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Luca gave me a pointed look I interpreted to mean, “We’re talking about this as soon as humanly possible.”
I had little doubt he’d let this drop; I just hoped he’d give me time to formulate an explanation.
Jake escorted me to my office and closed the door behind us. Once we were alone, he didn’t ravage me like I thought he might. Instead, he prowled around the room, inspecting my art and what I had on my desk.
What I had on my desk…oh no.
Picking up the cookie box, he lifted the lid. “You didn’t eat it.” He raised his eyes to me. “Do you not like cookies?”
I patted my round hips. “I obviously like cookies, and that one looks and smells delicious, but—”
He took it out of the box, sniffed it, and turned it over on his palm. My stomach tumbled. This was about to be embarrassing.
“It does smell good. You want to share it with me? Give me a little bite of your cookie?”
He held it between his fingers, just about to break it, but I couldn’t let that happen. I wasn’t ready.
“Wait!” I rushed to him, snatching the cookie away. Only when it was safely back in the box did I remember I had to face him and explain why I’d just done that.
He chuckled. “Guess you don’t want to share.”
I looked up, my lips rolled over my teeth. “It’s not that. I would share anything with you.”
His head tilted as his eyes darted around my face, thoughtful in his examination of me.
“But not the cookie.”
“Not that one. It’s so…cute. And you ordered it for me. You had to explain to someone exactly what you wanted it to look like and what it should say. I just want to keep it and look at it for a while. I’m not ready for it to be gone.”
God, I sounded like a lovesick teenager, not a thirty-seven-year-old mother. This was truly humiliating, but I couldn’t help being honest with him. His gift had touched a long-neglected part of me and made me feel special in a way I never had.
“There’s that sweetness I can’t get enough of,” he crooned.
One moment, I was dying of embarrassment. The next, I was in Jake’s arms, being kissed to within an inch of my life. He groaned as he tangled his fingers in my hair, keeping my mouth locked against his. Not that there was a chance I’d pull away.
He kissed me until the burn in my cheeks spread across my body like wildfire. Then he lifted me onto the edge of my desk and situated himself between my spread legs. Shoving my dress to the tops of my thighs, he stroked my bare skin and panted against my lips.
“Eat the cookie, Clara. It’s not going to be the only one I send you.” One hand moved to graze my cheek. “You were neglected for so long, weren’t you? You’re starving, and I’m going to be the one to feed you—fill you up until you forget what it’s like not to be cared for.”
My breathing stuttered, and I let my head fall against his chest. “We’ve only gone on one date. You can’t promise me that.”
“It’s been over a year. You’ve been in my head since the first night at The Tavern. You’re not going anywhere, and neither am I. I intend to see this through, wherever it goes.”
“Okay.”
He pried me from his chest and tucked his knuckle under my chin so I had no choice but to meet his gaze. It was warm, playful, belying the curves at the corners of his mouth.
“Okay.” He kissed my temple. “Go for a ride with me Friday night? Unless you planned your date for then.”
I shook my head. “I have an idea, but it’s not for a couple weeks.”
“Well, I’m not waiting that long.” He gave my chin a shake. “Say yes. Go for a ride with me.”
I nodded. “I’d love to.”
“Good.” He touched his lips to my forehead and backed up, carefully replacing my dress over my thighs. “Eat the cookie.”
I nodded. “I will.”
