How much longer will he be here anyway? A few days? Maybe a week tops? I can handle that. Fed up with tossing and turning in bed, Charlie tossed off the covers and headed downstairs for a snack. At this time of night everyone would be in bed so she didn't bother with a robe, besides it wasn't like her boxer shorts and tank top didn't cover everything.
A battery-powered lantern on the kitchen table provided the only light in the room. Though the generator gave the house power, they'd limited its use to the appliances to conserve gas. If they ran out of gas and the generators died, they'd lose her mom's cooking, something no one wanted to do without.
Charlie finished making a sandwich and was about to cover the peanut butter jar when she heard someone enter the kitchen.#p#分页标题#e#
“I'm not the only one up.” Jake's voice sent a tingle down her spine. Dressed in a white sleeveless t-shirt and sweatpants, he looked devilishly handsome.
At first she stood there staring at him, her mouth dry and her pulse quickening. Finally after what seemed like an eternity she pulled her eyes away from him. “Just making a snack. Want one?”
“I'll never turn down food.”
She could feel his eyes on her as she started making another sandwich. Though she didn't usually think much about her appearance and what men thought of her, she couldn't help wonder how Jake saw her. If his kiss was anything to go by, he liked what he saw. “Strawberry or grape jam?” she asked holding up the jars.
“Surprise me,” he answered dropping into a spindle-backed chair.
Charlie spread a thin layer of her mom's homemade strawberry jam on Jake's sandwich then added a handful of chips to both plates before carrying them over to the table. “Enjoy.” She placed one plate in front of Jake before sitting in the chair next to him.
For several minutes they ate in silence, but she sensed every move he made. Her body seemed to be on high alert just waiting for the moment when his arm would brush against hers or his knee would bump against her leg.
“Couldn't sleep?” Charlie asked, looking for a way to distract herself from the fact she wanted to pull the sandwich from his hands and kiss him.
Jake shook his head no. “Too much on my mind.”
Had he been lying in bed thinking about their kiss too? Did he want to repeat it as much as she did or had he already forgotten about it? Did recovery issues occupy his thoughts instead?
“Same here,” she said even though he hadn't asked why she was up.
Pushing back her chair, she was about to ask him if he wanted anything to drink when he reached for her hand. The slight touch sent her heart racing and she swallowed down the nervous laugh she felt rising in her throat.
“About this afternoon,” Jake said interlacing their fingers.
The simple action had Charlie's insides quivering. Please don't apologize. She'd be mortified if he did that.
Jake didn't say anything else however. Instead his gaze traveled over her face and searched her eyes for a few heartbeats before leaning toward her and picking up right where they'd left off at the hospital.
The feel of his lips against hers was even better than the memory and at his gentle prodding she parted her lips to give him entry. As their tongues met, she wrapped her arms around his neck letting herself get swept away by the unfamiliar emotions his simple kiss awakened.
Gently she felt him work her hair free of its bun and his hands dug themselves into her hair anchoring her to him as he teased her tongue with his. Then without warning she felt his hands drop to her waist and she willingly went when he tugged her onto his lap.
Charlie allowed herself to fall under the spell of his kiss for a few seconds before pulling back. The minute her lips left Jake's she regretted her decision though. Yet she didn't try to kiss him again. Instead she analyzed and waited. The smoldering flame she saw in his eyes told her Jake was affected just as much by their kiss as she was. Briefly, she wondered if she mirrored his look.
“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Jake traced a finger up and down her arm leaving a trail of goose bumps on her bare skin.
“Not sure. I thought I'd see who needed help in the morning.”
As he let his hand roam over her shoulder, he seemed to focus on the pulse in her neck and Charlie wondered if he could see how rapid it beat.
“I'm driving to Boston to meet with the Governor for lunch. Come with me. Afterward we can get dinner.”
Was he asking her on a date? It sounded like it. She hadn't been on a date in months and it would provide a nice break from the work she'd been doing since the storm.
“Won't Governor Wentworth mind? If he wants to meet with you, it must be important.”