Chapter 6
SIX
Rune
My stomach growls as I enter the last of the expense numbers for this month. I know I need to take a break and have some lunch, but the thought of heating another frozen meal sounds miserable.
My crew is eating lunch. I hear them laugh now and then from the small building next to my office that we use as a break room. I look at my phone, wondering if I should call Camden and have that lunch with him today. Before I can reach for my phone, though, I hear a car pull up outside.
I frown as I stand, wondering if it’s my boss, Trevor, coming to talk about selling this place in person. When I glance out the window, though, I’m surprised to see my Shortcake climbing out of her car in front of my office.
She looks nervous as she peeks around and then ducks back into her car for something. I’m already rushing to meet her as she closes the car door and heads my way.
“Careful!” I call out to her. “You’ll get all muddy.”
The ground is muddy and slick after the rain last night, and she’s about two steps from stepping into a puddle.
Jem pauses, looking down at the casserole dish in her hands, and I jog down the front steps and scoop her up in my arms. I carry her into my office easily, setting her down in my chair.
It’s more comfortable than the two across my desk reserved for guests.
“What are you doing here?” I ask her as I drag one of the other chairs closer to the desk.
“I, uh, I made you some lunch,” she says, setting the casserole dish down on the desk.
My stomach growls at the smell of garlic and cream. It’s been so long since I’ve had a homemade meal, and I can’t wait to dig in. I see Jem smile, ducking her head to hide it from me.
“Join me?” I ask as I lift the tinfoil off the dish.
“Oh, I only brought one fork,” she says, trying to wave me off.
“I don’t mind sharing.”
I don’t wait for a response before I stand and drag my chair over to sit next to her. I dig in, forking up a bite and bringing it to her bee-stung lips. She blushes as she opens and lets me feed her.
I never thought of eating or feeding someone as erotic, but I can’t deny that I’m rock hard as I watch Jem’s lips close around the fork. When she moans at the flavor, I nearly come in my pants.
I take a bite, trying to distract myself and get my body under control.
It’s no use.
We eat together in silence for a few minutes, with me feeding her, then taking a bite for myself. It hits me out of nowhere how right this all feels. It’s easy being with Jem, like we’re missing puzzle pieces that click together.
“How’s work today?” she asks me after a bit.
“Good. A bit slow. The rain last night means we can’t get machines to certain areas right now.”
“So, you’ll have an easy day? Maybe you can go home early,” she suggests with a smile.
“Maybe,” I agree. “What about you?”
“Well, my friend Fern is coming in this afternoon. She’s the bride of the wedding we’re going to.
She found a dress, but I need to pin it for alterations.
Then we need to decide on a veil, shoes, and accessories.
Plus, we need to go over what she wants for her bridal shower and her bachelorette party.
It should be a small thing for those. I don’t think Fern is inviting her parents or family.
I don’t blame her. From everything she’s said, they sound terrible. ”
“Really?”
I don’t care about her friends’ families. I just love hearing Jem talk. She’s getting all worked up over her friend not being treated right, and I love to see it. It shows how loyal and compassionate my little Shortcake is.
“Oh, yeah,” she says, taking a bite and chewing.
“She just got back from spending a week there for her cousin’s wedding.
That’s where she met her fiancé, Jackson, so at least something good came out of it.
I listened to her vent about that wedding for a year.
Her cousin was a total bridezilla. They treated her like the help instead of family. ”
“Shitty of them,” I comment.
“Really shitty. I’m glad she’s not putting up with that crap anymore. Not with Jackson there to show her the respect she deserves.”
“They met and got engaged quickly,” I say, feeding her the last bite.
“When you know, you know, I guess,” she says softly.
We lock eyes, and I swallow hard. Is she trying to tell me something? Can she feel this thing between us? Is she saying she knows we’re meant to be too?
“I thought they would have a longer engagement, but I think they’re so in love that they want to be married already,” she says with a laugh. “So now we’re speeding through planning. Luckily, Fern is a wedding planner, so she has most of it handled, and I’ll just be there to assist.”
“Sounds like you’ll be busy until the wedding,” I comment.
Jem nods, taking the bite I offer her. “Very.”
I guess that means no more dates this week. I’m disappointed, but I know she has a lot to get done in a short amount of time. Still, maybe I should call Camden and ask him how I’m supposed to show my girl that I’m her perfect match when I can barely spend any time with her.
“I should get back to it,” Jem says, pushing to her feet.
I stand too, trying to figure out how to get her to stay longer, but I know she has to work.
“Thanks for lunch,” I tell her sincerely.
She smiles. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“Loved,” I correct.
Her smile widens as she gathers up the fork and casserole dish and heads for the door. I open it, then bend to lift her into my arms.
“You don’t have to carry me!” she gasps.
I smile. “Can’t have you getting all dirty.”
The air outside is cool after the rain, and the scent of wet earth and pine fills my lungs as I step carefully across the muddy ground. I don’t even glance down. I know where every dip and slick patch is by memory.
We reach Jem’s car too quickly. I don’t want to put her down, but I do, carefully and slowly, like she’s something fragile, even though I know she’s not. She’s stronger than most people I’ve met, but that doesn’t stop the instinct.
My hands linger on her waist a second longer than they should after her feet hit the ground. Neither of us moves nor speaks. Her eyes lift to mine, and there’s something there, something soft and uncertain, something that makes my chest feel too tight.
“Thank you,” she says quietly.
I nod, my throat dry.
Say something! I tell myself. Do something.
Instead, I reach up, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. My fingers skim her cheek, and her breath catches.
That’s all it takes. I lean down, slow enough to give her time to pull away.
She doesn’t.
Her eyes flutter shut as my lips touch hers. The kiss is soft at first, but when I hear Jem moan and feel her lean into me, something in me snaps.
My hands come up, and I cradle her head in my palms, my thumb sliding under her chin and tilting her head just so. My tongue licks against her lips, and she gasps, giving me the opening I was looking for.
Every instinct screams to pull her closer and deepen the kiss until we’re both breathless. I can’t hold back any longer. I might not see her this week or next. What if the next time we’re together is at the wedding in a month? I need to do something so she remembers me. So she misses me.
My tongue flicks against hers, and I groan when her hands tighten on my shirt. She clings to me, her lips moving with mine. When her tongue licks into my mouth, I feel it like a spark straight down my spine. My hand tightens at her waist, and for one second, I almost lose control.
Almost.
I pull back before I can throw her down on the hood of her car and ravage her. We’re both breathing hard, panting as we try to catch our breath.
Jem stares at me, and I lick my lips, still tasting her there. I’m so close to reaching for her again when she takes a step back. She nods at me, and I grit my teeth and nod back.
My cock is like a steel pipe in my pants, and I reach down to adjust it, but there’s no room. Jem’s eyes drop, and her cheeks flame with a blush.
My guys come out from lunch, and I clear my throat, taking another step back.
“Drive safe,” I murmur. “Text me when you get back to work.”
Her eyes snap back to mine, dazed, like she’s still somewhere else. “Okay,” she whispers.
I force myself to step back, even though every part of me wants to pull her against me again.
Jem opens her car door, but before she gets in, she looks at me again, as if she’s trying to figure something out, like maybe she feels it too.
Then she slips into her seat, closing the door gently. I stand there like an idiot, watching as she starts the engine. She gives me a small wave before pulling away.
I don’t move until her car disappears down the road. Only then do I drag a hand through my hair and let out a long breath.
Fuck. This isn’t fake for me. It’s never been fake.
My jaw tightens as I turn toward my office. Nothing about this feels temporary. Nothing about this feels safe.
I don’t know if that kiss meant the same thing to her as it did to me… or if she’s playing her part in this little arrangement she came up with.
The thought sits heavy in my chest.
I head back inside, but I don’t go straight to my desk. Instead, I stop, staring at the empty chair she sat in minutes ago. Her scent still lingers in the air, sweet and warm and completely hers.
Mine, my mind supplies immediately.
I shake my head.
Not yet. Maybe not ever if I don’t figure this out.
I scrub a hand over my face and let out a quiet breath.
How do I make her see it? How do I make her understand that this, whatever is happening between us, isn’t something you walk away from after a wedding? I want all of it. All of her.
My gaze drops to my phone on the desk. Maybe I do need to call Camden because I’ve got no damn idea how to convince a woman she’s mine when she still thinks I’m playing pretend.