Blood In The Stars by Jennifer Shea Page A

twice—no, three times—in two days. Almost died in traffic? No problem, because a meeting waited. Almost killed by falling scaffolding? Didn’t have time to think about it, because she still had a partner to impress. She went on with her life as though nothing had changed.
    But it had.
    She didn’t want to spend all her time doing work anymore. Making partner at thirty paled in importance. She went to all the meetings and did all the work because it was what she had always done. But her drive and motivation had disappeared.
    After the Hellerman meeting, whether or not they got the account, she planned to slow down. Because if she died tomorrow, she wanted to find love.
    That powerful emotion had always stayed out of reach. But Jason was around her now. She didn’t necessarily peg love on the first available man. While Jason’s good looks first drew her in, his undercurrent of loneliness made her accept the date. Then he had hooked her with his caring nature and intelligent conversation.
    If she let herself, she’d fall for him. She didn’t know if she was ready to lay her heart, bare and vulnerable, in his hands. But the way he gazed at her now didn’t make it easy for her to resist. He made her want to fall, no matter what awaited at the end of that tumble.
    Now, she cupped his hands in hers. “Your fingers are always cold.”
    His sheepish smile and dimple turned him boyish and young. She liked his cold hands. It gave her an excuse to warm them, a reason to touch him and have him near.
    Daria hadn’t expected a cozy dinner with him at her place. Normally, anxiety stopped her from inviting men over. But Jason put her at ease no matter the occasion. She forgot how she needed to act, because she could be herself.
    His voice soothed her as they chatted of trivial matters. Yet her brain barely paid attention to the actual words as her eyes followed the gentle arch of his brows and tracked the contour of his lips, the corners tilting up in a natural smile.
    When would they kiss? She had wanted to since she first saw him. Daria couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so happy. Though she wished she could kiss him, she worried it was too soon. But she found herself leaning closer, enthralled by his lovely voice, deep and steady.
    “I had a great time tonight.” Jason smiled at her.
    “Me, too.”
    “Sorry our dinner date turned into take-out,” he said, bringing the dishes to the sink.
    “Oh, you don’t have to do that.” Daria jumped from her seat to stop him. But he held them away from her. She tried to reach around him, but he held them higher and higher, until she pressed against him. The heat of his body burned her and her breath quickened.
    “You’ve had a long day. This is the least I can do.” He winked at her. “Next time I’ll even cook.”
    “Leave it,” she protested, grabbing his hands after he dropped the plates and utensils into the sink. He was her guest and she certainly wasn’t going to put him to work. “I’ll wash them later.”
    Jason blocked the sink and caught her around the waist. Her hands rested on his arms and she stared at his chest as shyness overtook her. She couldn’t look up at him, afraid she’d do something out of character, worried she’d rush into things before she had thought everything through.
    “Daria,” he said softly, “look at me.”
    She raised her eyes to his and noticed the wistful glint in them. He hooked a lock of her hair on his finger and the cold fingertips she had quickly come to adore trailed down her cheek. Nerves fluttered in her stomach and her breathing grew shallow.
    “I wish you’d look only at me sometimes.” An ache lined his words.
    Strange, they had known each other for only two days, but she was sure he didn’t speak of now. Her heart wrenched and thudded in her chest. To look only at him . . .
    Is he speaking of later or always?
    His tender gaze melted her inhibitions and she slid her hands to his neck. His arms tightened