She shook her head and cocked a defensive stance. “No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“Let’s just say with your attire – or lack thereof – there’s been a lot of conversation about what they’d like to do with you if they got you alone,” he snapped. “Is that your thing now? Walking around being a tease?”
Her expression went from defiant, to shocked, to mortified. He saw the flush of her cheeks and her posture changed as she almost shrank away from him.
Shit.
Turning her back to him, Jake saw the slight shudder and then the tremble and felt like all kinds of crap.
“Mal, look,” he began, reaching for her. Once his hand touched her shoulder, she flinched away. He instantly dropped it to his side. “You can be mad all you want, but this had to be said. You can’t parade around half-naked in front of the crew, okay?” There was frustration, regret, and even more frustration in his words and he couldn’t help it. If she were someone else – anyone else – this wouldn’t be an issue. He wouldn’t feel so…protective.
She stared at him defiantly.
“I’m just looking out for you,” he said when he couldn’t stand the silence any longer.
“Right,” she murmured with hostility. “Because I’m a child who needs to be looked after.” Storming past him, Mallory climbed down the ladder and Jake quickly followed her down. She walked into the main level of the boathouse which was essentially a small living area, a bathroom and kitchenette. It wasn’t as if she could hide from him in there.
Once inside, he closed the door behind him, thankful that if they were going to argue, they’d at least have some privacy.
She pulled a can of soda out of the small refrigerator and completely ignored him.
All Jake wanted was to sit and cool down. The heat and exhaustion of the day caught up with him. The boathouse A/C was on and there was a comfortable couch to sit on and now he wanted something to drink too. Walking around Mallory, he grabbed himself a bottle of water and drank half of it down before taking a seat.
“I could have gone and had this conversation with your mother or Zeke,” he said evenly, “but I figured you’d be mature enough to handle it.” He paused for dramatic effect. “My mistake.”
Placing her drink down on the small countertop, Mallory crossed her arms and gave him a defiant stare.
It was better than the devastated look up on deck.
“Fine,” she finally bit out. “I’ll be sure to stay fully covered up and out of everyone’s way until the roof’s done. Satisfied?”
Not nearly, he thought.
Standing, he faced her. “Again, Mal, I’m just looking out for you. No one’s saying you can’t go swimming or get some sun, just…stay covered up a bit until you get to the pier or maybe go down to the beach, that’s all.”
“So now I’m not allowed to enjoy my own backyard?” Sarcasm laced her words.
“We’ll be done on Friday. I think you can hang on for two more days!” God, the woman was infuriating!
Her expression changed, went a little coy. And that worried him.
“I guess it’s not a big deal to parade around on the beach with a larger population of guys roaming around then, right?”
Before he could answer, she took a step closer.
“I mean…I’m assuming that as long as you’re not hearing the comments, then it’s okay for me to wear what I want. Do I have that right?”
Several things occurred to Jake at once. First, the air was cool in here and her nipples were hard. Second, her voice had a sultry tone to it. And third…he could probably untie the little bows holding her bikini bottom together with his teeth.
She stopped and gave him a sweet smile. “You can go now. And don’t worry, you won’t see me walking around here while you’re working.” Then with a little dismissive wave, she turned away.
And for some reason, it had him seeing red.
She wanted to play? She wanted to tease and taunt him and make him think all kinds of crazy thoughts about her?
Grasping her arm, Jake spun her around and captured her lips with his. It was wild and untamed and he couldn’t have stopped himself if he tried. There was no shock, no time to think about what was going on. All he knew was that Mallory Westbrook kissed like a damn dream and she had him in knots for days.
Part of him figured she’d put up a fight – even a token one – but she didn’t. One minute she was walking away, and the next she was wrapped around him and kissing him as if her life depended on it.
Doing what he wanted to do on Friday night, he lifted her up, carried her over to the sofa and sprawled out beside her without breaking the kiss. Mallory’s hands raked up into his hair while one of her legs came up and wrapped around his hip and it felt so damn good that he thought he’d combust right on the spot.
He needed air, needed to breathe, and slowly broke the kiss. Mallory’s breath was just as ragged as his. Her head fell back slightly and Jake decided he could kiss and lick and taste her slender throat while he took in some much-needed oxygen.
“Jake,” she whispered in a sexy, throaty way.
“No more…walking around…like this,” he panted between kisses. “Makes…me…crazy.”
A slow smile of satisfaction spread across Mallory’s face. “What if I did it just for you?”
Raising his head, Jake considered the possibilities.
Then…he considered how he had played right into her hands.
Again.
With a muttered curse, he pushed off of her and sat up.
“Jake?”
Looking down at her was a mistake. She was a living, breathing fantasy and in another minute, he was going to dive in to taste her again.
“Is that what this was about? Tricking me into following you here?” he asked and cursed himself. Dammit, he was afraid of the answer.
Her lack of response was all the answer he needed.
Jumping to his feet, he felt like an idiot. This was getting out of control. He didn’t like being manipulated and she was using his attraction to her against him. Hadn’t he explained to her why this was a bad idea? Why they couldn’t get involved?
“Mallory, we’ve been over this…”
Slowly, she stood and faced him, looking more composed than he was. “No, we didn’t. You gave me some kind of lame excuse Friday night and then you’ve avoided me ever since.”
“I told you. You’re too young, too…”
“Oh, save it!” she snapped, losing her patience. “The way you kissed me Friday night and the way you kissed me right now tell me that you want me just as much as I want you! I’m not a child, Jake. I’m a grown woman! I’m not going to spend the entire summer having you telling me what I can and can’t wear or where I can and can’t go. You don’t have the right!”
The whole summer? He thought she’d be leaving sooner than that. She always did.
His mouth moved, he knew it did, but no words came out.
She took a step back and put her hands on her hips. “If you look at me and still see a child, then tell me that right now. Look me in the eye right now and tell me that’s what you see.”
It would be easy to lie, to say the words and then leave.