Page 39 of Memory of Murder
His fingers brushed hers as he took the phone from her hand. Heat shot up her arm. She tried to stifle the gasp but didn’t quite accomplish her mission.
“I want to restore as much as possible.” He ignored or was hopefully oblivious to her reaction. “I’ll save the remodeling for areas like the kitchen, where a more modern update is most convenient.”
“Good plan.” She managed a smile, no matter that the way he studied her now was deeply unsettling…in a good way. She leaned forward slightly, unable to drag her gaze from his.
He stared at her lips. “The food should be here…”
Her breath foolishly caught again. He had to know she was attracted to him. God, she was so embarrassed.
“I’m sorry.” She drew away slightly. “I guess I was so caught up in our conversation I…” She shook her head. “Sorry.”
He sat his phone on the desk without taking his eyes off her, then he reached out, gently traced the outline of her cheek with the tips of his fingers. Desire ignited inside her, and her heart started to pound.
He dropped his hand away. “I should be the one to apologize. I couldn’t stop staring at you, and I shouldn’t have let myself get carried away.”
“Please,” she urged, her voice barely a whisper, “get carried away some more.”
He leaned closer, brushed his lips across hers. “I can do that,” he murmured against the lips he had set on fire. Then he kissed her again, softly, slowly.
She put her arms around his neck and leaned into the kiss. Oh, how she wanted to feel this…this fire and anticipation.
A pounding on his door tore them apart.
“The food,” he said hoarsely. He turned back to her, licked his lips hungrily. “To be continued.”
He walked out of the room.
Anne braced her elbows on her knees and plunked her face into her hands. What was she thinking? This was not supposedto happen. She forced her lungs to fill with air. Not smart. Not smart.
She stood. To heck with smart! Her fingers fumbled as she quickly unfastened the buttons of her blouse—the one she’d been wearing this morning, which saved it from the fire. She tore it off and reached for the waist of her pants.
Jack came back into the room carrying bags of food. He stalled, stared at the blouse on the floor and then her.
She shrugged, her fingers still clutching her waistband. “I thought we could eat later…after we do the to-be-continued part.”
He placed the bags on the desk and moved toward her.
Her heart thumped so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.
And then he kissed her, his hands roving over her bare back until he found the place where her bra fastened.
Her body melted against him. No more thinking.
Chapter Fourteen
Journal Entry
Thirty Years Ago
August 10
This was the worst that could have happened.
No, not the worst. But close. The position Neil had wanted so badly was stolen by a friend. He was devastated, and I was devastated for him.
The so-called friend who stole it was a year ahead of Neil. He had graduated in May. Not at the top of his class either as Neil was set to do. No, he was mediocre at best. So far he’d taken his bar exam multiple times without passing it.
He was no Neil, and the company had made a huge mistake choosing the other man over Neil.
