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Chapter Thirty-two
Jake could hold this woman all night long. The bar they’d chosen to have their drinks at had been relatively empty, and they’d both loved the old-time music of the rock ‘n roll band that was on stage.
They’d danced a number of times in between drinks and conversation, swaying to the music and using the excuse to be close.
When they were in their booth and the world seemed non-existent, he’d try to dig into her life and had never met a more talented dissembler. She wriggled out of answering personal questions, and yet she talked plenty about her sister and with a lot of affection and respect.
“Mari and I were left alone in our early twenties. Our parents were on a bus trip back east. It went over a bank and they were both terribly injured. Mom succumbed first, and Dad just didn’t care anymore. He was gone within a few days.” Jake had already sensed her earlier life had been eventful, and this story provided reasons for some of her reticence. “That must have rocked your world. Thank God you had each other.”
Rylee nodded. “Yeah, it was tough. I was in Qua… ahh, qualifying for my degree in accounting and Mari was taking fashion courses in college too. She started working in a ladies’ clothing store for Clara, an older widow, alone in the world. Being a marketing genius, she took Mari under her wing, taught her everything she knew about business and five years later when she passed, she left it all to my sister.”
“They must have become close.”
“Very. Clara became family. I was away a lot, and Mari needed some stability in her life. Clara fit into that role perfectly. She became like the grandmother we never had. Mari suffered terribly when Clara died suddenly from a heart attack. But by then, she had a firm grasp on the business, and she’s made it even more successful.”
“Is that where you get your clothes? Because you always look stunning.”
“Thank you. Yes, my sister helped pick out the wardrobe for this trip.”
“Well, you can tell her for me that she killed it with this dress you’re wearing tonight. I came close to swallowing my tongue when I walked into your room earlier.”
Jake meant every word of the compliment. He didn’t often pay attention to women’s clothing, they either looked nice or they didn’t. But tonight, when he’d gotten his first look at Rylee in her pretty greeny-blue dress, his tongue had swelled, and he could have sworn his eyeballs twirled two inches outside their sockets.
He wondered at the expression of glee on her face, before she wiped it off and began swaying to the new song the band had started playing. “Right. I’m adept at reading body language. Let’s dance.”
“Adept at… give me a break. I was all but waltzing in my seat.”
“See, I read that.”
Laughing, they rose and hand in hand walked the few feet to the dance floor, where Jake gathered her close. Up until then, he’d managed to keep his distance, giving Rylee the space she needed to trust him again. He’d blown it earlier with his big guy bullshit, overpowering the little woman.
Christ, he knew better, had seen earlier signs that she was prickly. But she’d been so goddamn beautiful under the soft light, he’d been overcome, and his brains had been sabotaged by his prick.
What surprised him now was how much his scaring her mattered. In the past, he’d never worried about reading a situation wrong. If his apologies weren’t enough, he couldn’t give a damn. There were plenty of females and girlfriends had been low on his totem pole of importance.
Until now.
Rylee mattered.
Lord almighty, that was the second time that night those words had flashed in his head. First the kid and now her. He was losing his grip with reality on this love boat.
He heard her voice singing off key and swelled with a feeling of such affection that he swung her in closer and held on for dear life. The perfume she always wore, a fresh scent of sugar and spice, worked like a magic elixir on his lower half. Rather than being put off by the evidence of his arousal, she seemed to want to participate.
While the male lead drilled into his song, his voice soaring, the notes from a slow waltz filling the room, her body nestled so close, they were melded together. Both her arms reached around his neck and her breasts were mashed against his chest, wreaking havoc with his ability to stay upright.
Breathing heavily, the only way he could get air into his lungs without panting, he buried his face in her neck and lost himself in the beauty of the moment. The exact moment when his heart acknowledged it had found its mate. The only woman who could make him a happy man, fill the emptiness… complete him.
Lost in this glow, he didn’t see the people enter the room and head for a large booth.
He didn’t.
But she did.
