Page 4 of Embrace

I stood up straight as a board, picturing Jake in my messy bathroom and kitchen. “You have?”

He smirked. “I convinced Zara to let me in.”

Jake went on to explain how he’d learned which airline I’d taken, and he had Kirk waiting in baggage claim for me to arrive until he was able to do it himself. His first surgery of the day had gone well, but he’d had to cancel the second one because before being put under, the patient confessed that she’d eaten a meal earlier that morning.

He and I laughed about that.

Jake crossed his arms and regarded me shrewdly. “So how do you feel about me entering your apartment without your permission?”

I rolled my eyes as I looked at my computer sitting on the desk. I pointed at it. “Did you try logging in?”

He raised an eyebrow. “I did.”

I sniffed. “It’s password protected.”

Jake smirked. “I know.”

We grinned at each other. If it were anyone else but Jake, I would probably have given him or her a lecture on privacy. But I still wanted him to know everything about me, just as I wanted to know everything about him.

“Well…” I nodded toward my computer. “I should go over there and figure out what you are to me.”

His eyes smoldered, then he looked toward my bedroom. “That’s an excellent idea.”

Flustered, I unthinkingly tugged my loose topknot out of the band and forced my eyes not to stare at his package. I didn’t want to see if he had a hard-on, not until I knew the results.

* * *

I felt eclipsedby Jake’s presence as he stood behind me while I sat at my desk. That was his idea of giving me space I’d asked for. At first, he’d leaned over me, face beside mine. But I asked him to please move, and that was the new position he had taken, which was still too close for comfort.

I tapped my foot, waiting for my computer to finish booting. I was trying to think of something to say when my screen finally appeared.

“Oh, there it is,” I announced.

He leaned over me again as I clicked on my browser and typed in the web address.

“Jake,” I said, feeling giddy energy surge through me.

“Yes,” he whispered, his mouth close to my ear.

“Really?”

“Really what?”

“I mean… You’re very close.”

He snorted a chuckle. “You know, we can figure this out either way,” he said.

My fingers remained frozen on the keyboard.What did he just say?I was still processing his claim as I continued typing.

“Could you please, like, move away?” I sounded as strained as I felt.

“We’re not attached in the family way, Penina,” he said, holding his position.

“Our blood might be, though.” I tapped the keys harder. “Give me space, please.”

“You ever watchedGame of Thrones?” he asked.

“Ha!” I scoffed as my computer finally coughed up the website. And he still hadn’t backed away yet. “Yes, and do you remember how it ended for those maniacal and incestual twins?”