Page 23 of Summer Affair
He scrunched his face, then pointed to his ear like,Didn’t catch that.Only his grin said he was yanking her chain.
Ha ha, she mouthed, and he winked. Then, he waved. A sweet, good morning wave that had her heart going on triple time.
She waved back, knowing there was a big, goofy grin on her face. There was also the way her blood rushed through her body making her fear she might pass out and fall straight through the window between them. Taking a deep breath, she asked,Did you like breakfast?
He patted his chest and, with mock surprise, mouthed back,You like me?
Breakfast,she drew out slowly, careful to enunciate each syllable.
Best ass? Why thank you.Then, funny guy that he was, he turned around and gave her a view of the best backside on the western seaboard, even gifting her with a little shake, which caused a shiver to cascade down her body.
He turned back to face her with palms up, silently asking for a rating on the amazing-ass-meter.
Jillian pretended to hem and haw, then flashed nine fingers. He threw his head back and laughed, and she found herself laughing. To her surprise, the stress of the morning vanished and she found herself wanting to keep the game going.
He cocked his head, calling her on her lie.
Fine.She held up a solid ten, which didn’t even begin to cover just how impressive his body was. Then, when she’d thought the fun was over, he gave a playful twirl of the finger, in a universal gesture forI showed you mine now show me yours.
And for the first time in years, Jillian didn’t feel like a batter-covered, stressed out, overworked single mom. She felt sexy and light—like the person she’d been before her marriage.
Maybe it was the playfulness in his eyes or maybe it was because she enjoyed flirting with him, but when she turned around, she gave her bum a little shimmy, then glanced over her shoulder. Clay stood in front of the window, hands over his head and resting on the upper sill, his arms bulging as if holding up the side of the house. She finished her circle, to find him applauding.
She took a bow and when she looked back up, she found his gaze roaming leisurely down her body.
He blew out a breath and shook his head in awe.Perfection, he mouthed.
Jillian couldn’t think of the last time a man had looked at her with sheer male appreciation, or the last time she’d felt her shy side creeping in. It wasn’t insecurity that had her askingyeah,it was genuine interest.
Clay had his pick of twenty-something butts around him all the time but, right then, he seemed to be solely focused on her butt.
Oh yeah,he mouthed, and her heart stuttered. Gone was the humor and lightness, and in its place was heat and sexual interest.
Neither moved, just locked gazes and a sexual heat built until, from twenty feet away and two separate houses, it caught fire. He was back to holding up the house and she was back to staring, but it was as if neither could look away.
She wasn’t rushing to label things, but if she had been, this Girl on Fire would go with explosive. And she didn’t know what to do with that.
He opened his mouth to say something, and Jillian realized her face was practically pressed to the window.
Do you want—?he began but Jillian’s cell rang, causing her to jump and break eye contact.
She picked it up and answered. “Hello?”
There was a long, weighted pause, where she glanced at the screen. It was Darcy.
“Why do you sound like you’ve just run a marathon?” Darcy asked, suspicion clear in her tone. “What are you up to?”
Playing with fire.
Jillian looked back up to find the window disappointedly empty. “Just baking the cakes for the Steinberg anniversary party.”And flirting with the boy next door. You know, typical Monday morning for this strong and confident Girl on Fire.
“Can you get away for like an hour?”
Jillian looked at the batches of cakes, all in different stages of doneness, and sighed. She’d love to get away and have coffee with her bestie. Then again, one look and Darcy would see right through her. “I can’t. I’m two hours behind and, due to an accidental play pirate sword to the tray, two batches down. At this point, I’ll be up to my neck in fondant until midnight.”
“I wonder if I should even tell you then,” Darcy said. “But I’d break bestie code if I didn’t. An extra slot at football camp opened up.”
Jillian froze. Finding childcare was proving to be impossible and while football camp would break the bank, she didn’t know what else to do.
