“Summer, no!” Chyna called in a stern voice. She bent down and scooped Summer into her arms before her tiny canine explorer could find another flower to chew. Nuzzling her Yorkie’s neck, she said, “Why do you insist on eating the grass? You’ll have these people thinking Mommy doesn’t feed you.”
Summer’s pink tongue darted out and gave Chyna’s nose an apologetic lick, but as soon as the dog was on all fours again she darted for the foliage. Chyna tightened her grip on the leash, shaking her head at her ill-behaved baby.
“Looks like she’s trying to get away from you.”
The sound of that deep, amused voice caused a delicious ripple to travel from her shoulders to the small of her back. Chyna turned and forgot what she was going to say; the sight of Jared rendered her speechless. He wore tan deck shorts and a plaid shirt of light blue, tan and white. It was unbuttoned to reveal a white tank underneath that hugged his washboard abs. Expensive sunshades covered his eyes.
Sweet Jesus, the man looked good.
“Hi,” Chyna said, surprised that she had use of her tongue when it was still hanging halfway out of her mouth.
“I thought you said one o’clock,” he said. “It’s not even twelve-thirty.”
She gestured to the dog sniffing inquisitively at Jared’s dark brown sandals. “Summer was getting restless, so we came a little early.”
“Restless, huh?” Jared fell to his haunches and went straight for Summer’s ears, scratching the spot that automatically sent the dog’s right leg to tapping. Chyna knew with that one move, Jared had become Summer’s new best friend. She wondered if he could zero in on her spot that quickly.
“Stop it.” Chyna chastised herself.
She realized she’d spoken aloud when Jared looked up at her and asked, “Why? She likes it.”
“Not you. I’m sorry,” she said with an offhand wave, while her stomach knotted with an anxious ache that had been there since their kiss on Friday. “So, are you hungry? I’m buying you lunch, remember?”
“Will it involve you slipping your fingers into my mouth?” he asked with a decadent grin.
Chyna’s stomach instantly clenched with need, and a sudden throb starting humming between her thighs.
“They do sell some of the best French fries you’ll ever taste,” she answered, surprised by the huskiness in her tone.
“If they’re coming from your fingers, then I have no doubt.”
Oh, but this one was dangerous. The man had more sexual magnetism in his left pinky than the last three guys she’d dated combined. The fact that the last date she’d been on before Jared had been well over a year ago made the situation even more perilous. If she wasn’t careful Chyna knew she would get way more than she’d bargained for when she agreed to kicking back and having a little fun. The look in Jared’s eyes promised way more than just a little fun.
Chyna gave Summer’s leash a tug and they headed toward the corner of the park at Twenty-third Street and Madison Avenue, where the Shake Shack, a popular burger stand, was located.
“How’d the paper writing go last night?” Jared asked, retrieving the sunshades he’d hooked over the collar of his shirt and placing them on his eyes.
“I stayed up way too late finishing the first draft, which is why I’ll probably fall asleep in the middle of eating my hamburger.”
“I remember those days.” Jared laughed. “The worst was philosophy. I hated that class.”
“I wouldn’t think philosophy would be popular with football players,” Chyna remarked.
“It wasn’t, but I was a political science major. It was required.”
“Political science? What did you plan to do with that?”
“Law school,” he answered nonchalantly.
Chyna nearly stumbled. “Ooo-kay, I so wasn’t expecting that.”
“Not typical of your average football player?” he asked with a grin. “I know, but I come from a family of high achievers. It’s what was expected of me.”
“Don’t tell me the multimillionaire football player is the underachiever in the family?” she scoffed.
He chuckled. “Money-wise, I’m winning the race,” he said. Then he shrugged again. “My dad’s a navy doctor and my younger sister married a navy doctor. They’re stationed in Japan. In fact, my mom is there right now.”
“What does your sister do?”
“She’s working on her Ph.D. in…wait for it…philosophy.”
“Ouch!” Chyna laughed. “And you couldn’t even get into law school. The shame.”
He ran a hand over his close-cut hair. “I actually got into a few, but I decided football would be more fun. Is that the line?” Jared pointed to the procession of people snaking around the southeast corner of the park.
“That would be it,” Chyna confirmed. “This is typical of a Sunday afternoon. The Shake Shack is known for their burgers, fries and shakes.”
“How come I’ve never heard of this place? Looks like everyone else in New York has.”
“Well, their wine list isn’t very extensive,” she teased.
He halted his steps. “Will I ever live down that bottle of wine?”
“Not anytime soon,” Chyna said with a breezy laugh.
They made their way to the back of the line, but then Chyna was immediately treated to one of the perks of being in the company of a celebrity. People began giving up their spot in line as soon as they recognized Jared. Moments later, a teen in a turquoise Shake Shack T-shirt greeted them and escorted them to one of the tables under the towering trees of Madison Square Park.
“It’s so exciting to have you here.” The girl beamed. “What would you like to order? It’s on the house.”
Chyna was stunned, yet Jared carried on as if this red carpet treatment was no big deal.
“Two burgers, two fries and two shakes,” Jared said. “Are you a chocolate or vanilla person?” he asked her.
“Chocolate,” she uttered. “And a bottle of water, if that’s okay?”
“Absolutely,” the girl answered. “I’ll bring it right out.”
Chyna gestured to the girl’s retreating form. “What just happened there?”
Jared grinned. “Welcome to my world. Nice isn’t it? I would never have gotten this type of treatment if I had gone to law school.”
“Unbelievable.” She shook her head. “You ball players are so spoiled.”
“We’re used to getting what we want.” His grin was the epitome of sexy.
Gazing at his face, which was streaked with slashes of sunlight filtering between the branches high above, Chyna tilted her head to the side and asked quietly, “And just what is it you want, Jared Dawson?”
For a moment he didn’t say anything, just continued to stare at her. Slowly, one side of his incredibly decadent mouth tipped up. He leaned forward and crossed his arms over the table.
“I’d tell you,” he divulged in a suggestive whisper, “but it would scandalize Summer’s innocent ears. Maybe I can show you later, once we’ve tired her out.”
His bold proposal settled erotic and hot in Chyna’s belly. She was saved from responding with the arrival of their food. For the next ten minutes Chyna watched in awe as Jared polished off his burger, his fries and half of hers, along with the super thick milkshake.
He leaned back in the rickety chair and patted his stomach, which was still tight as a drumhead. How incredibly unfair was that?
“Now I understand why people wait in line for an hour.” He reached down and picked up Summer from where she’d been resting at Chyna’s feet. “Okay, Summer, what do you say we work off some of this food?”
Summer yelped, her tail wagging excitedly. The little traitor. A bit of attention from a cute boy and the dog forgot all about her mommy. Looking at said boy as he rose from the table, Chyna couldn’t blame Summer one bit.
“Do we have doggy toys?” Jared asked over his shoulder.
“We never leave home without them,” Chyna answered.
They walked over to a patch of grass toward the center of the park. She usually didn’t detach Summer from her leash, but Chyna figured with both of them there, one of them would be able to track the dog down if she took off. She unclipped the leash, handed Jared the dumbbell-shaped chew toy from her backpack and parked herself on a patch of even ground under a shade tree.
For the next twenty minutes, Chyna laughed until her side hurt as Summer ran Jared in circles. She was quick as a whip, catching the dumbbell and racing it back to Jared before he had the chance to catch his breath. Sometimes Summer would run up to Chyna and waggle her toy just out of Chyna’s reach, then take off again for Jared.
A chime started from within the backpack. She reached in for her cell phone. It was Liani.
“Hey there! What’s going on?” Chyna answered.
“Hey, yourself. Did you get your paper done last night?”
“Finally finished the first draft,” Chyna said.
“Good. Now you won’t have any reason to cancel our girl’s night out again.”
Chyna’s eyes followed Jared’s strong, lean body as he chased Summer. Despite the casual attire, there was no mistaking the powerfully built male underneath those clothes. She didn’t want to burst Liani’s bubble, but Chyna had a feeling the cancellations would continue.
“Yeah,” was all she managed to say.
“Good, I’ll plan something fun,” Liani answered. “Oh, before I forget, a couple of girls from the squad have a promotional event on Saturday. There’s some hotshot barbershop opening in Morningside Heights, not too far from Columbia University, and they want the Saberrettes for the grand opening. I think you should come. You can see another side of what we do.”
“I’ll need to check my schedule, but if I can make it, I’m there,” Chyna said.
“Meet me at my folks’ place. We can go together,” Liana said.
“You’ll still be at your parents?”
“Yes.” Liani sighed. “When the maintenance guy went in to fix my shower, he discovered a whole mess of problems with the piping. I won’t be able to move back into my apartment for at least another two weeks.”
“Poor you. Stuck in a fancy penthouse on Fifth Avenue for another two weeks,” Chyna drawled.
“Want to trade places?” Liani asked.
“No thanks.” Chyna laughed at her friend’s colorless tone. “Email me the specifics about the event. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Sure. And, hey,” Liani said before Chyna could hang up. “You still owe me the dirt on your date with Jared Dawson. Don’t think I forgot.”
“I know,” Chyna said. Jared scooped up Summer and started walking toward her. Chyna bit her lower lip. “He’s coming this way. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“Wait! You’re with him now! Chy—”
Chyna ended the call and tossed the phone next to her hip. Using one hand to shield her eyes from the sun, she looked up at him and smiled. “Worn out yet?”
Jared parked himself next to her and Summer scampered onto his lap and immediately started to lick his face. “This dog would give the Energizer Bunny a run for its money,” Jared huffed on an exhausted breath.
Chyna reached over and pulled Summer from his chest. “Come here, you. You are such a traitor. It’s not nice to ignore Mommy.”
“How’s Mommy doing?” Jared asked, leaning back on an elbow. His sexy grin started all manner of yummy things swirling in the pit of Chyna’s stomach. His teeth were perfect, straight and gleaming white. She’d never noticed the dimple indenting his cheek. Add that to the list of unfair advantages that had been heaped onto Jared Dawson. There had to be something wrong with him. Anyone lucky enough to have dimples should at least have to suffer from some type of fungus or skin disorder. It was the way the world maintained balance.
“Didn’t know something this small could have so much energy, did you?” Chyna laughed.
“What’s even more amazing is that she never gets bored. You would think running after that stupid dumbbell would get old after a while.”
“Not for her.” Chyna shook her head. “She could go on for hours.”
“Speaking from experience?” She could hear the laughter in his voice.
She returned his grin as she placed Summer on the grass. Summer immediately found a stick twice her size and pounced on it, wiggling her head back and forth and growling.
“She’s bloodthirsty,” Jared said.
“Yeah, that stick doesn’t stand a chance.” Chyna turned back to him, unable to wipe the smile from her face. “Do you have a pet?”
“Nah. Tried to keep a plant a few years ago, but managed to kill it within a month.”
She rolled her eyes. “That is pitiful.”
“It’s hard to keep up when we have back-to-back away games. We’re either on airplanes, in hotels or at the Sabers compound. My housekeeper brought in a few plants, but I still don’t know if they’re real or fake. She takes care of them. But I couldn’t ask her to do that for a dog. Besides, Sam wasn’t an animal person.”
He glanced at her then back out over the park. “I’m bracing myself,” he said.
“For what?” Chyna asked.
“You’re supposed to punch me for mentioning her name.”
Instead of punching him, she scooted over and nudged his shoulder with her own. “I’m not going to punch you. It’s unrealistic to think that you can just wipe her out of your mind.” Chyna picked up a blade of grass and trailed it under her nose. “How long were you two together?”
“Ten years,” he answered after a pause.
She winced. “That’s even longer than I thought.” She hesitated a moment before asking, “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not a chance,” Jared answered. “No more talk about old girlfriends, or my overachieving family or anything else about me,” he said. “I want to talk about you.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Why don’t we start with what you do when you’re not teaching cheerleaders new dance moves or burying your face in schoolbooks? I know you work for a hedge fund, but what do you do?”
“Risk assessment,” she answered. Actually, she did administrative tasks for the people who did risk assessment, but why share those details?
“Sounds, uh, fun I guess?” he said wearily.
“I’ll admit it’s not the most entertaining job.” Chyna laughed. “But I’ve done okay for myself. I’m up for a promotion. Besides, that job isn’t supposed to be fun. I have dance for that.”
“You really love dancing, don’t you?”
She looked over at him and smiled. “I really do.” Chyna shook her head and said with a wistful sigh. “This new job with the Saberrettes has been like a dream.”
“So why not make it a full-time gig?”
She gave him a sardonic look. “Because I have bills to pay,” she said. “I think the only dancers making real money are the professional partners on Dancing with the Stars.”
“You do that type of dancing?”
“I do all types of dancing, and yes, ballroom is one of them. I taught a salsa class yesterday at the dance school where I volunteer.”
“That right? Hmm, I may have to sign up for a few private lessons,” he said.
Chyna burst out laughing.
“What?” he asked with an affronted tone. “NFL players have done pretty well on Dancing with the Stars. Emmitt Smith won the whole thing the year he was on there.”
“You’re looking to join Dancing with the Stars?”
“It’s not out of the realm of possibility,” he said. “I’m pretty light on my feet.”
“Well, I’ve seen you move across the football field, so I have to agree with you on that one.”
“You’ve been checking me out on the field?” he asked, a bit of sexiness returning to his voice.
“Maybe,” she answered, nudging him with her shoulder. The contact sent sparks of electricity shooting down her arms all the way to the tips of her fingers.
She was about to ask him how he liked playing for the Sabers when a screech just to the right of them halted her. A woman screamed, “Roscoe, no!”
Chyna looked over and saw Summer rolling on the ground with a dog twice her size. The dog snapped at her, and Summer quickly scuttled away, dashing straight into a patch of bushes with razor-sharp thorns.
Jared catapulted himself from his perch on the grass and raced over to the shrubbery where Chyna’s dog was hanging by the scruff of her neck, a thick branch hooked underneath her collar. He crouched down and slipped his hand under Summer’s belly, then unbuckled the collar from around her neck.
He gently extracted the dog from the thorny underbrush, making sure she hadn’t been skewered by any of the three-inch thorns. It didn’t look as if she’d been stabbed, just pricked. He could feel the slick blood against his fingers.
The dog shivered in his arms, whimpering as she snuggled against his chest.
“Give her to me,” Chyna screamed, reaching for Summer.
Jared gently handed her the dog. “She’s going to be okay,” he assured her.
“I’m so, so sorry,” the woman was saying. “He never goes after other dogs. I don’t know what got into him.”
Chyna’s eyes zeroed in on Jared’s chest. “Oh, my God,” she screeched.
Jared looked down and noticed two splotches of blood on his white undershirt.
“She’s hurt. Oh, God. Jared, she’s hurt.”
The dog had no more than a scratch or two; he’d checked her for injuries himself, but one look at the wide-eyed worry on Chyna’s face and Jared knew what he had to do. He slipped his fingers through the crook of her arm. “Come on, there has to be a twenty-four-hour animal hospital open somewhere around the city.”
He felt her shudder and realized Chyna was shaking nearly as much as the tiny dog. He stopped and wrapped his arms around them both, giving Chyna a patient, gentle squeeze. “She’s going to be okay, Chyna.”
There was a loud sniff, followed by a nod. “Okay,” she said. “Let’s just get her to the vet.”
Jared jogged a couple of yards back to where they were sitting and scooped up Chyna’s backpack. He took out his iPhone and searched for a twenty-four-hour animal hospital. The closest one was less than six blocks away.
“There’s one on Seventeeth and Madison. It shouldn’t take us too long to get there.”
At his car, he held the passenger door open for her, but Chyna hesitated.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this? What if she bleeds on the seat?” she asked.
Jared swallowed a curse. “It’s just a car, Chyna. It can be cleaned.”
They didn’t talk on the short drive to the vet hospital. Chyna was too busy whispering tearful pleas for forgiveness into Summer’s fur. Jared didn’t like how listless the little dog looked, but he had a feeling it was more from shock than anything else. If he’d had three-inch thorns jabbing at his body, he’d be pretty shaken up, too.
He pulled in front of the brick veterinary clinic. “Bring her in. I’ll be there in a minute.”
He parked at a garage a few yards away from the building and rushed back to Chyna. She was sitting in a standard-issue waiting-room chair, filling out paperwork attached to a clipboard.
“Have they already taken Summer?” Jared asked.
She looked up at him and nodded. A sharp pain pierced his chest at the sight of Chyna’s luminous eyes brimming with unshed tears. Jared sat in the chair next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Her hands were shaking so badly she was having a hard time filling out the forms.
“Do you want me to do this for you?” he asked.
“I’ve got it,” she said in a small voice. She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand and that ache in his chest sharpened.
Jared took the clipboard from her and placed it on the coffee table next to a covered glass jar filled with dog treats. He captured Chyna’s shoulders in his hands and twisted her to him. He was about to reassure her again, but before he could speak she fell onto his chest, quiet sobs rising from her.
Jared ran his palm up and down her back, trying like hell to ignore how good her breasts felt pillowed against his chest. Only the lowest form of scum would use this as an opportunity to get close to her, but how could he not? She was right there, soft and vulnerable and looking to him for comfort.
He closed his eyes, relishing the moment. It felt so good to be needed again, to have a woman to take care of. Even if the only things he could provide were a few words and a comfortable place for her to lay her head.
“Ms. McCrea?” called a woman wearing scrubs dotted with cartoon dogs, cats and birds, and carrying a clipboard.
Chyna disengaged from his hold and rushed to the woman. Jared followed.
“The doctor is in with Summer now. I’ll take you to—” The nurse stopped and her eyes grew huge. “Oh, my God! You’re Jared Dawson!”
“Yes, I am,” Jared said. “About Summer?”
“Oh, of course.” She looked down at her clipboard then back up at him. “It’s just that my boyfriend loves you. You’re his favorite Saber. He has your jersey and everything.”
“Helloooo.” Chyna’s voice approached full yell. “What about my dog?”
“Oh, right. I’m so sorry,” the nurse stumbled. “Dr. Rosen is with her. I’m going to put you in one of our exam rooms. The doctor will be in soon to speak with you regarding Summer’s condition.”
Chyna pulled in a shaky breath and Jared ran a soothing palm down the middle of her back. “You want company?” he asked.
“Yes, please.” She nodded.
They were led down a narrow, paneled corridor, into a small room with an exam table in the center and a single chair tucked into a corner. Side by side on a shelf were neatly arranged glass jars filled with cotton swabs, tongue depressors and a few other things Jared didn’t recognize. Framed posters of the skeletal and muscular structure of canines and felines hung on the walls.
He tried to shake off the unease that had crept up his spine as soon as the antiseptic smell hit his nostrils. Professional athletes and hospitals did not mix well, even when the hospitals were for species of the four-legged variety.
Jared gestured to the chair. “You want to sit?”
Chyna shook her head. “I’m too nervous. Did you see the size of those thorns? One could have taken her eye out. I know better than to let her run around without a leash. She’s so nosy. She’s always getting into things that she…that she shouldn’t,” she finished on a sob.
Jared reached for her again and brought her in for a hug. The door opened and a dark-haired woman with wire-rimmed glasses and a white coat entered. She held out her hand. “I’m Dr. Rosen,” she said.
“How’s Summer?” Chyna asked, wiggling out of his grasp.
“She’s going to be fine. She’s just a little shaken up.”
“But what about the blood?” Chyna asked.
“She got nicked just below her breastbone. The technician shaved a little of her coat so I could get a better look at it, and I was able to confirm that the scratch was superficial. We’ll apply an antiseptic cream and a bandage, but that’s all she’ll need,” the doctor said with an indulgent smile. “The tech is finishing up. She should be done with her in another ten minutes. Summer is up-to-date on all her shots, correct?”
Chyna nodded.
“Good. She may be a little timid after the scare she’s had. Give her some extra attention tonight.”
As soon as the doctor closed the door behind her, Chyna turned and fell into Jared’s arms. “I was so scared.”
“Shh,” he whispered into the hair just above her ear. He resumed his gentle caress up and down her back, his fingers tingling from the warmth. “I told you everything would be okay, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did,” Chyna murmured against his chest. She lifted her head and stared into his eyes. “Thank you.”
The words were so soft Jared barely heard them. Or maybe her voice just seemed hushed because he could hardly hear anything past the blood pounding in his ears.
Gazing at him with those brilliant gray eyes that would put Bambi to shame, Chyna slipped her hand up his neck, her fingertips applying gentle pressure at the base of his head. She tilted her face up, and it was all the invitation he needed. Jared lowered his mouth and connected with hers.
The supple give of her soft lips sent a jolt of desire shooting through his body. He glided his hand up her spine, to the back of her head, holding her in place while he melded his lips to hers. He couldn’t take a second more of this closed-mouth business. Prying her lips open with his tongue, Jared plunged inside.
Good God, she tasted like heaven.
He swallowed Chyna’s low moan and pulled her tighter, needing to feel her against him. It was no use denying the arousal hardening just beyond his zipper. If she didn’t see how much he wanted her, she damn sure could feel it.
Still holding her to his mouth with his right hand, he snaked the other past the curve of her waist and onto her backside, cupping the firm orb in his palm and pulling her more firmly to him. His tongue darted in and out of her mouth, jousting with her tongue in a playful, erotic dance.
A hungry groan escaped her throat and she tilted her pelvis toward him.
Pleasure ricocheted against the walls of his chest. Jared plundered her with hurried kisses, stroking the inside of her warm mouth, devouring her sweet flavor. Need quickened his blood, pulsing strong and fierce in his groin as her soft curves molded to the contours of his hard body.
The door opened and they both jumped back like two teenagers caught necking behind the bleachers.
Chyna forgot all about him as she raced to the veterinary technician and tore Summer from the woman’s arms.
“Oh, baby,” Chyna crooned, stroking Summer’s fur and peppering her with tiny kisses.
The tech’s gaze darted from Jared to Chyna. Her sly grin pretty much guaranteed that news of his kissing Chyna would be all over Facebook and Twitter before they left the vet office.
“You can take care of the bill at the receptionist’s window,” the tech said.
“Thank you,” Chyna answered without looking up. She had eyes for only Summer.
They left the exam room and walked back to the lobby, which had gained several new occupants since they’d been gone. Jared was approached by two men, one with a handsome boxer puppy—the only breed Jared would consider if he ever got himself a dog—and the other with a hamster in a small cage. Jared signed a couple of autographs and gave the boxer a scratch behind his ears, then he went up to the counter and stood behind Chyna.
“Did she have X-rays or something?” Chyna was asking.
“No, ma’am, the doctor didn’t think her injuries warranted X-rays.”
“So why is the bill so much?”
“There’s a two-hundred-dollar surcharge for exams on Sundays,” the woman said. “It’s all itemized on your receipt.”
Jared looked over her shoulder at the bill. Six hundred and forty-two dollars.
He could feel the unease rolling off Chyna. He reached into his back pocket and retrieved his wallet, pulled out his credit card and slid it on the counter. “I’ve got it,” he told the receptionist.
Chyna slapped her hand onto the counter, covering the credit card. “No, you don’t,” she said.
Jared cast a quick glance at the receptionist, who was watching the two of them intently, one penciled-in brow cocked.
“Let me take care of this for you, Chyna. You weren’t expecting a six-hundred-dollar vet bill when you woke up this morning.”
“Six-forty-two,” the receptionist said.
“I said no.” Still balancing Summer in her arms, she reached into her backpack and pulled out a wallet. She passed the receptionist a credit card. A minute later, the receptionist handed it back to her.
“I’m sorry, but it was declined.”
Chyna’s eyelids slid shut. “Crap.” She pulled out another credit card, but snatched it back before the receptionist could take it. “Wait, not this one.”
Jared had to stop himself from pushing her to the side and paying the damn bill himself. He stood just behind her, looking on as her hand shook slightly while she wrote out a check.
The receptionist took the check, eyeing it cautiously.
“It’s good,” Chyna bit out.
The receptionist processed the check and in a few minutes they were on their way out of the animal hospital.
“I’m parked at the garage next door,” Jared said quietly.
She tightened her hold on Summer and continued her march along the sidewalk. They waited in silence as the garage attendant brought his Benz around. As he pulled out onto the street, he glanced over at Chyna. “I’m not sure if I should apologize, or what,” Jared said.
“No apology necessary.”
“Are you sure? Because this awkward not talking thing isn’t really working for me. If all it would take is an apology to make it go away, I’m willing to try it.”
“I’m not comfortable with you paying for things for me,” she finally said after a long pause. “I’ve heard stories from Liani about the unspoken rule—or maybe expectation is a better word for it—when players and girls from the Saberrettes squad hook up. But that’s not me, Jared. I’m not going to put out for a nice dinner or a piece of jewelry or because you paid my dog’s vet bill.”
“Hey, I wasn’t trying to buy my way into your pants. I was just trying to help, Chyna. Honestly,” he said at the skeptical look she slid his way. “It’s like I said back there, I know this was an unexpected bill. I sorta feel responsible. If I hadn’t been there to distract you, you could have kept a better eye on Summer and stopped her before she ran into those bushes.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she murmured then turned and peered out the window.
The uncomfortable tension was like another occupant in the car. Before he could attempt another apology, Chyna said, “Can we call it a day? I’m a complete wreck and I’m tired and I just want to go home and cuddle with Summer.”
“No,” Jared protested, his stomach knotting at the threat of their day coming to such a swift end. “I still owe you dinner in return for you buying me lunch.”
“I didn’t pay for lunch. It was on the house, remember?”
“That’s beside the point,” Jared said.
“I can’t leave Summer alone while I go out to dinner, Jared. Not after the scare she’s had.”
They stopped at a red light. Jared twisted toward her. “Why don’t the two of you come over to my place? I can cook…wait.” He didn’t know if he even had food to cook. “We can order in. Maybe watch a movie. I don’t live too far from here.”
“Jared,” she hedged, running her hand along Summer’s coat. “Look, I know that kiss back there was…um…awesome,” she said after a pause. “But I don’t want you getting the wrong idea. I’m not sleeping with you tonight.”
He clenched the wheel and blew out a terse breath. “Chyna, that’s not what this is about,” he said, even though a part of him silently cursed up a storm at her pronouncement. He knew the chances of them sleeping together tonight were remote, but her baldly stated refusal cut him to the quick.
This wasn’t about sex, Jared reminded himself. Besides, it would be wrong to make a move on her with her emotions still running high after Summer’s accident. Sex could wait. More than anything, he wanted to put the smile she wore earlier back on her face.
“I promise to sit on the opposite end of the sofa—on the opposite side of the room, if that’ll make you feel safer. I just don’t want to cut our date short, Chyna.”
The light changed to green, but Jared didn’t move, even when several cars behind him honked. He just continued staring at her.
“Okay,” she finally relented. “But no Moroccan food. That’ll just lead to trouble.”