Then it was time to go, and people were saying goodbye. Paige hugged her colleagues as they left, grateful that they’d taken time to come celebrate her tonight. Paige glanced around, looking for Jack, wondering if he’d slipped out earlier when Dr. Keller and Dr. Nair left, but no, he was there in the kitchen, talking with Elizabeth’s husband.
Paige began gathering discarded plates and glasses. Elizabeth stopped her. “No cleaning up. It’s your party.”
“I’m not going to leave you alone with this mess.”
“I’m not alone. My cute hubby will help me. And what I don’t do tonight, I can finish in the morning.” Elizabeth moved toward the oversize kitchen island. “Jack, would you do me a favor and take Paige home?”
“Of course,” he answered, looking at Paige. “Are you ready to go now?”
“That is not necessary,” Paige answered, flustered. “I can call an Uber.”
“Not on your birthday,” Elizabeth said, scandalized. “Jack said he can take you. He’s going that way anyway.”
Paige shot her friend a dark look. Elizabeth ignored it. “Let me just send you with a to-go box. I know you’ll love some of these leftovers tomorrow. Just give me a minute to wrap it up.”
“That was so awkward,” Paige said as Jack walked her down the street to where he’d parked his car. It was a beautiful night; the moon was out, high and full. In the distance, she could see the ripple of moonlight on water. “I feel like Elizabeth forced me on you.”
“Not at all. I’m happy to drive you home. I didn’t have a chance to talk to you at the party. But it looked as if you were having a good time.”
“I did. It was fun.” She flashed him a smile. “I’ve never had a surprise party before.”
He opened the passenger door for her. “And were you surprised?”
She nodded and stepped into the car. “Elizabeth had me fooled. I thought we were going to a play and she’d forgotten the tickets.”
He closed the door and came around to the driver’s side. Once he was behind the wheel, she added, “I noticed you kept your distance tonight. Why didn’t you talk to me?”
“I just had dinner with you. I thought I should give others a chance to visit with you.” He glanced at her, gaze warm. “Besides, I knew I’d be taking you home and I’d have you all to myself then.”
There was something in his eyes that made her breath catch. “This is all part of Elizabeth’s plan?”
“Not hers. Mine.”
The very air seemed charged with energy, and Paige’s pulse quickened, a tiny shiver racing through her.
Jack drove her home on the Pacific Coast Highway, paralleling the water. Neither of them said much, and he turned on the stereo, jazz filling the car. Paige tried to relax against the worn leather seat, but couldn’t focus on anything but Jack, and how aware she was of him, and his hand on the steering wheel, and how the moonlight illuminated his profile. He was tall, broad, a little weathered, and a whole lot of sexy. Being close to him made her skin prickle and heat coil in her middle.
He knew the way to her place, so there was no giving of directions, no meaningless chatter, just an intense heady awareness of Jack, and how he made her feel things that she couldn’t quite wrap her head around. The mournful saxophone didn’t help, either. The notes stirred her, making her feel a little vulnerable, a little emotional. Everything felt different tonight. . . . She felt different tonight.
At her apartment, he parked, turned off the engine, and climbed from the car, walking her to the door of her apartment. Energy hummed around them, and her chest tightened with little electrical jolts. She wanted . . .
She didn’t want.
She wanted . . .
She didn’t want.
She stole a glance at him as she reached her front door. Time hadn’t been kind to Ted, but Jack had just improved with age.
He wasn’t just handsome, he was brilliant and generous and patient. She loved his spirit, and his passionate interest in the world around him.
“Thank you for the ride,” she said huskily, fumbling in her purse for her key.
“Thank you for having a birthday. I enjoyed spending time with you this week.”
She glanced up into his face and her pulse jumped. He looked a little rumpled, rather handsome, and very sure of himself. “You made this week special,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how I’d feel without my girls coming home, but it’s been a really lovely week.”
“Hopefully it’s not over. Are we still going hiking tomorrow?”
She’d forgotten all about it. “As long as we don’t have to wake up too early.”
“Not an early riser?”
“Not if I don’t have to be.”
“How about I call you around ten? See if you’re up for it.”
“Sounds good.” She looked up into his eyes, thinking they were extraordinarily beautiful. It was too dark on her doorstep to see the flecks of gold and green, but she knew they were there, knew his lashes were dark, knew his mouth fascinated her, far more than it should.
And then, as if he could read her mind, his head dropped and his mouth covered hers, his lips firm and cool, the pressure just right.
Could you remember a kiss from thirty years ago?
Paige didn’t think so, and yet there was an immediate spark of familiarity and pleasure. Her skin tingled, exquisitely sensitive, and her lips softened, yielding to his. To him.
She refused to think, not now, and gave herself over to sensation, because everything felt good. She felt good—better than good. Warm honey seemed to fill her veins and Paige felt like she was twenty again. She leaned against Jack, savoring the feel of him. She’d forgotten this, what it felt like being close to someone, had forgotten touch. Skin. A ripple of pleasure raced through her, and she lifted her arms, wrapping them around his neck.
Jack walked her back against the door, pinning her there, holding her captive while his mouth took hers, seeking, giving, stirring nerve endings she’d forgotten she had. Why had she thought she was dead? How could she have thought she didn’t feel, because right now, every inch of her had come alive, the length of her body exquisitely stirred.
“If any of my neighbors are watching, we’re putting on quite a show,” she murmured against his mouth.