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With a sigh, she melted against me, tension seeping from her in one solid whoosh. Her hands dropped from my face to circle around my neck, embracing me in return. I kissed her hair and temple a few times, earning contented little chirps from her. We stayed like that until she was steady again then walked outside and climbed onto my bike.
She wrapped around me a little tighter, snuggling a little closer than she had on the way to the bowling alley. I didn’t say anything, but I felt it, and I liked it. This woman had so many responsibilities she shouldered in everyday life, a lot of them all on her own. When she was with me, I’d make sure that weight was lifted. She could hand it all over for me to carry, and I’d be happy to do it.
The drive back to her house was shorter than I would have liked. With anyone else, I would have taken the scenic route, but Clara had her girl sleeping under her roof and an early morning ahead of her. She needed her rest, and I needed to make sure she got it.
I parked in her driveway and helped her off the bike. “Gotta admit, seeing you ride your machine made me weak in the knees, but having you on the back of mine is something else entirely.”
She stepped up on her porch and smiled at me. “I’ve only ever been on the back of my dad’s motorcycle, and now yours.”
I moved into her space, sliding my fingers into the side of her hair. “Let’s keep it that way.”
“Okay,” she agreed without hesitation.
Damn, did I like this woman. Leaning down, I covered her mouth with mine, tasting her. Sweetness and vanilla milkshake—a combination that made my heart race and stomach clench.
She fisted my shirt as I backed her into one of the pillars holding up her porch. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d kissed a woman for the sake of kissing her, and I couldn’t get enough of doing it with Clara. Her mouth was pliant and giving, answering my calls with the swirl of her tongue along mine, sucking and nipping and moaning when I swept my tongue between her lips.
Unable to help myself, I snuck a hand up her shirt and groaned from the contact. Her skin was unreal. So smooth and soft, like she was made of rose petals. One touch and I wanted to sink into her, coat myself in her softness. I palmed her breast, and the scratch of her lacy bra brought me back to earth.
“Clara,” I murmured against her lips. “I need to let you go inside.”
“You do.”
Her lips melded with mine, and her grip on my shirt tightened. The idea of her going inside without me felt so wrong. I pulled her even closer until there was nowhere for her to go.
Eventually, it was either fuck on the porch or break apart. Though the first option was incredibly tempting, I did the right thing, breaking our kiss. I rolled my forehead along hers as we both caught our breath.
“Really good night,” I said.
“It was.”
“I like what you’re showing me. I want more of it. More talking and playing games together. The good kind.”
She tipped her head back to grin at me. “Is this you asking me on a second date?”
“I hope I already made it clear I want more of you. If you need me to formally ask, I will. Clara Rossi, you gorgeous fucking woman, will you go out with me again?”
“Yep.” She bounced on her toes. “I will. And I’ll plan it this time.”
“Well, all right. I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with.” I leaned down to brush my lips over hers. “Go inside now. Get a good night’s sleep.”
She finally unclenched my shirt and started backing toward her door. Before turning to open it, she stopped, worry pinching her brow.
“Jake?”
“Yeah?”
Her hand rose to cup her throat. “I don’t want to tell it. I hate explaining everything. I think you should know, though, before we go forward. His name is Miller Fairfield. He was the CFO of Rossi. Look him up. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of reading material.”
I should’ve argued, told her it didn’t matter, but it did. What’d happened with her ex had shaped who she was now, and I wanted to know her. I liked what I’d uncovered so far. I had a feeling I’d like her even more the deeper we got.
“All right. I’ll do that.” I locked my gaze on hers for a long moment, showing her I wasn’t backing down. I took her seriously, and what she’d just given me meant something. “Best night, Clara,” I said with a softness she needed right now.
“Yeah.” Her lashes fluttered and there was the barest curve to her kiss-swollen lips. “Best night, Jake.”
It was worse than anything I could have dreamed up.
I’d heard about commotion at Rossi a few years back, but that was before I’d taken the job as VP and the business page of the newspaper hadn’t exactly been my daily read.
