Debra Webb - In His Touch Box Set (Here To Stay, Up Close, Tempting Trace, Basic Instincts) (56 page)

“Yeah, buddy, what’s up?” Jake was breathing like he’d run a twenty-five-mile marathon. He shoved his fingers through his hair, belatedly remembering his shirt was now hanging half in and half out of his shorts. Merri seemed satisfied to linger behind him. She probably looked as tousled as he did.

Dan blinked and a rush of color shot up his neck. “We’re going now,” he said slowly. “Everyone else is leaving, too. Looks like it might blow up a rain.”

Jake manufactured a smile and nodded. “Okay. See you tomorrow.”

His buddy backed up a step. “Yeah,” he muttered, then turned and hurried out of the office.

Jake closed his eyes and swore. Merri flew around him like the devil himself was on her heels. “I have to go,” she said in a high-pitched voice.

“Wait,” he called out behind her. “You came with me, remember?”

She slowed at the door, but didn’t turn around. “That’s right. I’ll... ah... wait in the Jeep for you.”

Confused and frustrated as hell, he watched her hasty getaway. Shaking his head, he followed.

Merri wouldn’t even look at him on the drive home. She said nothing. Jake cursed himself. Had he lost his mind completely? Wasn’t she the one who had started all this with that I-don’t-want-to-talk bit?

He glanced at her grim profile. No matter whether she started it or he started it, she was upset. And somehow it was his fault.

What was it about this woman that made him so crazy?

He parked in front of her building. She said a curt goodbye without even looking at him and scrambled out of the Jeep. Before he could unfasten his seat belt and get out, she had disappeared through the lobby door.

He pounded his fists against the steering wheel. He had sworn this wouldn’t happen again. And look at him. He shook his head. His emotions were already in a ridiculously hopeless tangle.

And there was nothing he could do to stop it.

There was just something about Merri Lang. Something primal... basic, that drew him like the light to the dawn.

Chapter Four

This is what she should have done from the start. Meredith watched the couples as well as the men—who seemed to prefer to do intimate shopping for their sweethearts alone—browse the sexy offerings. Who would have thought that this many people would spend their lunch hours purchasing lingerie? Especially on a Monday. She surveyed the exclusive shop once more and settled on one particular couple to observe.

The shop was large and contained every imaginable slinky undergarment. Her chosen couple appeared to be in their mid-twenties and probably hadn’t been together that long. The blush on the woman’s cheeks and the eagerness of the man’s expression were clear signals of a budding romance. They took every opportunity to touch each other, exchanging quick glances and secret smiles. Oh, yes. These two had just begun the physical part of their relationship. The man caressed his girlfriend’s cheek and a breath-stealing memory broadsided Meredith. Jake’s touch, his scent, his taste.

Her skin heated and a tingle started way down inside her at the memory of his every move, every smile and word. Never in her life had she wanted to be with a man the way she wanted to be with him. He moved her on a level she hadn’t experienced until now.

She closed her eyes and pushed away thoughts of him, and still her blood simmered in her veins. She would not see him again. Whatever this thing was between them it was far too intense for comfort. She forced her eyes open and back on the couple across the racks and tables of silk lingerie.

Control was needed in order to make sense of her research. Meredith lost all semblance of control in Jake’s presence. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the overwhelming attraction.

It wasn’t as if she had never dated a good-looking man before. And she had certainly been attracted to the men she dated, usually anyway. But this was far more than mere attraction, she feared. Meredith had an uneasy feeling that what she and Jake had experienced was that rare fixation most called love at first sight. But she knew better than to put much stock into that concept. Love went far deeper than attraction though many couples settled for the physical bond at first. Love took time. She had to know someone to fall in love, Meredith told herself.

She frowned at her hesitation. She didn’t know Jake Brandon, therefore she couldn’t possibly feel anything for him other than intense physical attraction.

It simply could not be anything else.

The man she’d been watching stole a kiss from the woman and another flash of memory hit Meredith hard. She directed her attention back to the couple through the racks of sensual garments, and the barely dressed clerk helping them.

Quite a gimmick, she considered. Sex sold, as always.

~*~

“Come on, man, you’ve gotta do this for me,” Dan pleaded with more abject sincerity than Jake could stomach this soon after lunch.

“There’s no way in hell I’m going into that hoity-toity lingerie shop,” Jake said firmly. “I’m not about to be caught rifling through women’s panties.” He’d done enough dumb stuff the past few days.

Dan shot him a pointed look. “I’ve never known you to be shy about women’s panties in the past.”

Jake glared at him. “It’s not the same thing.” He waved a hand helplessly. “I don’t know anything about picking out women’s lingerie. Besides how weird would it be for me to help pick out something your wife is going to wear?”

“You know what women like,” Dan argued. “I’ve been married too long. Suzy hasn’t worn sexy underwear since we dated.”

Jake waved his hands. “TMI, man!”

“You have to do this,
buddy
.”

Jake scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t see why you don’t just go in there yourself and pick something out. They have associates who can help.
They
know what women want.”

His foreman let out a weary sigh. “I can’t go. You know Suzy’s best friend works in that shop. She’ll break her neck to tell Suzy.”

Jake shook his head slowly from side to side. “Not a chance. You’ll have to find some other sucker.”

Dan leveled his gaze on Jake’s. “Suzy says she feels like a hippo. She even cried last night.”

Jake swallowed hard at the thought of sweet Suzy crying about anything. “She’s pregnant, she’s supposed to...” he gestured vaguely around his midsection “...to expand.”

“That’s what I told her.” Dan dropped heavily into a nearby chair. “Then she cried even harder.”

Jake plopped into the chair behind his clustered desk. “I feel your pain, but what’s that got to do with new panties?”

“Don’t you know anything about women’s emotions? She needs something soft and sexy to make her feel pretty again. The baby will be here in a couple of weeks. I thought she’d enjoy some new silky treats to look forward to.”

Jake closed his eyes and massaged his temples. How could he say no? Dan and Suzy were his best friends.

“Here’s a list of what I want you to get and the sizes.” Dan thrust a piece of paper with figures and descriptions scribbled on it under Jake’s nose.

What the hell? He looked first at the paper, then at his old friend. “I didn’t say I’d do it.”

Dan grinned from ear to ear. “You’ll do it. The tears cinched it.”

Jake snatched the paper from him. “Don’t think I won’t remember this. You know what they say about payback.”

With a snap of his fingers, Dan looked at Jake as if he’d just remembered something important. “Hey, why don’t you pick up something for that hot blond while you’re there? She looks about the same size as Suzy—when she’s not nine months into pregnancy.”

For about two seconds Jake considered doing just that then his good sense kicked in. “I don’t think I’ll be seeing her again.”

Dan frowned. “Why? She’s great. Suzy loved her. And you know if Suzy loves her then she has to be special.”

Jake stared at the paper in his hands. “I think maybe I scared her off.”

One eyebrow reared up. “What’d you do?”

“I tried calling her at least three times yesterday.” Jake blew out a breath and shoved the infernal list into his pocket. “I apparently misread her signals and got a little carried away the other day.”

“If you’re talking about Saturday’s picnic fiasco,” Dan began, “you both got a little carried away, if you ask me.” Color raced up his neck. “And I can’t believe I walked in like that.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but I’m glad you did.” Jake didn’t want to think about what would have happened if Dan hadn’t walked in. He tunneled his fingers through his hair. He wanted Merri something fierce, but it just wasn’t right to take her like that.

And that alone proved he was already in way too deep. Any other time he and a willing lady would have already done the deed.

Dan reached across the desk and pressed the back of his hand to Jake’s forehead. “I think you’re sick, pal.” Dan studied him a moment before adding, “Since when does a single guy like you pass up a chance with a woman as hot as Merri?”

Jake shook his head in bewilderment. “I want her, but it almost feels like I’m taking her some place she doesn’t really want to go. You know what I mean?”

Dan slumped back into his chair. “Don’t have a clue. But you look and act like a sick puppy. I think this is bad, Jake.” He smoothed a hand through his receding hairline. “I mean, really bad. You want her, but you’re afraid to take her. When you’re together you can’t keep your hands off each other. You can’t eat, sleep, or work for thinking of her.” He shook his head, his face grim. “I’m afraid this may be lethal to your bachelorhood.”

“But I don’t even know her,” Jake argued, halfheartedly.

“Maybe it’s just physical,” Dan offered. “And maybe if you do the deed, things will fall back into perspective.”

Jake started to argue again, but thought better of it. Dan was right. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t had his share of one-night stands. What was the big deal with this one? A thorough roll between the sheets was all it would take to put everything back to rights.

He was sure of it.

After all, Jake wanted Merri, and she obviously wanted him. Hell, the best thing to do was just go for it and get it over with. Then he could stop wondering and hoping and suffering all those other crazy emotions banging around inside him. If he had sex with Merri, that’s all it would be. Nothing he hadn’t already seen and done before.

All he needed was an opportunity alone with her. Jake smiled. Merri was terrific and he really liked her. Sex. It had to be about sex. It couldn’t be anything else.

~*~

Finally, Meredith had to buy something. The sales clerks were beginning to look at her with suspicion. She supposed that it did seem odd for her to stand around watching the customers come and go.

“Anything else?” the clerk asked as she handed Meredith her change.

Meredith smiled at the impatient woman dressed in next to nothing. The black bra, panties, garter belt and thigh-high stockings did little to conceal her feminine attributes. Maybe having to dress so scandalously for work made her cranky. Meredith smoothed a hand over her own short skirt—another of Shelley’s selections. Meredith could say from experience that going around half naked didn’t set so well with her.

Well, she wouldn’t have to do that anymore. She had made her decision. From now on she would only observe. Observation would simply have to be enough.

Meredith thanked the clerk and turned away from the counter at precisely the moment Jake Brandon entered the shop. Her heart thumped in her chest. She blinked and looked again.

What on earth was he doing here?

Meredith quickly stepped behind the closest rack of luxurious sleepwear.

He hesitated at the front of the store. Her breath stalled in her lungs as she took in the full picture. Worn, faded jeans. Simple white T-shirt. Tanned skin that stretched over rippling muscles. A face that could only be described as incredibly masculine yet somehow beautiful. The air rushed from her chest. Dear God, he was so very handsome. Too handsome.

Meredith tensed when one of the scantily clad sales clerks approached him. His crooked grin made her heart do somersaults. Obviously there was nothing wrong with the man’s eyes, because he was certainly giving the clerk a thorough appraisal. Irritation raced through Meredith’s veins, followed just as swiftly by longing for him to look at her that way.

Clenching her teeth against the emotions building inside her, she looked for a means of escape. She had to get out of here without him seeing her. She definitely didn’t need a close encounter with Jake today. She was still weak from Saturday’s little episode of temporary insanity. If she could just slip around the perfume counter, then she could...

“That’s perfect.”

The underlying hint of admiration Meredith heard in Jake’s deep voice stopped her. She peeked past an elegant display of perfume to see what he found so perfect.

Fury erupted inside her as Jake smiled down at the nearly naked clerk. Meredith blanched when she instantly recognized the emotion for what it was: jealously.

She couldn’t be jealous.

Meredith glared at the clerk’s back.

She refused to be jealous.

The clerk suddenly moved to one side and an unobstructed view of Jake holding a slinky nightie came into focus.

“This will do just fine,” he said and handed the silk garment to the clerk.

Meredith loosened her death grip on her shoulder bag. He was talking about the lingerie, not the clerk.

Stealing one last look at Jake, she started around the counter once more. She halted abruptly, wondering who the sexy piece of lingerie would be for. Her gaze instantly sought the man who held this uncanny power over her, and she felt more irritated than ever. She had spent the entire weekend worrying over what had happened between them, had finally persuaded herself never to see him again, and what was he doing? Buying intimate apparel for another woman.

The low-down, dirty, no good—

“May I help you, ma’am?”

Meredith yelped when the voice sounded right behind her. She whirled and came face-to-face with another barely dressed clerk.

“Is everything all right?” the clerk asked when Meredith failed to find her voice.