I twisted my fingers together, already dreading the answer. “Well, my aunt and uncle are hosting a barbecue this weekend. In New Bern.” I swallowed hard. “I was thinking we could start there and then if you don’t like it, or it’s too weird, you can let me know.”
Jack nodded. “‘I’m free this weekend. We’ll treat it like a dress rehearsal.”
“Exactly,” I agreed, relief washing through me. “My mom and sister will be there, obviously, but it’s a bigger gathering so the pressure won’t be quite as intense.”
“Perfect. I’ll pick you up.” He made it sound like the most natural thing in the world. “Just text me your address and the time.”
“You already have my address,” I pointed out before I could stop myself. “You’ve been driving me home all week.”
One corner of his mouth quirked up, just slightly. “Right.”
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. “There’s one more thing.”
Jack tilted his head slightly, waiting.
“Emily thinks we should make sure we have, um, chemistry. Before we try to convince my family we’re together.”
One eyebrow arched slightly. “Does she now?” His voice was low, almost amused. “And how does she propose we do that?”
The heat in my cheeks intensified. “We should... kiss.”Jesus fuck, did I really just say that?
Jack’s expression didn’t change, but something shifted in his eyes. “I think that’s a great idea.”
I blinked, certain I’d misheard him. “You... You do?”
“Yes.” His voice dropped lower, sending a shiver down my spine. “Come over here.”
My heart nearly stopped. He wanted to kiss me. Right now. In his office. At work. I felt dizzy with the realization, my body suddenly hyperaware of every inch of space between us.
I moved forward on shaking legs, struggling to maintain eye contact. My mind raced with possibilities. He’d probably just give me a light peck, a quick brush of lips to check the box. Professional. Clinical. Nothing to get worked up about.
When I was close enough, he reached out, his arm snaking around my waist, pulling me flush against him in one smooth motion. The sudden contact knocked the air from my lungs. I found myself staring at the buttons of his shirt, too afraid to look up, too aware of the solid heat of his body against mine.
He crooked a finger under my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. I was trapped in the amber and green depths of his eyes, the world fading away as I stared up at him. He really did have the most amazing eyes. His expression remained serious, focused, but the heat there was unmistakable now.
Slowly, deliberately, he lowered his head toward me. His lips touched mine, gently at first, barely a whisper of contact. Testing. Questioning.
Fire skittered through my veins and I melted into him, my body responding before my brain could catch up. My hands moved to his chest, feeling the solid wall of muscle beneath crisp linen.
The hand under my chin slid into my hair, fingers threading through the strands as he tilted my head to deepen the kiss. His mouth moved against mine with growing intensity, coaxing my lips apart. I complied willingly. When his tongue swept inside, tasting me for the first time, my knees actually weakened.
A soft sound escaped my throat, something between a sigh and a moan that should have embarrassed me. Instead, it seemed to ignite something in Jack. His arm tightened around my waist, pulling me impossibly closer as the kiss transformed from a test into something else entirely. Something hungry and desperate that had nothing to do with pretending.
When he finally broke the kiss, we were both breathing hard. I stayed in the circle of his arms, trying to remember how to form words while my brain short-circuited from the aftershocks of what had just happened.
I rubbed my lips together, tasting him still. “Um, yeah, so I think we’ll be fine.”
Jack smiled then, a real smile that transformed his face and made my heart stutter. He let me go slowly, his hand lingering at my waist for a moment before he stepped back, creating distance between us.
“I’d say that settles it,” he agreed, his voice slightly rougher than usual.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak again without saying something ridiculous. My body hummed with awareness, every nerve ending still tingling from his touch.
“I should get back to work,” I finally managed, gesturing vaguely toward the door.
“Of course.” Jack’s professional mask slipped back into place, though his eyes still held that new warmth. “I’ll text you about Saturday.”
“Great. Perfect. Sounds good. And, you know, thanks for offering and all that. It was really nice of you. “ I was babbling now, backing toward the door like an idiot. I fumbled for the handle behind me. “So, um, see you later.”
