to
one side. He was casually dressed in just a pair of blue jeans and a T shirt,
but she could easily imagine him filling out a finely tailored suit. His biceps
bulged from the sleeves of his shirt, which was stretched taught across his
muscled chest.
Andrea was grateful for the minute she had to compose
herself before the driver came around to open her door. She got over her initial
shock at seeing the gorgeous man her childhood friend had grown into. Damn she
thought, before pushing it from her mind. She realized that beneath the anxiety
she’d been suffering from for the better part of the day, she was actually more
than a little excited to be there.
Jake was one of the only things left from her
childhood, and seeing him again filled her with a sense of belonging. As she
stepped from the limo, he smiled at her. It was the same smile he’d had as a
boy, and she’d seen it a million times. Usually right before he got her into
some kind of trouble. His eyes were the same too, though as he looked her up
and down, she sensed something new in his gaze.
He glanced back up and met her eyes, and knew he’d been
caught giving her the once-over. Instead of blushing, he only smiled wider.
Jake offered her his arm as she approached the porch steps.
“I can’t believe you’re really here,” he said. “It’s
been ages since I’ve seen you.”
Smiling, Andrea took his arm and climbed the steps onto
the porch. Instead of annoyance at being offered assistance for such a simple
task, she was glad for the excuse to touch him. Her body filled with warmth as
she felt the firm muscle beneath her fingers. With some regret, she reached the
porch and had to let him go.
Instantly, the regret vanished as he wrapped her body
in his powerful arms. His muscled torso pressed against her, and she loved the
way he held her tight. It had been ages since she’d felt a proper embrace, even
her boyfriend ( ex-boyfriend , she reminded herself) had hardly touched
her once she began to show. People were always cautious about hurting the baby,
so they tended to keep her at arm’s length, and maybe give her a peck on the
cheek. It was strange how lonely you could feel, even with someone you loved,
without their touch. Despite the uncomfortable situation she was in, and the
desperate circumstances that drove her here, this was the most normal she’d
felt in months.
The embrace eventually came to an end, and Andrea was
suddenly aware of her heart pounding in her chest. God, it feels so good to
be touched , she thought before returning her focus to the man who stood
before her.
“I’m so glad you had time for me to visit.” She forced
herself to say something, to take her mind of the way his body had felt pressed
against her. “You must be so busy these-”
“Actually, most of the day to day oversight has been
delegated out to various department heads.” He interrupted.
“Most days, there’s only a thing or two that needs my
attention. I work from home now, more often than not.”
He smiled at her and gestured to the house. “I’ve been
living out here at my country house all spring, and I’ve hardly seen a soul.
I’ll be glad for the company.”
His head turned slightly, and he looked past her to the
driver. “Peter” he said, “please take the lady’s luggage into the guest room.”
Jake took her by the hand and led her through the open
door. Inside, the house had a beautiful rustic look with exposed beams and a
vaulted ceiling. A large stone fireplace dominated one wall of the living room,
and an array of comfy looking chairs and couches formed a half circle around
it. The dining area was filled by a large table made of dark, gleaming wood. It
was only separated from the kitchen by a high counter, lined with tall stools
on this side. Everything appeared clean and orderly.
He led her through a hall off to the left, and into the
guest suite. The room was largely empty,
one side. He was casually dressed in just a pair of blue jeans and a T shirt,
but she could easily imagine him filling out a finely tailored suit. His biceps
bulged from the sleeves of his shirt, which was stretched taught across his
muscled chest.
Andrea was grateful for the minute she had to compose
herself before the driver came around to open her door. She got over her initial
shock at seeing the gorgeous man her childhood friend had grown into. Damn she
thought, before pushing it from her mind. She realized that beneath the anxiety
she’d been suffering from for the better part of the day, she was actually more
than a little excited to be there.
Jake was one of the only things left from her
childhood, and seeing him again filled her with a sense of belonging. As she
stepped from the limo, he smiled at her. It was the same smile he’d had as a
boy, and she’d seen it a million times. Usually right before he got her into
some kind of trouble. His eyes were the same too, though as he looked her up
and down, she sensed something new in his gaze.
He glanced back up and met her eyes, and knew he’d been
caught giving her the once-over. Instead of blushing, he only smiled wider.
Jake offered her his arm as she approached the porch steps.
“I can’t believe you’re really here,” he said. “It’s
been ages since I’ve seen you.”
Smiling, Andrea took his arm and climbed the steps onto
the porch. Instead of annoyance at being offered assistance for such a simple
task, she was glad for the excuse to touch him. Her body filled with warmth as
she felt the firm muscle beneath her fingers. With some regret, she reached the
porch and had to let him go.
Instantly, the regret vanished as he wrapped her body
in his powerful arms. His muscled torso pressed against her, and she loved the
way he held her tight. It had been ages since she’d felt a proper embrace, even
her boyfriend ( ex-boyfriend , she reminded herself) had hardly touched
her once she began to show. People were always cautious about hurting the baby,
so they tended to keep her at arm’s length, and maybe give her a peck on the
cheek. It was strange how lonely you could feel, even with someone you loved,
without their touch. Despite the uncomfortable situation she was in, and the
desperate circumstances that drove her here, this was the most normal she’d
felt in months.
The embrace eventually came to an end, and Andrea was
suddenly aware of her heart pounding in her chest. God, it feels so good to
be touched , she thought before returning her focus to the man who stood
before her.
“I’m so glad you had time for me to visit.” She forced
herself to say something, to take her mind of the way his body had felt pressed
against her. “You must be so busy these-”
“Actually, most of the day to day oversight has been
delegated out to various department heads.” He interrupted.
“Most days, there’s only a thing or two that needs my
attention. I work from home now, more often than not.”
He smiled at her and gestured to the house. “I’ve been
living out here at my country house all spring, and I’ve hardly seen a soul.
I’ll be glad for the company.”
His head turned slightly, and he looked past her to the
driver. “Peter” he said, “please take the lady’s luggage into the guest room.”
Jake took her by the hand and led her through the open
door. Inside, the house had a beautiful rustic look with exposed beams and a
vaulted ceiling. A large stone fireplace dominated one wall of the living room,
and an array of comfy looking chairs and couches formed a half circle around
it. The dining area was filled by a large table made of dark, gleaming wood. It
was only separated from the kitchen by a high counter, lined with tall stools
on this side. Everything appeared clean and orderly.
He led her through a hall off to the left, and into the
guest suite. The room was largely empty,
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