Ties That Bind by Brenda Jackson Page A

placed the key in the ignition, he reached over and caressed Jenna’s thigh, needing to touch her. Yesterday had been the first time he had seen her in the two weeks since they had left school for the holidays. He couldn’t do what he had wanted to do upon first seeing her, which was to take her into his arms and kiss her. In fact, he hadn’t been able to do anything with her, not even hold her hand. A shudder ran through him when he felt her tremble slightly beneath his touch. It was still there, that automatic reaction they always got whenever they touched or kissed.
    They had driven several miles heading out of Knoxville when Randolph couldn’t take it any longer and pulled the car off the highway onto the shoulder of the road. He reached across the seat and pulled Jenna into his arms.
    The moment their mouths touched, sizzling sensations passed through both of their bodies as they engaged in a hot, tongue-thrusting, curl-your-toes, red-blooded kiss.
    Moments later, the unexpected blast from a tractor trailer’s horn broke them apart. Both leaned back against their seats, panting for breath.
    â€œI needed that. I don’t think I could have driven another mile without it.”
    Jenna smiled. “And I don’t think I could have let you driven another mile without doing it.”
    Randolph grinned as he glanced over at her. She was wearing a
green dress, one a woman would probably wear to church on Sunday, and he knew she had done so to make a good impression on his grandparents. Her hair was neatly curled and she wore very little makeup if any at all, and her lips were still moist from their kiss. He wanted to lean over and get another taste of them. “You look good,” he said finally. “Every time I see you I think you get prettier and prettier.”
    Her smile widened, pleased with his compliment. “Mr. Fuller, if you’re fishing for brownie points you’re definitely on the right road to getting them.”
    Randolph laughed. “Speaking of roads, I guess I better get back onto this one if we’re to make it to Glendale Shores in a reasonable time. Your parents and my grandparents expect us to arrive before dark.” He started the car again and rejoined traffic.
    â€œRandolph?”
    He took his eyes off the road for a quick second and glanced over at her. Her face appeared flush with heat and her eyes were filled with desire. “Yes, sweetheart, what is it?”
    â€œYou’re going to behave yourself around your grandparents the same way you behaved around my parents, aren’t you?”
    His lips twitched into a smile. “Do you want me to?”
    â€œNo, not really but I think you should. I want your grandparents to like me. I don’t want them to think I’m not a nice girl or anything like that.”
    Randolph heard the nervousness in her voice and knew meeting his grandparents and making a good impression was important to her. “You are a nice girl and they will know it whether I behave or not. But I won’t do anything to make you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Like your parents, my grandparents love each other very much. Gramma Mattie knows and understands how it is to be in love, Jenna. She knows just how important you are to me and because of that, you will be important to her as well. She knows I plan to marry you once I finish law school.”
    He chuckled then. “She also knows me and knows it’s going to be hard for me to keep my hands to myself around you, but she has assured your parents that you will be properly chaperoned and you
better believe she meant it. But … my grandparents have to go to sleep sometime.”
    Jenna kept her gaze focused on Randolph as a thought came to her. She frowned. “You’re not thinking of sneaking into my room when they are asleep, are you?”
    He grinned at her. “Yeah, I was seriously thinking about it.”
    â€œOh, Randolph, please