Page 40 of Love Out Loud

Chapter Fifteen

Holy crap.Jacob Ward was kissing her in the restaurant. Really,reallykissing her, like tongue and all. Andmmm, it was good. He tasted like merlot and smelled like expensive aftershave. She’d give a speech every day…no, everyhourif this was the reward. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with equal enthusiasm.

From behind them, a throat cleared, and she released him as if she’d been jolted by a dog shock collar.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have your meals,” their waiter said.

Like a high school girl caught kissing a date goodnight on her porch by a parent, she looked down in her lap, heat boiling under her skin.

“No problem,” Jake said coolly, returning to his chair as if they’d not just been participating in the mother of all hot kisses—better even than the one at the clinic.

For Fiona, silence was usually a good thing. At this moment, while the waiter placed their meals, it was excruciating. It seemed to take forever. Absently, she ran her fingertips over her lips, and when she glanced up, she found Jake watching her.

After the waiter left, she picked up her fork and stabbed some romaine in her salad. God. What was she supposed to do now? Act like it didn’t happen? But it did. Act offended or surprised? No. She’d been surprised but not offended at all. Maybe she should act honestly and ask him to do it again. Lots of times.

Instead, she did what she did best. She silently ate her food, working it out.

“I owe you an apology,” he said, plate untouched.

Again?Her heart sank. He was going to apologize for kissing her. Forthatkiss, which would take away all the magic it had created.

“I interrupted your speech,” he continued. “That’s a big mistake on my part. It’s basically one of the cardinal rules: thou shalt not interrupt your client.”

She was so confused. And relieved. He wasn’t apologizing for the kiss. Something inside her chest did a happy dance. “Well, technically, I had finished the speech when you…” She twisted her fingers together in her lap. “When we…”

Face unreadable, he sliced off a bite of his chicken. He gestured to his plate. “Would you like to try it?”

“Oh, no, thanks.” She felt so awkward. But then, most people in this situation would. Confident in that knowledge, she took a bite of her salad.

“So, your speech was better.” He took a bite and chewed, then swallowed before continuing. “You still sound stiff compared to when you first said those words to me in your break room. What can you do to make it more natural?”

Nothing about giving a speech would come off as natural. “Keep practicing?”

“Have you recorded yourself?”

She shuddered. “No, it makes me anxious and uncomfortable to hear myself speaking.”

“I wish it didn’t.” He took a sip of wine. “You have a lovely voice, and with your looks, you could have a crowd eating out of your hand.”

With her looks? She stared to her right at another table being seated. This time it was two women in their fifties. She put a hand to her chest over her pounding heart. He’d just complimented her looks after kissing her silly.

When she turned her attention back to him, he was staring at her as if trying to figure out a puzzle. “Are you up to trying another run of the speech? This time, do it really fast and quiet. Say the speech as fast as you can. Sometimes that helps set the words in place better. It’s called a speed-through.”

She stared down at her salad. “Right now?”

He nodded. “It will take less than a minute if you do it quickly. Afterward, I promise no more speeches until dinner is over.”

She’d rather he promise another kiss or maybe a dozen. After a fortifying swallow of wine, she closed her eyes to imagine her dogs. No words came. Another swallow of wine. Still, nothing. Then, she imagined his face leaning over her right before he kissed her. His eyes searching hers for permission, then dilating as he gazed at her lips before pressing his to hers.

…

Jake sat perfectly still as Fiona clearly struggled to begin her speech, eyes closed. She appeared to have lost her focus completely, which didn’t bode well for the stressful situation she’d be in at that acceptance podium. Then, she opened her eyes, staring at a point over his shoulder, and began.

Fast and low, the words poured out of her in a rich stream. Completely fascinated, he watched her lips move. The lips he’d kissed only minutes before. The ones he wanted to kiss again.

When she neared the end, he fought hard to remain in the present and focus on what she was saying and doing, but all he could think about was his conversation with Marcus. “What do you want?” he’d asked.

Her. He wantedher. This socially timid, brilliant, beautiful woman ticking off a speech in a low, breathy voice, sitting across the table from him.

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