Naturally Naughty - Leslie Kelly [54]
Work with her. One on one. How about one you on one me?
She gulped. “I’d better go.”
He grabbed a white towel and draped it over his shoulders. “Don’t go. I’ll make you some breakfast. I can’t promise gourmet food like diet Coke and donuts, but I can do a decent omelet.”
Considering she hadn’t bothered to do a grocery shopping trip, and had been living off fast food and 7-Eleven burritos for the past few days, Kate’s stomach overruled her brain. “Great.”
“Lemme change.”
You don’t have to on my account!
While he was upstairs, Kate went into the kitchen, glad to see Jack was keeping the place spotless, just as it had been when her mother had lived here. Kate, unfortunately, was more the slob type. And the world’s greatest chef—or even a competent one—she was not. She did, however, know how to crack an egg and was hard at it when he returned, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
“So tell me why you want to take self-defense courses,” he said as he began making their breakfast.
“I dunno, I live in a big city and run a rather infamous store. I got a few wacky phone calls after that article.”
Jack’s shoulders stiffened. “Did anyone threaten you?”
“Oh, no. I just got asked on some unusual dates—to strip clubs, S and M hangouts and the Circus.”
“Circus sounds pretty normal.”
“I thought so, too, at first. Turns out there’s a sex show called the Circus where the animals are all people in costume who offer rides to members of the audience.”
“I think I’d rather not have known that,” he said with a groan as he diced some ham for the omelets.
“Me, too.” She made herself at home, finding his coffee supply and filling the coffeepot. “I guess some people heard about my shop and instantly thought the worst of me.”
He put the knife down to study her. “You’ve had to deal with that before, haven’t you?”
She knew he meant here, in Pleasantville. “Ancient history.”
“So how does it measure up now? How has the town treated you these first few days?”
So far, she had to admit, things had been okay. Then again, she hadn’t been out too much, staying mostly at home, at Cassie’s place or at the store. “Fine, actually. How about you? Has the red carpet been rolled out for the return of the prodigal son?”
“I’m keeping a low profile, though one of my father’s friends asked me to move back and run for mayor next year.”
“Will you?” She held her breath waiting for his answer.
“Not on your life.”
She nearly sighed in relief. Why would it matter to you if he came back here, married the local big-haired town princess and stayed forever? She didn’t know why, she only knew it would matter.
Somehow, even though she’d told herself nothing was going to happen between them, Kate couldn’t imagine being in Chicago, knowing Jack wasn’t there somewhere, in that big bustling city, stopping traffic on the street with his smile and teaching his Tae Kwon Do classes. Tackling intruders and doing fix-it work on a needy woman’s house.
Their eyes met, and somehow Kate knew Jack had read her thoughts. He knew she liked him, and she felt drawn to him.
Kate’s eyes widened as Jack stepped close, until she was backed up against the kitchen counter, and he pressed almost neck to toe against her body. “I’m looking forward to a lot of things changing when I get back to Chicago, Kate.” He lifted a hand to her face, softly caressing her cheekbone, then touching a strand of her hair. “Changing for both of us.”
Before she could ask him to explain, he’d turned back to the stove. Kate clutched the counter and sucked in a few deep breaths, trying to regain her composure. By the time breakfast was ready, she felt completely calm and relaxed, or at least she thought she looked that way—no point in wondering if he knew she was still edgy and aware, and now very curious about what he’d meant about things changing between them.
“So, Jack, what else do you do in your real life. You’re an architect. Ever designed anything I’ve actually heard of?”
He answered with a question. “Like to go shopping?