CHAPTER NINE
ITWAS SUNDAYevening when Velvet returned home. Although she had enjoyed her weekend in New York immensely, she was glad to be back. The first thing she’d noticed when she pulled into the yard was that Jaye’s car wasn’t there. This was the first time she could recall him not being home on a Sunday evening. That made her wonder if he had a date.
As she strolled toward her bedroom, pulling her carry-on luggage behind her, she knew she couldn’t discount that possibility. It certainly wasn’t any of her business what he did and with whom. Jaye had been a womanizer when they’d met. Had she honestly expected him not to go back to his old ways? She’d even mentioned to Ruthie about Webb’s claim that Jaye had a steady woman back in Phoenix. Ruthie staunchly claimed that wasn’t true. But could Ruthie be certain of that?
Leaving her luggage in the corner of the room to unpack later, she paused to look at her bed. The three nights she’d spent in it before leaving for New York had been hell and all because of Jaye’s touch. Whenever possible, Ruthie reminded Velvet that she could go to bed every night and dream of having Jaye in her bed, or she could take the bull by the horns—or the man by the crotch—and do something about it.
Velvet hated to admit it, but the more she and Ruthie discussed it, the more sense it began to make. She no longer loved Jaye, that was a given. So why couldn’t she have casual sex, just like he could? It would only be temporary since he’d be leaving in a few months. In the end, it would prove she was over him, while at the same time she would satisfy her body’s craving. And her body was craving him. Just the thought of a roll between the sheets with Jaye had the tips of her nipples getting hard and the area between her legs throbbing something fierce.
For her plan to work, the first thing she needed to do was get him interested in her again. Granted, their reaction to one another the other day showed their sexual chemistry was still there, but she needed to raise the bar even higher. Then, when it got to the right level, she would reveal the new Velvet Spencer to him and deliver her terms.
A short while later, she was sitting at her kitchen table, going over her lesson plans for the week and enjoying a glass of wine. She wished she could stay focused and not allow her thoughts to drift to Jaye. But now that she’d made a decision, she needed to map out a course of action. It was time to draw on everything Jaye had taught her during the three years they’d been together—which meant seduction.
He liked the chase, and she would give him that—up to a point. She wasn’t totally immune to him, after all. The man was sex on legs and that appendage in the middle could deliver pleasure with a capital P. She of all people knew that. There was a chance that no matter how hot things got between them, he might not want to get involved with her again, thinking once was enough. Especially since she’d taken their relationship more seriously than he had—even after his repeated warnings for her not to—she needed to convince him she was no longer that woman.
When she heard a car pull into the driveway, she figured it was Jaye. What if he had brought a date home with him? She got up and, as discreetly as possible, peered out the window. It was dark but when he opened the car door, she saw he was alone.
Quickly coming up with an idea, she removed one of her hoop earrings, then grabbed the flashlight from the counter and headed for the front door.
THEMOMENT JAYEpulled into the yard he saw Velvet’s car parked in the driveway. He did not have to question why he felt all kinds of sensations riding low in his gut. It didn’t matter that he wouldn’t see her tonight. All he needed to know was that she was back. Hopefully, he’d get a glimpse of her tomorrow morning when she left for work.
Jaye saw the curtain in her kitchen move and figured she’d heard the car and glanced out to check who was pulling up. He was headed toward his side of the house when suddenly Velvet’s front door opened and she walked out with a flashlight in her hand.
It was dark but the soft glow from the porch light illuminated her. She was wearing jeans and a pullover top. She looked beautiful, causing his heart to miss a few beats.
“Hello, Velvet.”
She jerked and looked at him. “Jaye, you scared me. I didn’t hear a car pull up.”
He forced himself not to raise a brow. Strange she would say that since he knew for certain she had. “What are you doing out in the dark with a flashlight? Are you looking for something?”
“Yes. My other loop earring,” she said, tapping her right earlobe. “I must have lost it in or around the car because I’m certain I had it in my ear while driving home from the airport.”
“Do you need help looking for it?”
“No, thanks. I got this,” she said, walking past him. Her luscious scent followed in her wake and his nostrils took it all in.
He turned to watch her shine the flashlight on the ground near her car, then opening the door to look around inside. She might not need help looking for her earring, but he wasn’t going to leave her alone outside and unprotected.
He walked over and saw she was leaning over the car seat, checking the cushions and the areas between the consoles. He wished her ass weren’t all up in the air like that. Remembering how many times he’d ridden it was too much temptation. “I know you said you didn’t need help, but four eyes are better than two.”
She peered over her shoulder at him and nodded. “You’re probably right.”
He leaned inside the car, and she suddenly moved, bringing their bodies into contact. When he drew in a sharp breath, she looked up at him. “Jaye, are you alright?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that no, he wasn’t, and hearing her say his name wasn’t making him any better. He always thought her pronunciation had a sultry kick to it.
“I need to look under the seats where it’s dark. Could you shine the flashlight there for me, Jaye?” She pushed the driver’s seat back and got on her knees to peer underneath.
He was about to say it probably would be easier if she held the flashlight herself, but he had offered his help so he needed to make himself useful any way he could. “Sure thing.”
He leaned down close to where she was, maneuvering his body almost alongside hers to hold the flashlight at the angle she needed. It was torturous watching her stretch her body. And why were her nipples hard and pressing against her shirt? Then there was her perfect rounded ass being hugged by a pair of skin-tight jeans. Lordy.
“Jaye?”
He blinked. “Yes.”
“Where are you shining the light? It’s not in the area I’m looking.”
No, it wasn’t since he’d been shining it on her backside. A direct hit if ever there was one. “Sorry about that.” He adjusted the flashlight in the direction she needed him to.
A few minutes later, she decided to search the back seats. He didn’t know how her earring could have gotten back there but decided to keep his mouth shut since he was enjoying being so close to her.
“How was your date?” she asked casually, without looking at him. He was surprised she hadn’t noticed he’d slipped back to shining the flashlight on her ass again.
“My date?”
“Yes. I noticed you weren’t here when I arrived and figured you’d gone out on a date.”
Boy had she figured wrong. Was she asking for conversational purposes or was she fishing for information? Either way, he had no problem answering her. “No date. This is Super Bowl weekend. Vaughn gave a party, and I was invited.”
“That was nice of him.”
“Yes, it was. I got to hang out with some of the guys.”
“Oh, like who?”
If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was stalling about finding her earring. Hadn’t she searched that area already? Not that he had any complaints. In fact, it reminded him of the time they’d made out in the back seat of his car. It hadn’t mattered that the car was parked in the garage at the time. She said she’d never made out in a back seat, so he’d shown her how it was done.
“Jaye?”
Hearing her say his name reminded him that he hadn’t answered her question. “The sheriff, for one.”
“Ah, Sawyer Grisham is nice. Were Ray Sullivan and Kaegan Chambray there, too?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not surprised. Those three are close friends.”
“I know.”
When the car got quiet, she asked, “Who else?”
“Who else, what?” Jaye had lost focus when he noticed she was rubbing her hands all over the seat cushions the way she used to rub her hands all over him. He was convinced it was with the same measured strokes. Was she deliberately trying to arouse him?
“Jaye?”
He blinked. “Yes?”
“Who else was at the party?”
Did she want a list? And why was she interested? “Isaac Elloran, the two Witherspoon brothers—Ry and Duke—the fire marshal, Brody Dorsett and a guy, who grew up here and recently moved back to town to work at LaCroix Industries, by the name of Evans Toussaint. Kaegan invited all of us to go night fishing on his yacht next month. I told them I’d loved to join them if I’m still here.”
Her head whipped up so fast it was a wonder she didn’t get whiplash. That bit of information was of interest to her apparently. And was he seeing panic in the depths of her dark eyes?
“You’re leaving Catalina Cove?”
He was tempted to tell her no, not until he won back her love, proved that she had his. “Not sure yet. Things are doing better at this branch than I thought they would. That means I’m not needed here as long as expected. Dean is interviewing a bank manager for here. And we break ground on a new bank in Birmingham in a week.”
“Oh.”
Was that disappointment he heard? Or was it too much to hope? “I’ll take stock of how things are looking in another month,” he decided to add.
She nodded as she glanced around and then back at him. “I guess I’ve looked enough tonight for that earring. Maybe it dropped out of my ear near the porch.”
“You want us to look there now?”
“No. I’ll look in the morning when I leave for work.”
“And I’ll be sure to look around when I leave for my morning jog,” he said.
“You don’t have to do that, Jaye.”
“I don’t mind.” He offered his hand to help her out of the car. He braced himself for the impact he knew he’d feel from their hands touching. He noticed she hesitated only a moment before taking his hand, and his body began to sizzle. Her touch had him all ablaze.
Still holding her hand, he pulled her closer to him, not caring if their bodies touched in a way that would tell her he was aroused. His erection was a dead giveaway. But then there was truly nothing dead about his hard-on. It was very much alive and, at the moment, had a life of its own.
He recalled his decision to keep things nonphysical between them. She needed to know that he loved her and how much. But with her staring into his eyes and standing this close—even closer than they had the other day—it was messing with his common sense.
It was dark but there was a soft light from the porch, which meant they could be seen if anyone was looking. At the moment, he really didn’t give a royal damn. All he wanted to do was ease his mouth closer and capture hers with his.
“I think I need to go inside now, Jaye. Thanks for helping me look for my earring.”
“Anytime.” He swallowed and then said, “Vel?”
Too late, he’d said her nickname, which she didn’t want him to use. He braced himself for her sharp retort. Instead, she surprised him when she answered, “Yes?”
He wanted to tell her that he loved her, wanted her, needed her and, more than anything, wanted to marry her, but he knew now was not the time. She wouldn’t believe him. So instead, he said, “Good night, Velvet. Pleasant dreams.”
She smiled at him when she said, “Trust me, tonight they will be pleasant.”
She turned toward the house. He watched as she walked up the steps and entered her home. He decided right then and there that the next time their mouths came that close to kissing, they would.