sleep.”
“I guess I should go then.”
“I guess so,” I said, but I didn’t move. “It’s just that you’re really comfortable. And you’re warm and you smell nice…”
He ran his fingers down my back, and I had to fight hard to keep my eyes open. I pushed myself up. “Okay, I’ve got to get to bed before I fall asleep again and then you have to deal with me being grouchy in the morning.”
Just before we reached the door, Jake turned and wrapped his arms around my waist. “You know, you forced me to watch a horrible movie—which you slept through—and I still had a good time. You know what that means, right?”
I tipped onto my toes and kissed his perfect lips, one kiss to hold onto tonight. Another to get me through the hours until I could see him again. “That pouting works better than I thought?”
Jake smiled, then his expression turned serious. The way his eyes were boring into mine somehow sent both heat and nerves through my stomach. “I want to tell you something, but I’m afraid it’ll freak you out.”
I swallowed, the gesture taking a lot more effort than usual. I suspected it might include the L-word, and he was right about it freaking me out. Things were finally easy between us again, and I didn’t want to step into the dangerous, serious zone. “Then you better not say it.”
He pulled me closer, our hips bumping together, and covered my mouth with his. As tired as I was a few seconds ago, every part of me was suddenly very alert. He slid a hand under my shirt, his fingertips stroking my bare back. I bit lightly at his bottom lip. He groaned and crushed me to him. Then he thrust his tongue in to meet mine, kissing me so deeply the room spun.
I clung onto him, losing myself in the moment, wanting to drag him to my bedroom but knowing I couldn’t yet. For some reason…I was having trouble remembering it right now. I broke the kiss and worked on getting air back into my lungs.
Jake blew out his breath. He raked a hand through his hair, making it messy. He looked so hot I had to work at holding back my surging hormones. “Good night,” he said, his voice husky. Then he shot me a roguish smile that sent desire burning through my veins. “Sweet dreams.”
Oh, I was pretty sure my dreams would be featuring him tonight. And they’d probably be more dirty than sweet.
Chapter Twenty-six
Stephanie paused outside of the gallery, her hand on the door. Instead of pulling it open like I thought she was going to, she spun around to face me. “I just realized something. Charlie wasn’t Prince Charming. Jake is.”
As we’d walked down the sidewalk, I’d been gushing about Jake, telling her all about how great he was and how much fun I’d been having with him lately. I should’ve known better.
“Don’t do that,” I said. “I don’t want to think about my stupid case studies right now.” I simply wanted to enjoy being with a guy who made me happy and not worry about the future or how he tied in to all my past exes.
“But think about it. You lost your shoe at the restaurant and you went dancing together. He cares about your job. He’s not deterred when you try to push him away. He’s totally Prince Charming.”
“The whole point of putting those case studies together was to prove that there is no Prince Charming. Fairy tales and real life are nothing alike.”
“Yeah, real life’s harder, blah, blah, blah.” Steph crossed her arms and raised a challenging eyebrow. “You’re just too scared to see if you’re wrong. Because it means putting yourself out there again.”
I thought about last night, how Jake had said he wanted to tell me something. I went back and forth on whether I should’ve let him tell me. If I could handle it. It was getting harder and harder to live life halfway with him, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to hold back anymore. I was too stubborn to admit she was the tiniest bit right, though, so I changed the subject. “Time crunch, remember? Patricia’s been commenting on how long my lunches are.”
“You normally love your work,” Stephanie said. “Maybe Jake’s right about you branching off on your own.”
“Maybe. But right now, I’ve got to focus on this job. After we get your vases. Because nothing’s as important as your wedding.”
Smiling, Steph nodded. “That’s right.”
A red-and-blue heart sculpture that looked partway melted caught my eye. “I think I need this to remind myself that heartbreak—or heart melt—is inevitable.”
“
Tina invited the woman to look around, then walked up to Stephanie and me. “Come on back and I’ll show you the vases before we pack them up.”
“I can’t thank you enough for doing this last minute,” I said.
Stephanie and I followed Tina through a small door. The walk-in closet had that stuffy smell that comes from lack of fresh air. Various glass pieces dotted the shelves and the heart vases sat on a desk.
Steph picked one up and studied it. “They’re even prettier than the vases I special ordered.” The three of us started bubble wrapping and placing them into little square cardboard places in the box. “Do you have your maid of honor speech prepared yet?”
I ripped off a sheet of bubble wrap. “Not yet.”
“You’re not going to say anything anti-marriage or anti-love, right?”
“Do you really have to ask?”
Steph raised her eyebrows, answering by not answering.
I scowled at her. “I’m not
Tina tucked the last vase inside the box, then straightened and stared at me. “I keep going back and forth on whether I should say something, but I can’t help myself. I’ve always been a loudmouth.”
I leaned against the table, waiting for whatever she was going to say.
“Jake could have his pick of nice girls, but for some reason, he always chooses girls who don’t appreciate him,” Tina said. “You know I like you. I think you’re funny, and you’ve been really great for my business. I just don’t think you’re good for Jake.”
Stunned would be an understatement. Stephanie stood there next to me, mouth hanging open, eyes wide, and I was sure my expression matched—if not surpassed—hers.
Tina lifted her chin, her jaw set. “Jake and I have been friends for a long time. He’s a great guy, and I feel like you’re messing with him. And he’ll let you because he likes you.”
I took a deep breath to steady my voice. “I’m not trying to mess with him. I told him from the beginning that I don’t do the big relationship thing. Maybe that doesn’t make sense to you or to him or to anyone. But this is who I am, and he says he’s okay with it.”
“He says that, but he’s lying. Lying to himself. I’m not going to give the whole ‘if you hurt him’ speech. All I’m saying is that if you really don’t think there’s something there, you shouldn’t waste any more of his time.”
Needless to say, things were a little weird after Tina’s speech. It was a relief when Steph and I finally made it back to my car. Steph stuck the box filled with her vases in the backseat, eased the door closed, and put a hand on my shoulder. “I totally get it. I’ve watched you get hurt over and over again.” Her eyes met mine. “But what if this time really is different? I don’t think you should dump him because of what Tina said. You’re not wasting his time.”
I bit my lip. “Despite my best efforts, I’m afraid I’m already too attached. I even tried to pull away, but it
