Fly Like You've Never Been Grounded (Summer Lake, #4) (7 page)

That bothered him. He wanted her talents all for himself, even though they weren't the ones she was talking about. He brought himself back to the moment. “I believe so, and I understand why.”

She didn't quite blush, but those faint pink stains appeared on her cheeks. Good, he was getting to her, too. Point scored, he came back to her work. “So what kind of jewelry are you working on?”

Her eyes lit up as she began to talk about her work. He didn't have the first clue about diamonds or karats or cuts, but he smiled as he listened. What he did know was that here was a woman who truly loved what she did. With a passion. And that was something he could relate to.

“...and I can't wait to go to London,” she was saying.

“London?” Did he know that? Had she mentioned it? Surely he would have remembered. “What exactly will you be doing there?”

“Meeting their design team. Seeing the flagship store.” She grinned. “I'm sure it won't mean much to you, but it's a huge honor. And....” She looked around as if someone might be listening. “I haven't told anyone yet, but they mentioned possibly buying my store!”

Smoke wasn't sure why this might need to be kept a secret, but she did seem excited by the idea.

“And what would you do then?”

“I don't really know, but it would mean more freedom. I'm a designer, not a retailer. I need some kind of base, but the store feels more like a ball and chain, you know?”

Smoke nodded. He knew that feeling only too well.

“If I sell, I won't have to deal with the day to day responsibilities,” she continued. “I'll be free to travel and meet high-end clients.”

He raised an eyebrow, not understanding that and trying to repress a smirk at the thought that she made herself sound like a high class hooker.

She shook her head, apparently seeing where his thoughts were going. “Get. Your. Mind. Out of the gutter!” she said, with a smile that only pinned his mind firmly in the gutter...or to a chair...or a lounger.

He grinned. “Sorry.” He really wasn't. “What else would you need to meet high-end clients for?”

He listened as she explained how she was building a clientele, by word of mouth. People who wanted exquisite custom pieces designed just for them.

He thought about Jack and Dan who had both asked her to make engagement rings. Now that was scary stuff. He brought his attention back to what she was saying.

“I love San Francisco, but I don't think I want to be there anymore.” For the first time since she'd started talking about her jewelry, her eyes weren't shining. “It's been good, but I've finally figured out it's not for me.”

What was all that about? He gave her an inquiring look.

She shrugged. “I thought I could settle down, build a normal life, you know? But it turns out I'm not too good at it.”

All the light had gone from her eyes now. Smoke wanted to see her smile again—and to steer her away from what looked like heavy stuff if he asked her what she meant. He gave her a grin. “If you ask me, normal is over-rated. Especially for people like us. A career that you love wins hands down over normal.”

She smiled at that, seeming to agree. Good. Away from the heavy stuff. “So what do you design most of?” He had no clue about jewelry but he wanted to see her animated and happy again. Steering her back to her work should do it.

Unfortunately, his question brought the sadness back to her eyes. “Lately it's been engagement rings.”

Damn, he should have thought of that. “Yeah, I saw the ones you made for the guys. What else? Is it all kinds of rings, or necklaces and  earrings too?”

She wasn't going for it; she was still caught up in her thoughts. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. “Yeah. The ones for Dan and Jack were fun to do. Dan especially. All he knew was that he wanted something with three diamonds, so Missy would know it was about the three of them—about her
and
Scot becoming his family.

Smoke nodded. Even he knew how great Dan and Missy were together and how much Dan loved the kid.

Her smile was more genuine now. “Jack was different.” She laughed. “In fact he was a total pain in the ass.”

Smoke laughed with her, knowing the feeling. Jack was a good friend, but he had his ways. “He is pretty big on his 'crucial details'. I don't envy you that job.”

“Yeah, I can't really say it was a design job, more a case of making
his
design a reality. And detail? He even provided the stone and told me how I needed to cut it!” Something about that had her shaking her head, lost in thought again.

Dammit. Heavy stuff or not, he needed to know. His curiosity was piqued, if he didn't ask he knew he'd only keep wondering. “So, you design a lot of engagement rings, but you don't wear one?”

She shook her head and ate the last bite of her burger. He waited, sipping on his beer, wondering if he wanted to hear the story. There no doubt was one, he could tell.

Eventually she looked at him. “I used to.”

“But?”

“But like I told you, it turns out I'm no good at that kind of thing.”

Smoke nodded, knowing to leave well enough alone. He surprised himself by reaching across the table to take her hand. He gave it a squeeze and smiled, “Like I told you, normal is over-rated. You're too good for it, lady. You had a lucky escape.”

She nodded.

“And I'm glad you did,” he added.

She looked confused, no doubt wondering what he had meant by that.

He squeezed her hand again and called for the check, feeling a little confused himself—what had he meant?

***

“J
ack!” Emma poked him in the ribs.

He turned to look at her. “Sorry, baby.”

Emma shook her head at Ben, who was grinning at them from behind the bar. “Honestly, Ben! He says he's bringing me out for a drink and then spends the whole time spying on Laura and Smoke. I'm glad you're in here tonight. At least you still pay attention to me.”

That had Jack giving her his sad puppy dog eyes before pulling her against him. He'd never quite been able to ditch the last remnants of gnawing jealousy when she was around Ben. He knew it was stupid, but he just couldn't shift it. “You have all my attention, baby. And I wasn't spying. It was
you
that told me they were out there, and
you
that wouldn't let me go say hi.”

Emma laughed as she snuggled in his arms. “Because I don't want you scaring Smoke off, and because we told Laura we'd leave her in peace!”

“I wouldn't scare him off!” Jack feigned innocence.

Emma just gave him a knowing look.

“I'm surprised you're being like this,” said Ben. “I mean I know you're Mr. Protective and everything, but it's Smoke, you know him. He's been a friend since college, hasn't he?

Jack nodded. “Yes, he is my friend.” He gave Ben a dark look. “And
I do
know him.”

Ben raised his eyebrows questioningly, obviously surprised.

“Oh, ignore him,” said Emma. “You know what he's like.”

Jack hugged her to him. “Yeah, but baby,
you
don't know what
Smoke's
like.”

A little crease appeared between her brows. Dammit! He shouldn't have said that! He forced a laugh. “Sorry. You're right. Ignore me. I'll tell you what though. I need to go to the office for a couple of hours tomorrow, do you want to come to the city?”

“I can't. You know that.”

Jack did know that. She was going to see her Gramps. Truth was he didn't really want her along, and he didn't really need to go to the office either. What he did need to do was have a talk with Smoke.

L
aura opened her eyes. She was too warm. The sun was streaming in through the windows. That wasn't what was making her so warm though. Smoke was wrapped around her, his face relaxed in sleep, his head resting on her shoulder. His arm was tight around her waist, holding her close. One of his legs was wrapped around both of hers. She smiled and nestled against him. He felt so good—warm, but good. He was so big he made her feel small—not something she was used to. She liked it. He most definitely wasn't her usual type. Dale had been more like her, her height, her build, slender. When he'd tried to wrap himself around her in any way, even putting an arm around her shoulders, she'd felt suffocated, needed to escape. Which was weird—shouldn't she feel like that with Smoke? He was so much bigger than her. His arm lay heavy across her middle, holding her close, but she didn't want to escape.

She trailed her fingers along his muscular forearm. It didn't feel like too much, or too close. If anything she wanted be to even closer. She wanted him. What was really weird was that she didn't want to wake him up and take him, ride him as she knew she could. What she really wanted was for him to wake up and take her. Out on the trail yesterday, she'd willingly have done whatever he wanted. Last night, when they'd come back after dinner, he'd sidestepped the competition over who was taking the lead by asking her to do whatever she wanted with him. And she had. Out on the deck. On the sofa in the moonlight.

Now though, now she wanted him to do as he pleased with her. Her body was fully awake, coming more alive by the moment at the thought of him pinning her down, spreading her legs with his knees and taking her—because he wanted her.

She touched the light stubble on his cheek. He was so gorgeous. The corner of his mouth curved up. She smiled, not sure now if he was still sleeping or not. She ran her hand over his chest and on down over hard abs. Oh, he was awake alright. He was huge, hot and hard in her hand. He opened his eyes and smiled his lazy smile. “Are you taking me while I'm sleeping now?”

She shook her head. Hoping he would see in her eyes what she really wanted. Understanding spread across his face. His expression softened and he gave a small nod as he propped himself up on his elbow. With his other arm he drew her towards him so that her upper body was underneath him. Her whole body was wide awake now, screaming for him. Yes. This. He put a hand to her shoulder and pinned her to the bed as he lowered his lips to hers. He explored her mouth, slowly, possessively. His hand strayed down to her breast, closing over it. Oh, this was so good, so different. He wedged his knee between her thighs and spread them, shifting his weight on to her. She made a quick decision.

“Are you clean?”

He stopped, looking puzzled for a moment. Then understanding and delight dawned on his face.

“I am. Regular check just done. You?”

She nodded, not quite believing she was doing this, but wanting it too much to take the sensible route.

“And you're on birth control?”

She nodded again as all the muscles in her belly, and lower, tightened deliciously.

He grinned and shifted so his body was covering hers. He supported his weight on his elbows and smiled down at her. “Are you sure about this?”

She smiled back. She was damned sure—she couldn't remember ever wanting anything more than she wanted this, wanted him in this moment.

“You're not going to try to escape?” He raised an eyebrow. “That could be fun—for both of us.”

She brought a hand up to his chest and pushed. “Actually, I changed my mind.”

He caught her hand and pinned it to the bed with a grin. She wriggled underneath him, deliberately tormenting him to see what he'd do. He was right—this could be fun!

He caught her other hand, pinning it down and spreading her legs. He was going to take her. Her whole body was on fire, begging him, needing him to do just that.

At that moment Smoke's phone rang. He frowned and let go of her hands. Springing from the bed, he picked it up and walked from the room.

“This is Smoke.”

Laura lay staring after him, her breath coming slow and shallow.
What the...?
He couldn't have just let it ring? Her heart was still racing, she was aching with need for him, and he answered the god-damned phone? She closed her eyes and blew out a short sigh.
Damn him!
They'd been so close. She got up from the bed. She'd wanted him to take her because he wanted to. Because he couldn't resist, couldn't stop himself. But apparently answering the phone had been more important to him. He couldn't want her that much. She went in the bathroom and started running the shower.

“...Sure thing, Jack. I'll see you over there.”

Jack?
Ooh, she could throttle her cousin right now!

Smoke appeared in the doorway, looking apologetic. “Where we were—can we take a rain check on that very moment?” He smiled, but his cockiness wasn't quite on full beam.

She shook her head. “Wherever we were. We're not there anymore.”

“I'm sorry, Laura.” He stepped towards her. “It was Jack's ring tone. I
had
to get it.”

Damn Jack! Throttle him? In this moment, Laura could quite happily castrate him!

Smoke was coming closer, his presence invading her senses. He was smiling, knowing the effect he was having on her.

It seemed she could forgive his gorgeous naked body anything. “I'll forgive you this once.” She raised an eyebrow. “As long as you'll make it up to me, right now.”

He looked pained. “I have to go. I've got to get Papa Charlie ready.”

She wasn't going to be rebuffed twice—once for her cousin, once for a plane. No way. She stepped towards him, smiling now, reaching for his still impressive erection. “Let's deal with this before you go, shall we?” She closed her fingers around him and watched his eyes close as he let out a low moan. “There, see. Work can wait.”

At that his eyes opened and he stepped out of her reach, face set. “No, Laura. Work can't wait.” He grabbed his clothes from the bedroom and stalked out. Laura stared after him, open-mouthed. She heard the deck door slide open and then slam to.

“Well, screw you!” she said.

***

S
moke sat in the cockpit, running through his pre-flight checks. What a disaster this morning had turned into. Laura had been so mad at him. Not as mad as he'd been at Jack. What a sense of timing that guy had! He took a deep, calming breath. Maybe it was for the best? He was breaking all his own rules with Laura. Where would they be now if Jack hadn't interrupted? Hiking yesterday, dinner last night. Sleeping the whole night with her? No. That wasn't what he needed to be doing. It wasn't part of the game. And this morning? That hadn't even been the game. That was honest to goodness want and need. She'd wanted him badly, and he'd needed her. But if they had? What then? There'd be nowhere left to go after that. It'd be game over. He checked the cabin then ran back down the steps and over the tarmac to the FBO. Jack should be here in ten minutes. And perhaps Smoke should be thanking instead of cursing him.