Meant To Be (21 page)

“Sam,” she announced and barged in without knocking. “So let’s hear it, how was your day? I had such a great time. I should have had a little more faith in you when you said—” The pure high of excitement she had when she walked in there immediately evaporated. She gasped, going speechless.

“
Uh, Jenna.”

Sam was in bed holding the sheet up to hide anything indecent while Caleb stood nude in the bathroom doorway with an unopened condom in hand. Jenna’s face flushed crimson at seeing his lower salute, and she fumbled trying to get to the door.

“
I’m so sorry.” Stuttering and embarrassed, she was almost in tears by the time she got to the hallway. Caleb’s laughter followed her halfway to her room. She’d brought all of this upon herself though. Right then and there she made a vow not to ever walk in on anyone ever again, and she owed Sam and Caleb an apology.

* * * *

“
Jenna.”

She could hear her name in the distance. She’d tossed and turned all night, thinking about her embarrassing encounter.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
She’d even smacked herself for it. “Jenna?”

Wait is that coffee?

She groaned, “Sam? What are you doing in my room?” Still half asleep, she didn’t care. Coffee waited for her, and that’s all that mattered right that second.

Sam laughed. “Well, at least I knew you were solo, thanks to last night. I’m just here to bring you coffee and to get some details about your date yesterday.”

Jenna blushed.

“
Come on dish it. I wanna know how it went.”

Jenna needed to apologize before getting to the good stuff. “Sam, about last night—”

“
Oh, hush. We really don’t need to get into that part right now. All is forgiven. Now come on, what about Brady? Spill it.”

“It was great.” Jenna beamed, going on to give her every last detail.

“So you told him everything. Wow, that took guts, but how do you feel about all of this?”

“I’m fine, really, and was surprised that you hadn’t told him more about me. You seemed so determined to set us up.”

Sam laughed, “Honestly, hun, it wasn’t my place to tell him anything so personal. I am relieved that you’re both hitting it off. I think he’ll be good for you. I think he’ll give you just the right boost you need to get yourself back out there.”

“
God, I hope so.” Jenna winked, “But I find that he can run hot and cold at times. He was genuinely sincere, comforting, and we had a good time, but I guess I’m disappointed that he didn’t kissed me again after that one kiss on the trail.” She shrugged. “I’m still confused. I didn’t think I was ready to date, but he makes me feel so comfortable. There’s just something about Brady. I can’t explain it. So I guess maybe a holiday fling won’t hurt. It has been awhile.”

Sam laughed and gave her a hug. “That a girl. Now about last night? You obviously know that my date went very well.” She grinned wickedly. “Despite the minor interruption, so now there’s just one more question to ask.”

Jenna could feel the heat in her cheeks and could only imagine what shade of red they must have been. Clearing her throat, she braced herself for Sam’s question.

“I know you got a good look,” Sam said. “Now, Caleb’s gorgeous, but isn’t he absolutely delicious without any clothes on?”

Jenna stared in disbelief as Sam laughed because she’d caught her off guard.

“
He is one fine man,” Jenna agreed, when she found her voice. “But he’s no Brady.” Then she laughed with her.

* * * *

St. Stephen’s Green was packed. It seemed to be a popular spot as one of the many local bands played a catchy tune. “Oh, look, there’s Caleb,” Sam announced just as they got seated. She left Jenna and headed toward the tree-lined walkway to meet him.

“Oh, wonderful, ditched in unfamiliar territory.” She was probably better off standing at a distance. She wasn’t sure she could look Caleb in the eye after seeing him naked.

“Don’t look so glum, love.”

Jenna hadn’t seen him approach, but smiled as Brady sat down next to her.

“
Much better,” he smirked, wrapping an arm around her. “Listen, Sam wanted me to let ye know that somethin’ came up, and she’d meet ye later.”

She sat there in disbelief; Sam had actually ditched her. It had to be a first. Too angry to sit in one spot, she stood abruptly. Looking around quickly she saw there was no Sam in sight and walked away.

“Hey, where ye goin’?”

“
I can’t believe that she’d just ditch me like that. Something came up? I can just imagine what that something is. I mean I’m glad that Sam and Caleb are hitting it off, but this is ridiculous.”

She vented, and he laughed.

“
What?” she snapped, glaring at him, frustrated that he was laughing when there was nothing funny about it.

“I’ve just never seen ye mad before. Ye’r cute when ye get angry.”

She rolled her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself. It was pointless to carry on. Sam was who she was angry with, and the last thing she wanted was to make things awkward by acting like an idiot. Getting ditched wasn’t the end of the world, but boy, Sam was going to get an earful when she saw her again.

* * * *

Brady wasn’t sure what to do. It became clear that she didn’t want to stay at St. Stephen’s Green. She was upset that much was obvious, and man, she was cute. He still wanted to laugh, but she was just calming down, and he didn’t want her upset with him.

Christ, he wanted her.

“
Would ya like me to take ye back?” he had to ask. Sam and Caleb leaving her had been in the spur of the moment, and he had to be at work soon.

“Do you have the number for a taxi? I’d hate to inconvenience you.”

He laughed again. The only way this woman inconvenienced him was because he couldn’t stop thinking about her. She was a gem, but she also drove him crazy with need. He was getting hard just standing close to her. Hell, he’d relieved himself in the shower that morning, picturing her breast rubbing up against him the way they had when he’d lowered her to the ground the day before, but naked.

He’d nipped at one of her nipples, teasing, licking and suckling them. Her clit bloomed, and he’d smell her arousal. Taking his time, he hadn’t stopped until he tasted all of her. She’d moaned and trembled until she’d begged him for release and then he’d given it to her fast and hard.

His cock throbbed with anticipation just thinking of it again, and he nearly groaned. He’d have to get a cold shower before heading to work now, but it served him right for getting himself worked up like that. Jenna was just too much temptation, and he knew she’d be dynamite. However, she was also special, and she’d been through a lot so he had to be patient.

“Don’t be silly, darlin’. There is no way I would send ye away in one of those when I have my car. Besides, I like spendin’ time with ye, and I hope to take advantage of it as much as I can. If ye’ll let me.”

* * * *

She could sense him watching her, taking quick peeks while driving “Do I have something on my face?”

“What?”

“Maybe a booger in my nose,” she teased, praying that she didn’t, of course.

She laughed, but he was louder.

“
What are ye talkin’ about, Jenna?”

“Well, I’ve noticed that you look at me a lot, especially when we’re in the car, and I was just wondering…” She took a deep breath not feeling sure about whether or not she wanted to know what he was thinking or how he was feeling. She lightened up and went with honesty. “Okay, maybe I was trying to be funny. I like it when you smile.”

He smiled again but didn’t answer, clearly distracted in thought.

“
You’re awfully quiet. Are you going to give me an answer?”

“
About what?”

“Do I have something on my face?” She liked playing with him a bit.

He stopped the car on the side of the road, giving her his undivided attention, smiling again when he looked at her, “Well, let me see,” he said, going along with it. He moved his face closer to check. “Nope nothin’.”

Breathless with his close proximity, she had to resist fanning herself. The heat between them intensified and electricity sparkled around them in anticipation.

“
Jenna,” he moaned, moving closer.

“
Shut up and kiss me,” she teased, loving that she affected him as much as he affected her.

Wrapping her fist in his shirt, she yanked him closer so she could kiss him hard. It was so fricken good she could kiss him for hours--among other things. Man, she hoped he had nowhere to be for a while, because her plans involved relieving almost two years of sexual frustration. Damn, she’d forgotten how good it felt to be in such strong arms.

He broke the kiss first with heavy breath. “Jenna, we’re still in the car, love. Let’s not push it.”

Her face turned bright red, and she started to shake with anxiety. He’d been right to stop. Thank God for that. With her track record, being in the car and getting all hot and heavy definitely wasn’t the best idea.

“
You’re right and thank you. I really don’t know what I was thinking.”
I am such an idiot.

Covering her face, she just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. Embarrassed, she was in the process of trying to control an anxiety attack. She’d been too absorbed with her desires to think clearly. Thank God one of them still had a level head. “I’m so sorry.”

“
No worries, love. I enjoyed it.” He reached across the seat to give her hand a little squeeze as he started out again. “Really, Jenna, it’s all right. Ye’ll be out of the car soon enough. We’ve almost arrived.”

By the time they’d reached the hotel she began to calm, but still didn’t want their time to end. He left the car running, got out and opened the passenger side door.

“
Would you like to come up?”

“
Now that’s a silly question,” he whispered, kissing her again. “Sorry, darlin’, I really would love to come up, but I’ve got somewhere to be. I just can’t right now.”

Okay, so maybe he wasn’t as into her as she thought.
Or maybe you’re just overreacting, Jenna.
Regardless, it was disappointing. She knew that he had a life, obligations, and a job that he had to go to, but the rejection kind of hurt. Opening up like this was hard for her. Tyler had been her life for so long, and she was finally willing to give herself to someone else. Yep, rejection sucked.

“Of course.” She stepped away from his embrace and his car. It was stupid, childish, and deep down she knew she was overreacting, but all she wanted was to get away. “I’ll, uh, see you later.” Waving, she headed to the entrance.

“Jenna, wait,” he called out, pulling her towards him again. “Shite, Jenna, I’ll definitely take a rain check. I feel really bad for refusin’, and if it hadn’t been for that damn shipment that I have to help unload at the boozer, I probably wouldn’t bother goin’ to work at all. Believe me, love, there is nothin’ I’d rather be doin’ than goin’ up there with ye right now. I want ye bad.” He sighed before pulling her up against the car to discretely place her hand on his crotch. “Feel how much.”

He moaned as she stroked him, making her gasp at how bold she was being.

“
Jenna.” he said through clenched teeth. “Ye have to stop, love, or there’ll be trouble.”

“
Is that a promise?”