Page 17 of Forbidden Kisses
Noah turned from what he was doing. “Hey. I saw Mitsy today.”
Jack shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, which fit himoh so right,hugging parts of his body that had Grace’s imagination running wild.
She reined in her eyes and her mind. If she let herself, her admiration of Jack’s body could lead her back to her high school crush all over again. She knew better. Crushes and falling over herself at the sight of Jack’s drool-worthy body would complicate things. Which was why she had to stop.
“I don’t know a Mitsy,” Jack said, absently.
“My tuna. I swear it was the same one that got away last year. She has the same scar on her dorsal fin. I saw it. Shaped just like a heart, man. I swear.”
“So you got it today?” Jack asked, heading toward Grace’s desk.
Her heartbeat went erratic as he took long strides toward her. If he was wearing that same cologne he’d had on every day since she’d started working here, she was a goner.
“If I had caught her, I’d be smiling right now,” Noah said. “Do I look like I’m smiling?”
Jack chuckled as he looked over at Noah. Then he plopped down a white paper bag in front of her.
She could smell the hush puppies inside. And Jack’s cologne.
Goner.
Jack gently patted her shoulder. “Maybe Grace will be nice and share her chowder with you. Abby’s fresh clam chowder always makes things better.”
Noah’s gaze skittered toward Grace, but he didn’t meet her eyes.
“Um, sure. I’ll share if you want some,” she offered, wishing the youngest Sawyer would at least acknowledge her presence in the room.
“I’m good,” Noah told Jack, not addressing her. She was still invisible and he certainly didn’t want anything she had. “See you later, bro. I’ve got actual work to do.”
Jack lifted a middle finger, returning the playful banter. “I’ll have you know I’ve already been hard at work this morning. I’m adding a second launch and a small walking pier at the rec area with Dewy’s kid.”
Noah shook his head. “Good luck with that.” He waved, but only to Jack, and walked out.
Grace hunched over her desk. “He hates me,” she groaned after the door had shut.
“Who?” Jack stole a hush puppy from her bag.
“Are you kidding? Your brother.”
Jack looked genuinely surprised. “Noah?”
She pushed her neck forward. “Men really are oblivious.”
“Not true and not fair.” Jack pulled a chair up to her desk and sat. “Don’t compare me to other men. I’m nothing like any other man you’ve ever known.” A flirty quality tinged his voice.
Grace swatted his hand as he reached for another hush puppy from the bag he’d brought her.
“Hey! You said you’d share.” He frowned, which only served to draw her gaze down to his mouth. He had a thick covering of dark blond stubble surrounding his full kissable lips.
Her heart kicked in her chest. “I said I’d share with Noah. Because he hates me and I want to change his mind.” She stuffed a puppy into her own mouth and finally offered one to Jack, which he playfully snatched.
“Thanks.” He grinned, his eyes steady on her.
The room seemed to grow smaller whenever he looked at her the way he was doing now. The air became thicker, harder to breathe. And there was this strong desire within her to lean over and kiss him.Crazy.
“Noah’ll come around. He always does.” His voice went low and deep. “I kind of thought this was just a job for you anyway. Admit it. You still love us,” he said playfully. “Despite our massive flaws.”
A nervous laugh tumbled off her lips. “Before I admit that, you’d have to admit that you still love me, too…I meanus.”
