Beautiful Ties (8 page)

“No,” I replied. I decided I owed him an explanation, anticipating that it would finally close the idea for him. “Because we still work together. Dating would complicate things at work and make it awkward.”

His lips parted, and I knew he was going to object, but then the waiter came. I inwardly thanked him for his impeccable timing.

“Are you ready to order?” the boy asked.

“Yes,” I answered first, welcoming the distraction. “I’ll have a small set of ribs and a sweet potato on the side.”

The waiter redirected his gaze to Jason. “And you, sir?”

I intentionally kept my gaze on the boy, needing a moment to breathe. I could still feel Jason’s eyes on me as though he was struggling to make sense of my reasoning. His stare made it so much harder for me to stand my ground. My mind and body were at a constant war. I wanted him, yet my job felt like a huge brick wall between us. There was no way to the other side.

Jason finally said, “I’ll have a rack of ribs, fries, and mashed potatoes.”

When the waiter excused himself, I nervously scanned the room, trying to find anything to look at but Jason. I failed within the first twenty seconds.

To my surprise, Jason kept our conversation light throughout the rest of our evening together. Inside, I was grateful. I needed more time to process these out-of-control feelings I had around him.

Jason told me about his move and how he’d lucked out in finding a new apartment complex on Riverside Avenue, which was only a few blocks from me. He was still keeping his house in Colorado until he was positive things would work out here in California. This move was a big change for him and Damon. He spoke of Damon often, and I could tell the two of them were very close. Damon was more of the architectural part of the business than hands-on, like Jason seemed to be.

Jason told me of his other brother, Blake, who was in the military. Jason’s voice was proud while speaking of Blake, but I could hear in Jason’s underlying tone how much he missed Blake.

I could unequivocally relate to his feelings. Kyle had been gone for many years with less than a handful of visits home. A huge part of my heart had been missing when he was away on overseas missions. Never knowing if he was safe or if he would return had been very difficult times on my family and me.

Jason’s parents, Lucie and Dan, were still back in Colorado. They were planning to start traveling after his father’s upcoming retirement. Both his mom and dad were excited and supportive of Jason’s and Damon’s new business adventure, saying life was too short not to chase after your dreams.

While Jason spoke, I realized I could listen to the sound of his voice for hours. Everything he said about his family was filled with such love and affection. He was definitely close to them all. I could not help but smile at learning about that part of him because I reciprocated the same family morals.

By the end of our meal, I found myself opening up to him as well. I told him that my eldest brother, Ryan, and his wife, Kate, were expecting their first baby girl, who they were planning to name Annabel, making my parents, Grace and Gavin, first-time grandparents.

When I spoke of how I’d come to work for Kyle, Jason was genuinely intrigued to hear more. The construction field was common ground for the two of us. He quickly figured out that most of my days consisted of long hours and little fun time, and he informed me in a playful tone that times were about to change. I laughed off his comment, not sure how to respond. All I knew was that I was amazed at how much I enjoyed his company.

After nearly two hours of talking as if the two of us had known one another for years instead of days, Jason led me toward the exit of the restaurant.

“I can’t believe you ate all those ribs.” I laughed, unable to resist an opportunity to tease him.

“I couldn’t seem to stop myself.” He chortled as he dug in the front pocket of his jeans to grab his keys, and then he hit the unlock switch. He tilted his gaze at me as we made our way across the parking lot. “I think those were the best ribs I’ve ever had. I’ll definitely be back for more of those.”

“I’m sure the owners of this place will personally know you by name very soon,” I responded playfully.

“I bet they will, too,” he replied as we reached the passenger side of his truck.

Since Jason had been a fraction of a step behind me, I lifted my hand to lift the door handle myself, but the lever stuck. I pulled on it again, but it would not budge.

“Sorry about that. Sometimes, this handle sticks. I ordered a new door handle, but it’s not in yet.” He reached over me to pull it open, brushing his chest against my back.

All my senses leaped into overdrive. I was hyperaware of how his body was caging me in, and at his proximity, my heart rate spiked in a nanosecond. On the second tug of the lever, it finally gave for him. I tilted my head up to him, planning to thank him, but I was quickly distracted by the way he was staring down at me. His eyes glazed over with desire, and his breathing slightly deepened, mirroring my own.

And damn him, he made my heart flip-flop in my chest. I inwardly deliberated over how someone could have such an intense effect on me. It seemed like chemistry at its finest. I would never understand the science behind my physical reactions to him, but I was positive that no one had ever affected me so.

When he came close to me, my pulse sped up, and when he touched me, it soared beyond reason. With one hand braced on the roof of his truck, the other lifted to my cheek. He delicately ran his knuckles down my bare skin. A sigh escaped me at the feel of him touching me at last.

“This thing between us doesn’t feel anything like friends, Abbey,” he said in a gruff tone.

His fingers trailed with sensual purpose from the bottom of my jaw all the way to my chin. He cupped the center with his thumb and forefinger and tipped my head up.

Gazing into my eyes, he said, “Every time I so much as see you, I want to kiss you.”

Then, he paused while glancing down at my mouth. His words were sinking further into my mind.

“I want to know what those full pink lips of yours feel like against mine.”

He bent forward until his mouth was nearly touching mine, and I held my breath at his closeness.

“Tell me no, and I’ll stop, Abbey,” he breathed unevenly.

My mind swarmed with reasons to say no, but his touch sent my every nerve ending skyrocketing with pure need to feel his lips on me. I wanted to know what he tasted like. The cool night air had no effect on my scorching skin. Every fiber inside me told me to seize this moment and not let it slip away from my grasp.

Without another thought, I let my body win, and I whispered, “Yes.”

Jason’s mouth crashed against mine. His lips were warm and inviting and as sweet as honey. It was better than I could have ever possibly imagined in my daydreams. As he deepened the kiss, I grabbed his biceps for balance, reveling in the muscular feel of them for the first time. My hands traveled up the length of his thick arms to his shoulders. He groaned throatily in response while gathering his other hand around the small of my back, drawing me closer to him until there was no distance between us. As my fingers reached his hair, I held him near me, not wanting our kiss to end. His lips were simply too heavenly to pull away.

By the time we parted, the two of us were both breathless.

Jason closed his eyes, and he dropped his forehead against mine. Time stood still as I caroused in the sensation of his strong, powerful embrace.

“That”—he paused, pulling air into his lungs—“was definitely not a friendly kiss.”

I smiled at his reoccurring reference to my earlier choice of words, and I drew back to create a small gap between us. “No, it wasn’t,” I admitted to each of us.

His expressive eyes lingered on mine, his gaze penetrating me. He seemed to be processing his own thoughts, too.

So much had transpired between the two of us only minutes ago, but I was not sure I could wrap my mind around it yet, let alone put those thoughts into words. I felt like I was standing on unfamiliar territory, and our working arrangement added to that complication. I was in over my head. Kyle would never allow Jason and me to work together and date. It was bad business etiquette.

Jason pulled me out of my internal debate. He ran those warm hands down either side of my cheeks while bringing his mouth closer again. I drew in a swift breath at the contact, and the palpable energy between us stirred for a second time.

“You’re overthinking it again, Abbey,” he nearly growled along my lips.

He was right. I was rationalizing.

I reached up on my tiptoes, taking his mouth. This time, I didn’t hold any part of myself back. As I caressed my tongue with his, I surrendered myself to every sensation he invoked within me. Kissing him was so much better than thinking.

Another noise left the back of his throat, rolling through his chest, as he seamlessly pressed our bodies together. I could feel his hard length against my stomach, and it sent my desire spiraling. I had to remind myself that we were in a public parking lot, and I forced myself to take a step back and break our connection.

A look of male satisfaction spread across his handsome features. “Now, that was a kiss.” He grinned.

When I blushed, he chuckled quietly while stepping toward me. He dipped to kiss my cheek once. “Come on, let’s get you home. We have a long day tomorrow.”

“Okay,” was all I could manage to say. My mind and body had completely been turned upside down by someone I barely knew.

I had another hunch that all thoughts would once again be consumed with Jason tonight—his heart-melting smile, the sexy dimple that appeared whenever he grinned, the throaty sound he made when laughing, and most of all, the sweet taste of his warm mouth on mine.

I was pretty sure the image of the last one would forever be etched in my mind.

Tuesday morning, I arose early to make sure I was ready for Jason. He’d said he would be here right at seven, so I dressed in more suitable work clothes today since we had made a game plan that consisted of me removing wallpaper and Jason pulling up the unsightly carpet. When my doorbell rang at seven sharp, I smiled at Jason’s promptness as I strode in the direction of the front door.

“Good morning, sunshine.” Jason smiled. Then, he glanced down at my clothing. “Glad to see you’re ready for work this morning.”

“Morning, Jason,” I replied politely while backing up so that he could step inside.

He lifted his right hand, revealing a bag.

“What’s that?” I asked with interest.

His eyes danced with delight. “These are your new work boots,” he responded, pulling out a pair of feminine CAT boots.

A chuckle escaped my lips before I lifted my gaze to his, and I raised a brow at him in question. “Thank you,” I responded. Curiosity got the better of me. “When did you have time to buy those?” I asked, knowing no stores were open this early.

“I grabbed them yesterday while we were running errands.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “I didn’t think you saw them. You were far too occupied with filling our shopping cart.” He smirked, outstretching his hand.

I grabbed the bag. “Very true.” I laughed. “I was on a mission.”

“Yeah, you were.” He chortled. “You ready to head out?”

“Yep,” I responded, bending over to put on my new boots. I laced them up tightly while thinking he had excellent taste.

I straightened up and rocked back and forth from the balls of my feet to my heels. The stiff leather needed a little breaking in, but overall, they felt good.

“Comfortable?” he questioned.

“Surprisingly, yes, they are,” I answered.

“Do you think men would wear them for ten hours a day if they weren’t?” he asked with amusement in his tone.

“Probably not.” I laughed, pivoting to reach for my purse and keys. I slipped my phone inside.

Jason chuckled as he opened my front door for me. I quickly locked up. Then, we walked outside along the sidewalk together and stopped in front of his Dodge, so he could dig around in his pockets for his keys.

I glanced up at the sky while waiting, doing a quick assessment of today’s weather. It was warm and cloudy, and I guessed it was in the mid-eighties. The temperature was perfect. It wasn’t too hot or too cool. When Jason found his keys, he clicked the unlock button on his keyless entry and then opened the passenger door for me.

As I glanced forward, the first thing I noticed were two brown Starbucks cups. “Coffee two days in a row?” I nearly groaned, letting the sweet smell fill my sense. “I’m beginning to think you’re my hero.” I lifted my leg to hop up into his truck.

He murmured under his breath, “Got to break down those steel barriers of yours somehow, and it seems coffee is the way to your heart.”

His words had been just loud enough for me to hear, causing me to miss my step up onto the running board, and I nearly face-planted at his bluntness. Luckily, I caught myself by placing my hands on the passenger seat in front of me. I whipped around until I was looking directly at him with a mixture of surprise and confusion. My pulse hammered ferociously, and I felt perplexed over my uncooperative body and mind that were still at odds. In the last eight hours, I had not solved anything about our situation, but I did know nothing in our circumstances had changed.