Chapter Eight
Sunday, Jennifer finished braiding her hair and secured it with a rubber band when there was a knock at the door. She peeked her head out of the bathroom. “Come in,” she yelled.
She heard the door open and close, but no other sound. She ran to her bedroom to get a jacket before she walked toward the living room. At first, she didn’t see anyone.
“Good morning, Jennifer.”
Her head jerked toward the sliding glass doors where Grant stood in the shadows next to them with his arms crossed.
He was so ruggedly handsome in faded jeans and a blue long-sleeved t-shirt.
She could look at him all day. She walked toward him, smiled, and stopped when she got a foot away.
The look on his face made her nervous. He didn’t look mad, really, just cold and detached.
She took the remaining step and stood on tiptoe, and when he didn’t bend to kiss her, she kissed his chin.
She retreated several feet before she looked up into his eyes.
“I remembered,” she said with a shaky smile.
A chill ran down her spine, and she started to fidget when he continued to watch her.
She took a few steps back. Her brows puckered.
“Listen, Grant, I would totally understand if you changed your mind. It’s Sunday, for God’s sake.
You must have better things to do than feed animals. ”
He stayed silent for another moment as the tick in his jaw grew.
“Is that what you think? That I don’t want to go with you, and that’s why I’m upset?” His voice got lower and rougher as he talked.
Jennifer shrugged her shoulders. “I guess. Why else would you be upset?”
Grant’s frown grew, and he shook his head. “Let me get this straight. You remembered when I asked you to kiss me hello and goodbye, but you couldn’t remember my request to keep your door locked and ask who it was before you opened it?”
His voice took on a tone she could only describe as skeptical and deadly at the same time. A deep flush crept over her face as she bit her bottom lip.
“You’re right, I didn’t think, but—”
He took a step toward her. “There are no buts, Jennifer. Not with your safety.”
“You’re right, Grant.”
He closed the short distance between them and clasped her shoulders. “I don’t want to be right. I want you to be safe.”
Her hands went to his chest. She could feel the tension in his stomach through his dark blue t-shirt and felt terrible. “Okay. I’ll try to do better.”
His hands became caressing as his eyes softened.
“I know you will because I’m warning you, there will be consequences if you don’t.”
She tried to take a step back. “What consequences?” Her eyebrows snapped together. “You don’t have the right to give me consequences.”
“I’m making it my right.” He held her in place.
“But you—”
“Promise me you’ll do as I ask? I can’t tell you how to do your job, even though it scares the shit out of me knowing you handle vicious dogs, because I respect that you know what you’re doing. But what I’m asking is just for your security.”
Jennifer couldn’t determine the emotion that rolled through his eyes, but the stiffness of his body told her how strongly he felt. She had never had someone care like this about her, ever, except Tessa. She encircled his trim waist and held him tightly.
She cleared her throat. “I promise, Grant, and I’m sorry I upset you.” She held her breath until, finally, his arms came around her and pulled her tighter against him.
He didn’t say anything for a long moment, just held her and rubbed his chin against her head. “I think you should greet me again. The first time, I was too angry to enjoy it.”
She snorted and pulled back before she stood on her tiptoes. This time, he lowered his head, and between one breath and the next, he took control, and the kiss deepened.
She couldn’t do anything but hold on and try to get a breath into her lungs. She shivered when his hands started to roam over her back and hips. She gasped when one slid farther down to cup one side of her butt.
****
Grant
Grant lifted his head to stare down at her and watched her reaction to his hand there.
When she stood mutely, he moved his hand, and his fingertips grazed the crease between.
The old jeans she wore made it impossible to go further.
He clenched his jaw in frustration. As much as he wanted to strip her and lay her on the nearest flat surface, he knew it was too early for them to take that step.
He removed his hand slowly before he straightened.
“I think we’d better go, sweetheart, before this gets out of hand again.”
Jennifer nodded and stared wide-eyed at him before she moved back.
She turned toward the door and picked up her jacket and purse.
In the hallway, she turned to lock the door, but Grant gently took the keys from her shaky hands and locked the door himself.
Then they stood and looked at each other.
He waited for her argument. When she stood silently, he nodded in approval and returned her keys before he took her hand to lead her to his car.
After she snapped her seat belt, she drew in a deep breath. “Your car smells good.” She leaned back into the softest car seat she’d ever known.
He glanced at her quickly and shook his head before he turned his attention back to the traffic.
“Thanks.” He chuckled.