Smiling, I grumbled, “Why are you troubling me at this godforsaken hour?”
“You? Who gets up before roosters do?” she retorted. Then she groaned. “Chris dragged me to the gym at the ungodly hour of five. Now, I’ve collapsed back into bed. So, can we grab a bite during my lunch break? I haven’t seen or heard from you for days after that mind-blowing news. Or is high-society life taking up your days now?”
As if. I rolled my eyes, watching Wilbur creep along the balustrade of the bedroom terrace. God only knew what he’d spied, because I sure as heck couldn’t see anything. Maybe a lizard?
“Sure, we can have lunch—Den?” I couldn’t contain my excitement any longer. “You’re not gonna believe this. I went on a date.”
She snorted. “Unless it’s to the moon, we all do that shit. But then, this is you—”
“Jack took me to New York in their private jet—”
The shriek that hit my ear had me holding my cell away and laughing.
A shriek blasted my eardrum. “What—no, no, no! Don’t tell me anything now, not when I have to get dressed for work. But you will spill the moment I see you for lunch at our usual place in Union Square at one. Don’t be late!” The call dropped, her warning echoing in my ear.
Still grinning, I checked my cell for any messages from Jack or my family. Sure enough, there were two texts sent an hour ago fromTomCat. I shook my head at the name and finally changed the tag to his initials.
JWG:Gone for a run. In case you’re up and wondering.
JWG:Yes, I moved you into my room while you were sleeping. Less argument.
I huffed out a laugh at the second message, not surprised. Once Jack made up his mind about something, there was no changing it. Then I flipped through my selfies of us in NYC and smiled at the one in the carriage ride where he kissed my cheek. Then he’d licked my dimple and said they now belonged to him. Naturally, my face was scrunched up with laughter. And another of us up at the Empire State Building, where he was kissing my nape. And dinner at Nobu on Saturday night, where we’d both dressed up. He, in a black suit, looking too damn hot. Me, in my only black dress, a sleeveless, knee-length number that Marcy had packed.
In every photo, he was either hugging or kissing me, and in the solo one of him, even though he glowered, his eyes sparkled.
Sighing, I traced the shape of his sensual lips with the barely there smile.
He was happy.
And all these fluctuating emotions and gut-churning feelings cracking through my protective barriers finally coalesced in one huge heartbeat. And, I knew.
I’d fallen. Hopelessly. For Jack Griffin.
I’d already suspected my feelings for him. It was why I was so afraid to move into his room. The fear that something would happen to pull us apart refused to let go. But if Jack, who had never known love, and a had it taken from him at such a young age, could take a chance, then why should I be afraid? I was in love with him.
I had to tell him.
Heart pounding, I leaped up from the chair and sped through a quick wash, threw on shorts, a t-shirt, and sneakers. As I hurried down the stairs, I got out my cell and went back to his message thread.
Me:Where are you?
JWG:On my way back.
Me:Beach?
JWG:SC Ave.
Sea Cliff Ave. Great.
I headed out of the mansion, fastening my shoulder-length hair into a stumpy ponytail, then jogged down the driveway and through the small side gate. I glanced left, then right, and saw him.
His black hair lay plastered to his head, his damp, gray wife-beater stuck to his broad, heaving chest… He was breathtaking. But the small smile kicking up his mouth when he saw me melted my heart to a puddle.
As he neared me, he tugged up the hem of his wife-beater to swipe his sweat-drenched face, revealing ripped abs I’d stroked and licked. Then he cocked a brow. “Leaving for a run?”
“I would have joined you—eeep! Jack,” I squealed as he swept me into his drenched body and kissed me. “Stop-stop—ugh, you’re all sweaty!” I laughed then groaned as he nuzzled my face, trying to break free of those powerful, sweat-damp arms clamped around me.
A screech of wheels had us turning. A dark green mustang halted. The engine still running, a stocky man leaped out and rushed us. Jack cursed and shoved me aside. I stumbled. The man, nearly as tall as Jack, with meaty arms and a thick torso, lashed out, striking Jack in the biceps.
