She wiggled her fingers out in front of her.
“Jenna,” I hissed. My eyes darted to Evan, praying he hadn’t been paying attention. I’d already been feeling itchy this morning, unable to believe I’d let that man bring me to orgasm right out in the open.
Twice.
This time in my foyer.
A shiver blazed a path down my spine, landing in that well of desire in my belly that was getting fuller and fuller. I had no idea how much more I could take before it overflowed.
Thank God, Evan was completely occupied where he sat in the built-in booth at the breakfast nook that curved under the big window.
His focus was trained on his iPad and whatever goofy pictures he and his friend Josiah were sending back and forth over Snapchat.
Their favorite way to communicate.
“What?” Jenna defended, giving me that look. “I already checked to make sure he wasn’t paying any attention.”
“But still.”
Her brows lifted as she dug into my fridge and pulled out the creamer. “But still, you need to lighten up. You’re strung up so tight that I bet one touch really would send you rocketing for the moon.”
A rush of heat flushed my skin. My thoughts were back there. To last night. God, I didn’t recognize myself around that man.
Jenna cocked her head, eyes going wide before she squealed in vicarious delight. “Oh my God. Did you two do the deed? Give me the details. I want them all. Don’t leave anything out. Please tell me it was right here on this counter.” She smacked it with the palm of her hand. “So hot.”
I shushed her, waving my hand in her face, my voice dropped to a manic whisper. “We did not do the deed.”
It wasn’t as if Evan could actually hear, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t hear. My son was about as clever as they came and could read body language almost as well as he could read lips.
“But you did do something. You would not be lookin’ like that otherwise, so don’t try to lie.” She circled her finger around me, her expression pure glee.
For a second, I hesitated before the muted words tumbled from my mouth. “He kissed me.”
Okay, so he’d kissed me before. But this kiss . . .
This kiss.
There was something between us last night that hadn’t been there before. Something beyond the attraction. Strong and fierce and overpowering.
My insides shook and, suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. I reached a shaky hand out to steady myself on the table.
Jenna loosed a knowing smile before taking a sip of coffee. “Whoa. That must have been some kiss.”
I nodded. “It was some kiss.”
Kale had kissed me in a way I hadn’t ever been kissed before. As if I was beautiful and right and he wanted me more than anything else.
With respect.
With adoration and desperation.
As if maybe I could be everything.
Was it foolish to want him to be that for me in return?
I sank into a chair. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”
Jenna washed her hands and plopped down beside me, sliding on a pair of gloves so she could help me put the wrappers on the lollipops.
Her voice was quiet. “You like, like him?”
I nodded slowly.
I liked him.
“So much.” I gave a harsh shake of my head before I peeked over at her. “Why do the best things have to come into our lives at the worst times?”
“I know sometimes it feels that way. But in the end, it turns out things happen exactly when they’re supposed to.”
In contemplation, I bit down on my bottom lip, wishing it were true. “Maybe. But I . . .” I glanced over at my son, my reason for living. “I just can’t do anything that would put Evan at risk.”
Jenna rolled her eyes at me affectionately. “Newsflash, Harley Hope, I don’t think you could do anything that would put Evan at risk. Your make up just wouldn’t allow it. He’s always come first, and he always will. And the fact that you are even considering something with that man should tell you something.”
“My instincts weren’t exactly spot on with Dane.”
“Dane lost his ever-loving mind, Hope. Seriously, that man was himself one day, and the next? Poof, he was unrecognizable. I don’t think your instincts could have warned you about him.”
I blinked, knowing what she said was the truth. Not that it was even close to an excuse, but I’d always known Evan’s diagnosis had somehow sent my husband over the edge. Sparked a cold, cowardly wickedness in him that had been nonexistent before.
Jenna eyed me. “What about him bein’ Evan’s doctor.”
A sigh pushed free. “I don’t know. I would think . . . I’d think he’d have to stop seeing him as a patient if he were to get involved with us in any way. And the records . . .”