She fell into a deep slumber, thinking of Reed. When she woke covered in sweat at one in the morning, it wasn’t Luca making her cry out. It was Reed. The dream seemed so real she could smell the scent of his spicy skin and feel the weight of his lean powerful body lying on top of her. His hands had caressed her aching breasts and the stubble on his face tickled her flesh as he took her nipple in his mouth.
Unfortunately, when she opened her eyes, they were her own hands caressing her breasts…not Reed’s. “Damn,” she panted.
Dragging herself to her feet, she stumbled to the kitchen to get a glass of water, wetting her dry throat. JC stared out the window at the block wall, wondering if Reed was thinking of her.
CHAPTER TEN
The sun peeking through the morning haze warmed JC’s face as she sat at the table on the balcony, sipping a hot cup of coffee. Her ponytail rustled in the light breeze and she snuggled tighter into her baby blue fleece bathrobe, enjoying the cool morning air.
A loud thud caught her attention. She glanced over her shoulder to see if a bird flew into the window behind her. There was no injured bird to be seen, but another dull thud echoed on the side of the house. Then another and another. Rising to her feet, JC peered around the corner of the house, listening to another thud.
A smile erupted across her face. Holding perfectly still, she watched Reed as he sat on top of the block wall throwing tennis balls against the side of the house next to a window. He had on athletic shorts and sleeveless sport t-shirt. He tossed another tennis ball at the house and his feet swung back-and-forth dangling over the edge of the wall.
“That’s not my bedroom,” she simmered, nearly causing him to fall of the wall.
“It’s not?” His bright white smile coated with playfulness.
“That’s my brother’s room and if you wake him up, he’s not going to be happy,” she warned with a straight face.
His playfulness faded. “Oh, hell. I thought you were home alone.”
JC burst out laughing. “I’m teasing. I am alone.”
He shook his head. “Jesus, JC. That’s not funny.”
“Yeah it was!” She sauntered toward him. “You look like a naughty little boy.”
“I admit nothing.” He grinned impishly with a shrug. “I came to see if you’d like to go running with me.”
“What makes you think I like to run?”
Clearing his throat, he smirked, glancing at the pool in the background. “You look like you work out.”
Her breath hitched. He was referring to seeing her naked in the pool. Her pulse thumped loudly in her ears. Shaking off any embarrassment, she tightened the belt of her robe and fixed her eyes on his. “Umm hmm.”
“Plus, I saw you run past the house the other morning.”
“Where are you running? Here or at the beach?” JC had been avoiding the beach, so she wouldn’t run into old acquaintances or looming cameras. But there was no way in hell she was going to tell him no. The ghost from her past would no longer haunt her or control her. His blue eyes drew her like a magnet. She wanted to be near him. “Actually, do you have plans for your morning? I know a great place to go hiking. If you’re interested.”
Reed shot her a flirtatious heart-stopping smile. “Oh, I’m interested.”
“I…” Feeling vulnerable, at risk her knees might buckle, she paused and rested her palm against the wall for support. “I’ll drive. Why don’t you come down from there and I’ll go change.”
He hopped down from the wall, gathered up the tennis balls and followed her inside. Taking in the clean lines and modest interior, Reed said, “Nice place.” He moseyed through the living room, softly dragging his hand over the large mantel made from a massive slab of Redwood.
“Thanks. Tom’s had it for years, way before he met my mom.”
He closely inspected the fireplace.
“The fireplace is the only thing they’ve changed since they got together. My mom designed it.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this.” His fingers traced over the wall made from sheets of hammered copper. “That’s a bad-ass fireplace.”
“You’ll have to tell my mom. I would imagine you’ll meet her at some point, seeing how you live right next door now.” She started toward the hall. “I’ll be right out.”
Walking into her bedroom, JC closed the door behind her and collapsed onto the edge of her bed. Holding her hands straight out in front of her, she looked down at her fingers wobbling in midair. “What the heck is wrong with me? Why does he make me so nervous?”
She tumbled fretfully through her drawers, searching for black running shorts and a charcoal gray t-back athletic top. She tried on three different tops as if she were dressing for dinner.