“Not at the moment.”
“Good.” He leaned back on his elbows, a grin spreading across his face.
“Good, hmm?” She mimicked his position. Desire fluttered in her belly. She welcomed the change in mood. Although she wanted to know more about him, she didn’t want to pry into his obviously painful past.
“How is it that you managed to stay single?” he asked. “You’re smart and beautiful. Most men would jump at the chance to date you.”
“Well, I—uh, I mean—I date. I get dates.” Flustered by his compliment, she stumbled over her words. “You sure are direct.”
“Almost dying will do that to you.” He flashed a disarming grin before turning serious again. “While I was lying in the hospital I made a decision that would change my entire life. I’d already escaped death, so I vowed to live every day as if it would be my last. Not in a fearful way, but in a celebratory way.”
“Is that why you travel so much?” she asked.
“Absolutely. The day I went back to work, I quit.”
“What kind of job did you have?” she asked.
“Investment banker.”
“You were a banker?” She couldn’t contain her incredulous tone.
“Yep. I spent seven years on Wall Street. I was getting burnt out anyway, but the accident was the final straw. I quit and never looked back.”
“What do you do for work now?” she asked.
“A little of this, a little of that. I don’t really need to work. I was always good at saving money and I still have all of my investments. So now I just work for fun.”
“That sounds amazing. What’s the most interesting job you’ve had?”
“I’ve had some incredible experiences,” he said. “I don’t really know if I can rank them, but the one that really jumps out at me happened last year. I spent October and part of November on a crab boat in the Bering Sea.”
“Oh, like on that TV show?” she asked.
“Yep. I used to watch it and think, eh, it can’t be that hard. Wrong! The deck pitched back and forth in twenty-foot waves making it almost impossible to stand. I had to get my sea legs fast or risk falling overboard.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It’s considered one of the most dangerous jobs in America,” he said.
“And you ran headfirst into it?” she asked.
“I never said I was smart.”
When he winked, liquid heat rushed down to pool in her core. His cocky smile sent her bear into a frenzy of lust. The beast pranced around her chest demanding that she mate with him. Stupid bear. It only ever wanted three things—sex, food, and sleep. Her bear’s obsessive nature would get her into all kinds of trouble if she didn’t rein the beast in.
But could she really blame the creature? Jack’s ab muscles rippled with every breath. A few drops of water still clung to his hair, giving him a wet, carnal appeal. And he wasn’t doing much to hide his interest. If she wanted him, she had no doubt she could have him. But she couldn’t give in to her desire and allow herself to become distracted. If she could just hurry up and design something amazing, then she’d have room to breathe again. But until she produced a clay-constructed miracle, she’d have to keep her paws to herself.
* * *
Jack scooped a spoonful of caramel apple pie into his mouth. Cinnamon, sugar, and the tart crunch of apples danced across his tongue as he chewed in ecstasy. He’d never tasted anything so magical in his life. Rumors about Madison’s inability to cook seemed completely unfounded. Mack and Logan must have been exaggerating when they were joking about her cooking skills.
Across the dining room table, Sasha’s eyes fluttered closed as she enjoyed the same dessert. A drop of apple pie sauce shimmered at the corner of her mouth. He suppressed the urge to hurl himself over the table to lick it off. Maybe later. Even though they’d spent the entire afternoon together, he wanted more time with her. He planned on whisking her away after dinner. She just didn’t know it yet.
“I hope everyone enjoyed dinner,” Madison said. “I have coffee and hot chocolate in the kitchen for anyone who wants it. As always, feel free to grab a snack if you need one. I know we have some very hungry bears here this week.”
“When I’m painting, I have to stop to let the oils dry,” Mary Margaret said. “My bear appreciates the snacks.”
“I’m glad you like them,” Madison said. “There’s more dessert too if anyone wants any.”
“I’ll have more.” Mack hopped up and strolled into the kitchen.
When he returned with a huge piece of pie, Jack’s bear roared. Even though he was stuffed, the beast wanted more. Typical. He never seemed satiated by anything anymore. He’d traveled the globe and had eaten in some of the finest restaurants, but nothing could compare to a good home-cooked meal.