HE WAS BLOWN away. She was an astute businesswoman and had been as focused on what she wanted as he had been from a young age. “I’m sure your parents are very proud of you.”
“I think they are, just like yours are of you.”
He ate a forkful of potatoes. “I have a pretty great family, but it’s also messed up.”
“Why do you say that? Your parents seem happy together even though they live apart, and your brothers and sisters all get along. Is it because they got upset when you mentioned wanting to go back to Darkbird?”
“That’s only part of it. I get why they don’t want to hear about it. The way they see it, this time it was my leg, and if I were ever given a next time, I may not be lucky enough to make it out alive. But it’s the way they handle it, the way my father handles everything. He makes selfish decisions and declarations and expects everyone else to fall into line. My brothers and sisters have always fallen into line. I have trouble with that.”
“Is that why your relationship with your dad is strained?”
“There’s a lot of water under that bridge. Things have been strained for years.”
“So flood the banks. Get it out in the open and deal with it,” she said, as if it were the easiest thing in the world to do.
“It’s probably better to let it drown.”
“Bad stuff never drowns. It just floats along right beneath the surface, dragging everyone through its muck. Look what happened to our family when Jock and Archer weren’t getting along. It affected all of us. Jock left the island so nobody would have to pick a side, but that made it even more stressful. We worried about him all the time, and when he came home to visit, we worried about what it would be like when they were in the same room and how we could spend time with each of them without making either one feel less supported than the other. The stress was endless, and now that they’ve gotten everything out in the open, everyone’s life is better.”
“I’m not so sure that would work with my father. He’s an arrogant, proud man.”
“So are you,” she said with a smile. “Bellamy doesn’t tell me everything about your family issues, but I know enough to realize that whatever this is between you and your dad, it’s affecting your entire family. They’re stressed out and wishing you two bullheaded men would come to your senses and deal with it.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Did you just call me bullheaded?”
“Darn right I did.”
He laughed. “I guess I am. I hate that they’re caught in the middle. I thought when I left and joined the military, it would get better. But you’re right. It’s always there, boiling like a kettle waiting to blow.”
She took a drink and arched a brow. “I’ll tell you what I told Jock and Archer a million times over the years. You hold the power to make things better. You just have to choose to act on it.”
“And you hold the power to make sense out of chaos and drive me out of my mind while you’re doing it.” He snaked his hand beneath her hair, drawing her closer. “You make me want to be a better man, Pix.”
“You’re the bravest man I know. I love who you are.”
Her words drilled into his chest, burrowing deep. “That’s because you’re an amazing woman who looks past my flaws, and you deserve a guy who lives up to what you see. I’ll try talking to my old man.” He kissed her smiling lips and whispered against them, “You are as smart as you are beautiful. How about we set family aside and get back to you and me?”
“I’d like that.”
He brushed his lips over hers but didn’t kiss her, loving the way her eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned forward. He cradled the back of her head, taking her in a tantalizingly slow and excruciatingly thorough kiss. She made a needful sound, and his cock rose to greet it. And just as happened that morning, their bodies took over. The kiss turned rough and deep. His desire was stronger than primal. It was clawing out from his bones, filling up every crack and crevice of his being. Fuuck.
He knew he should pull back, but he couldn’t. He needed more, and he pushed both hands into her hair. She ate at his mouth as fiercely as he devoured hers, and again his mind raced forward. He wanted to tear off her panties, strip down his jeans, and pull her onto his lap to feel her tight heat wrapped around his cock right there on the chair. Reality slammed into him, bringing the restaurant back into focus, and he knew he had to stop before it was too late. He forced himself to break their connection, leaving them breathless.
“We’re going to burn this place down,” Jules said, reaching for her drink with a shaky hand and fanning her face with the other.
She was so real and unguarded, she unraveled him. He was crazy about her. He leaned closer, loving the hitch in her breathing he caused, and said, “I’m all for burning the place down.”
She blushed a red streak.
He chuckled. “I’m kidding, babe. Come on, let’s enjoy this food.”
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been on an actual date, much less had as much fun with a woman as he did with Jules. They laughed and talked, sharing their favorite dishes and stealing kisses. Every time their eyes connected, the temperature spiked, and he didn’t think there was anything more beautiful than Jules with a sheen of blush on her cheeks. When they finished eating, he stood and took her hand, drawing her into his arms with the need to be closer. He kissed her softly, but as had been happening all evening, soft quickly turned passionate.
“I’m going to get us in trouble,” he said between kisses.
“For the first time in my life, I really like trouble.” She giggled, and it was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.
“You are a wicked girl.” They kissed again.
“I can’t help it with you. I love this,” she said softly.
“Which part?” he whispered against her neck, pressing a kiss there.
“All of it. Walking around town with you, this magical date. Just being together. I’ve dreamed about what it would be like to feel this way about someone for my whole life. And here you are.”
Those words should have scared him, but they had the opposite effect. He wanted to hear more of them. He’d never dreamed of anything like that, but being with Jules was the greatest feeling in the whole damn world.
“Everyone dressed in here?” Wells called out from the doorway, covering his eyes.
They laughed as they said, “Yes.”
He sauntered in with a grin, looking at Grant like he was happy for him, instead of like he was ready to talk shit, which was new, and felt great, too.
“How was dinner?” Wells asked.
“Incredible,” Jules said.
“It was perfect, Wells. Thanks.”
“Let me get these things out of your way and then I’ll bring up dessert.”
Grant had coerced Wells into having his chef bake a special Almond Joy pie for Jules, but she was the only dessert he wanted. He whispered in her ear, “What do you say we take dessert to go?”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
DESSERT FORGOTTEN, THEY stumbled into her apartment in a feverish tangle of urgent gropes and passionate kisses. Her keys dropped to the floor as they tore off their jackets, and Grant reclaimed her mouth. He was out of his mind with desire, clutching her ass and keeping her tight against him, earning a cock-throbbing moan, as they made their way into her living room. They feasted on each other’s mouths as he laid her on the couch and came down over her. She was so petite, so soft and delicate, he was careful not to put all of his weight on her, but damn she felt good. They made out with reckless abandon, her body writhing to the same erotic rhythm as he moved his hips, grinding against her center. Lust seared through his veins, and he lost himself in her luscious mouth and the sinful noises she was making. He kissed a path down her neck as he pushed up her sweater and moved down her body, but he’d lain them down with his right leg against the back of the couch, leaving his prosthetic leg flailing as he tried to scoot lower. There was no place for his left knee to take purchase, and he realized he’d screwed up big-time. Why the hell hadn’t he thought this out before now?