His smile was wry. "Somehow, it doesn't seem the same." Stepping closer to her, he asked, "Will you email him again?"
Her pulse raced, the room got hot, and every nerve in her body came alive with Jake so close. "That would be the polite thing to do." Trying for a light tone, she teased, "I could email you, too."
He tipped up her chin. "I'd rather have the kind of thank you you gave me after you opened your presents."
The pad of his thumb traced her upper lip so gently, so sensuously, she trembled. He murmured, "Happy Birthday, Sara," a moment before his lips sought hers.
It was a possession, a branding, a desire to change this marriage of convenience into something more. She surrendered to the possession, gave to it, encouraging it, encouraging Jake to take more, want more, trust more. She responded to each stroke of his tongue, as her body melted into his.
"Sara, do you want me to freeze some of the cake? I can...Oh. Sorry."
Jake broke away, and Sara opened her eyes in time to see her aunt scurrying out of the room. But this time, when she gazed into Jake's eyes, he didn't move away. In fact, his hand still rested on the small of her back.
"We have to put Christopher to bed." His voice was husky with the desire they'd shared.
"Jake, thank you for the flowers, the present, the party."
"You're welcome."
The gentle touch of his hand on her back, the golden lights in his eyes, the small smile on his lips told her more than words that he hadn't planned her birthday out of obligation. He cared. And maybe soon that caring would become love.
Chapter Eight
"Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen." Sara counted slowly, giving Christopher time to find what he considered a good hiding place. He loved to play hide and seek, especially upstairs where he could slide under a bed or behind a drape.
Drapes and a bed brought Jake's room to mind. Maybe soon she'd be sharing it with him, maybe soon they'd truly be husband and wife. Her birthday party last night had been proof that he cared--and maybe more than cared.
No longer hearing Christopher shuffling into a place to hide, she finished her counting. "Eighteen, nineteen, twenty. Here I come, ready or not."
Sara peeked outside the bathroom where she'd waited. She suspected Christopher might be in his favorite hiding place, but in the name of the game she looked carefully around his room. "No Christopher," she said in a loud voice. Stopping at the door to her bedroom, she called, "Christopher, where are you?" and heard a giggle. Her guess was correct. Going to the walk-in closet, she opened the door. Slowly, she separated clothes on the rod to peer behind them. "Christopher's not here, either. Maybe he's in his dad's room."
She heard the giggle again.
One side of the closet held blouses, skirts and sweaters. Underneath them stood a round wicker clothes hamper. Her son had wedged himself behind it, but his feet protruded.
"Why, I think I see a sneaker that doesn't belong in here." She wiggled his foot, and he giggled again. "I think I see a stocking, and a leg, and..." She pushed the hamper out of the way. "There's Christopher!"
When she tickled his tummy, he laughed and said, "You found me, Mommy."
She lifted him out of the corner. "You bet I did. I'll always find you. And just in time, too. Teddy told me he's ready for his nap."
"He did not."
She tickled Christopher again and set him outside the closet. "Did, too. Go to the bathroom, then I'll read you a story."
Sara was aware that her son was growing out of nap times. Sometimes, she'd peek in and find him paging through a stack of books. Others, he'd be running his cars over his pillow or talking to Teddy. Many days she found him fast asleep.
She'd read him a story, kissed him, and partially closed his door when the doorbell rang. When Jake answered it, she heard voices, both male and female. Gillian had left for the day. Maybe she'd forgotten something.
Suddenly, Jake's voice came up the stairs. "Sara. Can you come down for a few minutes?"
When she descended the steps, Jake, Harv, and a pretty woman who looked to be about Harv's age were standing in the living room. Harv was grinning from ear to ear. "I wanted you to join us because I want to ask you and Jake a favor."
Sara crossed to Jake and stood beside him.
"But, first, I want to introduce you to Bernadette."
Sara extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you."
Bernadette, a tall redhead with beautiful green eyes, gently gripped Sara's hand. "Harv told me how you assured him Jake would find me and how your words kept him going." She gave Harv a loving smile.
Sara glanced at Jake. He frowned and she realized they both remembered how he'd scolded her the last time Harv was here. "Harv thought I was Jake's partner that day."
"I'm sorry I mistook you for Jake's partner. I've never met her. But it's much nicer that you're Jake's wife. It'll make my idea more attractive, I hope."
Jake motioned to the sofa and they all sat. "What idea is that?"
"Bernie and I are getting married. We've wasted enough time. We want to do it as soon as possible and in style. How would you two like to fly to Las Vegas with us tomorrow? I know it's short notice, and Christmas is less than a week away, but it would only be overnight. You can be our witnesses at the ceremony. We'll have a nice dinner and stay overnight and fly back the next morning. What do you say?"
Sara thought Jake would turn down Harv's offer right away, but instead he seemed to be thinking about it. He turned to Sara. "You're finished shopping and baking, right?"
"I have some wrapping left. That's about it. Why? Do you want to go?"
"You didn't get a honeymoon."
Her mind went into overdrive. "You mean...?"
"I mean, it would be nice to get away overnight and relax before the holidays. If you think Christopher won't mind staying with Eloise."
"Oh, I don't think he'll mind. Not just one night. We can ask him when he gets up."
"Harv, we're honored you asked us. Can I call you in a couple of hours and give you our answer?"
"Well, sure. That'll be fine."
After Jake and Sara saw Harv and Bernadette to the door, Jake closed it and turned toward her. "Would you like to go? Harv kind of put us both on the spot."
"It would be nice to spend some time alone with you--without Christopher, I mean. We could concentrate on us."
Jake took her hand, held it in his palm, and smoothed his fingers over the top. "I'd like to concentrate on us."
Her heart soared. This was the moment she'd been waiting for--Jake willing to believe in her again…in them.
Las Vegas
, here we come
.
#
The bellboy smiled when he looked at the tip Jake handed him. "Thank you, sir. Anything else you need..."
"We're fine. Thank you." He closed the door on the young man.
Sara picked up her garment bag to hang it in the closet. Jake took it from her. "I'll do that."
His leg brushed hers, khaki slacks against her tunic top and leggings. They'd been touching more lately, not jumping apart, letting the sensations linger--at home, in Harv's private plane, as they checked into the hotel. It was tantalizing and frustrating at the same time.
Jake crossed to the closet and hung up the garment bag. "We have two hours before the ceremony. What would you like to do?"
Sara's gaze met his across the two double beds.
His brown eyes sparked with gold, and she knew they were both thinking the same thing. But the first move had to be his. She wouldn't ask him to make love to her. She wouldn't beg for his trust.
"We could look around," she suggested. "Take a walk. I've never been to Las Vegas."
"At night, it's lit up like a Christmas tree. All year round. But we can walk around now if you'd like."
Sara took in everything--the desert, the marquises, the people on the street. She smiled at passers-by, and they smiled back. Jake guided her past resorts, restaurants, and wedding chapels. When they returned to the room, Sara sank down on the bed. "Whew! This is some place, isn't it?"
He smiled. "Nice place to visit but you wouldn't want to live here?"
She smiled back. "Something like that." She paused, and chose her words carefully. "I'd like to get a shower. Uh..."
"You go ahead. I'll get one when you're finished." He picked up the ice bucket on the dresser. "I'll go get some ice. Would you like anything to drink?"
"Juice of some kind if they have it."
He nodded and went out the door.
She let out a pent-up breath. They were being so careful with each other. Like they were on their first date. Maybe they were.
Sara had packed light--the Christmas dress for the ceremony and dinner, jeans and a blouse for their return trip, and...a satin nightgown and robe. Wishful thinking perhaps, but just in case...
Taking shampoo, brush and comb from the pocket of the garment bag, she took the robe from its hanger and went into the bathroom. In the shower, she let the hot water beat on the back of her neck. She hadn't realized how much tension she was holding there. When she finished showering, she used the hair dryer on the wall to dry her hair.
She opened the door and stepped into the bedroom.
Jake was sitting in the chair by the window, rifling through a newspaper, sipping at a cola. His terry robe lay on one bed. "I got you orange juice. They..."
Gazing at her above the newspaper, his eyes became dark and dangerous.
She cleared her throat. "I...uh...can put on my make-up at the vanity out here if you want to shower."
He folded the newspaper in half and laid it on the table. When he stood, she backed up. But it didn't matter because he picked up his robe and came toward her anyway. Stopping in front of her, his gaze started at her feet and slowly moved up her body until it lingered on her lips, finally her eyes.
"If I kiss you now, we'll never make it to Harv and Bernie's wedding."
Her hands trembled and her knees wobbled. "They'd be disappointed."
"Unfortunately, that's true." He slipped by her, but stopped at the threshold of the bathroom. "It would be a good idea if you're dressed when I come out."
Sara sank down on one of the beds. She had the feeling this was going to be an evening she'd never forget.
She'd applied make-up, dressed, and was clipping a gold barrette in her hair when the bathroom door opened. Making herself stay facing forward, she took a peek at Jake in the mirror. His hair was still damp, brushed to one side, tendrils dangling on the nape of his neck. The V of the robe's lapels displayed a matt of black chest hair. The hem of the garment stopped at his thighs, powerful thighs that even in shorts didn't look as sexy as they did below the robe.
When he crossed to the closet, she slipped into the bathroom again and closed the door. There, she waited until he had time to dress. She felt foolish, but also awkward, hopeful, and excited, too. Finally, she opened the door.
Jake was tying his tie when she crossed to the dresser.
She opened her purse and dropped her lipstick inside. Suddenly she felt Jake close, his hand on her shoulder.
He gently turned her toward him. "You look beautiful." He traced the gold braiding on her collar. "Like a Christmas angel."
"And you look very handsome in your suit. It reminds me of our wedding day." Still a bit damp, Jake's hair tumbled over his forehead. Sara couldn't keep herself from touching him, from pushing it over his brow.
He took her hand and brought it to his lips. They were warm and sensual on her palm. "We have a wedding to attend." His murmur was a husky reminder that they were in Las Vegas for a reason. They'd have to deal with their feelings and desires later.
#
Sara marveled at the circus atmosphere in Las Vegas. Weddings were a breed unto themselves--from the drive-up window where couples exchanged vows in their car to the chapels where Elvis impersonators performed solos. A limousine had met them at the airport when they arrived. Jake had told her on the plane that it was Harv's usual mode of transportation when traveling.
Sitting beside his fiancée, Harv pointed to the bottle of champagne chilling in its magnum. "We'll break that open after the ceremony." He took his fiancée's hand and put it on his knee. "It was only a month or so ago these folks got hitched. Got any advice, Jake?"
Jake shook his head. "I'm no expert."
Bernie addressed Sara. "I guess what I'm worried about most is both of us being so set in our ways, we'll drive each other crazy."
"As long as you love each other, you can get past that. You can compromise," Sara answered, believing it.
Harv squeezed Bernie's hand. "Havin' doubts, darlin'?"
Her eyes found his. "Not about loving you."
His expression got serious. "Then I agree with Sara. The rest will settle itself. We've waited too long not to be together now."