Page 61 of Heat Advisory

I didn’t miss the fact that she hadn’t included me in that well-wishing, but she turned and walked away, which accomplished my goal, so I was happy.

I started to turn to grab the box when Jay’s hands at my hips tightened. He allowed me to turn to face him but not leave.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you liked being engaged to me,” he said with a sly grin.

While I was happy I’d done it, there was a part of me that thought maybe I had overstepped. However, not one to give in, I put on my bravest smile, held my head high, and looked him straight in the eye. “It has some perks.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked with a large smirk, likely enjoying this. “Like what happened yesterday in the car?”

“No,” I answered too quickly. “I meant people like Regina, who were not nice to Morgan or me in high school. She used to tease me that Morgan and I were destined to be single old cat ladies for the rest of our lives. It felt nice to be able to tell her we were together. Especially since she wanted you so badly back then and clearly still does.”

“Yeah, well, I had an amazing make-out session in my kitchen at the end of my senior year, and it ruined me for all other women. And now I’m engaged to that same woman, so I clearly won.”

My heart melted at his comment, but I didn’t get to say anything in return because his mouth was on mine.

The kiss was great. And heated. And everything I had remembered from the car yesterday.

“Okay, you lovebirds, let’s keep it G-rated for the kiddos,” Jay’s mom said cheerfully next to us, causing my head to jerk back as I tried to pull away.

He let me move away from him slightly, but not enough to lose contact. His left arm was still wrapped tight around my waist, holding me up against his side.

“Sorry, Mrs. Rainer,” I said quietly.

“Cora, you’re an adult.” She leaned in and moved her fingers back and forth from me to Jay. “And about to be family. You can call me Mom or Donna.”

“Okay, Mrs.…I mean…sorry, I…” I couldn’t get it together for some reason, and I blamed Jay.

“You two go on up for the night,” she said, practically shooing us away. “Your dad and I have the rest of it.”

I was going to protest and offer to help, but Jay beat me to it. “Thanks, Mom. Have a good night.” He leaned in to kiss his mom on the cheek and then pulled me back through the ballroom and toward the elevator lobby.

Jogging was more like it.

“Jay, we could have stayed and helped,” I laughed as I tried to protest while we waited for the elevator to arrive.

“Yes, but there’s something else we need to do that’s a bigger priority,” he said. His face was so solemn and serious that I was a little worried we’d forgotten something.

“What?” I asked as we entered the elevator.

He pushed the button for our floor and then turned to me as the door closed. “This.”

Then his lips were on mine, and they were ravenous as he pushed my body up against the wall. He licked my lips, causing me to moan slightly and open my mouth, giving him the entry he clearly wanted. He slipped his tongue inside as his hands moved down my sides and around to squeeze my butt.

Awareness and emotions rioted throughout my whole body. Heat and lust coursed through my veins as he kissed me like there was no tomorrow. My mind spun as I got lost in his kiss, his scent, and his touch all at once.

The elevator dinged as the door opened to our floor.

I was dizzy as he released my mouth and started to pull me down the hallway. I struggled to keep up with him as he practically dashed down the hallway to our room, my hand connected to his.

Half a second after we arrived at our room, he whipped out the keycard and opened the door. He pulled me in, flipping the deadbolt as soon as he closed the door, and then turned back to face me. His gaze intensified as it moved slowly from my legs to my chest to my face.

There was a level of uncomfortableness in me from the energy bouncing between us.

My voice sounded hoarse as I asked, “What now?”

His response was a coquettish smile as he took one slow step toward me.

I wasn’t sure why, but for every step he took forward, I took one back, until the back of my legs finally hit the edge of the bed.