“How did you know they were shifting from hard rock to romance?” she asked.
“I made a wish upon that star right above.”
This time Janelle snickered, and Jack pulled her even closer, wanting to let her in on how much she was turning him on.
“You make me feel good,” he murmured, laying his face against hers.
“I’ve noticed,” she answered dryly.
This time he barked out a laugh. God, he loved the easy going way she had about her. She made him feel relaxed and under no pressure, and it was just plain nice to be the one making the moves for a change.
“Are you dating anyone?” he asked suddenly.
“Not really,” she answered, as Jack spun her round, still holding her close. No fancy dance moves for Janelle, he decided.
Because all he wanted to do was hold her in his arms and feel her close.
He noticed she didn’t ask the same question of him. What did that mean, he wondered?
“I want to see you, again, when we’re back in the states,” he said softly.
Her mouth opened, and her rough exhalation caressed his cheek.
Gently, he laid his mouth over hers.
When their lips melded and his tongue slid into the welcoming depths of her mouth, her tongue greeted his, touching, darting and tasting the inside of his mouth.
Jack groaned, exhaling unsteadily and deepening the kiss.
Her eyes stayed closed, as if she didn’t want to think about what she was doing as her mouth seemed to respond hotly, hungrily to his.
His heart began hammering hard in his chest as his hands began wandering. And suddenly realizing he might have been taking it a little too far, he pulled away slightly, laying his forehead against hers.
Janelle’s kiss was drowning him beyond reason.
The feel of her in his arms, the scent and softness of her skin was making him crazy, and yes, Jack wanted Janelle like he’d never wanted a woman before. He’d never come onto a woman like this in the past, and it had him seriously questioning his sanity.
They’d only really met a few hours earlier.
But, somehow, he knew it wasn’t only sex that he wanted from this woman, because once they made love, he would never be able to let her go.
“What’s wrong?” she asked softly, still wrapped within his arms.
“You never answered me about seeing each other again once we’re back in the states.”
Janelle hesitated. “I’m not sure that would be such a great idea. My job is pretty intense. I spend a lot of time overseas, training and assisting with search and rescue.”
“In other words, your job is dangerous?” Jack asked grimly.
“Very,” she answered firmly. “I’ve avoided any serious entanglements because of it.”
Jack was puzzled. “Why?”
She scrunched her nose, heaving a sigh. “I don’t know you well enough to get into it. But I have some pretty good reasons.”
Jack wasn’t at all put off, if anything, he was more intrigued to discover what it was that was holding her back. “So here’s what I’m thinking. How about we keep in touch via email”
Her grin was wry. “I guess there’s nothing too threatening about that.”
“I don’t know. You don’t know very much about me.”
“More than you know,” she admitted. “You’re a good friend, and you keep the piece, and I have a feeling that you’re the anchor of your family, just as I was.”
She was right, of course. All the money he’d made a model and actor and child had gone to hold together his family. His father had been very ill and had died when he’d been young. But Jack was curious. How had she known?
“What makes you think that?”
“You’re like a watchdog for your friends. Nick is obviously raw from breaking up with his fiancé, but Rand seems to have some secrets too.” She stared into his eyes. “But so do you, Jack Wellman. There’s something deep and tragic in your past that you’re hiding.”
Jack was taken aback. How had she…?
He gazed into her eyes. “The only way you would have guessed something like that is because you’ve had something similar happen to you.”
She heaved a sigh before answering, “I have.”
He gazed at the of the beauty of the bright full moon before glancing at her lovely face. “How about sharing one more kiss? I think I see Rand and Ciara approaching.”
She smiled. “I’d like that.”
Jack pulled her into his arms, taking the kiss that he needed, and as their lips blended, sweet satisfaction rippled through him.
As Jack sunk into the spicy pleasure of her mouth, he could have gladly drowned. This woman held a power that he’d felt with no one else before, and he held back nothing, holding her as tightly as he possibly could, joining with her, totally absorbed by her.
Janelle seemed shocked when they finally pulled apart, and Jack loved the dazed look she had in her eyes as she held her fingers lightly over her mouth.
“You never answered me,” he murmured softly, as they settled back at the table.
“About what?” she asked, still looking confused.
“Can we keep in touch by email?”
She heaved a sigh, giving him a wry grin. “Alright. But I’m still not looking for a relationship.”
He smiled slyly. “We’ll see about that.”
She laughed softly, shaking her head with obvious frustration.
Chapter Seven
Rand made coffee and breakfast for everyone the following morning. Jack and Nick had already packed their bags and loaded them into the SUV since Rand would be taking them to the airport.
When they reached the airport a few hours later, Rand escorted Jack and Nick through their check-in and sat with them to wait until their flight began boarding, while explaining the details of their new jobs a little further.
