His smile slowly curved. “You look cute when you ribbit.”
Lainey was suddenly aware of what she was wearing. Jake’s eyes had slipped south to the silky nightie she’d worn. She should’ve pulled her coat further around her because it wasn’t exactly warm out there, but given she’d definitely had a good look at him in the shower she couldn’t get all prissy now he was having a good look at her.
“The seven creatures that ribbit have now been released.” She kept her eyes on his face, despite wanting to check out what was below the neck at close proximity. Her eyes hadn’t been deceiving her when he was in the shower. Parts that had been in hibernation since her jackwad of an ex ended things started to awaken.
Jake’s grin was better than a confession.
“I wanted to check that you weren’t going to jump out of a closet and scare the shit out of me when I finally got to sleep.”
His grin faded and his eyes now had a softness that stilled her. “Take it that would be a hard limit?”
“Jumping out of a closet when I think I’m on my own in the house?” She heard the quiver in her own voice. “Yes.”
He nodded. “I won’t do that. Do you want a hot drink?”
Lainey stuffed her hands in her coat pockets. “Are you making one anyway?”
Jake nodded. “Spiked cocoa.”
“With milk?”
“And whisky.”
She pushed past him into the house, spying that the wood burner she’d admired before was still on.
“Shall I take your coat?” He held his arm out like the gentleman he absolutely wasn’t.
If Lainey had been her sister Imogen, she’d have passed him her coat and made herself comfortable. If she’d been Catrin, she’d have nipped back home to get changed first. Lord knew what Maven would do.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Was it a good idea to wear it in the first place if you thought I was hiding in your wardrobe or behind your shower curtain?”
She shrugged. “Figured I’d try to embarrass you.” Nothing was better than the truth.
Jake shook his head and seemed to make a point of assessing her outfit. “I don’t embarrass easily. Whatever state I’m in.”
She glanced down, probably a mistake, and saw what he was referring to. Her nightwear had definitely had some effect. He was sporting a semi in those pyjama bottoms.
“I can do my own cocoa at home.”
“It’s fine. Trust me when I say this is just a biological reaction and isn’t through choice.”
The words stung, but she swatted them away as if they were mere flies. “When did you have this place done out?” She gestured to the kitchen that they were now in.
Jake pulled two mugs out of a cupboard. He hadn’t been lying when he’d said he was already making a drink – a pan was on the stove already.
“Last year. It had been the same ever since I remembered it. Once my uncle had moved in with his fiancé, I had free range to do what I liked.” He took a block of chocolate from a cupboard and proceeded to break it into pieces, adding it to the milk in the pan.
“Would you give me the name of your contractors? I desperately need to get something done with mine.” She edged closer to him. The kitchen was far too warm for a coat, and she was wondering if to channel Imogen and just take the damn thing off.
Jake laughed. “I did it myself. Had some help from labourers but I knew what I wanted and passing it to someone else to manage would’ve been a disaster. You realise this drink’s going to have about half a million calories in it?”
“You did it yourself? When you had this place to run? And I burn double whatever calories are in there by nine each morning, so you don’t need to worry about my figure.”
“That is not one of the worries I have about your figure.” He went to the fridge and came back with single cream, the lamp light in the room making his bare chest look even more defined.
That was all it was: clever lighting. Her eyes just hadn’t adjusted yet.
