“I don’t want to leave things like this,” he said, opening the truck door and getting out.
There should’ve been no reason her body responded to such a simple statement, but it did. Every time. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself she didn’t want this man, that they didn’t belong together, her body still craved his touch.
“JJ, please.”
She doubted it was his words, more so his voice that had goose bumps forming on her arms. She’d always liked Baz’s voice. Hell, she liked everything about the sexy detective, had since she’d first laid eyes on him. And that was the problem, wasn’t it? There wasn’t anything about him she didn’t like, which scared the shit out of her. JJ was all too aware of what falling in love could do. Which was the very reason she had no desire to bring about heartache if it was at all possible. After all, that was why she had continued that ruse of a relationship she’d had with Dante for so many years. It damn sure hadn’t been because she thought the guy would ever change.
Baz’s boots crunched on gravel as he approached. She took a deep breath, let it out slowly. She could do this. She would be strong.
“Why don’t we go grab some coffee,” he suggested. “Talk this out.”
“Baz…”
When she turned around, she found he was closer than she’d anticipated. Close enough she was forced to look up at him. Close enough she could feel the warmth of his body against her front, smell the delicious scent of his cologne. She had no idea which fragrance it was because he was obsessed with so many different ones, but it went right to her head.
And the fact that she found him absolutely irresistible only made it more difficult to stick to her guns.
“Where?” she heard herself ask.
“Your choice. I’m sure there’re plenty of places open late tonight,” he said, that sexy voice rumbling. “Or, if you prefer, we can go back to your house.”
She was already shaking her head, but JJ wasn’t sure which of those options she was rejecting. It irked her that Baz had the ability to leave her tongue-tied and confused. It’d been that way since the day she met him.
“The diner’s still open,” she said, wondering just what she was doing. This was not supposed to be happening.
“I’ll follow you.”
He did, and all the way to town, JJ berated herself. Not because she had agreed to coffee but because what she’d wanted was to invite him back to her place. To pick up where they’d left off before he’d invited her to have Thanksgiving with his family. Why had he gone and complicated things? She didn’t understand it. They’d been doing fine, hadn’t they? The sex was off the charts, plus they had enjoyed one another’s company. Why did men think women were eager to move things to the next level? JJ was content to stay in the getting-to-know-you phase for … well, forever.
And of course, she would go and find a guy who wasn’t looking for a one-nighter or short term or even temporary. Worse, he was open and honest about it, taking things at her pace. He’d been patient with her since the beginning, never rushing, never pushing. Every step they’d taken had been her move.
Right up until that holiday-dinner invitation. He was responsible for that one.
However, agreeing to gowason her.
JJ pulled into the diner’s parking lot. It was still pretty busy, which she figured would only continue through the morning hours when those celebrating the new year would venture out for a late-night/early-morning meal before spending the first day of the year sleeping it off.
Before she’d even turned off the ignition, Baz was outside her door, opening it for her just like he always did. He was a gentleman of the highest order. Something else she found incredibly hot about him.
Once inside, a waitress approached, and Baz asked for a table for two, preferably in the back. With a glowing smile, Rachel Talbott, the daughter of the diner’s owners, led the way to a booth.
“Two coffees, please,” he told her before she could disappear.
“Comin’ right up.”
“I figured you’d be out with Brantley and Reese,” JJ said, attempting to make small talk when the silence got too heavy.
He didn’t respond, merely stared, those brilliant blue eyes skimming her face and heating her up from the inside out.
God, he was … hot. That strategically disheveled sandy-blond hair, the teal-blue eyes, those sharp cheekbones, and the angular jaw. It all came together to make a remarkable-looking man. Don’t even get her started on his body.
To keep the conversational ball rolling, she continued, “They were headin’ to Moonshiners. You can probably still—”
“I don’t want to talk about Brantley and Reese.” His eyes skimmed her face, his expression serious, tone equally so.
Yeah, this was a big mistake. Then again, she’d known it would be.
JJ huffed. “Fine. Whatwouldyou like to talk about?”
