Page 14 of Love By Sunset

‘No. Yes.’ Emily glowered up at him from under her eyelashes. ‘I thought you wanted a holiday fling? So here I am. And it seems as if you’re turning me down, backing away?’

Still without touching her, he lowered his head and kissed her, a slow, sensuous kiss that had her feeling behind for the support of the car. As he finished the kiss and lifted his head, she could see what was in his eyes and knew he was as aroused as she was. So why not use his spare half hour?

He answered her unspoken question, his eyes narrowed, a slight smile on his lips. ‘Oh, no, Emily. Oh, most definitely no. I’m not turning you down. No way. I’m not backing off, either. We could go hide in my office here and satisfy the basics.’ His voice was so low Emily strained to hear, and every word made her feel he was touching her in all the places she yearned for him to touch. ‘But Emily… there’s something about you, and I want to wait, take it slow, make it last. Giving up control and indulging in a holiday fling does not mean a few quickies behind the ice-cream van.’ Now he grinned and stepped back from her, allowing her, still speechless, to open the door and slither—she felt so boneless, so liquid, there was no other word for it—into her seat.

‘Believe me.’ Jake moved further away. ‘We need to take this slow. If you’ve left your control behind, I’ll make sure you remember what comes next. We need to take it slow,’ he repeated. ‘Slow, hot and deep, darlin’.’ His tongue touched his upper lip, and he grinned before turning and sauntering back the way he’d come.

Emily sat for a full five minutes before she felt it was safe to drive. She was torn between fury at the man, having expected her grand gesture of returning to inspire gratitude, and sheer amazement that he could turn her on so much, using so little other than some kisses and lots of very sexy words. She hadn’t expected this magnetic pull between them and felt helpless and weak-willed in the face of it. Should she tell him about Approach? No. This interlude was not for keeps, so no need to bother with details that would never matter.

It would all be okay. It would work out. Approach would withdraw because Gerry wouldn’t agree to letting Jake stay, and she wouldn’t see him displaced. Once that had happened, it would all be okay. Anyway, she’d probably be back home by then, nursing a broken heart and leaving a carefree Jake behind, eagerly anticipating the next passing female he could practice his technique on.

CHAPTER8

A half smileon his face and amusement in his eyes, Jake watched from behind the cafe until she’d gathered her composure enough to drive off, readjusting his jeans as he waited. Damn, but she was hot. He’d wondered—no, be honest, he’dworried—that she’d kept her cool composure and decided not to return, and it surprised him how glad he’d been to see her just now.

He wasn’t sure he was happy about that. From the age of eleven to eighteen, he’d seen how loving someone only ended in pain. You couldn’t watch over them and protect them. There was always the risk that one day they’d be gone. Better his way—never getting attached.

With sudden insight, he wondered if, in fact, he was a coward, too frightened to love in case the person he fell for ended up like his dad—terminally ill?

Shrugging, he turned and went into his office, at the back of the café, where there was a shower and some spare clothes, as well as a bed-settee for the occasional nights when the surf rolled and a full moon shone. Just time to make himself presentable before taking over from Jenny. He dismissed the disturbing thoughts that had been in his mind a few minutes before. As he had no intention of falling in love with Emily, there was no need for introspection. Keep it light, keep it casual.

Weekends could be busy, but weekdays were quiet, and Jake found he had plenty of time to get on with preparations for tomorrow, as well as tidy up and wipe everything down to his exacting standards. Satisfied at last, he checked his watch. Another ten minutes until he could close. Praying there wouldn’t be a last-minute rush for takeout food, he looked in the fridge and chose two portions of that day’s special, a Moroccan chicken curry, easy to make and popular with the surfing types who frequented the beach, often coming in cold, tired and starving. Tomorrow’s soup and specials were already de-frosting, he had enough cake spare he didn’t need to make any more for two or three days, and had paid Jenny a fortune to open for him tomorrow morning, and run the place until at least lunchtime.

‘Anything to do with that good-looking lady you were lunching with on Saturday?’ Jenny’s face was innocent, but her eyes betrayed her. She was laughing, and she knew Jake well, with his stream of constantly changing girlfriends.

‘Could be,’ Jake smiled.

Jenny had shaken her head, untying her apron as she replied. ‘Jake Bradstock, I can understand your mum’s frustration with you sometimes. She’d love you to find someone special, you know, and settle down. And your sister, come to that.’

‘Ain’t going to happen,’ Jake replied over his shoulder as he went into the café. ‘I don’t do the commitment word. Can’t speak for Claire, though. Thanks, and I owe you.’

He could hear her laughter as she left.

Another glance at his watch and he went round locking everything up for the night. Whistling softly, he scooped up the curry and secured the back door behind him. Sliding the takeaways onto the passenger seat, he settled into his small 4x4.

As he’d promised Emily, he was pulling up outside his house by half-past seven, having made a quick stop-off for two bottles of chilled white wine at the local store. For a moment, Jake sat in the car, his hands on the wheel. He shook his head as he stared towards the silhouettes of boats lit by moonlight, shifting gently on the slight swell within the shelter of the harbour. Even in the car he could smell the seaweed, hear the soothing lap of waves, which had been the constant background music to his life.

Inside his house, Emily was waiting.

Apart from his worry about the café, all should be well with his world, so why this feeling of disquiet? That once he left his car, he was putting things into motion which might be difficult to stop or take back?

Despite what he’d said to Jenny about not doing commitment, when had he ever let one of his flings come in to his house, never mind given them a key? He’d usually gone back to their holiday let, found a deserted bit of beach or, occasionally, booked a room at the Seaview Hotel.

His house was private. His. No-one else’s. So why had he let Emily in?

‘Ah, hell!’ Jake shook himself, gathered up the carrier bag containing the wine, slipped the takeaway on top and got out. He didn’t do introspection, either. Live for the day, that was his way of operating. He strode to the front door and tried the handle. Unlocked. Stepping inside, he made sure he locked it behind him. He didn’t want unexpected visits from any friends, and certainly not his mother. Not tonight, when he was going to show Emily that losing control wasn’t something to avoid, but to embrace.

‘Emily?’

She appeared in the siting-room doorway. ‘Jake.’ Her voice was cool.

His mouth curled in amusement. Still feeling sulky, it seemed. ‘I brought some Moroccan chicken curry home.’ He stepped forwards and captured her in his arms before she could move back. He dropped a slow, sensuous kiss on her mouth, felt her body release some of its tension and lean into him. He raised his head and smiled at her. ‘And white wine.’

‘You were obviously expecting me.’ Emily’s voice was still somewhat petulant as she inclined her head to their left, where the open door showed his pristine kitchen.

‘You mean the tidy kitchen? The set table with candles?’ He shook his head, his expression amused. ‘No, not because I was expecting you. I always keep a tidy kitchen. I admit I put some candles on the table in hope, Emily. In hope. You weren’t very encouraging when I last saw you. You never turned up on Sunday to watch me surf, even though you’d implied you would. And forgive me if I didn’t run off with you the minute you arrived, but not knowing your plans, I hadn’t asked Jenny to stay late, and despite what you see as my lackadaisical approach, I look after her and my café.’ His face went still. ‘Well,maybemy café,’ he added with a sigh.

Looking contrite, Emily leant in and kissed him. ‘To be honest, I didn’t intend coming back, but something happened at work which upset me. Then I thought about what you’d said. About letting go. What happened made me reappraise things, but I wondered if I should tell you ab—’

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