Just a Little White Lie(50)

The smell of her was on him as he opened the kitchen window to the cool morning air. It would get hot later, but right now, it was perfect.

Right now, his world felt pretty damn perfect.

Sunlight flooded the room, and the smell of wisteria drifted in through the open window.

Hot damn!

Lucy, all soft and warm, was right down the hall, tucked up in his bed. What more could any red-blooded male want? But it wasn’t her body that got to him. He grinned. Well, sure it did. But it wasn’t just her body.

And that made him uneasy. He laughed to himself. Uneasy? That was like telling some unsuspecting Northerner that the kudzu vine in his yard might spread out a bit when, in fact, the stuff would have anything that stood still covered inside two weeks.

Lucy had taken far less time than that to wrap herself around him. Inside and out.

The coffeepot gurgled to let him know his life-saving caffeine was ready to inhale. When he opened his cupboard for a mug, he stood there, hanging on the door, studying the mismatched plates, cups and glasses inside. Kind of like him and Lucy, every bit as mismatched.

But good golly, Miss Molly, they sure hadn’t felt mismatched last night. Had he ever connected with anyone like he had Luce? Touching her had been like setting a flare to a keg of dynamite. They’d set off enough sparks the house should have burned to the ground.

His heart rate kicked up at the memory.

He’d wanted to wake her this morning, do it all again, but with everything that had been going on, she was worn to a frazzle. She needed to sleep. So he’d left her there in his bed, dreaming.

He poured himself coffee and, barefoot, carried it out to the back porch. Dew covered the grass, and the early-morning sun shot through the lower branches of the oak on the back of his property.

Up near the top, a bird welcomed the day with his song. Jake sipped his coffee and decided to put his thoughts on hold and simply enjoy the moment. Who knew what today would bring?

He finished his first cup and was debating a second when the door opened. Lucy stepped out onto the porch, all sleepy-eyed and tousled. His shirt slid off one beautiful, bare shoulder. Her long red curls spilled down her back.

The blood in his head rushed to lower regions, and he grinned. “Hey, beautiful. Coffee’s ready if you want some.”

“Yeah, I do. First, though, there’s something we need to talk about.”

Uh-oh. She looked too serious. Way too serious. Jake’s good mood took a nosedive. Hell, she was sorry she’d slept with him. He’d bet a nickel that’s what she was going to say. Well, he didn’t want to hear it. He set his cup down on the small deck table beside him.

For him, last night had been incredible. Better than that. And he didn’t want to hear her say she regretted it.

He wet his lips. “Have some caffeine first, Luce. Bring it out here, sit down with me and enjoy this beautiful morning.”

Not about to be put off, she stepped out onto the deck but shook her head to the offered coffee. “I have to leave, Jake. I need to move out. I can’t stay here with you.”

“Oh, for—” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Is it because of that cretin with the poker up his—”

“No, Jake. This has nothing to do with Donald.”

“Then why are you going?”

“Because it’s time.”

He snorted. “Who are you afraid of, Luce? Me or yourself?”

“Afraid?” She reared back. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

His patience snapped. “Now you’re lying.”

“What?” The look on her face was pure outrage.

He pushed. “You’re lying. To yourself and to me.”

“You are so wrong.” Her voice trembled, just slightly.

“Oh, really?” His temper erupted. “Correct me if I’ve got any of the facts wrong here. Last night, I’m in bed reading, minding my own business. There’s a knock on the door and you saunter in—all but naked.”

Heat flared on her cheeks.

“Now, don’t get me wrong. I had no problem with that or with anything that happened last night. Absolutely none. I’d been dreamin’ about exactly that.” Jake pointed a finger at her. “But then, this morning, after an incredible night of making love, you up and tell me you have to go. Just like that.” He thumped his fist on the railing. “So excuse me all to hell and back if I’m just a little confused here!”

“I’m sorry.” Her back was so straight he thought she might break in two.

And that made him even madder. Where was his head, getting involved with someone like her? Somebody so damn uptight, so beautiful, so everything. But he had. And it was too late now.