Like his last relationship. He'd wined and dined Beth, brought her flowers, went for midnight strolls under the moonlight. She'd loved it, loved him. But there had been no lasting spark. Once the s.e.xual newness wore off, Beth had become a clingy woman needing constant attention. They had nothing else in common other than lukewarm s.e.x.

h.e.l.l, she still called to see how he was doing-and they'd been finished for two months. Thinking about it, he put his cell on mute as he walked up Ann's steps.

Nothing about Ann had ever been lukewarm. Hot as h.e.l.l, pa.s.sionate, angry or loving. But never boring. What would she be like now? Did she still love horror movies? Did she still have a sweet tooth? Did she still read a book's ending before starting it?

He remembered everything about her. Especially the scent and feel of her. And since that kiss...

With a groan, he tried to get a handle on his stupid emotions and growing erection. Think about Josh. Think about Mom and Dad. There we go. Nothing stiff on me now.

He knocked and waited. She answered quickly, looking amazing in a pair of jeans, boots, and a fuzzy blue sweater that brought out the beauty in her eyes. Like his, they were blue, but much darker. They reminded him of sapphires, he'd once told her, and he still remembered her sweet blush.

"Hey, angel. Lookin' good." He smiled and drew her hand to his mouth.

Her lips parted, her cheeks flushed and her breathing grew more rapid. All the right signs. He turned her hand over and kissed the middle of her palm, gratified when she gave a soft sigh.

He winked at her. "Let's go."

"Where to?" She pulled on a vest and zipped up, then let him hold her hand as they left the house.

He thanked his lucky stars for getting an agreeable Ann tonight and enjoyed the brisk air outside as they headed back to his place. "We're going to my house. I mean, Dan and Julie's." He waited to see what she made of that, had all his arguments ready to go.

"Okay."

He blinked. "Okay?"

"Sure. I a.s.sume we're going to eat there, right?"

"Ah, yeah. I have some nice steaks laid out. Salad, some veggies. You're not off meat or anything are you?" He looked her over. She was so small.

With a laugh, she shook her head. "Nope. I eat healthy most of the time, but I'm a sucker for Riley's cookies."

"I heard she opened a bakery a few years back. She always did make the best brownies."

"I know." She continued holding his hand through their short walk, and even into the house.

It tempted him, the thought of coming home to Ann-no, not Ann, some faceless woman-and their house. Of seeing his wife with child, a little boy like Josh. More and more he'd been having thoughts of settling down, but it hadn't hit him until he'd seen Ann again how much he wanted to make that a reality.

Oh boy. Not great thoughts to be having about an ex-girlfriend who pulled his trigger faster than he could say boo.

"Can I take your coat?"

She nodded, and he slid her down vest off her shoulders, encouraged when she smiled at him. After hanging up their coats, he couldn't hold back any longer.

He stepped right up to her, cupped her face and kissed her.

She seemed to melt into him, and like that, he was hard and ready for her. Dinner could wait. Talk could come later. He needed her now.

Except hadn't that been his problem all those years ago? Not seeing to his girl the way she needed to be taken care of? h.e.l.l, he'd been seventeen and she'd gotten him so hot so fast. But he'd come a long way. Not that you could prove it by devouring her two seconds in the door. He reluctantly pulled back and caressed her cheek.

He deepened his voice to embellish his seduction. "Welcome to my parlor."

She grinned. "Well done."

"Yeah, well, we kiss any longer and I will be well done." To his satisfaction, she blushed when she noted the bulge behind his jeans. "That's all for you, Ann."

"Geez, Jack. You're such a cla.s.sy guy." She moved deeper into the house. "Nice place Dan and Julie have."

A two-story Craftsman with twenty-four hundred square feet. Julie had decorated the place in an eclectic style chosen for comfort more than style, or so she'd said. It worked for Jack on every level. Then again, he'd be happy sitting on a piece of cardboard if he had a TV the size of Dan's. Time to stop dragging his feet and get his own place. He couldn't live with his brother forever.

"I visited years back, when they were engaged. Didn't see you then." He'd wondered if he might, even then.

"When was that?"

"Hmm, back in the winter, when Bend had that big storm seven years ago."

"Oh right. That was the Christmas break I went with Maya and Riley to Cancun. We had a blast."

"I'll bet." He could just imagine the three s.e.xy young women in Mexico strutting around in bikinis. A treat for any guy with a pulse. "So, what do your friends think of you going out with me?" Why he asked that particular question, he had no idea. Anything to keep his mind off the image of Ann in a tiny bathing suit though. His d.i.c.k felt hard enough to break off. Not a great way to show restraint.

She grimaced. "Maya thinks I'm an idiot. She doesn't like you."

"Yeah, I got that impression the other day in the grocery store."

"Riley's reserving judgment."

"I always liked Riley."

She snorted. "You and every other guy."

"Hey, I'm human. It would be a sin not to look at any of you. The funny, smart redhead, the s.e.xy Amazon with att.i.tude and the hot chick who can cook like a dream." Even back in high school Riley had had a reputation for being a genius in the kitchen. Maya, though gorgeous, radiated hostility to anything resembling authority. And Ann- "Why are they s.e.xy and hot, and I'm funny and smart?" She looked annoyed. His fairy queen's grimace was just too cute, but he knew she'd get p.i.s.sed if he mentioned he had a thing for making her angry, just to see her expression.

"Well, if I'd said hot, I'd be insulting your feminist side demanding I acknowledge you as something other than your looks. I'm trying to tell you I was first drawn to you by your intelligence and humor."

"Oh." She sounded disappointed.

He grinned. "And your hot little body. Happy now?"

She mumbled something that sounded like "I will be," though that could have been wishful thinking on his part.

"How about dinner?" Time to start his grand seduction. First food and good company, then he'd bring her to o.r.g.a.s.m so many times she'd lose count. She'd be putty in his hands, so when he figured out what the h.e.l.l he really wanted from her, she wouldn't be able to say no.

Ann watched him, trying to figure out Jack's game. If he'd only wanted her in bed, he could have continued that kiss. G.o.d, the man had a mouth made for sin.

When he kissed, he used everything-lips, teeth and tongue. He stroked her as if he made love to her whole body, and even now she was slick, her body ready for him even if her heart and head demanded she stick to the plan.

The problem was he charmed her without trying. That smile in his eyes, the quirk of his full lips. Even the firm jaw, now looking a bit shadowy, added to his appeal. Jack was a man's man. As a teenager, he'd loved just being with her and holding hands, but she'd never mistaken him for a boy she could bend to her will.

A lot like now. He kept her on her toes, taking charge of the date. His house? Please. As if she didn't know what would follow dinner. Some wine, dessert. Then he'd suggest they go upstairs where he'd bang her brains out, which was fine by her. She'd never had any qualms with his skills in bed.

She squirmed behind him, wanting to feel him inside her again. It had been a long time since she'd had any satisfaction from a partner who didn't use batteries. Not that she didn't love Mr. Vibe, but he could only do so much.

"Can I get you something to drink?" he asked.

She followed him into a s.p.a.cious kitchen. Stainless steel appliances, mahogany cabinetry, and simple dark blue accents made the place shine. A terrific granite island, complete with a stovetop, prep sink and seating for four drew her attention. She noted the bottles of wine on the counter and pointed to the red.

He poured her a gla.s.s and took a beer from the fridge for himself. After putting the steaks in the broiler, he took a sip from his bottle. "So rumor has it you're not seeing anyone."

She sipped her wine, liking the smooth finish. Jack, or more likely Dan and Julie, had good taste. "That would be correct."

"Right. I mean, you're here with me. The Ann I know-or knew, I should say-would never step out on a guy."

She thought she heard something off in his voice. "You're right. I would never do that." Unlike some, went unsaid. She wondered how long he'd been seeing Selena behind her back before he'd broken it off with her.

"It's a pretty immature thing to do, but it takes a while for some of us to grow up."

A lame-a.s.sed attempt at an apology? A touch of guilt hit her. Should she take this opportunity to just ask him why he'd been so mean to her back then? Clear the air and forget about her revenge?

"Good thing we're all grown up then," she said, waiting to see how he'd respond.

He turned his head to grin at her. "Some of us are better grown than others. You sure filled out nice, Ann."

Still no apology. She wanted-deserved-an "I'm sorry" at the very least.

Instead of demanding his admission of guilt, she teased, "Back at ya."

"I know." He hadn't grown out of that charming arrogance of his. "You should see me wield a spatula...among other things." After he fiddled with a pot of vegetables on the stove, he asked, "Do you still like the same things? How about cooking? Gardening?"

"I'm pretty much the same. I like to garden in the summertime. Small pots, flowers, maybe a tomato plant. Not too much. But cooking?" She scrunched her nose. "Not my forte."

"Good thing I offered then. We won't starve."

The tiny dig stung, which was stupid because she'd just admitted she hated cooking. But Jack seemed so sure of himself. So confident in the kitchen, with a kiss, just breathing. It was imperative she take back some control in this weird relationship.

"What are you making?"

He nodded at the pot. "Just boiling some beets. I like 'em fresh, not canned. The steak will be another ten minutes, I'm thinking. You like it medium rare, right?" Turning to the fridge, he pulled out the makings for a salad.

"Medium rare, yeah." Did the guy have to have a memory like an elephant? What couldn't he do well? "So, why aren't you married with three kids already?"

He almost dropped the head of lettuce he'd been holding. "What?"

"You heard me. Do you have commitment issues?" She liked the thought of a weakness.

"Nope. Just haven't met Miss Right yet."

"You mean Miss Right Now?"

"Funny, but no. And before you ask, no, I don't have a girlfriend on the side."

"I wasn't going to ask that."

"Yeah, right. I can almost feel your brain poking at mine." He paused. "You're still not over high school, are you?"

The accusation made her feel small. Most people would consider it silly to hold onto a twelve-year grudge. Yet he didn't know the whole of it, and d.a.m.n it, she deserved some payback. She'd cried. A lot. What had he done but screw Selena Thorpe before throwing her over too?

Resolving to go through with her plans, she shrugged and pretended his suspicion didn't matter. "Water under the bridge. I thought maybe you were holding onto some feelings though."

He frowned, his eyes a bright blue. "Feelings?"

She was thrilled to see she'd gotten under his skin. "You know, resentment that we split up. Maybe a little annoyed that I didn't throw myself into your arms the minute I saw you last week."

He turned around to wash the lettuce in the sink, giving her his back. "Nope. Not even a little."

Liar. His shoulders were stiff. She smiled to herself. Finally, a c.h.i.n.k in his armor she could exploit. And she knew just how to do it.

Ann walked over to him and saw him tense even more. Perfect. He'd been in charge of everything so far, but not anymore. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. He felt like an unmoving block of granite.

"Ann?"

"Just a welcome back hug, Jack. Don't let me stop you from preparing our dinner. I'm starving."

He ripped the lettuce and rinsed it under cold water, tossing pieces into a colander while she kept her arms around him. She pretended to accidentally shift and grazed a large bulge below his bellyb.u.t.ton.

"Oops. Sorry."

"Yeah, right." His deep growl turned her on even more.

Realizing how much fun it was to pull the tiger's tail, she went for broke. No longer willing to be the one seduced, it was time to turn up the heat and see what Jack was really made of.

She lowered her hands to his waist and moved them under his sweater, grazing his tight belly. Wow, was he warm.

"What are you doing?" He remained unmoving. "Ann?"

"Shh. Keep working. I'm watching how you do this."

"How? Can you see through my back?" His voice went deeper as she grazed his navel.

"I'm not so great in the kitchen," she admitted and dared to unb.u.t.ton his jeans.

The lettuce, she saw as she peeked around him, was caught in his bloodless fingers. She smiled to herself and slowly parted his fly.

Jack, the great big player, didn't seem able to breathe. "Ann?"

"Shh. Keep working. I'm learning a lot."

"f.u.c.k me," he said in a gravelly voice. "What exactly are you learning?"

"Tsk tsk. Language, Mr. Bloom."