By Private Invitation (23 page)

She was his mother and he loved her. He’d do anything for her.

But now he wanted to get the hell back to Annabelle.

He owed her an explanation for his abrupt departure last night. He’d promised her
his assistance and he wasn’t going to leave her high and dry.

“Then I’m glad I could help.” He turned the knob after giving his father a nod. “I’ll
see you later.”

“I want floating walls and I’ve got the paint color already picked out. On the ceiling,
I want a track lighting system that can be adjusted depending on the number of pieces
I have on the walls at any given time.”

As he’d done Monday, when this had all started, Jared entered the shop unnoticed.
This time, though, the passionate dancer had transformed into a focused business woman.

“I’m also going to need you to install a ramp at the outside entrance into the basement
to offload furniture.”

From the front room, he saw her consulting with a lanky man who towered over her inside
the storage room where she was going to expand her gallery.

Standing with her back to the front room, she couldn’t see him and he could only see
the back of her. She had her beautiful hair pulled back into a severe braid and wore
baggy jeans and an
oversize white shirt that hit her mid-thigh, covering what he knew to be a perfect
ass.

Desire made his skin heat and his hands clench with the urge to touch her.

He watched her hands move as she described how she wanted the gallery to look. He
wanted those hands on his body. He wanted his hands on her breasts, on her ass, on
her thighs, holding her open—

Well, shit.
Now he had a hard-on.

Tearing his gaze away from Belle, he looked at the man standing with her, hanging
on her every word. Jared didn’t think the guy would notice if a bomb dropped next
to him. From the expression on his face, Jared could tell the guy had the serious
hots for Belle.

And his blood began a slow boil.

He caught himself before he barged in and laid claim to her, like a goddamn caveman.
Put his arm around her shoulders and draw her into his side. Better yet, press a kiss
to her delicate, sensitive nape. She’d shiver and her eyes would flutter closed.

The other man, standing with his hands shoved in his pockets, would know she was off-limits.
His
.

Which was ridiculous. He didn’t do possessive jealousy. Hell, he actually liked to
share.

Delayed reaction to last night. That’s all.

Taking a deep breath, he merely watched.

She was a woman with a mission, and it was the sexiest thing Jared had ever seen.
He could stand here and listen to her talk all day.

“So, you’ll have an estimate for me by the end of next week, Henry?”

“Absolutely, Annie. I’ll bring it by myself. Should have one worked up for you in
about three days.”

Jared barely bit back a snort. Of course Henry would return with the estimate himself.
He’d do anything to get in Belle’s good graces and her baggy jeans. The fool would
probably work it up tonight and bring it by tomorrow.

Belle gave the obviously smitten Henry a huge grin and a squeeze on the arm. “Thanks
so much. I knew I could count on you for this. Tell your mom and dad I said hi and
that I’m still looking for that missing piece to your mom’s china pattern. I’ve finally
got a lead. I’m hoping this one pans out.”

“Well now, I know Mom’ll be glad to hear that. She’ll want you to come to dinner,
you know, so she can show it off.”

“I look forward to it. Your mom makes the best
schnitz und knepp
.” With one more smile for the smitten contractor, Belle turned to walk the man out
but froze as soon as she caught sight of Jared.

Her eyes widened and her lips parted like she was going to say something. Then she
gave him a bland smile and led Henry to the door.

The contractor gave him a once-over before Belle thanked him again for coming over
on short notice and closed the door behind him.

Then she flicked the lock on the door and leaned back against it, watching him.

“I take it you’re moving ahead with plans for the gallery.”

She nodded. “It’s a good idea. I’m surprised to see you back so soon.”

“The problem was resolved faster than I anticipated. Are you finished for the night?
Would you like to go to dinner?”

Damn, he really hoped that didn’t sound as desperate as he
thought it had. A pain he’d thought was heartburn had been building in his chest since
he’d left his parents’ home. But he hadn’t eaten anything in hours.

And the feeling was more like something cracking apart. He clamped down on the urge
to rub at his sternum.

“Actually, I made plans to meet Kate and her fiancé for dinner.” She paused again,
just long enough for that ache to crank up the intensity a notch, before she continued.
“Would you like to join us?”

No, he wanted her all to himself. He wanted to crook his finger and have her come
to him. Wanted to tear the shirt over her head, put his mouth on hers, and lose himself
in the sweetness of her, in the heat he knew he could elicit from her. The heat that
would ease the tight knot in his chest.

He wanted her spread out beneath him, screaming his name as he made her come.

He forced a natural-looking smile. “I’d love to, if you think your friends won’t mind.”

Annabelle’s smile certainly looked more natural than his felt. “Kate will be happy
to see you again and Arnie wants whatever Kate wants.”

“Sounds like true love.” Which really sucked for Tyler. His brother had asked about
Kate again this morning.

Annabelle finally pushed away from the door and walked over to him. “I’m sure he loves
her. I just…” She shook her head. “Anyway, I hope you don’t mind pizza.”

He couldn’t care less what they ate as long as they did it together. “Love pizza.”
Then because he couldn’t help himself, he said, “That man has a thing for you.”

Belle’s brows lifted in surprise and she smiled, just a slight tilt of her lips. “Henry?
He’s a nice guy and a good friend. He and his father helped Granddad with the original
renovation of the building.
When Bud, Henry’s dad, had a heart attack last year, Henry took over the business.”

He let his gaze roam over her features, the wide eyes and mouth, the freckles sprinkled
on her adorable nose and cheeks. He wanted to lick them. “Do you know everyone in
town?”

When she shrugged, he followed the movement of her shoulders, barely visible beneath
that oversize shirt. For a man used to women who dressed in designer clothes to walk
their yappy little dogs, he shouldn’t be as turned on by a man’s white button-down
dress shirt and a pair of baggy carpenter jeans, the pockets filled with pencils,
business cards, and at least two small objects he figured were tape measures.

“It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone else. I take it the problem at the hotel
wasn’t too severe?”

The tone of her voice was steady but her gaze searched his. “No, not too severe.”

The need to talk to Belle about his home situation, about his mom, shocked the hell
out of him. He never talked about that, not to anyone but Tyler.

He’d never had any desire to talk to his friends about it. Most had known his mother
all their lives. They’d treat her differently if they knew how severe her problem
was.

They’d want to pity him. And he couldn’t stand that. He didn’t need pity.

Belle’s eyes narrowed, as if trying to read between the lines. Then she sighed, as
if giving trying to figure him out. He couldn’t decide if that was good or bad.

“You know, I don’t expect you to stay here continuously.” She tilted her head to the
side. “I understand you have other, more important obligations in your life.”

Other? Yes. More important? He couldn’t think of any. His
mother’s episode had passed. And now he just wanted to forget everything else for
a few hours and spend time with her. “I have the time to spare. You’re open Sunday,
right? I’d like to see what weekend traffic is like around here.”

“Doesn’t Tyler need your help with the hotel?”

“The hotel can manage without me for a week. Tyler’s a big boy. He doesn’t need me
to hold his hand.”

But Jared needed to touch her. He reached for her hand, now resting on the counter,
and laced their fingers together. After a few seconds, hers curled around his.

And that tight knot in his chest eased a little more.

She let her gaze drop to their hands, let her fingers tighten for just a second, then
released him and picked up the old-fashioned hard-wired phone on the counter.

“I’ll give Kate a call and let her know you’re here. Anything you don’t like on your
pizza?”

He shook his head, fighting the urge to bend her over the counter and take her right
here and now.

Where the hell was this seemingly uncontrollable lust coming from?

Christ, he wasn’t a sex fiend. Yeah, he enjoyed it but he didn’t let it run his life.

He needed to keep himself under control before Belle thought that’s all he wanted.

Of course, what the hell else did he want with her? Yes, they were attracted to each
other. And he knew exactly why he was attracted to her—brains and beauty were a lethal
combination in his book. So why the need to act like a caveman with her?

Because she wasn’t like the other women he knew? Those fell into two groups: Those
who wanted him for his bank account and name and those who wanted him for sex.

Belle enjoyed the sex. She wasn’t the most experienced partner he’d had but she…What
was so different about Belle?

“Hey, Kate. Just wanted to let you know Jared’s back. Would you mind if I bring him
along tonight?” After a slight pause, Belle gave a little laugh, sending his heart
into a pounding rhythm. “Uh, no.” She glanced his way for a brief second. “Don’t think
I have to worry about that. Yeah. Okay. We’ll be there in a half hour.”

She hung up, gave him a smile, and headed for the stairs. “I’m going to change. Give
me a few minutes. Make yourself at home.”

Images of her naked flashed through his brain and he moved to follow her up the stairs.

“I’ll just come up with you, if you don’t mind.”

She gave him a quick, startled glance over her shoulder as they made their way upstairs
and when she turned, he let his gaze drop to her beautiful rear end swaying in front
of him.

“No problem,” she said. “I won’t take too long.”

Lust swept over him, made it hard for him to breathe. Belle appeared absolutely oblivious
as she headed for her bedroom.

“Kate’s house is just up the street,” she said. “It’s not far to walk.”

“Good to know.”

She hesitated for a second as she realized he hadn’t stopped in the living room but
had followed her to her room.

He wanted her, the need a growing ache in his balls. He recognized the fact that he’d
never wanted anyone with the single-minded purpose with which he wanted Belle.

Now she stared at him like he’d grown another head. What the hell was wrong with him?

“Jared?”

He continued forward until he could touch her, lifting his
hand to run a finger along one perfect cheekbone. With a fierce and almost savage
elation, he felt her shiver and her lids lowered to half-mast until only a slit of
those pale green eyes showed.

He bent his head slowly, wanting her to know exactly what was coming and giving her
more than enough time to tell him no. Though he hoped like hell she didn’t.

He
needed
her.

When her eyes drifted shut and she tilted her lips up to him, Jared released the restraint
he’d been holding on to by his fingernails.

She gasped as he pressed his mouth to hers with little finesse and slid his tongue
into her mouth. He kissed her, pressing hard so she couldn’t block him. His lips slanted,
wanting more, and she opened further, giving it to him. Her hands latched onto his
shoulders as if she needed the support and his moved to cup her ass and pull her tight
against his erection.

Moaning, she arched into him and something snapped in Jared’s head. Some final remnant
of control.

Lifting his hands to her shirt, he went to work on the buttons, fingers clumsy as
he forced the tiny discs through their holes. Her hands slid into his hair, her nails
scratching lightly at his scalp, shivers of pleasure shooting down his back, straight
to his balls.

When he had the shirt unbuttoned, he went for the bra, groaning in approval when he
found the front catch. With a flick of his fingers, her breasts spilled into his hands.
He cupped her, kneaded the warm, soft flesh, and rubbed his thumbs over the pointed
tips.

Moaning into his mouth, she thrust hard against his hips, pushing her breasts more
fully into his hands.

The need to take her right here and now, to make her scream his name as he came inside
her became his only reason for being. Letting one hand drop to her waistband, he undid
her jeans and
slipped his hand into her panties. Her heat seeped into him as his fingers slid into
the silky wetness of her sex.