One Last Kiss - Jessica Lemmon

Prologue

Five and a half years ago, New Year’s Eve

“Daddy,” Gia Knox said from between clenched teeth. But her father, busy bragging on her as per his usual, wouldn’t be dissuaded. His current brag was her graduating the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with honors, and the impressive work she would soon do at the family company, ThomKnox.

“She inherited her brains from me, of course.” Jack Knox gave his only daughter a wink and wrapped an arm around her.

“Don’t be silly, Jack,” Gia’s mother, Macy, interjected. “Everyone knows our daughter inherited her intelligence from me. Let’s leave these kids alone. We’re ruining their fun.”

Macy whisked Jack away so suddenly, Gia was left alone with one of the most talented web designers in the company. She shuffled her feet as best she could in black Louboutins, clasping her hands in front of her black glittery skirt. By the time she was fiddling with her long beaded necklace over her sequined top, she realized she was having a rare awkward moment.

“Sorry about that,” she muttered to the man before her. “They’re proud. Anyway, it’s great to meet you, Jayson.”

“Cooper,” he said, the deep timbre of his voice glancing off each one of her ribs. “No one calls me Jayson.”

“Well, then I definitely won’t call you Cooper. I pride myself in being unique.” She’d meant the quip to be a cute conversation salve to the embarrassing display by her dad, but it came out sounding flirty. And Jayson responded.

“You, Gia Knox, are definitely unique.” His smile twitched beneath a trimmed neat goatee before vanishing. That half smile was completely attractive. Disarmingly so. All of him was. He had broad shoulders and wore a suit well. She’d surreptitiously checked him out more than once while her father was rattling off her GPA.

Jayson’s thick wavy dark hair was cut professionally and close, but his facial hair lent him an air of mystery. And those eyes. Blue and piercing, she’d bet they didn’t miss a thing.

“Well, then, Jay,” she said, testing the new nickname and receiving an eyebrow arch in response, “you’ll either be enchanted or disappointed to hear I’m joining the tech team.”

“Enchanted,” he answered without hesitation. “Definitely enchanted.”

“Sixty seconds!” Her brother Brannon called out, blowing into a noisemaker and earning a round of cheers and applause. Nearly every employee of ThomKnox was present at the New Year’s Eve celebration, including Gia’s family since they were ThomKnox.

Partygoers followed Bran’s lead and pressed in toward the center of the ballroom, leaving Jay and Gia to watch them go.

“The moment we’ve all been waiting for,” she said as the crowd began a sloppy midnight countdown at the thirty-second mark. “A bunch of employees making out at the stroke of the new year.”

This time when her gaze clashed with Jayson’s, it stuck. She found herself unable to look away. The moment his eyes left hers they took an inventory of her mouth.

She felt the brush of his gaze the way she might have felt his hand. Or his lips. It was intimate. It was heady. He had her thoroughly distracted and totally off-kilter. She’d had one glass of champagne, no more, but felt as if she’d polished off a bottle and then someone had hit her over the head with it.

Had she ever met a guy and felt this much longing? And what was it about him—but she knew. Jayson was as charmed by her as she’d been by him. Rarely was attraction ever that equal.

At that second—and the three that followed—she imagined satisfying her longing and kissing Jayson Cooper. Lifting to her toes and pressing her mouth to his. He smelled good from where she stood, and she’d bet he was absolutely intoxicating close up.

There’s only one way to find out.

Jayson, his gaze trickling back up to hers, leaned forward the slightest bit.

Then a red-haired woman who was even shorter than Gia and wearing a skirt that was a lot tighter than Gia’s, crashed into him.

“Cooper, come on! We’ll miss the countdown!” The redhead bounced as she wrapped both her arms around one of his. Her headband bobbed, the words Happy New Year waving. “Hi,” she chirped. “I’m Shelly.”

“Gia Knox.” Gia shook the other woman’s hand, feeling the loss of Jayson’s attention when he rigidly looped his arm around his date’s waist.

As if summoned, Gia’s boyfriend, Tom, approached. “There you are.”

Tom leaned in to kiss her cheek and she pasted on a plastic smile.

“It was nice to meet you, Jay,” Gia called as Tom pulled her toward the crowd. Jayson