******
Sam settled back in the passenger seat, closed her eyes and smiled. The last few weeks with Jake had been some of the happiest of her life. She knew, without a doubt, that she was in love. It didn’t matter to her that their interaction was focused primarily on the charities and had had nothing to do with love or a relationship. All that mattered to her right then was that they’d been spending so much time together. At least she could say with confidence that their new relationship had gone past that of business associates. They had become friends. Of course, she wanted a lot more than that, but for now she was happy.
It had been so funny, though, when the investment banker had walked over to compliment her on the brief speech she’d given when she’d handed over the check. ‘Eloquent’ he’d called her, and ‘inspiring’. And then, in an instant Jake was by her side, his face dark and serious, looking for all the world like he was ready to pummel somebody into the ground. She’d almost laughed. She wasn’t stupid. She could see the jealousy plain as a poster on his face. And she’d been pleased. He wouldn’t be jealous if he didn’t have feelings for her, right? All in all, a good sign.
And now, as he drove her back to his house where she would pick up her truck, he was silent and solemn, staring straight ahead and not speaking. If you asked him he’d probably say he was just thinking but Sam knew better. Typical man, he resented the appearance of what she would call ‘healthy competition’. She, on the other hand, was enjoying it.
Then a mischievous thought popped into her head. Sometimes it didn’t hurt to let a man know what he was up against. Or at least give him the impression that there was something going on. Keep him slightly off balance, so to speak. It was never a good idea to make a man think he had you all bagged up and ready to go. There had to be a hint of uncertainty or else he’d just take you for granted. And tonight’s little turn of events had given her the perfect opportunity to insert that little pebble of uncertainty.
Sam smiled to herself. Like the story of the princess with the pea under her mattress, all it took was the tiniest doubt to make a man so uncomfortable he felt he had to make a move. And now that she had her little pea of doubt she was going to work it to her advantage.
She put up her hand and pressed her fingers against her mouth to hide the smile that tickled her lips. This would be the second round in her sweet seduction of Jake McKoy. Her mother would be so proud.
“Mark thought I looked very nice tonight.” She turned her face toward Jake as he drove.
“Mark?” He gave her a quick glance then turned his attention back to the road. “The man who came over to speak to you?”
“Yes. He said my dress brought out the beauty of my dark eyes.”
Jake was scowling now. Several seconds passed before he spoke. “I could have told you that,” he said in a rough growl.
Well, why didn’t you? She didn’t bother to ask the question that popped into her mind. Instead, she just smiled and waited for him to make the next move.
“Do you know him from somewhere?”
“Who, Mark? We just met.”
Another round of silence, this one longer than the first. Sam could just imagine what was going through his mind. But still, she remained silent. The ball was in his court and she was going to leave it there.
“I think you look stunning tonight.”
Sam raised her eyebrows and looked across at him. “Why, thank you, sir,” she said in her best Southern belle voice.
That brought a smile to his face. “No, really,” he said, his tone more relaxed. “You were the most beautiful woman there tonight. Hands down.”
Sam didn’t know what to say to that one so she just smiled. Luckily she was saved from having to find an appropriate answer when they turned into the driveway of his home. When he switched off the engine and turned to her she knew what to expect – a thank you and a quick peck on the cheek and so she would be summarily dismissed.
But that was not what happened. To her astonishment Jake reached for her and pulled her none too gently into his arms. Her lips parted in a gasp and before she could move his mouth descended and covered hers in a kiss that robbed her of the little breath she had left. He kissed her urgently, hungrily, almost angrily as she clung to his shoulders, helpless to resist.
He released her lips and slid his fingers up into her hair to cup the back of her head with his hand. “You are mine, Samantha Fox,” he said in a harsh whisper. “Only mine.” And then he was kissing her again, punishing her with his lips, until she moaned her answering passion.
When the kiss finally ended Samantha was weak and trembling, sprawled halfway across Jake’s lap, her dress exposing a length of thigh.
As Jake stared down at her in his arms he was panting and there was a dark flush to his face that told her that the kiss had affected him as deeply as it had affected her.
It took several seconds for their breathing to return to normal. Then he stroked her arm and reached down to straighten her skirt. He helped her slide back into her seat.
He gave her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I don’t usually employ such…caveman tactics. I guess my emotions got the better of me.”
Poor Jake. He probably didn’t even know why he'd reacted the way he had, but she most certainly did. Which proved her point. A little competition was a good thing.
“Would you like to come up for a drink?”
She tilted her head. “Are you sure? Not too tired?”
“Of course not,” he scoffed. "It’s not even nine o’clock yet.”
“Hmm, I don’t know,” she said, pretending to give his invitation serious thought. “I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. I do have to get up early tomorrow. Maybe some other time.”
“Come on,” he said. “Just a few minutes. I’m sure you can spare me that.”
“Well,” she said, dragging out the word. “Alright, just for a few minutes.”
He seemed pleased at her response. He was smiling as he hopped out of the car to open the door for her. Then they walked side by side up to the house.
Inside, Sam relaxed into the sofa as Jake went to get their drinks. She straightened her skirt around her and tried to look composed but inside she was all jittery Jello. Now that she was in the house with him she wasn’t quite so sure of herself. She wanted him to kiss her again but would he? And what if he didn’t? Should she make the first move?
She was still pondering her best course of action when he walked back into the room carrying two glasses of champagne.
“In celebration of our tenth charity,” he said as he handed her a glass. “Congratulations. You’ve done me proud.”
“Thank you,” she said, her body growing warm with his praise. She took the glass from him and their fingers touched. A thrill ran through her. Had he felt it, too? Her eyes darted up to his face and yes, she was sure he had. He was looking down at her with an intensity that left no doubt in her mind that he’d felt exactly what she had. And he wanted her.
As if in confirmation he dropped his lean frame onto the couch beside her. When he leaned forward she lifted her face to meet him. She was disappointed when he gave her a peck on the cheek then leaned back and took a sip of champagne, his eyes never leaving hers.
She almost frowned but then she lifted her glass to her lips, partially hiding her face from his gaze. What kind of a kiss was that? She'd expected passion, maybe fireworks, but a peck? No, not good. This man was exercising too much restraint. It was time for her to make her move.
She took another sip then another, then she tipped the glass and drained it. She needed all the courage she could get and maybe a touch of bravado. The champagne just might do the trick.
He was still watching her, of course, and she could see he was surprised that she’d downed her drinks so fast. Well, he was in for a lot more surprises. Although he’d only drunk half its contents, Sam reached out and took the glass from Jake’s hand and rested both on the coffee table. Then she turned back to him.
Before he could figure out what she was up to, she rested her hands on his shoulders and pressed him back into the sofa then, riding on the high from the champagne, she sank into the chair beside him and pressed her lips to his. “Kiss me, Jake,” she whispered against his mouth. “I want you to kiss me.”
Immediately, his arms snaked round her back and he dragged her up against him, crushing her breasts against his rock-hard chest. Then he was kissing her, plundering her mouth with an ardor that made her head spin.
Dear God, he wanted her. She could taste it in the desperation of his kiss, hear it in the pounding of his heart, feel it in the hardness that pressed against her thigh. When Jake broke the kiss to catch his breath Sam slid her hand inside his shirt to caress the smooth skin of his broad chest. She took his moan of pleasure as license to go farther. Fingers trembling in her eagerness, she undid button after button until Jake’s upper body was bare to her heated gaze. He looked like he was going to put his hand up. Whether to hold her or to resist her, she did not know, but she knew what she wanted and nothing was going to stop her.