Forged of Steele Bundle (Books 1-4) - Brenda Jackson [148]
She lifted a brow. “Should I be worried?”
He chuckled. “Of course not. You’re going to have to trust me like I’m going to trust you.” He leaned over and kissed her again, slow, thorough, and as if he desperately needed the memory.
“Come walk me to the door,” he whispered and she shivered when his tongue snaked out and trailed a wet path from her lips to an area beneath her ear.
Jocelyn could barely walk up the steps on unsteady legs and knew that after Bas left it would take the rest of the night to recover from his visit.
“So, I take it Sebastian Steele found you last night.”
Jocelyn lifted her eyebrows and gazed across the breakfast table at her sister. Jocelyn had arrived at her father’s home a little more than thirty minutes ago to find Leah preparing breakfast. “What made you think he was looking for me?”
Leah smiled. “Because he came here first and then I directed him to your place. He’s a cutie.”
“Yes, he is,” Jocelyn muttered and went back to eating her meal.
Amused, Leah watched her sister. She knew Jocelyn wouldn’t volunteer any information so she decided to go ahead and pick it out of her. “So, are the two of you an item?”
The thought of that made Jocelyn choke on her toast and she quickly grabbed her glass of juice and took a gulp. “Whatever gave you that idea?”
Leah shrugged. “The obvious. He’s good-looking and so are you. He’s unattached and so are you. He’s—”
“What makes you think he’s unattached?” Jocelyn asked, setting down her juice glass.
Leah waved her left hand. “No ring. That’s a sure sign.”
“But not a concrete one.”
Leah’s eyes lifted. “You think he’s married?”
“No, I don’t think he’s married.”
“Then you think he has a girlfriend?”
“There’s that possibility.”
“Have you asked him about it?”
“No.”
“Then I most certainly will.”
“Why would you want to know?”
Leah rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to know for myself. I want to know for you.”
Jocelyn pushed her plate aside and leaned forward. “And why would you want to know for me?”
“Because you’re interested in him. I can tell.”
Jocelyn narrowed her eyes. “I hate to tell you that you’re wrong, but you are. I admit Bas is handsome, but he’s not my type.”
“If you say so.”
“I do, so let’s change the subject.”
“All right.”
Jocelyn didn’t miss how her sister’s lips curved in a smile. “So, did you decide whether you want to go to the jazz festival in Memphis this coming weekend? I invited Bas along.”
“You want me to make it a threesome?”
Jocelyn shook her head. “I told him it’s nothing like that. In fact I’m supposed to show him how to have fun.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“It is, so do you want to go?”
“No, I’ll pass. Besides, I need to start packing.”
Surprise showed on Jocelyn’s face. “You’re leaving?”
“Eventually, Jocelyn. I need to start looking for another place to stay in California. I already told you that the lady whom I used to be a companion to died a couple of months ago. Her sons have been more than kind by letting me remain in the house for a while, but I can’t take advantage of their generosity forever.”
“You can come back and live here, you know,” Jocelyn said, and gestured to encompass the house they were in. “If you don’t, I’ll eventually have to rent it out or sell it. I don’t relish the thought of people I don’t know living here.”
Leah sighed deeply. “I wish I could move back home, but I can’t.”
Jocelyn didn’t need to ask her why. “Leah, if you were to tell him what—”
“No. And I don’t want to talk about it, Jocelyn,” Leah said in a clear and distinct voice.
Jocelyn drew in a deep breath. She wanted so much for Leah, more than her sister was willing to accept as a way of life. If only she would tell Reese the truth.
“To hang around here any longer will be a mistake, Jocelyn.”
“So you’re planning to leave?”
“Yes, in a few weeks. I’m going to start checking out airline tickets later today.”
“I really do wish you’d consider staying.”
“And I really wish that you’ll understand that I can’t.” That said, Leah rose gracefully, proving all of their Aunt Susan’s teachings