Page 78 of Puck Lust

Ally rolls her eyes and laughs. “Yeah, yeah, we know. She doesn’t stop talking about you. Ever.”

“Sorry, guys,” I say to my sisters.

Grandma turns to Jack and her pale blue eyes light up. “Well, well. I thought Carter coming home was my present, but now I wonder if it might be something…or someone…else?”

Jack flashes her one of his famous Hollywood smiles and she giggles. Then he holds out his arm for her to take. “Any man would be lucky to have you on his arm. May I?”

We walk together into the massive kitchen. Bright light streams through the windows, casting a soft glow on the center island. Cakes and cookies and finger foods cover every inch of the space.

“Smells amazing,” Jack says, taking in a deep breath and looking around at the sweet treats covering every surface. “Lemon is one of my favorite cake flavors. There’s a great bakery in Oakland called Crumble and Whisk and their lemon blueberry cake is my favorite. But,” he says, with a wink at Mom, “I’m thinking that may change today.”

Mom laughs. “There are definitely lots of things here to tempt your palate, that’s for sure.”

“Are you boys hungry?” Grandma asks, looking from me to Jack and back again. “Let me make plates for you.”

“Gran, don’t worry about it,” Gigi says. “I’ll do it. You go outside with the rest of the family and be the star of the day. We should be waiting on you, birthday girl.”

Grandma waves her hand away. “That’s silly talk. You know I don’t like to just sit around.”

“Mom, for once you need to relax and enjoy,” my mother chides.

“That’s right,” Jack pipes in. “How about I bringyoua plate outside?”

Grandma clasps her hands together. “I knew he was my real present. Will you sit with me, too?”

“It’d be my honor.” Jack winks at her and spots of pink color her cheeks.

We all share a laugh and Gigi leads Grandma out to the deck. She peeks back to blow a kiss at Jack before the door slides closed.

“Honey, I set up the guest room for Jack,” Mom says while sweeping a thick layer of creamy frosting onto one of the cakes. “And yours is ready for you.”

“Okay. I’m going to take the bags upstairs real quick,” I say.

“Lemme help.” Jack follows me back into the foyer and we pick up our duffel bags. He follows me to the top of the stairs and I turn left down the hallway, nudging open the door to my bedroom. I drop my bag onto the floor and then continue to the end of the hall where the guest room door is already open. I step inside and take a deep breath, inhaling the scent of freshly painted walls.

“This is your room. There’s an attached bathroom, too, so you’ll have plenty of privacy.”

He drops his bag on the dark polished hardwood floor and then quietly closes the door. “Thanks again for inviting me. Your family is great.”

I stare at him, my heart wobbling in my chest as it always does when I look for a second too long. It’s really no wonder the females in my family practically swooned over him. His black t-shirt stretches across his broad shoulders, the outline of his perfect pecs visible through the fabric. Ripped, inked biceps, glowing green eyes, sexed-up hair begging to befisted.

He is the hottest man I have ever seen, and I can’t even help myself from ogling.

“You, um, really charmed them all pretty fast. And I’m not sure if my grandmother knows you’re gay, but I am pretty positive she wouldn’t care.”

“Well, she is the birthday girl, so I’ll play my part as the doting arm candy if that’s what she wants.” He steps closer to me. “That okay with you?”

I swallow hard, pulling his cologne scent deep into my nostrils. “As long as I get you later.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

Jack closes the space between us, capturing my lips in a kiss so deep and so soul-scorching, that for a second, I lose myself in him, all the conflicting thoughts and fears that polluted my mind melting away.

When he pulls back, I feel the loss of him immediately. My God, I can’t get enough of this man, and I’m already counting the minutes before I can taste those sinful lips again.

He gives me a smack on my ass and waggles his eyebrows. “That was to hold you over until later.”

“I’ll try to control my cravings.”

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