CHAPTER 13 #2
He, too, had showered. His hair was damp, and he smelled of a strong, spicy cologne. “I went to UF. What do you expect?”
“A dog maybe? A cat? Or fish?”
He laughed. “Come meet Albert. He’s cool. And harmless.”
Claire wasn’t so sure about that. Not wanting to appear rude, she stood behind Jake, who reached right in, scooped up the reptile, and held him out.
Claire’s heart jumped. She’d been conditioned from a young age to stay clear of gators.
She took a small step back. “That’s no baby.”
Jake chuckled. “A youngster. He’s only two feet long. These guys grow to eleven feet or more, but it takes many years for them to reach that size.”
She already knew everything he’d just told her about alligators. “You named him after the UF mascot?”
“Yup.” He grinned, seemingly pleased that she’d figured it out. “Go ahead, pet him. He doesn’t bite, I promise.”
She didn’t care to test that. “No.”
Jake rubbed Albert’s back. To Claire’s relief, he turned and gently replaced him on his rock. “Sorry, guy. The pretty lady is afraid of you.”
He sounded disappointed. Oh well. She needed all ten digits, thank you very much. “I didn’t know you were allowed to keep these things as pets.”
“Things,” Jake muttered, brow furrowing as he adjusted Albert’s heat lamp. “You can keep all sorts of exotic animals in Florida if you have a permit. Raccoons, coyotes. Even bobcats.”
Now, that, she didn’t know. “Is that right?”
He nodded. “Reptiles make great pets. Growing up, I had snakes. I took a baby albino python to middle school and raised him with my class. He moved with me from homeroom to homeroom as I changed grades.”
A wicked smile curved his lips. “The girls called me Jake the Snake.”
The gleam in his eye told her the nickname had nothing to do with the albino python. His gaze dropped to her breasts. Her bra was hanging in his laundry room, along with her other clothes, and though the shirt she’d donned was oversize, he still had something to look at.
A ball of apprehension suddenly rolled in Claire’s belly. “A python, huh? That’s wild.” She had no interest in Jake’s python.
Claire scrambled for a change of subject and spotted the aquarium’s open top. “Is there no cover for the tank?”
Jake shook his head. “I let him roam if he feels like it. He even sleeps with me if his heat lamp turns off.”
The man slept with a gator.
She tried to hide her apprehension but apparently failed because Jake smoothed a hand over her shoulder. “I do have a cover. I’ll get it if that makes you more comfortable.”
“Please.”
“No problem.” He motioned with his chin toward an enormous black sectional with chaises the size of queen beds on either side.
Several black leather pillows accented the seating surfaces.
“Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back.
What would you like to drink? A cocktail?
I think I also have a bottle of champagne in the fridge. ”
A vision of Ian’s hands uncorking that bottle drifted across her mind. Definitely not champagne.
“You know I don’t drink alcohol.” Why was he offering it to her?
“OK,” Jake called over his shoulder. “I’ll make you a virgin cocktail then.”
Claire sighed. She did like most of what he chose for her, but it would be nice to have a say. At least he’d asked this time. Sort of.
She made her way to the opposite wall, where a multitiered wood shelf displayed all sorts of metal objects.
Moving closer, she saw several pairs of long, odd-shaped scissors, forceps, what looked like tweezers, and other implements she didn’t recognize.
One looked like a long rod with a metal grip and a loop on the end.
On a lower shelf, arranged in groups, were several types of saws.
Whoa. She guessed Jake never had kid visitors.
“Antique surgical instruments,” came Jake’s voice from behind her. He handed Claire a tumbler filled with what looked to be orange juice. “I made you an adrenal cocktail.”
“Thank you.” She took a sip and couldn’t distinguish what she tasted besides citrus. “What’s in it?”
“OJ, coconut water, and sea salt. It’s good for you. Regulates blood sugar and cortisol levels.”
She eyed his V-shaped glass. “Dirty martini?”
He grinned. “Coconut water. With a twist.”
Such a health nut. Claire smiled. She did like that this man took good care of himself.
“That surgical toolbox took me forever to find.” He pointed to a wooden box displayed alone under a spotlight. In its compartments, Claire saw long picks, some sort of hammer and chisel, and a wide, foldable flat saw with a gleaming metal handle.
“This is quite the collection.”
“It is. I have more in storage. I like to rotate and change up the display. Started with one 1920s Horsley’s skull saw when I was in fifth grade. I think that’s when my obsession with surgery began.”
“And it’s ongoing.”
He laughed. “What can I say? I love what I do.” He winked. “The pay isn’t bad either.”
“These are all surgical saws?”
He nodded. “Bone saws. We’re lucky we’re living in these times. I can’t imagine working with these or what those patients had to endure.”
He moved closer, so close that his arm touched hers. “Speaking of enduring.” His voice held a different tone than usual, and it made her nervous. He took her empty tumbler and set it on the shelf, then put down his glass. “When are you going to let me kiss you again?”
Claire’s eyes widened. “What?”
“I said—”
“I heard what you said.” Her heart began a dull thud in her chest.
His hazel eyes held hers. “Was that so unexpected? We’ve been going out for weeks, and all I got was one.
” He paused for a beat. “I don’t mind waiting for what I think will be worth it.
” His gaze zoomed in on her lips. “But I’m getting tired of looking at that mouth of yours and wanting more of it. ”
Jake moved to stand in front of her, reaching to caress her hips. “Let me kiss you, Claire.”
He pulled her closer. She braced her hands against his chest
“That’s all? A kiss?”
“I admit, I want much more. But I figure you will come to me when you are ready to come.”
His smile was a bit too cocky.
Claire looked up into his handsome face, felt his fingertips stroke her back, and waited to feel something.
Anything. She should be feeling something.
Shouldn’t she?
“I’m ready whenever you want to,” he whispered, snaking his hand behind her to draw her against him.
Oh, now she did feel something: Jake’s readiness. It only triggered unease. This was the man her mother was convinced she needed, but even feeling his evident desire for her, all Claire could do was think of how she had felt the other day on top of Ian.
Ian. She had intended only to kiss him and ended up sucked into a sexual vortex.
Jake bent his head. Claire’s heart began to pound but with something other than desire. She didn’t draw away but closed her eyes. She had to let this happen to see if …
His mouth brushed over hers softly, then more insistently, his tongue sliding along the seam of her closed lips. Her hands remained splayed on his chest, and Claire felt no need to pull him closer.
She opened slightly, allowing him inside. Jake eased in, sweeping tentatively, and Claire realized he was waiting for her response. She touched the tip of her tongue to his in a quick swipe before she closed her mouth and broke the kiss.
If Jake was disappointed, he hid it well. He gave her one more peck, released her, and stepped back, smiling.
“So, what’ll it be tonight? Guest room or my bedroom?” He wriggled his brows. “I promise I won’t behave. I guarantee you’ll like it.”
A strangled laugh escaped her. “Jake, I—”
“Kidding. I was kidding. You don’t have to say it. You’re obviously not ready.”
Not for you.
She read the disillusionment in his expression and couldn’t, in good conscience, lead him on.
“That isn’t what I was about to say.”
“Oh?” He raised a brow.
“You have to know something.” She looked straight into his expectant hazel eyes. “I’m also seeing someone else.”
He frowned slightly. “Why are you telling me this?”
Claire’s shoulders dipped with relief. He didn’t seem too upset by her admission. “Because of where you expect things to go.”
He pondered for a moment. “Are you serious about the guy?” His mouth curved in a crooked smile. “Assuming it’s a guy, of course.”
“Yes, it’s a guy.”
“And?”
Was she serious about Ian?
The only thing she knew for sure was that she was seriously in lust with him. But Ian had made it clear he wasn’t interested in a relationship—just sex.
Just earth-shattering sex.
“Wait, is it the guy from the cafeteria?”
That’s right. She had forgotten that Jake had had a front-row seat to the ketchup fiasco.
“Yes.” Why were her cheeks growing so warm?
Jake studied her face for a moment, then nodded slowly, eyes glinting. “I see.” He paused for a beat. “If you say it isn’t serious, then I believe you. You wouldn’t be here kissing me if you were committed to that guy.”
Claire said nothing. What could she say when he was right?
“I’ve never backed away from a challenge, Claire. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you on that plane, with your beautiful face and gorgeous hair, asking me to put up your carry-on. If waiting is required of me, I’ll do it.”
He took a deep breath and stepped back. “It’s late. We should both get some sleep. You’ll find disposable toiletries in the vanity drawer. Help yourself to anything you need from the kitchen. And don’t worry about Albert. I’m going to secure his setup.”