Crimson and Clover by Juli Page Morgan Page A

in a bit.”
    Adam’s short laugh carried no trace of amusement. “Don’t hurry on my account.” With a last accusatory look at Katie, Adam turned and left.
    Katie drew a shaky breath. “Well, that was awkward.”
    “He never did have much tact.” Jay leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. “I guess I have to go back to work.”
    “Looks that way.” Katie let her legs slide down until her feet reached the floor. Before she could move away, though, Jay’s warm hands cupped her face and his lips pressed a soft kiss to hers.
    “I’ve got to have you, Katie,” he whispered.
    “Yes,” she breathed against his lips.
    His hands slid into her hair and he gripped her head. “I want to hear you say that again. And again and again.”
    “Yes, Jay.” She gasped as he pulled her head forward and kissed her with a leashed-in ferocity.
    He released her and smoothed her hair before he stepped back. One finger traced the outline of her lips. “Soon,” he said under his breath before he followed Adam down the hall.

CHAPTER TWELVE
    A three-hour nap worked wonders in restoring brain cells and Katie awoke feeling alert, refreshed and hungry. She’d been too busy coming on to and making out with Jay to satisfy the munchies that had resulted from Carol’s contribution to the afternoon’s festivities and the toast she’d had for breakfast was a distant memory.
    Despite the chill in her bedroom, she rolled out of bed and shed the clothes she’d fallen asleep wearing. Shivering, she pulled on her worn lilac robe, gasping as the cool satin came into contact with her bare skin. After adding a thick pair of socks to protect her feet from the cold floor, she darted into the kitchen and cranked the space heater to its highest setting. As the coils slowly began to glow orange, she checked the refrigerator, stomach growling in anticipation. A container of leftover lo mein caught her eye and she pulled it from the fridge along with the pitcher of tea. They were both cold, but the kitchen would warm up soon enough.
    Over her head, she heard the mechanical whirr of Maureen’s sewing machine and it served to emphasize how quiet her own flat was. She placed her food on the table and went into the front room where she turned on the heater before grabbing a stack of random forty-five rpm records. She piled them onto the spindle of the turntable and turned on the stereo. The gentle melody of The Troggs’ “Love Is All Around” flowed from the speakers, and Katie adjusted the volume so she could hear it while she ate.
    Back in the kitchen, she sat down to her solitary meal. When the phone rang halfway through, she reached behind her and snagged the receiver from its cradle. Her contented frame of mind vanished in an instant as Jay’s voice came down the line.
    “Hello, love.”
    A bolt of excitement shot through her, leaving all of her tingling. “Hi, Jay.” It was only as she spoke that she realized her mouth was curved in a goofy smile she was unable to erase.
    “I know it’s rather late,” Jay’s voice purred into her ear. “But I was wondering if you have plans tonight.”
    Katie didn’t realize she’d leaped to her feet until she found herself standing upright with a death grip on the back of the chair. “No. No plans.”
    “Then I’ll pick you up in a half-hour, shall I?”
    Katie recognized the tightly restrained tension in his voice; she’d heard it up close and personal earlier that afternoon and now it echoed in her own voice as she answered.
    “I’ll be ready.”
    “Good,” Jay replied. “I’ll see you soon.”
    “Okay. ’Bye.” A wave of anticipation so intense it was almost painful coursed through her and she wondered if it was possible for the top of her head to literally explode.
    The thought of her head brought her hands up to her tangled hair. Had he really said a half-hour?
Thirty minutes?
Dear God! Brought out of her trance, she tossed the food container in the bin and her glass