Page 97 of The Originals
Jack walked toward the stairs. “Gonna get cleaned up.”
Colleen watched as he walked up the stairs, then rushed to the kitchen and set his place at the table with his dinner.
Jack came down a few minutes later. Colleen remained silent while he ate but enjoyed watching how he barely came up for breath during his meal.
“You’re not eating?” Jack grabbed his beer and took a swig.
“I ate earlier.” She folded her arms, resting her elbows on the table. “How was your day?”
Jack’s hand stilled, and his face hardened. What did she say? Maybe she was being too intrusive?
She offered a shaky smile. “I’m not trying to pry, Jack. I just…” She clamped her lips.
In a move she didn’t see coming, he reached out and grasped her hand. “Appreciate you asking. My day was alright.”
It was a brief yet sweet moment. Jack continued to eat, praising the meal. It wasn’t anything special, but she gathered it had been a while since anyone cooked a meal for Jack.
After he finished, she tried to clear his plate, but he waved her hand away. “I got this. You’ve done enough.”
Jack glanced down at the table, seemingly noticing for the first time the cash tucked under the napkin holder. He bent over, grabbed it, and looked up at her.
“What’s this?”
She hooked her hair over her ear, ducking her head slightly. She should have asked for permission beforehand. “I called my brother. I hope you don’t mind. He worries when I don’t check in every few weeks, and I was overdue.” Colleen pointed to the cash. “It was a thirty-minute call, and that’s what Dunn says it costs. But if you think it might be more, I can run upstairs and get more money.”
Jack’s face softened, and he started toward her. “Dunn makes you pay to call your family?”
Colleen nodded, watching him approach. Jack stopped a few inches away. He held up the cash.
“Yeah, well, I don’t.”
She immediately held up her hands. “No, please, take it. You’re already giving me so much, I can’t take anymore.”
The corner of Jack’s mouth curled in a sexy smirk. He reached out, and her heart started to race. Up until now, Jack had been the perfect gentlemen. Too perfect, in fact, making it known there’d be nothing but friendship between them. However, his hand was heading in the direction of her breast. Her short crop top had a small pocket over her right breast. His fingers skimmed over the cotton, and her nipple immediately beaded into a tight peak. His finger slipped into the pocket, making it almost unbearable not to moan when it came in contact with her nipple. He lifted his other hand and without thinking she arched her back slightly, wanting to feel his hands all over her body.
Jack took the folded dollar bills and tucked them in the tiny pocket. She tried to hide the heated rush flaming her face. She bowed her head, but Jack slid his hand under her chin, forcing her to meet his stare.
Every indecent, naughty, and dirty thought was running through her head. Had it been any other man, she’d know how to approach him. But Jack was on another level. And he’d made it clear he wasn’t interested.
Right? Was it possible things had changed? She inched closer, but he made no move to kiss her, and she didn’t have the guts to make the first move. She swallowed the knot in her throat, and he dropped his hand to his side. The moment was officially over, and she felt the loss to her core.
“You up for a fire?”
Colleen jerked her gaze. She was sure he’d be off to bed. Alone.
“Yeah,” she blurted.
Jack smiled and lifted his chin. “Go grab a sweatshirt. It’s getting cool outside.”
“I don’t have one.”
Jack walked past her into the living room closet. He opened it and dug around before pulling out a sweatshirt that looked two sizes too big for her. He handed it to Colleen, and she immediately smelled his scent on it.
“Come on, darlin’.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
He should’ve gone straight to bed. He was beyond tired, and would probably pass out the minute his head touched the pillow. It made no sense why he’d suggest they build a fire in the pit in the yard. He couldn’t even believe when the words came out of his mouth.