He danced her way, and she knew the moment he saw her. His lips stopped moving to the beat of the song, and his eyes did that thing they did whenever he saw her—the instant soft thing. “Heather. Hey.”
She couldn’t hear the words, but she could read his lips well enough. Her blood heated, and she tingled all over, right up to the roots of her hair.
He turned off the stereo, Warrant singing about cherry pie zipping to a stop. She moved to him, reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss him. He tilted his head, deepened the kiss, and held her close against him, his hands in her hair. Early mornings weren’t so bad with Jase and a good make-out session.
“I guess this is the part where I tell you I have to go,” she said once he broke the kiss, her mouth only millimeters from his. “The shop opens in an hour.”
“Then this is the part where I tell you I’d rather you stay.” He grinned.
“And this is when I remind you that you have work and then are spending the evening with your family.”
He groaned. “Can’t I just pretend I’m sick and come over to your place?”
“I’m watching game shows tonight. I’m way behind on my bingeing, and I need a dose ofFamily Feud.”
“I guarantee if I come over, we won’t be watchingFamily Feud.” His hand slid down over her back, resting just below her waist.
Her fingertip seemed to trace circles on his pec on its own. “Don’t make our first fight over Steve Harvey.”
“Are we fighting? Do we get to make up later?” With the way he was looking at her, they’d need to go upstairs for another round before either of them would get anything done.
“Come by after you’re done,” she whispered against his lips.
The cowbell on the door clanked. They both glanced over.
His mom and sister stood there.
“Heather.” Anna’s eyes were bright. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Shit,” Jase muttered under his breath. He dropped his hands and held them up in mock defense. “Whatever you two are about to do, knock it off.”
“We came to invite Heather to tonight’s family dinner, Jason.” His mother adjusted her purse over her shoulder. “Since we don’t get together often.”
“Only every other night,” he mumbled under his breath.
“I figured she’d be here. I was totally right.” Anna strutted over to Jase and held her hand up for a high five.
He didn’t return it.
“Hi,” Heather said cautiously.
The light in his eyes shut down. “Babushka would be the trifecta if she weren’t pissed at everyone.”
“Jase, it’s okay.” Heather gave his biceps a squeeze.
He pursed his lips. “Heather has plans tonight.”
She did?
Were they back to this? Back to his walls around his family. A night with Steve Harvey hardly counted as plans.
“Heather?” Jase’s mother asked.
“I’ve got to go to work.” She chanced a glance to Jase, who had an unreadable expression etched on his face. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Jase, quit being a dingbat. We’ll be nice to Heather and we want to get to know her, too. Stop hogging her,” Anna huffed. “Unless, you really have plans?” She turned her attention back to Heather.
Heather shifted on her feet.
