Completely Captivated Read online

  “Oh, yeah, it’s just Jared,” Christa said casually.

  “Yeah. That’s what he said his name was—I couldn’t remember,” Allie lied. She knew exactly what his name was, but she was enjoying this little show way too much to end it sooner. “So, how do you know him?”

  “From school. We were friends forever before he went off to college.”

  Christa laid the paper back down on the counter then walked back to Aaron’s side. Allie watched them both with her keen eyes, noting their closeness and their obvious comfort level with each other. Aaron snaked his arm around Christa and pulled her close to his side while Christa wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling in close to him.

  “Oh, that’s sweet,” Allie said aloud. When Aaron and Christa looked at her questioningly, she quickly added, “That you’re still friends after all this time. You two must be pretty close.”

  And Allie watched as Aaron tensed again. Interesting.

  “I guess we were back then, but he’s been away for more than seven years. He just moved back here yesterday,” Christa explained.

  And Aaron relaxed again. Yeah, the boy has it bad, Allie laughed inside.

  “Well, I’m heading home now. Are you two just hanging out here or what?” Allie asked.

  “I just wanted to check on you before Aaron takes me home,” Christa said with a nonchalant shrug, but Allie knew how to read between her lines. “Thanks for covering the shop again by yourself. We had a great day.”

  “I’m fine. Everything here is done, so you two kids go on home.”

  Christa knew Allie was onto her ploy to hide behind her friend and avoid what would come next.

  * * *

  Even in the cool San Francisco night air, Christa’s palms were sweating profusely as they approached her door. She pretended to adjust her sweater and wiped her palms dry. Then she dug into her extra-large purse, pretending to look for her keys, then checked her pants pockets, again wiping her palms. The nagging worry that Aaron would think she was some mutant with nasty, sweaty palms only made it worse. Truth be told, Christa knew exactly why she was so nervous and so…soggy.

  She wanted to invite Aaron in because she wasn’t ready to end their time together. However, it had been a long time since she’d invited a man inside, and the last time didn’t go very well. When she wouldn’t have sex with him, the guy had stomped off, throwing less than flattering epithets over his shoulder as he stormed out. It wasn’t like she’d led him on—she’d been very upfront about it, but that didn’t change the outcome.

  Christa already felt like she was getting way too attached to Aaron. Being with him was effortless—everything about his personality was laid-back, affable, and genuinely inviting. Their day together had been amazing. After the impromptu lunch make-out session, complete with whipped cream and chocolate cream pie, they spent the rest of the day exploring the park hand in hand. There was one specific moment that stole Christa’s breath, and very likely her heart, and she’d been reliving it over and over, making herself crazy.

  At one point on the trail, they stopped to take in the panoramic views of the Sacramento River, and Aaron unexpectedly lifted Christa’s hands to his lips. His blue eyes turned a darker shade and never left hers as he slowly placed featherlight kisses on each knuckle, one hand at a time. Wordlessly, he pulled her closer to him until her breasts were pressed firmly against his torso, and he bent so her hands could reach around his neck. Slightly stooping, he wrapped his arms under her ass and lifted her off the ground, slowly sliding her body against his until they were finally eye to eye.

  Her capacity for rational thought was nonexistent. His expressive blue eyes spoke volumes to her without saying a word. They told her how much he wanted her. They conveyed his innermost thoughts without restraint. The instant connection she felt to him gave her an unfamiliar full-body tingle and immense pull deep in her core. Christa was certain she’d been struck by lightning of the best kind.

  She didn’t know how long he held her like that, flat against his body. His strong, muscular arms were flexed from holding her full weight, without the slightest hint of straining. Unable to resist his silent requests any longer, Christa pulled his face to hers and, at first, lightly kissed his lips. A dam suddenly released inside her, and she took what she wanted without asking. Her fingers fisted his hair, and she crushed herself to him even tighter. She licked his bottom lip and felt his groan rumble through his broad chest.

  That was all she needed to hear to give her more courage than she knew she possessed. Her tongue darted into his mouth, caressing and sucking on his tongue. When she lightly pulled his bottom lip into her mouth, running her tongue over it seductively, she felt the moment when he lost his composure. Walking off the path, Aaron put her back on a massive tree and used his knee as a perch for her, freeing his hands to glide over her body.

  He broke the kiss to inhale deeply and cupped her face in his. With a deep, sexy rasp, he broke the silence. “Damn, Christa, how are you doing this to me?”

  “Doing what?” she whispered back.

  His eyes pleaded with her, but she didn’t know what he was asking of her. She stroked his face with her fingers, reveling in his stubble and how good it had felt rubbing against her skin. She urged him with her eyes to tell her what he meant.

  “How can you walk right through every wall I’ve ever built like they were never even there?”

  That moment had instantly become Christa’s all-time favorite memory. Aaron proved his sincerity in his every thoughtful deed throughout the whole day. He’d planned every detail of their excursion and left nothing out. True to his word, he was spoiling her, and she loved every minute of it. No one had ever gone to such great lengths just for her, to impress her, and to make her day so special.

  That was exactly why she was so nervous to approach her apartment door with him in tow. This would be the defining moment—when he realized all his efforts today would not culminate in a night full of every sort of debauchery known to man…and woman. She couldn’t deny she also wanted that—the connection, the intimacy, the promise of more nights together.

  But she wasn’t ready.

  Will he storm out on me? Will he leave me brokenhearted?

  These were the real questions at the root of her nervousness. She was afraid to find out the answer—no matter what the answer actually turned out to be. On one hand, if he stayed and they continued seeing each other, it meant she had to let him into her carefully constructed world. She’d have to trust him and put herself in a precarious position where she could possibly get her heart broken. On the other hand, if he stormed out, she had no doubt she’d be heartbroken anyway.

  There’s really no way to win, Christa thought as she nervously pulled her keys out, having run out of time and excuses to avoid opening her door.

  She looked up at Aaron shyly, meeting his intense gaze through her eyelashes. She again called upon her courage and asked the dreaded question.

  “Would you like to come in for a drink?”

  Aaron immediately recognized the trepidation in her face and her voice. His protective instincts were already in overdrive for this petite, beautiful lady who had stolen his ability to think rationally. He wanted to alleviate her anxiety, not add to it. It occurred to him that this was the first date he’d been on where he didn’t expect a roll between the sheets at the end of it. He didn’t want the night to end, but mainly because he truly enjoyed her company. Determined to put her fears at ease, he responded thoughtfully.

  “I would love to, Christa. But I should warn you…” He paused to emphasize his point with a deep breath. “You’re not having your wicked way with me tonight. I’d like to enjoy your company without the pressure of you undressing me with your eyes. If you think you can manage that, I’ll come in for a little while.” He kept a straight face and waited for her to process what he’d said.

  The moment of levity worked like a charm. Christa burst out laughing and placed one hand on his chest. Aaron�
�s gorgeous smile splayed across his face. She knew he understood completely and was giving her the out she needed without putting her on the spot. And she felt her heart melt for him even more.

  “I will try, Aaron. I’m not making any promises, though,” she laughingly replied before opening her door. “To even the odds, that means you can’t stare at my nice ass anymore tonight.”

  “I never made that promise, and you didn’t make that stipulation with your invitation. So, I reject your evening of the odds.”

  Much more relaxed now after he’d expertly diffused the tension, she was able to enjoy spending more alone time with him.

  “Can I get you something to drink? Beer? Coke?” she asked as they walked in.

  “No, I’m good, thanks,” he replied as he took a seat in the middle of the love seat.

  She looked around her small apartment living room for a moment, considering where she should sit. He was smack in the middle of the love seat, so it would be awkward to try to sit beside him. But then she would also feel awkward sitting on the couch away from him.

  Why does dating have to be so hard? she wondered.

  Finally deciding on the couch, she took a step past Aaron, and he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap. “I have your seat right here,” he teased with a sexy smile. “I can’t stare at it, but I can feel your sexy ass on me.”

  Taking her seat, Christa found she fit perfectly in his lap. She nestled into the crook of his arm and laid her head on his shoulder. Aaron’s arms closed around her, holding her in his safe embrace. He lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Mmm…I could get used to this.”

  “To what?” she whispered back.

  “You in my arms,” he replied, his warm breath feathering across her cheek just before his lips made contact with her skin.

  As she raised her head, her lips met his and she became lost in him. Her hands found his hair, and her fingers twisted the silky smoothness around her fingers. Pulling him closer, unable to resist and feeling her body on fire, Christa drew herself up until she was fully facing and straddling him. He splayed his hands out across her back, holding her so close to him that she felt the taut buds of her nipples scraping across his shirt through her clothing. The warmth of his hands on her skin, underneath her shirt, scalded her in the most erotic way.

  Aaron’s hands followed the line of her bra, lightly grazing her skin and causing her nerve endings to fire uncontrollably. His thumbs found her hard nipples and brushed across them, causing her to moan audibly into his mouth. He increased his pressure with the second pass, and she was certain she’d go up in flames at any moment. Since she had completely given up her rational sense, it took her a few seconds to realize she was actively grinding against his growing erection.

  Aaron slowed their fevered kiss, moved his hands to her face and held her there, forehead to forehead, while he took a minute to get himself back under control.

  “That was so fucking hot,” he finally said. “That was the best damn kiss ever.”

  Coming down off her sensual high, Christa suddenly felt very embarrassed at how she’d let her feelings escalate so quickly. “Aaron, I-I don’t normally—” She started to explain herself, but he put one finger across her lips to stop her.

  “I know you don’t, Christa. I can read people well enough to know one-night stands aren’t your style. And neither is fucking on the first date. But I am glad I affect you as much as you do me,” he finished with a sexy, half grin.

  “I can’t deny that,” she confessed.

  “It’s getting late. I’d better be going now,” Aaron said but made no attempt to get up. Christa reluctantly moved from his lap to give him room to stand.

  “I had so much fun today, Aaron. Thank you for everything—the park, the picnic, all of it. You really shouldn’t have done so much.”

  Aaron placed his hand on her cheek, and she leaned into it instinctively. “I told you, I’ve only just begun to spoil you. It was all my pleasure, trust me, but I’m thrilled you enjoyed it.”

  They walked together toward the door, and Aaron stopped just over the threshold.

  “Can I see you again tomorrow?”

  “Yes, definitely.” She couldn’t contain her biggest and brightest smile.

  Aaron leaned in and kissed her again. “Be sure you lock up. Sweet dreams, beautiful. Good night.”

  “Good night,” she said wistfully.

  Aaron walked off, and Christa closed and locked her door behind him. She leaned against the door, reliving the events of their day together with a smile, when a sudden knock startled her.

  She slowly opened the door and peeked out to see Aaron standing there. He spoke before she could say anything.

  “It’s tomorrow. I couldn’t wait any longer,” he explained with a shoulder shrug and a smile. He wrapped his muscular arms around her in a sensual embrace and gave her another panty-melting kiss. When he put her down, she looked up at him starry-eyed and giddy as he gently stroked her cheek with his hand.

  “Get some sleep, beautiful. I’ll be back in a few hours to pick you up.” He moved away from the door. “Oh, and next time someone knocks on your door in the middle of the night, ask who’s there before you open it. I’ll get to spank that sexy ass if you do that again.”

  Christa laughed. “Okay, okay. I don’t normally get any visitors in the middle of the night. It’s your fault—you distracted me!”

  Aaron’s smile beamed back at her before he turned and walked away. Sighing happily, Christa locked up and got ready for bed. She was beyond keyed up from the whole whirlwind named Aaron, she thought she’d never fall asleep. Dreams of him soon overtook her and, before she knew it, the irritating noise from her alarm clock woke her just as she was getting to a good part.

  Annoyance quickly turned to excitement when she realized she didn’t need the dream since he would soon be there in person.

  Meet the Millers

  Jared had run out of unpacking tasks to take his mind off Christa. Waiting for her to call him was excruciating, though. He’d checked his phone at least fifty times the previous night, hoping she’d stopped by her café and got his message before she went home. He’d stayed busy all night, making sure all of his belongings were perfectly arranged, only because it helped take his mind off her for a few minutes at a time.

  Then he found he had a full day ahead of him with absolutely nothing to do but think about her. When he’d been patient long enough, he dialed her number and waited. She picked up on the third ring.

  “Hello?” Her voice was tentative and cautious.

  “Hey, Christa. This is Jared.”

  “Oh, Jared! I don’t have your number in my phone, so I didn’t know it was you. What’s up?”

  He thought she sounded genuinely glad to hear from him. But then, he was talking to Christa—she was always glad to hear from him.

  “I just thought maybe we could spend the day together. It’s been a long time. I’ve missed you,” he persuaded.

  “I’d love to see you, but I already have plans for today. Can I call you later? Or maybe you can come by the café tomorrow, and we can have coffee together? It’ll be on the house.”

  Jared recognized that tone of voice. It was cheerful and sincere, but also distracted. Whatever plans she had for the day were obviously all she could think about.

  “Yeah, sure. That sounds great.” He tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. “I start my new job tomorrow, but I’ll try to come by after work. If not tomorrow, then definitely one day this week,” he promised.

  “That’d be great, Jared. It’s good to have you home. I’ll see you later, okay?”

  After they hung up, Jared had a sneaking suspicion her time was being taken up by another man. Not that another guy had never stopped him before, so he reasoned he wouldn’t let it stop him this time. He’d waited years to move their relationship to the next level. If another man thought he could take Jared’s place in Christa’s life, that man would be sorely
disappointed.

  Undaunted, Jared decided to visit his parents while he had free time. They had always been supportive of him, and he recognized he was fortunate to have them. When he walked into their house, he instantly smelled Sunday dinner on the stove and heard the chatter and laughter of his family in the kitchen. The years he’d been away suddenly melted away to nothing, and he was immediately glad to be back home.

  He walked into the kitchen unannounced, lowered his voice a couple of octaves and let the deep bass sound fill the room. “What’s going on in here?”

  Everyone jumped, and faces snapped to look in his direction. After the initial shock, his siblings and parents all called out to him at once.

  “Jared!”

  “We didn’t expect you today, son!”

  “Come sit down and eat!”

  He took his seat and filled his plate, joining in on the friendly ribbing of his siblings. He spent the rest of the afternoon catching up with his older twin brothers, Jessie and Josh, and his younger sister, Jennifer. Being back in the fold felt so right.

  “So, Jared, when are you going to man up and ask Christa out? I saw her the other day. Man, she looks good. If you’re not interested, just let me know, I’ll take her off your hands,” Jessie teased.

  “Yeah, right, Jessie. She’s too smart to fall for the likes of you.” Jared laughed while tossing a bottle cap at Jessie’s head.

  “Man, who are you kidding? I am the stud muffin around here. She’d pick me in a heartbeat!” Josh chimed in.

  Jared rolled his eyes. “You two are identical twins, Josh. And she wouldn’t pick either of you over me.”

  “Willing to put your money where your mouth is, brah?” Jessie challenged.

  Jared laughed good-naturedly, knowing his brothers were only razzing him and seeing how far they could push him before he went off on them. They’d used the same routine on him all his life.

  “No chance, boys. Mom’s on my side this time.”

  Jessie’s and Josh’s faces both fell at the same time. Everyone in the family knew that anytime Mom took sides, the game was over. There was no point in arguing any further.