“How do you like working for the big guy?” Brad asked.
“He is...” Sexy, thrilling, exciting. A great kisser. Good with his hands. But she settled on, “Fun. It’s a whole new experience for me.”
His gaze dipped to the tattoo peeking from the collar of her shirt. “Did he encourage you to get the flowers?”
Did Brad disapprove? “No. That was all me.”
“How far does the vine go?” he asked, definitely not disapproving.
She pointed, mapping out the entire span, then changed the subject, asking questions about his life, and he answered without hesitation. Quite a difference from Jase, who seemed to guard his every word.
And yet, she still longed to be with Jase.
The thought caused her guilt to intensify. Here she was with a wonderful man. A man who checked off every box on her Made for Me list. He deserved a fair shot.
She smiled and allowed him to take over the conversation. He asked her about the best gift she’d ever received, the most thoughtful gift she’d ever given and the role model who’d had the biggest influence on her life. She suspected he’d gotten the questions from a dating website, and that, too, should have caused her heart to flutter. So adorable! So sweet! A guy who cared enough to try to impress her.
Though...she tried not to feel as if she was being interviewed for a job and answered as best she could: her happy childhood, a scrapbook she’d made for Jessie Kay, and her parents.
The waiter arrived with the check, and Brad snatched it up.
“Allow me to pay for my portion,” she said.
He appeared horrified by the thought. “Absolutely not.”
More guilt.
As they walked through the congested parking lot, she drew in a deep breath. The air lacked the sweet scents she was used to, and she experienced a pang of homesickness. Not just for home...but for Jase.
What was he doing right now?
“I had a really nice time tonight,” Brad said as they motored down the road.
“Me, too.” He would ask her out again, she sensed it. But...even though she’d had fun with him, she didn’t want more from him—and she never would. Her attraction to Jase had burned away all thoughts of other men. It was Jase’s mouth she craved on hers. Jase’s hands she desired on her body. Jase she longed to be with—in bed or out.
That wasn’t going to change.
Jessie Kay’s car was gone, which meant she wasn’t home. Brad parked in the driveway and walked her to her door. On the porch, she paused and faced him. Light flickered from the lamp, casting muted rays over them both.
“Well,” he said.
“Well,” she said.
A sudden gust of wind tousled and lifted several locks of her hair. Brad’s gaze dropped to her ears automatically.
“They light up,” he said, his tone conversational rather than surprised.
“Yes.” She righted her hair, suddenly self-conscious. Could no one ever pretend they weren’t there?
He leaned down as if he meant to kiss her, as she’d feared, but she backed away. “Good night, Brad.”
A flash of disappointment showed on his face before he nodded. “Good night, Brook Lynn.”
She stepped inside, closed the door and trudged to her bedroom—where she promptly screamed at the top of her lungs. But she went quiet as soon as she realized the reason for her scream—the strange man standing at the edge of her bed—was Jase.
She threw her purse at him, the heavy bag thumping against his chest. “Jerk! What are you doing here? Where’s your car?”
“You once broke into my room, so I thought it only fair that I break into yours. And my car is parked down the street.” His arms were crossed. “Why do you look so sad?”
“I think you mean scared.” I’m surprised my heart is still beating.
“No, I said what I meant. Sad.”
She didn’t want to discuss her ears right now. “Tell me why you’re here, Jase. The real reason. And it better be a good one.”
A moment ticked by in silence, tension growing between them.
“Did you kiss him at the door?”
The words were a rasp, lacking any type of emotion. But she went still, not daring to hope. Was he jealous? Would he finally admit it? “That’s not any of your business, Jase.”
“Oh, it’s my business all right, and I’ll show you why.” Eyes locked on her, he advanced.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
JASE BACKED BROOK LYNN into the door, but still he kept coming toward her until he’d pressed his body flush against hers, her breasts smashed into his chest. He’d been possessed by jealousy for hours, and his control had finally snapped.
Actually, the word jealousy did not accurately describe the frothing monster that had crawled and clawed through his mind.
Brook Lynn peered up at him with those wide baby blues, as if she couldn’t believe what was happening. “I think I’m mad at you,” she said, but she didn’t sound it. She was too breathless. She flattened her palms on his pecs in an effort to push him back and create distance. “So whatever you’re doing, you can just stop.”
He remained firmly in place. “Whatever I’m doing? Honey, I’m going crazy for you, that’s what the hell I’m doing. And if you think I haven’t been trying to stop, you’re crazy. I’ve been trying so damn hard, but I’ve only gotten worse.” As the night had progressed, the thought of her with Brad had made Jase foaming-at-the-mouth wild—like a dog with rabies.