seemed to calm slightly.
“No, I’m okay. I just got some bad news.” The woman’s chin wobbled again.
“Do you want to do a breathing exercise?” Jackie offered. The lady nodded, and Jackie launched into a slow but simple guided exercise with lots of deep breaths and the release of tension. Even Daniel was calmer afterward.
“Wow, that was really nice.” The employee dabbed at her now-dry eyes one last time. She straightened her back. “Thanks for that. Where did you learn it?”
“Picked it up in a foster home I used to stay in. One of the good ones,” Jackie said.
Something clenched deep inside of Daniel at this little tidbit. Foster homes? Just another interesting piece of the puzzle that made up this mysterious punk pixie who could turn stranger’s lives around. Including his own. Jackie hugged the lady before she went back into the kitchen. When she turned back to Daniel, all he could do was stare.
“Wow. You are incredible, you know that, right?”
She shrugged. “Why is that incredible? It’s just helpful.”
“Fine. You’re incredible, and incredibly helpful.”
She laughed, batting away the compliment, but he swept toward her, pulling her into his side as they resumed their walk down the hallway.
“You’re kind, and thoughtful, and have a way of winning over complete strangers,” he said in a low voice. The hallway ended in sliding doors, where a veranda extended out over a narrow walkway, connecting to the next wing of the building. “Including me.”
Jackie’s face slowly turned serious and their steps slowed out in the cool nighttime air. It was an unusually cool night, and when Jackie’s skin went goose bumpy, he ran his hands along the sides of her arms.
“I just want to help people,” Jackie said, though she sounded distant.
“I know. And it’s amazing. You’re amazing.”
She laughed, waving off his words again, but stepped closer, closing his arms around her.
“I’m not saying this because we’re trying to fool anyone. I’m saying it because I mean it.”
Jackie watched him, her gaze bouncing back and forth over his face, nodding but not saying anything.
“Look at you. Your pulse is racing.” Daniel swiped his thumb over the hollow of her neck, so close to losing his last shred of willpower with her this close.
“You’re pretty hard to resist, if you haven’t noticed by now,” Jackie said, her voice dreamy.
“Then don’t resist me. Don’t resist this.”
A nervous laugh slid out of her, and he decided to make things real clear. He backed her up against the adobe façade of the building, fingertips digging into the flesh above her hips.
“You’re just drunk,” she said.
“No. I’m clearer than ever.” He brushed his lips against her earlobe, and she shivered in his arms. “Jackie, I want you in the plum orchard. Now.”
“For more practice?” Her brow arched, those beautiful green eyes shining with the same lust that coursed through his veins.
“No. No more practice. This time, it’s for real.”
Her eyes fluttered shut, and she tipped her head to the side to welcome his lips as he pressed kisses along her jawline. She fisted the front of his shirt, and her leg hoisted easily once he pushed his palm along the length of her thigh. “God, that sounds lovely. I just—”
“What is it?” He paused, his lips pressed to her cheek.
She looked deep into his eyes, something pained hiding in the shadows of her face. “I just don’t want to make things weird.”
“Things will not be weird,” he promised, brushing his lips against hers. He didn’t know that for certain, but he would do his best for her. And at this point, he couldn’t contain himself any longer. Between the wine and her soft heart and the apples of her ass in this dress, he was a goner. “The only weird thing that could happen would be if we denied this thing between us.”
A shuddery sigh slipped out of her, and she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing herself against him. “God, you’re right.”
He dipped down, bringing his lips to the shell of her ear. “I know you could feel how hard I was yesterday, Jackie. When you were moving on top of me. I know you want it. And I want it too.”
Her eyes went hooded at that, and when she spoke, her voice was husky.
“Plum orchard. Now.”
8
Jackie raced through the halls at Daniel’s side, choking on the excitement and eagerness of it all.
They had to hurry. Not just because she’d been dying for it over the past week and a half, but because if they waited