His kid.
The Suburban cranked to life. He’d planned everything to a tee, how to shake free of her while keeping his kid close, but now Stone was helping her. Before long, she would be able to stand on her own and that would threaten all of his plans. He needed more time, something that bastard could ruin.
He backed the SUV out of the parking space before pulling onto the highway. Once he cruised to sixty miles per hour, he slid in a CD, cranking the volume so the kid in back would settle down. Shouldn’t take too long since he’d already figured out the tyke’s favorites.
He would have to wait until his child fell asleep tonight before making a move to regain control. But without question, something needed to happen soon to shake things up.
And what was the best way to get back at a man who didn’t scare easily? Hit him where he was vulnerable. Mess with his woman.
Luckily, he had access to Dee’s room key.
Sitting in the back of the Ford pickup and watching the stars, Jacob didn’t hear Dee’s footsteps until she tossed a blanket into the truck bed. He lowered the beer from his mouth. “Get back inside where it’s warm.”
He winced at his own irritable tone, not that it seemed to deter Dee.
“What are you talking about? It’s a balmy forty degrees out here tonight. And no wind chill. The snow’s even melting. I barely need a coat.” She hooked her knee on the tailgate and hefted herself up. “Mind some company?”
“Yes.” He’d had a crap day.
His time with Chase hadn’t netted any great reassurance either way. The guy vowed he loved Emily, but acted like more of a playmate with Madison.
Then he’d realized Emily had screwed up the cash drawer again, coming out short.
And to top it off, Dee looked too damn hot in the new clothes. Helping her was playing hell with his libido. The pink sweater had hugged her br**sts all day long.
Just staring at her coat, he wanted to slip his hands beneath and find the soft cashmere—the even softer woman. “Dee, go back inside.”
Ignoring him, she closed the last two feet between them, working her way over the slick patches of metal. Parking lot lights hummed in the silence as she stood, unmoving, hands stuffed in her coat pockets.
Somehow he couldn’t scavenge the words to make her leave. “Damn, you’re stubborn.”
“Damn, you’re cranky.” Without giving him time for a comeback, she jabbed her thumb upward. “Get up.”
“What?”
“Get up. I want to spread out the blanket to sit on.”
He eased to his feet. Why did she have to invade his space, showing up all hot and smelling good when he just wanted to drink his beer and watch the Northern Lights in peace? “I didn’t invite you out here.”
“But you have the best seat in the house.”
Best seat? She couldn’t mean the double entendre the way he would have in referring to her. Still, a grin teased at his face.
Her startled gaze flew to his, down to his backside and up again. A flush crawled up her cheeks that threatened to raise the temperature five degrees. “I, uh, your seat…”
“Thanks.”
“Best place to view the Northern Lights, I meant,” Dee said in a prim, schoolmarm tone. She whipped the blanket out and plopped down. “Come on. Sit.”
He recognized a determined woman when he saw one. Arguing would get him nothing but fired up and frustrated—more frustrated. And he didn’t really want her to go.
“Here.” She flung a wad of something into his lap before dragging a corner of the blanket over her shoulder.
Jacob uncurled one hand from his bottle and picked up…a hat. He set his beer to the side and turned to Dee. “You have a thing about hats.”
“Well then, put it on.”
“Bossy.” A half smile touched his lips, if not his mood. He reached for Dee’s scarf. Did she know she swayed toward him anytime he brushed near her? Like now. Slowly, he unwrapped the length from around her ears. Dee listed forward. It would be so easy to cover her mouth with his and lose himself in her softness.