Broken Resolutions (7 page)

“Was he?” Brenda said. “I’ve found that his accounting work says a lot less about him than his love of literature. You two should talk about that. Shouldn’t you, Jack?”

“Yes, Mom,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her.

She glared right back, her eyes sending a new message:
Don’t screw this up
.

“Shouldn’t you two be taking photos with some of the props?” he asked her. “We don’t want to interfere with your time to learn about each other.”

“Actually, I think the two of us are about to head out. Carl told me all about a lovely restaurant near his house, and it has a New Year’s Eve celebration planned for tonight.”

He frowned. “But we drove together. How will you get home? Do you want to take my truck?”

She leaned over the desk, giving him a quick hug and Penelope a kiss on the cheek. “That’s sweet, honey, but Carl will drive. He has a big SUV, perfect for the snow. You two have a nice night. Don’t worry about us.”

Jack gave Carl a sharp look. “Take good care of her.”

Carl nodded calmly.

Jack turned back to Brenda. “Give me a call when you get home tonight.”

“If I call you when I get home, you’ll be hearing from me tomorrow morning. Maybe tomorrow afternoon,” she said with a grin, and then turned for the door.

He opened his mouth to call after her, but couldn’t figure out what to say. The door shut behind the couple before he came up with anything. He slumped in his chair, and Penelope’s small hand patted his arm in consolation.

Just as he was about to take that hand in his, Cologne Guy approached the desk.

“Penny?” he ventured. “Would you like to take some book cover photos?”

“Ummm . . .” she said.

“She’d love to,” Jack told the other man, and immediately felt Penelope’s betrayed gaze boring into the side of his face. “But she’s already promised to take some pictures with me. I don’t think she’ll have time to work with both of us before midnight.”

Her hand on his arm loosened, and he could see her shoulders slump in relief.

“I’d like to see that,” Cologne Guy said. “Are you coming to the photo area now?”

Shit. Now we’re committed
. “Yes,” Jack said. “In just a moment.”

He glanced over at Penelope. She appeared notably unenthusiastic. “Yes,” she said. “I can’t wait. I’ll see you over there soon.”

As soon as Cologne Guy left, she swiveled her chair in his direction. “I’m afraid to see what props Angie provided. Please don’t make me go over there.”

Five minutes ago, he would have echoed her words. Behind the circulation desk, the two of them actually had some privacy, enough to talk and get to know each other. He knew if they ventured into the photo area, that privacy would disappear. He also didn’t relish the idea of other men seeing Penelope in a passionate clinch. It might give them ideas. Especially Cologne Guy, who was proving remarkably persistent.

But now his brain had supplied the image of him tugging his little librarian close. Bending her backward, pressing his body into hers. Feeling every inch of her small frame against his. The prospect sent fire through his veins. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait to get in front of the camera with her, regardless of who else watched. They might see Penelope in a passionate clinch and want her for their own, but he would be the man holding her. The man staking his claim.

He rose from his seat, taking her hand. “It’ll be fun. Let’s go.”

“Who are you? And what have you done with the grumpy recluse named Jack?” she asked, looking bewildered as he led her toward the children’s area.

When they arrived inside the doorway, they stood completely still for a long moment.

“Well, this is inappropriate,” he said.

She tugged her fingers out of his grip, slapping both hands over her face. Her shoulders shook.

He placed an arm around her back, drawing her close. “It’s okay,” he soothed. “Everyone signed a waiver. No one can sue you. Not even if they get stuck in that...whatever that is.”

Despite his words, he could see her shoulders shake even harder. He pulled her fully into his embrace, gently guiding her head to his shoulder. “No, no, Penelope,” he said softly into her ear. “Don’t be upset. Do you want me to take away all the . . . things?”

She removed her hands from her face and raised her head. “Fuck, no,” she gasped into his ear, struggling to speak between giggles. “I just can’t believe Angie did this. She’s insane.”

He exhaled in relief at the sight of her smiling face. No tears, thank God. He hated seeing anyone cry, but especially someone he . . .

Someone he liked. That’s what he’d been thinking. Nothing else. He looked around himself again. “Kinky.”

“You aren’t wrong.”

“So where do you want to start when it’s our turn? Do you want to grab the harness? The whip?” He grinned at her. “Or maybe you’re more into the leather chaps.”

“I can’t wait to see the reimbursement forms Angie submits for those.” She laughed again. “Let’s choose a book cover first, and then we’ll pick out the props we need.”

He kept an arm around her shoulders as they perused Angie’s suggested covers. To his surprise, other than the couple in front of the camera, he and Penelope were the only people in the area. Not even Cologne Guy was loitering nearby. Everyone else must be eating. Or maybe they were still doing the scavenger hunt, even though his mom and Carl had already won the prize. He glanced around the library, but he didn’t see too many partygoers. Weird.

“We’re almost done over here,” called out Pretend Pirate Clarence, who was currently holding Skintight Dress in a close embrace. “Just a few more shots. I’m getting in character right now. We’re lucky I had an eye patch in my pocket!”

“Very lucky,” Penelope said, biting her lip. Her shoulders were shaking again.

“Yarrrrrr!” shouted Clarence. “Do ye mind helping with yonder remote control?”

Jack stepped forward and took it from Clarence’s hand.

“A hearty pirate thanks to you, matey! And ye too, lassie!”

Penelope stood on tiptoe to whisper to him. “He must be a Scottish pirate. Either that, or he thinks I’m a dog who saves children from wells.”

“Crikey, this position be hard on my buccaneering back!” Clarence complained.

“Or maybe he’s Australian,” she breathed into his ear, shooting a bolt of heat to his groin. “We’ll know for sure if he says ‘G’day, mate’ or mentions putting shrimp on the barbie.”

“His book cover has nothing to do with pirates,” Jack whispered back. “It’s about teenage wizards. No ships. No eye patches. No water. Nothing.”

“Push the button, me hearty!” Clarence called to Jack. “There be a bottle of rum in it for ye!”

Jack dutifully pushed the button a few times. Finally, with a resigned shake of her head, Skintight Dress removed herself from Pretend Pirate Clarence’s arms. Giving Jack and Penelope a little wave, she left the area and began walking toward the snack table. “You coming, Clarence?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Your turn, matey,” Clarence said, slapping Jack on the back. “Get ye some booty.” Then he hustled after Skintight Dress.

I intend to
, Jack thought.
Believe me.

The entire children’s area was quiet. Only the two of them remained, which suited him perfectly. Both he and Penelope were private people, and he didn’t want her holding back because of an audience.

He turned to Penelope. “So,” he said. “What cover do you want?”

She pulled a book from the pile and handed it to him without a word. He almost swallowed his tongue when he saw it.
Well, she’s definitely not holding back
, he thought, trying to hide his body’s reaction to the cover image.

“Are you sure?” he managed to say. “It isn’t . . . too much?”

“Not for me,” she said, looking up at him with an innocent smile. “Is it too much for you? If it is, I can always ask him instead.” She nodded toward Cologne Guy, who was chatting with Clarence and Skintight Dress across the library.

He bristled, as he knew she’d intended. “No,” he said firmly. “I’m good.”

“I hope so,” she replied, and the heat in her gaze nearly took out his knees. “Now take off your shirt.”

7

P
enny didn’t know what had possessed her.

Maybe something about the quiet privacy of the children’s area. Something about seeing all those covers of couples locked in passionate embraces. Something about the way Jack kept looking at her, the way he’d held her when he’d thought she was crying . . . it all loosened a tight knot inside her gut. It silenced the voice in her head telling her she was too skinny. Too short. Too nerdy. Not enough for a man like him.

And when that voice fell silent, another took its place. This one said different things. Shameless things.

He’s yours. Take him
.

Don’t you want to see his naked chest? His shoulders?

I’ll bet he’d look amazing on his knees in front of you
.

That voice had proven very convincing. Which was why she and Jack were now recreating the cover scene to
Kneeling Before Mistress X
.

She didn’t even recognize the book from the library. She suspected it was part of Angie’s personal collection, and that her friend had meant to bring it to the hospital tonight. Too bad for Angie. Tonight, it was Penny’s turn to experience this particular fantasy.

Angie hadn’t supplied the black leather mask the cover model wore, so Penny’s face remained bare. She hadn’t changed clothes, other than peeling off the cardigan she’d worn over her sleeveless dress. But she’d positioned herself like the woman in the cover. Standing tall. Back straight. Legs spread shoulder-width apart.

Jack kneeled shirtless before her, his hands loosely bound behind his back with the rope provided by the library. She fought to keep her eyes from straying to his bare chest, with its dusting of dark hair. Or to his broad shoulders. Or even to his abdomen, partially revealed above his low-slung jeans. Sure, she’d seen men with defined ab muscles before—but only on television and in magazines. Never in person. Never within touching distance.

He wasn’t a big man, but he looked fit and strong. He looked bitable.

He’d submitted to the binding without a word, simply staring at her with hot eyes. After she’d secured his hands behind his back, he’d immediately dropped to his knees, tracing her body with his gaze. He’d started at her feet, moving up her bare legs to linger on her hips and breasts. Then he caught her eye and held it.

He was at her feet. But in that moment, he controlled her.

“Ready?” she said, her hands trembling.

He didn’t answer, continuing to stare into her eyes for another long moment. Then he tilted his head forward, just like in the picture, and placed it at the juncture of her thighs. She could feel the dampness of his hot breath seep through the layers of material she wore there. The silk of her dress. The cotton of her panties.

“Your hands,” he said, his voice muffled.

“Oh,” she whispered. “I forgot.” Slowly, she took her hands and clasped them around his neck. Pressed him harder against her center.

She had no idea how long they stayed like that. Seconds. Maybe even minutes.

A flash suddenly blinded her, and she jumped. Jack raised his head, looking for the source of the interruption.

“You two were taking forever,” Red Tie said, “so I took the picture for you. Get a move on.”

Funny
, she thought.
I was about to tell
you
to move. In fact, I want everyone to leave the library immediately. Everyone except Jack and me.

But she held her tongue and checked her watch. Five minutes until midnight. Soon, the gathering would end and the partygoers would go home. Jack would leave too, of course. And there were no guarantees that he’d want to repeat this night. Maybe in the morning he’d regret having hit on the shy librarian. Maybe something about New Year’s Eve had affected him, and he’d never feel quite the same way again.

The thought caught at her throat and made it hard to breathe.

“Okay,” she said. “I guess I need to go back to the workroom and get the champagne ready.”

“Go ahead,” Red Tie said. “I’ll untie him. I want to make sure I get some alcohol in my hands before midnight.”

She bit her lip, but couldn’t find the words to protest. So she left, Jack’s eyes following her all the way across the library.

Well, Angie clearly bought way too much champagne
, Penelope thought as she handed out the glasses.

“Where did everyone go?” she asked Pretend Pirate Clarence. Looking around, she could only see five people, including her.

“After taking the photos with me, Courtney left with Yolanda and Tasha. I asked if I could come along, and they said I had to walk my own plank tonight.” Clarence looked vexed. “I found their use of pirate terminology to reject me offensive.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Penelope managed to say.

“Most people snuck out to ring in the New Year with a bang, if you know what I mean,” Red Tie said, winking at her. And then he winked again, just in case she’d missed the first time.

She stared at him, mystified. Why was he winking at her, the woman he’d so summarily rejected earlier in the evening?

“Some of the others were worried about driving in the snow, especially once all the folks drinking at New Year’s Eve parties left for the night. They wanted to get home before the roads got too messy or too crowded,” Cologne Guy added. “They left while you were taking pictures with Jack.”

Jack didn’t say a word. He just took a champagne glass from her hand, his fingers brushing hers. The heat radiating from his skin almost made her jump. To her relief, she couldn’t see any rope marks on his wrists. She’d tried to keep the knots loose, but she wasn’t exactly a bondage expert.

He followed her gaze down to his wrists, and then looked up at her. There was no glint of humor there. No levity. He stood without fidgeting, his eyes darker than she remembered. She could tell from his expression he was remembering their photo together. Just as she was.