Can't Get Enough of You (23 page)

T
hings didn't go as planned. Jenna's work forced them to postpone their trip to Charleston. She hated disappointing Scott, even though he insisted that he understood.

He surprised her on Saturday. He called early and asked her to spend the day with him, warning her not to eat.

Scott took her to one of their old favorite places, the Pancake House, where they shared a huge breakfast, starting with a stack of pecan pancakes, fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and sausage, and freshly squeezed orange juice with plenty of coffee.

By the time she put down her fork, Jenna was holding her stomach. “I can't believe I ate all that.”

“Believe it!” Scott teased, holding his own stomach.

Jenna laughed when they arrived at the Detroit Zoo. Despite the cold, the sun was bright overhead as they enjoyed the animals' antics and recalled the lazy afternoons they'd spent walking hand and hand through the park.

From there they stopped to tour another of their favorite old haunts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. It was Jenna's first visit since she'd been back in the city. She was glad to see that her favorite exhibits were on display, along with many new acquisitions. The Middle Passage displays were heart-wrenching.

“I love coming to this place. It's like visiting a dear friend.” Jenna smiled, lacing her fingers with his. “Thank you for bringing me back.”

“I love it here, too. It was something we could do without spending much money. Back then that was important,” Scott chuckled.

“You liked to visit the Science Museum, too.”

“I practically lived in that place growing up.” He smiled, tucking a wavy lock behind her ear. “Life was good back then. We didn't have much as far as material things, but it didn't really matter. We were happy just being together. We didn't need anything more.”

“We were so young and in love,” she said around a sigh. “Full of hopes and dreams. We thought we had all the answers.”

“Some things have changed, but not everything.” He steered her away from a group of high school students until they were between displays. He bent until his forehead rested on hers. “Do you ever wish we could go back?”

“To being nineteen and twenty?”

“To being deeply in love. Before the hurt and separation?” he asked, his dark brown eyes searching her hazel eyes.

Jenna shook her head, smiling up at him. “Why are you being so serious all of a sudden? We were having so much fun.”

“A lot of things have been left unsaid.”

“Maybe it's best that way. Rehashing the past will only bring back things I'd rather forget about. It certainly can't change what happened.” Jenna grabbed his hand, giving it a bit of a tug. “Let's keep going. There is still so much to see.”

She was relieved when he let her lead the way. She sent him a playful grin over her shoulder. Jenna was having fun. She didn't want to remember the pain-filled part of the past and all that had been lost.

She was surprised by the change in him. He was way too serious, considering they had made a point of focusing on the here and now. Today was about leaving their problems behind and enjoying themselves. She didn't want to rehash past mistakes.

It was late afternoon, and the shortened winter sun began to set as they walked to the parking lot.

“How long do you need to get ready for dinner?” he asked, starting the car. “Should I drop you off now and come back around—”

She shook her head. Laughing, she held up her full tote bag. “I don't need to go home. I've got everything I need with me. You don't mind if I use your guest room to shower and dress?”

He grinned. “You're welcome to use anything of mine you'd like.”

Jenna said playfully, “Thank you, sweet man.”

His eyes locked with hers for a few moments. “My pleasure, sweet Jenna.” That said, he set the car into motion.

Neither spoke on the drive to his place, but there wasn't much that needed to be said. They both were looking forward to the time that stretched ahead of them . . . time for just the two of them.

Twenty-two

J
enna grinned for all she was worth. “The evening has been nothing short of spectacular!” Her arms were wrapped around Scott's lean waist as they moved in time to the music on the crowded dance floor.

He had surprised her by taking her back to Bradley's. This time it was vastly different from the supper club's grand opening. They'd been shown to a candlelit table tucked into the corner. The glass walls overlooked the river and provided a lovely view of the star-filled winter night. A grand piano being played in the background added to the romantic ambience.

They shared bites of his lobster tail dripping in clarified butter and her ginger-glazed, grilled salmon while enjoying the creamy, buttermilk mashed potatoes and grilled mixed vegetables. They sipped rich, fruity Pinot Grigio. They lingered over the exquisite meal, then finished with plum tart, topped with homemade French vanilla ice cream. After he paid the tab, they walked hand and hand up to the nightclub.

Scott's voice was deep and raspy when he said, “A night to remember.”

Refusing to worry about anything, including the calories she'd consumed that day, Jenna closed her eyes, indulging her other senses. Moving with him on the dance floor, she inhaled his clean, male scent as she caressed his silk-covered back beneath his gray jacket.

Pressing her lips against the base of his throat left bare by his open collar, she urged, “I'm ready to go. How about you?”

He issued a husky groan from deep inside his chest while momentarily tightening his hold around her. They exchanged a heated look. He whispered, “Yeah.” With her hand clasped in his, he paused to drop a large bill on the table before guiding her out.

After retrieving their outerwear and hurrying through the cold to the car, instead of heading north, toward the suburbs, he stayed in town.

She quizzed, “I thought we were going back to your place?”

“We are, after a short detour.” He reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze.

The detour turned out to be a stop at Belle Isle, the city park that was an island oasis in the midst of the big city life, especially in the warmer months. The island housed a conservatory and botanical gardens, Great Lakes Museum, nature center, beach and picnic areas, yacht club, tennis and basketball courts, and baseball fields.

Jenna smiled as they passed stately, older three-story homes, many of which had been converted into nursing homes, office facilities, and even day-care centers. She knew where they were going as they drove across the MacArthur Bridge that connected the island park to the city.

She didn't have to ask why he had brought her here. During the warmer months, the two of them used to bike the park's numerous walkways and share romantic picnics and moonlit walks. Even during the fall, they'd enjoyed strolling hand and hand to the water's edge and gazing up at the stars and Detroit's fabulous skyline. It was a special place where they'd talked and dreamed of a shared future.

“Still beautiful,” she mused, slipping her hand into his after he'd parked. “You've gone all out to make this day special.”

Scott grinned. “I tried. We spent many nights gazing at the boats and sharing secrets and plans for the future. This is where you first told me about your family and your hope to find them. Remember?”

“Yes,” she said, shivering from his caressing hand on her nape. “We were so poor, we had to put our pennies together just to have enough gas to get that old clunker of yours out here.”

“Clunker? That was a classic 1970 Chevy Camaro in mint condition.”

“It was held together with a ton of duct tape and prayers. The thing belched smoke and backfired, protesting every mile you forced out of it,” she teased.

He was quick to say, “But it got us where we needed to go. We even went to Florida to visit my family. Talk about young and poor. We got lucky on that trip when we didn't break down on the road.” He laughed.

“Yes, blessed,” she corrected.

“And so much love,” he said huskily, close to her ear. “Has it all gone, babe?”

“What?”

“The love, Jenna.”

She shook her head. “I thought we agreed that rehashing our past mistakes would serve no purpose.”

“Our mistakes? I was the one who left, not you.”

“Scott, let's drop it,” she said, edging away.

He caught her hands in his. “We need to talk about it. I take full responsibility for my mistake. I was a nineteen-year-old kid who ran toward a dream, not away from you. I was in love with you then, just as I'm in love with you now.”

When Jenna released a startled gasp, he squeezed her hand. “That's right. I've never, not for one minute, stopped loving you. Of course I didn't realize it until I saw you again.”

“Why are you telling me this?” she demanded. He was spoiling their magical day.

“Because it's important to me that you know the truth. I tried, believe me, I tried to get you out of my system. Nothing worked. And when I saw you in the cafe, all I knew was that I had to get you back. In the past weeks, I've done everything I could think of to show you how I feel, Jenna. My sweet love.”

Jenna sat very still as she tried to absorb what he'd revealed. No, it couldn't be true. But what if it was true? What if he did love her? Jenna was floored by the emotions that came rushing over her as she considered the possibility. Bombarded by so many emotions, she didn't know what she was feeling.

He said, “You were busy fighting me every step of the way.”

“I couldn't help it. I was afraid—”

“Shush.” He silenced her by pressing a finger against her luscious lips. “I'm not trying to force a confession out of you, or even a commitment.”

“Then why?”

“Because I need to level with you. Let you know what's going on inside of me. You know I wanted you back. I've made no secret of that. It's time you know that when I said my feelings haven't changed, I meant it. I want what I've always wanted. I want you to be my wife and the mother of my children.”

Jenna strained to see his expression in the dim interior of the car. She felt like she'd been on an emotional roller coaster for the last few months. So much had happened that she couldn't even begin to sort out her feelings. She couldn't believe he was telling her all this. That he was forcing her to evaluate her own heart. It was too soon! She was just getting used to the idea of the two of them being back together. That had been enough for her.

Now he was rushing forward, talking about being in love, marriage, and children. Had he just proposed?

“I know this may seem sudden, but I've been thinking about it for some time. In fact”—he paused, then reached into his overcoat and pulled out a velvet-covered ring box—“I bought this for you.” He opened the lighted glove compartment so she could see, then used his thumbnail to lift the lid.

Jenna's eyes went wide when she saw the large solitaire. The five-carat, cushion-cut, deep purple amethyst stone was surrounded by diamonds and set in a thin gold band.

Her heart thundered in her chest as she stared at the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen. It was exquisite . . . perfect for her. And it came with enough baggage to keep her caught in emotional knots well into the next century.

Scott tilted her face up toward his. His kiss was brimming with tenderness and sweet promise. Before she could formulate a single thought, he kissed her again, only this time it was hard, possessive.

When he pulled back, he whispered, “I don't expect an answer tonight. There won't be any pressure from me. All I ask is that you think it over, remember what we once wanted and meant to each other, as well as what we could still have if we're willing to work at it . . . willing to take the risk.”

He held a fine gold chain. While she watched, he opened the clasp and threaded the ring onto it. Holding it up to her, he hesitated, then said, “I'd like you to wear it close to your heart until you decide. May I?”

For a long moment, she couldn't respond. She was stunned, immobilized by a combination of disbelief and a healthy dose of fear that if she said no, she would lose him. She was just getting used to having him back, just starting to feel as if she could lean on him. This went far beyond being together. He wanted it all . . . love and trust . . . enough to last a lifetime.

“Jenna?”

She nervously worried the fleshy inside of her bottom lip. She needed time to think . . . to decide. The most she could manage right then was to nod her consent to wearing the ring around her neck. She silently assured herself that he had promised not to pressure her, give her time to decide.

Her hands shook as she unbuttoned her reliable black wool coat. She cupped the ring in her palm as his large fingers worked to secure the clasp. She shivered when the cold metal settled between her breasts, and then again when he moved her hair to press a lingering kiss against her throat.

“Thank you,” he murmured. Once they were both buckled in, he turned on the defroster, then put the car into gear. But he kept his foot on the brake when he asked, “Your place or mine?”

“Yours,” she said without hesitation, “but only for a few hours. I can't spend the night. I have loads of work waiting for me.”

“You don't have to explain. I understand.”

He hadn't said a word, but Jenna sensed his disappointment. She was doing her very best, trying to please both Scott and her sister. She'd called Leah several times to check in with her. She'd broken down and let Leah use her car, to make up for her daylong absence.

But it wasn't her demanding workload or feelings of guilt over neglecting her twin that was worrying her. She was doing her utmost to ignore the significance of the engagement ring on her neck. She marveled over all he'd done to make this day special. She couldn't help wondering how long he'd been planning the day. She tried not to dwell on his reason for proposing or the enormity of what it would mean to both of their lives if she was foolish enough to say yes.

Oblivious to the late-night traffic, Jenna's stomach was in a knot, and her eyes burned from a sudden urge to cry. He'd said he still loved her. That he'd never stopped. She stared at the passing scenery while wondering how long she had. How long would he wait for an answer? A week? A month? A year?

He'd barely turned off the car when Jenna, unable to express her emotions, gave in to the need to touch him. She caressed his cheek and strong chin. With her thumb, she outlined his full lips. Her breath caught when he playfully bit the tip of her thumb.

“You have such a sexy smile. Combined with those dark, sultry eyes, I melt inside when you look at me like you are looking at me now . . . hot with desire.” She confessed, “The first moment I looked into your eyes, I was fascinated by you. I didn't understand it back then, but now I know I wanted you, just as I want you now. Take me inside, Scott, and make love to me.”

He didn't respond verbally, but a muscle jumped in his jaw and his eyes smoldered with passion. Suddenly, Scott moved. He wasted no time in getting them inside the house with the doors locked.

His hot, hungry kisses stole her breath. Soon they were both shaking with urgency. He carried her into his bedroom. Unaware of the low lamp that glowed on the nightstand beside the bed, she focused on him and what he made her feel.

They quickly undressed each other. They didn't stop until there were no barriers between them. He caressed her from nape to hips, lingering on her full bottom. His touch released a mountain of need inside her. She launched a sensual attack by wrapping her arms around him and caressing his sleek, long spine. She stroked him as if he'd been a giant cat while pressing damp kisses over his wide chest and dark throat.

When she changed direction downward to place kisses on his taut midsection, he growled his enjoyment. But when she smoothed over the jetting curve of his shaft, he stopped her. He clasped her hands, holding them still, while he took Jenna's mouth in a hard salute.

He whispered, “Your touch feels so good. I won't be able to hold back if I let you pleasure me that way.”

“The pleasure would be all mine,” she confessed, then shivered when he distracted her with another tongue-suckling kiss.

Trembling with urgency and as if he was desperate to claim what was his alone, Scott dropped down on the bed, bringing her with him.

“Finally, I have you all to myself,” he husked, lowering his head to tongue the sensitive spot on her neck. He sighed when she trembled, but he didn't ease up until Jenna moaned, her soft body trembling. He laved the hollow of her throat while cupping and squeezing her lush breasts.

When her moans turned into breathless gasps, he said, “That's right, my sweet love . . . enjoy, because I plan to give you all the pleasure you can handle and then some.”

Scott took a pebble-hard, dark peak into his mouth. He sponged her nipple and groaned as he suckled and savored her.

“Your skin is like silk,” he said, as if she was a drop of milk chocolate. He journeyed down to caress, then squeezed her plump mound. Knowing what she craved without words, Scott applied more suction, while parting her feminine folds. “You are so creamy, wet with desire,” he whispered.