Jase pointed at Jackson. “You put daddy night-night with kisses, too?”
“I don’t think your daddy needs help going to sleep, baby.”
“You’d be wrong about that,” Jackson muttered.
Their eyes held for a moment before she blushed and looked away. She held out her hand to Jase. “Come on, back to bed.” He grasped her hand and allowed her to lead him back to the room.
A moment later she emerged again, pulling the door shut behind her. “You weren’t kidding about Chris. He’s already snoring!”
“I wish I could say I don’t know where the snoring came from but unfortunately he inherited that from me, too.”
He couldn’t help staring at her. After a day in the sun, her light brown skin was tanned a shade darker. She looked golden and glowing with health, especially since she’d loosened her ponytail so her long curls spilled around her shoulders.
“What?” Her hand came up to her face. “You’re staring.”
“I am. You’re beautiful.”
“Jackson? I mean I know we were pretending to be together before but—” She stopped, seemingly at a loss for words.
“It wasn’t much of an act on my part. I like you, Ridley,” he admitted softly. “Way more than I should.”
“I like you, too. More than just about anyone else I’ve met. What’s wrong with two people liking each other?” she asked.
She stepped close enough that her scent enveloped him, a soft fragrance which reminded him of wildflowers. He tried to keep his hands out of the equation, sure that if he touched her again there was nothing in the world that would convince him to let her go. But when she stood on tiptoe and ran her hands over his hair, he gave up.
He grabbed her by the bottom and squeezed. Then she was kissing him and his thoughts scattered. There was just the soft, sweet press of her lips against his and the darkly addictive taste of her in his mouth. She moaned softly and the sound raced through him like a shiver. God, those sounds she made went straight to his dick every time.
Her soft curls brushed against his nose and the effect was like a sucker punch to the gut, lust tightening his muscles in an ironclad grip. It took everything in him not to carry her to his bed. But in that moment, as he held her cuddled against him, he knew he needed to stop things now. Because she liked him. She trusted him.
And he was the last thing she needed.
He let out a breath. “There’s so much you don’t know about me. You deserve someone who’s ready to love you. I can’t be that guy.”
He put her down carefully and stepped back. She licked her lips and he groaned. She wasn’t even trying to make this easy for him.
If she was anyone else, maybe he could say to hell with it and just do what he was dying to do. Kiss her, thread his hands through all that wild hair and own her mouth. Fantasies of pressing her against the wall and of her wrapping her long legs around his waist raced through his mind. There was no doubt in his mind that they’d burn each other up, no doubt that the embers crackling between them would ignite into a raging inferno, if he took her to bed.
But she wasn’t someone else, and he liked her too much to toy with her. So he had to do the only thing he could.
Walk away.
* * * * *
“TELL ME YOU and Jackson have never, you know?”
Ridley sat on the edge of the bed in the guest room clutching her cell phone to her ear like a lifeline. All her senses were still reeling from that kiss. If she stood up straight she just might pass out again.
Damn, the man could kiss.
Even though Jackson had walked away, she couldn’t deny the thrill she got from pushing him so close to the edge. Until she remembered that he thought she was her sister. Was he responding to her, or was this just leftover lust for Raina? She had to know.
“Huh? Who is this?”
“Raina, it’s me. Who did you think it was?”
“Oh, hey sis. Since when do you stay up past ten thirty?”
Ridley lay down and crossed her legs on top of the fluffy comforter. “I’m not as boring as you seem to think. Now answer the question. Have you and Jackson ever dated? Because I’m catching some vibes that he kind of likes you. Which is a little weird, to be honest. Since, you know, I’m not you.”
“Relax. Jackson and I are just friends. We’re probably better described as acquaintances. His boys come over and play in my yard and we talk about the weather. The usual neighborly talk, I guess.”
“Oh. Well, good.”
“Why?” Raina drawled. “Did he do something?”
“No.” Ridley mentally crossed her fingers. “I just wanted to make sure. This whole thing is stressful enough. The last thing I need is to find out that he’s one of your boyfriends.”
“He’s a nice guy and always invites me over when he’s having a party. I’ve never gone, but I have to say that family parties like it’s 1999. They have some kind of shindig for every holiday. Even the ones that no one has ever heard of, like ‘Grandparent’s Day’ and ‘Save a Hedgehog Day’. It’s weird.”
“I think it’s nice. A family that actually enjoys spending time together is kind of refreshing.”
“Well, whatever. That much family time is enough to give me an itch. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, though. Once I’m back, we can figure out what kind of mess you’re in.”