Jade

My search for any connection between Larry Wade and Daphne Steel, other than their father’s first two names, came up at a dead end.

I sighed and got ready to leave the office. Talon had looked so strange this morning, and because of what had happened last time we were together, I knew he wouldn’t come to me. So I would go to him. I texted Marj quickly to let her know I was coming to the house. I grabbed the folder of the printed-out articles and also Larry’s and Daphne’s birth certificates and then headed to my apartment. I changed into casual clothes and drove out to the house.

Marj hadn’t returned my text, so I wasn’t overly surprised when she wasn’t home.

I knocked, and Talon came to the door, cute little Roger panting at his heels.

“Hey,” he said when he opened the door. He looked delicious in a burgundy button-down shirt and his signature jeans and cowboy boots. His hair was a mess, though a sexy mess, and the dark circles under his eyes were more pronounced than ever.

“Hey,” I said back. “I wanted to come check on you.”

“What for?”

“You seemed a little off in court today. Can I come in?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not? We’re in love, Talon. I want to spend some time with you. Make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m…”

“You’re what?”

He closed his eyes for a moment. Then, “I’m…afraid, Jade.”

“That’s silly.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know you.”

He shook his head. “Oh, blue eyes, you don’t know me.”

“Then what do I need to know? Tell me, Talon. I love you. I want to know everything about you.”

His facial features hardened. Up went the wall.

Damned if I was going to stand here on his front porch. I walked past him and into the foyer. I knelt down and let Roger lick my face while I scratched him behind his cute little ears.

“Have you eaten yet?” I asked.

Talon shook his head.

“What’s for dinner, then? I’m sure Felicia made something wonderful.”

“She left early today. She had to take her mother to a doctor’s appointment.”

“She never leaves you high and dry.” I walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. Sure enough, a Mexican casserole sat on the top shelf, along with instructions for making it. I preheated the oven and put it in.

“Casserole will be ready in about forty-five minutes. Or”—I smiled—“if you’d rather, I can make you a grilled cheddar and tomato sandwich.”

He didn’t smile. Then he cast his gaze to the manila folder I had set on the kitchen table. “What’s that?”

“Some stuff I brought for Marj. Where is she?”

“Not sure. Just out, I guess.”

I grabbed my purse and checked my phone. Marj had responded to my text.

Sorry. Went into town to have dinner at our instructor’s restaurant with some of the guys from cooking class. Sorry to miss you. Let’s chat tomorrow.

“Looks like she’s in the city for dinner,” I told Talon.

I itched to touch him. I had been in the house for ten minutes now, and I hadn’t yet caressed his skin, kissed his lips.

My body was on fire just being in his presence.

“Talon, do you still love me?”

I wanted to smack myself as soon as the words left my mouth. I was so not going to be that insecure girl who had to be told she was loved every five seconds. He opened his mouth, but I shook my head at him.

“Forget I asked that.”

“I love you, Jade,” he said.

Warmth gathered in my heart. As much I didn’t want to be that needy girl, hearing it at that moment really helped.

I walked toward him and snuggled up to his chest. Slowly his arms came around me, enveloping me in his spicy warmth. I inhaled the crisp scent from his neck. So musky and masculine.

He stroked my back, such a tender, loving touch.

Tender and loving, yes, but still my pussy began to throb. I sighed and pressed a kiss against his bronze neck. I wanted him so much. I wanted him to grab me and pick me up and drag me to his bedroom.

But that might not happen today, and I had to be okay with that.

“Can I fix you a drink?” I asked.

He shook his head and cleared his throat. “No, I’m good for now. Do you want something?”

“No, I’m fine. Do you want to go into the family room and sit on the couch? It’ll be a little while before the casserole is done.”

He didn’t answer, just took my hand, led me out of the kitchen, down the couple of stairs, and into the lush family room. We sat down together on a leather couch, and I cuddled against him, wrapping my arm around his chest. I closed my eyes and inhaled his essence again, savoring the heat of his body.

Maybe this was what he needed right now—to just know I was here and that I loved him. That I wasn’t going anywhere, no matter what.

We sat like that for a long time…until the bell on the oven rang, signaling that the casserole was ready.

I tore myself away from him, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and went to the kitchen to get dinner together.

Dinner was small talk and mostly silence. When we had finished and I was cleaning up, Talon came up behind me.

“That’s a nice pearl necklace,” he said.

I looked down, and my cheeks warmed. I had forgotten to take off my rope pearls when I changed clothes. I let out a giggle. “I can’t believe I left it on. It probably doesn’t look great with the T-shirt and cutoffs.”

“I think it’s cute.” He stood beside me and helped me get the dishes loaded into the dishwasher.

His nearness made me tingle. Did I have the same effect on him? I looked down at his crotch, and sure enough…the bulge. I couldn’t help a sly smile. Yes, I had the same effect on him.

Our physical chemistry was off the charts. It always had been. But as wonderful as it was, it was nothing compared to the love I felt for him, the way I felt like half of me was missing when I wasn’t with him.

I knew, as much as I knew anything to be true, that Talon would never hurt me. He would stop himself before it ever got that far. He had been asleep the other night, and once he had awakened and realized it was me, he had ceased immediately.