Page 30 of Jack

"No." She laughed breathlessly,one hand lifting to touch her bruised lips. "Zach-"

"I don't want you doing any heavylifting. We have people for that."

"And I don't mind." She loved theway he looked at her and his instinct to protect her. It was all newto her. "You're going to make people start wondering about us.Zuri asked if there was something different about me."

His eyes brightened at that. "What didyou say?"

"I evaded."

"I want to tell her. I am not used tohiding things from her."

"Not yet," she told him firmly.

He opened his mouth to argue and thenclosed it. "All right." He caressed the back of her neck,fingers sliding through the silk of her hair. "I wanted to leapover the counter and smash my fist into that guy's face."

"What guy?"

"The one who was pawing your butt."

She laughed giddily, loving the way hesounded. "I dealt with the situation."

His hands cupped her face. "Part ofthe reason why he's still wearing a smile." His expressionturned brooding. "I want to make love to you."

Her heartbeat quickened. "I want thattoo."

"I am hungry for you." Tiltingher head back, he ravished her throat and had her humming.

*****

They had lunch at the Tea Room. The quietelegance of the place appealed to her and had her wondering if sheshould have changed into something more than the faded denims anddark blue cashmere sweater, she had donned for work this morning.

They were shown to a private booth at theback of the room, by an obsequious maître d'.

"We will have the soup du jour,"Millicent glanced at Zuri and her grandson before nodding to the man.

A basket of freshly baked bread was setbefore them, the steam rising and making her mouth water.

"I hope you don't mind-" Herfingers hovered over the basket and had Millicent smiling.

"Go right ahead." She waved ahand and reached for her glass of lemon water. "You were notafraid to stand up to my son."

She glanced up from buttering her bread andsaw the woman staring at her steadily.

"Dad has a way of making people afraidof him," Jason chimed in as he too reached for a roll.

"I suppose he has a reason for beingthat way," she murmured, tamping back the words she reallywanted to say.

"He does." Millicent took anothersip of water, a pensive expression on her lovely face. "But wewill not get into it." She smiled at Jason. "You have quitea fan in my grandson."

Zuri glanced at the boy and winked, sendinghis heart fluttering. "I am flattered." She touched hishand lightly. "Looking forward to going back to school?"

He grimaced and was about to shovel thebread into his mouth, when he caught his grandmother's eyes. Changingtactic, he decorously tore off a piece and nibbled. Zuri did her bestto hide her amusement.

"I suppose."

"Don't let his nonchalance fool you.He loves school. And is brilliant at everything." There wasunmistakable pride in the statement that had Zuri smiling.

"An overachiever, huh?"

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