Two of a kind, p.14
Two of a Kind, page 14
What had given her the stupid idea that Jack might view her as anything other than a mistake? She shouldn’t be upset to see him with another woman. She was the one who’d insisted they keep their relationship professional. But damn, it stung.
Blinking back hot tears, she picked up her pace. She needed to shut herself in her bedroom, have a hot shower, and forget everything about Jack Farrelly except the fact he could help her accomplish her mission. That’s all that really mattered.
If only she could believe it.
17
“Well, that was weird,” Jack said, watching Brooke retreat. One minute she’d been racing across the courtyard toward him, wearing the biggest smile he’d ever seen—while he wondered what he’d done to deserve being sandwiched between the woman he was currently interested in and one he’d previously slept with—and the next, her face had turned splotchy and she’d careened away.
“That wasn’t like her at all,” he mused out loud. “Usually, when she’s in a mood like that, it’s all you can do to get a word in edgewise.”
Though puzzled by her abrupt about-face, he couldn’t deny being relieved over not having to introduce her to Hannah. Having the two of them in one place had made him uncomfortable. He’d had a casual relationship with Hannah while they were classmates at the polytechnic. She was the type of woman he’d always imagined ending up with, but it had never been serious between them.
“You’re welcome,” Hannah said, tossing her hair over her shoulder and winking.
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She released the arm she’d latched onto and moved away from him. “It’s obvious that girl has a mad crush on you.” She shrugged one shoulder and added, “It was also obvious from your body language that you don’t feel the same way, so I put my resting bitch face to good use.”
What the hell?
His shock must have shown on his face because she folded her arms and scowled. “Don’t look at me like that. If the poor girl doesn’t have a chance with you, it’s nicer to let her know straight up.”
His fingers curled into fists, and he replayed the entire interlude in his head. How had he missed the subtext? The two women had held an entire unspoken conversation, while he’d stood by like a dimwit. Heat flushed the back of his neck in recalling Brooke’s wide eyes and open mouth as she’d stammered a goodbye and run. His stomach plummeted to the soles of his shoes. She’d been upset, and once again, he was responsible.
“Uh-oh,” Hannah said. “Maybe I misread the situation.”
“You think?” He hated the thought of Brooke hurting because of him. He wanted to go after her, gather her in his arms and promise there was nothing going on between him and Hannah. But why? He owed her nothing. He just… Well, shit. Suffice it to say, the mad crush was mutual.
“Jack.” Hannah’s tone had grown impatient. “If you’re interested in her, you shot yourself in the damn foot, because you weren’t giving out those vibes, and if I picked up on it, you can bet she did, too.”
He didn’t answer, dozens of thoughts tumbling around in his brain, knocking against each other. He didn’t know what to do, and for him, that was bloody unsettling. Maybe it was best to leave things as they were. He and Brooke were so different that any relationship between them probably wouldn’t last, but shouldn’t he explore the possibilities before making that decision?
Growling, he stomped into his shop, Hannah on his heels. He didn’t want to have this conversation in public. Hell, he didn’t want to have this conversation, full stop. Once inside, he sat on the sofa his tour groups typically waited on and gestured for Hannah to join him. When she did, he started talking.
“I like Brooke,” he told her, trying not to take his frustration out on her just because he’d had to talk more about his feelings in the last few weeks than he had in years. “She’s cute and funny, but I don’t know if I should like her, you know?”
Hannah shook her head. “You lost me.”
“We’re really different people. If I ask her out, who knows how long we’ll last?” He looked at the wall, the floor, anything but the woman beside him. If any of his friends heard him now, he’d never live it down. “But I can’t just flip a switch and stop liking her. It doesn’t work that way.”
Hannah made a disapproving sound in the back of her throat. “You’re my friend, so I’m going to be blunt with you. You’re acting like a tool. You can’t just string this girl along because you’re not sure if you want to be with her. Do you even know how insulting that is? Make it clear, one way or the other. You’re either into her, or you’re not. It’s that simple.”
Nothing was that simple, but Hannah had a point. It wasn’t fair to Brooke for him to keep flicking between hot and cold. The thought of her shutting him out of her life left a sour taste in his mouth. Closing his eyes, he imagined seeing Brooke stroll past his shop with another man’s arm around her. A pinching, searing pain started in his gut, and he wanted to rip the imaginary man’s arm from its socket.
“You’re right,” he said. “Thanks for not going easy on me.”
She smacked his shoulder. “No problem. Now, stop being a dumbass and go get your girl.”
He shot to his feet. “Erica!”
His assistant’s head jerked up, as though she hadn’t been eavesdropping during the entire exchange. “Yes?”
“Do I have any bookings this afternoon?”
She checked the calendar on her computer. “You’ve got a wildlife cruise at four.”
Four. That was hours away. He had plenty of time. “Thanks. You’re in charge now.”
She nodded, and he stuffed his wallet and keys into his pocket and took off. Brooke had a head start on him, but she’d been on foot and his four-wheel drive was parked nearby, so he hopped behind the wheel and went after her.
“Brooke!” a man’s voice called.
Brooke lengthened her stride. If it was Jack, she desperately didn’t want to see him, nor was she feeling particularly social. Unfortunately, her legs were like jelly from her workout and didn’t want to obey.
“Brooke,” he called again. She winced. It was Jack, damn it. A four-wheel drive pulled alongside her, and the passenger window lowered. “Brooke, wait. Can we talk?”
For God’s sake, couldn’t she at least outrun her humiliation? Was that too much to ask?
Huffing, she slowed and glanced around, as though only just hearing him. “Oh, hey, Jack.”
Good girl, play it cool. No feelings were hurt. You’re running because exercise is good. Nothing more.
He slowed to a crawl, matching her pace, and kept his eyes on her rather than the road, which couldn’t possibly be safe. “Can you stop for a minute?” he asked. “We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t,” she said, lifting her chin. If he wanted to explain, he needn’t. The situation had been totally self-explanatory, and she had no desire to hear the ‘let her down easy’ speech he no doubt had planned. “Why would we need to talk?”
His eyes darted to the road ahead of him, which fortunately was empty, then flicked back. “I know how that situation in the square looked, but I’m not dating Hannah. We… she…” He sighed. “Will you please stop?”
“Fine.” She moved off the road, hands on hips, and waited for him to pull onto the shoulder and get out. In that time, she tried to check her ego. She was acting like a brat, as if he’d done something wrong, when he hadn’t. He owed her nothing, and it wasn’t his problem that her unruly heart wanted him.
When he came around to face her, she said, “You don’t owe me an explanation. It’s okay if you are seeing her. I’m sorry I was weird about the whole thing. It just took me by surprise.”
Especially since they’d locked lips only a couple of days earlier. But then, they’d done that once before and he’d promptly forgotten her, so clearly his kisses didn’t mean much. She was worth more than that.
“Maybe I don’t owe you an explanation, but I’d like to give one anyway. Hannah and I used to see each other, years and years ago, before I moved to the bay. I ran into her in town half an hour ago and we chatted. It was completely innocent.”
“That’s not how it looked to me,” she said, dubious. “Are you sure Hannah knows there’s nothing between you anymore?”
He nodded, but looked pained. “She got the wrong end of the stick. She thought I needed saving from you, so she stepped in.”
She laughed. Of all the ridiculous things she’d ever heard, that topped the list. “That’s crazy.”
He rolled his shoulders forward. “Yeah, but it came from a good place.” Stepping closer, he reached for her hand. She let him take it, hyper conscious of how damp and clammy it was.
His touch stoked a fire deep within her. One that had nothing to do with anger and everything to do with desire.
“Seriously, I’m not interested in her.” His eyes slid to the side. “I probably should be, but I’m not. You’re the only one I seem to want.”
Ouch. Why did it hurt so much to hear that? Knowing he wanted her should be gratifying, but learning that a guy liked her against his better judgment wasn’t exactly flattering. She’d known all along she wasn’t his type, but it was rude of him to come out and say it.
“I’m so sorry,” she snapped, tearing her hand away. “That must be terribly inconvenient for you. Little old me and my black magic sorcery getting in the way of your romance with someone who’s actually your type.”
He swore. “That’s not what I meant.” He fisted his hands in his hair and tugged. She hoped it stung. “I’m explaining this all wrong.”
Was there a way he could possibly have explained it right?
“Life tip, Jack. Don’t pull a Mr. Darcy on the next woman you’re interested in. Modern women don’t appreciate being told you only like them because your dick is overruling your brain any more than Lizzie Bennet did.”
Her reference went right over his head and he blinked in confusion, but seemed to focus in on the pertinent bit of information. “Don’t put words into my mouth, Brooke. My brain likes you just fine, but I didn’t expect to feel this way about you. You’re different from the other women I’ve been with.”
Different.
She closed her eyes and turned away so he wouldn’t see how badly that word flayed her. What was it about her that was so defective no one would just fall happily in love with her? Was it that she lacked an air of vibrancy? Or was it her preference for Star Trek over Love Island, and gaming over shopping, that marked her as someone to befriend rather than date?
“I get it,” she said, her shoulders slumping. “You didn’t have to chase me down, but I guess I should thank you for trying to explain.” Though she still wasn’t sure gratitude was in order. She wiped her palms on her tank top, itching to resume her walk back to Sanctuary, where she planned to lock herself in her room for the afternoon. Perhaps with a bottle of cider and the BBC series of Pride and Prejudice—the entertainment equivalent of fluffy socks and a chocolate bar.
He grabbed her elbow. “No,” he said slowly. “I don’t think you do get it.”
Then he spun her around and planted a kiss on her. It was driven by frustration, she knew that, but he tasted of oranges and smelled like man. She inhaled, greedy for the scent of him, and he took advantage of that to press forward, aligning his body with hers. His tongue darted out, the tip touching her lips. She sighed and opened for him. His tongue explored the inside of her mouth with confident strokes. Her mind whirled and spun, unable to figure out which way was up. Her world became a pinpoint of sensation that centered on her mouth, and the wicked things his tongue was doing to her.
And not only his tongue.
His hands slid along her sides, one dropping down her spine, his strong fingers flexing into her bottom, and the other rising to cup her breast. Her own arms banded around him, pressing tight to his lower back and holding him to her. Heat pooled at the junction of her thighs and she rocked into him.
Wait—what was she doing?
She was sweaty and gross, locking lips with the hottest man in Haven Bay. That didn’t seem like a recipe for success. She stiffened, but Jack pulled his lips from hers and buried his face in the crook of her shoulder, his stubble rubbing her sensitized skin, making her shiver in pleasure. His lips brushed along the length of her neck, and he dropped a kiss in the hollow above her collarbone, then another below her ear.
She sighed. “Oh, my God.”
“I can’t get enough of you,” he murmured into her skin. “The way you taste, the way you smell, the way you make that sexy fucking noise like you want me to strip you bare and lick you out.” He inhaled deeply. “Like nothing else matters.”
She whimpered, her underwear growing damp. She remembered how he liked to talk dirty. How he’d made her wet and aching with nothing more than his words at that blasted New Year’s Eve party. He’d slipped his hand inside her skirt and rubbed her with a finesse her only other lover had never had. She wanted him to do the same now.
But they were in public. Anyone could come along. Two minutes ago, she’d been sick of the sight of him, but now she was greedy for more. More of the wonderful things he was doing with his hand on her breast, more of the scrape of his facial hair over her softest parts. More of his kisses. She grabbed his chin and directed his lips back to hers, taking the initiative this time and sampling him like he was a platter of her favorite sweets. Like he was Captain Kirk and Luke Skywalker rolled into one.
“More,” she moaned. “I want more.”
“I’ll give you more, sweetheart. I’ll give you so fucking much you won’t be able to take it. You feel me?” A hot, hard rod throbbed against her core, and the last of her doubts evaporated. Jack was as wild for her as she was for him, squeezing her ass, nuzzling her jaw, rubbing his thumb over the outside of her sports bra, which was frustratingly thick. “That hard cock is all for you, Brooke. No one else.” He gave a long, low groan as she squirmed and pushed closer. “It hurts for you. Wants to be inside of you.” He released her body and cupped her face, tilting it up to look at him, to see his eyes blazing with raw want. “Will you let me make you feel good?” he asked. “Will you let me take you back to your room and do what I want?”
18
Jack was barely aware of the filthy words spilling from his mouth. All he knew was that his hands were on Brooke and there was a good chance he’d carry out an arrestable offense if he didn’t get her somewhere private in the next two minutes. He was drunk on the taste, smell, and feel of her, as though his suppressed passion had accumulated behind floodgates until it was a raging torrent he could scarcely control.
When her muscles turned rigid and she drew back, eyes wide with something that resembled panic, his insides chilled. Shit. He’d gotten carried away. Gone too far, too fast, and left her behind on the journey. Just because he was ready to fall into bed didn’t mean she was. He loosened his hold on her and backed away until a foot of air separated them.
“Forget I said anything. If it’s too soon, I don’t want to rush you.”
“Wait.” She caught his forearm, sucked her kiss-swollen lips inward, then took a deep breath. “There’s no way in hell I can forget what you just said to me, and I don’t want to.” She glanced down, her eyelashes fluttering, hiding her vibrant blue eyes. “I want everything you said.”
Scarlet blazed across her cheeks, and he wondered how much redder she’d get if he made her repeat exactly what she’d like him to do to her. He was eager to find out, but maybe another time. She was still shy with him, and he didn’t want to push her too far beyond her comfort zone.
“It’s just that I’m gross and sweaty, and you’re all…” She motioned up and down his body. “Clean and sexy.”
He grinned. Clean and sexy? Hello, Miss Adorable.
“I don’t care if you’re sweaty,” he told her. “I’ll happily lick you all over, but if it makes you feel better, we could shower.”
“Together?” she squeaked, the scarlet extending down her throat to the neckline of her shirt. He watched it, fascinated, and wondered how far it extended. Did she blush with her entire body?
Damn, he deserved a sainthood for resisting her this long. His mind filled with memories of his Khaleesi at that fateful party. Of the way she’d been boneless in his embrace, her rounded bottom in his lap, her blonde hair spilling over her shoulders as she threw her head back and let him kiss and suck his way up her neck. He’d left marks, and that had only turned him on more. Unfortunately, the only relief he’d found had been later, at home, with his hand. He hadn’t taken things further with her, partly because they’d been interrupted and partly because he’d felt like an ass for being with her when his heart was wounded from running into Claudia.
Brooke still hadn’t spoken. Maybe she’d started thinking properly and realized she wanted nothing more to do with him. He backed away another step.
“Okay,” she said, raising her chin. “You and me, in the shower, then the bed.” Her eyes narrowed. “And no running away when the job is half done, understand?”
Hot relief cascaded through him. She wasn’t turning him away. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. He saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”
She laughed and shook her head, muttering “ma’am” under her breath. He took her hand and yanked her into his four-wheel drive, then hurried around to the driver’s side and threw it into gear, the wheels spinning as he took off. The drive was short, but he couldn’t stop grinning, the sides of his mouth tugging up of their own volition every time he tried to relax them. He’d finally been honest, and look where it had gotten him. Hannah was right, he’d been acting like a tool, but not any longer. He parked at Sanctuary, then reached over and curved a palm around Brooke’s cheek, drawing her in for a kiss.
“You’re sure?” he asked when their mouths parted.
She nodded, her eyes cloudy with desire. “Yes, but…” She hesitated. “Let’s be low key about this, okay?”
