CHAPTER 11 #2
The damned dog had him feeling guilty. Never mind that it was for his own good to be put away in another room while so much delicious-smelling food was to be had.
Closing the door to the office where Rolf was crated, Nick went to the family room, where he had set up the feast he’d ordered. He filled a mason jar with water and added a handful of desert marigolds, placing the makeshift flower arrangement in the center of the coffee table.
God.
He’d taken one look at Jannie, all dewy and pink from her bath, water droplets glistening on her bare shoulders, and wanted to fuck her into the goddamned mattress.
Vanilla.
He didn’t do vanilla.
And then she called him “sir,” causing him to go from semi to full mast.
The urge to grab her, rip that towel off, and toss her on the bed was so strong that he’d had to go out back to clear his head.
There, he found a patch of yellow flowers that looked like daisies, probably a forgotten planting from the previous owner since his friend certainly wouldn’t have taken the time to put them there.
Not since high school had he felt compelled to pick flowers for a girl. And when he did, it was for Jannie. But back then, he’d chickened out and tossed the wildflowers in the dumpster behind the gym before heading on to first period.
Whatever had him spellbound was still there, but a thousand times stronger. What it was about her, he didn’t know. All he knew was that she’d captivated him all those years ago, and he was living his high school fantasy.
He sensed her presence behind him before hearing her footsteps or catching her scent. His body responded, every muscle tensing as she drew near.
“Wow.” She surveyed the elaborate spread that took up the whole table. “You went all out. And flowers!” She flashed him a delighted smile. “Did you pick these yourself?”
He suddenly felt a twinge of vulnerability. “Maybe.”
Her smile widened. “I love them!” She glanced around. “Where’s Rolf?”
“Locked up.”
She grinned. “Good boy.”
Nick blinked. Of course, that was meant for the dog. Or was it? Before he could ponder that, she spoke again.
“All of this is for the two of us?”
“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess I went a little overboard.”
She shook her head, her lips curving with amusement. “You and your taste tests.”
Warmth spread through his chest. She remembered how he’d ordered multiple desserts when they’d had dinner together.
“Where did you order from?” she asked, sitting on the sofa and picking up her plate.
“A place I knew you liked.” He checked out her pert breasts in the blue Florida Gators T-shirt she wore. A pity she had chosen to cover up those shapely legs of hers with jeans. “The Lark.”
“The Lark?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t remember them serving pizzas.”
“I asked for a favor.”
“From whom?”
“The pastry chef.”
Slowly, recognition dawned on her face. “That lady!”
“Yes. Louise Fontaine.” He grinned. “Wait till you see the desserts.”
“Desserts? More than one? Thanks for the warning. I’ll be sure to leave room.” Her gaze landed on a plate in the center of the display, and her whole face lit up. “Mozzarella sticks!”
She clapped her hands like a child, and Nick smiled broadly as she patted the space beside her on the sofa.
Grinning at her enthusiasm, he sat beside her. “I guess I have a hit, huh?”
“Out of the park!” She picked up one of the golden-fried cheese rods and bit into it with zeal, slowly raising her arm so the mozzarella stretched and stretched until it drooped.
He quickly placed a finger under it before the string could land on her chest and stain her shirt. Jannie smiled around the mouthful, her lips glossy as she hollowed her cheeks and began drawing it in.
She managed to take in quite a bit before he guided the last of it to her mouth, his fingertip grazing her lower lip. It was all he could do to keep from pushing that finger between her glossy lips and telling her to suck.
“I love a good cheese pull.” She closed her eyes as she took another bite and moaned.
That moan caused an instant reaction, and Nick swallowed, watching as she raised her arm again.
It wasn’t just the cheese that was swiftly stretching. He shifted, angling his body away from her. “OK, so these four”—he pointed to the pizzas closest to her—“have different combinations of cheeses. “Fresh mozzarella. Provolone. Gruyere. Toma.”
“Toma?”
“It’s from Sicily and hard to find.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Try it.”
She picked up a knife, cut the mini pizza, and offered him one of the halves.
For the next half hour, Nick thoroughly enjoyed himself as they sampled each pie and rated them, ultimately naming the four-cheese the winner.
He couldn’t recall the last time he’d felt so relaxed with anyone.
She took teasing so well, which wasn’t surprising considering she’d grown up with three brothers.
But it was something else he wanted her to take, and he couldn’t stop his mind from repeatedly sliding straight into the gutter, conjuring one explicit image after another.
He saw himself unbuttoning and unzipping her jeans, then yanking them down, spreading her wide open, and burying his face and tongue in her until she screamed and came apart.
What did she sound like when she came? What did she taste like? How would her hands feel on his—
“Hey.”
He looked up, jolted out of his thoughts. Thoughts of plain ol’ vanilla sex with Jannie, and never had bland seemed so hot.
This was fucked up. It was as if he had reverted to his virgin high school self.
“You promised me dessert.”
His gaze stopped on her lips.
I’ll be your dessert.
The idea of slowly sliding between those lips of hers had him hardening to the point of pain. Thank fuck he had a big plate on his lap, and she hadn’t seen it shift. “Yeah.” He motioned with his chin. “Open that box.”
She reached and peeled off the gold seal, embossed with Lark Confiserie.
The name brought the Larssen men to mind. “Have you talked to your brothers lately?”
She shook her head, then lifted the lid.
“Anyone from your family?”
She shook her head again, her gaze glued to the pastries. “They don’t know I’m here, and I’d like to keep it that way for a while.”
Nick frowned. “May I ask why?” The fact that Jannie hadn’t communicated with them puzzled Nick.
“Because they tend to overdo it with the support. It feels like pity, and I don’t want it. I don’t want to talk about it, don’t want to relive it, just ...” She grimaced. “Just no.”
Carefully, she removed the pastries, one by one, and licked a bit of cream off her finger. “These look and smell divine.”
She clearly signaled the end of the discussion by picking up a glossy strawberry-topped tart and bringing it to his mouth. “Open.”
The one word sent his heart rate spiking. He wasn’t used to this. Wasn’t used to taking orders, even innocent, softly spoken ones about food. But damned if he didn’t open his mouth for her, sinking his teeth into the tangy fruit, creamy custard, and buttery crust.
She watched him keenly, focusing on his lips.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her beautiful face.
“You have a crumb …” She reached to brush the corner of his mouth with her thumb, and he had to stop himself from turning his head to capture it.
“How is it?” she asked. Thankfully, she drew her hand and temptation away and watched him chew.
He swallowed. “Fantastic, as usual. The woman is a culinary genius.”
Something in her eyes made his heart skip a beat. He still couldn’t believe she was here with him. Already, he dreaded the day she’d leave. “So, how much time were you able to take off?”
“Not enough,” Jannie muttered.
“Why do you say that?”
She bit into the tart in the exact same spot he had, sending tingles racing up his spine. The woman could make biting into a pastry sexy.
She took her time chewing, and he could tell she was hesitant to say.
“Jannie?”
She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s something. Talk to me.”
She picked up the lemon tart, and he watched her tongue swipe across her lips before she took a little bite.