Page 29 of Making Over Maris

Her face fell when he pulled away but then he toed off his shoes—thank God he was wearing loafers—and found her foot again. Stroked it.

She shuddered. Nearly spilled her wine.

“Like this?” He could only manage a whisper. And even then his voice was guttural, harsh.

“Yes. Like that.”

He let his toe traverse the length of her foot, imagining it was his tongue, his lips. God, how he wanted to suck her toes. Then he let his foot climb higher, up her calf and then, when he thought he’d gone too far, back down.

She sighed. Their gazes tangled. He stroked her again. He longed to go up farther, to her knees, to her thighs, between them maybe, but he didn’t dare.

This was enough. Wasn’t it? Enough for now anyway. He reminded himself that he had to take it slow. Be patient.

But damn, it was hard.

In fact, lots of things were hard.

The moment shattered when the waiter burst in on them with dessert menus. Sara didn’t want dessert but she ordered some—tiramisu, with espresso—because she didn’t want this date to end, not yet. It had become far too interesting.

Jack’s attention was completely, utterly and incontrovertibly on her. He wasn’t thinking about Jenny at all. She was fairly certain of that.

Jack ordered nothing for dessert, patting his belly and murmuring something about watching his carbs.

His roving foot had stilled while the waiter took her order. It rested there, warm against hers, and big. Sara quivered. She was stunned at the reaction she’d felt to his touch. Or…maybe not.

She’d been thinking about him all afternoon.

It was weird, thinking about Jack in that way. She’d known him for so long and he’d always been her incredibly smart, slightly dopey friend. But he seemed so different now. He was so different now. And it wasn’t only his appearance.

He acted differently. And it was…kinda hot.

The expressions on his face were steamy and sultry—although they could always have been like that; she’d simply never been able to see them before through all the fur. He listened to her. He fixed his attention on her as though he was totally into her.

And that was a fucking balm to her ego. Something she needed like she needed air.

That scene with Todd—and his subsequent desertion—had destroyed her confidence. Destroyed a piece of herself.

But being here like this, with Jack, swept all that heartache away like a tsunami. He made her feel special. Beautiful. Important. He needed her help, wanted her in his life, which was wonderful.

Also wonderful? The heat curling at her core as he teased her beneath the table.

What a surprise that had been.

Never in a million years would she ever have visualized herself taking Jack home for a ride on the Sara Express. Never. In a million years.

How bizarre that she was contemplating it now. And actually drooling a bit.

Yeah, it was a shocking realization, but she wanted Jack Maris.

Sure, the guy had the hots for Jenny, but Jenny had a boyfriend. And a girlfriend. Maybe even a tribe. She didn’t need Jack too.

Would it be so wrong to turn his head? To seduce him?

She was a big girl. She knew what she was getting into. She knew it wouldn’t be a relationship. A one-night stand. Maybe two.

She’d think of it as training. Training for Jack.

And fun for her.