“Mom!” Gia sputtered, her cheeks turning an adorable shade of pink.
“You heard your mother. Let’s go make her a grandbaby.” He winked.
“Oh my God.” Gia covered her face with her hands.
Jake laughed and tugged her along, only letting go when she insisted on taking off her work apron.
When they got to the sidewalk, he shrugged off his jacket and pulled it over her shoulders. He pulled her to his side and kissed the top of her head.
He rejoiced when her hand found his back, the other arm wrapping around his torso.
As far as first dates went, they were off to a great start.
Twenty-Five
GIA
Under the night sky, Gia blossomed like a moonflower unfurling its petals for the first time. Between the dazzling lights, the excited shrieks of amusement, and the sweet perfume of the powdered sugar on the apple cider donuts, her senses were buzzing. Infectious joy resonated in her chest, amplified by the thumping music and the electric hum of the ecstatic crowd.
From the second Jake greeted her at the restaurant to their short but tense walk to the fair, her heart had hammered inside her chest. Every gesture and innuendo crackled with a palpable tension of anticipation. Each crooked smile or wink Jake tossed her way nearly had her melting into a puddle of arousal. Every touch or caress sent lightning bolts dancing beneath her skin.
Despite her cheeks aching from smiling all night, she couldn’t help but wish they were alone. She squeezed the oversized stuffed panda bear Jake had won from a carnival booth tightly to her chest, burrowing her face into its soft fur. Willing her libido to calm down.
She’d spotted his hard-on before he turned away, betraying his composure. A giddy anticipation bubbled up inside her, making her feel like a teenager again.
Jake pinched her chin between his fingers, tilting her chin up. “You okay, Kitten?”
Instead of answering, she leaned into his body and wrapped her arms around his back. His embrace, filled with warmth, sandalwood, and spice, enveloped her.
She smiled into his chest when he kissed the top of her head. He’d been sneaking kisses all night. Beneath the entrance of the fair, then at the ticket booth in front of an old woman who gasped as if she’d never seen Jake kiss a woman before. He’d kissed her when he announced he would win her the biggest prize in the whole fair, and dragged her around until he found the bear now tucked under one arm.
Each kiss had been as toe-curling as the last, and she was so turned on, she was about ready to combust.
So was her bladder.
Jake wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they navigated to the restrooms. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and murmured he’d see her soon. Watching Jake walk away made her heart skip with a familiar feeling—anxiety.
Shaking her head, telling herself she was being silly, she made her way into the restroom to take care of business. The line was thankfully short, but by the time she emerged, Jake was nowhere to be seen. She looked around at the moving crowd, unable to spot his blond head anywhere.
“Gia? Is that you?” a male voice said from behind her. She whirled around, surprised to see the vet from this morning standing before her.
“Oh, hi… uh…” Gia flushed with embarrassment.What had been his name again?
“It’s Luke. Luke Hawthorne.” He flashed her a bright smile, making his eyes dance with mischief.
If she had been any other woman, she would have found Luke’s obvious interest in her flattering, but as it was, it made her uncomfortable.
Where is Jake?
“Oh, right. Luke. Of course. How could I forget?” She chittered nervously. “How are you?” She tucked her arms around her chest.
“Great, now that you’re here.” Luke winked at her. All professionalism from their earlier encounter was gone. “How’s the cat doing?”
“Oh, Tuna? She’s doing fine. Settling in with Marley.”
“Tuna? Cute name, and that’s great to hear.” Luke took a small step closer to her. Though there was ample space between their bodies, she fought the urge to take a step back. It wasn’t because she felt unsafe with Luke. He seemed like a nice guy who was attracted to her, but she wanted to avoid any misunderstandings. It was difficult to tell whether anyone in the crowd was watching them. The last thing she needed was to be part of another scandal.
Luke ran a hand through his hair, a self-deprecating smile on his face. “Listen, if you ever need any help with anything, I’m just a phone call away.”
