Hands Off (2 page)

He did a quick scan of the dining room to confirm most of the friends here had arrived as couples. Except Millie’s sister. And Michael’s co-worker—the same guy who’d been eyeing Naomi all evening.

Jude had thought he’d put a stop to that by stealing the seat next to Naomi, forcing her next to their married friend.

Maybe something had happened before Jude had arrived. Maybe Millie was up to one of her plans, this time to finally get Naomi interested in a man again. An obtuse-looking asshat with an argyle sweater vest and too-white teeth to be more exact.

Nah.
Really?

He pushed open the door and narrowed in on Naomi’s startled face. “Ladies,” he said, keeping his gaze on the woman who gave him a hard-on every time she stepped within two feet.

He’d waited patiently for a long time. How could he have missed the sign she was ready to be intimate again?

“Thought you needed some help.” He set the dishes by the sink, careful not to drop any and make a fool of himself.

When he turned, he noticed Naomi’s cheeks were flushed pink. She licked her pretty bottom lip and ducked her head.

Caught in the act. How could she have a thing for Sweater Vest Man? Of course Davis had been a sweater kind of guy. In fact, now that Jude thought about it, the man in the other room struck a strong resemblance to Davis... if Davis had been a creepy, quiet, background-check-worthy dickhead, anyway.

Shit. He couldn’t leave Naomi alone with that guy whether she wanted to have sex with him or not. Jude rubbed his temple, hiding his eyes as he scoped out the way she looked in her short, stretchy black minidress. So damn sexy with her small waist and nicely rounded curves. His gaze roamed down her shapely thighs and calves. They flexed as her feet swiveled casually on the heels of her sandals.

She was finally gaining back the weight she’d lost while grieving for Davis. She looked good, better than ever. And that only made him want her more.

Jude checked the time on his phone. He was supposed to meet Arielle downtown in less than an hour. He’d have to cancel.

“What’s going on in here?” He shot a probing look at Millie, trying to read her. “You look like you’re up to no good, as usual.”

“I’m glad you asked, sweetie,” she said with a wicked smile, clearly not offended. That was Millie—all fun, no fear of consequences. “I hope you’re not planning on leaving any time soon. I have a housewarming game planned.”

A game. Of course.

“I’m not leaving yet.” No way in hell.

“Great. Because Naomi needs a partner, and if you leave, I’m going to stick her with one of the only other single people here. Actually, I think my sister might have to head out soon, but I’m sure Nicholas will—”

“I said I’m not leaving.” He clamped his mouth shut, knowing he had a tendency to come off as gruff. Irritable. His life up to this point had made him rough around the edges, or so he’d heard many of his past girlfriends say.

You’re a mess, Jude,
they’d say after one too many dates—too much time for them to notice he had a hard time smiling... a hard time laughing. Enjoying life
.

What was the fucking point? He knew what happened when he let people get too close.

He also knew his friends kept him sane, and they deserved better than to be treated poorly.

Naomi deserved better.

“I want to stay and be Naomi’s partner,” he added, hoping that would be enough to redeem himself today. He had no idea why these people kept inviting him to parties.

“Okay, big boy.” Millie patted his shoulder and directed her still-present grin toward Naomi, who was looking a little pale.
Why?
“Let’s head back to the party and I’ll let you in on the game rules. This’ll be a blast.”

Jude was sure Millie’s game would be anything but fun. But he’d stay for Naomi. He always stayed for Naomi.

He grabbed her arm and held her back from following their sweet-as-sin hostess into the dining room. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Jude, honestly.” Naomi didn’t meet his eyes. “How many times are you going to ask me that tonight? Sometimes you treat me as if I were your little sister.” She glanced up, her cute nose crinkled. “You don’t think of me that way, do you? Like a sister?”

“A sister?” Definitely not. “No.” But what an odd question. “Are you sure you’re feeling all right?”

“Come on. Let’s see what Millie has in store for us.” Her small hand warmed his and she held it as she led him into the dining room.

Good. Maybe Sweater Vest would think Naomi was with him.

Jude should be so lucky. If Naomi wanted to find a man, hopefully he had the emotional capacity to treat her right. Like Davis had.

No.
Damn, he couldn’t imagine her with another man. Only in his dreams did he dare think of her with anyone. And in those, Jude was the one to fulfill her needs and desires. No one else.

He tucked her hand safely in the curve of his arm and stood with her at the foot of the dining room table. Like a couple. Like Naomi was his.

“Attention, everyone.” Millie clinked a fork on Michael’s champagne glass. Michael grinned up at her and ran his hand along her back. The poor schmuck had been under her spell since long before their wedding.

Jude tried to block out the wonder of what it might feel like to share a love so strong. It would be selfish of him to even consider the possibility. Women didn’t love him. Women felt pity for him. Some lusted. Despite the scars on his body, women pursued him. But none of them affected him.

His gaze slipped to the petite woman standing beside him. Naomi was different. They shared a bond... A friendship. If unconditional love was possible, Jude felt it to his war-corrupted, blood-stained, dysfunctional-upbringing core.
 

He never had a reason to love anyone the way he loved her. The way he’d loved Davis. He hadn’t known his father. His mom drank her life away until she’d suffocated to death on her own vomit while he was in boot camp. He hadn’t been able to save her that time.

Before then, she’d been an empty shell, simply existing, not knowing how to deal with a needy little boy who’d grown quickly into a willful teen. Davis and his parents had been Jude’s savior. Not once did they turn him away when he needed a place to crash, when he’d been locked out of his house after his mom forgot to leave the key under the mat. Or after she’d gone on a drunken rampage, telling him to get the hell out.

He’d looked too much like his old man.

That was all right, though. Those memories gave him the grit he’d needed to become a man and to fight a war alongside his buddies—no matter how brutal, no matter how many tours.

The memories had given him the balls to start a business with Davis, learn what needed to be learned, and succeed.

No, he’d never been loved, but he was strong and he was smart. He survived. He triumphed. And since Davis’s death, he’d protected and cared for the one person who’d somehow infiltrated her way into his heart.

Naomi looked up and gave him a quiver of a smile, bringing him back to earth, back to Millie’s dining room.

“Millie,” Naomi said, offering half her attention to their hostess, “can you repeat that last part?”

Millie was talking? Shit. Jude tore his gaze away from Naomi and tried to concentrate on their hostess.

“Yes, but pay attention this time, you two.” Millie tore up some sheets of paper, scribbled on them and threw half of them in a breadbasket, the other half in one of Michael’s baseball hats. “This basket contains your room assignments. You’ll pick a paper out of here, then find your way to that room.” She lifted the hat. “This contains letters from the alphabet. You’ll also choose a slip of paper from here. Your task will be to bring me two items from the assigned room that begin with the letter you pick.”

The room filled with muffled laughter and whispers.

“How much time do we have?” Sweater Vest asked.

“Is there a prize?” Millie’s sister Nina added with a laugh.

Everyone must be good and toasted,
Jude thought.
Or else they’d find this game a silly waste of time.
Of course, Jude tended to think differently than other people.

“You have ten minutes in each room.” Millie lifted ten fingers and set her gaze on Naomi. “Ten,” she mouthed. “If you don’t find two items to match your letter of the alphabet in that amount of time, then you’re out and you’ll be punished by having to watch Sunday Night football with me and Michael. Your prize will be seeing my brand new home in great detail. Let’s begin.” She cocked her head and grinned. “Are you ready?”

THE GUEST BATHROOM. The letter “R.”
This ought to be interesting.

Naomi led the way, having already toured the spacious home earlier. The only question was how she planned to seduce Jude in the least sexy room in the house. Or if she had the nerve to go through with making a move in the first place.

His hand rested on her back as they headed down the hallway. Her nearly backless dress allowed skin-to-skin contact—sensitive skin that hadn’t been explored in years. Did he notice her flushed face and the goose bumps erupting under his fingertips?

Did he like the feel of her skin as much as she loved his touch?

She could only hope so. Otherwise, this night wasn’t going to end well. He had to understand though. All she’d ask for was one night of pleasure. The craving was too strong to ignore. At that very moment, hot, stinging need singed down her body, sinking deep and low in her belly. One night to satisfy the need.

And if one night led to something more, then she’d eagerly take that too.

But a short fling was all she’d ask of Jude, all she expected of him. For as long as she’d known Jude, she’d never seen him with the same woman more than once. Naomi guessed he liked it that way. What would make her any different?

She turned into the guest bathroom and his hand slipped downward, skating against the silky stretch material that covered her ass. At the intimate touch, another arrow of warmth dipped low, dampening her panties.

“I’m so sorry.” He yanked his hand back as if he’d accidentally immersed it in a vat of acid rather than grazing it against her bottom.

Damn. Maybe the concentrated force of nature thrumming between them was all in her mind.

“It’s fine.” She couldn’t look him in the eye. “You’re fine.”
Really fine
. “We’re in here for the next ten minutes.” She gestured through the door.

He followed her into the room, both their feet scuffling against the hardwood floors, adding to the nervous energy that filled the air. Naomi flipped on the light as Jude clicked the door shut. And locked it—one of Millie’s obnoxious, overly obvious made-up rules.

Naomi had to wonder if Jude knew what they were up to. If so, at least he was playing along.

The thought gave her a refreshed perspective and a surge of confidence. She conjured the nerve to turn around and tell him exactly what she wanted. But her momentum crashed when she saw him moving around the room, looking for their items, paying her no attention.

He opened a drawer, rifled through it, and held up a pink disposable razor. “This is too easy.”

Naomi shoulders sagged. This wasn’t going to be easy at all. She glanced around the extravagant five-piece bathroom complete with a large jetted tub and a separate shower surfaced with rustic-looking turquoise and cream tiles Michael had shipped in from some exotic location. Naomi couldn’t remember exactly where or it might have been a nifty conversation starter.

Instead, she sat at the smooth, tiled edge of the tub and watched Jude open a few more drawers. He stopped when he caught her staring.

“Quitting already? Don’t we need two ‘R’ items?” A rare, relaxed smile crooked his full lips, at the same time slightly curving his scar. The white jagged mark didn’t take away from his beauty. In fact, it gave him more edge to pile on top of his already delicious, bad-boy facade.

She imagined the scar gave women a reason to approach him and ask what had happened to him. If they dared ignore his brooding eyes and stay-the-hell-away frown. But he was so tempting, they’d move right in anyway, wanting very much to know what it took to cheer him up and see him smile.

What Naomi wouldn’t give to know the secret.

“We have ten minutes.”
Time to dive in or cower away forever.
“There’s no rush. Want to sit with me?” she asked, feeling bold again. Sexy even, underneath the amused scrutiny of his soft green gaze.

She crossed her legs, liking that he followed their movement, liking that her hem hiked up to expose a good portion of her thigh.

He set the razor down and shut the drawer, slamming it too hard. Naomi would’ve assumed he was angry if his gaze wasn’t affixed to her raised dress like it was a swaying hypnotizing pendulum.

Her new favorite dress. She’d have to design another just like it... maybe in that crimson fabric she’d purchased last week.

She lifted her arms in a casual, fake stretch, making the hem slip up even higher.

Yep, she was desperate. Luckily, he seemed to appreciate the view. He was transfixed for several pulse-thrumming moments until his gaze slid up her body, slowly edging over her every curve until he met her eyes.

“I like that dress on you,” he said, his mouth barely moving. His jaw constricted. “Did you design it?”

“I did. Thank you. I’m glad you like it.” Naomi licked her lips and crossed her legs tighter, her body starving for his affection. “Please sit with me.”

He moved quickly, yet stiffly, sitting close enough for their hips to touch.

She wanted him closer.

Just tell him how you feel.

“Jude?” she started as her nerves protested, making her body tremble.

His frown deepened. His brows crinkled with concern.

“I’m fine,” she said before he could ask if she was okay. Again. “But I want to tell you something that’s been on my mind quite a bit lately. And I don’t want you to feel awkward or be mad at me if you don’t like what I say. Because I can’t lose you.”

“Tell me,” he said without delay. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I love you.
She bit back the words simmering on her tongue and mentally backed up about a thousand feet.