“There’s that blarney again,” I reply with a laugh. “But thank you. And back at you. What made you come to Montana?”

“I was here on holiday years ago,” he says, and sips his wine. “It’s beautiful here.”

“Very different from Europe.”

“Indeed. But it’s become home.” He takes my hand in his again and threads our fingers together. “How long have you lived here? Are you native?”

“No.” I take a sip of my wine and think about how much I want to confide in this sexy, sweet man. “I’ve been here since I started teaching. About six years.”

“Where are you from?”

“Arizona.”

He nods and watches me, waiting for more.

“I don’t have any siblings.”

“I had a younger brother,” he says softly. “He drowned when he was nine.”

I tighten my hand on his. “I’m sorry.”

“It destroyed my parents. They’ve never been the same.” He tilts his head. “Your parents?”

“I don’t speak to them.” I firm my lips, determined not to tell him any more.

His jaw ticks at my response, but he doesn’t push. He just nods and smiles at Babs when she returns to take our orders.

“The lady will have the rib eye with a baked potato. Would you like salad, love?”

“Yes, please. With ranch. Medium on the steak.”

“And for you, Bax?”

“I’ll have the same.”

Babs nods and takes our menus. “Oh, Bax, Jerry asked me to tell you that he wants a word with you before you leave.”

“He’ll have to wait. I am with a guest. Tell him I’ll have a word with him tomorrow morning.”

“You’re the boss.” She winks and saunters away, leaving us alone.

“Maybe Jerry’s issue can’t wait.”

“Jerry always has an issue, and trust me, it can wait.” Jacob grins and drags his knuckles down my cheek. “I’m in the middle of a very important meeting.”

“So I’m a business meeting now?” I ask with a cocked brow. “I’m flattered.”

Jacob laughs and shakes his head. “You were telling me how you ended up in Montana.”

“I went to college with someone from here. I joined her one weekend when she came home to see her parents, fell in love with the town, and decided to move here when college was done.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“Me, too. I love snow.” Babs sets our salads in front of us. “The cold doesn’t bother me.”

We eat in relative quiet, making small talk about the unusually dry winter, the days getting shorter, and what we studied in college. The meal is as delicious as the conversation.

“Oh, God,” I moan, and lean back in my chair. “There’s no way I can eat the cheesecake. I’m stuffed.”

“We could share it,” he offers.

“You’re far too tempting, Jacob Baxter.”

“I hope so, Grace.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll eat half.”

Jacob hails Babs and orders our dessert. “What are your plans for the rest of the evening?” he asks.

“Yoga pants and a Lifetime movie,” I reply.

“Can I talk you into doing those things in my suite?”

His face is hopeful and sexy and I’m so fucking tempted to say hell yes! But I’ve known him less than a day. And he wasn’t honest with me.

“I take your silence as a no,” he says ruefully.

“Jacob, you are an intriguing man. The chemistry between us is . . . impressive. I’m interested. But I just met you today.”

“I understand, darling. Completely.”

Babs sets our dessert, two spoons, and two black coffees on the table, winks at Jacob, and walks away. We dig in with gusto, and when Jacob wraps his lips around that spoon and moans in appreciation of the sugar and sweet fruit hitting his tongue, I almost change my mind about his offer and beg him to take me to bed right now.

But instead I laugh at him, eat my half, and keep quiet.

Finally, he walks me down the hall to my room. He pushes my back against the wall beside my door, braces his hand on the wall next to my face, and leans in. Almost unbearably slowly, he drags his nose down my own and nibbles the corner of my mouth.

“Good night, sweet Grace.” He kisses me softly, but with no less passion, leaving me a quivering mess.

“G’day, mate,” I whisper. He laughs, and leans his forehead on mine.

“God, Grace, you’re so damn funny. I can’t wait to spend tomorrow with you.”

“Back at you, mate.”

“I’m not your mate, love.” He nuzzles my nose once more before backing away. “I’m going to be much more than that.”

chapter

5

I close the door behind me and lean against the wood, panting, aching, wanting with all my heart to call him back here.

I’ve never done an impulsive thing in my life.

It’s about time to change that.

I yank the door open and stick my head out into the hallway, just in time to see Jacob press the call button for the elevator.

“Jacob, wait.”

He stills and whips his head toward me.

“Don’t go.”

He marches back to me and gazes down into my face with bright green eyes. “What’s wrong, darling?”

“I don’t want you to leave,” I whisper, and watch his lips as he licks them.

“What do you want?”

I find his gaze with mine and simply say, “You.”

“Invite me in, please.”

“Another one of those gentlemanly things?” I ask softly.

“Grace, I’m on a very precarious ledge right now.”

“Won’t you come in?” I step back and open the door wide. He swoops in, pushes me deeper into the room, cups my face in his hands, and devours me with his mouth. The door slams shut behind him and I can only cling to him as he kisses me almost desperately, as though I’m a mirage that will disappear.

He pulls my shrug off my shoulders, letting it fall to the floor, and reaches for the button of my jeans next, deftly unfastening them with one hand. He pushes his hands inside them, glides them down my ass, and lowers my jeans down my legs until they’re pooled around my ankles.

“I told myself that once I finally had you like this, I’d take my time and explore every inch of your gorgeous little body . . .”

I whip my cami over my head just as he reaches behind me to unclasp my bra and am now pinned against the wall in my plain pink panties.

“. . . but I feel like I’m going to die if I don’t taste you.”

He kneels before me, yanks my panties down, pulls my leg up onto his shoulder, and with reverent hands, touches the insides of my thighs gently.

“Jacob, I’m going to fall.”

“I won’t let you fall.”

“Trust me on this one,” I reply and gasp when his fingers spread my lips, opening me up to his hot gaze and warm breath.

“I just need one taste.” He leans in and places his lips over mine and sucks gently. I plant my hands in his hair and hold on as an urgent wave of pure lust consumes me. I whimper, and my breath comes in shallow, short pants.

“I can’t, babe.” Dear God, I’m losing my balance.

He growls, guides my leg over his shoulder, and lifts me off the fucking floor, his face still buried in my pussy. With his other hand braced on my back to keep me from falling, he carries me the short distance to the bed, lays me gently in the center, and continues to feast on me, never missing a beat.

“Holy shit!”

I feel him grin against me, then he licks up to my clit and circles it with the tip of his tongue.

“You. Are. So. Sweet.” Each word is separated with a kiss planted to my lips. “You’re so swollen and pink. So fucking wet.”

Those naughty words spilling from his mouth in that sexy-as-hell accent have me writhing beneath him, never wanting this moment to end.

I whimper and bite my lip as he tilts my pelvis up and licks the crease of my thigh, around my mound to the other side, avoiding the sensitive spot I want him to concentrate on.

His hand glides up my belly to my breast. His fingertips dance over my nipple, barely grazing it, sending goose bumps over my entire body.

“You like that, love?” I nod and he chuckles against me, sinks a finger inside me, and wraps his lips around my clit, sucking gently.