For Kicks (23 page)

“So now I’m obnoxious, jealous and insecure. So how is it I come home to find you in my pool, naked? Not that I’m complaining.”

“I’m quitting Mendelssohn’s.”

“You’re quitting? Why?”

“Nancy realized we shared a room in Kentucky, and wasn’t too keen on having someone like me in her district. I think she was a little jealous.” Breeze smiled, thinking of Nancy’s innuendo. That really was the reason. Nancy had wanted Logan from the beginning. Well, she couldn’t have him. “My only other option is to leave the state and work in a different store.”

“Someone like you? They don’t deserve to have you work there at all. I can’t believe they’d disrespect you like that.” He shook his head and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I know how much that job meant to you. But you can work for Nitrous. The retail team is really impressed by you.”

“I know. Arranged it already. I start on the first. So does Anthony, which will really put Nancy in a twist since she’ll be down two managers going into the busiest time of year.” She moved so her shoulders were out of the water and reached for the edge of the pool. “I even discussed fraternizing policies with my new boss.”

“I got the job with brand marketing. I’m out of the retail side completely.”

“That’s the argument you want to make? I expected more from you.”
Don’t stop chasing me just because I’ve stopped running.

“More?”

“Yes, I need more.” She took a deep breath and reminded herself he might not have had time to come to the same realizations she had. Yet. “Can you take a few days off?”

“I guess so. I need to use a week of vacation time before I transition to the new position.”

“Okay. Lose the pants.” She pressed her toes to the wall of the pool and pushed off, propelling herself backwards. She stopped at the far side, watching him strip. The ache between her thighs deepened.

“I’m not sure where you’re going with this, but I like it.” He tossed his clothes onto the lawn and stepped to the deep end of the pool.

“Don’t get in yet.”

“Then why am I naked?” His smile was infectious.

“I like to look at you. And I’m doing a little experiment. How do you feel about me?”

“At the moment? Carnal.”

“Hmm. Try again.”
And please, don’t get it wrong this time
.

“Grateful, because I think you’re forgiving me. Relieved, because thinking you might not was killing me.”

“Why?” She bit her lip, rethinking her plan. She’d been so sure this would go her way. Well, not sure exactly, but she needed to know.

He dove into the pool. So fast and smooth the water barely rippled. She gasped as his warm hands encircled her waist and he surfaced inches from her, tipping his head back so the water ran off.

“I’m missing my window here. I can feel it. What do you want me to say?”

“I love you.” Her whispered words tugged at her heart.

“Yeah?” He pulled her closer, a slow smile playing on his lips.

“That’s what I want you to say. You’ve said it before, but that was during sex and you were half out of your mind. That’s where I want us to be going.” She pulled the inside of her cheek between her teeth and studied his face. He didn’t flinch.

“Out of our minds?”

“Forget it. I obviously read you wrong.” She pushed at him, trying to break free.

“You think so?”

He backed her against the wall of the pool, pulled her so close her arms were pinned to her sides. With him this close she couldn’t even get enough leverage for a good kick.

“Stop squirming. Sometimes being with you is like trying to herd cats.” He squeezed so tight she could barely breathe.

She forced herself to still and he relaxed his grip, tilting her chin up with his hand so she couldn’t help but look into his eyes, his eyelashes thick with water.

“I’m not trying to pressure you. I thought maybe that’s why you were always trying so hard.” She took a deep breath and refocused. She wasn’t running anymore. “It’s okay if you’re not there yet. If it’s my turn to wait.”

“I love you. Now say it again.”

She grinned, relieved to hear the words. “I love you.” She stuck out her tongue for good measure.

He took it as an invitation, sealing his mouth over hers and pressing her legs apart with his muscular thigh. His kiss trailed down her throat, his hands dripping down her body.

“See? I told you this would happen. And I’m not done talking.”

“So talk.” He spoke without looking up or stopping his explorations.

“I have to go home.”

“Stay here. I made room for the fish.”

“Not the condo home. Ashland home. Wait a minute, you made room for my fish?”

His head popped up, his expression serious. “Is everyone okay? Did you finally get a hold of them?”

She nodded. “I rerouted my flight so I had a layover there and met with my mom. My parents are designing a new birthing center adjacent to the hospital. It’s named for them and has areas for some of their passions like HypnoBirthing and family-laboring rooms. They didn’t want me to say I wasn’t coming to the opening, so they decided not to tell me about it at all.”

“Ouch.”

“Thank you. They should have at least told me, right?”

“Right. But you have to go to the opening.”

“I know. You busy on Friday?”

“Yeah? You want me to go with you?” He pulled her close again. “Let’s go down early, go to a play, spend some time with your family.”

“What if I got tickets to all the plays? What would you do for me then?”

He lifted one of her legs, grinding his length against her as he kissed her neck.

“Slow down, we have to be careful or we’ll end up using the Cohen birthing center instead of just visiting. And I’m not getting pregnant before we’re married. I’m old-fashioned that way.”

“Do you want to have kids?” The lights from the pool reflected in his eyes as darkness closed in around them. As if the whole world teetered on one question. Well, two.

“It depends. Will you marry me?”

“You cheater.” He smiled wide. “I’m supposed to do that, Miss Old-Fashioned.”

“Women do crazy things when they’re in love. Like get naked and jump into pools.”

“Thank God it was my pool you found.” He cupped her face in his hands. “The last time we talked about kids you said you didn’t think you should. Are you just trying to tell me what I want to hear?”

“I’m not my grandmother. And Nitrous is different. Twelve weeks of maternity leave and on-site daycare. Plus you get six weeks of paternity leave. If you want.”

“I want. When did you learn all that?”

“When I was negotiating managing the Nitrous World store downtown. And if I’m already married when I start, we won’t have to worry about fraternization rules, no matter how lax.”

“Wow. Here you’ve really thought this out. I thought maybe I was rubbing off on you and you were being impulsive. Where’s my ring?” He stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest.

Breeze blinked, unsure how to respond.

“You can’t call it a proposal without a ring.” He took her hand and led her up the steps and out of the pool, the warm night air caressing her skin. “And I’m not going to have you telling our kids you proposed to me. No way.” He stooped to gather clothes in one hand as they made their way back into the house.

He pushed open the sliding glass door and pulled her inside. No lights were on, but she could make out the outlines of the counter and island in the kitchen from the blue glow of an octagonal aquarium in the next room. An empty aquarium as far as she could tell. Had he really made room for her in his home?

Maybe she and her careful planning were rubbing off on him too. She hadn’t expected to propose when she came here. Only get him to agree to go home with her and meet her parents. The rest was her heart talking, not her head. Good thing he didn’t seem to mind a bit.

“Stay here.” He turned and sprinted through the house.

“Logan, I’m dripping!” she called, but he didn’t respond. She took a deep breath, steadying herself to peer about the room for a lamp. Naked in the dark was one thing, but naked under fluorescents in the kitchen? Terrifying.

“Okay.” He ran back into the room, breathing hard.

“No towel?” She placed a hand on her hip and pouted.

“No, I like you wet.” He sank down on one knee at her feet and her mouth went dry. He held out a small wooden box and grinned, breathing even faster than before. “So there is a little story with this.”

“There is?” Now was not the time for stories and his continual barrage of presents. They were both naked, bare, with nothing to protect them from the question she’d asked outside.

“When my great-grandfather went into the war, he had no money. But he thought if he left, my great-grandmother would marry someone else. So he sold everything he had, everything and bought these.” He uncapped the box. Inside on a white satin pillow sat two gold rings. “They used them when they got married, but when he got back she made him buy her one with more than a flake for a diamond.

“It’s become a tradition to use it for the proposal and the wedding, and then you can pick out your own.”

“That is beautiful.” She wiped a tear from her cheek, trying not to let emotion overrun her.

“I always thought so. Never thought I’d use it though. I never imagined there was someone worse at sitting still than me. Someone who would look out for my heart the way you do.” He took her hand, her left hand, and kissed her ring finger. “Marry me. Please.”

“You cheated. You knew my answer before you asked.” She wiggled her finger.

“It’s still nice to hear the words.”

“I’ll marry you.” She choked on a sob as he slid the ring on her finger. She sank to her knees and held on tight.

“This is the story you tell the kids. Not jumping naked into my pool. Especially if we have girls.”

“No, I tell them the truth. You go after what you want.”

About the Author

By day, Jenna is faster than a speeding toddler, stronger than a stubborn husband, able to leap tall Lego structures in a single bound…but by night, while the family sleeps she writes romance novels where no one ever has to scoop up after the dog, change diapers, clip coupons, drive carpool, do laundry, mop floors, get silly putty out of hair, vacuum, empty the vacuum bag (gross!), exercise, count calories, apply Band-Aids, clean up puke…wait, where was this going? Oh, Jenna writes romance because it is glamorous. Just ask the dog. Check out what Jenna is up to on her website
www.jennabayleyburke.com
or blog
jennabayley-burke.blogspot.com
.

Look for these titles by Jenna Bayley-Burke

Now Available:

Her Cinderella Complex

Par For the Course

Compromising Positions

Pride and Passion

Private Scandal

He’ll let her have control…until he’s ready to make his move.

Pride and Passion

© 2010 Jenna Bayley-Burke

The only things Lily Harris inherits after her father’s untimely death are debt, scandal and loneliness. She doesn’t protest when her father’s business partner, Jake Tolliver, steps up to help with the mess she finds herself in—until Jake reveals the last promise he made to her father.

Jake may be as compelling to look at as a marble statue—and stir a frighteningly powerful desire within her—but no way will Lily agree to be his socially acceptable bride while he continues to bed his string of beautiful women—not without getting him to agree to a deal of her own first.

With a well-earned reputation as a feral hunter who goes after what he wants, Jake has his sights set on Lily, and her lack of options puts her right where he’s wanted her from the first moment he laid eyes on her.

Jake’s not above making Lily think she’s having it her way if that’s what it’ll take to have his way in the end. But once he grows tired of playing beast to her beauty, he’s not above changing the rules of the game until they’re both playing for the same prize.

Warning: This title contains a hero used to getting what he wants, a heroine determined not to give in to him, some indecent proposals, a fair amount of pride, and enough passion to burn up everyone’s control.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Pride and Passion:

He made his way through the dark house without turning on any lights. The full moon provided just enough illumination to keep from bumping into things on his way to the kitchen. He pushed open the door and reached for the light switch, flicking it on.

Lily stood in front of the refrigerator, a carton of milk in her hand, at least until she spied him and dropped it with a gasp. His eyes widened at the sight of Lily in a pale pink nightie, her golden hair loose about her shoulders. The light material dipped low between her full breasts, delicately revealed the curve of her hips, and gave an alluring view of her bare thighs.

She wasn’t so mesmerized. She cursed, then reached for a towel on the counter and bent low to clean up the spill. Jake pulled his libido back in check and moved to help her. He took the towel from her and she stood. He had to bite back a groan at how the hem of her nightie came right into his line of sight.

“I’m sorry,” Lily said, walking around him and returning with another towel. “I didn’t expect anyone.”

“Obviously.” He finished the task and stood, enjoying the way her chest hitched with each breath as he looked down at her. “What are you doing down here?”

“Having a glass of milk, or trying to anyway. That’s what I do when I can’t sleep.” She kept her gaze locked on his, except for fleeting moments when it dropped to his bare chest.

He grinned, glad he wasn’t the only one hyper-aware after midnight. “That’s because you sleep alone.”

Her cheeks pinked, but she recovered quickly, narrowing her eyes. “You know, I think you may be right. It’s time I find someone willing to marry the penniless virgin and cure her insomnia.”

She tried to walk past him, but he caught her arm, turned her around and pulled her flush against him. “Try it, and you’ll find my patience exhausted quickly.”

“While you expect me to live a life in perpetual understanding of your need to go through mistresses faster than socks.” She tried to shake off his hold, but he pulled her closer.