Home Is Where the Heat Is by Amelia James

around her as they made their way back to the road. Stars sparkled like diamonds on a bed of midnight blue velvet.
    JT opened her door. “You go first. I’m gonna keep my eye on you.”
    She smiled and climbed in, handing him his jacket as he leaned down to kiss her. “Follow me.”
    “I intend to.” He winked and walked to his truck.
    She drove downhill, trying to pay attention to the surroundings, but her mind wandered. He’d called her crazy. I need to get away from these perceptive men. But she never would. Being understood turned her on as much as his enduring kisses. She’d learned that from Will and couldn’t wait to study it further with JT.
    Lights and buildings appeared as she rounded a hairpin turn. The café stood in the center of town across the street from a quaint motel. She parked at an angle and got out of her car as JT pulled up beside her.
    “I’m starving.” She inhaled the scent of fried chicken.
    He grinned straight at her. “So am I.”
    She gasped and shoved him back as he laughed. “Wait until after dinner.”
    “Do you really want me to?” His wicked words tickled her ear as he draped his arm around her shoulders and guided her inside.
    Bright yellow light and blue checkered tablecloths decorated the warm dining room. A waitress in a frilly apron nodded them toward a table, and the kitchen doors swung open as the cook pushed his way through. The scent of fresh baked apple pie made Claire’s stomach rumble.
    JT directed her to a table in the corner, far away from the few people in the place, and pulled out a chair for her.
    The smiley waitress strolled over, her gaze lingering on JT as she handed him a menu. “Good evening. Can I get you a drink?”
    JT nodded at Claire, and she held out her hand for a menu. “I’ll have a glass of water with lemon.”
    “I’ll have a Coke.” He flipped through the menu. “What do you recommend?”
    “The special tonight is beer-battered, deep fried chicken with homemade mashed potatoes and gravy.”
    More calories than she’d eat in a week, but Claire couldn’t resist the indulgence. “God, that sounds good. I’ll have that.”
    “Same here.” JT took Claire’s menu and handed them both to the waitress.
    She bobbed off to the kitchen.
    Claire scooted her chair around the table, closer to JT, but with a clear view of the front door. She’d never stopped in this town before—always blew through it on her way to the ski resort. But someone who knew her could easily walk in.
    “All right my beautiful rebel,” he said, sliding close to her, “tell me why you ran.”
    Beautiful. That word meant even more under the café’s glaring light. Her face grew hot, and she glanced down at his fingers tracing circles on her knee. “It’s stupid. I haven’t done it in a long time.”
    “Nothing’s stupid when you’re hurting.”
    His warm blue gaze pierced straight into her soul. Not invasive, not interrogating like Alex, but inviting, enticing her to confess her secret desires, her oldest sins. “Are you always this… penetrating?”
    A delighted smirk twisted his lips, and she caught her mistake. Oh God, why did I choose that word?

 
    Chapter 5
    JT’s laugh drew the attention of every single person in the place—the waitress winked, the cook grinned, and two old geezers at the counter glared at him and shrugged. He fought to contain the smart-assed, sexual come-on, but lost the battle before it even started. “Penetrating? Hell yes, when do we start?”
    Claire slapped her hand over her bright red face. “That’s not what I meant.”
    He drowned his laughter in the icy Coke. “I’m sorry.” But he couldn’t help grinning. “Tell me what I, um, probed.”
    “No. Not if you won’t be serious.” She sat back and jammed a straw into her water glass. “They forgot my lemon.”
    “I’ll get you one.” He waved at the waitress, who nodded, then he turned his attention back to Claire. “I’m serious. You said you started it