The Street Where She Lives. Jill Shalvis

‘The garden is illuminated at night,’ he said tolerantly.

      ‘Yes, but I——’

      ‘Come on, Stacy. It's too noisy in here, we can't talk properly.’

      ‘I think we've talked enough for one day.’

      ‘About certain things, perhaps, but I have other things to say to you.’ His voice lowered. ‘Things I would rather say when we're completely alone.’

      That was what she was afraid of! ‘No, I don't think——’

      ‘I'm not asking you to think. Don't be such a baby, Stacy. Is there no adventure in your soul, no craving for danger?’

      Not when she knew she had a good chance of losing to him. ‘No,’ she said huskily.

      ‘I don't believe you.’

      He pulled her along behind him and Stacy had no choice but to follow him. She was conscious of many people curiously watching their exit, and this didn't improve her mood.

      She pulled away from him once they were outside, glaring at him resentfully, her colour heightened. ‘It's cold out here,’ she lied. ‘I want to go back inside.’

      His answer was to put an arm about her shoulders and pull her hard against the side of his firm muscular body. ‘It isn't cold, Stacy,’ he contradicted. ‘But if you are just stay close to me, I'll keep you warm.’

      ‘Perhaps that's what I'm afraid of.’

      ‘That's what I thought.’ He turned to face her, his arms about her waist as he moulded her thighs to his. ‘I can't do much to you in a garden, now can I?’

      She gulped. ‘I suppose not.’

      ‘Besides, I like the comfort of a bed when I make those sort of advances. I've gone past the impetuous youth bit where I can make love anywhere. Also, I want things to be right between us the first time.’

      She gulped again. This man was unlike anyone else she had ever known, said things no one else would dare to say on such short acquaintance. ‘The——’ she licked her dry lips. ‘The first time?’

      ‘The first time we make love,’ he told her calmly.

      She gave a short breathless laugh. ‘I can't decide whether you're conceited or I've just gone mad,’ she said dazedly.

      ‘Neither of those things,’ Jake murmured huskily, his eyes never leaving her parted lips. ‘Your mouth was made for kissing. I've wanted to kiss you ever since I saw you in the lift this evening.’

      ‘But you—you were so distant.’

      His dark eyebrows rose. ‘I could hardly make love to you in a lift, and I don't think you would have let me on such short acquaintance. Besides, I knew you were going to be here this evening. It was the only thing that persuaded me to be here at all.’

      All the time they were talking she was aware of the hardness of his body curved into her own, her hands crushed against his chest. ‘But surely you had to be here, to protect your employer?’

      ‘Does it look as if I'm doing much protecting?’

      ‘No,’ she admitted.

      ‘That's because I'm not. I abhor parties and I dislike crowds. I'm only here to see you.’

      ‘You flatter me!’

      ‘Maybe, but I don't usually put myself out for other people.’

      He was very arrogant, considering he was only a lowly employee like herself. ‘You're very lucky if you don't have to, some of us aren't so privileged.’

      ‘You don't seem to have made any concessions in your argument with Payne this afternoon,’ he taunted.

      She blushed. ‘That was different.’

      ‘Not at all. You make your own set of rules and you have to live by them.’ His hold about her waist tightened. ‘And I'm very glad you kept to yours today. It could have caused quite a scene if I'd had to fight Forbes to get you.’

      Her eyes widened. ‘You would have done that?’

      ‘Oh yes, Stacy, I would have done that.’

      ‘You make it very hard for a girl to refuse you,’ she admitted.

      His head bent slightly, his face only inches away from her own. ‘That's because I don't intend to have you refuse me. I'm patient, I can wait for the right moment.’

      ‘And if there isn't one?’ she murmured.

      ‘Then I'll make one.’

      His dark head lowered slowly and his lips took possession of hers in a kiss of languorous passion, a deliberate onslaught to break down any barriers she might have against him. He needn't have worried, his charm had seduced her into submission long ago.

      But this was wrong! She had known this man only a matter of hours. And yet she couldn't hold back her response, couldn't deny the effect he was having on her, his mouth making slow leisurely love to her, his hands gently caressing her back.

      Finally she pulled away from him, her head dizzy with the emotions he had aroused in her, emotions that had lain dormant until his mouth had touched hers. This couldn't be happening to her, it must be his experience that was making her melt against him like this; people didn't fall in love so easily.

      She licked her lips, tasting the whisky Jake had been drinking earlier, her whole body shaking. ‘I——’ she cursed herself for letting her voice shake like this. ‘I want to go back inside,’ she said more strongly.

      ‘Why?’ he asked huskily, not releasing his hold on her.

      ‘I think you know why.’

      ‘Because I kissed you?’

      And because of her reaction to that kiss! ‘Well, I—Yes! I hardly know you,’ she added, as if that explained everything.

      ‘Mm, perhaps you're right.’ Jake moved away from her. ‘My mother always told me you should never kiss a girl on your first date.’ He smiled. ‘I never did listen to my mother.’

      Stacy smoothed down her skirt. ‘Then perhaps you should have done.’

      ‘Perhaps,’ but he didn't sound as if he should. ‘I'll take you back to the party now.’

      ‘I think I would rather go to my room.’

      ‘So would I,’ he agreed throatily.

      ‘Alone,’ she said sharply.

      ‘But of course. I promise to leave you at your door.’

      ‘I can find my own way,’ she refused.

      He took hold of her elbow. ‘I'm sure you can, but I've always believed in seeing a lady to her home—and as this place is temporarily your home …’

      ‘Oh, all right,’ she accepted with ill-grace.

      Jake grinned down at her as they walked back to the entrance. ‘I wish I could have seen your argument with Payne. I bet it was something to watch!’

      Stacy gave a wan smile. ‘He didn't seem to think so.’

      ‘So he told me. I believe you implied he was past it.’

      She blushed painfully as she remembered the rude things she had said to the director.

      ‘Something about us being past the age of the studio couch,’ he added teasingly.

      ‘Oh—oh yes,’ she blushed even more. ‘I—I lost my temper.’

      Jake laughed softly. ‘So I gathered.’ He picked up a strand of her glorious red hair. ‘So this hair really does denote the fiery nature reputed to go with it.’

      ‘In my case, yes,’ she admitted almost guiltily.