Come by Becca Jameson Page A

her ear. She felt like Frankenstein beside this man, swollen face and all.
    Rafe returned to the table, set a plate down for each of them and then added a heaping platter of pancakes and sausage. Before he sat, he poured them both orange juice. “How does your face feel?”
    Katy touched her nose and winced. “Sore.”
    “Do you want some more ibuprofen?”
    “No. I’ll be fine. Thanks.”
    Rafe put several pancakes on his plate and poured syrup over them.
    Katy wasn’t sure she could eat yet. She watched as he took his first bite. Even eating was sexy when he did it. She couldn’t stop staring.
    Rafe paused with his next bite in the air and looked at her. She must have been eyeing his pecs, because he glanced down and then set his fork down. “Shit. I’m sorry. I should have at least put a shirt on at the table.” He wiped his mouth on a napkin and moved to scoot his chair back.
    Katy grabbed his arm. “No.” The word escaped her lips before she could filter herself. “I mean, I’m enjoying the show. Please. Don’t get dressed on my account.”
    Rafe chuckled and resumed his spot. “Enjoying the show?”
    “Well, you know. You aren’t hard on the eyes.” She shrugged and tried to nonchalantly fill her plate. Her mouth was like cotton. She couldn’t keep her legs still under the table and the ache that had developed in her stomach when she’d first laid eyes on him this morning was turning into more of a deep longing.
    He’d probably done nothing out of the ordinary to look that delicious in the morning. Katy couldn’t look that enticing if she’d gotten up an hour ago and primped first.
    “Sorry. I’m not used to having house guests. I wasn’t thinking.”
    She shook her head. “Feel free to go shirtless any time.” Katy took a bite, fighting her embarrassment.
    Rafe reached forward with one finger and wiped the corner of her mouth, licking the sticky syrup from his finger afterward. Every move he made was erotic. And he showed no outward signs that he was in any way interested in more than a friendship this morning.
    He was cordial and polite, but he hadn’t done anything to indicate he was her boyfriend.
    Of course what did she expect? He hadn’t intended to have her as a house guest when he’d shown up for dinner last night. He didn’t seem miffed in any way, but their relationship wasn’t exactly on a level that would assume such an imposition for more than a night.
    Rafe finished first and then sat back. “So, I hope you don’t mind, but I usually work out on Saturday mornings—”
    “God, no. Of course. I should get going myself. I have a lot to do.” She interrupted whatever he was going to say. He wanted to get out of there. He probably regretted inviting her in the first place.
    He narrowed his eyes at her. “Going? Where?” He shook his head. “No. What I was going to say is that, I don’t want to leave you here alone, and I didn’t figure you would want to come to the gym with me, so I invited my friend Mason to come here to work out.”
    He leaned forward and set his elbows on the table. He took her hand. “Relax. You look so uptight.”
    “Well, I figured… I mean, we…” What the hell was she supposed to say?
    He smiled. “You aren’t going anywhere. It’s not safe. I want you safe. Can you handle me having Mason over for a while? I’ll call him and cancel if it makes you uncomfortable.”
    She stared at him. “Of course not. I thought maybe you would like your privacy back. I mean, this took you off guard and all. I’m in the way.” She shrugged.
    Rafe stood and pulled her to standing also. He took her face in both hands and kissed her so fast, she didn’t have a chance to think. A deep thorough kiss that left her weak in the knees. He tasted of syrup and coffee. She imagined she did too. And she didn’t notice her sore lips at all.
    When he pulled back, he was grinning. “I want you here. In fact, I insist. Sure, it’s kind of awkward seeing as we