Before You

“Hi.”

He’d trimmed his beard, so his neck was shaved clean, and the whiskers all around were a little shorter.

I felt the hunger in his eyes all the way from here.

I was certain now I couldn’t breathe.

Except … I didn’t want to.

Whatever this feeling was, I hoped it never left.

He smiled. Not fully. Just enough to show a hint of teeth, and his lids narrowed. “You look beautiful.”

I was in a long sweater that hung off one shoulder, jeans, and a flat pair of knee-high boots. There was nothing beautiful about what I had on. But I didn’t get the feeling Jared was talking about my clothes. I got the feeling he was describing the way he thought of me.

Oh God.

My feet started to move, carrying me closer, and I was suddenly in the kitchen. As I approached, he put the spoon down, and I set the wine and dessert on the counter. I fell into his arms. While he held me, the most incredible smell filled my nose. Part was from the stove, an aroma that was making my stomach do more than tingle. The other was just Jared, a scent I was starting to crave when I wasn’t with him.

He leaned back from our hug, and his lips went to mine, kissing me with a passion I felt through my entire body. His hands started in the middle of my back but were now lowering to my ass, squeezing it while our mouths locked.

I didn’t know how much time had passed when he finally broke away. I just knew, when it happened, I was breathless.

“Jared …” I felt my cheeks stay flushed, my chest heaving.

His hand went to my chin, holding it there for a few seconds before he returned to the spoon. “Are you hungry?” I didn’t get a chance to respond before he added, “Dinner will be ready in four minutes.”

I smiled as I looked into the pot, watching the risotto swirl inside. “Italian, huh?”

He laughed, bending his neck to kiss me on the cheek. “You said it’s your favorite.”

I was positive every nerve ending was screaming inside me. “I love how well you listen.” My stare moved to the other side of the counter where I saw several bottles of wine. “How about I get us a drink?”

I felt his gaze on me while I moved across the kitchen, taking my time so I could really explore the room. Whoever had designed the space spared no expense. He had top-of-the-line appliances, the newest features on each, with a farm sink that would make any mother drool. The only thing missing was a personal touch. The same was true for the living room and entryway.

There was no way to know this condo was Jared’s and not someone else’s.

He even protected himself in his own home.

That was his decision, and I respected it, but I needed more.

“Jared,” I said, holding one of the wine bottles in my hand, waiting until he looked at me over his shoulder. “What was the last vacation you took, and who was it with?”

He stared at me silently, as though he was thinking about my question. Even his arm slowed from stirring, the seconds ticking by before he finally answered, “It was a week before the crash. I went skiing with my best friend in Aspen.”

“Did you take any pictures?”

I understood not being on social media. My family was the same way, not a single person interested in the hype or the aspect of sharing anything with a virtual audience. But with his online absence, I felt like there was no window into Jared’s life.

There was another pause, and then he reached into his pocket and took out his phone. “Come here.”

I left the bottle on the counter and returned to his side, staring at the picture of the two men on his screen. They looked nothing alike, his best friend’s hair blond with eyes that were light. There were skis on their feet and poles in their hands.

I could picture him after several runs down the mountain, drinking a rich whiskey with a dusting of snow still in his hair. The image was incredibly sexy.

“He’s a retired Navy SEAL,” he said, still holding his phone out in front of us.

“You’ve known him a long time?”

“My whole life.”

The more I studied the shot, the more I could see their bond. “Where does he live?”

“Here.” Jared grinned, but it was different than any of the expressions he’d worn before. This was almost a peaceful look that I hadn’t seen. “He works for me.”