Hey Jude (Lennox Valley Chronicles #1)

As I take my seat, he moves behind me and I hold my breath as he gathers my long hair in his hands and sweeps it forward over one of my shoulders. I close my eyes and lean my head to the side, baring my neck to him.

Dear God, I’m not going to make it through dinner if he keeps touching me like this.

Jude’s hands slide over my shoulders and he bends to kiss my neck. “I can’t believe I get you all to myself,” he breathes against my skin.

I turn my face up to meet his eyes as he straightens, then squeezes my arms. “You’re gonna need to pace yourself.”

He grins guiltily at me.

“I seem to remember you saying you wanted to do this properly.” I arch an eyebrow and he pushes away, looking pained but smiling.

“I do, I do,” he says, almost to himself. He blows out a breath and walks into the kitchen, running a hand down his face.

“Plus, I want to watch you cook.” I lean my chin on my fist, propping my elbows on the surface of the island in front of me. “You promised me dinner.”

“Dinner. Yes.” He points at me with one hand while opening the fridge with the other. He pulls out carrots, an onion, and a red bell pepper. I shamelessly watch his arm muscles working as he runs them under water at the sink.

He is so fucking hot. I love that I can openly stare at him now that we’re not at work.

He pauses, turning off the tap and shaking out the vegetables before placing them on the cutting board. Drying his hands, he turns away from me to open a cupboard above the counter.

I let my eyes slide down his back, admiring his ass and blowing out a soft breath.

He pulls down two wine glasses. “What kind of wine do you like?” he asks.

“I uh…” I start, tearing my eyes away from his body and blinking. “I don’t actually know.” I look down, a bit embarrassed to admit my lack of fancy-person knowledge. “I usually just order whatever other people are having. Or I pick a random one.”

“Well, okay… red or white? Should we start there?”

“White.” No wine stains for me this time.

He nods and pulls a bottle out of the fridge. Placing it on the counter between us, he unwraps the top and twists the corkscrew into place, pulling the cork with ease as he watches me.

“How am I going to do this?” he asks, looking pensive as his eyes rove over my face. His gaze pauses for a moment on my lips before he looks away to pour the wine.

“What do you mean?” I ask warily, accepting the glass of wine he hands me.

“How am I going to manage being with you at work every day?”

I smile and lower my eyes.

“Even now, you’re three feet away from me and I want to jump over the counter just to be closer to you.”

I set down my glass and hop off the stool, walking around the edge of the island. He goes still as I come closer, looking down at me with heat in his eyes. Reaching for his hips, I hook my fingers into his belt loops on both sides and pull him against me, our faces inches apart.

“There. One problem solved.” I arch up and give him an inviting look.

He lifts my face gently with both hands and brings my mouth to his. I feel his breath on my lips, the pull between us filling my senses.

“Temptress,” he whispers against my aching lips. A slow grin spreads across his features and he lets go of me, turning back to the cutting board. “Someone’s got to make this meal.”

My jaw hanging open, I stand there and remind myself to breathe—his sudden absence almost painful. I slowly return to my stool and Jude glances at me over his shoulder, smiling. I look up at the ceiling as I take a long sip of my wine, lifting my hair off my neck with my other hand; suddenly, it feels too warm in here.

* * *

“Oh my God, this is incredible,” I mumble around a bite of stir-fry.

“You’re incredible.” Jude smiles and drains his glass.