twenty-four hours ago, and now he was clean shaven and clear eyed and ingratiating himself with her father.
He licked his lower lip, his fingers still tracing patterns on her skin. “I was in the neighborhood? Not that’s a lie. I did want to tell you I got a new cell phone and called my sister. I also listened to all my messages. Good thing, because the photographer decided to change his schedule on me.”
“Photographer? More publicity shots?” She wished he would stop touching her. Wished she could take a step back and break the spell.
“Fashion photographer.” He quirked his lips as he said the words, his finger hooking around one thin strap on her shoulder and dragging it down. “They think my buckle can sell some jeans. I agreed to it months ago. Standing for pictures seemed easier than acting like I’m someone else, so I turned down the movie and took the clothing line.”
He’d been offered a role in a movie? She sighed. Of course he had. “That’s…that’s nice, Jefferson. It doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
She watched his eyes drop to her breasts, knew her hard nipples were pressing against the thin lemon fabric, revealing her arousal. “I’m here because you’re here, Caroline. The shoot is in a few hours and I want you there with me. For moral support. When it’s done, I’ll follow you home.”
Moral support? “Whose home?”
Two fingers slid under the fabric, the back of his knuckles scraping across one peaked nipple. “Your choice. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the things we left unfinished last night. Me, for example. Wherever we end up, I can promise you that no one is leaving for a while. Possibly days.”
Yes.
No! No, she’d told herself this wasn’t a good idea. “Okay.”
Weak, Caroline. You could’ve at least pretended to think about it. “I mean, okay I’ll go with you to the photographer’s. I know how intimidating that can be.”
He removed his fingers, adjusted her dress and took a step back with a smile. He knew what she meant. “That’s good. I like your father, by the way. He’s smart and funny as hell.”
That made her smile. “He’s the best man I know. When he’s not manipulating my friends into lifting heavy objects.” She tried to lighten the mood so she wouldn’t think about what he was going to do to her tonight. “You definitely impressed him. Does that have anything to do with my list?”
“Reminding me of that list is asking for trouble,” he warned softly, but his full lips tilted in a smile that deepened his ridiculous dimples. “But you caught me. What can I say? Two birds…one giant fairy stone. And a troll. And something that looks like a mushroom with eyes.”
She laughed. “When he took a sculpture class he remembered that I always wanted a fairy garden. He’s not a small gestures kind of man.”
“You’re not a small gestures kind of woman.”
Her father came out then, followed by Sylvie carrying a platter. There were three kinds of cheese, warm French bread, prosciutto, grapes and hummus as well as apple and peppered salami slices. David Aaron loved his garden picnics. Since he had a difficult time digesting anything heavier, Caroline had gotten used to them as well.
Jefferson popped a grape into his mouth as they sat down together. “This looks delicious.”
“By that he means where’s the steak,” Sylvie responded in her straight-faced croak. “I told him you can’t feed a growing boy with cheese and crackers, but he’s a creature of habit. We only shop on Sundays after a morning of coupon clipping and this is all we have.”
Caroline caught the wink he threw at her father’s nurse. “This will do for now, ma’am. I have to take my shirt off in public later. I wouldn’t want them changing their minds and ripping up my contract.”
Sylvie lifted one eyebrow. “I think you’re safe.”
The straight delivery made Caroline chuckle around an apple slice. “Jeans, huh? Daddy, did Jefferson
He licked his lower lip, his fingers still tracing patterns on her skin. “I was in the neighborhood? Not that’s a lie. I did want to tell you I got a new cell phone and called my sister. I also listened to all my messages. Good thing, because the photographer decided to change his schedule on me.”
“Photographer? More publicity shots?” She wished he would stop touching her. Wished she could take a step back and break the spell.
“Fashion photographer.” He quirked his lips as he said the words, his finger hooking around one thin strap on her shoulder and dragging it down. “They think my buckle can sell some jeans. I agreed to it months ago. Standing for pictures seemed easier than acting like I’m someone else, so I turned down the movie and took the clothing line.”
He’d been offered a role in a movie? She sighed. Of course he had. “That’s…that’s nice, Jefferson. It doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
She watched his eyes drop to her breasts, knew her hard nipples were pressing against the thin lemon fabric, revealing her arousal. “I’m here because you’re here, Caroline. The shoot is in a few hours and I want you there with me. For moral support. When it’s done, I’ll follow you home.”
Moral support? “Whose home?”
Two fingers slid under the fabric, the back of his knuckles scraping across one peaked nipple. “Your choice. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the things we left unfinished last night. Me, for example. Wherever we end up, I can promise you that no one is leaving for a while. Possibly days.”
Yes.
No! No, she’d told herself this wasn’t a good idea. “Okay.”
Weak, Caroline. You could’ve at least pretended to think about it. “I mean, okay I’ll go with you to the photographer’s. I know how intimidating that can be.”
He removed his fingers, adjusted her dress and took a step back with a smile. He knew what she meant. “That’s good. I like your father, by the way. He’s smart and funny as hell.”
That made her smile. “He’s the best man I know. When he’s not manipulating my friends into lifting heavy objects.” She tried to lighten the mood so she wouldn’t think about what he was going to do to her tonight. “You definitely impressed him. Does that have anything to do with my list?”
“Reminding me of that list is asking for trouble,” he warned softly, but his full lips tilted in a smile that deepened his ridiculous dimples. “But you caught me. What can I say? Two birds…one giant fairy stone. And a troll. And something that looks like a mushroom with eyes.”
She laughed. “When he took a sculpture class he remembered that I always wanted a fairy garden. He’s not a small gestures kind of man.”
“You’re not a small gestures kind of woman.”
Her father came out then, followed by Sylvie carrying a platter. There were three kinds of cheese, warm French bread, prosciutto, grapes and hummus as well as apple and peppered salami slices. David Aaron loved his garden picnics. Since he had a difficult time digesting anything heavier, Caroline had gotten used to them as well.
Jefferson popped a grape into his mouth as they sat down together. “This looks delicious.”
“By that he means where’s the steak,” Sylvie responded in her straight-faced croak. “I told him you can’t feed a growing boy with cheese and crackers, but he’s a creature of habit. We only shop on Sundays after a morning of coupon clipping and this is all we have.”
Caroline caught the wink he threw at her father’s nurse. “This will do for now, ma’am. I have to take my shirt off in public later. I wouldn’t want them changing their minds and ripping up my contract.”
Sylvie lifted one eyebrow. “I think you’re safe.”
The straight delivery made Caroline chuckle around an apple slice. “Jeans, huh? Daddy, did Jefferson
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