Completely Captivated Page 5

  When they reached a clearing in the trees, he lagged a step behind so he could watch her reaction. She’d been busy talking and suddenly stopped in the middle of her sentence and gasped. He kept walking forward a few steps so he could see her face. The trail opened into a lush green field filled thousands of wildflowers in every color imaginable. The scenery was postcard perfect, but her reaction was his ultimate prize.

  He picked one of the yellow wildflowers and slowly reached out to put it in her hair, just behind her ear. “Beautiful,” he murmured and brushed his fingertips across her cheek.

  She smiled and somehow managed to utter a response. “Thank you.”

  With his arm wrapped around her waist, he held his phone out in front of them and snapped a picture with the field of wildflowers in the background. She took his phone and studied their picture while he circled around her to gaze at it from over her shoulder. His arm wrapped around her, pulling them closer.

  “You captured the beauty of this place perfectly. Maybe you should be the photographer instead of the agent.”

  “The beauty of this place is in my arms right now.”

  She playfully poked him in the ribs with her elbow. “Stop teasing me.”

  “I’m not kidding at all. I love your smile, especially in this picture. It reaches your eyes and warms them even more than usual. You look so relaxed and happy. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you enjoy being with me. This is a perfect picture.”

  He took her hand again and led her down a narrow dirt trail, winding through the wildflowers and over the rolling ridges. Once on the other side, he stopped again to watch her. Her eyes floated across the scenery, taking in the views on the horizon, before stopping on the area he’d waited for her to see.

  “How—how did you do this?” she gasped. His smile engulfed his entire face, his ocean-blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

  He shrugged his big shoulders. “It’s good to have friends.”

  In a secluded dip between the rolling hills, in the middle of the wildflowers and lush green grass, was an entire picnic feast. The large green blanket was spread out flat with a picnic basket, full place settings complete with wineglasses, and a stainless-steel bucket chilling a bottle of wine.

  He held out his arm to Christa to take, and she absently wrapped her hand around it. She was literally speechless—her standard “thank you” was hopelessly insufficient for this kind of gesture. She managed to tear her eyes from the blanket and tilted her face up at him in amazement.

  “Why, Aaron? Why would you do something like this for me?”

  After all his years of indiscriminately fucking willing women, that simple question nearly floored him right where he stood. His movement stopped abruptly, jerking Christa back and causing her to fall into his chest. His arms wrapped around her to steady her and, since she was already so close, he pulled her tightly to him. He looked down into her beautiful, expressive brown eyes and instantly knew he was caught in her spell. One he never wanted to break.

  “Christa,” he said on a sexy, masculine sigh. His bedroom voice was on full strength without conscious intentions. “This is simply a picnic lunch. I plan to spoil you so much more than this, if you’ll let me.”

  “Let’s start with lunch,” she responded breathlessly.

  They sat on the blanket together, laughing and talking as if they’d known each other their entire lives. She’d never felt as comfortable with anyone so quickly before, except for Jared, but that had been a long time ago. They finished eating, and he stretched out on the blanket, lying on his side with his head propped up in his hand. Christa, sitting with her legs crossed, leaned into his torso and rested her arm on his side.

  “I’m stuffed. You made me eat too much,” she admonished him playfully.

  “That’s too bad…since we have some delicious dessert waiting for us,” he teased.

  Her eyes lit up, and she quickly reached for the picnic basket, ignoring his chuckle. She removed one slice of chocolate cream pie piled high with whipped cream. She cut off a piece and offered it to him. The blue in his eyes darkened, filled with desire and need, as he waited for her to lean into him. The magnetic pull to him caused her breath to freeze in her lungs, but she didn’t stop. Leaning closer and closer into him, she finally reached his perfect lips.

  His eyes moved up to hers as his mouth opened, ready to take what she was offering him. At the last second before the fork reached him, she flicked her wrist and intentionally smeared the whipped cream on his cheek. It took him an extra second to realize what she’d done. She snickered at first then began laughing uncontrollably. His eyes narrowed, crinkling at the edges and giving him a hard look, but his voice held the key.

  “Think you’re funny, huh?” he asked playfully.

  “Well, it was pretty funny to see your reaction,” she amended through her laughter.

  “You know, I hear it is bad luck to have whipped cream on your face. The old spirits in these trees, they get offended easily.” He spoke slowly, drawing out each detail, keeping her enraptured with him.

  “Old tree spirits are offended by whipped cream? Was whipped cream considered witchcraft in the old days?” she whispered to him, her eyes darting all around them, as if she waited for something to jump out at them. He watched her bite her lower lip, trying to keep her laughter contained as she played along with him.

  “You’ll have to clean it off my face to save us.” His voice lowered an octave, instantly pulling her eyes back to his, where she willingly surrendered.

  She leisurely raised her hand and reached her fingers out to his cheek, intending to wipe the offensive whipped cream off his handsome face. He grabbed her wrist and brought her hand down to his chest, forcing her to lean over closer to him. He slowly shook his head while keeping his eyes locked on hers.

  “Not with your hand. You’ll provoke the spirits for sure, then,” he whispered seductively.

  Feeling more daring than she knew was practical, she kept her eyes locked on his as she pressed her chest against him. Feeling his chest rise with the deep breath he inhaled, she pressed closer until her breath fanned out across his chin, up to his cheek. She first placed a small kiss on the spot marred by the fluffy cream. Licking her lips, she then opened her mouth, and her tongue lightly skimmed the stubble of his beard.

  His hand tightened around her wrist, holding her in place close to him. Her next sensation was one of flying through the air at Mach speed and landing on the soft blanket beneath a very hard body. Despite the fact that he towered over her, she noted how they fit perfectly together, their bodies aligned just right with him hovering over her. Aaron dipped his head, his body pressed against hers more, cocooning her in warmth and a deep, carnal craving.

  His lips brushed hers gingerly at first. Then just as quickly, the kiss became fierce and commanding. His tongue demanded entrance, easily slipping past her lips to caress hers. His hands rested on either side of her face, cradling her as he tugged it lightly to the side. His kiss deepened as her hands skimmed over his shoulders and up into his hair, pulling his weight down onto her even more.

  His knee pushed her leg to the side, and the other leg willingly followed suit. When he was fully seated in between her legs, she felt his erection growing, pushing against the front of his pants, and delightfully rubbing against her core. He moaned into her mouth, sending cold shivers through her and heating her at the same time. Slowing the momentum, he tenderly ended the kiss.

  “I’ve wanted to know how your lips tasted since the first time I saw you,” he confessed.

  The Other Guy

  “Don’t be a stranger, Sean. I expect to see your fugly mug back in San Francisco soon.” Jared shook his friend’s hand.

  “You can stay and hang out with us for the weekend. You don’t have to be at work until Monday morning, Miller.” Sean repeated the same argument that had worked too many times before.

  Jared pretended to think about his best friend’s request for a few seconds before r
eciting the same sentiments he’d repeated over the past couple of weeks. “I’ve been here for the last four months since we took the state bar, waiting to see if I passed. Now I have to join the land of the working. Before I can do that, I have to move in to my new apartment. I’ve put it off until the last minute as it is.”

  “Don’t even pretend your dad didn’t pull some strings and help you land that job. You had it in the bag before you even got your exam results back.” Sean playfully punched Jared in the shoulder. “Besides, we both knew you’d ace that test. This shit is in your blood.”

  “Are you saying I couldn’t have gotten that job on my own?”

  “Absolutely. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  “You know, green really isn’t your color. No hating on your best friend just because he’s got game and you don’t.”

  Sean’s laugh echoed across the parking lot. “Whatever, man. Whatever you say. As soon as I get my scores, I expect you to put in a good word for me.”

  “No need to even ask. You know that.”

  The diesel engine from the moving truck fired up, drawing their attention as it pulled out of the apartment complex.

  “Guess that’s my cue. I’m going to hit the road now so I have time to stop by and see an old friend before unpacking my shit.”

  “This Christa girl must be something if you’re ditching me to go see her. She’s hot as fuck, isn’t she? That’s why you’ve kept her away from me all these years. You know she’d pick me over you.”

  “You’re so full of shit.” Jared laughed, dismissed Sean with a wave of his hand, and opened his car door.

  “Wait. Are you really not going to tell me about her?”

  “No, I’m really not telling you anything about her. Talk to you later. I expect to see you in the next couple of weeks—the minute you get your results.”

  “Save the corner office for me.”

  With a wave goodbye to Sean, Jared pulled out onto the highway with nothing but getting to Christa on his mind. His friendship with her developed instantly when they were kids and had somehow endured throughout school. Christa had always been a petite girl. Even when they were in elementary school, she was small for her age. He’d made sure none of the other kids picked on her and had acted as if her protection were his sole responsibility.

  Three years her elder, he’d worried about leaving her behind when he graduated high school, even though she’d assured him her spunk and feistiness were sufficient protection. After he graduated high school, Jared left San Francisco and moved to Stanford. Unlike Christa’s family, Jared’s family was very wealthy and wouldn’t miss the money the prestigious college demanded.

  He’d been away from home for nearly seven and half years while completing his education, taking the state bar exam, and waiting to receive his scores. The final test before attaining his license to practice law had been grueling, but his focus and determination had paid off when he received notice of a successful score. The drive between Stanford and his new condominium on the outskirts of San Francisco was only an hour at most. With the top down on his Aston Martin DB9 Volante, he enjoyed the rush of the wind in the still-cool morning air in early May. The white noise helped him to think, and he relished the time he spent completely alone.

  With all the study groups in law school, time alone was one thing he hadn’t had enough of, and his sanity demanded it. But that ride was different because he was looking forward to rekindling his old friendship. Christa was the one person he couldn’t wait to see again—the one friend he’d missed the most. If he admitted the truth, he’d been a terrible friend to her, breaking every vow he’d made. His only effort to stay connected to her had been an occasional birthday card and holiday well-wishes sent through his family. But he hadn’t personally seen or spoken to her since before he left for college.

  Jared’s mother and sister remained close to Christa, visiting often, relaying messages from Jared and delivering his gifts. He’d kept tabs on Christa’s life through their interactions with her. When he heard she opened her own business, he was extremely proud of her and couldn’t wait to tell her himself—in person. The hour drive passed in the blink of an eye, and he’d arrived at his destination.

  He walked into The Sweet Spot and looked around her shop. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sweet cinnamon fragrance from the pastries instantly filled his nostrils and prompted him to take a deeper breath. Then he heard Christa’s pleas for help before he saw her.

  “Allie! Can you come help me before I drop this huge bag of flour and it goes everywhere?” Christa called from the back, the urgency prominent in her tone.

  He hastened his steps toward her voice, not seeing anyone else in sight, and found Christa wrestling with an industrial-sized bag of flour nearly her same size. He quickly amended his initial thought to include it wouldn’t take much for the bag of flour to match her size, considering how small she was in the first place. His big hand grabbed the top of the bag and easily hoisted it from her grip.

  “Thank you! I just knew—” She suddenly became mute when the large bag of flour was moved from her view and she realized it wasn’t Allie standing in front of her.

  He stood still, holding the bag in one hand and an ear-to-ear smile splitting his gorgeous face in two. She was frozen in place, her mouth gaping open, and her hands frozen in midair. At first, she was startled to see the huge, handsome man in her kitchen. But after the initial shock passed, her mind slowly recognized his jaw-droppingly handsome face.

  “Jared!” she finally shrieked, jumping into his embrace as he dropped the flour bag on the large chef’s table in the middle of the kitchen. His arms wrapped around her waist, drew her tightly to him, and lifted her off the ground with no effort at all. Her arms wrapped around his neck and squeezed him tightly.

  “What are you doing here?” she finally asked, her delight and love for her friend apparent in her voice. Jared released her back to her original spot and stepped back to get a good look at her.

  “I’m finally coming home. The moving company is delivering my furniture to my condo as we speak, but I wanted to stop and see you first. Damn, I’ve missed you, Christa,” he replied with warmth and sincerity infused in his voice and eyes.

  She playfully swatted at his arm. “You couldn’t have missed me too much. This is the first time you’ve actually stopped to see me in the entire seven years you’ve been away.”

  Jared put on his best, most charming smile. “That’s only because I knew I’d never be able to leave you again.”

  She rolled her eyes, but her face was still alight with her smile. “Jared Miller, you are still such a flirt!”

  He was undeniably a flirt, but she never could resist him. He’d been her closest friend and best defender in school where kids’ taunts could be downright cruel. Her family life was the polar opposite of Jared’s, but he’d never given her any reason to believe that was what he saw when he looked at her.

  “Mom told me you opened this place. I’m proud of you, Christa. Let me buy you lunch,” he replied, genuinely happy for her.

  “Nope.” She almost laughed out loud when his face suddenly fell. His smile was gone, and confusion shone in his eyes.

  “No? Why not?”

  “Because I’m making your lunch,” she laughingly replied. “You’re going to eat here, mister!”

  “Well, if you insist,” he teased.

  Being back with his friend was the best homecoming present he could’ve asked for, even without realizing she was exactly what he’d needed before that moment. After they’d sat down with their plates, his tone became serious.

  “I’ve been a selfish asshole and a terrible friend. You shouldn’t even be happy to see me right now. There’s no excuse for why I’ve stayed away so long. But I wasn’t joking when I said leaving you again would’ve been too hard.”

  Internally, he berated himself over his treatment of her. He couldn’t deny the fact that he should’ve sought her out when he came
home, but he never could bring himself to do it. It most certainly wasn’t because he didn’t miss her. He didn’t visit her because he missed her too much. Parting again, over and over, would have been too much to ask.

  Unsure of how to respond at first, she looked down at her plate to collect her thoughts. “Well, I’m glad you stopped by today. It’s really good to see you again.”

  During their extra-long lunch date, one topic easily led into another. Time stood still and flew by simultaneously while they laughed and reconnected. Though the sting was still there, she couldn’t deny how good she felt to have him back, until she noticed him checking his watch. Jared stood reluctantly and looked regretfully at the café door.

  “I really should get to my condo now,” he said hesitantly, not wanting to leave her but knowing he had to go. His resolve waned even more when he saw the crestfallen look on her face at his declaration. “The movers probably just left everything in one room. I’ll be lucky to get in the front door.”

  “Oh, yeah, okay. Well, it was great to see you, Jared,” she said warmly. “Don’t stay away so long this time. You’re back home, so you have no excuse now.”

  “I’ll be around so much, you’ll get sick of seeing me.”

  “Not possible.”

  She hugged him goodbye and watched him walk across the street to his convertible. She’d never presume to tell him, but knowing he’d intentionally avoided her all those years had hurt her tremendously. She recalled how his mother was so proud of him and everything he’d accomplished in school. Staying in contact with his mother and his sister provided her with a means for constant updates about Jared. One of them had shared information with Christa after every time Jared came home for their family holidays and birthdays.