Page 59 of Don't Game Me
She didn’t want to be alone. Yet, she didn’t want to be there when someone at NJ Legacy discovered the server breach and exploded his world. What came out of her mouth was, “Okay. My flight leaves at noon tomorrow. Got to be back on Monday morning.”
Becca followed Jake through the lobby, arms wrapped around herself, trying to get a grip. She was shaking but had no idea why. Was it her heart melting at his kind gesture of cake and food while feeling guilty? Maybe the trembles were over desire for them to explore an ulterior motive. The fact she was tempted to saywhat the helland jump back into Jake’s bed scared her.
That assumed he actually wanted them in bed again. Something Michael said years ago flitted through her mind.Guys only hang around, Bec, if they’re interested.
She should say goodbye here at the hotel entrance, cry it out in her room, and order a huge bottle of wine.
Jake opened the door of Noah’s SUV and helped her up.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to clear the jitters from her brain while Jake walked around to the driver’s side.
His hot gaze raked down her T-shirt to the jeans before he started the car. He might as well have touched her. She fidgeted and pulled at her shirt, hoping he couldn’t see the peaks of her nipples through the cloth. She fought the urge to cross her arms.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his hand resting on his thigh as he drove. How she wanted him to touch her. If he did, she’d be lost.
“It was a long night without you there,” he said so softly she almost missed it.
She picked at her nails. Her bottom lip quivered. She hoped it didn’t signal the onset of tears. Too late. A few leaked. She had wanted to sign the guest book and see the first dance, which she’d heard so much about from Tori after weeks of practice. There were a few cousins from Missouri she hadn’t spent time with in years who she’d wanted to see.
“Don’t cry. I know you wanted to be there.” He touched her cheek. “We should’ve known your father couldn’t make it through the event, not after the fall.”
“I’m fine.” She forced a smile.
“Every time you say that convinces me of the opposite.” His large hand gripped hers and tangled his fingers with hers. “You wouldn’t have liked the media. They cornered all of us for interviews multiple times.”
A smile tweaked her lips. “Did you lose your shirt again during an interview?”
He let go of her hand to maneuver the SUV into a parking space in the deck for his building. “No. The last thing I wanted was to upstage the wedding.”
Once parked, he didn’t exit the car. He turned to face her. “I’m sorry for this morning. But, before we get out, I need you to tell me the truth. What the hell’s going on in California with this job that you shouldn’t have?”
She struggled to hide her fear before she met his gaze but couldn’t stare at him for more than a second. “I can’t do this. Don’t ask me. It’s been a long day. I’m here for cake and to see the speeches. If you’re going to get like this, take me back.”
He tilted her chin to meet his gaze. “You’re scaring the hell out of me.”
“I don’t want to do real life right now. You and I are back tonormal,which means we don’t do this. Can we leave it at that?”
He gazed at her, searching her face as if she puzzled him. His turbulent eyes mesmerized her. After a few seconds of staring, she wanted resolution.
Either kiss me, let’s get out of the car, or drive me back to the hotel.
She wanted the kiss so much her lips tingled, and her entire body felt as if it would go up in flames if he didn’t. His gaze melted through all her defenses.
Just when she thought he’d lean in and ease the ache that had taken root in her abdomen, he released her chin, opened his door, and stepped out. He shuffled around to open her door for her and grabbed the bags of food off the back seat.
“You’re right, Becca. We can’t have normal.”
What the hell was he doing? Her here at his place again was too much temptation. Between her tears and the terror he’d just seen her try to hide, he didn’t want her anywhere else. This could be him in the grip of post-wedding craziness, although this was the first wedding to make him examine his life and wonder if maybe there could be more substance to his relationships. This particular wedding opened a well of what-ifs in his mind.
Screw life plans. Short-term, he needed to see if she’d open up and tell him what was going on before she got on the plane.
He set up a picnic for her in front of his TV with the meal on the coffee table. Then extracted a bottle of chardonnay from the fridge. It was a much better vintage than at the wedding reception. He poured a glass for her. “No arguing. You need wine.”
“You keep chilled wine on hand for company?”
“Yeah. But this one’s been in there awhile.” Months, if he told the truth. He couldn’t remember the last time he brought home a woman.
She sipped. “Mmm. This is nice.” Then took a bite of cake. “This is really good. Thanks for all of this.”
