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“Just because I’m a small-town Southerner doesn’t mean I didn’t read everything I could get my hands on in between motocross races.” He brought the food to the coffee table and set it down. Hemingway tagged behind, tail fanning back and forth.
Rather than Jace returning to the seat he seemed to prefer, he sat next to Bronte on the sofa. While he opened the bag and removed containers, she eyed his hot, carved body. Her eyes lingered around his chest. Now that she knew how it felt pillowing her cheek—her breasts—she wanted to feel it again.
He handed her a takeout box, but stopped to look at it. “What kind of material is this? It’s not cardboard.”
“Sugar cane. Compostable. More sustainable. You’re in San Francisco.”
He made a grunting noise that was far too manly for her body to ignore. While they dug into the food, her mind kept returning to that toe-curling kiss. Her emotions were going haywire. She wasn’t one of those women who threw themselves at guys. It had to be the fear taking over. Jace’s arms felt so safe, his embrace so protective.
“Bronte.”
She brought her attention back to find him staring at her, a crease between his dark brows.
“Are you okay? I said your name three times. And you’ve hardly taken a bite.”
She dropped her egg rolls into the container. “I guess I’m just not hungry.”
He took the box from her and set his aside too. Hemingway came to investigate, but Jace gently shooed him away.
“I have an idea,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“Do you play video games? I have an online account and we can use our phones as the controllers.”
She perked up. “I’ve been known to play at parties.”
“Why does that sound like the tech nerd version of being a social smoker?”
A laugh burst from her. “I guess it is. But if you’ve gotDark Ops, I’m ready to kick your butt.”
“Dark Ops? Who knew you were a tough girl on the battlefield?”
“Bring it on.” She stopped short. “But first I need my phone.”
He eyed her. “I’ll give it to you, but only if you promise toonlyuse the controller app.”
“Fine.” She held out her hand, eager to show him up with her gaming skills.
When he handed it to her, she studied his face. His gaze lifted to hers. “Something wrong?” he asked.
“I don’t understand how you can be so calm.”
He gave her his total, unshifting focus. Liquid heat spread through her. Five heartbeats ticked by, then six.
Jace’s chest heaved uncomfortably. “Protecting people is my job, Bronte. I’m here so that you can stop worrying. You’re safe with me.”
She nibbled her lower lip. She felt safer in his arms. With only a few inches separating them, she could easily slip into his lap and pick up where they’d left off. She didn’t know she was wiggling so much until his gaze speared her.
She went still, aware that he was feeling the same desire. When they were making out and he was pinching her nipple with the perfect, brain-spinning pressure, she’d felt his erection and knew she affected him just the same.
Suddenly, he produced her phone from his pocket and held it out to her. “Let’s play a round or two ofDark Ops. I feel like blowing something up, Bronte 823.”
Taking the phone from him, she was careful not to allow her fingers to brush his. “I feel exactly the same. And…why did you call me Bronte 823?”
The man’s crooked smile tugged at a string directly attached to her pussy, nipples and everything between. A glimmer of amusement hit his eyes. “It’s the Dewey Decimal call number for English fiction.”
Happiness flooded in to mingle with the heat burning in her core. Jace really was a different breed of man. And she was beginning to think he wasexactlyher type.
