Page 55 of 40 and (Tired of) Faking It
“It does.”
Silence fell. When she tilted her head back and looked into JD’s eyes, she’d swear she saw nerves.
JD cleared his throat.
Yeah, nerves. Wow. She’d never have anticipated that.
“Lily, we’ve only known each other a week.”
“Uh-huh.”
His fingers traced the curve of her thigh. “A very good week.”
“Uh-huh.”
He gave her a light pinch. “You aren’t making this any easier.”
“Then get on with it.”You’re killing me here.
“Right.” He cleared his throat again, then chuckled. “Only you could do this to me.”
“Do what?”
He leaned in until his nose lay alongside hers, nuzzling her. His breath warmed her mouth, but it was his eyes that captivated her. They were blazing, intense, so full of emotion that they stole her breath.
“I told you I’d been married before.” His whole hand was rubbing up and down her thigh now. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to calm her or himself. “I— I don’t have the greatest track record with women. After my divorce…well, I figured all I was good for was work, and it was better to just leave relationships on the back burner. I dated, but I was never serious about a woman again.”
Yeah, definitely not breathing. “And now?”
“Now…” He sighed, closing his eyes. When they opened, she swore she could see wonder there. “Now I’ve found you. It wasn’t what I expected when I came to Black Wolf’s Bluff. It wasn’t what I expected for the rest of my life. But…I want you, Lily Easton. I want to be a part of your world. I want to learn everything about you. I want a relationship.” His fingers clenched around her thigh. “I’m too old to believe in love at first sight, but I knew the moment I saw you that there was something special ahead of me. I want to explore that. You and me. The future.”
She placed her finger across his lips. He was right; it was too soon to mention love, even if she was pretty sure she was feeling it. When JD told her he loved her, she wanted to know he meant it with everything inside him. Until then, she could wait.
She cleared her throat. “I want you too. And I definitely want to explore you”—she paused, watching heat flair in his eyes—“and me.”
He laughed at her teasing.
“But Black Wolf’s Bluff isn’t your home.”
JD’s hand smoothed up her thigh, her arm, her shoulder until he could rest his hand on her cheek. “The resort will take a couple of years. I’m committed to being here for the full length of time. And I’ve decided to move my base of operations here. If…if you’re interested…”
“Me?” She was tempted to make him sweat, but no. No more teasing. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she brought her body fully against his, pressing her breasts into his heavy chest muscles. “I think there’s nothing I’d like more.”
JD slammed his eyes closed, relief causing his body to sag. A low laugh escaped her. She loved knowing she meant that much to him, that her answer had been so important. He was important to her too, and she wanted nothing more than to see where this thing between them went. Without a word, she tugged his head up from where it had come to rest in the crook of her shoulder, cupped his stubble-roughened cheek, and took his mouth on the next breath.
JD opened to her, allowing her tongue inside, and she showed him exactly what she wanted from him in that moment—the thrust of his body into hers. As he took over, she prayed that the melding of their bodies would lead to something even better.
The melding of their hearts.
Epilogue
Three months later
Claire had never seen JD look more scared than the moment he walked through the door of Gimme Sugar right at closing. The temptation to laugh was there, but she bit it back. The poor man appeared as if he was fixing to pass out, and since he was picking up a very special order for a very special night with her friend Lily, Claire definitely wanted to avoid any fainting. Especially if he was already holding the cake she’d spent all day creating.
“There you are!” she called as he walked through the front door. “All ready for the big night?”
The dry sound in JD’s throat as he tried to swallow was distinctly heard as he approached the counter. “Yes, of course I’m ready.”
