I felt that again now with the two of us standing in the foyer, talking about soda and jewelry, the kids quietly doing who knew what. Jack’s gaze hit mine and sent a stream of lust right down to my belly.
I was pretty sure he wanted to kiss me again and damn sure I wanted to kiss him.
I stepped closer, my higher self reminding me that I’d felt pulled to him the moment we met. The certainty that he was the reason I was in Wildrose grew with every electric second that passed between us.
“I was thinking…” he began, his gaze pulling me in like we had our own gravity.
“Daddy!” Three children piled out of one of the bedrooms and wrapped themselves around Jack’s legs. With an apologetic glance to me, he greeted his kids and listened as they rambled about our day. I watched it all with my bottom lip caught between my teeth, my nipples so hard they could have sliced through my bra at any minute.
“’Melia didn’t hafta use the sage today,” Charlie said. “The energy in our house finally feels right.”
“That’s good,” Jack replied. “Especially because I was gonna ask her not to burn it anymore. It kinda stinks.” He waved a hand in front of his nose.
Garrett nodded his agreement, with Connor following suit while Charlie folded her arms over her chest. “I like the way it stinks.”
While the kids continued talking over each other, I met Jack’s eyes and mouthed, “I’m gonna get out of here,” jerking my head toward the door. I hefted the box into my arms. “Thanks for these,” I said, as I stepped outside.
Jack disengaged from the kids and caught my gaze. “Hey, guys? Give me and Amelia just a second, okay?” He rubbed Connor’s hair, then joined me on the front porch.
“I bet they’re gonna flirt again,” came someone’s muffled voice as the door closed.
Laughing, Jack took the box from my arms and we walked to my car, where he placed the soda on the passenger seat. I fiddled with the new bracelet on my wrist, then turned to him. “Thanks again for—”
He threaded his fingers with mine, pulling me close, his free hand cupping my cheeks and his lips brushed my own.
It was thunder and lightning over a storm thrashed sea. It was the first hint of sunlight sparkling through a dew-covered morning. It was crisp and clear as new snow and warm like butter and syrup melting over pancakes. My hands gripped his arms as my lips parted for him, his tongue dancing with mine as we stood in the driveway in front of his house.
My heart pounded. My breath sped. My body yearned for more touch, more connection, more Jack, and I moaned as he pulled away.
“I’ve wanted to do that for days now,” he finally said, his thumbs caressing my cheeks.
Breathless, I stared into his eyes, studying the lighter shade of blue that crackled through his iris. “I’m not sure why you waited so long.”
He laughed, stepping out of my arms and throwing a cautious glance back toward the house. The blinds snapped closed, then a pair of fingers appeared between the slats, lifting them open again.
“I didn’t plan on doing any of this with an audience, but…” He shrugged as if to say ‘fuck it.’ “Go out with me. Just the two of us. Izzy said she’d watch the kids. I was thinking drinks at Cheers ‘n Beers, then a walk through Wildrose and maybe the beach. Tomorrow after work?”
“It’s a date.” I grinned, remembering how shocked the kids had been the last time I said that. “A real one.”
“Good.” Jack smiled, then stepped back to open the car door for me, standing with his hands in his back pockets, chin lifted, smile in place. As I pulled out of the driveway, I caught an older woman staring at me from her porch, her phone in her hand and a frown on her face. She was probably one of Greta’s cronies and news of our kiss would spread through the town faster than I could say ‘negative energy.’
I waved as I passed, smiling like I’d just won the world. Grumpy, disapproving gossips could bite me, for all I cared because that kiss…
Oh, man…
That kiss.
Chapter Thirteen
Jack
Friday evening, Amelia and I decided to meet at the bar instead of driving over together. She wanted to go home and clean up after a long day with the kids. In my opinion, she already looked smokin’ and I told her as much.
Her reply?
“I want to wow you, Jack.”
She’d touched her finger to my nose, then hopped in her car and drove off, leaving me an inordinate amount of time to obsess over my wardrobe before Izzy arrived. My clothing style could best be described as functional. On a day-to-day basis, that suited me just fine, but tonight? If Amelia was planning on wowing me, I needed something better than functional. I flipped through my choices, shaking my head with each click of the hanger. Finally, I decided on a light blue button down that I paired with dark brown slacks, rolled up the sleeves, then fussed over whether or not to tuck in the shirt. While I was deciding, the doorbell rang and one of the kids answered, ushering Izzy into the house.
“Come on back!” I hollered as I glared at my reflection in the full-length mirror.
A parade of footsteps sounded in the hall, and Izzy hovered in the doorway while all three kids filtered into the bedroom and plopped on the bed.
“Tucked or untucked?” I tugged at the hemline.
“Definitely tucked.” Izzy gave me the onceover. “It’s put together, but casual enough for Cheers ‘n Beers. Plus, it makes your shoulders look really broad. Good choice on the color, by the way. It complements your eyes. You look amazing.” She blew a chef’s kiss while Charlie giggled.
“Yeah, Daddy. You look very handsome.”
I grimaced as I tucked in my shirt. The color of my eyes had nothing to do with my choice and everything to do with the fact that it was clean and I hadn’t worn it in a while. Good God, I was so not ready for this. What was I thinking? Going on a date? I hadn’t dated in over a decade.
The realization dropped my stomach.
I couldn’t do this. It was one thing to flirt with Amelia every now and then. But a date? This was a mistake.
I turned to Izzy, intent on saying just that, but she stepped into the room and pulled me away from the mirror. “Relax, Jack. Everything’s gonna be fine. The kids and I will have fun together and you—” she leveled me with a grin “—look amazing. Now get out of here before you worry yourself to death.”
I arrived at the bar before Amelia, but only by a minute or two. I’d barely had a chance to find a seat when she pushed through the door, looking like she belonged at a bohemian fashion show instead of at my side. A short cream-colored ruffled dress with a plunging neckline turned more than a few heads. High-heeled strappy sandals made her legs look miles long and her blonde hair piled on top of her head made her look like a playful little sex kitten. She’d ditched the army of bracelets in favor of just one—and it looked suspiciously like the one I bought her yesterday.
I stood as she strode my way, her sweet smile saying she was oblivious to the open-mouthed stares coming from all over the bar. Men and women alike couldn’t keep their eyes off her.
Fuck me. What have I gotten myself into?