She’d firmly refused his offer of help. Presumably, and somewhat to his relief, she’d wanted to make the coffees herself.
He turned as she set two steaming aromatic mugs on her patio table in front of the open doorway. A muted gold light from the lamp spilled onto the balcony, leaving the far end with its potted palm draped in purple shadows.
‘I’m afraid there’s no such luxury as a cappuccino maker here. I…’ She trailed off as she looked at him, and stood perfectly still.
Which gave him time to drink her in. Who needed coffee? She was glowing and beautiful and warmed his insides as no cappuccino could. She smelled of flowers in full bloom and hot velvet nights. Summer. No, he didn’t want coffee. He’d waited all evening to reacquaint himself with her taste.
But before he could make his move she pulled the clasp from her hair and shook it free. An invitation if ever he saw one. He watched, transfixed, as the shiny black silk slithered loosely over her shoulders and down her back. The air between them smouldered with desire. With intent.
He wasn’t aware that he’d crossed to her but here she was, an erratic pulse-beat away. In the half-light her skin was creamy smooth, her lips ripe and full, her eyes huge and aware. Then his fingers were skimming her jaw, angling her chin towards him. Up close he could pick out the subtle fragrance of sun-drenched petunias.
His heart seemed to stutter, his throat dried up. Right now he had no words to tell her how gorgeous she looked, how desirable. How much he wanted her. He lowered his mouth to hers.
Her body softened instantly against his, allowing him to pull her closer, to slide his hands beneath her hair and over her bare shoulders, down her spine to where the top of her dress fitted just below her shoulder blades.
She shifted with a moan that vibrated through his senses and settled in his throbbing groin. Her arms slid up and around his neck as she fitted herself against him. Her breasts rubbed against his chest. Her legs tangled with his. The smouldering heat threatened to spontaneously combust them both right where they stood.
And then, on the little table, his phone buzzed.
He almost lifted his head but suddenly something inside him rebelled. Years of putting everyone else first. Being there. Taking charge. He tightened his hold. Always-on-hand Jared was, at this moment—and for however many moments it might take—unavailable. With his fingers splayed against her back, he pressed her nearer, as if that might make the noise disappear.
But Sophie wasn’t of the same mind. She drew back breathless, her hands still on his shoulders, and looked up at him. ‘You want to get that?’ she murmured.
‘No.’ No way. No. Not in a million years. ‘It’ll go to voice-mail.’
The offensive sound ceased. He slid a finger along her collarbone, turned on just watching her lick her lips, wet from their kiss. ‘Now…where were we…?’ Putting her arms back in place around his neck, he nibbled at her mouth, not thinking about whether whoever-it-was had left a message and whether it might be important.
But, no matter how hard he tried, the moment was spoiled. He wanted to howl. Years of owning a business, and, more importantly, being there for his younger siblings, made it impossible to disregard the phone no matter how badly he wanted to make it with Sophie.
And he could already feel her cooling off. There was a tiny tremor of tension that hadn’t been there before, as if she’d suddenly realised where this had been heading and come to her senses.
He only wished he felt as cool.
With a sigh he touched his forehead to hers. ‘I’m going to have to see who that is first so I can ignore them guilt-free.’
She drew back. ‘Timing,’ she said, nodding as if she knew what she was talking about. ‘Maybe it’s a good thing it happened after all.’
‘How can it be a good thing?’ he muttered, stalking to the table. He swiped up the phone. One missed call from Lissa. His pulse spiked in a different way when he remembered she’d gone out tonight. She’d left a message…
‘Um, hi, Jared. Are you coming home any time soon? This is real dumb and I’m sorry and all, but I’ve locked myself out of Fort Knox. Any chance you can swing by and let me in?’
He closed his eyes and prayed for patience and understanding. Because right now he didn’t have much of either.
‘Is everything okay?’ Sophie’s soft voice reminding him of what might have been.
He opened his eyes but he turned away, didn’t look at her. ‘Melissa’s managed to lock herself out,’ he clipped, already returning her call.
Melissa answered on the first ring. ‘Jared. Good, you got my message. Um…did I disturb you?’