Page 14 of Forever Wild
With my bag over one shoulder, I walk through the house to the living room. Jack is in the same spot on the massive couch where he sat yesterday. His left leg is propped up and the container of cookies sits next to his foot.
“It’s starting to rain, so I’m heading out,” I say as I get closer, then realize his eyes are closed.
Asleep? Dead? I chuckle a little to myself. Of course he isn’t dead.
Except, oh my god, what if something happened? Maybe he took too much pain medicine or choked on one of the cookies. I creep forward. He’s so still I can’t tell.
I shimmy between the couch and the ottoman on his right side, careful not to accidentally bump his left leg, then lean in.
I search for signs of life, but my gaze gets stuck on his mouth. If you can look past the beard, and it’s hard, he has a great mouth. Full lips set against a square jaw.
His scent wraps around me. It’s faint, a hint of citrus mixed with something else. I want to move even closer and keep trying to place it, but then I hear it. His quiet breath comes in a steady rhythm.
“What are you doing?” His voice is thick from sleep.
I squeak and jump back. My calves hit the ottoman, and I fall back. Somehow, he catches me with one hand, guiding me so I don’t land on his bad leg or the cookies.
He’s not dead. Good. Because I might be soon. I place a hand over my racing heart.
“I was making sure you were breathing.” I glance over at his foot. “I didn’t jostle your leg too much, did I?”
He shakes his head. His fingers are still on the curve of my waist and the warmth of his touch is welcome against my cool skin. Heat pools in my stomach. There’s something very sensual about a man placing his hand at your waist. His big, rough hand against soft skin. To no one’s surprise, Jack’s caress has that perfect touch of tender protectiveness.
A crack of thunder makes me jolt again, this time out of his hold. I ignore the way my skin tingles. I need to get a freaking grip or maybe partake in an orgasm or two.
I make a mental note to swipe right on someone later tonight and get to my feet. “Thanks for letting me use the pool today.”
“Thanks for lunch.”
“Same time tomorrow?” I ask in a joking tone, then smile. “You do have the best pool in the neighborhood.”
He really, really does. It’s a travesty that it’s going to go unused all summer. Or maybe not. Maybe Jack and his new beard are going to enjoy it once he gets the cast off his arm. All alone. Just like he wants.
“Goodbye, Ev.”
“So that’s a maybe?” I head toward the front door.
He doesn’t respond.
6
I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON THEM
JACK
“You look like hell,” James says. “Do you need me to contact a barber?” My agent scrutinizes me through the screen. If he were sitting across from me, he’d have already made the call, but instead he’s sitting on a beach somewhere in Hawaii.
“No, I’ll go by next week.” Maybe.
“What did the doctor say this morning?”
I’m not surprised that he’s keeping tabs on my schedule, even from three-thousand miles away. “Arm cast comes off next week and he gave me some new physical therapy exercises. I told you, everything is going fine here.”
“I’m glad it’s fine for you. Meanwhile I’m developing an ulcer.” He picks up a drink with a pink umbrella in it and his mouth turns down at the corners. “I am not a vacation person. Sitting around, drinking, and watching the water. How many hours can one guy be expected to do thatbefore he cracks?”
The first real smile in days pulls at my lips. “Where’s your husband?”
James sighs. “Yoga on the beach with some other tourists. Are you sure you don’t need me to come back sooner?”
