Jinxed (10 page)

Without warning, Jinx’s hot mouth pressed to her lower back. She jerked to attention. Sizzling sparks shot up her spine as his tongue lapped over her skin. It was a struggle to prevent her voice from croaking.

“Uhm—what are you doing?”

“Worshipping Marvin.”

For one long precious moment, she closed her eyes and luxuriated in his touch. Such an intimate act, his tongue washing over the crest of her butt. The top swells of her cheeks tingled as his breath warmed the dampened skin. Not leaning back into his mouth was a challenge. It felt so good. She wanted him. But not like this. Not in her pantry. Tonight. When she could tease him to complete frustration before drawing him in.

“Slow, remember?” Soft and low, her words reminded him of his promise. Forehead pressed to Marvin, Jinx let go of her waistband and exhaled a tattered breath.

“Slow.”

The dry groceries stored away, Frannie stole a few minutes to herself. She squeezed her behind onto the narrow stepstool seat and buried her head in her hands.

This was moving too fast and in a direction that frightened her. When Jinx’s lips had left her back, she felt an emptiness that hadn’t yet dissipated. And not just on a physical level. He had wormed his way into her life so completely in such a short time, she barely remembered her life before she met him.
This is not good
.

She was supposed to remain cool, calm and collected around him until he came to his senses, not turn into a puddle of goo when he touched her. Her intentions were to protect her heart from breaking. All she had to do was keep things light and playful and on a physical level. If she played the game right, it would be fun. It could be the sexual adventure of her life. But she had to guard her emotions.

That was proving to be difficult. As infuriating as he was, there was something sweet and charming about him, like a naughty preschooler who could weasel out of any punishment. All it took was a glance and a grin and her irritation slid away.

This feels suspiciously like falling in—
Jerking her head up, she drew a deep fortifying breath.
Nope, not going there, ain’t happening. Get a grip, girl.

Frannie blew out a calming breath, stood and refolded the stool. She cared for Jinx. Cared, not loved. This was sexual attraction and fascination with an odd situation. That was all. Nothing more.

She almost believed the lie.

Frannie couldn’t find Jinx. A quick search found him outside shoveling her walkway with a nearly manic fury. Icy clouds puffed from his mouth as he attacked the slight layer of snow coating her sidewalk. Coatless, his pale gray sweatshirt was darker along the shoulders where the falling snow had melted but he didn’t seem to notice.

Arms wrapped around her middle, Frannie called from the porch. “Are you trying to freeze your ass off?”

“Wrong body part,” he muttered over the shovel blade scraping the concrete. “Go back inside, Frannie, I’m fighting demons here and don’t need your pert little nipples as a distraction.”

A quick glance down showed hard pointy nipples puckered from the cold straining at her thin cotton shirt. “What demons?”

“Lust. Desire. Impatience. And a raging case of blue balls.”

His reply tickled her ego and her lips twitched in hidden amusement. She was trying to tease him and even the weather was cooperating. Saucily, she crooked her finger at him, beckoning him close. His head bowed in defeat, Jinx jammed the shovel into the yard and crossed to her. Two steps below her, he was eye level with those crested peaks. His throat moved with his swallow and he rose one more step. He pulled his gaze from her chest to her face. A sexy simmering fire was barely concealed in his midnight eyes.

She circled his neck, linked her fingers together behind his head and brought his forehead to hers. “You okay? With this slow thing?”

Jinx closed his eyes briefly and put his arms around her waist. Under her hands, his tense muscles softened.

“I will be. I just have to keep reminding myself that I want all of you. Not just your body but your heart and soul, too. Unfortunately, there are certain parts of my anatomy that are slower to get that message. It’s nothing I can’t handle, but let’s not tempt it too much, okay? Go inside and let me cool down.”

Delighted and empowered, Frannie nodded and eased away from him. She said she would go make hot chocolate and closed the heavy door behind her. And then did a little triumphant jig. She knew removing her bra had been a good idea.

“Mister, you having a heart attack?”

The cracking adolescent voice brought Jinx’s head up from his rampant fantasies. A chunky dark-skinned boy of perhaps eleven in a bright orange parka stood at the edge of the sidewalk holding a snow shovel. His round face was creased in concern beneath the knitted stocking cap.

“Do I look like I’m having a heart attack?”

“Kinda. You were breathing hard but not moving. Old people shouldn’t shovel snow. It’s bad for them.”

“Old? You think I’m old?”

“Well, you’re maybe my dad’s age and he says he feels old. I could finish the walk for you. Cheap, since you already started it.” The eagerness in the boy’s eyes was contagious and Jinx couldn’t help but smile.

“Maybe you’re too young to be doing all this manual labor. I wouldn’t want to stunt your growth or anything.”

“I’m not a baby.”

“And I’m not old.”

The two males stood staring at the other a minute before grinning at each other. Each recognized a fellow jokester. Jinx stooped to grab a handful of snow seconds before he was hit by the well-aimed volley from the stocky boy.

With a laugh of abandonment, Jinx scooped and ran, dodging the onslaught of snowballs.
Now this is the distraction I needed.
He managed to hit the younger male with several precise shots before taking a brutal strike to the back of his head. He shook the ice off like a wet dog before he circled around Frannie’s car and zipped a hard pitch at the boy as he ran in front of the steps.

Frannie stepped out onto the porch and was hit full in the face by Jinx’s snowball. Both the boy and Jinx stopped cold and stared in open-mouthed surprise.

“Oh shit, Frannie, I’m sorry.”

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Uh, playing.”

Snow bits sliding off her face, she glared at him before she whipped around and stamped back inside. The slam of the door made both males jump.

“You’re in trouble.” The boy dragged the last word out for three syllables and Jinx grimaced.
No shit, kid.
“You want me to finish the walk so you can go apologize?”

Jinx dusted his stinging fingers against his stiff jeans. The eager brown face staring at him brought a wry grin as he remembered his own youth.

“What are you earning money for?”

“A Wii. Dad says if I pay for half of it, I can have one. I have almost fifty bucks saved up. Ms. Sullivan usually pays pretty good so I kinda hoped she’d need her walk done. You’re messin’ up my financial plan, man.” The teasing was light but Jinx still heard the disappointment in the kid’s voice.

“What’s your name?”

“Aaron Henderson. I live over there.” He pointed to a two-story house cattycorner to Frannie’s.

“Is your mom home?”

“Nah, she’s working. Dad is, though. Why?”

With a flip of his hand, Jinx motioned for Aaron to walk with him back to his house. They crossed the slushy street and lumbered noisily onto a large wooden porch. Aaron opened the door and blessed warmth rushed out. The sounds of a football game could be heard in the kitchen as Aaron bellowed for his father.

A tall black man came out with a small child attached to his leg. The scent of sloppy joes hung heavily in the air and made Jinx’s stomach grumble. The sight of a strange man in his house had the father straightening into a protective stance.

“Is something wrong? Aaron, what’s going on?”

The boy shrugged and shed his coat. Jinx offered his hand. “Mr. Henderson, I met your son while he was shoveling walks today and wanted to offer him a business proposition. I thought I’d better speak to you first, though.”

“What kind of proposition?”

“Ms. Sullivan and I are getting married. But for now, I don’t live there. I want to make sure that her sidewalks stay cleared this winter, even if I’m not around. I want to contract Aaron here to do the job all winter, paid in advance. But he has to have your permission first.”

Aaron nearly danced in excitement. Amusement flickered in the father’s eyes before he tamped it down and turned a stern eye on his son.

“That means no forgetting, Aaron. No putting it off until later, no flaking out. A job’s a job and you finish it. Think you can handle that?” The boy nodded so hard Jinx was sure his head would fly off his shoulders.

Permission granted, the father motioned for Jinx to continue. Thankful he hit the ATM before coming home this morning, Jinx pulled three hundred-dollar bills from his wallet. He placed them in the beaming boy’s hands.

“I want her sidewalk kept clear, every snow. She’s very special to me and I don’t want her falling or having to shovel herself out.”

“No problem. I promise. You can count on me.” The boy flew up the stairs with his bounty like a herd of thundering elephants. Jinx and Mr. Henderson laughed at his enthusiasm.

“He’ll do it. I’ll see to that. Congratulations on getting married. Your Frannie’s a nice lady.”

“Thanks.” Jinx knelt to stroke the head of the toddler still clinging to her father’s leg. “Hey, princess.”

The cherub-cheeked child pressed her face firmly against her father and wouldn’t look up. With a chuckle, he drew her up and smiled at Jinx.

“Little Miss Amber is shy today.”

Jinx left the happy family scene and shivered as he crossed the street. He made toys. Of course he liked children. But he had never felt the pull he did now to have a family. A clinging daughter attached to his leg and a strapping son learning his first lesson in work ethics seemed perfect now. He pictured Frannie round in pregnancy and his heart swelled.

What was it Mr. Henderson had called her? Your Frannie, that was it.
My Frannie
. Jinx sighed.
My Frannie, my love, my future wife and mother to my future children.

Then he remembered her face after the snowball had hit her and winced
. My pissed-off Frannie.

“Go home, Jinx.”

“It was an accident. I said I was sorry.”

Frannie used her thumb to swab a stray bit of chocolate from his lip. She smiled down at him as she passed behind his chair to refill her cup. Unconsciously, she poured more of the sweet cocoa into his nearly empty cup. He had been shivering when he came in but the brew seemed to warm him. Even his wet hair had dried into a cloud of softness.

“I know that, Goofy. I just have things to do to get ready for your dinner party. You haven’t even told me who’s coming or what I should wear.”

“Wear?”

“Yes, is this formal or casual, business associates or friends, BBQ-type or five-course menu type?”

“Uhm.” Jinx seemed perplexed as he rubbed his lip with his knuckle. “I guess all of the above, really. But not formal. You can wear what you have on as far as I care.”

Frannie glanced down at her old yoga pants and floppy tee shirt.
He’s crazy.
“You want me to meet your business clients and friends dressed like a thrift-store runaway? No way, nutso. What are you wearing?” She sat across from him at the kitchen table and drew a knee up to rest her chin on it.

“I dunno. I haven’t thought about it.”

She groaned and dropped her head onto her knee. “Men are such idiots. How can you wait until the last minute to decide things like this? I need to know this stuff. Is this a cool casual business thing where everyone kisses the air beside my cheek or is this a grab-a-beer-and-crash-on-the-floor-type party? Should I wear a dress or are pants okay? Am I going to be overdressed if I wear pantyhose or am I going to be the odd one out? I need answers. I have to organize accessories, damn it!” She pinched her lips tight at his chuckle and fixed him with a murderous look.

He arched raven black brows and sent her a gentle smile. “I’ll probably just wear Dockers and a polo. Does that help?”

Frannie nodded and relaxed back into the chair. “That helps immensely. Now go home. I’m officially kicking your ass out.”

Chapter Five

“Soul meets soul on lovers’ lips.”

—Percy Bysshe Shelley

A white catering van with a blue bird on the side had parked in front of Jinx’s garage door, forcing Frannie to park along the street. She thrust the car into park.
Great
,
if this wind messes up my hair, I’m going to be pissed.
She shut off the motor, took a quick nervous look in the mirror and drew a deep breath. This was it.

She had soaked for an hour, shaved every conceivable place, plucked and primped, slathered on creamy scented lotion, curled her hair and donned her best pair of come-and-get-me panties. Cinderella she wasn’t but she looked pretty good for plain old Frannie. The car chimed as she opened the door and stepped out into the freezing air.

Time to make some memories.

Jinx watched Frannie scurry up his drive. The wind whipped around her with a wintry howl. She carried the flowery oversized shoulder bag she loved and had her head tucked down against the gale. The thick down of her red winter coat hid most of her upper torso but wide fluttery black pants molded to her thighs in the rushing air. Thick purple snow boots covered her feet and calves.

My Frannie.
He chuckled.
A fashion statement extraordinaire
.

He met her at the side kitchen door and held it open so she could run into the steamy warmth of the room. She sent him a grateful smile and shook the snow from her hair. “Damn, it’s cold.”

She peeled back her coat. Heart thudding, Jinx raked his eyes over her form. She had done something to her hair. It wasn’t so smooth now. It had waves and poofed out, framing her cocoa eyes. A silky coral kimono-like blouse skimmed down her body, hugging her frame like a second skin. He took her coat and a rich sexual scent filled his nose. The aromas of brisk wind, spice and pure Frannie made his nostrils flare. Her perfume seeped into his consciousness and triggered a primal response. He wanted to grab her, fling her on the table and bury himself inside her.

Slow, slow, slow, so damn achingly slow,
he chanted, reminding himself she was not ready for more intimacy yet. But did she have to be so damn alluring? He could only take so much. She kicked off the clunky boots and drew a strappy pair of pumps from her bag. With her hand on his arm for balance, she stepped into them. Her breast pressed against his arm branded him.
Yeah, this slow shit sucks.

“It smells wonderful in here.” Her bright eyes darted over the crew preparing away in his kitchen before a shadowed look crossed her face. She leaned in close to him. “Tell me these people aren’t from the Blue Jay. Please tell me they aren’t from the same restaurant you carried me into like a flour sack.”

“Okay. They aren’t. They just stole the Blue Jay’s catering van, their uniforms and the crockery. They have never seen you fanny-side-up.”

Her low groan and mortified expression only dug her deeper into his soul. She was so cute when embarrassed. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and protect her from the world. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, led her through the dining room and down the hall to his den.

“Pick out some music for tonight, will you? Something quiet and soothing, something we can talk over. I hate fighting to be heard.”

While Frannie searched through his CDs, Jinx painted her into his memory. When she concentrated, her brows furrowed just a bit and she chewed the inside of her lip. When surprised, her eyes widened and the right corner of her mouth tilted slightly higher than the left. Displeasure made her nose crinkle and her eyes narrow. Her shoulders shook with silent laughter when she picked up a copy of bagpipe music his grandmother had sent him years ago. Long and graceful fingers stroked back an errant wave that fell into her sight path as she bent to look at the lower shelf. Tucked behind a tiny, almost pointed ear, her hair shimmered like drizzled caramel. It seemed like only an instant before she had selected several discs and turned to him with a glowing smile. Not nearly enough time to commit her form to his mind. But she was permanently imprinted in his heart.

After feeding the music to the player, Jinx punched a few buttons and the soft strains of soulful jazz filled the house. A smile burst onto her face as she looked up, trying to locate the hidden speakers. Irrationally, the smile made him feel powerful, like he’d accomplished something huge. When the side door closed with a loud thud, he knew the kitchen staff had left.
Show time
. With a deep breath, he took her hand and led her back to the main living space.

The lights were low and a fire blazed in the great room fireplace. Tall candles sent dancing shadows over the cozy table laid only for two, with delicate crystal and elegant china. A solemn waiter stood beside a chair, pristine white cloth draped over one arm. Frannie gasped as she took in the romantic setting. She looked at him with astonishment shining on her beautiful face.

Gotcha
, he silently crowed.

“But your dinner party…”

“My dinner party…for two.”

“But—but you said it was for friends and business clients and—”

“No, Frannie. You said that. And you
are
my friend. Once I switch my dealings to McGee’s, we’ll also be business associates. Tonight, I hope we can just be
us
.”

“Us?” The tremor of her lower lip betrayed her shock and he felt like beating his chest caveman style.
My woman, mine, all mine.

He was going to spoil her tonight, if only she would let herself be spoiled. Something held her back. He knew she was falling in love with him, falling as hard as he had the first day. But whenever she started to let her guard down, something flashed inside her and she froze. Those simmering brown eyes crackled like amber lightning and she pushed him away, usually with a sarcastic remark and a defensive retort. Fear kept her behind a locked door and she had the only key. He just had to find a way to coax her into opening the latch.

But when her guard was down, when she allowed him to look into her soul, he saw a mirror there that reflected every ounce of love he felt. He saw an open, caring, happy heart eager to be loved and eager to give love. He wanted to shove his foot in the door before she slammed it close.
I know the real you, Frannie. Trust yourself to trust me. Believe. Believe in us. Please.

Chicken Marsala, beef tenderloin medallions and whatever other delicacy the Blue Jay had prepared melted in her mouth but she doubted she would recall a single one of the five courses later. Jinx was foremost in her mind. To say she was knocked for a loop was an understatement. She had prepared to flirt outrageously with him while he was busy with his guests. Use the social tensions to heighten the sexuality of a passing squeeze, a hidden caress, a stolen kiss.

Now it was full on frontal attack of the don’t-let-him-see-it-coming variety. When you didn’t have much, you had to work what you had harder. She worked it like a high-priced hooker at a church social.

Wine flowed and the conversation was comfortable and lively. A demure expression fixed on her face, she fed him bites from her plate and nipped his finger when he offered some of his own. Her wine-coated lips she licked with a slow tongue while acting distracted. Her words suggested one thing while her mannerism was pure as snow.

“These breasts are so tender,” she purred, forking a bite of chicken, making sure to squeeze her arm against her bust. Sure enough, his eyes flew to her cleavage.

She drew her tongue through the thick spread on her roll. “Mmmm, it tastes like creamy honey.”

“Uh—yeah.” Jinx’s voice cracked and he had to clear his throat. “Honey and herbs are mixed in the butter.”

One shimmering pink-tipped finger trailed through the spread before sliding along the tip of her tongue. He licked his own lips as if tasting the same sweetness.

The more sexual her purposely innocuous movement, the tighter his muscles grew. The cords in his neck stood out and his teeth ground together. From the death grip he had on his knife, she assumed he was fighting his lust. When he shifted in his seat several times after she let a low sound of satisfaction escape, she knew she was succeeding. By the last course of sinfully rich carrot cake, Jinx had broken into a light sweat more than once.

One side effect of secretly seducing Jinx was the similar influence it had on her body. As his eyes glazed over with lust, her heart tattooed a furious rhythm. The hard swallow that worked down his throat as she stroked the stem of her goblet created a quivering knot in her belly. She smoothed her tongue along the fork tines to capture the last creamy bit of frosting and Jinx’s control seemed to crack.

“For God’s sake, Frannie, have mercy. You’re killin’ me here.”

The husky strained desire in his voice heated her senses. Eyes wide in innocence, she tilted one brow, looked straight into his face and asked, “What?”

“Nothing. Never mind. Excuse me a minute.”

As he escaped to the kitchen, she smiled in total feminine satisfaction. Her plan was working.

He was in hell, pure sexual hell. Like a randy teenager, he was finding something sexual in everything Frannie did or said. His libido was working overtime and he had to make a quick exit before he embarrassed himself. He barreled through the kitchen to the breezeway.

The lungfuls of icy air he gulped helped cool his body but did little for his imagination. He wanted her like he had never wanted anything else in his life. But she needed time. Time he would give her if it meant he took a thousand cold showers a day and ended up with raw palms. She was worth it. So he ended up with a hard-on that wouldn’t go down with a stick of dynamite, big deal, he could handle it, right?

The anti-Viagra hit him with an icy fist. If he didn’t stop drooling over Frannie, he was going to scare her off and then he’d never get her to believe in them. She’d think he was after nothing more than a quick fuck. Convincing her otherwise would be next to impossible. Given the choice between fuck or forever, he wanted forever. Granted, he desperately wanted the fuck too but forever was more important. Blue balls be damned, he was going to be a perfect gentleman if it killed him. And it just might.

Face stinging from the wind and cold, Jinx returned to the kitchen. The young waiter who had served them was quietly cleaning up, wiping the counters and stacking dishes. An urgent need to be alone with Frannie fueled Jinx. He wanted this intruder gone.

“Go home.” Jinx pressed several folded bills into his hand. “I’ll arrange with Martin to get this stuff later. Just get out of here.”

The waiter looked at him, looked at the cash and shrugged. He walked out the door without a word. Jinx watched him pull out before he faced the dining room.
Ready or not, here I come. Slowly.

Frannie peed, washed her hands, reapplied her lipstick and fixed her hair. The overstuffed shoulder bag was crammed with everything she could possibly need for an overnight stay. She left it beside the vanity where she could grab it later. After a quick tug at her blouse and a deep breath to steel her nerves, she flipped off the bathroom light.

Someone had spread out a thick fleece blanket and large sitting pillows in front of the roaring fire in the great room. Champagne was chilling in an ice bucket and two fluted glasses stood ready. Frannie sat on the fleece in stillness, her knees drawn upward, and waited.

When he joined her, she looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. “This looks like a seduction scene. Are you trying to seduce me, Jinx?”

Her eyelids quivered in restrained amusement at his guilty expression. He flopped down to lie on the fleece beside her and took her hand. His fingers were cold and she could smell the bitter wind in his hair.
So he went outside to cool off, huh? Excellent.

“Yes, I
had
planned on seduction.” His admission took her by surprise, but he pressed a finger to her lip before she could speak. “I planned all this before this morning, before you said you wanted to slow down. So now it’s not seduction, it’s a celebration.”

“Celebration?”

Deep as the ocean at night, his eyes captured hers and drew her in. He cupped her cheek and stroked his thumb over her skin. Pulled by an invisible string, she leaned down and pressed her mouth to his. He tasted of sugar. His tongue licked at her mouth until she granted it entry. Thrust and parry, two-step and tango, search and discovery, their tongues played until the need for breath separated them. He eased back, holding her hand against his chest.

“Tonight, I want to try and make up for some of the things we missed together in our lives.” Like an exuberant puppy, he leapt up and pulled a large cardboard box from behind the sofa. He grinned at her with a twinkle in his eyes that spoke of an adventure unfolding. She tried to peek inside the box but he shook his finger at her like a naughty child. “Ah ah ah, no peeking.”

“What are you up to, nutball?” Frannie heard the laughter in her own voice and shook her head at him. He seemed so eager, like a snapping live wire. With a quick comical wiggle of his eyebrows, he pointedly ignored her and opened a laptop. While it powered up, he pulled a low ottoman over and positioned it so she could see the screen.

He rejoined her on the fleece and the dark screen displayed a glittery ball on a pole against a starry night sky. A young Dick Clark spoke into a microphone half the size of his head. The vintage footage panned over the milling crowd swaddled in winter clothes and sporting peace signs. They screamed, waved to the camera and kissed random strangers.

“For all the New Years we missed together.” He slid a plastic headband with a glittery Happy New Year banner on her head, donning a foil hat himself. The thin elastic band snapped on his chin and he winced, making her giggle.

“You’re crazy.”

With a self-confident shrug, he popped the top on the champagne bottle and poured two flutes. Golden bubbles raced to frothy white foam as he pressed one into her hand.

“It’s almost time. Count down with me, America.”

The crackle of less-than-modern sound echoed in the great room as a million people counted with the eternally youthful host. The seated couple joined in the count.