“Please.” He walked to the worker, pulling cash out of his pocket as he walked. “Ready to be amazed, sweetheart?”
Her breathing hitched at the familiar nickname. It had driven her grandmother crazy, because Jake wasn’t good enough for her. But then again, according to her grandmother, no man had been good enough. “Oh yeah. I’m ready.”
He flexed his arm. Light shone in his gaze as he picked up the white ball. It was in that moment that she knew he was having fun, whether he ever admitted it or not. Her heart fluttered in her chest. This was what she’d wanted to see. Jake, being Jake.
Not the automated robot he’d turned into.
He let loose. His ball hit right on target, making a bell ring shrilly. He nodded his head decisively. “I’m calling it now. You better start picking out your favorite animal.”
She laughed, checking out the biggest prizes on the top shelf. He’d always won her the best ones, and she’d kept them all. Still, to this day, they were in her guest room, lined up like some shrine to Jake. It was kind of pathetic, but whatever.
She liked them, and the memories that came with them.
She couldn’t help but wonder if this new addition would hold pleasant memories or bad. He hauled back and let loose another throw, once again hitting dead center. The worker crossed his arms and watched skeptically, looking as if he hated his job.
After a second’s hesitation, Jake picked up the last ball and held it out for her. “Good-luck charm time.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Seriously?”
“You know it’s the only way this works.”
Tara smiled, but ducked her head low so he couldn’t see her expression. Seeing him like this again was amazing, and she loved it. “You’re so superstitious.”
Without blinking, he kept his heated gaze on her. “Do it.”
She held on to his wrist lightly. Leaning down, she placed a kiss right in the center, her heart thudding in her ears the whole time. Instead of pulling back right away, she nibbled on his skin, then flicked her tongue over the bite.
His body stiffened, and he groaned. Low and guttural and sexy.
She lifted her head and stared at him. Tried to convey how willing she would be to do that to other parts of his body. Namely, all of them. “There.”
“Right.” He swallowed hard. “Here goes nothing.”
Turning back to the booth, he took a shuddering breath and hurled the ball. It hit dead center, and he turned to her with a huge grin on his face. It was the first time she’d seen him smile since he’d stomped back into her life with his blackmail.
And it was breathtaking.
His green eyes shone like flawless emeralds, and he still had the dimples she used to swoon over as a girl. Freaking dimples, on top of the captivating one he had in his chin. “Pick your animal.”
“You did it.” She threw herself into his arms, squeezing him tight. Wanting to give him affection, mostly suspecting he’d had none in his life lately. “Thank you!”
For a second, he didn’t touch her. Didn’t return her hug. His arms hung at his sides, as if he didn’t know how to react to a simple kind gesture. But then he hauled her close and cupped her butt firmly. His fingers bit into her tender flesh.
“Tara,” he said, his voice hard and shattered all at once. Leaning in, he whispered, “You keep this up, and you’ll be on your back behind the Ferris wheel, and I’ll be so deep inside of you you’ll forget what it feels like not to have me there. Tread lightly.”
She shuddered, the ache between her thighs immediate and demanding. Wanting exactly what he’d said and more. “Maybe that’s not really a threat.”
He dug his fingers deeper. “Oh, it is. You have no idea what you’d be getting yourself into, sweetheart. No idea what I’m capable of. If you go to bed with me, you will submit. I won’t have it any other way.” He let go of her and moved away, his attention locked on her. “Now claim your prize.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say, “You. I claim you.”
But she forced her attention toward the booth, and the waiting clerk, despite the need eating her alive. “I’ll take the little orange cat, please.”
“You can get a bigger animal,” the man said, pointing at the upper shelf. “Anything from there.”
She shrugged. “I like the cat.”
“All right.” The man shook his head, but tossed her the tiny fur ball anyway. “Suit yourself.”