He chuckled as he pulled a set of keys out of his front pocket. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
Deanna pointed to them. “You’re leaving already?” Her stomach sank at the thought, and she didn’t understand why. She’d only just met the guy.
“Yeah. I need to be at the other end of town for a meeting.” He looked at his watch. “I’m already running behind, I’m afraid.”
She wondered if the meeting was with a woman but quickly banished the thought. It’s none of my concern. “Will I see you again?”
Jonas stepped forward and cupped her chin in his palm. The bold move surprised her into remaining still, curious what he’d do next. “I hope so, Deanna,” he murmured.
“I hope so too,” she answered, feeling a little overheated all of a sudden. Would he kiss her? She really wanted him to kiss her.
He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip and groaned. “Meeting you has easily been the highlight of my summer,” he whispered. Then, as if for her ears alone, Jonas leaned close to her ear and added, “I have a feeling I’m not going to forget you anytime soon either.”
Before she could reply, Jonas dropped his hand and left the kitchen. Her heart thundered in her chest as she pondered his hushed words. Something about the way he’d spoken made Deanna feel rejected—even though she hadn’t actually done any asking. Not a pleasant thought.
Right about then, Dean came in the back door. “I thought you were going to put on a cover-up.”
Deanna cursed and went outside in search of the hose.
1
Present day ...
She had sweet, gentle curves that the tight black skirt and light pink tank top couldn’t even begin to hide. Short blond hair framed a cute oval-shaped face. Pretty. Flirty too. Her smiles should’ve been pulling him across the room. Do it, dumbass. Walk over to her, whisper some lame shit in her ear, and get laid. Great fucking advice. So, why wasn’t he listening to it? Easy. His dick wanted only one woman—and she was nowhere in sight.
Jonas slammed back the last of his light beer and stepped away from the bar. The neon lights, crowded room, and booming bass should’ve been exactly what he needed to get his mind off one Deanna Harrison. He had a feeling an earthquake couldn’t even manage to accomplish that goal.
After giving the little blonde a parting grin, Jonas headed out of the bar into the cold winter night. As he slid behind the wheel of his new black Dodge Charger, he felt marginally better, but not enough. Not nearly enough. He sighed and stared out at the darkness. Friday night and more than enough honeys to fill his bed for a week, and where was he? Alone. Again. “Christ, I’m an idiot.”
Shoving the key into the ignition, Jonas started the car. Listening to the hum of the engine as the beautiful machine came to life sent a shot of pride through him. He loved his car, but as he drove out of the parking lot and headed toward the highway, Jonas’s mind turned toward another beauty, Deanna. The way her eyes lit with mischief whenever she saw him. Only Deanna could make a smart-ass comment sound sexy. What would it take to slip past that exterior? To reach the passionate woman beneath? And she would be passionate; Jonas felt it in his gut. A woman like Deanna would burn him alive in bed. If he could ever get her to stop rejecting him.
Without thinking, Jonas automatically took th
e on ramp, which brought him in the direction of Deanna’s house. “Ah, hell. Clearly my dick is now in complete control.” The part of his brain that controlled rational thought seemed to switch off the minute the woman’s image slipped through the cracks.
As he approached her house, Jonas stiffened. There weren’t any lights on, which meant she was out. “It’s Friday night—of course she’s out.” With a guy? “Now that’s a hell of an ugly thought.”
Jonas drove up the street a little ways, then parked along the curb. No reason why he couldn’t wait for her to return home. He needed to be sure she was safe, didn’t he? Jonas got out of the car and locked it. Jogging the short distance to her front porch gave him a chance to think about his actions. Deanna was a grown woman. She had every right to date whomever she chose. To come home late. Hell, stay out all night. None of his business, of course. The logical discussion didn’t stop him from selecting the chair situated in the shadows of her porch. Dropping into it, Jonas pulled his leather coat around him tighter and relaxed, waited. His head started swirling with images of Deanna and some faceless stranger. Kissing. Touching. Another man’s hands stroking her alabaster skin. Another man’s tongue teasing her plump lips. His temper flared.
Please, for both their sakes, let her be out with friends.
When a car pulled into her drive, Jonas stiffened. Definitely not Deanna’s red coupe. The big, silver Lexus looked expensive, fancy. Is that the type Deanna went for? The clean-shaven, suit-wearing type? Jonas rubbed his jaw, then cursed when he felt the rough stubble there. Watching from the shadows, he saw Deanna lean toward the driver. He couldn’t make out any more than their shapes. Was she kissing him? Was the asshole staying the night?
Not damn likely.
When she opened the passenger door and stepped out, Jonas breathed a sigh of relief. She waved and the car started a slow glide back out of the driveway. Jonas waited. When she stepped onto the porch, he got a better look at her. She wore a pair of red heels and a matching slip dress with a little black shawl wrap. The dress hit above the knee. Classy, but sexy—and too freaking revealing for his peace of mind.
“Even though it’s winter and that dress is clearly not designed to keep a body warm, you sure are heating me up pretty damn fast.”
At his words, Deanna jumped and screamed. Jonas shot out of the chair and grabbed her by the shoulders in time to keep her from tumbling off the porch. “What the hell, Jonas? You scared the crap out of me!”
Feeling like an idiot, he mumbled, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She shoved out of his arms and slapped his chest. “Why are you lurking in the dark? Are you spying on me?”
Her eyes flashed fire and ice at the same time. How did she do that? It captivated the hell out of him. “Who’s spying? I just came for a friendly visit.”
“You know very well you’re spying.” She bit the words out between clenched teeth.