Life in a Rut, Love not Included (Love Not Included series Book 1) (17 page)

“You are lucky,” he tells me. “The things I had planned for you were not very appropriate in an office, especially with clients outside the door.”

I need to get a hold of my jaw because it just seems to drop down on its own lately.

Jack laughs and brings his hand up to graze my cheek. “I’ll let you get back to work. Although you do inspire me to have the quickest meetings I’ve ever had so I can be done with this day and finish this other . . . private matter.”

Nope, I’m not talking yet. Still staring and gaping.

Jack just smiles, brushes a kiss to my lips, and turns to leave. I hear the door open and shut, but cannot say that I am aware of anyone leaving. I am too busy staring. And gaping. Still.

I
ACTUALLY DIDN’T SEE
much of Jack the rest of the day. His meetings turned into a bigger commotion than I assume he planned on. Clients were in and out with prospective work proposals and negotiations all day.

I can’t say I didn’t miss the feel of Jack’s hands all over my body, but the absence did allow me to focus and get a solid start on the restaurant project. The plans were unreal. I couldn’t grasp why Jack had been stalling on all these projects. Each one I picked up was already pretty complete, with exception to the marketing plan and layout of advertising and the boost to get it to sell.

The restaurant plan was a no-brainer. I looked at the design Jack had put together. The restructure of the restaurant would offer the owner more seating and push back the kitchen, which would more room for the dining area. The floor structure gave easier access for staff to rotate and an open view of the street activity. The location was set in a popular place in the city but the outside of the building killed the business. The old building lacked in ventilation and the old beams and structure restricted space for tables and expanded seating. The project was completed up till the outside signage structure and the design of the marketing plan. Everything Jack had already created was to the tee, the same input I would have offered. It was incredible. The only thing the plans were missing was the outside appeal to fellow foodies.

The clock dings five o’clock when I finally lift my nose out of my drawings. I look back at what I completed and am very impressed. The accomplishment feels so good. I missed this stuff. I missed the drive and the satisfaction of being good at something. I missed watching my work turn into real life building signs, or product logos. Walking into a clothing store and seeing the display put together, knowing that it was once just a drawing on a piece of paper originating from my mind.

At that moment, Jack enters his office. He looks exhausted. He walks my way and takes a seat, or more like flops into the chair next to me.

“You look exhausted,” I say, focusing on his tired expression.

“Have dinner with me.”

“What?”

“I said have dinner with me.”

“Are you asking me or telling me?” I ask in an attempt to be witty and cute.

Jack laughs. “Well I’m asking of course. I do have manners. I got a call from Mayor Frazier today and he wants to sit down over dinner and look over the final plans. I want you to be there. This wouldn’t have been completed if it wasn’t for you.”

Holy . . . I get to meet the mayor!

“Well I’m not sure,” I tell him. “I feel like it’s not really my place. Don’t you think you should just go? I mean, I don’t want to intrude.”

“Sarah—” He says my name while grabbing my hands. He pulls me over to him and sits me down to straddle his lap. “You will not be intruding. You will save me from a boring dinner, as well as show off your talent. I won’t take no for an answer.”

A jolt of excitement flows through me. I smile and lean in to brush a kiss against Jack’s lips. I lift my head. “Fine, you have yourself a dinner date.”

Jack doesn’t miss a beat. He grabs the back of my neck to guide my head to his face for another kiss.

We finally break apart, both a bit winded, and Jack speaks. “You are going to be the death of me.”

“You’re telling me . . .”

H
AND IN HAND, JACK
leads me through the glass doors of the swanky steakhouse. A bit nervous to be at a sit-down dinner with the mayor, I decide to make an exception and dig through my burn-at-first-chance pile of ex-Hamilton work attire for something to wear. I decide on an exquisite silk blouse and grey pencil skirt, complementing it with my favorite charcoal blazer. Since an outfit is not complete without its shoe pairings, I choose my best black Jimmy Choos. Jack seems to have the same idea and is dressed in a charcoal button-up shirt and a black blazer. He wears jeans still, but the way they snuggle his backside, I’m not sure it matters what he wears. No one will be looking at anything else.

Before reaching the hostess stand, Jack leans down and brushes a kiss on my cheek. “You look exquisite.”

I thought so myself!

“Thank you, so do you. Those jeans—”

The hostess takes that instant to rudely interrupt our moment. Eyeing Jack like a hungry wild panther, she takes our names. “Oh yes, Mr. Calloway. The mayor is waiting for you in the private dining room. Please let me take you back.” She finishes and gives him the ‘I’m single and very available’ look and turns to guide us back through the restaurant. Seriously?! What is wrong with people? I don’t want to have to admit that I am kind of jealous right now, because that would be silly. I mean she is just a hostess, and if I noted, Jack doesn’t seem fazed by her. But still. Note to self: Put a ‘taken’ sign on Jack’s forehead.

Not that he is taken. I mean. Is he taken?

Dinner turned out to be fantastic! Who would have thought the mayor was so laid back and comical? We sat quietly while listening to his stories, most likely in an attempt to sell us on some of his future campaigns. The whole time, Jack held my hand, periodically brushing his thumb over the inside of my wrist. I’m glad I didn’t overdo it on the blush tonight because I’m sure my cheeks were naturally flushed the whole time. Dessert came, and of course the female waitress practically sat her boobs in Jack’s face while setting his plate in front of him. Jack didn’t seem to notice.

“ . . . Sarah, I can’t express enough, these ideas are magnificent. If I was the only member on the council I would approve this immediately,” the mayor praises while looking over the portfolio I put together.

“Thank you,” I say. “I hope it gets approved. It would be a great accomplishment to offer a community such a beautiful park.”

“I must agree with you, Ms. Sullivan. I know Jack’s work and that’s why I chose him for the project. May I ask where you mysteriously came from? What’s your background?”

I know before the end of that sentence is pulled from his mouth where it is going. I tense up instantly. Jack catches it and under the table he squeezes my hand.

“I spent a few years working as a Marketing Director for Hamilton Corp in downtown Chicago. After seven years, I felt my time there was up and I needed to expand my wings and see what else was out there for me. That’s when I met Jack, and he offered me this opportunity.”

“Wow, Hamilton Corp. That’s impressive. I just had lunch with Hamilton’s son yesterday. That Steve Hamilton. He has an impressive background as well. Are you familiar with him?”

Insert nausea now.

Was I familiar . . .

“Yes, I’ve worked on a few projects with Steve.” I can’t really say more without negative feelings spreading across my face. I start to chew on the inside of my cheek to hold back any emotion.

I’m sure Jack notices too.

Dinner wraps up shortly after that and we are exiting the restaurant. “Thank you again, Sarah. I hope you will stick around longer and continue to make your mark on our town and city projects.”

“Thank you, mayor, that’s very kind of you,” I say in return with a bit of blush rising in my face.

“You keep that Calloway fellow in check now. He’s a good boy. His father and I go way back. Fine talent that family produces.”

At this, I glance at Jack who is now looking embarrassed. “I will do my best,” I say.

We say our good-byes and part ways.

Jack helps me into the truck. Instead of shutting the door, he grabs my legs and pivots my body so my feet are now dangling outside.

“Are you OK?” he asks with a hint of concern in his tone.

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“I mean, are you OK from what he brought up in there?”

“Sure, it’s no big deal. His company is well known around here. I can’t avoid hearing of it, or of him.”

Jack’s smile is a mile wide. “You were wonderful in there. The more time I spend with you, the more I see just how amazing you are. I feel the need to take you home and lock you away so I don’t have to share you with anyone.”

I think I just mentally fainted.

“I didn’t pin you for a kidnapper, Jack.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised at the things I would do, if it meant keeping you in arm’s reach.”

Here we go again with the fainting. If I could have left my body at this moment, it would be smack on the floor unconscious.

“I know you have a busy day of work tomorrow and a very demanding boss. How about if I promise to put in a good word, you come back to my place and we can celebrate your victory?”

We can celebrate right here if you undress me quickly enough.

“That would be great,” I simply say.

I
MAKE IT THROUGH
the threshold of Jack’s house. I hear the door shut, then quick steps behind me. I feel his hand wrap around my waist and spin me into his chest. He slams his mouth so fast onto mine that my breath escapes me. The heat from both our bodies is colliding and I can tell just how badly Jack wants to celebrate. I’m not sure if it is coming from him or myself, but I hear tearing and ripping as we both frantically scratch at either’s clothes in an effort to get them off. I latch onto Jack’s shirt and pull it up, revealing his tanned rock-hard abs. I fiddle with the buttons but can’t stop shaking long enough to get one open. Jack on the other hand is winning the race. He grabs at my shirt and rips the front open, busting three buttons right off, and then he lifts my arms to throw it over my head. I am so turned on at this moment; I can climax simply by looking at the face and body in front of me.

“You drive me completely mad,” he says, his voice hoarse with hunger. You wouldn’t even know he just ate a full four-course meal.

I give up on his shirt and start for the buttons on his jeans. Those seem a bit easier since I just pull and tear them open. This is insane. We are like two crazed animals fighting to get to the naked touch faster.

He grabs my mouth and sends it crashing again into his. When I am secure around his mouth he uses his hands to lift up my butt and wrap my legs around his waist. Without breaking our kiss, he walks forward, down the hall and to the bedroom.

He stops at the end of the bed and not so gently tosses me onto it. I land on my back with my hair spilling around my head. I look up to meet Jack’s hungry stare.

He looks so predaceous at this point, there is no way I’m getting out of this alive. As in, without being tamed to death by hot Jack sex.

He climbs onto the bed and presses his body on top of mine. He makes contact with me and dips his head to press his lips aggressively to mine.