AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jill waved her spoon. “I’ll be here,” she called, shaking her head. Sheesh. She’d thought Vic had been overprotective before. Compared to now, she’d been a walk in the park.
“Shoop” by Salt-N-Pepa came on, and Jill’s head lifted, her eyes narrowing on the DJ to the right of the small stage.
“Good evening ladies and gents,” the DJ said. “I had a special request for this one. Who’s ready to get out there and shake it?”
Not her, that was for sure. In fact, she was fairly certain that song would probably make her nauseous for the rest of her life. She’d been so scared to go out there and wiggle her ass in front of everyone. Only the thought of Bryan being here with her had given her any inclination to dance. But since he was several states away—
“I remember when you didn’t stay seated during this song.”
The voice near her ear made her jump. She turned around, closing her eyes and then opening them again several times when the picture didn’t change. Bryan, in a tuxedo. Bryan holding out a flute of champagne. Bryan staring down at her as if he was inhaling the sight of her as greedily as air.
“How—why—”
“I’ll explain later. First, this is for you.” He handed her the champagne, and then he produced a small white florist’s box. “This, too.”
She shrank back. “No thanks. The first one of those you sent was enough.”
His laughter swam through her bloodstream, heady like the champagne she’d yet to taste. He crouched beside her and laid the box in her lap. “I promise, no more roses.”
“You can keep the cards, too.”
His lips twitched. “No cards, either.”
She accepted the flute and took a small sip, her eyes on his. Then she set it aside and pulled on the ribbon to open the box. Inside sat the smallest violet she’d ever seen, its petals a deep hue of blue that bordered on purple. “A violet?”
“Yeah.” Bryan gripped the chair at her side. “I called Lex and tried to get bluebells, but apparently they’re difficult to get this time of year. She mentioned Dillon’s had some success giving her violets. Not that I need to copy any other dude’s wooing techniques or anything, but I figured it couldn’t hurt. And a wise woman told me once that a gentleman caller should always bring flowers, so I did.” He brushed his fingers over the petals so gently that the tears sprang back into her eyes. “The blue isn’t right. Your eyes are much paler than this. Bluebells would’ve been perfect. But I’ll get them. Just give me time.”
“You want me to give you time?” she echoed, not quite believing what she was hearing.
“Very much so.”
&nbs
p; “What happened to the roses brushoff?” Why was she even asking him anything? She was supposed to be hurtling into his arms, content with whatever scraps of emotion he threw her way. He wanted to be with her, at least for the time being. Good enough, right?
But it wasn’t. She needed more. She needed to know that what she felt, he might feel someday, too. Not necessarily tomorrow or even next year. She just wanted to know the possibility existed—and if it happened, that he wouldn’t run.
Most of all, she needed to know he intended to stick for the long haul, that the crowds and the women and the public adoration wouldn’t diminish his feelings for her. That he wouldn’t forget one day to come home like her dad.
“That was me acting like a bastard.” The word fired something in the depths of his eyes that kindled the heat already growing in her belly. His cologne washed over her, the citrus alighting her senses. She couldn’t help shifting that much closer and lifting her hand to his hair, sifting the soft strands through her fingers.
“God,” he groaned. “You don’t know how I’ve missed having your hands on me.”
“About as much as I’ve missed you,” she responded shakily, transferring her touch to his jaw. He groaned again, and the sound rippled through her system, igniting a million small blazes under her skin. “I’m so sorry about the whole ‘owe me a date’ thing. I didn’t want you to go, and I was so afraid to tell you. I screwed up so badly.”
“Not as much as I did. But we can fix it.” He cupped her hand against his face, curling his fingers around hers.
“I’d packed my bag. I couldn’t stay away from you any longer.”
“What?”
“I was coming to see you tonight. The bag’s in the car.” Tentatively, she smiled. “I optimistically packed my box of condoms. We have a lot left.”
His laughter stunned her into joining him. Then he stood and pulled her into his arms, dragging her up his body until he could frame her face in his hands. His mouth came down hard on hers, hungry and hot. She gave him back as good as she got, sliding her hands into his hair and slipping her tongue between his lips to swirl over his. He made that same needy sound in his throat and hauled her closer, his hands coasting down her back, ever so close to her ass. God, she was already pulsing and wet for him, just from one scorching kiss.
Eventually he had to tear his mouth away to breathe. “Say you’ll give me a chance,” he whispered. “I promise you that you won’t regret it.”
She’d barely nodded when he let her go and crossed the dance floor to speak to the DJ. A moment later, he tapped the microphone and the song stopped. What was he about to do? Make a speech?
