He's All That

“Hmm?”

“Sleepy?”

She smiled, thinking about how she liked it when he called her Victoria. “Not really. What did you have in mind?”

He laughed, his chest vibrating against her cheek. “Give me at least five minutes.”

“That’s all? At your age? I’m impressed. Ouch!”

“What?”

She brought her head up to meet his hooded eyes. “You know darn well you pinched my butt.”

“Sorry. At my age it’s hard to remember one moment to the next.”

“Okay, we’re even.” Chuckling, she yawned, and then laid her head back down.

It was really weird being this comfortable with him. Seeing him from a distance for half her life didn’t constitute a relationship. Certainly nothing remotely substantial enough to allow for this feeling of familiarity.

Maybe it was just the afterglow from the best sex she’d ever had in her life that made her feel so warm and fuzzy. That idea was a little scary, but kind of nice, too. Maybe it wasn’t about familiarity but a simple matter of knowing he wasn’t an ax murderer or anything that comforted her.

He ran a hand up her back, and then stroked his way down to her fanny. “Are you snoring?”

“No.” She swatted him on the thigh and looked up to see the corners of his mouth twitch.

His humor faded. “You’re quiet. Having regrets?”

“No. You?”

“Nope.” He shifted his weight, and she pushed up on one elbow to give him room. “Are you going home or staying here tonight?” he asked, glancing at the digital bedside clock.

She got a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. As great as the sex was, she hoped he didn’t think this was going to be an all-night thing. Maybe she should have been more specific regarding her expectations.

“I’ll be leaving,” she said, taking a look at the clock herself. It was already ten-thirty. “Feel free to stay if you like, though. The room is already paid for.”

If she’d expected him to be disappointed, she needn’t have worried. He sat up, yawned and stretched, looking totally indifferent. He got to his feet, and mindless of his nudity, went and got his jeans. The sight of him tempted her to call him back to bed.

“I have an early appointment tomorrow.” He poked around until he found his boxers, and then looked over at her. “I assumed you didn’t want to leave the room together.”

She pulled the sheet up to cover herself, and gave a small nod.

He smiled. “Unless you need to go in there,” he said, inclining his head toward the bathroom, “I’ll only be a couple of minutes.”

“Help yourself.” She watched him disappear behind the bathroom door, wondering what the hell was wrong with her. He was behaving exactly like she wanted. So why was she the one who was disappointed? Just a little. But still…

Sighing, she started to get up and gather her clothes while she had some privacy. Unlike him, she wasn’t quite as comfortable with her body, especially since she’d gained seven pounds during the last two weeks of school and only managed to shed two of them. But what the hell, he’d be gone in the next few minutes and she’d have all the privacy she wanted.

She closed her eyes, thinking about what she’d write to her e-mail buddies. If she were smart, she’d wait a day to tell them about tonight. Wait till she wasn’t so tingly and giddy. She didn’t want to end up blabbing all the details.

The door opened and she looked up. He was dressed, still tucking in his shirt, the stirrings she felt just watching him alarmed her.

“Okay,” he said, meeting her eyes, his totally unreadable. “I’ll be shoving off.”

She nodded, an inexplicable panic tightening her chest so that she didn’t trust herself to speak.

He hesitated, and then headed for the door, and she realized what had her suddenly so tense. What next? Was this it? One night? She hadn’t thought things out this far. She hadn’t expected to want more. Which was silly. He was awesome. He was…

“Jake?”

He stopped, his hand on the knob, and turned with raised brows.

“Thanks.”

He laughed. “Sure.”

She wanted to pull the sheet over her face. “I mean, for waiting.”

“No problem.” He paused, a slight frown on his face. “You parked close, I hope.”

“I valet parked.”

“Good.” He turned the knob.

“Jake, wait.” She silently cleared her throat. “I was wondering—would you be interested in—doing this again?”

He smiled. “You call the shots.”

“Tomorrow night?” One more time wouldn’t hurt. That hardly constituted a relationship.

“Here?”

“Sure. I won’t be late.”

He smiled again, and let himself out.

5

KAREN SET A FRESH CARAFE of water on the credenza behind Tori’s desk. “May I get you anything else, Ms. Whitford?”

“Please call me Tori.” She smiled at the secretary she would be sharing with Mallory. Not that her sister showed up at the office more than twice a month.

“Your father likes to keep the office atmosphere formal,” Karen said, plucking a dead petal off the bunch of roses Tori had swiped from the garden to put on her desk.

“Okay, then call me Victoria.”

The woman didn’t even smile.

“That was a joke,” Tori muttered. Karen was at least twenty years her senior. It was silly to address Tori as Ms. Whitford. “Whatever makes you comfortable.”