Page 8 of Blue Collar Billionaire
After their entrées, the waitress delivered Sheen’s signature dessert, a peach mirage torte with chocolate crumbles and a dollop of Chantilly cream, with two spoons. Between the champagne and watching Jack lick the sweet treat from the corner of his mouth, Lexi was definitely rethinking the concept of a fake date. She didn’t need a boyfriend, but she could absolutely be up for a good-night kiss.
“Should we get out of here?” she asked.
Jack regarded her for a moment, and Lexi held her breath. It felt like he understood what she was asking and was totally on board. “Yes.” He signaled for their waitress. “I’ll pay the check.”
The drive home was a test in patience, but she occupied herself by peppering Jack with questions. “Where do your sisters live?”
“Two are still in San Antonio. The youngest, Angie, lives in Royal now. She’s going through a divorce right now, and I thought I’d give her a new start and a job.”
Lexi reached over and touched his forearm. “That’s so sweet.” Honestly, he was one of the most thoughtful men she’d ever met.
When they arrived back at her place and Jack put his car in Park, she wasn’t quite sure what to say. “Thank you for a lovely night.”
He smiled and snapped his keys up in his hand. “It was a ton of fun. I’ll walk you to the door.”
Of course, she’d never say no. “That would be great.”
With his hand at her back, he escorted her up the walk. Every step closer made Lexi’s heart beat a little faster. “May I kiss you, Lexi?” he asked when they arrived.
She turned and gazed up at him in the soft light of the wrought-iron carriage lamp next to her front door. And while she positively ached to feel his lips on hers, she was also incredibly nervous about what might happen if they actually kissed. She didn’t trust herself to not get involved, especially with a man as appealing as Jack. “We’re still pretending this is a date, right?”
He turned away for a moment, looking out over the family compound. She’d once thought of this as home, but it was her parents’ place now. The lights in her father’s study were on, and Lexi knew from experience that her dad had an excellent view of her front door from there. She hoped to hell there weren’t any prying eyes on them.
Jack turned back and reached for her hand. “The night started that way, but I felt like things changed over the course of the meal. Toasting with champagne. Talking about family...”
Lexi’s heart seized up in her chest. He was right. She’d felt it, too. Somethinghadshifted. In her case, she felt a little less vulnerable. A little braver. Her eyes drifted over his chest, her brain full of questions about what it might feel like to be in his arms. Before she knew what she was doing, her hands were on Jack’s rock-hard biceps, so large that her fingers hardly went halfway around them. She scanned his handsome face, expecting shock, but a satisfied grin crossed his lips.
“I can’t date anyone, Jack. I just can’t do it. I’m not ready.” It was her only condition. “But something tells me I’d be an idiot to turn down a kiss.”
His smile broadened, and once again he flashed his dimples. Then, ever so slowly, he made his approach. He leaned down while Lexi craned her neck and raised herself up on her tiptoes, holding on to his strong arms. Time seemed to move at a snail’s pace as his lips came closer and the sweet anticipation of what was to come made her heart flutter uncontrollably. His mouth met hers, soft at first, and she became putty in his hands. He seemed to sense her weakening, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against him. Lexi wanted to take things slow but that kiss was too damn good, and she tilted her head to one side and parted her lips, teasing his tongue with hers. His mouth was warm and perfect.
Meanwhile, her inner dialogue was a race of competing thoughts.He’s amazing. He has a million muscles. I wonder what he looks like under that jacket. Stop it, Lexi. Stop it.She had no business getting involved. Shehadto stick to her plan. At least for a little while longer...
Lexi pulled back, breathless. Her eyes wildly scanned his face.
“For not a real date, that was one hell of a kiss.” His eyes had changed. They were dark and full of desire, stoking the fire inside her. He wanted her. She could have him if she wanted.
“I’m sorry. I guess I got carried away. I do that.” So much for the promises she’d made to herself.
Jack reached up and tenderly brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “I like the idea of you letting loose, Lexi. Something tells me you need to do that. Maybe get a few things out of your system.”
Was he right about that, too? If so, something told her that Jack might be the perfect guy to help her straighten things out. She decided then and there to keep Jack in her orbit but take things slow. She wouldn’t entertain a single thought of anything serious. “You’re probably right about that. Maybe we can see each other again?”
He nodded and kissed her cheek, sending another wave of warmth through her. “Absolutely. You know how to reach me. Good night.”
Lexi watched as Jack strolled down the sidewalk to his car and climbed inside. The ball was officially in her court. She might be terrified to lob it back, but something told her she’d be a fool to not find some excuse to see Jack Bowden again.
Three
Lexi woke to the sound of her doorbell ringing. She rolled over and pried one eye open to catch sight of the time. “Who in the world is at my door before seven on a Saturday?” For a split second, she wondered if it might be Jack. Her heart did a little flip just thinking about that kiss last night. The memory of it was still reverberating in her body. The man was not only an excellent kisser, he was adifferentkisser. The painful truth of Lexi’s life was that she’d only kissed two men—Brett and Roger. Neither had ever taken control like that, leaving her with little doubt that she was actually worth kissing.
The bell chimed again, and she remembered that Jack only had the temporary passcode to her family’s security gate, and she never knew when it would change. Her dad insisted that only family should be given the permanent one. As Lexi’s parents got older, she appreciated the security the gate provided, but she didn’t like the way it made her feel like a princess locked up in a tower, or in her case, in a corner of an exclusive Texas neighborhood. But because of the passcode, it might not be Jack.
Lexi tossed back the covers and beelined for the door. She opened it and saw her sister, Bianca, staring at her phone, designer handbag looped on one arm, sucking on a bottle of green juice through a straw. Bianca was dressed for a workout, wearing dark purple leggings and a black tank that showed off her toned shoulders. Her sister was two years younger than Lexi, happily married to Kevin, a day trader, and they had two beautiful children together. In so many ways, Bianca had everything Lexi had ever wanted. Lexi did her best to not be jealous, but it still creeped in every now and then.
“Took you long enough to answer,” Bianca said, breezing past Lexi into the house.
“Please. Come in,” Lexi said with all the sarcasm the invitation warranted. Her sister treated the guesthouse like it was hers, even when Lexi was the occupant.
