Until Jake Page 5

  Jake stepped away from the foreman as she drew closer. He met her on the cobblestone pathway, his grin widening as he eyed her from head to toe.

  “You look damn sexy,” he said.

  She’d never considered her business suits sexy. Smart and sophisticated, yes. But sexy?

  Yet the twinkle in Jake’s electric-blue eyes told her he found her attractive. Sensual. Sexy.

  But Kate had made her decision and she’d stand her ground. Even when his gaze was so heated it could thaw Antarctica. His head bent to hers and he planted a soft kiss on her cheek. When he went for her lips, she took a step back, out of his reach.

  “We need to talk,” she said without preamble, though every fiber of her being desperately wanted to fall into his arms and give herself over to the riotous sensations he incited.

  Jake said, “Sure, babe. Let me wrap up things here. Can you take an early lunch? We can go someplace quiet and talk.” Though the shimmer in his eyes told her he had more in mind than just talking.

  For a moment, Kate forgot her convictions, forgot what it was that was holding her back from this relationship. Because no sane woman would pass up this kind of opportunity.

  No sane woman would toss this fish back into the sea.

  So, she wasn’t sane. She was borderline certifiable. Because Kate was too scared not to toss him back.

  “Look,” she said, suddenly feeling nervous and…something else. Something indefinable. She ignored the tension mounting within her, though, and continued on. “I won’t take up much of your time. I just wanted to thank you for the flowers. They’re stunning. Really. Like nothing I’ve ever seen before.” Extravagant beyond her wildest imagination, as a matter of fact.

  Jake smiled again. “I’m glad you like them. I have to confess, I had to get Janie to help pick them out. I told her they had to be extra special.”

  “Janie? As in…your sister? You told her about…?”

  “You,” he said with a nod. “Yes.”

  “Oh.” The word spilled from her lips on a rush of air. They’d parted company around ten o’clock last night, and he’d already told his sister about her? About them?

  Christ. Ken had always given her the runaround when it came to meeting his family. To the point that Kate had begun to think it’d be at the wedding when they were finally all introduced. If his parents had even intended to make it to the wedding.

  In the year she’d been with Ken, he hadn’t let her in nearly as far as Jake had in one weekend. Everything about her whirlwind relationship and too-quick engagement with Ken had been…fluff. Surface stuff that, in the grand scheme of things, really hadn’t meant jack.

  And she’d let him get away with holding her at arm’s length.

  Why?

  Shaking her head, because that was all moot, she gathered her thoughts and said, “Jake, I appreciate the flowers and the card. They’re very sweet. But I really…I just…I can’t do dinner tonight.”

  “Okay,” he said, still grinning. Oblivious to what she was getting at—that she was about to put the kibosh on this budding romance? “No worries. Let’s shoot for tomorrow night. Or Wednesday. Whatever works best for you.”

  Anxiety welled within her to compete with the increasing tension. Goddamn it, why’d he have to be so wonderful? It was really too bad she’d never get to meet his mother or his sisters, because Kate would like to personally thank them for having such a positive influence on him. For raising him to be such a gentleman. For helping him become a caring, thoughtful person.

  He doesn’t deserve what I’m about to do…

  And why was it that what she was about to do felt like a fate worse than death—worse than a date?

  The thoughts popped into her head and she knew, in her heart and to the depths of her soul, she never should have treated Jake like some young, hot piece of ass.

  But she had. And there was no way to make up for it except to be perfectly honest with him. Right now.

  That was what he deserved. Honesty. And a valid explanation.

  Hopefully, that would also help to assuage the guilt that was nearly choking her.

  So instead of lying and dragging this out further by saying this week didn’t work for dinner, she said, “I don’t think we should see each other again.”

  Jake chuckled. “Ah, the breakup song. I sensed that was coming when you were stomping your feet on the sidewalk. But, before you sing another note, let me just do this…” He hauled her up against him, wrapped his strong arms around her and kissed her.

  Really kissed her. In the sizzling way only Jake could.

  Kate was instantly swept away. Though she was vaguely aware of the whistles and applause coming from his workers.

  Her body sealed with his, of its own accord. Her heart betrayed her too, because it yearned for Jake.

  How on earth could she possibly give this up?

  What kind of fool would let something this precious slip through her fingers?

  Maggi had been spot-on. The good ones weren’t falling from the sky. Jake was a rare and special gem.

  And he wanted her.

  Her.

  He wasn’t afraid to show it, to prove it. In front of God and everyone.

  She tore her mouth from his as every fiber of her being latched onto that emotion she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in so very long.

  He stared down at her as she tried to breathe properly.

  In his low, intimate voice, Jake said, “Tell me why, Kate.”

  That was another thing she adored about him. He was astute and didn’t play games. Didn’t beat around the bush. About anything.

  Kate told him, “Broken heart. He was…an asshole.”

  There. She’d finally said it out loud. Ken Stoddard was an asshole of the highest order. And he hadn’t deserved her.

  A peculiar rush of relief from head to toe took Kate aback. Was that some sort of cleanse? That she’d finally accepted that she had deserved better than what she’d gotten?

  And wasn’t Jake worthy of a hell of a lot better than her closing the door on them because of some prick who’d ripped the rug from underneath her? When maybe all along she’d actually seen it coming?

  Ah…epiphanies. They struck at the damnedest times.

  Jake’s fingers grazed her cheek as he quietly insisted, “Kate, I’m not that guy.”

  He was right. So very, very right.

  As his hand cupped the side of her face, he told her, “I’m not going to hurt you. This past weekend you returned to me something that I’d lost…my personal life, the potential to be in a relationship and have a future with someone other than my computer and QuickBooks. I’ve been working twelve- to fourteen-hour days since I was eighteen, Kate. I haven’t had time for anything else. But this weekend…” His eyes were radiant in the sunlight as he stared down at her. “You showed me what it was like to share my time and my life with someone. I want that, Kate. You’re the only one who’s affected me in this way.” His expression turned imploring, his tone insistent. “I want you, Kate.”

  Tears welled in her eyes again and trickled down her cheeks, pooling around his thumb until he swiped them away.

  “Don’t cry,” he murmured as his lips brushed over hers. A whisper of a kiss that left her dying for more. “Trust me, Kate,” he urged. “Give me a chance.”

  She gazed up at him through misty eyes.

  The crazy thing about all of this was that she did trust Jake. And it didn’t make her certifiable. Because Kate knew in her heart that he truly was the real deal.

  Definitely a keeper.

  “Dinner,” he said with another easy grin. “Tonight. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  She didn’t think she could wait that long to see him.

  “My mom’s house, with the twins. What do you say, Kate? Come meet my family? Let me introduce them to the first and only woman to steal my heart?”

  More tears flowed, but she managed a nod.

  “Alright, then. No more crying.” H
e whisked away the thin streams on her cheeks. “It’ll be great, Kate. You’ll see.”

  Because of Jake, she found the strength and the inner courage to believe in him.

  He was just that amazing.

  “Seven o’clock,” she reiterated. “I’ll be ready.”

  Jake swooped in for another heated kiss. Then told her, “You won’t regret this. I promise.”

  Kate no longer had a single argument. All he had to do was kiss her, look deep into her eyes, touch her, and suddenly she just…knew.

  This time, she’d gotten it right.

  ABOUT AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR CALISTA FOX

  Calista is a former PR professional, now writing fast-paced, steamy books to set your pulse racing! Her publishing houses include St. Martin’s Press, Grand Central Publishing and Harlequin. Her debut SMP trilogy opens with BURNED DEEP and concludes with a new book four, starring the trilogy’s secondary hero! She is an Amazon bestseller and has won many Reviewer’s and Reader’s Choice Awards, as well as Best Book Awards and other competitions with publication as first prize. Calista is a college graduate and teaches online writing classes. She is also a Past President/Advisor of the Phoenix chapter of the Romance Writers of America national organization. Visit her at: www.calistafox.com, www.facebook.com/calistafox and www.twitter.com/calistafoxbooks.

  FROM CALISTA FOX

  BURNED DEEP TRILOGY

  (Published by St. Martin’s Press)

  BURNED DEEP

  5 Stars from Affaire de Coeur Magazine—“…This reviewer seldom gives a full five stars, but this one deserves it.”

  4.5 Stars & Reviewer Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews—“I fell in love with this book from the very first chapter. I was completely sad to see it end but loved the way it ended … I cannot wait until the next book in this series comes out...” M Whelehan

  4 Stars from Romantic Times Book Reviews—“Fox's new trilogy starts off with a bang… Fox paints an impressive picture of two individuals struggling to be honest with themselves and each other in the face of danger.” Donna M. Brown

  FLASH BURNED

  "Combines pulse-pounding danger and passionate love...tantalizing." – Publishers Weekly

  5 Stars from CM Reviewers—“…second book in the trilogy… I was torn between “Yay! There’s another book coming.” and “Boo! There’s only one more book.” Upon finishing Flash Burned, I’m still not sure which way I’m leaning because this installment was an action-packed thrill-ride and as much as I want to find out how it all ends, I don’t want it to end.” Angela

  4.5 Stars & Reviewer Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews—“…This book was as amazing as the first…” M Whelehan

  BURNED HEARTS

  (Coming October 4, 2016)

  OBSESSED

  (Coming November 2016)

  LEAVE YOUR SHOES ON SERIES

  (Published by Grand Central Publishing)

  WHAT LOLA WANTS

  SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS

  Lola Vonn isn’t sure exactly when it happened, but sometime between ages seven and twentysomething, her best friend, Alex, got hot. Really hot. He’s hotter than the blazing Arizona sun—and definitely hotter than the nerdy-cute mathlete she grew up with. And, when she needs to crash at his apartment while looking for a place of her own, Alex becomes a temptation she can’t resist. But while unbuttoning Alex’s buttoned-up self is scorchingly fun, wild child Lola fears risking the best friend she’s ever had on a fling.

  HE KNOWS WHAT SHE NEEDS

  Alex Reed has wanted Lola since they were teenagers and now that she’s parading around his condo in sexy stilettos and short nighties, he can’t stop the more-than-just-friends fantasies he has every time he looks at his new curvy blonde roommate. Luckily he’s no longer the painfully dorky teenager he once was—and it’s high time he showed Lola that he’s the man for her.

  WHAT MAXI NEEDS

  SHE’S THE BOSS

  Maxi Shayne needs to be on her toes as the new vice president of operations for Staci Kay Shoes. With a production crisis looming, she can’t afford distractions—but every tall, chiseled, dangerously handsome inch of Ryan Donovan is exactly that. What’s worse, the gorgeous Aussie is a numbers nerd hired to get the company back on track and Maxi is his new boss. Which means no matter how wildly tempted she is, he’s strictly off-limits.

  BUT HE’S READY TO BE ON TOP

  Ryan hadn’t factored blue eyes, long legs, and a sexy smile into his equations for success, but after meeting Maxi, he’s definitely ready to recalculate. Keeping his mind on business isn’t easy though, because whenever she’s near, all he can think about is what else she’s got going on above her six-inch black stilettos. Before he can get the job done, Ryan will have to convince Maxi that the office doesn’t have to be all work and no play . . .

  WHEN STACI TAKES CHARGE

  SHE’S DESPERATELY SEEKING THE SEXY PODIATRIC SURGEON

  WHO SET HER ON FIRE

  Powerful CEO Staci Kay has been working like crazy for so long that she's forgotten what it means to play. After her company's launch of an important new shoe line, a sizzling encounter with an irresistibly hot guy is just the stress reliever she needs. But when he's gone the next morning, she realizes she can't forget him–or the way he made her feel.

  HE’S FINDING HER TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST

  Dr. Evan Hart isn't a one-night-stand kind of guy. But the gorgeous redhead with the seductive curves is a temptation he doesn't regret—until she calls his office to schedule an appointment. Even as he wonders how she found him, Evan can't deny he wants a lot more than just another night in her bed. Now with his heart on the line, Evan has to put his best foot forward and convince Staci that he's the perfect fit . . .

  www.calistafox.com

  www.facebook.com/calistafox

  www.twitter.com/calistafoxbooks