He shrugged nonchalantly. “I took acting class for fun in high school. I have to admit, this has been the best time I’ve had in years.”
Confused, Char could only stare at him. “You jackass! You pretended to like me?”
“Hell no.” Jace took her hand in his. “I would gladly and happily take you off that ass’s hands, but you don’t want to be taken anywhere. Am I right?”
“I don’t understand.” Char massaged her temples.
“One word.” Jace nodded. “Grandma.”
“No!” Char gasped. “She’s paying you?”
“Don’t need the money, just needed to get over a bad break-up. That woman has been trying to set me up for the past year. She introduced me to Travis, and the rest is kind of history. I was already planning on being at the wedding; it was all too easy. Travis wanted me to meet you. Grandma had other plans. And here I am. Drinking wine while everyone plots our impending nuptials.”
“Holy crap!” Char paced in front of him. “That woman is insane.”
“Insane genius.” Jace lifted his glass. “Admit it. She’s helped more than hurt.”
“She bought me a wedding dress.”
“Isn’t that bad luck?” Jace tilted his head. “Just curious.”
“So you’re not really a pompous ass.”
He seemed to think about it, then said, “No, I don’t think so. But if you ask my ex she’d say that I am and more. I’m just trying to get through the wedding without having your grandmother kill me and bury my body. You know she bought a shock collar, right?”
Laughing, Char threw her arms around Jace’s neck. “I don’t know whether to thank you or slap you for kissing me.”
“Hey.” Jace pulled back and kissed her cheek. “My offer still stands. Your incredible, manipulating Grandmother aside, I would have wanted your number regardless.”
“Thank you.” Char kissed him briefly on the lips.
But apparently it wasn’t brief enough.
Because the next thing she knew, Jake was charging down the stairs, his eyes wild with anger.
Chapter Forty-six
All Jake saw was red.
Jace was holding her. His girl, his woman, his future—in Jace’s grimy politician hands! With a war cry that would have done any fan of
His fist flew toward Jace’s face and landed a blow along his jaw, causing the other man’s head to snap back and hit the table.
In the back of his fuzzy mind he heard Char yelling for him to stop, but it was too late. Jace crumpled to the ground.
“Holy crap!” Char covered her face. “You just knocked out a state senator!”
“Well,” Jake cursed. “He was touching you!”
“Great!” Char began pacing. “Be sure to tell that to the judge when they ask you why you shouldn’t go to prison!” She swatted him across the stomach and swore.
“I’m sorry. I just… I panicked. I was protecting your honor!”
“Easy, Pot,” Char said. “You’re getting black on your kettle.”
Jake glared. “Very funny.”
“What are we going to do?” Char pointed at Jace’s body. “You didn’t kill him, did you?”
“I didn’t hit him that hard,” Jake muttered under his breath and then leaned over Jace. “He’s probably just knocked out for a bit.”
“Well, how long do we wait for him to wake up?” Char was still pacing, only now she was thrusting her wineglass into the air, alternating between drinking it and yelling.
“I don’t know. Put the wine down. You’re making me nervous.”
“I’m making you nervous?” Well, at least she stopped pacing. “What right do you have to come to my rescue anyway?”
Jake let out a heavy sigh. “I’ve always wanted to be the knight in shining armor.”
“Funny, I don’t remember the knight beating the crap out of some innocent guy.”
“Innocent, my ass!” Jake yelled. “He had his hands all over you!”
“So?” She crossed her arms. “Why do you care?”
“Damn it, Char!” In two strides she was in his arms; her mouth opened and the minute his tongue met hers, it was on fire.
He pushed her against the countertop and deepened the kiss. Her body was so responsive to his. They kissed just like they fought: all aggression, all passion, nothing slow and steady about it.
Unable to control himself anymore, he pulled down the straps of her sundress. Her skin was like soft velvet. Her hands twisted in his hair as he trailed his tongue along her lower lip, tasting and sucking the wine from her mouth. Goosebumps rose across her chest when his lips moved from hers down the front of her chest stopping just above her bra.
Jace groaned from the ground.
Jake ignored it.
The groan got louder.
Char dug her fingernails into Jake’s back.
God hated him.
Breaking away from her had to be one of the hardest things he’d ever done in his existence.
Jace was stirring on the floor.
“We should go.” Jake struggled to catch his breath when his eyes met Char’s. She had been thoroughly kissed, thoroughly ruined for a minute, by him, and he loved knowing that he was the man who’d put that look on her face. Her expression was one of lust, desire, want, and it was all because of him.
Jace groaned again.
“We’re fleeing the scene, aren’t we?” Char grabbed Jake’s hand as they returned to the main level.
“If anyone asks, we saw him trip.”
“Into your fist?” Char asked. “Really? That’s the lie we’re going to go with?”
“Sorry that my brain isn’t exactly on the right track right now. We’re lucky I can even walk and talk at the same time without throwing you against the stairs and lifting your skirt.”
“You can, you know.”
Jake froze. “Can?”
“Lift my skirt.”
“You’re punishing me, aren’t you.”
Char grinned as she whispered into his ear. “I purchased some lingerie from the party. Be thinking about that during dinner.”
“Great.” Jake swore. “So Grandma’s going to assume, what? Flowers turn me on? I have the hots for oysters? Damn uncomfortable, if you ask me. Let’s just skip dinner.” Once they reached the top of the stairs, he pushed her against the nearest wall, trapping her with his body. “Just one more kiss.”
“It’s never just one kiss with you, Jake.”
He couldn’t help the giant grin that spread across his face. “Good. Because I want them to be never ending.” He kissed her nose. “I have this need to prove to you that it won’t be just one kiss.” His lips grazed hers. “Because it’s going to be the first of a hundred thousand kisses.” He rubbed his lips against the base of her throat. “It’s going to be the first of the last kisses you ever receive.” His tongue swirled around her collarbone as he made his way back up the other side of her neck. “I want to ruin you for anyone else’s kisses. I want to brand you as mine. I want to hear you say my name, not because you’re irritated, but because you’re so damn turned on you can’t think
