Even now her mother sported a flowery chiffon top, ankle pants, and stylish flats. She had her hair done religiously every week at the local salon and it looked perfect, as did her makeup and jewelry. She was a model of efficiency as she finished the salad, and then turned to a bag of corn.

“We can do that,” Jessica said, taking the bundle away from her. “Rory, Liam, and Dad are out on the porch. We can shuck the ears while we talk.”

That was something else about her mother that had always baffled her: the way she acted as if the males in the house were helpless when it came to cooking or cleaning. Barbecuing was the exception; she let her husband do the steaks, but that was it. Grabbing a trash bag, Jessica ventured onto the porch with the corn and put it on the coffee table between her siblings.

As predicted, her brothers and father did not miss a beat, but began to tear off the husks as they continued talking. She grabbed a beer out of the cooler and turned to join them, and then froze when she saw Gavin walking up the lawn.

He looked good. Damned good. Was there something different about his stride, or maybe it was his carefree manner? He was wearing jeans and a baseball jersey, carrying a box, and appeared ridiculously hot. The flutter in her heart increased as he approached, and she sent Rory daggers as he rose to greet him.

Ignoring her, her brother opened the screen door and stuck out his hand. “Hey, pal. Glad you could make it. You didn’t have to bring anything; we have more than enough food. Gavin, let me introduce you to my dad. And I think you already know Jess.”

Rory handed Jessica the bakery box that Gavin had brought, and her father rose to greet the newcomer. Her nerves were completely on edge, and her stomach knotted with tension. What was wrong with her? It was just Gavin, the guy she had been working with every day for weeks. Why did she suddenly feel like a sixteen-year-old on the night of the prom?

Resolutely, she carried the cake into the kitchen and had almost made up her mind that she would leave early when it occurred to her that she was being ridiculous. After all, this was her house, her family. If anyone should be jittery, it should be him.

“Oh, isn’t that nice!” Her mother opened the box and gazed inside. “Perfect, it’s lemon cake. That was really sweet of your friend.”

“I didn’t invite him—Gavin, that is. Rory did. I mean, not that we aren’t friends…”

She was babbling, and her mother looked at her sympathetically.

That did it. She had to stop acting like an idiot. Just because she had a major-league crush on this guy, that didn’t give her leave to behave like some lovesick twit.

Taking a huge swig of her beer, she forced herself back out onto the porch and into a chair, grateful for the corn-husking job. At least that was something she could focus on as her brother, father, and Gavin made easy conversation. Everything would be fine, a totally normal Memorial Day picnic.

As long as she managed not to throw up.

She saw him glance at her strangely, even while keeping up his end of the conversation with her male relatives. But when she picked up the bundle of corn, intending to move it closer, the bag broke, sending the ears bouncing all over the floor of the porch.

“Dammit!” she swore. Rory and Liam exchanged an amused glance, while Gavin immediately leaned over to help her clean up the mess.

“You okay?”

She looked up into melting, dark liquid eyes that were full of concern. That almost undid her. Remembering that her brothers were in the room and that she would pay for any kind of drama for years to come, she quickly shook her head.

“I’m just a little off my game today. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

“Why don’t you take Gavin on the tour?” her father suggested helpfully. “He hasn’t met your mother yet, and hasn’t seen the house. And we’ll take a couple more beers for the cooler when you come back.”

Jessica sighed, piled the corn on the table, and then brushed the silk off her pants. “Do you want to see the house?” She did an eye roll as she asked the question.

“Sure,” he said, but he looked at her uncertainly. “After you.”

She had no choice but to take him into the kitchen, where her mother turned into a blushing high school girl when she was introduced to the handsome ballplayer. Jessica, her hands on her hips, watched as Gavin innocently poured on the flattery, and Diana Hart was charmed. Leading him into the family room, she gave him a shrewd look.

“Does that work with all the moms?”

“I’m not going to pretend to know what you mean, or what the hell is going on. Instead you’re going to tell me.”

Before she could protest, he steered her by the elbow out the front porch door, far away from the party. Indignant, she turned on her heel to face him, but he simply boxed her in, holding her against the wall, one arm on either side of her.

“What is wrong?”

She had no choice but to return his stare, and she wondered wildly what she could say. She couldn’t possibly admit the truth: that she realized she was crazy about him, enough so she couldn’t focus on another man. And she was scared to death.

But then she remembered the best defense was a good offense. Deflect. “I met someone last night, and I’m kind of confused. Let’s just leave it at that.”

His hand tightened around her waist. “Are you into this guy?”

“Well, he was from North Jersey,” she babbled nervously. She was so focused on her own roiling emotions she didn’t notice that his eyes had narrowed dangerously. “He was really nice looking, and obviously rich. I enjoyed his company, but when we kissed…”

That was as far she got. With something like a growl, he took her mouth with his, ending further conversation.

Chapter 26

It was a demanding kiss, and one determined to prove to her once and for all that she couldn’t keep denying what was between them.

He was right. Damn him.

At least she had the dim satisfaction in knowing the same crazy need was happening to him. His hands slid down to her waist, holding her firmly and possessively in place. She could feel his heart pounding, the heat emanating from his firm, athletic body, the electricity that effortlessly seemed to generate between them.

She had no choice. She gave in to it, in to him. Her hand slid up into that black silky hair as she pulled him closer and surrendered.

Encouraged, he took her further, his tongue exploring her mouth, his hand cupping her breast, his thumb flicking her nipple and she instantly hardened into a rock-hard point. But a noise sounded just inside the door, startling both of them, and when he eased his lips from hers, she stared at him in awe, and a moment later when her brain returned, fury.

“What do you think you are doing?” She struggled to break free. What the hell was she thinking?

“Do I need to explain?”

He thought it was funny. She saw the amusement twinkling in his eyes, and she was determined to wipe that smirk off his face. “So I guess you assume this automatically means—”

“Damned right.” The amusement fled from his eyes. “And no rich boy from North Jersey is going to steal you out from under me.”

Before she could protest, he kissed her again. Her mind was spinning, and she knew she should pull back—she was necking on the front porch of her parents’ house, for God’s sake—but it was impossible. This was Gavin, and here is where she’d wanted to be since she first set eyes on him. The only thing that slowed them down was her father clearing his voice to announce that the steaks were on the grill.