Paul downed the rest of his beer, swinging his backpack up on his shoulder. “Don’t let him get fresh, Janie. I’ll see you on Thursday, right?” He winked at Lars as he sauntered away. “See ya, Lars. Be good, now.”
They sat cross-legged across from each other, knees to knees, as Lars stared at Jane. So Paul, who was young and good-looking, was acquainted with Jane.
Huh. He didn’t like it. Man, he didn’t like it one bit.
“So…Janie.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Her smile grew wider. “Pea green.”
“And you’re enjoying every second, Minx.”
“It’s never happened to me before!”
“Seriously. What’s up with you two?”
“Me and Paul?”
“No. You and the man in the moon. Yeah, you and Paul…Janie.”
She laughed at him. “We play euchre.”
“What’s Thursday?”
“Euchre.”
“Just euchre.”
“Just euchre.” She nodded. “I’m getting good.”
“Oh, are you?”
He didn’t feel reassured. She didn’t exactly clarify their status by saying “we’re just friends” or something like that, which would have been reassuring. Euchre. He didn’t like her playing euchre with Paul. He didn’t want her playing anything with any man except him.
“Aye, that I am, as Maggie would say.” She grinned at him so openly, his shoulders relaxed. Maybe there was nothing between them, after all.
“Janie.”
“Mmm?”
“Come sit with me.” He moved his knees up and put his arm around her waist as she backed into him. He pulled her up against his chest, between his legs, then wrapped his arms around her in the twilight, leaning down to nuzzle her curls. The fireworks would be starting any minute.
“You cold?”
Jane shook her head no, leaning back against him, and he tightened his arms around her.
His heart was pounding.
As far as he was concerned, the fireworks had already started.
***
The walk back to Jane’s hotel room was too quick.
She listened to the faraway howl of wolves, thinking of them as Lars’s Wolves now, and looked at the millions of stars in the clear night sky. The air smelled of burning wood from bonfires, campfires and barbeques marking the final night of summer. The end of summer. How Jane hated endings.
I much prefer beginnings, she mused, as she looked askance at Lars’s handsome face. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt like this. Frankly, she questioned if she had ever felt like this.
During the finale of the fireworks she had twisted her neck to look at him, catching his face illuminated in blues and greens. His eyes seized hers, one palm moving from her waist to cup her jaw, gently nudging her face toward him. His lips claimed hers, strong and soft, warm and purposeful. His tongue touched hers tentatively at first, but as she stroked his in welcome, he turned her in his arms until she was kneeling, facing him, her breasts pressed up against his chest, his hands splayed across her lower back. She laced her hands around his neck and lightly grazed the shell of his ear with her thumbs, sliding her tongue against his, her skin electric under his touch. When the explosive booming stopped, she ended the kiss by turning her head and resting her cheek on his shoulder as the crowd around them clapped with appreciation. The noise gradually subsided to the low hum of people packing up and heading home while he ran his hands distractedly up and down her back, holding her close.
Through the low din of activity, she’d heard him whisper, I’m falling for you, Jane. But she pretended she didn’t, and he didn’t say it again.
And now it was almost time to say good night.
Face it, Jane. To say goodbye. Tomorrow at this time, there’s a good chance he’ll be in Sara’s bed. Don’t fool yourself. Remember Ben Abaz…
As they neared her hotel, Jane sensed he was as sorry to see their evening end as she was. But she shouldn’t have made those suggestive toasts and let him kiss her again, not when her intention was to say “goodnight” at her door and put an end to their flirtation. Spending any more time with him now was just going to end up hurting her later. She dropped his hand as they approached the hotel.
“Thanks for tonight,” she said politely.
“My pleasure.”
“All part of the service, huh?”
He shook his head. “Nope.”
“Well, it was really great getting to know you—”
“Getting to know me?” He chuckled as if she was making a joke, then stopped, realizing she wasn’t. “Wait. That sounds like goodbye.”
“Sara’s coming tomorrow. She’ll…she’ll need you.”
“Of course. And I’ll do whatever I can for her. Trend made it clear to keep her happy.”
Jane nodded.
“What does that have to do with us?”
Us. She felt her heart break a little.
“You don’t understand. Sara’s going to need you. Want you.”
“Want me for what?
Jane stared at his eyes, then winced and looked away.
“She’ll want me? Like…want me, want me?”
Jane looked down, jerking her head up and down once.
“She doesn’t even know me. And besides, I’m into you.”
Her heart fluttered, despite the guaranteed ending to the short, lovely connection she had made with him. She sighed. “You won’t be.”
“Of course I will. I like you, Jane.”
She couldn’t look up. She knew he was telling the truth. She could hear it in his voice. She couldn’t bear to see that truth in his eyes now, only to see them grow cold in a day or two, embarrassed that he had said these things to her, wishing he could take them back.
“Jane, I’m not some guy who walks away from the girl he likes just because another pretty girl walks into the room. I’m not that guy.”
She looked up at him, locking her eyes with his, knowing what she knew from every photo shoot over the course of five years. It was the rule. There were no exceptions.
“Lars. She’s Samara Amaya. Every guy is that guy.”
He stared at her, rubbing his jaw, then put his hands on his hips. “Well, I’m not. I’m not going anywhere. We’ve still got a week together. I want to see what happens with you. I’m not that guy, Jane.” He put his hands on her cheeks, and leaned down to touch her lips with his, whispering, “I’m not.”
She nodded at him. There was no point in arguing about it anymore. He was so earnest, so sincere, tears pricked the backs of her eyes as he pressed his lips against her forehead, resting his hands lightly on her hips.
Turn away from him and walk into your room, Jane. Alone. At least you had this. At least you had tonight. Tonight was something, and something is better than nothing. Now, say goodnight. Don’t let this go any further.
Her head and her heart were locked in a bitter battle.
Why not? Why can’t I just spend a few more minutes with him?
You can’t. You can’t have him. Tell him to go now. Protect yourself!
No! Sara’s not here yet. Don’t push him away yet.