Page 22 of Cougar Chronicles

“Nope. I want to see more of you, and I want you to meet Sam.”

“I don’t think I’m ready to—”

“No excuses, Holly. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel something special last night. We made love four times. Four, sugar. I’m twenty-nine, not seventeen. I haven’t been able to make love four times in a row for nearly a decade.”

“Maybe you just haven’t had any in a while?” Holly’s voice hedged.

“You’re right about that. Not since that night with you.”

Her fork crashed onto her plate next to the discarded serving of eggs. He hadn’t had sex since her? Well, she hadn’t either, but he was a guy—an incredibly sexy and desirable guy. Surely women fell all over him, especially with all that nude modeling.

How was she supposed to end this? To love him enough to let him go, like Charlene said, seemed impossible.

“Look, Jack—”

“Sorry.” He stood and placed his empty plate in her sink. “Not taking no for an answer this time. We have something special here, Holly. I want to get to know you, and I want you to get to know me and my son.” He hesitated for a moment and a troubled line creased his forehead. “You do like kids, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course I like kids, but—”

He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. “Good. I’ll pick you up at your office tomorrow at five. Have your bag packed.”

“Jack, really—”

“Got to run, sugar.” He thumbed her cheek and kissed her again. “I’m pickin’ up Sam this morning at my mom’s, and then I have some stuff to do around the ranch today. I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

In a flash, he was gone, leaving Holly with her mouth hanging open.

* * *

Her bag was packed. She’d told herself she wasn’t going, that she couldn’t put Jack through this, but in the end, she had gathered her sundries and clothing and packed them in her burgundy overnight bag. It now sat by the door to her office.

He was late. It was nearing five thirty, and all her office mates and Cindy had left early for the long Labor Day weekend. Jack hadn’t said anything about the long weekend, but Holly had packed for three nights just in case.

She frowned. If he stood her up…

A soft sigh left her throat. If he stood her up, it would be for the best. Though her heart cried at the thought, at least it would spare her having to end it after the weekend.

After she’d fallen that much deeper in love with him.

Five thirty went by, and then five forty-five. Holly stood from her desk, ready to take her packed bag home, when Jack rushed in.

“Thank God you’re still here,” he said, panting.

“What happened?”

“Just ran up here from where I parked a block away. I was afraid you’d have left already.”

“I was just about to.”

He grinned. “I’m glad I got here in time. Sorry to be runnin’ so late.

“Is everything okay?”

“Fine. Just had to run a quick errand, and Friday night traffic was bad.”

“Oh.”

“Sam’s anxious to meet you.”

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