Chapter 4
Chapter four
Dressed in a green flannel shirt and a worn pair of jeans, Jayson had just pulled on his boots and was mentally practicing his apology and dinner invite to Sabrina, when she showed up on his doorstep with a foil-covered plate.
“I come bearing cookies.” A self-deprecating smile curved her full lips. Lips he could picture in so many erotic scenarios. Gorgeous, glossy, full lips he could see wrapped around his dick, sucking him all the way to the back of her throat. “I’m sorry about the loud music.”
Her voice pulled him out of his dirty fantasy, and he gave his head a hard shake.
Was he imagining it, or did she bat her lashes at him?
Surprised, but secretly thrilled, he invited her inside. “I forgive you,” he drawled. Holy hell, was he getting his flirt on? And why the hell did it feel so amazing? He felt pretty confident he could make a date happen with his gorgeous neighbor. As long as he didn’t mess it up.
“They’re my famous butter cookies.” Her brow suddenly wrinkled as though an unanticipated and unhappy thought occurred to her. “Oh, I hope you’re not one of those health-conscious people who avoid sugar.”
“I love sweets,” he said, taking the plate. “Thank you.”
When their hands brushed, an electric charge zapped straight up his arm, and he met her pretty golden-brown eyes.
Be cool.
He rolled his shoulders back and motioned for her to follow him over to the couch.
“Have a seat.” Unable to resist, he lifted the foil, picked up a still-warm cookie and took a big bite. Swallowing down a moan, he popped the rest of it into his mouth, devouring it. “These are delicious.”
“I’m glad you think so.” She crossed her legs, watching him reach for a second cookie.
“They definitely aren’t going to last long. My buddy Corey is an excellent baker, but you might be able to give him a run for his money.”
She chuckled, then took a moment to look around. “So, you, ah, live here by yourself?”
He nodded. “I do. My daughter moved out last year, so it’s been an adjustment. But she’s engaged and living her best life. I’m happy for her.”
“That’s wonderful.” She seemed to want to ask more, but hesitated.
“Her mother and I didn’t work out,” Jayson offered. “Tara left right after Emma was born.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. In hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise. She was toxic and—” Jesus, Jay, stop talking about your ex. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, it all worked out for the best.”
Neither spoke and an awkward pause hung between them. Suddenly, he wasn’t sure what to do. Grab another cookie? Say something funny? Pray the floor would open up and swallow his dumb ass?
She clasped her hands in her lap, still looking around the living room, and it occurred to him that maybe he wasn’t the only one who was nervous.
“So, what brought you to Cielo Springs?” he asked.
“I got tired of the city. Tired of my office job. Tired of the chaos and monotony, mainly.” She shrugged. “I wanted to live somewhere quieter, somewhere not D.C. A friend of mine spent some time skiing in Montana and raved about it. So I decided to come see what all the hype was about.”
“And?”
Her attention dropped to his mouth, and he swiped the back of his hand over it, hoping there weren’t cookie crumbs stuck there.
Relieved he didn’t feel any, he inwardly sighed, bringing his attention fully back to her.
Their gazes locked and the craziest thing happened.
The room stood still, like the very air around them charged with electricity, and he fought the urge to lean in and kiss her.
Damn. He’d never experienced such a potent and intense attraction before. Not this fast. It threw him for a loop. When her tongue poked out and ran across her bottom lip, his dick perked up in a way it hadn’t in a very long time.
“Would you like to have dinner with me?” he asked, voice husky. Slightly rough. On the edge of his seat, hoping she’d say yes.
“I’d love to,” she responded with a smile that lit her pretty eyes.
Tara’s smiles never did that. They were always superficial. Quick to come and go. But Sabrina’s smile? Its genuine warmth lit up his insides.
“I know this is a little forward…” Her voice quieted and the spark in her eyes dimmed a little. She seemed almost embarrassed. “But I don’t suppose you have an extra room over here, do you?”
Her question caught him off guard and his pulse raced. That definitely wasn’t anything he was expecting her to ask. But could an opportunity to get to know her better fall into his lap any easier? “Um, a couple. Why?”
“My heat doesn’t seem to be working very well and my house is turning into an ice box.
I called someone to come look at it, but he can’t come for two days.
There’s also a bit of a plumbing problem happening and the toilet overflowed twice.
” When he didn’t comment right away, because he was too busy imagining her sleeping in his bed—which she wouldn’t, of course, because he had a guestroom—she hurriedly added, “I don’t want to put you out. I can find a motel—”
“No!” Okay, that came out far too loud and way too eager. Chill, Jay. “There’s no sense paying for a motel when I have plenty of room here. I mean, it’s just a couple nights, right? And it’ll be convenient if you need to run back home for something.”
“You really don’t mind? I feel a little silly asking since we barely know each other, and you did kinda chastise me for my loud music, but…” Her cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink. “I have a good feeling about you.”
His mouth edged up. Yeah, he had a good feeling about her, too. It felt like the Universe approved his desire to jump back into the dating pool. Almost as though it had served Sabrina Ross up on a silver platter.
It’s not like Mrs. Right was just going to stroll up to his door and knock.
Except she kind of did.
Coincidence? Honestly, he wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. But maybe it was finally his turn to be lucky in love.
“If you want, I can take a look at your heating system. I’m fairly handy.” He expected her to jump at his offer. Instead, she shook her head.
“Oh, no, please don’t worry. I have one of those home warranty things where they have to, ah, send their own serviceman.” She cocked her head. “Unless you’re trying to get rid of me.”
“No, definitely not.”
They shared a smile, and he was reaching for another cookie—damn, the things were addictive—when his phone buzzed with a text. A quick look revealed it was Lex, and he was currently rolling up the driveway. Fuck. Talk about shitty timing.
He frowned, then he sent her an apologetic look. “My friend is stopping by.”
“I can leave.” She started to stand.
“No, don’t be silly. He probably won’t stay long, anyway.” She sat back down, and as he got up, he glanced down at the cookies, considered hiding them, then thought better of it. “Be right back.”
Jayson strode across the living room, texting Lex back: My neighbor is here.
Lex: The hot one?
Jayson sighed, then quickly texted: If you embarrass me in any way, I will eviscerate you.
As much as he loved Lex Battle, his friend and fellow teammate, the guy had no filter.
Especially when it came to him sharing his exploits—and his bed—with women.
If he lived to be ninety, and that was a big if considering he lived on the wild side, Lex would end up being the perverted old man in the nursing home that none of the nurses wanted to give a sponge bath.
His phone buzzed with a laughing emoji.
God help me, Jayson thought, watching as Lex pulled his Yukon to a stop and hopped out.
He already had a shit-eating grin on his face and a swagger in his step as he strolled up the walkway.
Opening the door, Jayson pierced him with a warning look that hopefully conveyed he wasn’t in the mood for any fuckery.
“Behave,” Jayson growled in a low voice, making no attempt to hide the threat and promise in that one word.
Smirking, Lex drew an “X” over his heart as he ambled past Jayson, who suddenly began to wonder if he should’ve told Lex he wasn’t home.
“So, after flying fighter jets, I decided to spend some time at home instead of accepting the instructor position at Top Gun,” Lex finished, sitting back in the chair across from her and resting his ankle on his opposite knee, a smug grin on his face.
When he reached for another cookie, Sabrina noticed Jayson’s eyes narrow.
He’d been talking about himself for a few minutes too long, and Sabrina had started to tune him out.
Sure, the man was good-looking, with blue eyes that sparkled like the Caribbean and dirty blond hair styled in that perfectly-mussed do.
He knew it, too, his confidence taking up a good amount of space in the room.
And the happy-go-lucky bachelor had heartbreaker written all over him. No thanks. Been there, done that.
Sabrina forced a smile, but she wasn’t overly impressed with all the hot air coming out of Lex Battle’s pretty mouth. Thank God she’d decided to focus on Jayson instead. Lex and his high opinion of himself drained her. He reminded her too much of Ian, and that wasn’t a good thing.
Beside her, Jayson seemed tenser than before.
Compared to Lex’s easygoing slouch, Jayson sat ramrod straight.
“So, you’re from here?” she asked Lex, not overly caring, but trying to keep the conversation going.
She didn’t like uncomfortable silences, but even more so, she hoped Mr. Blabbermouth would spill something useful to her investigation.
“Not originally,” Lex replied evasively. “But it’s a cool little town. Has Jay taken you to Old Glory yet?”
“We just met, so no.” She glanced over at Jayson. “That’s the bar at the other end of town, right?”
He nodded. “Our buddy Brandon owns it, so our friends hang out there.”
“Sounds fun.” She knew it was probably too early for an invite and she didn’t want to come off as pushy.