Jazz stood in front of her bedroom mirror and groaned. Nothing looked right. She yanked off the cute baby-doll shirt and tugged on the halter top. Similar to the one she’d worn the previous night, the lacy neckline showed plenty of cleavage and the loose waist offered enough room for Rafe to slip his hand under the hem. She shook her head at the naughty thoughts filling her mind, but it didn’t stop her from choosing a short skirt either.
Underneath the outfit she’d chosen with Rafe in mind, she wore simple black panties and a strapless bra. She’d debated over running into town and picking up something sexier but didn’t have time. Besides, she hadn’t decided if Rafe would be getting her completely naked. Just because she wanted to have sex with him didn’t mean it had to happen tonight.
She glanced at the clock. Five minutes to six. She grabbed a brush and ran it through her hair one last time. The doorbell rang. She jumped. With shaky hands, she placed the hairbrush on the dresser and hurried down the stairs to the living room.
A date.
She was actually going on a date, her first in three long years. There was no reason to feel nervous, but her heart raced. Sweat dampened her palms. She scrubbed them against her skirt, took a calming breath, and opened the door.
Rafe stood on the other side with his legs slightly spread and his head dipped so a lock of hair fell over his eyes. The lopsided smile he flashed her did crazy things to her heart. She held perfectly still while he swept his gaze over her body, from her feet to her face. Heat spread in the wake of his lazy perusal.
“You’re beautiful. So incredibly beautiful.”
He tugged her close and covered her mouth with his before she could say anything. The hungered, raw kiss he delivered stole her breath and replaced it with his. With a slight tug on her hair, he tipped her head back and devoured her. The sweeping thrusts of his tongue quickened, and his hold on her body tightened.
Still kissing her, he backed her into the living room. The door slammed closed behind them. She turned her head, and his lips brushed over her cheek.
“Wait.”
“Why? Aren’t we alone?”
They were. She’d driven the boys over to Mr. Wilkins’ house an hour ago, but no way would she invite Rafe into her bedroom. She’d given their date a lot of thought. Rafe wasn’t from the area. If they ended up having sex tonight, she didn’t want the memory of it here, where she’d remember exactly how it felt to be with him.
“We are, but you promised me dinner. I’m hungry.”
Rafe nibbled along her jaw to her mouth. He kissed her, slowly with rolling thrusts of his tongue that left her weakened. She grabbed his shoulders and held on while he explored her as completely as he had the day before.
Ugh, she had no self-control around him. She pushed away.
“Dinner. A date. I never promised I’d have sex with you.”
He brought his fingers to his mouth. With slow swipes of his tongue, he licked her each one. She swayed closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her against him. “A date then. Where shall we go?”
“The Black Widow.”
Josh’s bar was packed. It always had a decent crowd, but on a Friday night, even more so. Jazz leaned against Rafe and listened to the familiar sounds—music, laughter, and the drone of voices. She didn’t go out often, but when she did, she usually came here.
At the moment, she regretted her choice. Everyone watched them. The waitresses stared openly at Rafe, not that she could blame them, but after ogling him, their curious gazes landed on her. She saw the questions in their eyes. And the accusations.
Everyone assumed she’d eventually get back together with Josh. They’d dated on and off through high school and college, but after a couple of months working her first full-time job, they’d parted ways for good. It had been her doing.
She hadn’t known how else to handle the situation with Seth and Levi. She certainly couldn’t have let Josh think the boys were his. So, she’d made up a lie—the first of many—about how she’d gotten pregnant by a guy she’d been seeing behind Josh’s back.
Josh had been angry. The things he’d said had made her cry, but the moment he laid eyes on her kids, he swore they’d eventually get back together. In fact, she’d heard she was the excuse he gave to his dates as the reason he didn’t date.
And…here she was with Rafe, a delicious specimen of a man who held her against his chest and nuzzled her neck.
One of the waitresses walked by, looked them up and down, and huffed.
Jazz inwardly cringed. “Let’s get a table on the upper deck.” Where less people would see them.
“Okay. It’s a nice—”
His phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his features hardened.
“I’ve got to take this. You go on up. I’ll meet you in a few minutes.” He kissed her cheek and slipped out the door.
She frowned at his abrupt departure, but he had been texting on and off since he’d picked her up. He’d said it was business. They were working a security detail in town. He had to tie up some loose ends.
Her heart skipped a beat. Once he finished his job, he’d leave. Just because he’d said plans could change and he might stay longer didn’t guarantee he would.
No. Tonight. She’d keep her focus on the present. They were on a date. She planned on enjoying it.
She blew out a breath and made her way across the bar to the stairs. They were narrow, no bigger than the ones in her house. Not surprising. The bar had started out as somebody’s home back when neighborhoods had a pub on every corner.
Halfway up, she ran into a man rushing down. She gasped and teetered backward, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her against him.
A whiff of cigars and cologne filled her lungs. She choked on the stench and coughed into her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”
Bright-brown eyes focused on her, and a grin spread over his face. In the dim light she couldn’t see many other details, but the tiny hairs on her arms stood up. Fear slithered into her belly and churned it. He set her aside before the sick feeling spread.
“No problem, sweet thing. I’ll keep an eye out for you from now on.” He rushed down the stairs.
She watched him until the bend in the staircase blocked him from view, then slumped against the wall. The rushing blood in her veins echoed in her head. She stood there and trembled but didn’t know why. The guy had saved her from falling. He hadn’t done a single thing to make her afraid. She shook off the weird sensation and hurried up the stairs in case he came back.