Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chance cringed, kicking himself for leading with a cheesy, expected one-liner.
His words were true enough, but that wasn’t what should’ve come out of his mouth.
He could’ve picked from a laundry list of her non-superficial qualities.
Yet, one look at Jane, and his world tilted to the side, wiping away his uncertainty and aggravation.
He no longer cared that his transatlantic journey had been the equivalent of a red-eye ride in a cargo plane. Nor did he give a flying monkey shit that the high-maintenance Thanes canceled their scheduled meeting via a text message from someone named Lark.
As a matter of fact, right then, he wanted to find Lark and say thanks. Lark had given Chance two things: the Thanes’s home address and Jane’s cell phone number.
The combination was enough to mask the bitter taste of exhaustion and aggravation. Too bad he couldn’t think of anything better to say than the equivalent of You, Jane. Me, Tarzan.
All of the blood in Jane’s body rushed to her head. “Ha, ha,” she tittered, self-consciously then twisted away. “Welcome back to America.”
“Thanks.” Amusement danced in his beautiful eyes. “How have you been?”
She pressed her palm against the small of her neck and could feel her pulse jumping like it raced hurdles. “What are you doing here?”
He tilted his head as though weighing her reaction. “You don’t know?”
Jane glanced around the yard as though any minute a television reporter and camera crew would jump out of the bushes. “I must’ve missed the security memo.”
His brows knitted. “The Thanes do security memos?”
“No,” she quickly amended. “Only joking. They don’t do anything with security unless it creates headlines—” She stopped before saying too much. At least, according to her nondisclosure agreement.
“I was supposed to meet with them, but they canceled on me.”
“You flew across an ocean, and they canceled?” Though she wasn’t the least bit surprised.
“I should’ve called.”
Her? Them? Jane wasn’t sure who he was referring to. She fumbled for what to say next. “Do you have time to hang out for a little bit?”
Again, there was that expression she couldn’t read. If she had to guess, she’d say there was humor mixed with the slightest hint of skepticism.
“I’m going to be here for a bit.”
“Oh.” Why? He didn’t like the Thanes. Or, rather, he detested them. “I’m the only one here. Teddy’s with his aunt, and Gigi gave the staff time off while they were gone.”
“Just you and me.” Chance pursed his lips together. “How about that timing?”
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She should invite him in—but where? To the main house? Her cottage? “I was reading by the pool.”
Chance tossed his truck keys in the air and caught them in the same hand, then shoved them into his pocket. “Lead the way.”
Okay. That was easy enough. Jane guided them to the backyard.
They walked down the slate-rock path and passed through the gate.
Their arms brushed, and her body flamed.
During their day trip in the souks, she could semi-ignore her reaction to him.
But after their elevator kiss and his surprise arrival, Jane’s nerves hit a fever pitch.
He saw where she’d been reading under the poolside umbrella and took charge. He shifted their dynamic, guiding her to her lounge chair. She appreciated the subtle way he took charge, especially when it was just the two of them.
Chance pulled a patio chair under the umbrella. She chose a patio chair also and reached for her sweating water glass. The ice cubes had nearly melted. Jane took a sip, watching out of the corner of her eye as he relaxed. “Are you on some kind of top-secret mission?”
He laughed. “Why do you think that?”
“Because, you’ve been…” She pinched her thumb and pointer finger together. “The slightest bit vague.”
His laughter rumbled in his chest. “If I were in the neighborhood on a classified job, do you think I’d swing by here?”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Well, of course not.”
“Then you’d be wrong.”
Her insides turned to molten mush, and the memory of their time in Abu Dhabi flooded back.
Was she supposed to ignore their kiss? Wouldn’t he have called if he wanted to see her again when he was dropping by a different continent?
“I hope you didn’t stop by after they cancelled out of misplaced… ” Remorse? Disgust? “Guilt.”
His eyebrow crooked. Chance’s lips parted as though he might respond, but instead, ran a hand over his chin and leaned back. “Why would I feel guilty?”
Come on! He was the Adonis-like man who’d kissed the leper woman. She didn’t know why, but guilt should’ve covered it. A sheen of sweat dampened the back of her neck. “I don’t know.”
Chance reached for her book. “What are you reading?” He held up the saucy book cover with a quick bark of laughter.
Jane snatched the book. “Don’t make any judgmental comments!”
He grabbed the paperback back. “Is it judgmental to assume that I’ll cast judgment?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t be cute.”
“Oh, I’m not.” He flipped through a few pages. “I’m curious.” Chance stopped. His eyes drifted across the page until his amusement sobered, and he turned the page. “Huh—”
Self-preservation kicked in. “Give me that.” Jane stole the book away but kept her finger on the page that he’d been on. After he left, she’d check the page he’d read. Jane crossed her fingers that the chapter focused on gunfights instead of getting it on.
“I always wondered what was in those books.” He gestured playfully. “Now I know.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You didn’t.”
“I did.” He crossed his hand over his heart. “Very interesting.”
Her curiosity bulldozed over her trepidation. So much for waiting until he left. Jane quickly opened the page.
“Give me my hands back.” She screwed her legs tight on his thighs. Her hair splayed out on the bed, wild in every direction.
“Not a chance, doll.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Honey, if you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission correctly.”
Her jaw fell open. Taken out of context, those few lines could give Chance the wrong impression. Jane buried the book in her lap. “All right. So—”
“He’s right.” The corners of Chance’s lips coyly turned up. “Ya know…”
No. Jane didn’t know a thing. Her brain spun, not letting her articulate an appropriate response while her womanly parts jumped to life, begging Jane to ask him to tell her more.
The corners of his eyes crinkled. He was loving this!
Jane swallowed hard, reaching for any sarcastic lifeline she could find. “Interesting that his military lesson was what caught your attention.”
“Actually.” He rolled hours’ worth of provocative play into that single word. “It was the way she said one thing but wanted another.”
Chance didn’t look away. Jane couldn’t breathe.
She empathized with that book all too well, wanting what she couldn’t have.
Their reasons were different. But in that moment, they were the same.
Chance was beautiful. She was not. Chance lived on the other side of the world.
Yet, here he was. Their time together had been so confusing.
But that kiss… She’d never forget it—or understand why—just like she still didn’t understand the reason he was in front of her.
“You’re not here to read my books,” she whispered.
“No. I’m here for work but, really…” Eternity lingered. He didn’t smile. Didn’t blink. Then he simply said, “I couldn’t stay away from you.”