Chapter Thirty-two
Again, Mia watched Jack’s face as Maisie showed off their surprise to Angie. She saw the same affection she recognized in her own expression every time she looked at her precious adopted daughter.
Grinning, acknowledging the little conniver held Jack in the palm of her hand, she decided he was on his own. She had it hard enough stopping herself from giving over to every one of Maisie’s whims. The fact that the guy was smitten endeared him to her.
Her traitorous body hummed with anticipation whenever they ended up in the same room. It was annoying how her senses couldn’t be controlled. How they spiraled into delight when he appeared. Like a teenager embroiled in a hot crush, she couldn’t stop her heart. It had a mind of its own.
After their last incident in the kitchen, whenever she saw his truck in the driveway, not admitting how many times she’d check at the window, she’d purposely stay away from him.
Though he spent most of the time with Maisie or with his crew at the casita, she always knew when he was nearby.
It never failed that she’d yearn to have him come close… like real close, embracing, naked…
Oh, sweet Jesus!
In the past, men appeared in her life, and occasionally she felt a tug in her heart.
Never enough to follow through with a full-fledged, move-in-together relationship.
No doubt, because she loved living with Jasmine.
Hunger for a mate never overrode her comfortable existence.
Other than those few months when Jassie had stayed with Maisie’s loser daddy, Earl Lane, Mia had never been on her own.
Now, for the first time in her life, she fantasized about a future with someone…
with Jack. How they’d wake up in the morning with her naked body wrapped around his.
She’d make his breakfast, kiss him goodbye before he left for work, and while they were separated, she’d plan for the moments she’d be back in his arms.
After seeing how much he enjoyed being with Maisie, forming a dream garden to surprise her aunt, the warmth in her heart heated up.
Desire for the man that had erupted previously, surprised her so much, shock still took over as she questioned her sanity during that never-to-be-forgotten night.
Yet, here she was, yearning to experience that same passion again and again.
Wandering outside, trailing the others in a hurry to view the casita, she passed his truck and saw damage that hadn’t been there the day before.
What the heck happened?
It looked like someone had dented and scraped the whole driver’s side of the blue truck, and the rear end bumper had taken a beating. Black paint could be seen along the worst of the scrapes, which most likely meant he’d had a run-in with a black vehicle.
Her stomach flipped and nerves began screaming. She could’ve lost him. Though they never really were together, except for the one glorious night, she might have missed any chance to tell him how she felt.
The thought of him not existing on the earth made her rethink her recent behavior. Look what happened with Jassie. She’d been perfectly happy and healthy that day… and hours later, she was gone.
Anxiety ridden; she began remembering the reality of that morning.
She’d been the one to repulse his advances the day after they’d hooked up.
He’d wanted to continue where they left off, but he didn’t want them to rush into anything.
And she’d ignored the signals of a man trying to be chivalrous because of her own childish, self-involved embarrassment.
Things were different now. She’d let him see she wanted to be with him, convince him of her interest. The next step would be for him to ask her out, like on a date. How wonderful to be seen with this man who everyone appeared to like.
You couldn’t miss the hero-worship he got no matter where he went.
For anyone else, it might go to his head – not Jack.
He downplayed his new stardom and concentrated on passing his message.
Helping him win the election, standing by his side through the ups and downs would become her goal.
Now to just let him see she was ready to move on.
She hurried to catch up with the others. While Mark showed off their upgrades to Angie, she moved to stand next to Jack.
Shyly, she slipped her hand into his and angled her body so it brushed against his side. When she went up on her tiptoes to whisper her thanks for all his hard work, she almost fell over as he abruptly pulled away.