“No, I guess it’s my way of saying I’m already so wrapped up there’s not much of me left.”
Her eyes were so serious, so full of responsibility, he felt the weight himself. He cupped her jaw, running his gaze over her face, her delicate features. Even her coloring was delicate, her light hair, fair skin, and pale brows. It all made the vibrant blue of her eyes stand out even more. Dear God, he was in trouble here. In serious danger of losing his heart in a way he hadn’t even thought he was capable of. “I think there’s a lot left. An absolutely beautiful, sweet, and intelligent amount left, and I can’t not kiss you.”
He caught the surprise in her eyes just before he took her mouth in a searing kiss. Paige immediately opened to him, shifted onto her knees and slid her arms around his shoulders, her hands going into his hair. He breathed in the faint sweetness of her shampoo, and the scent that was Paige, and deepened the kiss. It was like this every time he kissed her, every time they touched. Heat and need and a fierce demand to get closer.
With one hand cradling the back of her head, the other roamed up her thigh, bringing a moan when he reached the seam of her underwear through the thin cotton. He stayed there a bit, teasing her, before continuing upward until his hand covered her breast. She gasped and moaned again when he squeezed her hard nipple between his fingers and his heart pounded in his chest.
Paige was a passion, when he hadn’t been passionate about anything in so long. He had his work, but he didn’t feel it in his blood. It didn’t make his heart race and his body vibrate. He left her mouth to scrape his teeth lightly down the column of her throat, then kissed his way back up and over her jaw before finding her mouth again, this time hotter, hungrier.
No matter what his sister said, he knew this wasn’t a play-it-as-you-go, see-what-happens kind of deal. There were two options: leave now, or lay her down on this couch and take things to a level neither of them were ready for.
He was just summoning the strength to pull back when Jenny burst through the door like a firecracker and Paige jerked back.
“Oops. Sorry,” Jenny said. Her smile said she wasn’t at all sorry, more like amused that she’d almost caught somebody with their pants down. Regretfully not.
“I didn’t hear your car,” Paige said.
“Really? I couldn’t tell.” Jenny went to the fridge. “And don’t mind me. I’ll be out of here in two seconds. I wouldn’t want to interrupt.”
“You’re not interrupting,” Paige said.
“Well, that’s just wrong,” Jenny muttered.
“I should go.” Jake stood and stared down into Paige’s face, getting a hot visual of all the things Jenny could have been interrupting. “Can you bring Casey by this week for some new scans? Maybe Wednesday?”
“I work until three. Can I bring her by after that?”
“Sure. Whatever works.” She was still looking up at him and he was still not wanting to leave things with no more than plans to see him at work. “What are the odds you’re off next Saturday?”
Curious blue eyes met his. “Um…I think I work until four, but I’ll have to double-check. Why? Want to go for a Coke?”
“No. Not a Coke. Or a beer. Simon’s sister is getting married. I thought maybe you’d want to go with me?”
“Ooh! A wedding!” Jenny interjected, and they both swung their gaze to her still standing in the kitchen. “I vote yes and I can watch Casey.”
Paige pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes searching his for a long moment before she finally answered. “Okay.”
With Jenny watching intently, he pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips. Just that warmed him to the point he saw a cold shower in his near future.
Chapter 14
Paige stayed at the door and watched him drive away until his taillights disappeared.
“So, what were you and Mr. Fine up to tonight?”
“He brought over some catalogs for Casey to look at for her new prosthesis. Oh, and dinner. He brought a massive Italian feast.” She couldn’t deny the shiver of happy heat that ran through her as she said it.
“So nothing was going on?”
She turned to face Jenny’s inquisition, ready to admit at least part of her feelings. But as she did, Jenny reached up into the cabinet, making her hair fall back, revealing her face. “Oh my gosh! Jenny, what happened?”
Jenny pulled her hair forward to cover the angry red and purple mark on her jaw. “Just someone stupid.”
Paige went over for a better look, but Jenny pulled away. “Who were you with tonight?”
“Most recently? Simon.”
“Simon did that?”
“No! God, no. He came by the diner and I was upset. The someone stupid dropped me at my car as Simon was pulling in. He’s like a saint.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Lot of that going around,” Jenny said, grinning.