“Tonight?” Jake and Char said in unison.
The lady looked confused. “Yes, tonight. I’ve been told the rehearsal dinner is on Saturday, and today’s Friday. It’s the only available night for this type of demonstration.”
“Well, how long does it take?” Jake asked.
“Oh, honey.” She winked. “If that’s your question, you really aren’t doing it right.”
Char had to physically pull him from the store. Not doing it right? Not doing it right?
*
If the look on Jake’s face was any indication, he was just ready to slap someone. “Whoa, there, cowboy. Calm down.” She walked him to the car, feeling every inch of his muscles as they flexed beneath her hands.
“Not doing it right?” he repeated, this time in a softer voice, as if he was really trying to figure out if he’d been doing it wrong this whole time. “Char?” He looked up. Oh no. Oh hell no.
“Hmm?” She played with her hair and looked away.
“Did I?”
“Did you what?”
He was silent.
And then he cursed for a good few minutes. “You know what I’m asking.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I don’t think I—”
“Char.” Jake walked around the car and reached for her. What she should have done was laughed off his concerns and pulled away. The smart choice would’ve also been to lie her ass off, but she couldn’t, not with him touching her like he was. Or with the full force of his chiseled face so close to hers. “Answer the question.”
With her heart slamming against her chest, Char swallowed past the dryness in her throat and answered. “You may have to remind me since the memory’s kinda fuzzy…”
He broke out into a grin. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“I think I can manage that.” His hands slid up her sides.
And then her damn phone went off again.
Work.
Crap. Jake took a step away while she hit ignore.
“Something wrong?” His brows drew together in concern.
“Nope. It’s actually, really good.” She stepped up on her tiptoes and kissed him hard on the mouth.
With a groan he placed both hands on either side of her and used his body to push hers against the car. “What are we doing?” he whispered against her lips.
“Kissing.”
His tongue dove into her mouth. It was impossible to describe the way he kissed, the way he tasted. Heat pounded in hundreds of places all over her body; her nerves were on edge so that every single touch of his tongue sent shivers all the way to her toes; and even when he touched her lightly she was a puddle at his feet.
Everything he did seemed to singe her, mark her. If this was kissing, she would be ruined for all other men’s kisses.
“Are you”—he pulled back—“sure you want this?” It was the most vulnerable she’d ever seen him. His eyes were filled with need but it was more than that; it was… desire and insecurity. Her whole life she had wanted to be his security, his rock. She’d wanted the best of both worlds, friends turned into lovers, and now she felt as if she could actually have it.
“I’m sure.”
The phone rang again.
Jake cursed. “Seriously, I’m going to throw your phone into the river.”
She stole a peek and sighed. “It’s Grandma. We either take the call or suffer the consequences.”
Jake took the phone from Char and answered it, putting her on speakerphone. “This better be good.” His eyes darkened as he licked his lips.
“I’m dying!” Grandma wailed from her end.
“Are you at the house? Where are you?” Jake shouted.
“The house! Hurry!”
“Shit!” Jake unlocked the car doors and they scrambled inside.
Panicked, Char could only grip the seat as he drove and hope that Grandma would be okay. She had to have the worst timing in the world!
Chapter Thirty-nine
Jake pulled the BMW up to the house and left it running as he jumped out of the car and ran toward the front door. “Grandma!”
“Jake!” She flew out of the front door, her purse in hand. “Take me to the hospital.”
He paused. She looked absolutely fine. In fact, she had on a nice white pantsuit and her giant black sunglasses. She stomped by him and opened the car’s back door.
“Hi, Char.” She slammed the door behind her.
And then Jake saw the object of her disdain waltz out the door after her.
Petunia.
From the pinched look on her face, Jake could tell it hadn’t been a good meeting. Petunia’s oversized pink cardigan was wrapped around a turtleneck top, even though it was summertime. Nude-colored tights peaked out from beneath a long jeans skirt. The outfit was complete with orthopedic shoes.
“Oh, Jake!” Petunia giggled. “I’ve missed my boy!”
He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. “Aunt Petunia, you don’t look a day over fifty.”
“Oh you.” She swatted him with her hand.