Yet knowing exactly how gentle he could be—had been—with her despite his ability to be fiercely brutal did excite her. And warm her.
Mostly it had her questioning her resolve. Staying away from him was turning into a challenge she seriously wanted to lose, and there was no real reason why she couldn’t. He’d left it completely up to her. Not pestering, yet staying visible enough through his texts to not let her forget him either—like she could.
Would one more time really be that dangerous? Not if it stayed at one more time.
That was the hitch she wasn’t sure she could manage. It still didn’t stop her from sneaking her phone out and firing off a text to Henrik, knowing he wouldn’t get it for hours.
It’s not a call, but you’re kind of busy right now. Is your piano still open for viewing? She deleted and retyped the second line multiple times in various forms before resigning herself to the absolute corniness of it and hitting Send.
There. It was his decision now and he could turn her down. She hadn’t been encouraging, and he undoubtedly had his pick of women. A fact Aiden had referenced, and she’d refused to snoop into, even though the internet was bound to be loaded with gossiping details.
That’s fine. The lie churned around the lump of pizza in her stomach until she got up to hunt down antacids. Maybe she really should have her stomach checked out. And maybe she should stop stressing over a guy and let herself enjoy the fun.
After all, she knew firsthand just how precious each moment was and how easily it could be stripped away.
Chapter Eleven
Henrik swung his front door open, a rush of autumn air swooping the scent of dead leaves and wet grass over him. Jacqui’s smile was warm if hesitant as she stared up at him. “Hi, Henrik.”
“Jacqui.” That was all he could get out. He stepped aside to let her enter, still a bit amazed she’d contacted him. Even if it was only a booty call, he’d take it. The fact that she was back at all was a step forward he hoped to capitalize on.
“Great game last night,” she said as he helped her with her coat.
“Thanks.” Her easy compliment brought an instant warmth to his chest and smile to his lips. Wait. “You watched?”
Her shrug was casual, her smirk guilty. “My family celebrates the opening game like a holiday. It was hard to avoid.”
“Right.” He ducked into the closet to hang her coat, his full grin shining freely at the line of jackets. She who didn’t care about hockey had watched him play.
She was heading to his grand piano when he shut the closet door, her back to him. Maybe she really did want to see the instrument this time.
Her long hair tumbled loose around her shoulders, all soft curls and tousled freedom. Stray sunbeams streamed through the big windows to light the room and lend honey tones to the thick mass as she passed through them. He itched to feel its silkiness again and he went to her to do just that.
He ran his hands up her arms, her brown sweater tickling his palms with its softness, catching on his roughened calluses while her hair danced across his knuckles. A trace of cold still clung to the strands. One inhale, and her muted flowery scent infused him.
He didn’t think before he dipped to press a kiss to her temple. His pulse drummed a beat of doubt and want that tangled around his heart.
Her fingers froze in their gentle caress along the edge of the piano. The lid was down and the corner where it sat was tucked away from the damaging rays of the sun. But the lacquered finish still shone, the high gloss reflecting the light to sing its glory.
“It really is beautiful,” she rasped before clearing her throat.
“You are,” he agreed, only slightly shocked by the honest sentiment. He’d been thinking that for weeks and even more since he’d found her text after the game last night.
He felt more than heard her chuckle. “There’s so much you don’t know.” Her soft admission somehow steadied his pulse.
“True.” He didn’t even try to deny it. “Not about this though.” Not her. For once he was certain about a woman. This woman and how different she was. He’d been with enough to know.
Her shoulders hitched with her breath before she spun in his arms to stare up at