her. “I need to say something to you.”
Kat rolled onto her back. He was going to tell her to find her own way home. She was too much of a mess for him. She wouldn’t blame J.J. if he asked her to find another landscaping company. She tried to sit up and pull her dignity together. The room spun again and she fell back. “Crap.”
He crawled over the bed and settled next to her. Great, he’s going to tell me to leave while his sexy man smell washes over me.
“Kat, we need to get something straight. I know it bothers you that you are a couple of years older than me.” He ran a finger over a curl.
She wanted to rest her sore head on his strong shoulder. “I’m more than a couple of years older than you. I’m ten years older than you are. We are at different places in life.”
“Let me finish.” J.J. twisted her hair around his finger. “I’m not a boy. I have owned my own business since I was in high school. I pay my bills on time and the reason I don’t own my own home is because I paid off my mother’s house two years back, so I’m not interested in your money.”
“I never thought you were.”
“Shh.” He pressed his finger over her lips. “How many people my age do you know who have savings and retirement?”
She made herself sit up. “J.J., this isn’t an interview.” Her mind was clearer now. “I can’t offer you what you want.”
“You don’t know what I want.” He kissed her cheek and rolled off the bed. “We need to get you home.”
“I’m sorry.” She turned and dangled her feet off the mattress.
“Just tell me one thing.” He knelt in front of Kat and captured her mouth with his.
He leaned back, broke their contact and searched her face. “If you don’t see stars like I do, then I’ll back off.”
Her body all but melted into his kiss and she didn’t have it in her to lie. “All I see is stars.”
“Then, honey, I’m not giving up.” He held out his hand and helped her to her feet.
* * * * *
J.J. turned into Kat’s driveway twenty minutes later. “Look who’s here,” he said. Patricia sat on a bench next to Kat’s front door, smirking. She stood and waved.
Heat washed over Kat and she remembered how mad she was at Patricia. In one night Patty put in jeopardy a reputation she spent years building. “How am I going to explain myself?” Kat knew she shouldn’t have let Patty talk her into going out last night and getting drunk. She felt her face flush.
“You don’t have to explain anything to anyone.” He tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “Can I see you tonight?”
Sexual tension filled her belly and regret washed over Kat. “No, Sam’s having a friend stay the night.”
Disappointment flared in his gaze. “What about Sunday?”
“I’m sorry, we’ll be painting all weekend. We have to have most of the painting done by Monday, Joe is coming to start on the floors.”
“Joe?”
Fresh desire seeped into her core. She loved the jealous tone in his voice. She knew it wasn’t politically correct to be turned-on by a glimpse of caveman tendencies, but the power to make a man like J.J. even a tiny bit jealous turned her on. “Yes. He’s putting in reclaimed wood floors downstairs.”
“Can I call you?”
She stared into his smoky eyes “It would be better if you texted me, so we can have some privacy from boy’s ears.”
Kat’s hand fumbled behind her. She yanked at the door handle and dragged herself out of the truck before J.J. kissed her again and made her forget all her responsibilities. “Bye!”
He rolled down his window. “I’ll text you later.”
Patricia met Kat in the driveway. They watched J.J. drive down the street. Patricia nudged her. “Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.” She gestured to the work trucks that had just pulled up the street. “Just in time. Now you don’t have to do the walk of shame with an audience.” She grinned and winked. “So, Kat, do you have anything to report?”
That now
Legs McNeil, Jennifer Osborne, Peter Pavia