Chapter Sixteen
Grant held back a smile when Jennifer opened the door, a little disgruntled. He didn’t care if she was mad. She had followed his instructions, even going so far as kissing him right away before the door was closed behind them.
Grant grasped her arms when she tried to move back. “Do you know how happy you just made me?”
Jennifer bit her lip, shook her head, and kept her eyes on him.
Grant bent his head and took her mouth in a quick, hot kiss. He lifted his head and stood at his full height, dwarfing her.
“You made me very, very happy. Now, I won’t worry so much about your safety.” He knew in his heart that that wasn’t true, but it made him happy she was doing as he asked.
If he could, he would have her moved in with him and wrapped in Bubble Wrap to keep her safe, but he knew the first wouldn’t happen for a while.
It was ridiculous to think that way after only knowing her a few days.
And the Bubble Wrap, he knew she’d never let happen.
But it is good to have dreams, he thought sarcastically.
As crazy as it seemed to him that this little slip of a woman had suddenly turned his life upside down, he wouldn’t change anything.
His bachelor days were over. His dreams at night were all of her.
She was on his lap, in his home, and under him.
They had to get moving before he reached for her again. “Let’s get going, baby, or we’ll miss our reservations.”
Jennifer looked down at herself. Before meeting Grant, she hadn’t cared what she wore and didn’t like to spend money on clothes. As she stood in black pants and a light-blue short-sleeved shirt, she felt embarrassed.
“I think I should change clothes, Grant. You look so nice in your suit pants and white button-down shirt, and I look frumpy.”
Grant’s gaze slid from her thick hair down around her shoulders, set the way he liked to the rosy perfection of her skin and the brightness of her beautiful eyes, and snorted.
“That’s not possible. You’re gorgeous no matter what you wear. Now let’s go, I’m hungry.”
Grant could tell she was still uncomfortable when they sat down at the restaurant. He reached across the table to catch her hand. “Jennifer, I want you to stop worrying about your clothes.”
Jennifer raised her stricken eyes to his. “Grant,” she said as her gaze roamed over the restaurant, where everybody looked wonderful. Even the waitresses were better dressed. “I know I’m self-conscious about this, but—”
“There are no buts, Jen.” Grant waved the waitress away.
“I want you to feel good about being with me.” He raised his hand when she started to interrupt, then reached across and captured her hand.
“We can go somewhere else if this is too uncomfortable. I don’t want you to be embarrassed about anything.
I think you’re beautiful, but you must feel beautiful to relax, right? ”
Jennifer shrugged one shoulder and kept her eyes on his hand that cupped hers on top of the table. “It’s never bothered me before...”
“And I don’t want it to now,” he said as he raised his hand for the waitress.
“Grant, what are you doing?” Her tone was imploring, and her eyes were wide.
“I’m getting our drink check so we can go.”
Jennifer felt guilty about ruining the night and tugged on his hand. “No, Grant. I want to stay here. I’ll deal with my insecurities later, but I want a nice dinner with you right now.”
His eyes narrowed on her. “Baby, are you sure?”
She nodded.
He wasn’t convinced but let it go for now. “Do you know what you’re hungry for?”
“I’ll have whatever you have. I like just about everything.” Jennifer watched Grant as he ordered the food. She wished she had his self-assurance. Maybe if he weren’t so handsome, it wouldn’t bother her as much. Jennifer even noticed the waitress who eyed him as he ordered.
“What are you thinking?”
Jennifer jerked to attention, and a dark flush crept up her face when she noticed the waitress was gone, and Grant had been watching her stare at him.
Grant laughed. “God, I love the way you blush.”
Jennifer snorted. “I’m sure you do. It’s probably been years since you blushed.”
Grant tensed, and his smile fell slightly. “No, I can honestly say I have never blushed in my life.”
****
Jennifer
Jennifer watched as a slight, distant change came over Grant.
Most of the time, she saw a gentle, sweet Grant, but a few times, she saw this side of him.
The hard, cold, arrogant man who sometimes seemed to make Tessa uncomfortable but never Jennifer.
She knew in her heart and without a doubt that this man would never hurt her.
Before she said anything, he changed the subject.
“So, tell me a story about work?” he asked while he kept hold of her hands tenderly, but his eyes stayed a little distant and cold. She told him about a few funny things that had happened at the shelter just to see the dark look fade from his eyes.
By the end of dinner, they were both relaxed and smiling. Grant pulled Jennifer up from her chair and led her out of the restaurant.
Jennifer slid into the car a little slowly, pressed a hand to her stomach, and looked up at Grant as he stood beside her.
“Oh, God, Grant. I’m so full, I can hardly move,” she groaned.
Grant leaned toward her with one hand on her door and his other on top of the car, and his gaze slid down her body, taking in her compact, curvy shape.
“Good. I will always make sure you get enough to eat.”
Jennifer grunted. “If you keep feeding me like this, I’ll be a blimp before long.”
Grant laughed. “I think you’ll be just fine, baby, but you should know I’ll take you any way I can get you.” He shut her door and walked around to his side.
Jennifer leaned the side of her head against the headrest and kept her eyes on him. “That was sweet to say. You’re a very nice man.”
Grant turned toward her and laid an arm along the back of her seat. “I’m pretty sure no one has ever used that word to describe me.”
A smile pulled across her face. “Well, I guess they don’t know you as I do.”
Grant pushed his fingers through her soft hair. “You’re right about that.” His tone of voice softened. “I will always be good to you, baby. I don’t want to scare you, but I want you to know my intentions are good.”
Her eyes widened. She stayed silent for a moment. The way he talked should alarm her. It was way too soon to talk like this, but all she felt was happiness and a sense of relief that he felt as strongly for her as she did for him.
Grant’s lips twitched as his thumb glided over her soft cheek. “Nothing to say, baby?”
Jennifer shook her head. Her breathing deepened.
Grant groaned when her tongue crept out to moisten her lips.
“One thing about me you should know is that I trust my instincts. They have never pointed me in the wrong direction, so when they tell me to snatch you up and never let you go, I will certainly listen to them.”
He cupped the back of her head to guide her toward him. He was a breath away from taking her lips when he paused and narrowed his focus on her.
“You have no idea what you do to me, do you?”
Jennifer shook her head and closed her eyes before she pressed forward to feel his lips on hers.
They both moaned as Grant deepened the kiss. He plunged his tongue into the depths of her mouth before teasing with hers. He pulled his head up.
“We have to stop, baby.” His chuckle mixed with a groan when her eyes remained closed, and she reached for more. “Jennifer?”
“Mmmm?”
“God, you’re killing me here, babe,” he chided softly.
The tortured tone of his voice slid through her and urged her to open her eyes.
His body tightened at the hungry daze in her eyes. If he didn’t have her soon, he was going to go insane. He breathed a sigh of relief when she blinked and moved back.
“Good girl. Now, let’s get you home.” His thumb took one more swipe of her soft cheek before he reached across her for her seat belt and secured it before starting the car.
Jennifer settled back and watched as the city blocks passed, the streetlights casting shadows through the windshield on their way to her place. She turned in her seat.
“Grant, Tessa wants to go to dinner Friday night. The four of us. What do you think?”
Grant caught her hand in his and stayed silent for a moment as he stared out the windshield.
“I think it’s a good idea. I’ll contact Devon tomorrow, and we’ll make plans. All right, baby?” he said as he glanced at her quickly before he turned his attention back to the road.
Jennifer nodded. “That would be great. I’ll wait to hear from you or Tessa.” She pulled her eyes from him to her side window but tightly gripped his hand.
They stopped at a stoplight. “I’m not going to wait five days to see you again. I know you’re busy, but you could spare a little time every day, couldn’t you?”
Jennifer glanced at him and smiled softly. “Every day?” She thought he was kidding at first, then caught the serious look in his eyes. “Yes, I’d like that, Grant.”
Grant nodded. “Good.” After they parked in her apartment lot, he walked her to her door and waited for her to unlock it.
“Do you want to come in?” She looked back at him and kept one hand on the open door.
Grant leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms.
“I don’t think so, baby. I’m afraid my control is shaky, and I don’t think you’re ready for what I need from you.”
Jennifer’s gaze locked on his as she nervously licked her lips.
“What do you need?”
Grant paused, unsure if he should tell her the truth or try to soften it. The palm of his hand cupped her chin to ensure he had her attention before telling her softly.
“Do you want the truth?”
A shiver of unease skidded down her spine, but she nodded anyway.
“Yes.”
“Everything, baby. I want your heart, body, sweetness, and your future, everything.”
Jennifer stiffened and stood mute for a moment, her eyes wide. “Grant, how can you say that? We’ve only just met. You don’t know if we’re going to go that far. You need to get to know me before you say things like that.”
Grant looked down at his feet before he looked back at her.
“I know what you’re saying, and I get it.
I can’t describe exactly why I feel this strongly already.
I just do, and I’ve never felt this for anyone before.
It’s like an electrical charge zapped me the first time I saw you.
I just knew you were the other half of me.
The best part of my soul. We’ll put my intuition aside and go as slowly as you need. ” His voice radiated sincerity.
Jennifer’s heart thumped heavily in her chest. She did know what he was saying. She’d felt the same thing when she met him, like they already knew each other.
Grant reached out and moved his fingers down her cheek before cupping her chin.
“Have I scared you away, sweet Jennifer?”
Jennifer stepped toward him and set her hands on his chest.
“No, Grant, you haven’t. I also feel strongly for you, but I agree we should take this slow. I don’t think you’ll want to stay when you really know me.”
His body tightened when she touched him. A spike of anger hit him with her words, even though he understood why she was insecure. This happened fast and hit them both hard. His arms pulled her against his chest, and he lay his cheek on top of her head and breathed in her addictive scent.
“I will just have to show you that you’re enough for me. Now kiss me, baby.”
Jennifer tilted her head back and met his lips with her own. As it usually did, the kiss instantly burned hot at just the touch of their lips.
Grant groaned deep in his throat. It was nearly painful to pull away from her, and it got worse every time. He set her away from him with his hands on her shoulders. “Shut and lock the door behind me, Jen. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
Jennifer raised a shaky hand to her lips and nodded.
Grant pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before he stepped back.
“Right now, Jennifer. I only have so much strength.”
Jennifer closed the door quietly between them before she locked it.
“Good girl. Night, baby.”
Jennifer laid her forehead against the door and listened to his steps fade as he left.