Body Rush (26 page)

He smiled finally and Jeanette stood there, just basking in the glow. His smooth, deep voice caressed all her erogenous zones. Too late she realized she hadn’t moved to place his order.

“I-I’ll just go get your coffee.”

“Hurry back,” he murmured.

It took every ounce of her meager self-control not to fall into his lap and beg him to take her right there in the middle of The Coffee House.

Watching the coffee shop owner walk had become one of Hunter’s favorite pastimes. Her jean skirt and loose-fitting yellow blouse couldn’t even begin to be sexy, but Jeanette had curves, enough that she bounced a little when she moved. It mattered little what she wore, Hunter still loved watching that teasing jiggle.

Not for the first time, he imagined her naked, her ass raised up for him to pet and fuck. He couldn’t understand his fascination with the pretty brunette. She avoided him like the plague and he still came back for more.

When she moved behind the counter to get his coffee, he sat back and smiled. She’d been trying to foist him off on one of her employees, but he wouldn’t have it. It was time they finally met. Time he made his move. As she poured his usual decaf into a mug, he nearly groaned though. Damn, he liked coffee, but he sure as hell didn’t love it. He’d had more coffee in the last six months than his entire life.

Jeanette picked up the steaming cup and came toward him. She blushed a little when she noticed him staring. Yeah, he liked coffee, but he didn’t have a craving for it the way he did one elusive brunette.

She placed a napkin on the table and the mug on top of it. “Was there anything else I can get for you?”

What a loaded question. Fuck, if she only had a clue what he wanted from her she’d run screaming. Hunter made a point to look around the near-empty café before saying, “How about some company? You don’t appear too busy at the moment.”

The pink in her cheeks turned a deeper shade. Hunter had a sudden urge to stroke her. With his tongue. He ached to find out for himself if her skin was as deliciously soft as it appeared. He squelched the need and forced himself to relax back against the seat.

“I am sorry, but I do have to get back to work.” She smiled and played with the hem of her blouse. “Running this place keeps me hopping.”

“I can understand, but surely you can spare a few minutes for a paying customer.” He winked, hoping he didn’t sound pushy. He had a feeling if he used too much force, the shy coffee shop owner would run in the opposite direction. That wasn’t at all what he wanted.

Jeanette bit her lower lip and stared at him a few seconds. When she frowned, Hunter wondered how long it’d been since a man had taken the time to flirt with the woman. Finally the frown disappeared, leaving a brilliant smile in its wake. Hunter knew if he could bask in that smile for a few hours he’d feel like he could conquer the world.

“I can take a few minutes, I suppose.” As she slid a chair out and sat, Hunter wanted to shout in triumph.

“So, how long have you had this place?” Not that he cared much. He just wanted to hear her talk some more. She had a soft, husky voice. A bedroom voice. He wanted to hear that voice shouting his name as he licked her to climax.

Jeanette crossed her legs and adjusted her skirt, the ponytail in her hair bobbing a little with each move she made. “For a year and a half. Most people hate their jobs, but I’m lucky enough to do something I love.”

“You run a good business. In the few months I’ve been coming in I’ve noticed an increase in customers.”

“Thanks. I know coffee shops are a dime a dozen, but it’s my hope that when you mix quality with friendly service word gets around.”

He pointed at the large menu hanging behind the counter. “I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never eaten here. Guess I’m not big on Danishes.”

“Ah, but I do more than Danishes. In fact you really should try my double-chocolate brownies. You’ll change your mind.”

He chuckled. “Not that you’re bragging or anything, right?”

Her chin lifted. “It’s not bragging if it’s the truth.”

Hunter folded his hands on the table and leaned forward. “I don’t know. Brownies don’t do much for me.”

“Double-chocolate,” she stated, as if he hadn’t heard her correctly the first time. “Everyone loves double-chocolate.”

“How about I come back at closing time?” He let his voice drop to a whisper. “You can show me what I’ve been missing.”

Her gaze drifted to his lips and stayed there. “You’re hitting on me,” she murmured. Her tongue swiped at her lower lip and Hunter’s cock flexed in his jeans.

Mmm, lick it, baby.
“Yeah, I am,” he growled.

“I-I don’t even know you.”

Hunter noticed her stutter. She’d done the same thing when she’d introduced herself. The telltale sign of nerves. He thought it adorable as hell. He also thought her hard nipples pushing against the flimsy blouse were adorable. Damn, he wanted to eat her up.

“We can fix that little dilemma tonight.” A really shitty thought struck. “Unless you have a date?”

She shook her head. “I’m not seeing anyone right now.”

Thank God. “Me either.” He wrapped his hands around the warm coffee mug and lifted it to his lips. While he drank, Jeanette sat quietly and watched. He liked the way her eyes went drowsy as he sipped the hot liquid. Licking his lips, Hunter lowered the mug and asked, “So, are you going to educate me on the magnificent aspects of double-chocolate brownies or am I doomed to forever be in the dark?”

She tapped her fingers on the tabletop. “You know, you could just order one now.”

“And miss the tutorial?” He shook his head and grinned. “No way, sweetheart.”

“I really shouldn’t,” she whispered.

Hunter reached across the table and touched the back of her knuckles with his index finger. He couldn’t help himself, he had to know if her skin was as satiny as he’d imagined. Unfortunately, he only managed a single stroke before she jerked her hand away.

“You’re pretty bold, Mr. Trace.”

He laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve been coming here for six months, Jeanette. If I were bold I would’ve asked you out that first morning I came in and saw you trying to fill in for that waitress who quit with no notice.”

“Renee,” she stated, clearly bemused. “How did you know about that?”

“I’m observant. I tend to notice things others don’t.” Hunter didn’t want to talk about himself, he wanted to get to know her. If she had half her mind on work, she would never relax enough to let him in. “Now, about that brownie.” Hunter let the statement hang in the air between them, content to let her decide in her own time. It wouldn’t be any good if she only agreed because she’d felt coerced.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt.”

Her answer, so quietly spoken, had his blood running hot. As she stood, Hunter did the same. “When should I be here?”

“Closing time is eight thirty. I’ll have some things to finish up, but if you don’t mind waiting you can come then.”

Hunter pulled out his wallet and prepared to pay for the coffee. “No problem. I can admire the view while I wait.”

“View?”

He handed her a few bills, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, “You, sweetheart.”

“Oh,” she breathed out.

As Hunter walked away, leaving her standing in the middle of the café, three more customers came in. When he glanced back, he noticed Jeanette hadn’t moved to greet them. One of her waitresses ran over to her, drawing her attention. The primitive beast in Hunter wanted to sweep her into his arms and take her to the backroom. He could kiss those full, pouty lips and slide the buttons on her blouse free of their holes, then suck on her erect nipples. Give them both something to think about while they were at work the rest of the day.

Instead Hunter never broke stride until he reached his motorcycle. As he slung one leg over the seat and slid onto the soft black leather, he groaned at the erection pumping hard behind the fly of his jeans. Strapping the helmet on, Hunter allowed his mind to pull up an image of Jeanette’s pretty brown eyes so full of wonder and desire. She had the look of a woman on the verge of discovering her own passion. As if she were ready to embrace that side of herself she’d kept hidden from the world. Maybe she simply needed the right person to aid her in her little erotic journey. Hunter vowed to be that man. Her sweet innocence had lured him, but what would she be like once he moved past that layer, when he reached the sensual woman beneath? He had a sneaking suspicion she’d surprise the hell out of them both.

2

J
eanette dropped another mug and cursed. Thankfully this one didn’t break.

“That’s the third time you’ve done that. What the hell’s up with you today?”

Dean, her busboy-slash-dishwasher-slash-gopher, wasn’t one to mince words. Still, Jeanette wasn’t about to tell the nineteen-year-old college student that she had a crush on one Hunter Trace.

“I’ve just had a lot on my mind.” She paused, then added, “And you shouldn’t cuss.”

“I’m a big boy now,
Mom
.”

His sarcasm had her grinning. “You still shouldn’t cuss.”

He flicked water at her and winked. Jeanette swiped her hand down her blouse and pointed her finger at Dean’s chest. “You get water all over my blouse and there will be consequences.”

“You always work too hard, Jeanette,” he said, his voice suddenly soft with concern. “Why not let me handle the rest of these. Isn’t that why you pay me?”

Jeanette rolled her eyes at the familiar argument. Dean was a steady worker, but she knew the job she’d foisted on him was too much for one person. Not for the first time she wished she could hire more help. It just wasn’t in the budget. Yet, she reminded herself.

“I’m not leaving you in the lurch, Dean, so forget it.”

“Fine, but if you drop another mug, I’m telling the owner.”

She pretended to shiver in fear. “Ooh, I heard she’s a real witch.”

“She can be a pretty tough cookie. Trust me, you don’t want to mess with her.”

“I’ll try and be more careful then.” She winked. “Thanks for the warning.”

“No problem.”

They went back to rinsing off the dishes and adding them to the others in the dishwasher. After the last dish was placed on the rack, Dean poured the soap in the well and shoved the door shut. Jeanette dried her hands on a dishtowel and glanced at her watch—for the thousandth time. Ten minutes. Hunter would be there in ten minutes. Oh God, what if he didn’t show? Even more frightening, what if he did?

“Are you distracted because of that motorcycle dude you had coffee with this morning?”

Jeanette jerked her head up to see Dean watching her intently. “What did you say?”

“Cory said you had coffee with some hottie this morning. She was going all gaga over the guy.”

Jeanette glared at him. “I didn’t have coffee with him.”

Dean arched a brow at her. “So there wasn’t a motorcycle dude in here this morning?”

Jeanette blushed. Damn, did everyone have to know her business? “Well, yes, but I didn’t exactly have coffee with him.”

“Then what exactly did you do?”

Dean’s attitude pricked her temper. He tended to do the big-brother thing with her way too much, even though she was the older of the two and he wasn’t even her brother. “That’s none of your business. And Cory shouldn’t be gossiping.”

Dean shrugged and leaned against the counter. “Cory always gossips, but I’ve never known you to flirt with a customer.”

Damn, had she been that obvious? “Who said anything about flirting?”

Dean picked up a dishtowel and started twirling it around. “All I know is what Cory told me. She said you were flirting with this motorcycle dude and he was hitting on you big time.”

Jeanette’s body heated at the memory. Who knew mousy Jeanette could gain the attention of a man like Hunter? She still wondered if he’d been playing her. If he didn’t show tonight, she’d have her answer. She sent up a quick prayer that he’d show.

Dean flicked the towel at her. It grazed her hip and the slight sting caused her to jump back. “Stop that or I’m taking back that raise I gave you last month.”

“You went all glassy-eyed for a second there. I was just trying to get you back on the conversation.”

“This conversation is over.” Jeanette turned and started toward the office.

Dean jogged up beside her. “So, did you two set up a date or something?”

Jeanette swiped at her brown hair and sighed. “You’re way too preoccupied by my social calendar. Go home and call that co-ed you were going on and on about last night.”

Dean moved in front of her and pushed her office door open, then waited for her to enter before he shuffled in behind her. “Turns out she has a boyfriend. Besides I’ve got my eyes on someone else.”

Jeanette moved around her desk and sat in the old, worn-out brown leather chair. She resisted the urge to pull her purse out of the bottom drawer and use the little mirror she kept tucked inside to check her makeup. It’d been a long day, her ponytail was probably a wreck and she’d probably sweated most of her makeup off hours ago.

Dean plopped into the chair across from her and stretched out his long, lean legs. “So, give it up. Are you going out with the dude or what?”

“If it will get you to go home, yes. He’s coming here tonight.”

Dean sat up and leaned forward, his interest obviously piqued. “Damn, really? When?”

Jeanette checked her watch again. “He should be here”—the chimes on the front door jangled, signaling a new arrival—“now.” She’d left the front door unlatched for him, otherwise she’d have locked up after the last customer.

Dean shot out of his seat and went to the office door. Before she could blink, he’d already made his way halfway across the kitchen. Jeanette sprinted after him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I want to meet him.”

His arrogant tone grated on her nerves. “You have no business meeting my dates, Dean. This is going too far.”

“I just want to see if he’s as fabulous as Cory says he is.”

Before she could protest further, he’d pushed through the doors leading to the dining area. Jeanette took a deep breath and followed. She spotted Hunter sitting on a stool at the counter. When he looked up and noticed her striding toward him, his lips kicked up at one corner. It was the sexiest grin she’d ever seen. As Dean moved up next to her, Hunter’s smile disappeared.