door.
She preferred to think she wasn’t totally on her own in a confusing world. When Jess called to see if she wanted to go to dinner, she’d say yes. See where things led from there.
Grams poured tea into her waiting mug when she entered the family kitchen. “Did you hear? Old man Harris plowed right into your mother. Tell her, Janet. Tell her what the old fool had the chutzpah to say.”
“Well,” her mom’s eyes glittered, “he backs out of his drive right into my back fender. Bang! ” She clapped her hands like two great cymbals. “Didn’t know what hit me. Gets out of his car, shakes his fist at me through the window...I’m in shock mind you...and says, ‘Stay in the house if you can’t drive that machine,’” she said in a deep voice.
Everyone laughed.
“Old fool,” Grams grumped.
Madeleine didn’t want to split hairs with Grams, but Mr. Harris had her by only a couple of years. Not to mention losing the keys to the Mini resulted after two traffic fines and running down their mail box twice in one month. She bit down on a grin and shared a knowing look with her mom. “Pie?” Her mom made a slice in the pecan pie on the table.
Madeleine shook her head. “I’ll pass.” She sipped the hot tea feeling pleased with the newfound strength to resist the ever-present bakery at the center of the table. Maybe she would find new strength in other areas of her life as well.
She glanced at her dad trying to determine if he’d witnessed Jess kissing her. He winked without any mention or tease in front of the family. Thank you, Dad . Their eyes talked in secret code much as she and her mom had moments ago. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t share what he saw with his wife in bed. She often heard the soft murmur of their conversations before the lights went out. One nighttime ritual she missed.
Madeleine daydreamed about Jess and hoped he would make good on his mention of calling her tomorrow. She would be so very disappointed if he teased because she had refused him so often.
Chapter Nine
Jess rocked his office chair back and noted several smudges on the ceiling while thinking about Madeleine. Their kiss had been everything he’d imagined and more. Had he really thought it would be less? The kiss just happened. Cut short but enough for him to know he wanted a lot more of Madeleine.
The problem, as he saw it, was his dogged pursuit with a full court press. Her sudden change of heart left him wondering if she’d given in out of frustration and the awful day she’d endured or had a sincere desire to see him as date material. He wasn’t sure he could continue to see her in a platonic friendship when he wanted more.
Coercing her into a relationship because he happened to show up at her lowest point made his skin crawl. He wanted her there because she saw more than an amputee in need of pity.
In spite of the obvious change last night, she still ballet danced on a tight rope. One moment she took a chance. The next she changed her mind about seeing him. Did he really want to call and hear her swing on the side of rejection when all his heart hoped he’d gained enough of her trust to date?
And she definitely was the one who pulled back at the precise moment they wandered into the deep waters of passion. When the tip of his tongue teased her soft lips so warm and moist and inviting him in. Another change of heart?
He berated himself. Madeleine made it clear from the get go that she wasn’t ready to move on. The kiss might have said more to him than her, a girl whose pride had been stripped by a really bad boss. He had no idea if she wanted another one.
What had he thought playing tongue tango with his mind drifting to their getting naked sometime soon? She’d pulled back and tremors of dread cooled his body. Had the change of heart been her realization that one day they might actually make it past kissing?
This wasn’t a woman you stripped of her panties to satisfy physical needs. He’d had
She preferred to think she wasn’t totally on her own in a confusing world. When Jess called to see if she wanted to go to dinner, she’d say yes. See where things led from there.
Grams poured tea into her waiting mug when she entered the family kitchen. “Did you hear? Old man Harris plowed right into your mother. Tell her, Janet. Tell her what the old fool had the chutzpah to say.”
“Well,” her mom’s eyes glittered, “he backs out of his drive right into my back fender. Bang! ” She clapped her hands like two great cymbals. “Didn’t know what hit me. Gets out of his car, shakes his fist at me through the window...I’m in shock mind you...and says, ‘Stay in the house if you can’t drive that machine,’” she said in a deep voice.
Everyone laughed.
“Old fool,” Grams grumped.
Madeleine didn’t want to split hairs with Grams, but Mr. Harris had her by only a couple of years. Not to mention losing the keys to the Mini resulted after two traffic fines and running down their mail box twice in one month. She bit down on a grin and shared a knowing look with her mom. “Pie?” Her mom made a slice in the pecan pie on the table.
Madeleine shook her head. “I’ll pass.” She sipped the hot tea feeling pleased with the newfound strength to resist the ever-present bakery at the center of the table. Maybe she would find new strength in other areas of her life as well.
She glanced at her dad trying to determine if he’d witnessed Jess kissing her. He winked without any mention or tease in front of the family. Thank you, Dad . Their eyes talked in secret code much as she and her mom had moments ago. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t share what he saw with his wife in bed. She often heard the soft murmur of their conversations before the lights went out. One nighttime ritual she missed.
Madeleine daydreamed about Jess and hoped he would make good on his mention of calling her tomorrow. She would be so very disappointed if he teased because she had refused him so often.
Chapter Nine
Jess rocked his office chair back and noted several smudges on the ceiling while thinking about Madeleine. Their kiss had been everything he’d imagined and more. Had he really thought it would be less? The kiss just happened. Cut short but enough for him to know he wanted a lot more of Madeleine.
The problem, as he saw it, was his dogged pursuit with a full court press. Her sudden change of heart left him wondering if she’d given in out of frustration and the awful day she’d endured or had a sincere desire to see him as date material. He wasn’t sure he could continue to see her in a platonic friendship when he wanted more.
Coercing her into a relationship because he happened to show up at her lowest point made his skin crawl. He wanted her there because she saw more than an amputee in need of pity.
In spite of the obvious change last night, she still ballet danced on a tight rope. One moment she took a chance. The next she changed her mind about seeing him. Did he really want to call and hear her swing on the side of rejection when all his heart hoped he’d gained enough of her trust to date?
And she definitely was the one who pulled back at the precise moment they wandered into the deep waters of passion. When the tip of his tongue teased her soft lips so warm and moist and inviting him in. Another change of heart?
He berated himself. Madeleine made it clear from the get go that she wasn’t ready to move on. The kiss might have said more to him than her, a girl whose pride had been stripped by a really bad boss. He had no idea if she wanted another one.
What had he thought playing tongue tango with his mind drifting to their getting naked sometime soon? She’d pulled back and tremors of dread cooled his body. Had the change of heart been her realization that one day they might actually make it past kissing?
This wasn’t a woman you stripped of her panties to satisfy physical needs. He’d had
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