She shivered as she remembered his hands on her body. He was very good at using them. He was a thorough lover who had taken his time with her, every time. The attention he’d lavished on her had made her feel like the most fascinating woman in the world.
“That’s a different type of hand work,” she said.
“Really?” he asked in a teasing smile.
“I didn’t mean it that way!”
“Of course you didn’t,” he said with a laugh. It sounded rusty.
“You’d be bored,” she said. “It’s quiet and repetitive. Most of the stuff we do for decoration is simple flowers or candies. Staci and I do all the work ourselves because it’s our favorite part of the job.”
“I get your passion. You both have a stake in making sure the business is successful, I’m sure it shows in your work,” he said.
“Yes, it does. You’ll be able to tell when we have dessert,” she said.
“What did you make for my mystery woman?” he asked.
“Wait and see.”
“About working at the bakery, I don’t think I’d get bored. Plus, you’d be there...we’d have some frosting.”
“Okay, enough with that. This is a first date not?—”
“Not what? Our last first date ended pretty well.”
“The date did, but what happened afterward is something I’m not looking to repeating.”
“Me, neither,” he said.
He took her hand, cradling it in his own. He ran his finger over her knuckles. She felt an electric charge go up her arm and then shivers across her shoulders and chest. Her nipples tightened and her breasts felt fuller.
She remembered how one simple touch could lead to much more. She pushed her fingers through his and held his hand in hers. He tightened his grasp on her fingers and lifted her hand to his mouth.
The warmth of his breath brushed over the back of her hand. He looked up at her as he kissed her hand and then her wrist.
She pulled her hand from his grasp and put it in her lap. She wasn’t ready to rekindle the sexual flame that had always been between them. Not at this instant. But to reclaim herself she knew that she was going to have to. And she was afraid that when she did she’d lose a little bit more of herself.
Chapter Three
JAYLEANEDBACK in his chair, lacing his fingers over his chest. Granted, she couldn’t see his eyes in the growing darkness, but still she felt the weight of his gaze on her. He looked aloof and dangerous and though she knew he wouldn’t hurt her she felt that he wanted to keep the world at bay.
“So...how did you start a bakery?” he asked.
“With a lot of loans from the bank,” she replied with a wry grin. Her parents had offered to help by cosigning but she’d refused. After the debacle of her “marriage” to Jay she’d needed to do something on her own.
“Was it hard?” he asked.
“You have no idea,” she said.
“That’s why I’m asking,” he said. “The woman I married was looking for a family and wanted to settle down.”
“Well, that didn’t work out, did it?” she asked.
She was starting to feel annoyed. She had enjoyed Jay’s company, but a part of her hadn’t wanted to. She wanted Jay to have turned into some kind of jerk so she could stand up and walk away. Instead he’d been nice and kept the conversationgoing when all she wanted was...well, some awkward silences.
“No, it didn’t. So tell me, what happened? I want to know what I missed,” he said.
She tried studying him. The new him. But memories of the old him were bonded deep within her. She felt vulnerable and unsure. She pulled her sunglasses off the top of her head and put them on.
