Jessica shook her head. “He’s just…he’s all in his own head. He never opens up, not to me, not to anyone.”
Emma sighed. “The hopeless romantic in me wants to tell you to keep trying until you crack through that tough shell of his.”
“I want to. I do.” Jessica polished off her coffee, relieved that the buzzing in her ears had stopped. “I know it was awful for him losing his parents so young and growing up in foster care. He’s used to being on his own. I’m not sure he even knows how to be in a real relationship. What if it’s too late for him to change?”
“I think you need to be careful,” Emma said quietly.
Jessica’s back stiffened. “Why?”
“Because it’s obvious that you care about him. And you’re right. He might be too much of a loner to ever settle down. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
***
It was past eight before Mark finished up at Off-the-Grid that night. He didn’t like the way he’d left Jess that morning. He’d gone over out of concern, not expecting to wind up in her bed, and then he’d had to run off and leave her to get to work. He was far from an expert where women were concerned, but even he knew that wasn’t ideal.
And besides that, he wanted to see her again.
He loaded Bear into the car with him and then made a quick stop at the drugstore for condoms…just in case. He wouldn’t be caught empty-handed twice. Then he headed for Jess’s house. When he saw her car in the driveway, his pulse started to pound. She’d always had this effect on him, but now it was even stronger.
He parked behind her car and walked to the front door. She pulled it open before he’d had a chance to knock, wearing a loose T-shirt and leggings.
“I wasn’t sure I’d see you again today,” she said.
He hadn’t been sure either, until a few minutes ago. “Just left work. Bear’s with me.”
“Bring her in. Did you eat yet?” She motioned for him to come inside.
He shook his head as he unloaded Bear from the backseat and followed her inside.
“We could order a pizza,” Jess suggested. “I don’t really feel like going out.”
“You okay?” He pulled her into his arms.
She nodded, her body so soft and warm against his. “Just tired.”
“I should let you rest.”
“I’m not that tired.” She smiled against his chest. “I was hoping you’d come.”
Good.That was the only thought that broke through his lust-filled brain. When Jess was in his arms, he couldn’t think of anything else. Gently, he tipped her face to his, and the moment their lips met, he felt his whole world come into focus. Kissing Jess felt like coming home.
She slid her hands into his back pockets. “Because if you hadn’t come over, I couldn’t do this.” And she bent her head to kiss his neck, applying a gentle suction with her mouth that turned his blood to steam.
“Woof!”
“No one asked your opinion, Bear.” But he could hear the laughter in Jess’s voice.
“I could put her back in the car.”
Jess peeked up at him, a half smile on her face. “Sometimes I can’t tell when you’re joking.”
He was joking. Mostly. But seriously, the damn mutt needed to stop interrupting every time he tried to kiss Jess.
She slipped from his arms and knelt before the dog. “Did you need a few kisses of your own?” She took Bear’s head in her hands and placed a kiss right between her eyes.
The dog’s tail went nuts, swishing back and forth against the hardwood floors. Such a ridiculous-looking thing with those enormous, fluffy ears. He never would have picked her if he’d gone to the shelter looking for a dog. Couldn’t say he minded having her around though. She was good company, cock-blocking aside.
“Okay, so now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, is it okay if I kiss Mark again?” She was still talking to the dog.
