Sharks (9 page)

The voice in his head was overriding his rational thoughts. He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply in an effort to calm his racing hormones. She always made him feel this way, but Sara…

Sara did too.

"As long as you are just joking around. I'll meet you in the kitchen for coffee and breakfast. Are you hungry?" She slanted him what he hoped was a flirtatious look and a huge smile.

"Starving." He wasn't thinking about food. He made a mental note to take a cold shower before he let his wayward thoughts flood from his mouth. Think before you speak was applicable but think before you act had more meaning at the moment. "What's in your fridge?"

"Maybe you can scramble a few eggs too. Oh, Amanda isn't home today. You can have the kitchen all to yourself." Lilly winked at him and disappeared up the steps to her room.

What did that wink mean? He didn't want the kitchen all to himself. He wanted to share it with Lilly. And wow--he couldn't take his eyes away from her curvaceous little butt.

Jacob put his hand over his pounding heart then set about in the kitchen, humming and rearranging dishes and paraphernalia so he would have room to cook. In only a few minutes, he had the coffee perking away and the eggs scrambled and set in the microwave in hopes of staying warm.

Sitting at the table and sipping on his coffee, he let his mind wander backwards and tried to put together the pieces of the puzzle. Why didn't their feeble attempts at dating work? If he could figure that out, he might be able to devise a recipe for success.

They were nothing alike.

"Umm…smells good and I'm famished."
 

Lilly waltzed through the door, towel drying her hair not one speck of makeup on her beautiful face. He had always loved the light spattering of freckles she had across her nose. Her eyes so green, they mirrored an Irish hillside. She had the cutest little body and her legs, encased in skinny black jeans, seemed to go on forever.

Once again he was forced to focus on the moment and push his fantasies about Lilly to the back of his mind. He rose and set the plates on the table then poured her a cup of coffee.

"Have anything planned for today?" Jacob asked, thinking about romancing the beautiful spring day with Lilly at his side.

Sara, don't forget about Sara, you jackass. You were going to tell Lilly all about Sara.

"Thought we could drive down by the river, maybe have a little picnic, reminisce," Lilly said after she'd swallowed a bite of egg. "These are the best you have ever made." She pointed her fork at the food.

"Thank you. But I didn't do anything differently."

"April fools--naught. They are really good."

"I would think we were past the trickery. The old spider in your hair has run its course, right?"

For a few seconds Lilly drummed her fork on the table, watching him with a strange expression on her face. "Is there something bothering you?"

His heart did a huge flip-flop and his gut clenched. He grimaced before saying, "No, why?" She could always read his thoughts. Once, that had felt scary to him, but after a time he had grown used to her uncanny abilities.

"You seem far away, unfocused, I don't know. It's like you are trying to tell me something but you don't know how."

The ESP clearly thrummed around the room. She knew his thoughts before he did. "You, my dear, are very intuitive."

"Jacob, I've known you forever. To me you read like an open book. I know something is bothering you."

"I did leave in the middle of the night because I had something I wanted to tell you--run by you--get your opinion. But now I don't. My thoughts were premature and that hesitation and uncertainty is what you are seeing." His muscles across his back tensed. He rubbed his neck to bide for time.

"I'm not understanding what you are trying to tell me." Lilly scratched her head and gave him her
I think you are crazy
face
.

"Want to run anything by you. I've changed my mind." Jacob turned his back to Lilly not wanting her to see the expression on his face. He schooled his features before turning back to her.

"Anything I said? Or didn't say?" Lilly asked.

No kiddo, just looking at you.
"Suffice it to say, I'm just not ready to talk about it. When I've made up my mind you, will be the first person I will tell."

Lilly smiled and reaching for his hands, "Promise?" she cocked her head to one side as if inquiring into his most inner most thoughts.

"We are the best of friends, always will be. We have never kept secrets and I'm not going to start now," Jacob said. "Just give me time to put all this into perspective."

"I saw Bentley last night at the club."

That statement blindsided him and forced all other thoughts from his head. "He didn't try anything."

"No, I don't think he knew I saw him but it really
creeped
me out. Sometimes I feel as if I'm being followed and I turn around and no one is there. And sometimes I turn around and he is there."

"I want you to be extra careful--don't take any chances." Jacob felt goose bumps rise on his arms.

"I have been. Amanda was there--with me. She is so carefree. I wish I could be that way. I'm so tired of looking over my shoulder afraid I will see him or that he will try again."

If he married Lilly, he could protect her from all the Bentleys of the world. That's not a reason to marry.

I love her. That is a reason. But I love Sara too. Everything is different with Sara.

We don't work that way.

You haven't tried in a long time.

He couldn't just blurt out that he wanted to date her. To see if they could build a relationship.

Why not?

Because she didn't know he had unexplored feelings for her.

So tell her.

Chapter Five

September 2011

From the top of the Eiffel Tower, with a three hundred sixty degree view, Lilly could see the entire city. Lilly closed her eyes and soaked in the smells and the sounds that were Paris.

"How are you, Lilly?"

OMG! "Bentley…" She stepped back her, hands shaking and her body trembling. She looked around searching for some way to escape. In the hoard of people there was nothing to do but talk to him

"Yes," he said his voice smooth, his hair perfect and his nails manicured.

"You scared the…"

Too refined, he could be twirling his mustache. Yes, she knew Bentley was here. Work brought them to the same places many times but each time he became bolder in his approach to her.

"Do you even realize you make me feel as if you are stalking me?" Lilly shivered inside, rubbing her arms as if it would bring warmth where there was only ice. Perhaps telling him the truth wasn't such a good idea. But they'd managed well over the last few years while working in the same corporation. The building was huge and most days she didn't see him. For all things social, Amanda had proven to be a great buffer.

But Amanda wasn't in Paris.

"Ah, Lilly, you do me an injustice," he told her as he stepped closer, their arms brushing. "I just want to be friends. I'm not the bad guy you think I am."

She shuddered, holding her breath for a fraction of time. "There is no unfairness here." She stepped away. "I call it how I feel and we will never--ever--be friends." Her pounded beneath her ribs.

"We could be the best of friends."

"You've got to be joking," Lilly said, walking towards the elevator to take her down to the street and away from the one man on this earth she despised.

Bentley grabbed her shoulder, turning her. "Stop. Give me a chance," he said, his voice begging--a pleading tone to it. "Please..."

She shrugged his hand off. "That's the trouble, Bentley. You don't know the meaning of the word. You don't understand the word stop and you have no idea how to be a friend." Anger flashed through her so intensely she started quivering again.

"I've changed."

She backed away, shaking her head in total disbelief.

The elevator door closed in front of her, leaving Bentley behind. She knew this was only a reprieve, and she would have to deal with him most likely sooner than later. But she couldn't figure it out because he seemed different today. Nicer…