“Are you going to kiss me again?”
Jake nodded. “Another rule of birthdays.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” Char leaned in closer until her lips grazed his.
“Kisses don’t count. So if I kiss you, say, right now…” His lips met hers. “And again right now… you can’t slap me or hold it against me.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.” He licked the corner of her mouth
and then placed his hands on either side of her head as he deepened the kiss.
His phone buzzed in his pocket but he ignored it. He ignored everything but her taste as the tart champagne from her tongue drove him insane.
The phone, however, wouldn’t stop.
Finally, with a curse, he pulled back and answered with a gruff “Hello?”
“Those bastards!” Grandma yelled.
“Huh?”
“I’m on my way.”
“What?” Jake was too focused on Char’s low-cut dress and swollen lips. “Where are you going?”
“To find you. I had Stuart call me. He told me everything.”
“Stuart? Who the hell is Stuart?”
Grandma sighed heavily, as if he was the one being ridiculous. “The waiter, Jake. You know, sometimes I wonder about you. He had a nametag. Meet me at the condo. We’re staying the night and we’re going to give her a party she won’t ever forget!”
Grandma hung up.
Jake swore and looked at Char. “So that was Grandma.”
“Yeah, I heard her. The woman doesn’t do quiet.”
“She wants to throw you a party.” Jake was still staring at his phone, then back at Char’s lips. “We should probably humor her.”
“Well.” Char buckled her seatbelt. “It is my birthday, after all… and I’m starving.”
“Me too.” Jake agreed, but he wasn’t hungry for food. No. He wanted more of her lips. Damn, but he wanted to consume her. Reining in his lust, he started the car again. “Well, let’s not keep her highness waiting.”
Chapter Seventeen
Jake wasn’t at all prepared for what Grandma had planned. It was only four in the afternoon, after all. He had only planned for an early dinner with drinks.
What had previously been only him sweeping Char off her feet was now Grandma outdoing every nice thing he’d ever thought to do.
Because she brought along Char’s best friend.
“Kacey?” Char’s mouth dropped open when both Kacey and Travis walked into the condo. Grandma told them to have some champagne and sit tight, and wait for the party of the century. Her words, not his.
After two hours Jake was convinced Grandma had fallen asleep at the wheel. Not that he cared. Char wanted to walk on the beach; he obliged her. Then she wanted more champagne, and hell, he would have given her whatever she wanted. He just wanted her to feel… wanted… desired. And damn if he didn’t want to be the guy to make her feel that way.
It had been a few hours since their last kiss, and he was seriously thinking about locking the door to the condo so he could do it again when his brother and future sister-in-law burst right in.