laugh and added, “Not for quite a while now unfortunately. But seriously, I haven’t made any conscious effort to recreate any of my personal experiences in my books because I see the characters as separate individuals from me. They all sort of live in my head all fully formed, you know?”

Jackson laughed and answered, “Nope. I can’t say I do know. It sounds a tiny bit crazy to have all of these people talking to you in your head.”

“It’s not like they talk tome, although some authors do feel that way. Mine act things out more like a movie scene in my brain. I guess it’s more visual imagination rather than auditory.” She looked down for a second. “Maybe I need to have my head examined.” Then she burst out laughing and Jackson joined her. As she quieted, she looked at him with narrowed eyes. “When you’re dreaming up an app to invent, don’t you see the possibilities and how to make it happen in your head?”

“Of course.”

“Well, it’s basically the same thing then. A creative mind. Only you build and program things and I write them. You didn’t have to experience what your app accomplishes before you invented it, right?”

“You’re right.” He leaned back against the couch and studied her. “You know you are a fascinating woman, right?”

“I’m glad you think so,” Willa said with a small blush. “You’re pretty interesting yourself.”

“It’s killing me not to kiss you now,” he said in a gravelly voice.

With a shy smile, Willa whispered, “What’s keeping you?”

“Come here.” He brought her closer and scooped her onto his lap as she gave a startled gasp. Sweeping her hair back on one side, he began to gently kiss her neck.

A buzz went through Willa as she felt his warm lips nibbling her neck and along her jaw. Turning her face, she met his lips with hers.

After a few minutes of some fancy—and most enjoyable—lip-locking action, Jackson pulled back and leaned his forehead against her. “Kissing you feels as good as coming home after a long, tiring business trip. God, that sounds so stupid, but do you know what I mean?” Willa nodded, so he continued. “It feels so right. Now I’m really sorry I didn’t come looking to borrow that cup of sugar sooner.”

Willa chuckled softly. “I probably don’t even have a cup of sugar in my pathetic pantry, but it would have been fun to meet you sooner anyway—maybe before I left on the book tour. I’m sorry if I came across like a hermit of a neighbor. Still, you’ve certainly helped turn what started out to be a horrible evening into a spectacular one.”

“Spectacular, huh?” He gave her a smug, cocky grin.

“I’d be a fool if I didn’t think your kissing skills were superlative, but don’t get full of yourself now,” she laughed softly.

“I’d like to get you full ofme, actually, but not quite yet, I think. Are you a ‘third date’ kind of girl?” He chuckled and gave her a squeeze.

She narrowed her eyes at him in a mock frown as she tried not to laugh and answered, “We’ll see.” Looking around, she asked, “Do you know what time it is? I need to get up early tomorrow for a phone call to the east coast. They think they’re doing me a favor by scheduling the meeting for nine am, but that’s still only six here. And since we’ll be using this trendy app called Face-to-Face,” she winked at him, “I’ll need to be dressed and awake enough to appear presentable.”

“Bummer. I’m definitely not ready to say good night, but it is after midnight and I understand. I’ll walk you home.” Jackson gently lifted her to her feet and stood.

“It’s okay. I’m just next door,” she protested.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s what I was raised to do.” He took her by the hand and asked, “Where are your shoes anyway?”

“Oh, um, I kicked them off before running outside. They’re at home by the back door.”

Taking her hand, Jackson ordered, “Let’s go then.” But when they reached her door, and he watched her open it without using a key, he was shocked. “Willa! Don’t you lock your doors? It’s nighttime, and you never know who could be hanging around the beach.” He scowled at her, holding more tightly to her hand.

Looking away, she said in a small voice, “I guess I was too angry to think straight. And I only meant to be outside for a few minutes. Still, the property is gated, so it should be pretty safe.”

“And you ran through the beachside gate, leaving it open, too. Willa, you need to be more careful. Let me come in with you and make sure everything is safe, okay?”

Leading him inside, Willa looked around. Nothing seemed to be out of place. Her laptop was on the table where she left it, and the TV was still on. “I think it’s all fine, Jackson. You can go home now. Nothing’s been disturbed.”

“Humor me. I’m going to take a fast look around. Someone could be in here waiting for you, for all you know.”

Willa made a sharp intake of breath. “Okay, now you’re just scaring me.”

“You can never be too careful.” Jackson wandered through her house, opening closet doors and looking under and behind things. “I ought to volunteer to stay with you tonight to keep you safe,” he said with a wink when he returned to her side. “But everything seems to be fine.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a kiss. “Goodnight, Willa. I’m looking forward to Wednesday. Would you like to have dinner somewhere before the game?”

“Um, sure. That sounds great. Thank you for everything tonight. You put up with my sob story like a boss.” He chuckled at her. “Despite all of that, I had a wonderful time with you. I’ll see you Wednesday, if not sooner.” She smiled and stood on her tiptoes to give him another quick kiss, thinking,this guy is addictive.

Despite the afterglow of kissing Jackson, Willa was somewhat put out with herself over the next couple of days. She found herself staring out the window far too often when she ought to have been writing.

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