With her friend and the girls out of earshot, Tim approached Jessica from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her snug against him. She leaned her head back on his broad chest and moaned.
“What’s with all the questions?” he asked quietly into her ear. “Your friend seems pretty curious about me. You haven’t told her anything, have you?”
Jessica set her tongs on the countertop and turned the heat down on the stove before turning around and looking up at him with big, innocent eyes. The high pitch of her response conveyed otherwise. “No, of course not. I haven’t told her anything…except to trust me.”
“Ah, there it is.”
“No. She’s very nosey, that’s all. Remember, she went through most of my failed marriage to Stephen with me.”
“Hmmm,” Tim frowned, not convinced.
Batting her eyelashes, Jessica continued. “And I think you’ve become her latest fantasy. Believe it or not, Elizabeth Rich is addicted to romance novels.” Her hands splayed across his chest, smoothing out the fabric, her eyes crinkled in a broad smile. “She thinks you’re a hunk. Of course, I had to tell her you were already taken. And that we kissed. That sent her over the edge…”
“You told her we kissed?” he teased, pushing a loose strand of hair over her ear. Tim’s eyes were drawn to her lush pink lips, and a reminiscent spark tingled across his own. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her up against his hard body. She gasped as he let his hand dip lower and gently cup her tight ass, dragging her closer. With his lips a breath away from her own, he said, “What else did my beautiful Belle say?”
Chapter Fifteen
“Thanks for letting me stay for dinner. I’m sorry for all the questions,” Elizabeth gushed, kissing Tim on each cheek as if she were a European celebrity. “I can’t wait for you to meet my husband, Jacque. He’s a Frenchman with a longing for a man-bun. You two will hit it right off.”
Jessica watched Tim chuckle while shoving his hands into his pockets, making his biceps bulge. “I’m sure it will be a great evening. I look forward to it.”
“Me too!” Elizabeth turned her attention to Jessica. “Good night doll. I’ll see you after the weekend. We have so much to do before the Gala!”
Jessica allowed her friend to kiss her on both cheeks and smiled the whole time. “Can’t wait. Drive home safely.”
“Yeah, like driving an entire two blocks home is going to be dangerous.” She tittered loudly. “Ciao!”
“Goodbye!” The giant front door clicked shut, and Jessica sighed with relief. She hooked her arm through Tim’s bent elbow, and they slowly ambled into the family room. “I’m sorry about that. I should have known better than to invite my over-zealous, romance-novel-addicted friend to dinner. She dominated the whole evening. And don’t think I didn’t notice her looking you over like eye candy a few times,” she added.
They stood behind the large sofa, looking at each other while the girls were stretched out on their tummies watching a television show. Baby Jo-Jo had already been put to bed. Tim rested his hands on her shoulders before pulling her forward in a tight embrace. She could feel him sigh against her cheek.
“It’s getting late, and I’m pretty beat…”
“But it’s Friday night,” she interrupted, craning her neck to look up at him with a full-blown pout spread across her face. Grabbing him by the hand, she didn’t give him time to respond, pulling him into the living space. “I’ll sit here, and I want you to lay your head in my lap and relax. I know you’ve had a long day, but you can’t leave yet. I don’t want you to.”
Tim hesitated and noticed the girls turning their attention to him before the TV lured them back into submission. He was too exhausted to protest and inhaled deeply. “Okay.”
Jessica grabbed a throw pillow and put it on her lap as Tim adjusted his large frame onto the sofa. It took a minute for him to settle and lay his head back.
“There. Isn’t that better?” Staring down at his hairy face, she absent-mindedly stroked his beard and noticed his eyes were droopy with fatigue.
“Mmm,” he mumbled, crossing his arms. By this time, Julia had silently come near and stood next to Tim, watching her mother caress his face.
“Come on up, little lady.” He hoisted her tiny body and settled her in a sitting position across his broad chest with her back against the sofa. The little girl burrowed into the cushion and clutched her precious blanket to her cheek. Tim’s large hand settled on her little leg, and her blue eyes met Jessica’s, the two smiling knowingly at each other.
It felt nice to freely brush her fingers across Tim’s handsome face, lulling him into a relaxed state. His long lashes curled up slightly while his eyes were closed, and his full lips tempted her to lean down and suckle them. Stephen had never laid his head in her lap before, opting for solitude after most dinners when he was home, insisting his female family keep quiet so he could relax after the long, hard day. If one of her girls had sat on him while he was stretched out on the sofa, he would have gone ballistic! Her ex had no idea what a long, hard day was. Tim did. No wonder he was exhausted, and rightly so. He pushed himself to the limit daily.
His bedroom eyes fluttered open, and a slight smile played upon his lips. “You’re spoiling me again.”
“What if I am?” Her whispered breath was barely audible, and she tilted her head to gaze at her handsome lover, aware that her insides were tingling with want. Dragging her index finger light as a feather across his forehead, she smoothed away his wrinkled brow, causing him to close his eyes again.
“That feels incredible,” he muttered slowly.
Jessica couldn’t help but smile as she tenderly traced his face, taking in every detail of his features. Thinking back to the videos she watched of him online, she vaguely recalled what he looked like without the beard and long hair, imagining how it would feel to touch his smooth cheeks and chiseled chin. He had been in hiding for two years—literally. His appearance since his days as a famous NFL quarterback was almost unrecognizable.
During dinner, Elizabeth had gently tried to coerce him into shaving for the Gala, to which Tim shook his head. He had seemed amused by her gumption before he paused and looked straight at Jessica, startling her with his question.
“Do you want me to shave?”
