Body Rush (27 page)

“Am I interrupting something?”

His deep baritone gave her goose bumps. “Hunter, I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” She glared at Dean. “Dean is an employee. He was just leaving.”

To her surprise, Dean held out his hand. Hunter took it and the two men seemed to have a silent exchange. “Pleased to meet you, Hunter,” Dean said as he released the much larger man and stepped back.

“Same here.” Hunter glanced at her and winked. “Your boss promised to give me a few lessons tonight.”

Dean shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Lessons?”

Jeanette spoke up, knowing Dean’s mind had gone straight to the gutter. “He made the mistake of telling me he doesn’t care for brownies. I aim to change his mind.”

Dean licked his lips. “You’re in for a treat then. Jeanette’s brownies are out of this world. They aren’t even brownies. They’re like a slice of heaven or something.”

Hunter laughed. The sound seemed to travel straight to her clit. Good lord, she was getting turned on and they hadn’t even done anything. What if he went home after the brownie? She’d never be able to sleep for thinking of the delicious man.

“Well, I’m not convinced,” Hunter said as his intense gaze traveled over her body. “I’m going to need proof.”

“And on that note, I’m out of here.” Dean turned to her. “I’m only a phone call away if you need anything, okay?”

Jeanette rolled her eyes at his proprietary tone. “Okay,
Dad
,” she said, remembering the way he’d called her “mom” earlier.

Dean flicked her nose. “Don’t make me ground you, young lady.”

She laughed and shooed him away. “Get. You have homework to do, I’m sure.” When he only stood there staring at her, she gentled her tone. “I’ll be fine, Dean.”

Dean glanced once more at Hunter, his gaze lingering for a moment, then he nodded and headed toward the swinging kitchen doors. When he disappeared through them she shook her head. Such a good kid. He’d make some lucky woman a fine husband one day.

“He’s protective of you.”

Hunter’s words drew her back around. He watched her in that quiet, predatory way. Like a man looked at a woman he wanted to sleep with. It both heated her blood and terrified her. She didn’t know how to deal with a man like Hunter. Her previous lovers had been the mild-mannered,
let’s make love in the dark
types. She had a feeling Hunter would insist on having the light on. A series of images zipped through her mind. Hunter naked. Hunter spread out on her bed, ready to be pleasured by her.

Forcing a stop to the mini X-rated movie, Jeanette said, “Dean’s a good kid. I think he sees me as this passive older lady who needs to be handled with kid gloves.”

Hunter stood and came toward her. “And are you?”

Jeanette smoothed her hand down her blouse in an attempt to give her hands something to do. She wished she were bold enough to place them on Hunter’s chest instead. Yeah, right.

“Passive? Yes, I suppose I am. I’m not quick to temper and I’d much rather logically work through a situation and find a solution than let my anger get the best of me. But I’m tougher than I look. I don’t need to be coddled.”

He cupped her cheek and leaned forward. “I can see how a man would feel the need to pamper you though. Would it surprise you to know that I’m extremely attracted to you, Jeanette?”

Could it be true or was she about to wake up from a really good dream? His warm, rough palm felt very real to her though. If she were dreaming she hoped she’d forgotten to set the alarm. “You are?”

“Yes. Very much.”

“I-I’m attracted to you too.” Damn, she hated when she stuttered. She took a second to calm her jumpy nerves before admitting, “I have been for quite a while.”

“That’s good, baby,” he growled. “But I need to warn you, I’m not very good at moving slow. You’ll have to tell me if I’m going too fast. Can you do that?”

His fingers had begun to stroke and Jeanette knew without a doubt she wanted that stroke farther south. “I can do that,” she whispered, her voice hoarse with desire.

“Mmm, good girl.” He dropped his hand and stepped back.

Jeanette ached to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. Just once she wished she were more like Roni. Self-confident, smart, comfortable around the opposite sex. For whatever reason God hadn’t seen fit to give her those particular qualities.

Hunter took her hand in his and entwined their fingers, then turned in the direction of the kitchen. “Now, how about you give me that brownie you promised. I’ve been dying for a taste all day.”

Jeanette smiled. Ah, food, an area she knew well. “I guarantee you’re going to love it.”

Hunter brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her knuckles. “I’m a very lucky man.”

“You are? Why?”

“A lovely woman who enjoys baking. Men have gone to war to possess such a creature.”

Jeanette wanted to laugh off the outrageous compliment, but how long had it been since a man had taken the time to flirt with her? She had Hunter’s full attention tonight and she intended to do everything in her power to keep it.

3

H
unter whistled low as he entered the kitchen and took in the gleaming stainless steel surfaces.

“What?”

“The health inspector must love you, huh?” Every counter shone, the white tile floor was spotless and everything seemed to be tucked away as neat as a pin. It was clear she took pride in her work. Hunter understood that quality well. His respect for her grew.

She turned to pull a plate out from a cupboard. “I admit, they never have much to say when they’re here.”

When she pointed to a little rickety table situated along one wall, Hunter said, “I thought you had some work to finish up. Don’t let me interrupt. I can wait.”

Jeanette went to a large refrigerator and brought out a can of whipped cream. Hunter had ideas for that whipped cream, and not one of them included a brownie.

Jeanette flipped her long ponytail behind her shoulder. “It’s okay, I finished early.”

“Good, I have your full attention then.” She nodded and quickly looked back at the brownie, as if his words embarrassed her. Damn, he’d never seen a woman so timid around men. Still, he liked knowing he’d have her all to himself for the rest of the evening. Maybe he could get her over some of the skittish behavior.

Hunter sat in one of the metal chairs. It wobbled a little and he stiffened. “Uh, is this thing going to hold me?”

Jeanette turned, a frown marring her brow. “I hope so.”

He chuckled. “Not very reassuring.”

She pointed the knife she’d grabbed out of a drawer in his direction. “If it breaks, are you going to sue me?”

He eyed the knife carefully, then took in the teasing gleam in her eyes. She was playing with him, getting comfortable in his presence. A surge of male pride shot through him at the notion that maybe he was seeing a side to the pretty brunette other men weren’t privy to. Maybe he was deluding himself, but Jeanette didn’t strike him as the type to play with just any man.

Remembering her question, Hunter murmured, “I wouldn’t dream of suing you, sweetheart. Money isn’t what I want from you anyway.”

Jeanette bit her lip as her gaze traveled over his torso. “Uh, okay.”

As she went back to cutting a slice of the double-chocolate brownie, Hunter noticed there weren’t two plates on the counter, only one. “Aren’t you eating?”

“No, I’m really not hungry.”

Not an option, he thought to himself. He wanted to watch her lick the whipped cream and nibble on the chocolate treat. No way would he be denied that erotic show. “I’m not eating alone,” he stated.

Jeanette took out a spoon and brought the chocolaty treat to the table. “You’ll change your mind once you taste it.”

Hunter laughed. “Pretty confident, aren’t you?”

Jeanette pulled out the other chair and sat down. The distance bugged him. He wanted her closer. In his lap would be better. He wanted to touch her, watch her eyes take on that warm espresso shade he’d witnessed earlier that morning. Patience, he reminded himself. He didn’t want to spook her by moving too fast.

“About baking I’m very confident,” She rested her chin in her palm. “I’ve been doing it ever since I could remember.”

Hunter could so easily picture her as a little girl, brown hair in pigtails while she helped her mother in the kitchen. He cocked his head to the side. “Were you the little urchin getting flour everywhere while you helped Mom bake cookies?”

Jeanette’s cheeks turned pink, causing his hand to itch. With so little effort he could reach out and stroke the warm, soft skin. Hell, he wanted to spend hours caressing her.

“Yep, that pretty much describes me,” Jeanette said, her expression thoughtful. “My parents live in Arizona now. They wanted a drier climate.”

“Do you see each other often?”

Jeanette nodded. “We always get together for holidays.”

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“No. It would’ve been pretty lonely if not for Roni and Lydia.”

Hunter quirked an eyebrow. “Roni and Lydia?”

Jeanette pointed to the brownie. “Eat and I’ll tell you about them.”

He liked to hear that commanding tone in her voice. It made him curious whether he could get her to use it more often, maybe in bed. “That’s blackmail,” he said, as he became aware of how easily she had him wrapped around her little finger and didn’t even know it.

She crossed her arms over her breasts, inadvertently drawing his attention to the soft mounds. A few delicate buttons and a little lace, that’s all that kept him away from creamy perfection.
Easy, boy.

“Do you want to know about my friends or not?”

Friends, right. Damn, he couldn’t seem to keep his head out of his pants for five frigging minutes. Hunter picked up the spoon and scooped up some of the brownie and whipped cream combination, then brought the spoon to Jeanette’s lips. “Help me eat it.”

“You want to feed me?”

“Yes. Now open those lovely lips, sweetness.”

Jeanette dropped her arms and leaned forward. She opened her mouth and Hunter slid the spoon over her tongue. As she closed her lips around the sweet morsel, Hunter’s cock throbbed and hardened. An image of her on her knees sucking his dick sprang to mind. He wondered if she could take all of him. Suck him down her throat. If not he could sure let her practice on him. He was all about practice.

Slowly pulling the spoon from between her plump lips, he watched in heated fascination as her tongue dipped out and took in a drop of cream. He wondered if she were trying to drive him crazy or if it was purely an accident.

“Watching you is making me damned hungry,” he admitted, his voice rough with arousal.

“Then maybe you should taste the brownie, Hunter,” she murmured.

He dropped the spoon and reached across the white laminate tabletop. Taking her face in his palms, he growled, “Fuck the brownie. I want you.”

“I-I don’t know about this.”

The pulse beating erratically in her neck begged to be nibbled on. “Yes, you do,” he whispered. “You never would’ve let me come back after hours if you didn’t already know.”

Jeanette closed her eyes tight. A few seconds passed before she opened them again. “I won’t lie. I do want you, Hunter. I’m just not sure I can do this.”

His cock sat up and cheered at her rushed admission. “What can’t you do, sweetheart? Let me please you? That’s all I want. That’s all I’ve wanted for the last six months.”

“But this is so fast. I’ve never had casual sex. I need you to know that right now. It’s not that I’m against it, but I’m not the type to just…to just—”

“Fuck and then part ways?” he helpfully supplied.

“Yes!” she screamed, her breathing more rapid now.

Fueled by the fire in Jeanette’s eyes, Hunter stroked his thumb over her lower lip. Soft as satin and just plump enough to bite and tease. He had to grit his teeth against the little whimper she emitted. “Who said I want that?”

Her hands came up to grasp onto his forearms. “You mean you don’t?”

“I’m not interesting in a quickie at your little café, sweetheart. I’m not going to just take off on my motorcycle after I get you up against the wall either. I’m going to want a lot more of you than that.”

“You want more than one night?”

“Six months, Jeanette. I’ve got six months to make up for here.”

“What do you mean?”

“For the last six months I’ve been imagining fucking you.” It was crude, but he needed her to understand what she would be getting herself into. “Sixty different ways, baby, and even then I’m going to want more.” He leaned close and kissed her, a light peck to her lips meant to entice. “So, this is a really good time to tell me to go to hell. I’ll leave and I won’t bother you again. It’s your choice.”

Her choice? Send the man home or take him on. Could she handle him? The answer to that question was an unequivocal no, but sending him home seemed like a really stupid thing to do too. Hadn’t she been dying to make love to the hunky man? She’d even allowed herself to be suckered into the bet with Lydia and Roni because she’d wanted him so badly. The sad truth is, if Hunter hadn’t come on to her she’d still be trying to figure out how to ask him out.

The decision made, Jeanette stared into eyes so dark they were nearly black and replied, “I really don’t want you to go to hell.”

Hunter dropped his hands and stood up so fast the chair fell backward. “Stay right there. I’ll be back in second.”

Jogging across the kitchen, Hunter shoved through the kitchen door. A few seconds later, he reappeared. “The front door was still unlocked,” he explained, moving to stand in front of her. “We wouldn’t want any interruptions.”

“Oh, of course,” she mumbled. He’d locked them in. A shiver of excitement skittered over her.

Staring up at him, Jeanette suddenly felt very small, which was a rarity. Usually the size of her butt alone made her feel rather awkward. Hunter’s large, muscular biceps and powerful build practically dwarfed her and did little to ease her jumpy nerves. When he leaned down and grasped onto her waist, then lifted her out of the chair as if she weighed no more than a child, Jeanette squealed and grabbed onto his shoulders.