N. Walters - Stroke of Sapphire

She frowned. “Doesn’t sound like he’s very enthused about getting married.” Even though she knew he was the one who’d first broached the subject of marriage.

“Oh, he’s enthused, all right.” A devilishly sexy grin flashed across Jake’s face. “He’s more concerned with the end result than with what leads up to it. As long as Topaz is happy, he doesn’t care what she does for the wedding. He just wants his ring on her finger.”

Sapphire glanced down at her bare finger and turned away to check on the spaghetti sauce. She dumped the pasta into the boiling water and stirred. “Dinner in ten minutes.”

Strong arms hooked around her waist and she was pulled back against a broad chest. “You okay? You seem distracted.”

She leaned briefly against Jake, soaking in his heat, his caring, before making herself step away. “I’m fine. It was just a busy day.”

Jake let her go and perched on one of the two stools on the opposite side of the counter that divided the kitchen from the eating area. “Busy in what way?”

She wiped her hands on a dishtowel and ordered herself to stop acting like a ninny. There was no need to feel such a deep disappointment that her sister was getting married and she wasn’t. She and Jake had only started dating. There was that word again. Dating wasn’t exactly what they were doing. Sleeping together, having stupendous sex. That’s what they were doing.

“Spent some time at Sisters’ Jewels this morning checking out the new merchandise and tweaking the displays. Then I went with Topaz while she tried on wedding dresses. She found the one she wanted.”

Jake nodded. “That’s good, isn’t it?”

Men could be clueless at times. “Everything starts with the dress. Now she can make all her final decisions about her bouquet, decorations and all the other details.”

“I thought this was a small affair.”

“It is, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a nice wedding with all the little touches that will make it special. She’s only getting married once so she wants it to be everything she ever dreamed of.”

“Okay, I get that. John mentioned I’d have to get measured for a tux soon.”

She made a noncommittal sound, but her heart sped up as she pictured Jake in a tux. In jeans he was ruggedly handsome, but in a tuxedo, he’d be devastating. She needed to change the subject. “After lunch, I worked on some new jewelry pieces until it was time to start dinner.”

“Anything you can show me?” His interest always warmed her because she knew it was genuine.

“Maybe.”

Jake rested one elbow on the counter and sipped his wine, a man at ease. She envied him that. They chatted about local news and he asked after her parents. By then it was time for her to drain the pasta and add it to the sauce. She poured it into a large serving bowl and carried it to the table. Then she tossed the salad and vinaigrette together. Jake grabbed her wine and brought it with him. Everything was ready for them to enjoy.

He held her chair for her and she sat, very aware of his large presence behind her. He filled her plate with spaghetti before filling his own. Then he sat and dug into the meal. She picked up her fork, plastered a smile on her face and tried to make conversation while they ate.

Jake wished he knew what was going on with Sapphire. She’d seemed distracted from the moment he’d walked through the door. Oh, she said all the right things and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Something was bothering her.

Had she had time to think about last night? Was she having second thoughts about them? His fingers tightened around his fork and he forced himself to ease up on his grip before he bent the metal utensil. No need to borrow trouble. He’d find out what was bothering her before the evening was over.

The meal, as always, was absolutely delicious. He loved sharing dinner with Sapphire, the cozy atmosphere, the obvious care and preparation that went into it. It made him feel as though he belonged.

He couldn’t lose that.

He bided his time, waiting until she’d eaten her fill, which wasn’t much. Her plate was still mostly full. She’d spent a lot of her time pushing around the spaghetti on her plate rather than eating it.

He set his fork down and shoved aside his empty plate. She immediately smiled at him. “Coffee?”

He shook his head. “No. I’d much rather you tell me what’s wrong.”

The immediate tension in her shoulders, the tightening of her mouth told him he was right. There was something wrong.

Whatever it was, he would fix it. He was good at fixing things.

“It’s nothing.” Her gaze fluttered away from his and his gut clenched. She wasn’t telling him the truth.

He reached out, cupped her face in his hand and turned it until she was facing him. “That’s not true. Obviously something is bothering you.”

He willed her to tell him.

She waved her hand in front of her. “It’s really nothing.” She slipped out of her chair, grabbed her plate and carried it to the kitchen. Jake sighed and stood, holding his tongue until the leftovers were cleared away and the dishwasher filled.

She looked good even while she was up to her elbows in soapy water scrubbing pots. The black skirt she wore swirled around her slender calves, while the yellow silk blouse draped over her breasts. With her wild curly hair and bare feet she resembled a gypsy more than a successful businesswoman.

Jake helped where he could, but always watched her, unable to keep his eyes off Sapphire. She drew his gaze wherever she was, whatever she was doing.

When there was nothing left to do in the kitchen, he lifted her into his arms, surprising a gasp from her. “What are you doing?” She clung to his shoulders.

He carried her into the living room and sat on her sofa, keeping a tight grip on her. “I’m finding out what’s wrong. We can sit here all night long but, one way or another, you will tell me.”

“Jake.”

He shook his head. “Don’t try to put me off, Sapphire. I need to know what’s going on inside your head.” His arms tightened around her, even though he knew he couldn’t really keep her if she didn’t want to stay. He asked the question that had the power to destroy him. “Are you having second thoughts about us now that you know how far I’ll go in order to protect you?”

He’d feared that she’d think over everything he’d done, the fact that he’d broken the law to get the documents to incriminate Gregor, and decide she couldn’t live with that. “Are you trying to decide how to break it to me that you no longer want to see me?”

That would destroy him. The woman in his arms held the key to his future, but he wasn’t about to give up without a fight.

Sapphire couldn’t believe how far away from the actual truth Jake’s thoughts were. Every muscle in his body was like stone as he waited for her to answer him. “No, that’s not what I’m thinking. Not at all.”

He relaxed somewhat, but not totally.

“Then what is it?” He brushed aside a lock of hair, his touch so very gentle. “’Cause, babe, you’re killing me. I can’t fix it if I don’t know what’s wrong.”

That summed up Jake perfectly. He was a fixer, a doer, the kind of man who took action with no apologies. She knew for a fact he’d followed her this morning on her walk to meet Topaz. She hadn’t seen him, but she’d felt his eyes on her, the constant buzz of awareness she experienced whenever he was around.

“You followed me this morning, didn’t you?”

His eyes narrowed but he nodded. “Yes. How did you know? You didn’t see me.” A statement, not a question.

“No, I didn’t see you. I felt you.” She’d known he’d answer her truthfully even if he didn’t want to. That kind of honesty was priceless. Oh, if he could have gotten away with never telling her, he’d have been happier. She could see that in his eyes. But he wouldn’t lie to her.