More Than One Night (14 page)

Her lashes drifted shut and her head fell back. His lips trailed down her neck and down until they found the top of her breasts. She arched into his mouth. The seducer had become the seduced. His mouth drew her nipple deep into his mouth, causing her knees to quake.

How could he do this to her so easily? Turn her into a quivering mass of need and want? Her robe slipped from her shoulders onto the floor. Heat flooded her pussy. Heck, her entire being was on fire, from the top of her head to her toes. He did this to her, made her go up in flames.

“I want you,” she whispered, her fingers stroking his back. “I want to make love with you.”

Jake lifted his head and his sexy grin made her heart flutter. Then he swung her into his arms and strode into the bedroom.

Three hours later and totally sated, Beth lay with her head on Jake’s chest. A loud rumbling sound made her laugh.

“I guess I better feed you,” she said, tilting her head up.

A lazy smile played around his lips. “That’s a good idea.” His fingers trailed down her spine before cupping her ass.

“I was talking about food.” She kissed his chin before rolling away from him.

“Food?” His stomach rumbled again. Glancing back over her shoulder, she let her lashes fall to half mast, giving him a shy glance.

“Damn it, woman.” A moan left his lips when the sheet tented at his groin. He scooted across the bed.

“First one dressed, wins.” She danced away, reaching for her clothing.

“And what will I win?”

“Who says you’re going to win?” She slipped on her panties, trying to find her bra.

“I always win.” Strong arms encircled her waist, and she was turned in strong arms and thoroughly kissed.

It took her precious minutes to recover from his devastating kiss. Jake grinned at her as he tugged on his jeans, sans briefs.

“You cheated.” She dragged on her jeans, still looking for her bra.

“I used your distraction to my advantage.” He tweaked her nipple.

“Stop that.” She slapped at his hand. “Or we’ll never get out of this bedroom.”

He paused in the middle of slipping his shirt on. “I wouldn’t mind spending the next few years in bed with you.”

Her knees almost buckled, she gaze at him and noticed the twinkle in his green eyes. He was trying to slow her down and damn if he wasn’t doing a good job of it.

Grabbing her shirt, she slipped it on without a bra, ignoring the way her nipples pressed against the fabric. “Since you cheated, I win. And I am hungry.”

“Well, breakfast will be cold. Why don’t we pack up and head up the coast? I know a great place we can get lunch.”

She glanced at the clock. “It’s after one. I’m surprised the hotel staff hasn’t kicked us out.”

“I asked for a late check out.” He took her hands in his. “Maybe I could call them and ask for a late, late, late checkout and we can go back to bed.”

Temptation rose in her to say, yes, let’s. But she knew they couldn’t. Yet, she couldn’t find her voice.

“But you’re right.” He brushed his lips over hers. “I can see it in your eyes. The sooner we get away from this bed, the better. Besides, I know of other beds we can use.”

Releasing her hands, Jake began packing and it took Beth a few moments to gather her thoughts and begin her packing. She didn’t know where things were going to go from here, but she wouldn’t regret a second of this weekend. No, it was too precious to her.

****

After a late lunch on the coast, they were on their way back to the city. Jake glanced over at Beth and his gut clenched. Her hair was blowing in the wind, a small smile curving her kissable lips, and he couldn’t let her go.

The last twenty-four hours had changed his life. She’d touched him in ways no other woman had. Her innocent delight in Carmel showed him how different she really was. She was happy to stroll around and window shop. Other women in his life would’ve demanded a five star restaurant for dinner, while Beth was more than happy with a picnic on the beach. Beth enjoyed the simple life and didn’t need the fancy stuff to make her life complete. But he so wanted to pamper her, to show her how much she deserves the little special things in life, and to spoil her rotten.

Beth was a woman he could spend the rest of his life with. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel. Would she walk out of his life today? He hoped not. She’d enjoyed herself this weekend, in and out of bed. He’d shown her there was more to their relationship than sex.

Yet, at times, she became remote, almost lost in her thoughts. He vowed to give her time. Time would help him win her heart, because she captured his. And for some reason, he wasn’t panicking over the thought of settling down. He wanted to be with her, he wanted to have a family with her, a woman who had good wholesome values.

But he had to get past the wall she’d built up around her heart and show her he wasn’t such a bad guy. He glanced over at her to see her staring out the window. He wanted to know what was going on in that brain of hers, because she was a little too quiet.

Beth stared out the window, thinking. Rosie was in her lap since Jake put the top up for the ride home. Jake had been quiet since they ate lunch. His quietness made her feel…well disappointed. The fantasy was over. It had been good while it lasted, but now it was time to get back to reality. Depression hit her, but what did she expect, his dying declaration of love?

Hell, she’d run the other way if he did that. No, it was better this way. She knew how the games were played. He’d shower her with gifts, flirt with her and make love to her until he became bored and moved on. Now was the time to let go, before she lost her heart, because he would already always hold a piece of it.

Jake pulled up in front of her apartment and sadness hit Beth. Well this was it. He opened the trunk and pulled out her bag. “I can carry it up.” She held her hand out.

“A gentleman always sees his lady to the door.”

Beth silently cursed the pounding of her heart at the words
his lady.
She climbed the stairs and opened the door, then leaned over and released Rosie from her leash. The bundle of fur ran into the apartment.

Jake nudged her back until she stepped into her apartment. He set her bag on the floor before pulling her into his arms.

“I’ll call.” His lips descended.

Her mouth opened to the pressure of his. Tongues tangled and her pussy twitched. Jake lifted his head. “I miss you already,” he said, before releasing her and jogging down the stairs to his car.

Beth watched him pull away knowing her life would never be the same.

****

“Time to tell Carla about your weekend,” said Carla, strolling behind the bar Monday night.

Beth rolled her eyes heavenward. “What do you want me to say?” Jake had dropped her off on Sunday, she insisted she didn’t need help getting up the stairs to her apartment, but he hadn’t listened.

He carried her bag and Rosie’s stuff into her apartment, then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, long and hard. Then he told her he’d be in touch. Her insides melted when she thought about that last kiss.

It was hot, sexy and possessive. But she hadn’t heard a word from Jake since. Okay, it had been only twenty-four hours, but every nerve in her body cried out for his touch.

“I want to know everything.” Carla’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“We drove to Carmel, we stayed at the Carmel Valley Resort.” Automatically she stacked glasses and then began to take inventory behind the bar.

“I’ve heard great things about that place. So did you two spend all your time in bed?”

“No, we didn’t.” Only about half of it, and her body still echoed with Jake loving her. “We strolled around Carmel and window shopped, all the places were very good with us having Rosie with us.”

“So how many times did you orgasm? Eight, ten, twenty?”

“Carla!” Her cheeks turned hot.

“Oh come on. Don’t I tell you everything? It’s been so boring around here without you.”

“Sorry you’ve been bored, but my sex life isn’t up for discussion.” Inventory done, she wrote on the pad what they needed, then she reached for the bar towel. The bar could use another good polish.

“Of course it is. We’ve discussed my sex life enough over the last few months. It’s your turn, no chickening out. Are you going to continue to date Jake?”

Beth loved her friend, but sometimes she wished for some privacy. “If he asks me out again, then yes.” She scrubbed at a non-existent spot. “At least for now.”

“What do you mean for now?”

“You know how men are.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Once they get bored they’ll move on to another woman.”

“Honey, you’re anything but boring.”

“He’ll leave just like every other man in my life.”

“But he could be the one.” Carla was every optimistic. “While some guys walk away, not all of them do. I kissed a lot of frogs before I found my Tony. Don’t write Jake off so soon.”

“You’re the lucky one who found Mr. Right. Most of us end up watching men move on to the next pretty face, like a bee moving from flower to flower.”

“Cynic.”

“Realistic,” Beth shot back. “I’ll enjoy the time I have with Jake, but I will be prepared when he does leave. I won’t cry for days on end and eat entire cartons of chocolate chip ice cream. I’ll date him, but I won’t let him into my heart.”

“Is he good in bed?”

“The best.” She clamped her hand over her mouth. “I can’t believe I answered that. You tricked me.”

“How else am I going to find anything out? If you’re good together in bed, why already planning the break up?”

“Enough.” Shifting from one foot to the other, Beth faced her friend.

“I’m your best friend.”

“I need a vodka tonic, and a seven and seven,” said Mario, one of the waiters, as he approached the bar.

“You got it.” She stared at her friend. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

“I get the message, but we will talk about this later. And don’t be surprised when Jake shows up tonight.”

“He won’t.”

“He will, I know a smitten man when I see one.” With that parting shot, Carla strode out from behind the bar and back to the hostess desk.

With a shake of her head, Beth made Mario his drinks, then made a notation on her list. Carla was a romantic and unrealistic. Jake wouldn’t be showing up anytime soon.

The night moved quickly. Glancing at her watch, Beth was happy to see it was eleven. She was almost done and then she could go home and relax. Her nerves were shot because she kept an eye out all night for Jake.

Footsteps on the hardwood floor caught her attention. “I’m almost done, Angelo, then you can lock up.”

“Then my timing is perfect.”

Her head jerked up. “Jake.” She blinked, making sure she wasn’t imagining him being there. God, he looked delicious. His dark hair ruffled by the wind, a wide grin on his face and those eyes twinkling with mischief. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”

“Angelo told me you were still here.”

“Oh.” She didn’t know what to think, but her heart was pounding and a fire began building within her, and Jake was the only one who could put out the flames or fan them even more.

“What do you have left to do?”

“Put the glasses away.” She gestured to the plastic glass holders. “And wipe down the bar.”

“I’ll take care of the glasses, you wipe.” He slipped off his sports jacket, laid it over a stool, and then rolled up his sleeves.

“You don’t have to help.” She didn’t expect him too, either. None of the men in her life had ever raised a hand to help her or her mother.

“I know.” He strode around the bar. “But I want to.” He dropped a kiss against her slack lips and turned to the stack of glasses.

Beth stood frozen in place before her brain started working again. Picking up the towel, she began wiping down the bar. The sooner they were done, the sooner they could get out of there.

“How was work today?” she asked, trying to fill the silence.

“Tiring, filled with conference calls and meetings. I never made it down to the lab to see how they’re doing on the new game.”

“So no playing games today.” She couldn’t help but smile, the little boy inside Jake missed his play time.

“Nope, but there’s always tomorrow.”

Within fifteen minutes they were done. “Angelo, I’m getting ready to leave,” she called out.

Angelo walked out of the kitchen. “Okay, I’ll start locking up.” He glanced at Jake. “And since Jake is here, I won’t worry about you getting home safely.”

Beth rolled her eyes. Angelo insisted on walking her home after her night shift. It didn’t matter that she lived right upstairs. She took her apron off and started for the back room.

“Don’t forget to come in early tomorrow,” called Angelo. “Pietro still hasn’t found anyone to fill the day shift.”

“I’ll be here at eleven.” Throwing the apron in the basket, she grabbed her jacket. Jake had his jacket over his arm, and cupped her elbow as they left by the front door.

“Day shift?” asked Jake.

“Yeah, the day bartender didn’t show up today and left us high and dry without a replacement.” She stifled a yawn.

“If you’re too tired, I could go home.”

“I’m fine.” They were already at the stairs to her apartment, since it was only steps from the restaurant and her stomach clenched with apprehension. Her apartment was small and her bed smaller yet.

“I’ve missed you.” His hands framed her waist.

Warmth spread through her body and she laid her head against his shoulder. No matter what she said to Carla earlier, Jake was already in her heart. But she was going to enjoy their time together, regardless if it lasted a week or a year. This first step for her was going to be a doozy.

“Why don’t we go get Rosie and go back to your place?” She held her breath.

“We can stay at your place,” he countered. “Especially since it’s just up these stairs.”

“My bed is too small. We can’t play as much.”

“And mine is big.” His grin lit up the night.

“Very big.” She let her lips caress his chin. “And I want to play.”

“Now there’s an offer I won’t refuse.”

****

By Friday night, Beth was exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to climb the stairs to her little apartment and fall into bed. The bar was busy and she hadn’t had a second to herself.