Jameson sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “So, did you just stop by to leave me understaffed?”
“And to say hi.”
“Hi.” He dropped his arms to his sides and rested his hands on the edge of the desk.
“Hi.” Sue tried not to blush, but she felt her cheek flushing slightly at his attention. “Last night you said you own the bookstore building, right?”
“I do.” He nodded.
“I guess that means you’re going to be my new landlord.” Sue watched his face closely for a reaction.
“Are you moving from the theater into the bookstore? If so, when you get tired of books, I have a cot in back you can use if you want to continue your business-hopping trend.”
“I’m buying the bookstore from Melba. There are still some details to iron out, but, yeah, we agreed.” Sue didn’t take her eyes from him.
He stared at her as if waiting for a punchline. When she didn’t say anything more, he asked, “Are you serious?”
Sue nodded.
“But you didn’t even know there was a bookstore until last night. Unless I misunderstood?” The lighthearted mood changed somewhat.
“I don’t know. Ace lured me in again today. I saw how great the store was, and Melba came out, and we started talking about cosmic signs, and there were contracts and… it made sense.” Sue looked at the floor. Now that I’ve said that out loud, it does sound a little sudden, doesn’t it?”
“I don’t know. I mean, if Melba was seeing her cosmic signs.” Jameson scratched the back of his head.
“Are you upset? Do you not want me as a tenant? I can pay a deposit.” Sue had no idea how much the rent was, but evidently, the store could afford to pay it since it was still in business. “I’m quiet, clean, and I swear I won’t be any trouble.”
“No, I don’t want you as a renter,” he confessed.
Sue tried to answer but didn’t know what to say to that. “Oh.”
“I wanted to ask you out on a date, but if I’m your landlord, that makes me a creeper.”
He did?
Sue couldn’t help her relieved smile. “We haven’t signed anything yet. We just agreed to agree. So technically, you’re not my landlord. Yet.”
“Good to know.” He nodded slowly.
“So…?”
“So what?” He arched a brow.
“Are you going to ask me out?”
“Depends. Are you going to say yes if I do?”
Sue nodded.
“How about…” Jameson looked at the clock on the wall. “Now?”
Sue laughed. “Now?”
“I like you. It’s not often I meet a woman who can,” he smirked as if catching himself and finished with, “count.”
“If women around here can’t count, then I’d say the first order of business is to overhaul the school system.”
“So, now?” he persisted. “I don’t want to give you a chance to change your mind.”
“Tonight and I promise I won’t change my mind?”
He pushed up from the desk and stepped closer to her. “I’ll pick you up at the theater at eight.”
Sue nodded, not backing away. She automatically glanced at his mouth. Her voice was breathy as she answered, “Eight.”
“Eight,” he repeated, leaning a little closer. His breath fanned her lips.
“Eight.” Sue licked her lips in anticipation.
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
Jameson leaned in slowly, giving her time to back out. Sue didn’t think, just acted. She pressed her mouth to his.
His kiss started gently as if asking permission rather than taking. She leaned into him, her hands lifting to rest on his chest. He caressed her arms before reaching around her back to bring her closer.
With each second, the kiss intensified. Sue didn’t want to stop and think. Her body felt starved for affection, and here he was offering it to her freely.
The closer they inched together, the more erotic the movements felt. Every tiny shift sent awareness humming through her. His unmistakable interest bumped into her, and he suddenly pulled away.
“I’m sorry,” he managed, breathing hard. “I didn’t mean to get carried away.”
Sue wanted him to come back. There was no denying how she felt. Grandma Julia had been right when she read Sue’s aura. There was a bright spot in Sue’s chest now, and it had a lot to do with meeting Jameson. She needed that light to grow, not fade. A warning whispered in the back of her mind. If Hank came for her, at least she wouldn’t regret not taking this moment.
“I’m not sorry you did that.” Sue went to him, reaching to pull his face back to hers. She resumed kissing him, letting her body press against him fully.
Jameson moaned in surprise. He walked toward her, reaching his arm behind her. The motion was a little awkward, but as she heard the office door lock, she realized what he was doing.
“Are you sure because I don’t want you to feel pressured?” He kept his voice quiet as he glanced at the office door.
Sue reached for his belt buckle. Excitement pumped through her. “I’m sure.”
Jameson kissed her, deeper this time. His tongue slid past her lips, changing from gentle to passionate. She managed to get his belt unbuckled.
“This is crazy,” he said against her mouth in between kisses. “I never do things like this.”
“That’s my line,” she answered.
Images flashed through her mind as if doubts tried to worm their way in. She thought of the car trunk, of waking up in the hospital with a second chance to live. She wanted that chance. She wanted to live.
Jameson pulled back. “I’m serious. I don’t do things like this.”
Sue breathed hard. “Do you want to stop?”
“Hell, no.” He took a step toward her, walking her back until she bumped up against the desk. He leaned his forehead to hers. “But I don’t want you to think this is a thing I do with just anyone.”
“I don’t do this either, but I like you. I can’t explain why. I just feel it, and I need to feel something good. I want to feel something good.” She caressed his face. “I think I spent so much time hesitant and scared. I’m done with that. I want to be here, now, with you.”
“Okay,” he whispered.
Sue smiled. “Okay.”
She reached for her jeans and unfastened them before pushing them from her hips. She used her toes to pull out of her shoes before kicking the jeans from her legs.
Jameson began to lean into her. He stopped. “Don’t move.”
Jameson rushed around the desk to dig inside a drawer before shoving it closed and looking in another. He pulled out a smashed box of condoms and examined the sides.
“Not expired,” he said in relief, taking one out of the box as he came back around the desk to rejoin her. He dropped the box on the desk. A light murmur of voices rose from the coffee shop, and they both glanced at the door. When it settled back down, he asked, “Where were we?”
Sue laughed and resumed kissing him. There was no more hesitance or questioning as passion overtook everything else.
Jameson lifted her onto the desktop. Papers fluttered to the floor like in a scene from a movie. Her legs hung over the side.