Blown Away (8 page)

Thank God, they were in his dresser upstairs.

“Of course not. I’m just giving you examples.”

Nodding thoughtfully, she went back to examining his wash. “Then what?”

“Then you can start the washer. But look, I don’t want you to wash my clothes. We can do this another day. We’ll do it with your wash.”

She blinked up at him. “I guess that makes sense. I wouldn’t want to ruin your clothes.”

He froze. Was that a joke? Was that a smile trying to escape or was she going to cry? Christ, he hadn’t mean to imply—

She started to laugh and it was the most erotic sound he’d ever heard.

“God, Jimmy, you are just so easy. I’m only teasing. Sure, we can do this another day… Jimmy?”

He couldn’t help himself. Her laughter drew him around the island until he was only inches away from her. She’d stopped laughing but her bright eyes revealed her continuing amusement. She didn’t back away, probably because she didn’t think he’d…what?

What was he going to do?

He bent down and kissed her.

He didn’t know who was more surprised, him or Merri. But he wasn’t about to step away.

Her lips felt slack against his for all of about two seconds. Then she wound her slim arms around his neck and held on.

And it was right about then, as she pressed her slim body against his, that Jimmy knew he was a goner.

It wasn’t that she was a great kisser. She was inexperienced, at best. But, holy hell, she kissed with her whole soul.

Why the hell hadn’t he kissed her before? Probably because he didn’t really know her and they’d never been alone.

He didn’t know exactly why he’d kissed her now except that all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her so she couldn’t get away.

He had to lean over pretty far to reach her lips and he didn’t like the angle so he lifted her off the ground and brought her body flush against him. She couldn’t weigh more than a hundred pounds so he could hold her up with only one arm around her back. He slid his other hand into her hair and tilted her head slightly to the left so he had better access.

Sliding his tongue between her lips, into the warm cavity of her mouth, he coaxed her to engage him. She tasted like chocolate, and when he licked at her tongue, she moaned, sparking his libido into overdrive. Flush against him from her chest to her thighs, her small breasts pressed against his chest. Not much there, but enough to let him know she was as aroused as he was. And with her hips against his, she had to be able to tell just how excited he was.

God damn, he ached, his cock was that hard. How much worse would it be if he ever got her naked? He didn’t think he’d last more than a minute inside her without coming.

And just then, she arched into him, grinding her pelvis against his.

The instant he felt his hand move to her rear to keep her in place, he broke away.

“Whoa, Merri. We gotta stop. Right now.”

Her eyes popped open and the heat in them nearly made him rethink his decision to withdraw.

But he couldn’t continue. Not and live with himself.

Though his body wanted to refuse his brain’s commands, he forced himself to set her on her feet and move away.

He heard her breathing, deep and fast, as if she were trying to catch her breath. Or maybe that was him.

Whoever it was sounded out of control.

And he couldn’t afford that now.

“Merri—”

Her mouth opened as if she were going to say something, her eyes wide, then she turned and ran up the steps.

It took him a few seconds to realize what she was doing before he took off after her.

“Merri, wait. We need to talk—”

“No, we don’t,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He skidded to a halt in the kitchen, just in time to hear the front door slam shut.

* * * * *

Merri hated sleeping in a new place, especially if she didn’t have her pillow. She hadn’t expected to be staying long so she hadn’t packed it.

Now she couldn’t sleep.

Which might have more to do with what had happened tonight than with her pillow, but she was in denial mode, so hey.

Besides, there was no nightlight so she had to sleep with the bathroom light on, and it was too bright.

Tomorrow she’d buy a nightlight she could plug into the wall socket beside the bed. And a pillow.

Or maybe she’d just go home.

Coward
.

Merri flipped onto her back for what had to be the thousandth time, trying to forget that she’d run like an insipid virgin after Jimmy had kissed her.

She cringed at the word
insipid
. Who used a word like that?

But what else would you call someone who ran in fright after having the daylights kissed out of her by the guy she had the
hots
for?

Another sigh and another flip onto her stomach.

In the light from the bathroom across the hall, she could plainly make out the titles of the books on the bookshelves that filled the walls of the entire room.

Classics, horror, mystery, true adventure, biographies, even a few romances. She wondered if Jimmy had read all these books. She wondered when he would’ve had the time.

From everything she knew about him, everything she’d learned from Janey and Mal, he was a workaholic. Like her. He was a genius. Like her. And, as far as anyone could tell, he didn’t date. Just like her.

In theory, they should be perfect for each other.

In reality… Well, maybe they didn’t have as much in common as she’d expected.

For one thing, Jimmy had a sense of humor. He smiled. He laughed. He made jokes—well, not to her, but Mal, who wasn’t exactly known for his biting wit, seemed to think Jimmy was pretty funny.

He got along well with his parents and siblings, and hers could barely find a subject to discuss with her.

He knew how to kiss—boy, did he—and she certainly didn’t.

She was starting to think this plan of hers was a really bad idea.

Her phone trilled at her from the bedside table and she grabbed it out of habit.

“Simmons.”

“Hey, Merri. Just found out what’s going on. You okay? Want to talk?”

She clutched the phone in relief as tears sprang to her eyes. Mal. Finally. “God, Mal. Where have you been?”

“I’m sorry. We’ve been out of cell phone range most of the day.” She heard a disturbance on the other end of the phone. “Hold on, Jane. I’ll give it to you in a minute. Mare, are you okay?”

Her lower lip trembled, even though she’d sworn she was done with tears. But
Mal’s
familiar, laid-back tone gave her permission to unload. “I don’t know. Everything’s screwed up and I’m not sure I know how to fix it. I can’t go back to work. I don’t want to go home and sit around my apartment with nothing to do, but here I feel like I’m imposing.”

“I’m sure the DeMarcos wouldn’t have offered if they didn’t want you there. You know—”

“Merri, please don’t feel like that.” Janey’s voice, calm and soothing, came on now. “I know Mom and Dad don’t feel like you’re imposing.”

Merri sighed, just as happy to talk to Janey. “I know, but I feel like I’m cramping Jimmy’s style.”

Janey paused, long enough that Merri thought maybe they’d lost the connection. “You’re staying with Jimmy?”

“In his cottage, yeah.”

Janey paused again. “And do you want to stay there?”

“She’s staying where?” Mal asked in the background.

“At Jimmy’s,” Janey answered. “I know… Are you okay staying at Jimmy’s?”

“She’s with Jimmy?” Mal laughed. “Well, that should be interesting.”

“Mal, don’t be obnoxious,” Janey scolded. “Merri, would you rather stay at our place? We’ll be home soon and you can—”

“No!” Whoa, tone it down, girl. “Really, that’s okay. I’m staying in his cottage, so we’re not really, you know, staying together.”

“Okay.” Janey’s tone softened. “But do you
want
to be there?”

Trust Janey to hit on the precise right question. “Um…” Merri sighed. “I honestly don’t know. I thought I did but then he kissed me and I—”

“He what? Oh my God. That’s…amazing.”

“He what?” Mal asked.

“Mal, why don’t you give me a few minutes here. I’ll fill you in later.”

Janey must have covered the mouthpiece because there was silence and when Janey came back, Merri couldn’t hear Mal.

“Okay now,” Janey said, “I want you to tell me everything and we’ll figure it out.”

By the time she’d finished recounting the events of her day, it was close to midnight and she felt her eyes drifting shut.

Janey, however, seemed wide awake. “Wow, that’s freaking amazing. I mean, I know Jimmy has a thing for you but—”

“Wait.” Merri’s eyes snapped open. “He has a thing for me? How do you know that?”

“Oh please. I’m his sister. Believe me, the guy wants you, but knowing Jimmy, I didn’t think he’d do anything about it.”

Really? Janey thought Jimmy wanted her. “Well, it was kind of a stressful day. Maybe he was just being nice.”

Janey’s laugh was short but held a wealth of amusement. “No way. If you haven’t noticed, Jimmy isn’t really, um, cognizant of the world around him most of the time. So for you to get a rise out of him, so to speak, is remarkable.”

No, Merri couldn’t believe that. Jimmy didn’t have feelings for her. Why would he? She was okay in the looks department, but her faults definitely outweighed her pluses. She was too skinny, much too intense, and way too smart for her own good.

“I think he just feels sorry for me.” And just then she knew she’d never be able to carry out her plan. “No, I’m sure he just feels sorry for me. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I
should
come stay with you.”

Janey huffed. “Oh no. No way. You’re staying right there. You’re going to make him notice something other than his lab for a change. Jimmy needs a diversion and so do you. Look, I know it’s late, so sleep on what we’ve talked about and I’ll give you a call tomorrow. And Merri? Don’t sell yourself short. You’re beautiful and funny and smart, and that’s a potent combination for a guy like Jimmy. Trust me. Now, do you want to talk to Mal before we hang up?”

Janey thought she was beautiful and funny? Really? “If you don’t mind.”

Janey laughed, completely confident in the fact that Mal loved her. “Actually, I think the poor guy’s dying to talk to you.”

There was a pause and then
Mal’s
slow drawl came through again. “Merri.”

She had to swallow back the lump in her throat. “Hey, Mal.”

“Hey, yourself. How’re you holding up?”

Tears threatened to spill but she forced them back through sheer force of will. “I’m better. I just needed to talk to someone.”