Jay smelled of warmth and cedarwood in her bed. He snuggled closer under his arm, his hand slipping down her back. Sighing, she relaxed hearing his heartbeat. His fingers traced her arm, warming her when he kissed her shoulder. “Penny.”
Turning her head, she met his baby-blue eyes while she yawned. “Dimples.”
He kissed the top of her forehead while she adjusted to lie flat on her back, then let her hand trail down his muscular chest. Pushing her head up, she met his lips with a kiss. Growling, he held her closer. “Morning.”
Her hands tugged at his shoulder. “Is this is dream?”
His cheeks scratched the skin on her face with his stubble. Both of his hands reached down, pulling her on top of him. “If it is, I need another sample.”
Laughing, she pushed her legs over his, straddled him, and her body heated up. His morning hard-on caused her to grin and bite down her lower lip. Tracing his shoulders to pull him toward her, she whispered, “Good, ’cause I need you.”
Heat in the apex between her legs sent waves of hot desire coursing through her body. His erection grew beneath her, before she pushed her body down on his. He let out a groan before he moved her hips lower, adjusting himself to semi-sit up. “Greedy this morning, Sexiness.”
Her skin must have pinkened in a blush while she touched his body until he pushed deeper into her. Throwing her head back, she trembled, unable to say anything.
Soon she lost all sense of control.
Her head lay on his chest while they caught their breath. He laughed, hugging her. “Damn. Every day should start like this.”
Sitting up fast, she met his eyes. “Yes. Are you hungry? I’ll make us breakfast.”
Grabbing her arms before she ran off, he tilted his head. “You don’t have to cook for me. Let’s go to the bakery down the street for a bagel and hot coffee.”
Batting her eyes, she crawled back toward him. “Let’s get a coffee at our favorite spot instead. They have bagels.”
Claiming her lips for one more kiss, he let out one of his sexy growls. “Sounds good.”
She rolled away, getting off the bed, and walked to her closet. She swayed her hips, knowing he watched. She breathed with her chest higher, but she dressed with a pair of shorts and a tank top. Brushing her hair, she pushed out her chest to let out a sigh as she watched him leave.
Her eyes stayed on his body. He’d been hot before, all lean in high school, but those defining hard muscles turned him smoking hot.
Gazing in the mirror, she saw her eyes appeared different. Smiling, she giggled. Did hot sex transform her? Standing up, she thought herself silly.
Heading to the living room, she met him when she bounced toward him. His eyes widened. Her heart banged in her chest, though she didn’t know what that was when she told him, “Let’s go, Dimples.”
“We have to stop at the convenience store.”
Looking up, she shrugged. “Why?”
“Something was different about those condoms. I want to buy another box.”
Her mother came to her. Staring at her feet, she remembered how her mother had tried to get pregnant a few years ago and had visited the infertility specialists to get drugs and trick the then-husband. Her mother had taken extreme measures, though thankfully it hadn’t worked. She shook it off. She’d never do that to Jay. Warmness stilled her heart when she stared back up. “Let’s do this.”
He nodded, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Good. When we get back, we’ll shower together.”
Laughing, she reached up to touch that infectious smile of his. “You’re adorable, Mr. Perfect.”
He hit her shoulder in jest. “Who’s that? I thought I was Dimples?”
Winking, she gave him a saucy smile. “You’re both. It’s what I called you for years in my head, though it wasn’t always nice. You’ve grown into the name so well, though.”
Walking her to the elevator, he hit the button. “I like Dimples.”
She let him brush against her shoulder. “Then it stays.”
The elevator opened. He held her into his body and inside the elevator, kept his voice low. “Sexiness, you’ll be my undoing yet.”
When the doors opened, she reached into her back pocket, “You drive my Jeep. I’m not dressed for the bike this morning.”
He eyed her car and asked, “You sure you don’t want to drive?”
She stepped away and nodded. “I’m positive. This way I can tease you, seeing how good of a distraction I am.”
She tossed the keys in the air. He flexed catching them. Her heart hammered in her chest again. He laughed. “Wild woman. Let’s go.”
Following her to the passenger door, he unlocked it and helped her in. Two seconds later, he joined her in the car. “We have a date soon…motorcycle to the beach and a picnic.”
She grinned when he started the car. “You’re on.”
Ten minutes later, they pulled into the coffee shop. She unlocked her door to get out before he had a chance to open it for her, though he offered his hand to help her out. She reached out squeezing his palm. “Sexiness. Let’s get that latte of yours.”
Beaming at him, she couldn’t help her happiness. Jay was better than she imagined, keeping her close, while they made their way through the line. On their turn, Jay said, “One nonfat cinnamon dulce latte and one cafe Cubano for me.”
The server typed in the computer while asking, “Would you like extra shots for the Cubano, sir?”
Showing his dimples, he hugged her closer. “Naw. My girl here won’t drink the poor man’s crack. It’s too strong for her. Thanks.”
She squeezed him in a hug while she laughed. After using his card to pay, they stepped to the side. She was bouncing up and down in her sneakers, waiting, when her mother’s shrill voiced called in the air, “There is Penelope, my baby girl. And Jay.”
He froze at the new voice.
She turned her head and he dropped her hand, standing deadly still. His eyes blazed and his nostrils flared in that split second when he spat out, “Mother.”
His mother stepped closer, coming between them. “We were talking about the two of you.”
Penny’s mother winked at her, taking her time to see what she and Jay wore. Did she turn white like she did when her mother plotted something to get a man? Her hands curled around her waist, where he’d been holding her a moment ago while her mother gave her a thumbs-up. Wincing, she saw a plan unfolding in her mother’s mind, and she glanced away. She hoped the ground would open up and swallow her. She’d never be her. No.
The coffee person behind the counter told them, “Order’s on the counter.”
Jay picked up both drinks fast, taking a huge step away from his mother. She eyed the door, stepping right to his side. He ground his teeth to say something to his mother. Taking his hand, Penny tugged him back. “We’re on our way somewhere. Talk to you both later?”
Grabbing her drink from his hand, she steered him out, though he kept cracking his knuckles. His mother had done something major. She’d ask him about it when he calmed down.
Running his hands through his hair, he opened the car door. She brushed against him getting in, and he put his hand out to help her. Before he closed her door, he said, “My mother went to yours. This is bad, Penny. If my mother who hates yours is now talking about us, then she’s planning something bad.”
The color of his face returned to a normal shade while she nodded. “Let’s just go.”
Noisy breaths preceded him closing her door. When he opened his door minutes later, he patted her knee. “We need to form a defense.”
Penny fretted. She didn’t know how to tell him that her mother would cause the bigger problems. It was in her eyes. Their perfect day was ruined fast. Her mother would love that she even hoped for a relationship with John Jay Marshall. He was everything in a man her mother had always searched for but never found, but he was also everything Penny swore she’d never want in a man.
And now it might be too late for her, cause she was falling for Dimples.