Laws of Love (2 page)

“Well, Romeo
,” Russ lifted the beer bottle in his hand, “she is walking this way. Go get her.”

No way!

He glanced back. She was coming toward him, looking incredible with an intent expression. Her walk was a turn on, and turned on was something she had officially made him. She was captivating and he had no idea why.

The blonde
made her way across the room and over to where he stood. His gaze roved over her, starting down at her strappy shoes. Slowly, his eyes lifted over her and he was more than appreciative of the short, black skirt that revealed long, tanned legs. His attention lingered below her hemline, his tongue slipped out and slid across his lip--his throat was parched. There was something familiar about her. Something he couldn’t put his finger on.

His eyes continued upward and his tongue retracted back into his mouth
as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Their eyes met and she stepped up close. “Hello.”
This might be the silver lining to my day.

“Stalking is i
llegal in every state and in Canada too.”

Then again, maybe not!

Blinking, his brain digested her words and he pursed his lips. “I’m sorry, have we met?”

Chapter 2

His voice alone caressed her skin
and she fought for composure. Abby had reminded herself she was an attorney, and had forced herself to speak, but telling him that stalking was illegal may not be her best move.

Suave, real suave in winning over Prince Charming
.

Her cheeks stung.
Yep, she was blushing.

Son of a bitch! To think
, I’m a professional.

“I’m sure I would have remembered if we had met.
” His voice was deep, sexy, and she highly doubted it was meant to turn her on. Or was it?

“Um, I guess you wouldn’t believe me…”

Something flickered in his dark, brown eyes and they sparkled. His long, jet-black lashes blinked in disbelief as he leaned in closer to her. The smell of his cologne affected her the same way it had on the bus earlier that day. When his nose brushed lightly against her neck up to her ear, her skin heated and her she lost her breath. Her nipples tightened beneath the light fabric from his skin touching hers. The air sucked out of her lungs and rational thought—hell, any thought had vanished.

“I received an envelope today that smelled as wonderful as you.”

Inhaling sharply, she stepped back, blinked, and glanced around. “How did you know?”

His warm chuckle filled the air, warming it
and her body considerably. His eyes danced. “I didn’t until you spoke.”

“Please don’t tell.” She barely heard her voice
; how was
he
supposed to hear her?

“I won’t.” H
is smile was broad, making him even sexier and her thong damp. “I didn’t think I would see you again.”

“What are you doing here?”
She glanced to the drink in his hand.

Talk about a stupid question.

“Well, contrary to what you may think, I’m not stalking you, but if I had known it was one of the options, I may have considered it.” He laughed. The sound was incredible and turned her on. “I was checking out a blonde and thinking honestly of another woman in a bunny outfit that I would never see again.” His expression had grown more serious and his voice had become quieter.

“And now that you know
that they are one in the same?” Why did he make her nervous? Right-- gorgeous, tall, dark, and downright delicious in a really expensive suit.

“I’m amazed that we are again in the same spot at the same ti
me.” His brows furrowed. “And I’m wondering if I will be able to get your name.”

Okay, he is also charming
.

“I’m Abby.”

“Abby, I like it. I’m Jack, and now that we have that out of the way, what would it take to convince you to leave this place with me for something quieter?”

“An answer.”
She wasn’t coy by nature, but then again, nature didn’t normally have the hunkiest man in the world cross her path twice in the same day.

“Well
, I have an answer, what’s the question?”

Here goes nothing
.

She cleared her throat and gave into temptation.
“Your place or mine?”

Desire flickered in his eyes.
“Yours.”

“Are you sure you aren’t a stalker?”

“I’m sure. Mine then? Hell, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

She didn’t need to think, she already knew what she wanted and where to go.
“Pizza.”

Grinning, he nod
ded, and tossed back his drink. He set it on the tray of a waitress as she walked by. “Pizza it is.”

“I’ll be right back.”
She turned on her heel and her stomach fluttered out of control. Regaining her breath, she hurried over to where she had left Gina sitting.

“Well
, how is the hunk?” Gina curled her lips around the straw in her daiquiri and sipped long. “Let me guess, he has a girlfriend.”

“
She never came up.” Abby blurted out. “He’s leaving.”

Her friend’s face scrunched an
d she waved her hand to the chair. “Ah, that sucks; sit back and finish your drink.”

“No, he’s leaving with m
e.” She giggled. Ever since seeing him on the bus she had thought about him. Why had he chased her down? She would at least have the chance to find out.

“No way!”

She giggled again. “Good night, Gina, call me tomorrow at work.” Pivoting on her trendy shoe, she headed back over to Jack. His eyes were on her and she couldn’t believe she was doing this.

But what are the odds? Twice in one day?

He had been on her mind all day. If he was really as sweet as he came across, he would be on top of her tonight.

“Are you ready?”
His voice caressed her skin with a smooth, deep rumble.

“As ready as I get.”

He smiled and her breath disappeared from her lungs again. “I can work with that.” His hand slipped to the small of her back and he led her to the door.

Forty-five minutes later, Jack was pretty sure he was the happiest man in all of L.A. County. He was sitting in a quiet, semi-upscale restaurant three blocks away from the bar that Russ had dragged him to with, not only the most beautiful woman he had ever met, but by far, the most interesting. They sat in a booth having pizza and a very good Merlot. “So Abby, I have to know.”

Pouring
the remainder of the bottle into her glass, he signaled the waiter to bring another bottle, resting his eyes on her as she leaned in closer to him. “What possessed you to give out fifty dollar bills on the bus today?” He nodded and glanced to the waiter, who placed another bottle on the table. He then smiled back at her, losing himself in big, blue eyes. “Other than the fact you could.”

Blinkin
g her long lashes, she nodded. “I wanted to try and do something good.”

“Good?”
He ran his tongue over his teeth and leaned back in his chair. “That isn’t exactly the best neighborhood going. I shudder to think of you walking around with that kind of money.” As he thought about that further, he frowned. “You could have been mugged.” His mind played out a variety of unthinkable scenarios, none of them good. “Or worse, hurt or stabbed.”

She giggled and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth
.  His gaze rested there. If he had thought she had amazing lips on the bus earlier, watching them form words, express thoughts, and curve into that incredible smile left him wanting. Wanting to kiss them and find out if they were as soft as they looked.

“I work in that area
. I was okay, it’s not as bad as it seems.”

“Amazing.” He reached for his gl
ass and looked over her at it. “So, what do you do that has you working in that area?”

“No!” She shook her head and her shoulder l
ength honey colored ringlets swung slightly. “I hate telling men what I do.” Casting him an apologetic look, she smiled. “Most men are intimidated.”

He loved it
. He translated that to mean she had a position of power. Next to money, power made him tick. “Okay, fair enough, you can tell me when you’re ready.”

She took a healthy sip from her glass
, and then fluttered long, thick lashes at him. “What were you doing on the bus today if you live at this end of town?”

He nodded and sighed as her full
, perfectly kissable mouth rested on the lip of the goblet. “It was a very bad day” he almost mumbled. Reaching for the bottle, he topped off his wine. After setting the bottle down, he lifted his glass and took a sip.

“Let me guess,
when you’re not riding the bus, your other vehicle is a Porsche?”

“Maserati
, which I drove a few times, then received a speeding ticket for going insanely over the speed limit, and lost my license.”

She
lowered her glass and blinked. Full lips pursed together and her eyes widened. “You’re serious?”

“I am.”
He wanted to kiss her; it was damn near overwhelming. Placing his glass on the table, he leaned in close to her. Close enough that he could smell the wine on her lips and the trace of her perfume. “I hated my day. My evening was turning out just as bad, but then, there you were.”

“On the
bus or at the bar?” Her sudden uncertainty was a huge turn on as her lips pressed together hesitantly.

He ran his gaze over her
mouth. “Both. Having you here now has made everything bad about today completely worth it.”

Her blue eyes scanned his face
, and then glanced around the restaurant before fixing their attention on him again. “Why did you follow me today after I got off the bus?”

“Because... I had to.
There was something about you.” His gaze fell to her lips again, then lifted. “I was also curious as to the color of your eyes.”

“They’re blue.”

Chuckling, he nodded. “I can see that.” He pulled back slightly and lifted his glass, emptying the contents of the red liquid. “I don’t need the fifty dollars.” He thought of the woman who had gotten tears of joy in her eyes because she could afford food.

Abby frowned.
“What’s wrong?”

He placed the empty glass on the table a
nd leaned in very close to her. She studied him intently and looked genuinely worried. “Do you have any idea how much difference you made in those people’s lives, even if it was temporary?”

“I never really thought about it, only about how good it felt doing it.”

He had barely heard her. Her voice was soft; lashes fluttered as she glanced to his lips, before she met his gaze again. She wanted him to kiss her and he wanted to. “Do you have any idea what difference you made in my life?”

“I thought you didn’t need the money?”

He grinned. “It has nothing to do with the money.”

Her lips parted slightly and
he leaned his face closer to hers across the table. Her lashes closed and he shut his just before his lips brushed against hers. Pressing his mouth harder against hers, he savored the fullness. Heat moved through his body and over his skin while his groin stirred. She responded with light pressure then lifted her lips. He opened his eyes and stared into hers as she peered at him through her thick lashes. Though brief, the kiss was still incredible. His tongue slid across his lower lip in hope that the taste of her would be there. It wasn’t.  He lusted for more and knew that he should say something, but what? “Abby—”

“Would it sound too forward if I invited you back to my place?”

Her words tugged the corners of his mouth into a smile. “Not forward, but perfect.” Turning towards the waiter, he waved to catch his attention. “Check please.”

Breathing in the night air, Abby seriously questioned what was running through her mind. She had met a man on a bus, then saw him again in a night club, had become enamored of him over a couple slices of ‘the works’ pizza, and now had invited him back to her place. She was a lawyer, and supposed to be smart, but oh no--there she was, dressed in a skimpy outfit that Gina had picked out, and giving into the call of her damp thong. 

She was a
ttracted to Jack, and it was even more apparent as desire coursed through her when his hand rested at the small of her back. Abby turned and smiled at him as a cool breeze came up, causing her to shiver.

“
Here” He slipped off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. It smelled expensive, and like spicy male. His hands rested on her shoulders and her breath caught.

“Thank you.”

“I should hail us a cab.” His voice was low and his eyes dipped to her lips. When he again met her gaze, she saw desire in the dark depths of his eyes.

She had no clue what possessed her
, but she stepped closer to him and his hands slid around her neck. He cupped the base of her skull and tilted her head back slightly as her lashes fluttered shut and his lips came down on hers. Harder than the kiss in the restaurant and with more intensity, the fire of attraction sent flames over her chilled body and her mouth parted in a gasp. His tongue slid over her bottom lip. Her tongue met his as it entered in her mouth.

Jack
tasted incredible and her fingers slid across the soft fabric of his dress shirt. His body radiated heat beneath her touch. He pulled her closer to him, and she melted into his kiss. The intensity and heat would contribute to global warming at this rate and she pulled back. Her dark lashes lifted and his gaze rested on her.

“Let’s pick this up at my place?”

Nodding, a wicked smile spread across his face. “I’d like that.” He kept one arm around her and hailed a cab. One pulled over and he held the door for her, allowing her to slip in first. She quickly gave the address to the driver as anticipation built. Jack’s fingers caressed the skin of her knee and tickled up beneath the hem of her skirt to the sensitive flesh of her thigh. She placed her hand on his knee and looked up at him as his fingers climbed higher and the tip of one brushed over the front of her thong.