Not too bad, Stewart.
Okay, I admit I was nowhere near model material, but I had a few things going for me—like my luminous, brown eyes, my round hips, and my thin waist. Besides, Jett had made no secret about wanting me, so for once the fact that my legs weren’t long enough and my cup size could use the boost of a padded bra didn’t bother me.
Biting my lip nervously, I shot the image in the mirror another look and ventured out in search of my boss.
I found Jett in the living room, standing near the open balcony door with his cell phone pressed to his ear, and the evening wind ruffling his hair. His back was turned to me, so I had a few short moments to regard him before he noticed my presence.
He was clad in jeans that hugged his strong thighs and a black tee that accentuated his biceps; the moisture in his hair shimmered in the light of the chandelier, making me want to run my fingers through it to test whether it was as soft and luscious as it seemed. He looked so yummy I could have died on the spot and gone straight to heaven. I groaned against the sudden need pooling between my legs.
Seriously? He didn’t even need to say a word, and I was already considering begging him to take me. I couldn’t be more obvious.
Easy lay.
Knocking lightly on the already open door, I stepped into the living room, my eyes fixed on anything but Jett. And then he turned and a panty-dropping smile jerked his lips upward. My gaze was drawn to him magnetically, and everything else was sucked out of my vision.
He was so hot it was unreal.
No, he was a sex god.
My breath hitched in my throat for the umpteenth time since I’d met him.
“Hey. Had a good day?” he asked in a low and throaty tone, sexy as hell.
I swallowed hard, forgetting my voice. He strolled toward me and bent down to place a soft kiss on my cheek as his hand moved to my lower back, barely touching the soft material of my shirt.
Too close for comfort, too electrifying.
I couldn’t breathe. He was so confident it scared the living crap out of me.
Smiling bravely, I took two steps back, forcing myself not to dash for the nearest exit.
“It was good. What about you?” My voice barely found its way out of my throat.
“It’s getting better now that I’m here with you.” Jett’s eyes descended into mine, sending my insides into upheaval. His thumb brushed my lower lip and a frown crossed his features, as though he couldn’t decide whether to kiss it. I wanted to make that decision easy for him so I gently pressed my mouth against his thumb while my eyes remained connected with him. His breathing became shallow as I started to suck his finger into my mouth, pulling it in and out.
“You’re playing with fire, Brooke,” Jett said huskily. “I don’t want you to get burned.”
“You promised fire. I don’t mind a little pain,” I whispered against his hand. This was about the most obvious invitation I had ever spoken to a man. My heart began to beat wildly against my ribcage, reminding me of a fragile bird in desperate search for a way out of a cage. And in some way I was a bird, and my life was a cage. While I’d never let Jett or any other man inside, I figured I could safely venture outside for a change, in the hope that I might just forget my past. Be someone else for a while.
We stared at each other for a few moments during which I barely breathed…and then his cell phone rang, jerking him out of our moment.
Urgh.
Someone had to call at the most unfortunate time again.
Jett peered at the caller ID and pressed the response button, muttering something like, “Hold on.” Covering the microphone with one hand, his lips crushed mine in a fleeting kiss. “Sorry, I have to take this.”
I shrugged. His gaze darkened, and for a moment I couldn’t tell whether with desire or annoyance.
“I hope you like barbecue,” he said.
“Who doesn’t?”
“Meet you in the kitchen in ten?”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see it because he had turned his back on me, his phone glued to his ear.
***
As I entered the kitchen, the grill was already set up and covered with a steel lid. Jett lifted it to reveal two servings of ribs the size of Alabama. The aroma of meat and grilled vegetables made my stomach rumble and mellowed out my annoyance. Maybe he didn’t take me up on the offer because he didn’t want to burn dinner?
His loss, right?
I shrugged and forced myself not to roll my eyes again like a petulant child.
“Your business meeting didn’t go so well,” I started, ready to steer the conversation onto known terrain. After all, he was my boss and we were supposed to discuss things that affected the company.
Jett smirked. “How could you tell?”
“By the way you slammed the door.”
“Sorry about that.”
“No worries.”