Page 187 of Under Her Skin

Theo nodded. ‘Of course.’ He left the bedroom to her to give her privacy. Whoever it was on the phone – she didn’t really want to talk to them, he guessed. The stricken look on her face when she’d registered who was calling… hell, if anyone dared upset hisgirl…

Wow.His girl. Theo went into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. Really, man, your girl? This fast? Theo clenched his jaw, trying to think straight. She had completely enraptured him; all of his focus in the last – he checked his watch – eighteen hours had been on her and now, yeah, he couldn’t imagine his life withouther.

And yet, he knew next to nothing about her except she worked or studied at the college and that she was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman that he’d ever laid his eyes on. That soft honey-colored skin, those deep, deep brown eyes, that full, blush-pink mouth, her low throaty voice…damn.

He heard her talking now,her voice raised and he edge closer to the door, unable to stop himselfsnooping.

‘No, no, fuck you. You don’t get to run my life, Jules. No…’ She sounded upset now, her voice breaking a little. Theo went to the door of the bedroom. She was turned away from him and he could see her shoulders shaking, her head bentlow.

‘It’snone of your business where I am. How the hell did you even know I wasn’t at home? Jesus, why can’t you leave mealone?’

A sob now and her entire body slumped. Theo marched into the room and with one arm, swept her into a hug and with his free hand, took the phone fromher.

‘Call her again and I’ll end you, motherfucker.’ Theo shut off the phone and held the trembling Jess in his arms. He heard her sob twice then stop, taking in deep breaths. She pulled away, turning to wipe her face with herhands.

‘I’m so sorry about that,’ she said, her voicetrembling.

‘Who wasthat?’

She tried to smile. ‘My step-brother. He’s… a little bit of a controlfreak.’

Theo had the feeling that she wasn’t telling him the whole story but studying her, he knew if he pressed her at this moment, she would clam up. There was plenty of time, he decided. She would tell him what she needed to when she needed to and when she did, he would do everything in his powerful to make things right forher.

It was thenTheo Storm realised that he’d fallen for this tiny, beautiful mystery of a woman. It took his breath away.Shetook his breathaway.

He stroked the back of his hand down her face. ‘Jessie…would you spend the day withme?’

She hesitated, gazing up at him, the looked away. ‘I would honestly love to but I have to get back to myapartment.’

Theo swallowed his disappointment. ‘Your step-brother?’

She made a disgusted noise. ‘Regardless of what Jules thinks, I’m not at his beck and call. No, I have someone at home I have to carefor.’

‘Kid?’

She smiled, shaking her head, amused at the worried look on his face. ‘Dog.’

His expression cleared and he smiled. ‘Please don’t judge me for that. But hey, look, I’ll drive you home. We can still hang out,right?’

Jess smiled but glanced around her surroundings. Her tiny studio was a world away from this place. Theo saw her expression and took her in hisarms.

‘Whatever it is that concerns you, please don’t give it another thought. All this is just window dressing. Really, it’s the company’s apartment really. I just use it when I stay in the city. I have a much, much smaller home out on BainbridgeIsland.’

Jess nodded. That explained the lack of home comforts, she thought, but still… her place was clean, tidy and as comfortable as she could afford to make itbut…

Theo kissed her forehead. ‘Jessie, you could live in a cardboard box with a tin can for a shower and I’d still want to hang out withyou.’

She kept her expression blank and said in a monotone. ‘I actually live under abridge.’

Theo pretended to consider then held out his hand. ‘Well, it’s been good to meet you but this is goodbye.’ He smiled before he reached the end of the sentence and Jess giggled, punching his arm. He pulled her into his arms, kissed her until her head swam. Theo gave a deep sigh and rested his head on the top of hers. ‘Could your dog wait a halfhour?’

She giggled and extracted herself, tugging him to his feet. ‘Come on, Casanova, take mehome.’

Back in her apartment,Theo had greeted her German Shepard, Stan, like an old friend and was, even now, play-wrestling with the dog on the floor of her tiny studio. She watched them both, grinning widely as they played like puppies. An overexcited Stan backed into the small table holding her some of her books and knocked them over. Theo stopped and both he and the dog looked so guilty that she burst outlaughing.

She tuggedTheo to his feet and moved to pick her books up. He helped her, reading through the titles as he did, commenting. ‘Loved this. And this. Couldn’t get to grips with this, though,’ he said, holding up a book by the latest literary phenomenon, ‘How aboutyou?’

She shook her head.‘Turgid. I’ve tried twice now and just…nope.’