It had to be something that would tempt Russell to bring the whole show down to Cherry Lake. Something no one had done before. And, while she planned, a new thought came to mind and she scribbled as fast as she could.
Chapter Eleven
Jake debated going into the kitchen and sneaking back to work when he heard the cussing behind the door. He wasn’t that keen to finish his day with a dose of her anger on his shoulders, friend or not.
“She’s been like that ever since she came in early this morning.” Mari skipped down the stairs and stopped in the foyer. “You’re taking your life in your hands if you go into the kitchen. I could think of better ways to spend my lunch hour.”
“What seems to be the problem?”
“Well, it sounds like the last show Bella taped before she left the city got accidently wiped but I have no idea what that all means. So not my gig.” Mari blew out a breath. “Her producer wants her to go back to Seattle and tape the show again.”
“But, she’s got—”
“Yeah, I know and now I feel all kinds of guilty.” Mari leaned on the banister and brushed her hair from her face. “She has her own career to think of but she’s insisting that she gets through the dinner before she goes anywhere.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve tried to tell her she comes first but Bella won’t listen to me. Too damned stubborn by far. Claims she has it all worked out, just has to run it past the studio and hope they go for it. Until then, she’s playing her cards pretty close to her chest. She won’t even tell me what she’s offered them.”
“Not sounding encouraging though, is it?” A pan smacked on the floor followed by a groan of frustration and Jake winced.
“Nope. If it was me, I’d leave her alone to work it out. Or you could drag her out to the cabin again to soothe those sounds of angst she’s been making all morning. I’ve never seen her so relaxed as she was after that first date and the evenings you two have spent together since. Well, let me say that you seem to be good for her. Not that I’m pushing you two together or anything.”
Jake smiled. It was one night he wouldn’t forget in a hurry either and to hear that Bella had enjoyed it so much made him happy. Not a mega holiday home, but a small rundown cabin had made the famous Bella Moore relaxed and happy. Points to him. “She doesn’t scare me. I think I’ll risk life and limb to say hello.”
Jake pushed open the door. Bella stood in front of the stove, her eyes closed and a wooden spoon in her hand. The acrid smell of burnt food made him pause and assess the situation.
“Looks dangerous. Is it safe to come in?”
Her eyes opened and a smile came across her face. “Jake.”
“Shouldn’t you be concentrating on that pot?” He stepped closer, the bitter taint of charcoal something he wasn’t used to when she was around. He was ready to grab the fire extinguisher when Bella shook her head.
“I turned it off. Already burned to a cinder because I wasn’t concentrating on what I was doing.” She dropped the spoon on the counter and pushed the pan to the back of the stove. “Too many things on my mind so I should take a break while I can.”
“Mari told me about the show.”
She clenched her teeth. “I don’t want to talk about it. Take my mind off of it please or I’m going to scream.”
“What would you like me to do?”
A lustful haze came over her face and she stepped toward him. “I’m sure you could come up with something.” Bella wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in for a kiss.
His heart pounded and his body responded to her warmth. If he didn’t put a stop to this, he’d embarrass himself. He hadn’t really kissed her as in a kiss that made his toes curl kind of kiss yet. Heaven knew it was coming. Timing could be better. Certainly not the best place to show just how long it had been for him. Her place of work, him in uniform. Anyone could come in and see them. Not a good look but he threw caution to the wind and wrapped her in his arms hoping this was what she had in mind. Jake dropped his lips to hers as she closed her eyes and reached up to meet him. Soft lips pressed against his. Her eyelids fluttered and he took that as a green light and deepened the kiss, running his tongue across the seam of hers searching for a way in. Bella opened her mouth and wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck. A tickle of need ran down his spine all the way to the backs of his knees.
Their tongues did a quick tango, finishing the lip-lock with a flourish of passion that spelled out the pent-up need simmering in them. With a final nip at her bottom lip, he pulled back. Sucked in a deep breath.
“Wow. I wasn’t expecting that considering we were only going to be friends.”
She gazed up at him with misty eyes. “I think we both know better than that, don’t we?” Bella’s gaze roamed his face, settled on his mouth. Before he could stop her, she ran her tongue over his lip. “You can try and deny it, Jake, but I don’t think either of us have any choice here. How many dates have we had as ‘friends’?”
“I kind of lost count; I was having so much fun with you.”
“Right, and how many times have you kissed me
