His eyes darkened, and she wondered who she’d suddenly become. He brought out a naughty side of her personality she hadn’t known existed.
“Except for the fact we have company, and while I enjoy your screams of delight, I’m not certain you want others overhearing them.”
“Company?”
“Deborah—my housekeeper—is here with her daughter.”
“I’m glad you told me. Does that also explain why you’re dressed?”
“That, and the fact I wanted to get ready for our date.”
“Our what?” Elissa searched his eyes for signs of teasing, but yet he’d told her he rarely joked.
“I thought you’d like to get out, take a ride out to the creek on the four-wheeler. Deborah brought us a picnic basket and filled it with food and all the other stuff she said we need to go with it. If you want, we can take a bottle of wine. We can head out around noon, assuming you want to go and your schedule permits?”
“You’re serious?”
He nodded.
“You had me at wine.” If she hurried, she could get in a couple of hours of work, even chat with her parents and Mary, the night manager at the pub, before leaving.
She put aside her cup and tossed back the covers.
“Oh, my lady, now we’re definitely going to be late…” His eyes darkened as he moved toward her to capture one of her bare breasts.
Her nipple lengthened as he flicked a thumbnail across it, and an involuntary groan escaped from between her lips. “Jacob, please…”
“Is that a yes, continue? Or a please stop?”
Both. She wanted him to suck her nipple deep into his mouth, but she knew where that would lead. And he was definitely right about the way she’d scream when he had his wicked way with her. “Can we continue this later?”
“You can count on it.” He lowered his hand, and she sighed, as much from relief as from frustration. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Once she was alone, she momentarily closed her eyes. This relationship with Jacob was unlike anything she’d ever experienced, and she needed to be careful with her emotions. Circumstances had thrown them together, and in a matter of time—hours? days? weeks?—she’d be back in her Denver apartment, working at the pub while building her business and finding rare, precious moments for her art.
No matter how much a part of her wanted this to continue, it wouldn’t last. It would do no good to think about anything beyond the moment.
Resolved, she finished her tea, then hurried through her shower before dressing and going downstairs to meet the housekeeper.
Deborah was a tall, beautiful woman with a quick, welcoming smile, and she wore a T-shirt that read GOING DOWNHILL FAST. “Morning! You must be Elissa.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Jacob’s been telling me all about you.”
“Has he?” She scowled at Jacob, who was leaning against the counter, a cup of coffee in hand.
With a grin, he shrugged.
“I hear you’re quite an artist.”
“Ah…” Elissa cleared her throat. Just what had he said? Surely he hadn’t mentioned her erotic images.
“You’re working on a corporate logo for a motivational speaker?”
She released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“I’m writing a children’s book.”
“Are you?”
“The main character is going to be a ski bunny.”
“Your T-shirt… Obviously a skiing reference?”
“Yeah. I’m an instructor.”
“Deborah is being modest.” Jacob drained his cup, then slid it onto the counter. “She used to compete for the women’s alpine team.”
With her mouth open, Elissa looked back at Deborah. “Seriously?”
She nodded. “Until I blew out a knee one too many times. Still love it, though.”
“Your celebrity will be a huge advantage.”
“That’s kind of you to say, but I’m sure no one remembers who I am.”
Elissa’s creativity was sparked. “Do you have a website?”
“No. Should I have one?”
“Absolutely yes. Do you mind if I come up with a couple of ideas for you?”
“Are you kidding me right now? I mean, I can pay you a little bit, but—”
“Say no more. It’s been a while since images have come to me this rapidly.” And the Bonds computer would make working on them pure pleasure. “Do you have any concept drawings of your ski bunny?”
Deborah shook her head. “I don’t have any talent in that area, and I haven’t started looking for an illustrator yet.”
“How about a color concept?”
“I was thinking along the lines of something like green or yellow.”
Elissa nodded. “Bright? More muted?”
“Whatever inspires girls to go for their dreams.”
“I love it.”
At that moment, a young child walked in, clutching the massive, squirming Waffle against her chest.
“This is my inspiration.” Deborah smiled. “My daughter, Adele.”
Elissa grinned. Waffle’s back was against the child’s tummy, and the cat’s large front paws hung over Adele’s forearm.
“Honey, say hello, and put down the cat.”
Rather than doing as her mother said, Adele held Waffle tighter. “But I love her, and she likes it.”
Elissa was surprised Waffle tolerated being held at all.
Deborah sighed. “Do I need to repeat myself?” Though Deborah didn’t raise her voice, her words were firm.
Chin set at a stubborn angle, Adele did as she was told. Shockingly, Waffle plopped her enormous body down at the girl’s feet.
“And say hello to Miss Elissa,” Deborah prompted again.
“Hi.” She offered a tiny wave.
“Nice to meet you, Adele.”
“There’s a teacher in-service at the preschool today, so we’re driving to Steamboat for a little shopping.”
Adele grinned, evidently forgetting all about the cat. “And ice cream!”
“Of course. How could I forget?” Deborah glanced at Jacob. “Picnic basket is on the table, and remember to use the ice packs I put in the freezer. Is there anything else you need before we leave?”
“That should be it,” he responded. “I appreciate your stopping by.”
“I’ll send you some ideas for your website—and maybe even the bunny—in the next couple of days,” Elissa promised.
“I’m so excited. Thank you.”
After exchanging contact information, they hugged goodbye. And then Adele ran over. “Me too!”
Elissa crouched. “Of course.”
For a quick second, Adele wrapped her arms around Elissa’s neck before hurrying away to chase Waffle into the living room.
“I guess we’ll be going for real now.” Deborah grinned.
Jacob said he was going to walk them to the car and promised to be right back.
When the door closed, the house was suddenly silent, and Elissa stood there, staring, a dozen different thoughts and feelings racing through her.
Her days were consumed with work, and it had been a long time since she’d dated or even thought about the future.