Calling All the Shots by Katherine Garbera Page A

see is
a woman I don’t want to let go.”
    “Don’t mess with me, Jack. I’m still not sure that you’re not
playing a game.”
    * * *
    “I’m not,” he said.
    Jack had never been one to look away when Fate presented him
with a second chance. And whatever he’d done to Willow in the past, he could
fix, because he wanted her in his life now. He didn’t know if it would be
forever. To be honest he didn’t believe in that sentiment. Everything ended and
he knew that better than most people did. But he had also learned that he
couldn’t ignore experiences simply because they wouldn’t last.
    On this cold November Saturday morning he had been given an
opportunity to spend time with Willow. He wanted to get this conversation out of
the way so he could take her into his arms, carry her to her bedroom and make
love to her in her own bed. Then he wanted to just lie in her arms under the
covers and for this one day pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist.
    He didn’t know if he’d get that chance but he was going to do
everything in his power to make that happen. She’d cooked for him—something that
only his mom had ever done. Sure, he’d dated other women and had some long-term
relationships but the women he’d been involved with had never really done
anything like this for him.
    He felt cared for, and there was something so powerful in this
moment that he was struggling to keep his hands to himself. He guessed that the
way to his heart…or even lower…was through his stomach.
    “Why are you smiling?” she asked. “There is something about you
grinning that makes me nervous.”
    He had to shake his head because that comment was so Willow.
Not the Willow he’d been texting with for the past few days but the Willow who’d
refused every date he’d asked her on since May. “You make me happy. Even when
you’re prickly as a porcupine,” he said.
    “I’m not prickly,” she said, reaching up and tucking a strand
of her thick black hair behind her ear. He noticed she had small hoops in her
ears this morning. He didn’t think she’d ever worn earrings before. Then he
noticed she had on makeup and unless he was mistaken, lipstick.
    Had she dressed up for him?
    “You look very pretty today,” he said.
    She blushed and shook her head. “Do you think by saying
something nice I’ll forget you just called me a porcupine? They aren’t cute and
cuddly.”
    “Well, you are,” he said.
    She shrugged. “Eat. You have to be starving,” she said.
    “Not for food. But I am hungry for you, Willow,” he said,
taking her hand and lifting it to his mouth. He brushed a kiss along the line of
her knuckles.
    She pulled her hand back. “I’m not…I can’t do this.” She
stood.
    “Why not?”
    She shrugged again and turned her back on him. He felt as if he
had her on the run and that was the last thing he wanted.
    “Talk to me.”
    “I am. You’re being difficult. You say I’m prickly but you’re
the one who is a pain.”
    “Why am I a pain?” he asked.
    “Forget it,” she said, sitting back down across from him and
pushing the food around on her plate.
    “What happened to that honesty you had earlier?” he asked. “I’m
just a guy who is attracted to a girl who can be so stubborn.”
    She looked up at him with that dark chocolate gaze of hers and
he felt a jolt go through his body. His blood started to run heavier. He thought
he’d die if he didn’t get her into bed soon.
    Maybe that was the problem. They were talking when they should
be doing. He was sitting here hesitating and letting her set the pace when that
wasn’t his way at all. Any other woman would have already been in his bed. But
he’d waited because Willow could be…well, Willow.
    “I don’t try to be difficult,” she said at last, licking her
lips. He couldn’t help but stare at her full mouth. He remembered the way she’d
tasted when he’d kissed her just over a week ago. It couldn’t have been as good
as he remembered