Naturally Naughty - Leslie Kelly [26]
“I’m kidding,” he said. “So, did that have something to do with why you decided to, uh, go for it with me? Not just a memory—but living out some childhood fantasy?”
“I don’t know what kind of childhood you had, but I did not spend my third-grade year wanting to be stark naked, having the hottest sex of my life, on the stage of the Rialto.”
He raised a brow. “Hottest of your life, huh?”
She looked away to reach for her skirt. “Well, hottest in the past year at least.”
He crossed his arms. “Admit it. You haven’t had sex in the past year. Have you.”
Her face flushed. “How could you possibly know?”
“Let’s call it a lucky guess.”
“Well, what about you?” she asked as she hopped down from the table and slid her feet into her shoes. “Can I hazard a guess and say it’s been a while for you, too?”
“I guess it was over pretty fast.”
She laughed, low and sultry. “It was perfect. Exactly the way I needed it. One to blow off steam…”
“And the next one?”
She paused. Then, lowering her voice, she said, “I wish there could be a next one.”
Her honesty did not surprise him. No coyness, no shyness, no flirtation, just fabulous, forthright, honest Kate. No question, she was the most intoxicating woman he’d met in years.
She bent to hook her sandals, her hair brushing Jack’s naked stomach. He heaved in a breath.
“Unfortunately,” she continued, apparently not noticing his sudden inability to think a coherent thought, “there can’t.”
That woke him up and he bent to look at her. “Why can’t there?”
She straightened immediately, almost cracking the top of her head into his chin. “You want there to be?”
Seeing the look of uncertainty in her rich brown eyes, Jack immediately took her into his arms. “Yeah. I definitely want there to be. And you’re right, I haven’t been involved with anyone for several months. I guess you and I met each other at precisely the right moment for volcanic sexual eruption.”
She raised a brow. “Lucky us.”
“By the way, the movie idea, and my dinner invitation, were very real. I want to see you again, beyond more of…this.”
She hesitated, leading him to wonder if she really was out for sex and nothing else. For some reason that thought didn’t hold as much appeal as it usually would for Jack. Sex and no strings had seemed fine for him up until a few months ago.
Hell, up until today. When he’d met her eyes across a nearly deserted street.
“We’d better go,” she said softly. “The workman who left this stuff might remember he forgot to lock up and come back.”
Sensing her desire to change the subject, Jack let it go. The subject of what they each were looking for in a relationship could be left for another time. Kate was unlike other women he’d known. She obviously knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid—nor apologetic—about going after it. Her cool exterior and calm demeanor hid a passionate woman with a naughty streak.
“Hope he didn’t come back a while ago and quietly watch.”
A decidedly wicked grin curved the corners of her lips up. “Well, what’s a stage for, if there’s no audience?”
Yes, a definite naughty streak. He could hardly wait to get to know her better.
After they dressed, they left the theater and stood outside, next to her SUV. Jack hated to see her leave, though he knew he’d see her soon. “So you’ll get home sometime tomorrow?”
She nodded. “And you fly home late tonight.”
He wished he didn’t have to go back to his mother’s house to pack. The simple solution to his regret at parting from this amazing woman was to drive back to Chicago with her. But he didn’t suggest it. He sensed Kate wanted some time alone to sort things out. He didn’t need any alone time. He had not one single doubt about what had happened. He was fully prepared to ride out this incredible wave to see what might happen next.
“I’ll call you the day after tomorrow,” he assured her.
“We’ll see.” She turned away, looking down the silent, shadowed street. “You don’t have to, you know. You didn’t do anything I didn’t want you to. So there should be no guilt.”
“I’m not feeling guilty.” He brushed