On a subconscious level, I must know that we’re in dangerous territory. The physical side of our relationship should probably progress a lot slower, seeing as the emotional side was on triple speed the last few days.
The warmth of his breath leaves as he stands, pulling me with him into a slow dance to put space between us and the bed. Then he’s cupping my face with a pleased grin like he just found a loophole. I don’t even have time to return his smile before his lips are consuming mine. My hands land on his bare chest, and I give in to the pull, inexplicably grateful that this man took a chance on me.
His minty breath tangles with mine before I pounce back, covering my mouth with my hands as I mumble from behind my fingers. “I haven’t brushed my teeth.”
Jack gently swats my hands away, pulling me in for a long, lazy kiss. “You taste delicious.”
I blink open my eyes, wobbling as the room tilts.
“Whoa,” he frowns, steadying me with his hands as he dips lower to meet my gaze. “You okay?”
I could certainly be convinced to become a morning person if it involves waking up like this.
“Yup. Just locked my knees,” I breathe, feeling a flush creeping across my cheeks. “You…uh…you should put a shirt on. So my brain can function.” I wave him away, rushing to the door. “I’m gonna visit that fancy coffee machine at reception.”
“Wait, Lo, we don’t know that it’s safe out there?—”
“It’s literally down the hall.” I roll my eyes, opening the door to demonstrate the non-threatening hallway. I yelp when a camera and microphone are shoved in my face. “Miss Sinclair,” an overly chipper woman beams, “Is it true you brought down a smuggling ring? Is this the man who helped you? Were you romantically involved with Brandon Sleigh before he was murdered?”
Before she can edge her heels into the room, Jack snakes his arm around my waist, tugging me back and slamming the door shut with a growl.
“What the heck? How do theyknowall of that?” I ask incredulously.
“Damned vultures,” is all Jack says.
A muffled argument ensues from the other side of the door, while my eyes are locked onto the tiny scratch beside the peephole.
“Doesn’t take a lot for gossip to spread and information to slip out around here,” Jack adds as he strides to the window, one finger edging the sheer curtain aside to survey the parking lot. “We’ll have to make a run for it when we check out.”
“About that…” I sink back onto the edge of the bed. “Whatisthe plan for when we check out? I mean, after today.”
I tuck my hands under my thighs while Jack pulls a T-shirt over his distractingly beautiful body. I’m very aware of the fact that even though we agreed to see where this goes, today still involves a fork in the road. His job and his life are here.
“I have a bit of a drive back home,” I continue when he doesn’t reply right away. “During which I also need to muster up the courage to tell my parents I can’t be who they want me to be,” I say with a humorless laugh.
The bed dips as he takes a seat beside me, turning my legs to face him, and I end up half curled in his lap while we stare at one another, the weight of having to be separated after this squeezing the air from my lungs.
How have I come to crave his nearness in such a short time? An hour-and-a-half drive is barely far enough to even be considered a long-distance relationship, though. We can pull this off…right?
“You’re brave, you know that?” he asks with his admiration clear in his eyes. “And if this doesn’t freak you out too much…I mean, if it’s okay with you…I’d like to be with you and support you while you do another brave thing today.”
“You wanna come with me?” I straighten, a wide grin overtaking my face.
Jack nods, a tiny hint of vulnerability clinging to his slow grin.
“I should check on my house, anyway. I’ve already put in some leave from work, so I’ve got the next week off.”
A beat stretches before I throw myself at him, knocking him onto his back and smushing my face into his neck. I lift my head to look at him. “Admit it…you’re just a little obsessed with me, aren’t you, Jack Jackson?”
“You have no idea.” A smile spreads across his face before he wraps me in his arms, reminding me that Iambrave enough to tell my parents the truth.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“You’re kidding me.” My jaw slackens as I stare at Jack from the passenger’s seat of my car. “You make your own bread?”
“Yeah.” His slow smile grows and his eyes flick to me before going back to the road.
“Sourdough?” I ask.
