Christ, but the girl could sing.
I had a sinking feeling that I was in deeper than I'd thought I was with her. I'd already been bordering on obsession and that was before I heard her voice. She wasn't just talented. She was exceptionally gifted.
Suddenly her pride made more sense. She was definitely not the type to sell herself short, beautiful and talented just added to that self-esteem. And that was going to make her even harder to get.
But it didn't matter how elusive she was. I wasn't going to go down without a fight. Miss Eleanor Gavin had no idea how persistent I could be.
She didn't stand a chance.
Hell, maybe neither one of us did.
I grabbed a cup of coffee from a passing waiter and chugged it down without milk or sugar.
I wanted to be sober as a judge for this.
I was going to get my woman.
Elle
I carried the rubber basket of clean dishes into the butler's pantry and set it down. The party was still going strong but I was always on top of cleaning up. I was tired. Happy, but tired.
Who would have thought that I would feel so welcomed here? They hadn't just hired me, they'd embraced me. They had even asked me to sing at their holiday party. They paid me generously to do it too. I knew that at first the elder two Delancey brothers had thought I was an easy woman that Jake was trying to pawn off on them. But through hard work I'd proven them wrong.
The fact that I rejected Jake's overtures on a daily basis didn't hurt either. I had a sneaking suspicion that people were taking bets on us. I put my foot down every time he tried to flirt with me, no matter who was watching.
It was getting harder and harder to ignore him though. I would be a liar if I said I wasn't tempted every time he sidled up to me. And my mother had raised me not to lie.
"Having fun?"
Well, speak of the Devil and he will appear.
I turned to see Jake lounging in the doorway to the pantry. The man could make a slab of concrete look like an easy chair. He was permanently relaxed. Those bedroom eyes just added insult to injury.
He'd been drinking all night. Everyone knew Jake Delancey liked to drink. I'd heard the staff and several of the guests clucking their tongues over his drinking and general lack of decorum. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, revealing strong tanned forearms covered in tattoos.
I swallowed nervously, hoping he didn't notice.
Damn if he didn't look good enough to eat. I tossed my head at him and went back to what I was doing. But I could still see him from the corner of my eye.
Oh why didn't he just leave me the hell alone?
That or get on with it. All this *footing around was driving me insane. I shook my head. I would just insult him as usual and send him on his way.
"Not as much fun as you from the smell of it."
He smiled and sipped the cup of coffee in his hand.
"I heard you singing."
I glanced at him and continued stacking the clean dishes in the cupboard.
"You're incredible. You're going to be a huge star."
I turned around and lifted my chin to stare down my nose at him. Not easy to do considering he had a foot on me. But I managed it.
"Yes, I am."
He just stared at me. I knew he was going to do something rash before he even moved. Suddenly he was standing close to me, holding something over my head. I looked up in surprise. It was a little sprig of something green with red berries, tied with a red velvet bow.
I wasn't going to back down this time. Or scurry off the relative safety of the kitchen. If he wanted to play with fire it was on his head. I tilted my head to the side.
"What is that Mr. Delancey?"
"Call me Jake."
"What's that then, Jake?"
"It's mistletoe."
He stepped closer. I could feel the heat coming off of his body in waves. It felt nice. Very, very nice.
"What's it for?"
He grinned at me and slid an arm around my waist.
"It's for kissing."
He yanked me against him and lowered his head to mine. I inhaled sharply at the contact. He didn't waste any time, kissing me hard right off the bat. His lips felt silky smooth and soft against mine. As good as I remembered them. Better even. He angled his head, nudging my lips apart.
The moment I opened my lips, the kiss exploded.
I moaned as our tongues tangled in a primal dance. A dance Jake seemed to excel at. He used his tongue to stroke, tease and caress me as I stood utterly helpless in his arms.
Damn but the man could kiss!
Finally he pulled back, leaning his forehead against mine. We were silent as we both struggled to catch our breath. He stroked my hair as we stared into each other's eyes.
"Come upstairs with me."
"I can't."
"Please Elle..."
"I'm working. Let me go Mr. Delancey."
I stood there, watching him do as I asked him to. Even though what I really wanted was him to pull me into his arms again, to kiss me, to drag me upstairs. I did not say a word as he slowly stepped back and walked away.
It took all my strength not to call him back.
Chapter Eight
Jake