“Can we open the door?” He arched a brow.
“Oh my gosh. I’m sorry.” She dropped her hands from the screen, and as he opened the door and stepped inside, heat rushed in. Who knew a screen door could provide such protection? Pete reached for her hand and kissed her cheek. Holy moly, he smelled like he’d bathed in all things male and sensual. There were no words to describe the way his scent made her legs wobble. How would she ever make it through the date? He’d have to carry her if he was going to smell like that all night.
He reached into his pocket. “I brought you something.”
You brought me something? Jenna was like a kid when it came to gifts. She didn’t just love them; she adored them, and it didn’t matter what they were. A pair of cheap flip-flops would make her bounce with excitement as much as a set of diamond earrings. Well, she assumed they would, as she’d never actually received a set of diamond earrings.
Pete opened his palm and displayed a jet-black rock. She glanced up at him, and her breath caught in her throat.
“Peter.”
“When we were at the Bookstore Restaurant, I heard Amy say you were collecting black rocks this year.”
“You…heard her say it? And you remembered?” Her heart melted a little more. The rock was warm from being in his pocket and was perfectly smooth, save for a tiny ridge across the center. She held it in her palm for him to touch.
“You have to feel this. It’s so soothing.”
“I just did.”
“No, you gave it to me. Now concentrate. Close your eyes and feel the soothing qualities.”
“Soothing?” He closed his eyes as he brushed his fingers over the rock. His brow furrowed, then relaxed. When he opened his eyes again, he smiled. “I can see how that would feel soothing.”
She didn’t expect him to have the same connection as she did with rocks, but the fact that he’d brought her a rock and he wasn’t mocking her meant the world to her.
“I wasn’t sure how you chose your rocks,” he explained. “So if you don’t like it, don’t feel pressured to keep it. I know you’re particular about the ones you keep.”
Swoon! “It’s perfect.” It could have been purple for all she cared. It was from Pete, and that made it the most precious rock she’d ever owned. She hooked her finger in his jeans for leverage and went up on her toes to kiss him. Pete met her halfway, and the moment their lips touched, her legs turned to jelly and she fell back on her heels. Pete caught her with one strong arm around her waist and deepened the kiss.
She was floating again. Time stood still. She must be in heaven. Bliss. Delicious.
When their lips parted and their eyes connected, his darkened, intensifying the passion in them. Jenna’s pulse quickened as he lowered his lips to hers again in a tender, slow joining that reached deep inside, drawing heat straight through her core and claiming a piece of her. It was such a powerful feeling, as if they’d each had half of a soul embedded deep inside them that finally found its match.
He slid his lips to her cheek and kissed her again. “Baby, I’m going to keep a collection of rocks on hand at all times.”
Her laugh came out as a mew. She held the rock in her fist as he rose to his full height again, and she tried to focus on where to set the rock he’d given her.
“Where should I put it?” Kiss me again. Kiss me. Kiss me now.
She watched as he eyed the coffee table, with a bowl full of rocks she’d found in Chatham three summers earlier and the ostrich-egg-shaped rocks on the floor by the edge of her couch.
“How do you choose?” he asked.
“I have to feel drawn to the place where I put the rock.”
He looked around the room, his eyes lingering on a painting she’d made a few years earlier. It was one of the most difficult ones she’d ever done, a scene of rocks in a puddle. Getting the movement of the water just right had taken her weeks.
“Why don’t you ever paint anymore?” he asked.
“Too busy collecting rocks, I guess.” She was shocked that he even remembered when she used to paint.
He nodded, then glanced at the rock in her hand.
“Oh.” She remembered that she was telling him how she chose where to put the rocks. “I usually hold the rock for a while, and if it doesn’t hit me, then I put it in this basket.” She went to the kitchen, opened a cabinet beneath the sink, and pulled out a step stool. She held on to the counter and stepped up, then reached over the refrigerator to the cabinet and used her fingertips to fling it open. Pete put a hand around her waist.
“Why don’t I get it for you?” He reached up and grabbed the basket that she would have had to climb onto the counter to reach.
“Thank you.”
He set the basket on the counter, then took the rock from her hand and set it inside. Jenna standing on the stool brought them much closer to the same height. She didn’t think Pete could look any sexier, but being almost eye level with him brought a whole new perspective. His chin was more chiseled, his lips fuller, and his strong, stubbled jaw begged to be touched. She could barely think past the bees swarming in her stomach as his eyes searched hers, but she wasn’t befuddled or at a loss for her voice any longer. Last night’s kiss had set her free. Pete was the man she’d wanted for as long as she could remember, and she wasn’t taking any chances of him not knowing it. She brought her hands to his cheeks and met his gaze as he settled his big hands on her slim waist.
“I’m going to have to kiss you again,” he said in a husky voice.
Jenna’s heart was beating so hard she thought she might explode with anticipation. “If you must…”
He laughed as he brought his lips to hers and pressed a soft kiss to them, lingering just long enough to leave her wanting more. She leaned forward, and he held her up with one arm, kissing her in the middle of her tiny kitchen. She loved kissing him in the kitchen! In her kitchen! She’d imagined this very scene a million times in her head, and reality was so much better than fantasy.
“We might never go on a date at this rate,” he said against her lips.
She smiled and gave him another quick peck, before arching back so she could look at his face. Vera was so right. There were so many adjectives flying through her mind about Pete—sexy, safe, possessive, sensual, caring, amazing, sweet, powerful, smooth, delicious—that she could never pick just one.
“We’d better go, or you’ll be the talk of Seaside.” Jenna felt him lowering her to her feet and she clung to his biceps. Mm. He had great biceps.
“Baby, I have a feeling we’ll be the talk of Seaside for a very long time to come.”