Walker's Run (35 page)

He turned his back to the door. “I thought you'd take a little longer in there,” he muttered, glad the towel was hiding his scorching cheeks.

Her musical laugh filled him. “Sorry, just needed to rinse the sand from my hair. I'll, uh…see you in the kitchen?”

He heard her soft giggle as she walked away from the door. Groaning, he leaned over and closed the door before yanking down his pants down, and wondered how he'd be able to face her now.

Changing into a pair of flannel lounge pants and a plain T-shirt, Jaren took a few deep breaths and made his way back to the kitchen.

Rounding the corner, he stopped. Wearing his sweats and tee, she was sitting on the floor with Mac lying across her lap. The dog was nearly twice her size. It warmed his heart to see someone else loving and enjoying Mac as much as he did. The canine's sheer size alone had scared off many potential girlfriends.

Kimra giggled as the dog groaned and laid his head against her shoulder. She looked up. Her eyes met Jaren's.

He watched the corner of her mouth lift and remembered she'd seen slightly more than just his naked ass. Jaren found himself blushing all over again. “You know if Mac sees you again, he's going to come right for you. He hasn't had much attention from women because of his size, so he's enjoying the heck out of this,” he said, sucking up his pride as he entered the kitchen.

She put her arms around Mac and gave him a hug. “I don't mind at all actually. I love dogs.” Nudging the dog, she managed to maneuver him from her lap and stood up. “So, what have you got that's edible?”

Jaren pursed his lips and opened the fridge. “I have lots of fresh fruits and veggies.”

“Don't tell me you're a vegan.” The phrase came out sounding exasperated.

He laughed, peering at her over his shoulder. “Not quite. I like meats but I try to eat lots of fresh stuff every day.”

“I can handle that.” She moved over next to him, looking into the fridge. “The last guy I dated tried to get me into tofu…I just couldn't quite handle it. I had to have my steak.”

He grinned and pulled out a large rib eye and raised a brow.

“Ooh, now that I think I can handle.” Kimra took the steak from him. “What do you feed big boy?”

“I can't afford to feed him rib-eyes, though I do sneak him table food on occasion. For the most part he's on a special diet.”

“I bet he eats a ton.”

“Pretty close.” He pulled out some vegetables and followed her over to the island.

“An indoor grill, I would
kill
for one of these in my kitchen!” she squealed, setting the steak down and looking over the controls.

“I'm guessing you like to cook?”

“It's a hobby.” She unwrapped the steak and eyed the spice rack.

“So what do you do? I noticed the laptop.”

“Oh, I'm a computer systems analyst. Nothing super exciting about that, really. What about you? I bet you have to make close to a fortune to keep him fed.” Glancing at the behemoth sprawled across the floor made her grin.

He laughed. “I'm an architect. I actually designed this house for my father.”

“Really? You build houses for a living?”

Jaren narrowed his eyes. “I design them mostly. But not just homes. I do office buildings and restaurants, too.”

“I bet it's very rewarding work.” She grabbed some spices and began to sprinkle them over the steak.

He tried to keep up the conversation, watching Kimra move around the kitchen, chopping veggies, and working the grill. She moved like a practiced dancer, each movement was as if it had been placed to music.

For the first time in a very long time, he was enjoying spending time with someone other than his dog. She was fascinating.

Turning, she caught him staring at her and smiled. “What?”

He smiled and shrugged. “I was just trying to remember the last time I've enjoyed spending time with someone other than Mac.”

“Been a while?”

“Yeah, a lot longer than I'd thought.”

Kimra turned the veggies out onto a plate and lifted the steak from the grill. “Let's eat.”

Jaren looked over to see Mac sitting up, licking his chops. “No table scraps for you tonight, buddy.” He opened the cabinet, pulled out the bag of dog food, and poured the measured amount into the stainless steel dish.

Mac dropped his head to the bowl without hesitation.

Smiling, Jaren watched Kimra set the plates on the high-rise table and climb into her chair. The lights flickered as another flash of lightening brightened the windows. Before joining her, he reached in a drawer, pulled out two hurricane candles, and carried them to the table.

“For just in case the lights go out,” he said and sat down across from her.

Her lips curved into a smile, but she kept her eyes on her plate instead of looking up, making him wonder what she was thinking. Picking up his knife he sliced a piece of the steak, and then placed the chunk in his mouth.

He had to admit it was the best piece of steak he'd ever had; far better than the hundred dollar or more plates at high priced restaurants from clients to woo him for contracts. And she'd cooked it right in front of him, all the while kidding and joking around.

“Jaren?”

He opened his eyes as he set his utensils down, reached across the table, and took her hands. “Marry me.”

Kimra laughed and squeezed his hand. “A marriage proposal from just one bite? That only makes me want to cook for you all the more; this is far from my best.”

“I can't wait to try more.” Jaren smiled as she winked at him.

“If I'd had more time to plan anything, we'd have dessert too.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, this will be so much better with some wine.” She dropped down from the stool, danced over to the fridge, and pulled out a bottle of wine. “Glasses?”

“Cabinet on the left.” He leaned back in his chair and watched her glide across the floor. Kimra was amazing. The way she moved, smiled, laughed, and giggled all without abandon. So open, free, and just…enjoying life.

She hooked two glasses down from the cabinet and came back over to the table.

He stood, took the bottle and opener from her, and pried out the cork. Tipping the glasses, he poured them both a hearty amount. Kimra set the candles in the center of the table and lit them both.

“Come on, steak, wine, candles…this is probably the best first date I've had in a while,” she said, climbing back onto her stool and lifted her glass.

Jaren laughed as he lifted his. “Yeah, I'd have to say the same. I'm sorry it had to start with my dog tackling you.”

“No, I enjoy life's nuances; it's what makes things interesting after all.” She raised her glass to his. “To life's unexpected qualities and may our lives be full of wonderful surprises.”

He tapped his glass to hers, finding himself unable to take his eyes off her when she took a long swallow of the wine before setting her glass down.

“You're here on vacation, how much longer are you going to be around?” Jaren asked, watching her cut into her steak.

“Twelve more days.” He noticed her smile faltered a moment, and then shone bright again as she looked up at him. “I squandered away two of those days sitting on the beach with my laptop.”

“You don't know anyone around here?”

She shook her head. “Just you and it seems you're visiting as well.”

“Ah, don't let that fool you. I've been around here enough to know the best places to eat and the best views.” He looked down at his plate and sighed. “But hands down the meal you've prepared tonight kicks all those restaurants out of my book.”

She grinned. “I'll cook for you again, I promise.”

Just as they cleared the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher, the lights went out.

A rumble of thunder shook the house. Mac half groaned and whelped in the corner of the kitchen.

Kimra walked back over to the table, picked up one of the candles, and turned toward Mac. “It's all right big guy, we're still here.” She felt him nuzzle her belly as he leaned into her for comfort.

Lightning lit up the windows.

“Well, it looks like my clothes won't be finished in the dryer anytime soon,” she said.

“You can wear my clothes home if you feel the need to go. I can return yours tomorrow,” Jaren said, sounding a little dejected.

She turned and happily looked at him in the candlelight. “I'm in no rush to leave just yet. We're still having a great time.”

The enigmatic smile returned to his face, and she felt her tummy quiver at the sight. She wondered if he realized just what a grin like that could do to an unsuspecting woman. It was powerful.

He picked up the extra candle and their glasses. “Would you like to go in the sun room and watch the lightning dance across the ocean?”

“Now that's a line I'm sure you've not used on another girl.”

He laughed. “No and I probably never will again. So, what do you say?”

She accepted her glass. “What about Mac?”

“He'll sulk. There's no way he's going to come out into the sun room with the storm.” He motioned for her to follow as he led the way to the second floor. The room she followed him into had a breathtaking view of the beach and the water. The front wall was glass.

“Wow…” She smirked and set the candle on a small coffee table in front of a love seat facing the view.

“This is probably my favorite room in the house.” He set the spare candle and his wine glass on the table.

“I could sit here all night,” she whispered as she watched lightning skitter across the waves in the distance.

Jaren motioned for her to have a seat. She noticed his hesitancy. He tried to judge how much distance between them would be appropriate when he sat down. She couldn't hold back her grin.

In order for the night to get any more interesting, it looked like she would have to make the first move, she realized.

“So, what's a woman like you doing in a strange town, on vacation, alone?” he asked after a few moments of silence.

Kimra sat back and sighed. “I needed a break from work. I've had a couple bad relationships over the last few years, and I just needed to get away from everything for a bit. Try to regroup and figure out some things.” She picked up her glass of wine and took a sip.

“So there's no guy at home waiting on you?”

She laughed and shook her head. “Not quite. Aside from a few plants that should be good and wilted on my return, I don't think anyone would even know I'm gone.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

Raising a brow, she turned her attention to him. “What about you? Are you here hiding out from a girlfriend?”

Jaren grinned. “No. I just finished a big job in Seattle and thought Mac and I needed a little downtime. Dad offered this place, and I took him up on it.”

“So you've no one at home missing you right now?”

“Nope, I brought him with me.” He took another swallow of his wine and set it back down.

“How long is your vacation?”

“As long as I want it to be. I have a couple projects ahead of me and one bid to work on, but I'm in no rush. This is the first vacation I've had in years and I intend to enjoy myself until I feel like I've completely relaxed.”

She smiled. “I wish I could say the same. Though I can do some of my work remotely, I don't have to be onsite. I really don't have room to extend my vacation unless I have to.”

“Then you'll just have to make the most of it.” Jaren leaned back and looked into her eyes.

“That's my intention anyway.” She ran her fingertips over the back of his hand, feeling him flinch at her touch.

Kimra felt her heartbeat speed up. She'd never been the aggressor before. With everything that had happened in her life, she knew just how short life was. Recently she'd made a vow to herself not to pass up any opportunities as they came along.

It had been a surprisingly wonderful evening. This was just putting the cherry on top. Leaning toward him, lightning flashed again, illuminating the room and his face as her eyes settled on his lips. His tongue darted out, moistening them. Unable to resist a smile she looked back in his eyes again.

“Are you nervous?” she asked, trying to hold back a laugh.

“I am.”

She smirked and raised a brow. “This is hardly the time for you to be nervous.” Closing the last few inches, her lips brushed against his. Though his response at first was hesitant, it didn't take but a moment to recover. His tongue glided against hers. She moaned into his mouth and slid her hands up his chest.

He was a far better kisser than she'd anticipated. His lips were full and soft…her mind whirled as she felt his arms encircle her, pulling her closer.

What am I doing?
Logic tried to prevail and she tramped it down as hard as she could.

It had never done anything but turn her into a workaholic. Just once in her life she wanted to let go and know what it felt like to be carefree.

Curling her fingers into his hair, she pressed her body closer

“Kimra,” he whispered, pulling back from her.

“Shh…” She touched her fingers to his mouth. “Don't ruin this with talk. Not now.”

“But I—”

Placing her mouth against his, she effectively silenced him and heard his soft groan as her tongue danced between his lips. Kimra had learned in just a few short hours that Jaren was a thinker, a planner, and a talker. Right now, she didn't want to do any of those things. She just wanted to feel. Just one night to forget all the stress and everything she'd have to deal with when she returned home.

Her hands slipped under his shirt, up his bare chest, lifting his shirt. The muscles she'd only briefly glimpsed when she'd seen him changing felt far more defined than she'd assumed. He raised his arms and pulled the material over his head, and she dropped her mouth to his chest, nibbling the warm, exposed flesh there.

His fingers brushed through her hair, and he titled her face to his again. She was lost in the sensation of him.

Heat flooded her core as his hands slipped under the edge of her shirt, his fingertips barely brushing against her belly and around her side.

Raising her arms, he removed her shirt. She closed her eyes when his warm arms pulled her to him. Kimra shivered as her hardened nipples brushed against his chest, and goose bumps rose on her skin while he ran his fingertips up her spine.