Jett, page 5
“We’ll relax in the hot tub later,” he said. “That’ll help. I wasn’t sure what you liked for breakfast, so I made a variety.”
She ignored his comment about the hot tub. Jett was big. Thick. She was indeed slightly sore this morning from their lovemaking, but she certainly wasn’t about to admit that to him. Nor was she going to complain about it. This man had left her a hundred percent satisfied. She didn’t feel anxious or unsettled sitting here in his bedroom though. She wasn’t in a rush to throw on her clothes and leave. If anything, it felt oddly comfortable. Routine even, like this scene had played out with him a thousand times.
How could Anna feel so at home with a man she’d just met?
Her eyes landed on the tray of food, her stomach reminding her she hadn’t eaten since dinner. There was a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast; a bowl of fresh fruit; coffee; orange juice; yogurt; and a croissant. “Where’s your food?” she asked. “This can’t all be for me.”
“I already ate. Early riser,” he said with a wink.
She took the mug of coffee, smiling at him. “And what did you do all morning while I relaxed in your bed? Aside from cooking for me, that is.”
Jett sank down onto the bed, running his hand over her leg. Even through the sheet, she could feel the heat of his touch. “I had some work to do, assignments to give my men. I might have a meeting tomorrow.”
“On a Sunday?”
“We’ll see. Duty calls. Hazard of running your own business. I had one of my assistants drop off some clothes for you.”
“You didn’t!”
His lips quirked again. “I did. It’s too cold to swim in the lake, but I thought you might want to see the property. It’s gorgeous in the fall with the leaves changing color. As appealing as I found those sexy heels, I doubt you’d want to walk around in the grass in them. My shoes are obviously too big to fit you.”
“Very much so,” Anna agreed. “You know what they say, big shoes, big....” She trailed off, smiling at him playfully.
“You’re trouble,” he said with a chuckle. “And don’t forget to text your friends this morning to let them know you’re okay.”
“Are you always this bossy?”
“Always,” he agreed.
She burst into laughter, unable to help herself. Every time she tried to one-up this man, he had a quick comeback. She snagged a piece of bacon, taking a bite. “God, this is good. Not too dry and crisp, but absolutely perfect. Ohhh, be careful, Jett. I could get used to a man cooking me breakfast.”
He smiled back at her, a twinkle in his eyes. “I could get used to cooking for you, especially if you’re here in my bed.” A flicker of something passed between them. He clearly couldn’t cook for her every day. She lived in the city. But she absolutely didn’t mind him spoiling her like this.
They talked as she ate some of her breakfast, Anna only tugging the sheets back into place once. It felt indulgent to be relaxing naked between the sheets while Jett was fully dressed. He wasn’t complaining though. Anna didn’t miss the ways his eyes heated when he looked at her, briefly gazing at her cleavage. He was being a gentleman at the moment, but he was still a red-blooded male.
“I want to ask you something, but I understand if you don’t want to answer.”
Jett raised his eyebrows. “What? Is there something you need?”
“How many women do you bring here? Seriously. Like, is this an every week type of thing? Or maybe every time you’re in the city?”
“I’ve never brought a woman here,” he said, those dark eyes pinning her in place.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not saying I never date or spend the night with a woman, but here? No. You’re the first, Anna. What can I say? When I saw you at the bar last night, there was just something I couldn’t resist. You can’t tell me you click with every man you meet the way we did.”
“No, not at all. I just figured you’re so smooth you must do this all the time.”
His hand briefly rubbed her leg through the sheet. It wasn’t sexual. If anything, it was almost meant to be comforting. Reassuring. “Never. I wouldn’t lie about that. You’re the first woman I’ve ever brought to my house.”
A warmth filled her chest as she watched him. She didn’t get the vibe that he was lying. Why lie about this? She was already here. They’d already slept together. “Hmmm,” she said noncommittally. She wasn’t entirely sure what to make of his admission.
“I’ll bring in the clothes my assistant dropped off. I didn’t want to wake you earlier.”
“So what are we going to see outside? The lake?” she asked hopefully.
Jett nodded. “If you’d like. We arrived last night when it was dark, so I’m sure you’d like to see where exactly we are.”
“Absolutely. I’m sure it’s amazing. You know what I don’t miss here? The cars honking. The traffic. My neighbors talking and thumping against the wall while they have sex.” Jett looked surprised for a beat but burst into laughter. “Why would you ever meet your clients in the city?” she continued. “You should bring them all up here.”
He watched her with amusement. “My office is nearby, too. Sometimes I have meetings with my clients there.”
“Shadow Security? No. Aren’t we in the middle of nowhere?”
“Upstate is hardly the middle of nowhere, sweetness.” He reached over and snagged a strawberry slice from the bowl, holding it up to her.
“So now you’re going to feed me breakfast?”
“You’re talking more than eating,” he said, moving his fingers toward her lips. She let him feed her the strawberry, staring at him as she swallowed, and Jett ran his thumb over her lips. It was intimate. Bold. Jett made her feel like she was his.
Anna’s heartbeat increased as he ducked in for a kiss, the sheets falling away from her breasts with his movement. “Ah, much better,” he joked, lightly palming one breast as he kissed her again. “You’re far too tempting.”
Anna playfully swatted at his hand. “You might have been joking about my being sore, but I actually am.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking slightly chastised. “I’ll be good—for now.”
Anna let the sheets lay in her lap, continuing to eat the fruit as if she wasn’t sitting there in his bed naked.
“Woman,” he growled.
“What?” she asked innocently, popping another piece of fruit in her mouth. “Is this a problem?
He shook his head, muttering a curse, but she could see the smile he was trying to hide. It was going to be fun teasing Jett today. She had a feeling he wasn’t used to it. Jett was the type of man who liked to be in control—to call all the shots. His employees probably did what he wanted, no questions asked. He didn’t seem to mind when she challenged him. Anna was looking forward to spending the day with Jett, getting to know the man better. He made her laugh, but that didn’t explain the crazy draw she felt toward him or the continuous hum of electricity arcing between them. Things would never be boring with him and something about that captivated her.
“YOU’RE READY,” JETT said, looking up from his kitchen table as Anna strode in. He left his laptop open, watching her spin in a circle. His assistant Lena had done well selecting clothes for her. He owed her big time for managing to round up some clothing this early on a Saturday morning. Fortunately, he had connections. The shop owner was happy to open the store for a small fee. The jeans Anna had on hugged her sexy ass, and the cashmere sweater and boots she wore would be fine for outside. She smiled at him, and Jett knew she enjoyed the way he watched her.
“What are you working on?”
“I had to brief my team on something. Now I’m just finishing up a document I’m sending a client. Nothing classified.”
“Oh, and your security company usually deals with that?”
He smiled, not answering. Better to let her assume what she wanted than explain the details of his operations. “I’ve about had it with this file though. Usually someone else works on these damn things, but I had a last-minute item to send.”
“Just highlight the section and clear the formatting,” she said, looking over his shoulder at the mess on the screen.
Jett raised his eyebrows but tried it, muttering in surprise when it worked. “Well thank God. Now I can send this actually looking semi-polished, and we can get on with our day.” He shut his laptop and looked up at her. “Tell me you texted your friends.”
“That I did,” she said with a big grin. “But don’t worry, I didn’t kiss and tell about exactly how amazing the night was.”
“No?” he asked, feeling amused.
She took his hand and tugged him up from his chair, surprising him. “No, I’d rather keep you to myself,” Anna said. Jett shook his head, smiling, but ducked down and kissed her. He needed to be careful. As different as they were, he could see himself falling for a woman like Anna. Jett didn’t have time for a serious relationship, but hell. Having Anna here was as close as he’d gotten recently to wanting one. He was attracted to her, but she kept him on his toes. Made him feel alive. Yes, he had work, but there was more to life than that, wasn’t there?
“So, are you going to show me around?” she asked, breathing heavily as they came up for air. He reluctantly released her.
“That I will. Let me set the alarm before we go out.”
“I guess that’s the hazard of running your own security business—you’re always overly concerned about security.”
“Overly concerned?”
She shrugged. “This is almost the middle of nowhere. I lock my door in Manhattan, but I live in a building full of strangers. Anyone could try to break in.”
Jett frowned. She was right. Of course, she lived amongst strangers. He had, too, back in his military days. That was how apartment life worked. A beautiful woman alone in the city was different than his being alone. He was a large man. He didn’t like the thought of someone trying to enter her studio apartment. “Do you know your neighbors?”
“Some. I’m not at home that much to see them. I’ve been putting in twelve-hour days lately, which blows.”
“Has your boss been hounding you today?”
“He did text me this morning. I forwarded him yet another report I already sent this week. What can I do? If I send what he needs, I won’t get a zillion texts or calls demanding I get it to him. I think he’s just too lazy to sift through his emails.”
He mulled over that as he pocketed his cell phone and keys. Anna had seemed stressed when he’d first met her yesterday, but who wasn’t tired after the long workweek by Friday night? He loved seeing how relaxed and carefree she was here. Hell, after a few drinks together, she’d seemed happier. Lighter. He treated his own employees well, but that was neither here nor there. It’s not like she’d be working for him.
“Let’s go check out the lake and then enjoy lunch,” Jett said. “I’ll have one of my staff drop something off.”
“No more cooking for me?” she joked.
Jett’s eyes heated as he looked at her. “If you behave, I’ll make dinner for us tonight.”
She giggled. “And if not?”
Jett snagged her hand, guiding her toward the back door. “Don’t tempt me, woman,” he mock-growled. His hand landed on her ass as he guided her outside, but Anna just laughed harder. She probably would enjoy tempting him, seeing what she could get away with. This woman.
“It’s beautiful,” she said as they stepped onto the stone patio and looked around. “I didn’t get a good look last night since we were, uh, preoccupied.”
“Are you complaining?” he asked, a smile playing about his lips as he glanced over to the chaise lounge. He’d gathered her clothes earlier but realized her panties were still on the ground.
She smirked. “Keeping those as a souvenir? Too bad. They’re my favorite pair, so I’m taking them with me when I go.” Jett stiffened slightly but followed her across the patio area as she continued taking in the surroundings. Of course, she was going to go. She couldn’t stay here forever. She worked in the city. That didn’t stop the slight twinge of regret at her mentioning it. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d so thoroughly enjoyed an evening with a woman—and it wasn’t just because of the sex, although that had been incredible.
Jett liked having Anna here. He didn’t want to examine that thought too closely.
“So, why’d you move way up here?” she asked as they headed across his lawn toward the lake and beyond.
Jett took her hand, enjoying having Anna close. “I like my privacy. I didn’t want my company headquarters to be in the city or any of the boroughs. I like having some land and peace. I’ve got kayaks and a boat to enjoy here. I can relax by the firepit or enjoy my hot tub. I set up my headquarters nearby. I can get into the city if I need to. I do miss skiing though. I actually just bought a cabin out west.”
“Wait, you have this gorgeous home surrounded by woods, and you bought a cabin?”
“It’s in ski country. I’ll rent it out. It’s an investment, but I can fly out there whenever I want during ski season and hit the slopes.”
“God. I’m terrible at skiing.”
He smiled down at her. “I doubt that.”
“Well, maybe not terrible. I probably just don’t ski enough to actually be good at it. Besides, my parents are in Florida now. Some vacations I’ll visit them and then go spend some time at a nice beach resort, soaking up the sun.”
“There’s plenty of those in Florida.”
“Exactly. I haven’t taken a vacation all year though—just quick weekends here and there.” She let out a sigh, glancing across the water as they walked. They’d left the dock and patio area behind but were still on his land. He hadn’t mentioned the fences he had surrounding his entire property. The security this private home afforded him.
“Why haven’t you taken a vacation?” he asked.
“My boss is a dick. He wouldn’t grant me a week’s vacation this summer, saying he needed me at the office. He’s in the middle of a divorce and has a mistress or two. I keep things running for him.”
They’d walked ten minutes from the house while they were talking, Anna’s hand still in his, Jett realized in surprise. Although he wasn’t the type of man that typically held hands with a woman, he was surprised that he enjoyed the connection between them. She was young and refreshing compared to his jaded views of the world.
“Does the wife know about the mistresses?”
“Oh, she knows. I’ve gotten an earful before because she thought I was sleeping with him, too.”
“You don’t sound like you love your job very much,” Jett said.
“It’s a job. Who loves work? It pays the bills.”
His thumb swiped over her skin. He could understand that. While he’d appreciated the value in serving his country, listening to the military chain of command wasn’t his thing either. Now he completed missions on his own terms. Running his own black ops team let him remain in control. He picked the operations. He called the shots. “I can’t complain about running Shadow Security,” he admitted. “I picked my employees and take jobs that I want.”
“That’s different,” she said.
“Yes and no.” He didn’t bother explaining. He might not always love the complications of having a cover for his black ops team, but he made it work. Not every employee knew what went on behind closed doors. They assumed the men were providing security for certain situations or people. But taking out dangerous men? Conducting missions the government wouldn’t? He was sure that hadn’t crossed their minds. His Shadow Ops Team was the best of the best. Most people would never know what they did, and he was fine with it.
His mind ran over the email he’d sent earlier. He needed to meet with another government official in a few days. There were new problems arising, new missions to take on. That didn’t even include his meetings in New York yesterday.
They kept walking for another fifteen minutes in companionable silence. It was peaceful. A far cry from life in the city. Finally, his destination came into view. Anna smiled as she realized a picnic blanket was spread out on the ground ahead of them. Jett had asked Lena to purchase some food, pillows, and blankets so they could relax outside and enjoy lunch together. The fact that it was secluded and romantic was an added bonus.
“Jett!” Anna said excitedly. “You did not make a picnic for us.”
“I didn’t,” he admitted. “But I had my assistant set everything up.”
Anna playfully elbowed him, and Jett couldn’t resist pulling her close. “I told you I wasn’t making lunch for us.” He kept his arm wrapped around her as they walked the rest of the way toward the set up. Lena had outdone herself. There was an actual goddamn picnic basket, champagne chilling in a bucket, plush pillows, blankets, and even some candles. Jett realized he’d never once picnicked on his property before. Why would he? If the team came over, they’d spend time in the house or on the large patio. He’d order food or have something prepared. Most likely, they’d be at headquarters, mulling over their latest op. If he was with a woman, he’d fly her off somewhere exotic.
They slowed as they came to the blanket. Unable to resist, Jett let his hand slide to Anna’s ass, where he gave her a gentle squeeze. He swore he couldn’t keep his hands off this woman. She had tempting curves on that willowy frame. She turned toward him and smiled, slow and sultry. “Like what you see?” she teased.
“You know I do,” he said huskily. “Lunch first though. Have a seat,” he said, helping her to the ground. Jett sank down beside her, his chest swelling at the happy look on her face. He doubted any of the men she’d dated set up an elaborate picnic like this. Most guys wouldn’t go through the trouble. He popped the cork on the champagne, pouring her a glass.
“Mmm, this is good,” she said, her eyes shining with excitement as she took a sip.
Jett opened the picnic basket, pulling out an assortment of food. There were sandwiches, cheese, crackers, and more fruit. Chocolates for dessert. “Your assistant set this up?” Anna asked.
