She angled her head to look at him. “I used to pull all-nighters with no problem in college. Does this mean I’m old?”
He barked a laugh. “You’re what twenty-six? Twenty-seven?”
Her jaw dropped, and her look of horror told him he’d overestimated, even before she said, “Twenty-five! So I look older than my age? Is that what you’re saying?”
He chuckled as he shook his head. “No. Not at all.”
She grunted and started scooting toward the foot of the bed in a huff.
“Jules, seriously. Come back.” He caught her arm, and when she didn’t budge, he wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her to the head of the bed next to him again. When she was beside him, he didn’t release her. Touching his forehead to her temple, he said, “Twenty-five is not old. And for the record, despite how I feel some days, at thirty-five, I’m not old, either.”
“You thought I was twenty-seven,” she grumbled, folding her arms over her chest.
“Only because of wishful thinking,” he said, thinking fast for an excuse for his fumble. “Being ten years older than you, I was worried you’d consider me too old for you. Is my age why you’re keeping me at arm’s length?”
She opened her mouth and closed it again, her brow furrowed. “Age is just a number.”
He brightened and aimed a finger at her. “Yes! Exactly. Which is why you should not care whether I incorrectly guessed your age. You could be forty-five and I’d still think you were beautiful.”
The frown on her face shifted abruptly. Clearly his comment stunned her. But just as quickly, she shook her head and tried to wiggle loose from his hold. “This is a pointless discussion, and I have to get back to the gift shop.”
“You are beautiful, you know,” he said, catching her hand.
“Don’t patronize me.”
“Never. Wouldn’t dare. I respect you too much to lie to you or butter you up.”
She cast a skeptical side glance toward him, then swung her feet to the floor. “Bonnie’s probably ready to quit by now.”
He hurried to take her arm before she moved away from the bed. “Jules.”
She shot an impatient look toward him. “Cal.”
Tugging her closer, he caught her cheek in his palm. “Youarebeautiful. And if I have left any doubt in the matter, I am very attracted to you.”
Beneath his hand, he felt the subtle quiver that rippled through her, and her gaze dropped away from his.
“Jules.”
She closed her eyes, clamped her lips tight.
“I want to kiss you.” He moved his thumb against her jaw in a slow, tender caress. When she didn’t move, he tipped up her face, leaned in. Waited. When he didn’t move, she canted slightly toward him, angling her chin up. Still he waited.
Finally, she blinked her eyes open and gave him a puzzled look.
“Jules,” he said quietly, “may I kiss you?”
She looked peeved by his question before closing the distance between them. With both hands, she framed his face and seized his mouth in a greedy kiss. Lips parted, she drew on his mouth and teased him with her tongue.
He leaned back, breaking the kiss before placing a finger to her lips. “There’s no rush. I’m yours for as long as it takes.”
Moving in again, he kissed her gently, soft nibbles that teased her and promised more to come. Only when a frustrated growl rumbled in her throat did he deepen the kiss. Lingering, his hands anchoring her close, he sampled the mouth that had enticed him for days.
Abruptly, as if someone had thrown cold water on her, Jules jerked back and shoved to her feet. She raised her hand to her mouth and drew a few ragged breaths before stalking away from the bed, not looking at him.
“I, um… Bonnie. I have to… I promised her part-time hours. She’s not— She’s worked more than I have the last few days.” Then, dropping to her knees, Jules lifted the bedspread and peered beneath the bed.
“You realize she’s yours now?” he said.
