One Breathless Night

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I’m starting to get worried

It probably made him a horrible person, but instead of feeling guilty, he was glad. He swiped through until he found the last three texts. But the first of those was all he needed:

I’m with Payton and he’s letting me stay at his place

He turned off the phone. Moved a whole quarter of an inch forward, trying to save not only their place without disturbing Jenna, but also gain some distance from the man behind them. Nothing was shady about the guy, but he got inside their personal space bubble. And as soon as Rick could, he moved his wallet to a safer inside pocket.

But all that was nothing, really. He looked over at Jenna. She was texting so he couldn’t see her expression. Couldn’t read her through her heavy woolen coat. Was she telling Payton to go to hell? Accepting his apologies?

When she did meet his gaze again, she’d put her phone back in her purse and donned her gloves. “We’ve hardly moved. At this rate, we’ll still be in line next New Year’s Eve.”

She seemed fine. Subdued, but fine.

“We could take our chances with Uber.” He’d used the services of the app-generated taxi service before, but not on a major holiday.

“That’s true. I imagine we’d find a ride sooner that way. But I don’t know. I think we should walk.”

He laughed out loud, evidently annoying Mr. Oblivious behind them. Rick didn’t care. What he should do was tell the inconsiderate bastard to just move. But first he said, “You’re joking, right? The apartment isn’t around the corner. It would be a challenge in the middle of spring, and, if you haven’t realized, it’s snowing.”

Jenna shook her head. “What kind of a weather chaser are you? So it’s cold out. We’ll walk fast.”

The man behind him snorted.

Rick tensed and turned on the guy, ready to teach him a thing or two about manners. But the guy was completely absorbed by something on his tablet, and not paying any attention to Rick or Jenna.

Stepping to the side to regain his equilibrium, Rick wasn’t sure if he should laugh his ass off or find a therapist. Normally, it took a hell of a lot more than inconsiderate line movers to make him Hulk out. Perhaps he wasn’t quite as Zen about Faith’s midnight kiss as he’d thought.

Turning to Jenna, it also occurred to him that her impulse to walk to the financial district wasn’t such a crazy idea. They both had a lot to process and he knew of no better way to unclutter his mind. “Okay. Let’s go for it,” he said. “We can always defrost when we get to the apartment.”

Her expression changed from that self-contained cool to ready, willing and able. She started walking as fast as those stupidly high shoes would let her. And that was pretty darn fast. It actually took him a few seconds to catch up to her. When he did, she turned on him so sharply he nearly ran in to her.

She grabbed his lapels and yanked him even closer. “Whose stupid idea was this? It’s freezing out here. We’ll never make it to the corner, let alone your fancy-ass apartment.”

He laughed, and then kissed her very cold lips. But that was just a peck while he unbuttoned his coat all the way down. The second the last button was undone, he pulled her against his body. Then he closed the coat, making them a warm cocoon. “Better?”

“Oh, yes,” she mumbled against his collar. “How are you going to call Uber?” Adjusting her head so she wasn’t smothering herself, she said, “Keep in mind, I’m not letting you go.”

Unable to resist, he bent and maneuvered them a small but crucial distance. One that changed a gentle forehead kiss into a fiery, no-holds-barred stunner of a kiss.

Everything disappeared. The street, the cold, the whistles and the horns. There was just Jenna with her death grip on his tux, meeting his tongue thrusts with her parries until they were both dizzy with lust.

And then...

“You want to carry that inside, fella? This is a public street you’re on.”

He only opened one eye, just in case the voice was in his head. But no. It was one of Boston’s finest.

He hated moving her away, but there was nothing to be done but to call Uber and freeze as they waited for their ride.

5 (#ulink_ac1ba984-b876-5666-907d-ff8f0faf72ce)

“YOU’RE NOT GOING to believe this apartment,” Rick said. “Describing it as state-of-the-art doesn’t begin to cover it. Maybe in four or five years the technology will be commonplace. At this point it’s still a prototype.”

“How did you get so lucky?” she asked, sliding closer to him as the Uber taxi, a very clean town car, took a turn. “Every room in the city must be booked tonight.”

“I’m testing it out for my friend Sam, who designed it. We went to MIT together.”

“Does Sam live there?”

Rick shook his head. “But I meant it when I said you’d be fine. The second bedroom is huge and it’s got an en suite that, well, you’ll have to experience for yourself.”

“Oh,” she said, scooting a few inches back to her side. “So it’s definite, then. You’d prefer I take the second bedroom?”

“I want you to be comfortable,” he said. “Whatever you choose.”

Now that was part of the problem, wasn’t it? Jenna had no idea what she wanted. Every time she thought about Payton the hurt hit her full-force. And then here was Rick, being so wonderful, his pretty eyes making all sorts of promises she didn’t doubt he’d keep.

If she wanted him to.

They hadn’t waited ten minutes before their cab arrived, and now they were on their way to Boston’s financial district, where this magical apartment was located. She could hardly believe she’d agreed to go with him. The idea of running off with a strange man when no one knew where she’d be was about three floors higher than insane. Speaking of... “I hope you won’t take this the wrong way, but I’m going to text my friend Ally as to our destination.”

Even that would be tricky. Ally was her closest friend but Jenna wasn’t anxious to explain the circumstances. Of course Ally would find out sooner or later. Unless things somehow worked out with Payton.

The thought stopped her. This wasn’t the first time she’d considered the possibility, but his text messages hadn’t helped. In fact, she wasn’t considering anything, really. Not even the enormous risk she was taking by going to the apartment with Rick.

She realized he was staring at her and she pulled out her phone to find another text from Payton, a voice mail, as well. Both time-stamped between now and the last time she’d checked at the hotel. Was she making a huge mistake? Payton might deserve a chance for forgiveness even if she couldn’t see it now. He’d never given her any indication that he was a cheater.

Well, of course he hadn’t. That’s why tonight had been such a shock. But that he had the potential for doing something so hurtful wasn’t easily forgotten. Trust had been shattered, and entering into a marriage with a man she couldn’t trust was unthinkable. If she stayed the night with Rick, Payton might not be the only one who needed forgiveness. Was that something she wanted?”

“What’s wrong?” Rick asked, and she warmed at his concern.

“I’m getting sober.”

“We’re not far from the apartment. There’s a great bottle of champagne in the fridge, plus a very well-stocked bar. In fact, I know I saw Kahlúa on the shelf, vodka in the freezer and cream in the fridge.”

“That’s oddly specific.”

He grinned. “There are also cocktail onions, green olives, limes, lemons, Tabasco, celery and God knows what else. Everything the modern alcoholic needs at his fingertips.”

“Good to know. But I’m also feeling pretty sure that while I have no desire to see Payton right now or go back to my place, I’m going to have to talk to him at some point.”

Rick shifted a bit on the seat, giving her some room. It was dark and snowing outside their taxi, and she wished she had more than her cell phone, twenty dollars and a credit card on her. Like a toothbrush, some panties and makeup remover wouldn’t have been unwelcome.

“We can turn this taxi around,” Rick said, his voice soft enough she doubted the cabbie heard him. “Take you where you’d feel safer. It’s fine. I’d understand.”

“It’s coming down pretty hard,” she said, as the options played slowly in her head. Try to make it back to her place in Scituate? It wasn’t too far, a twenty-five-minute drive if the weather was good and it wasn’t rush hour. But with this snow? She was used to rough weather, she’d lived in Massachusetts all her life, and yet this snow felt colder. She could only see Rick’s face when the light posts hit the window at a certain angle. She read Payton’s last text.

I don’t understand why you’re not replying. I’ve apologized in every way possible. Honestly, it was nothing. A whim. A poor decision. Yet I don’t know where you are, who you’re with, what you’re doing. For God’s sake, Jenna, stop being ridiculous. Look, I don’t blame you for being angry. But enough is enough.

Ridiculous.

Why was it every time she wasn’t ready to throw in the towel over an argument, her behavior was ridiculous. When he did the same thing, he’d chalk it up to his stubborn streak, the one that worked like a charm while buying cars or engagement rings.

The burn in her veins was very welcome. It made every decision from here on out easier.

“Tell you what,” Rick said, surprising her. “Once we’re inside, I’ll pour us each a large glass of water accompanied by two aspirins. Maybe by candlelight, haven’t decided yet. Then we’ll reevaluate our options.”

“And what about the storm?”

Rick’s arm went around her shoulders. It was illogical to think he could instantly make her warmer, given the car’s excellent heating and her heavy coat. But it happened nonetheless.

“Right. Yes. The storm. Which I know quite a bit about. So, no, if we don’t zip you home now, it’s going to be difficult to get anywhere for the next few days.”

He kept his expression neutral. Mostly.