Read Online Sweet Escapes: Romance Story Boxed Set by Leighann Dobbs - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Leighann Dobbs
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Short Stories, divorce, Anthologies, Novellas, Single Women, Marriage, Daughter, boxed set, passion, undercover, second chance, bargain, Forbidden, Relationship, collection, Single Parent, Bachelors, Hometown, thief, Forever Love, vengeance, old flame, summer camp, Nine Year-Old, Five Years, receptionist, Sweet Escapes, Controlled, Physical Trainer, Local Gym, Archaeology Professor, Nile River, Heart Claim
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salad later, dinner was over and instead of leaving the cool interior of the building, Jordan leaned back in his chair, sipping the last of his iced tea.
"So, you're not a virgin, obviously, with this ex in the background," he said, smiling to make sure she understood he was teasing. "Good. That makes two of us."
"You're divorced?"
Considering her question, he thought it might have been easier if he were.
"No, widowed."
Her expression warned of impending pity, so he hurried to explain. "My wife died in childbirth nine years ago."
At her expression of confused horror, he continued, "I know. Unheard of in this day and age, right? But there were complications, and she just didn't make it."
"I'm sorry."
He thought of his daughter, Ariel, and shook his head. "Don't be. It was a long time ago."
She pressed her lips together as though she were unsure what to say. "You still miss her?"
Gaze focused on the ice swirling in his glass, Jordan said, "Yes, I do. But I also realize I have to move on with my life. There's no going back, you know?"
"So, is that what this is all about?" She waved a hand, indicating the restaurant. "Starting over?"
"No. Not exactly. This," he nodded toward the other diners, "is about enjoying a nice dinner with a very lovely lady."
Leaning forward, he finished off his tea. He put the glass down and reached across the table to take her hand, sweeping his thumb across her knuckles in a back and forth motion.
"Have you enjoyed this, Olivia? Have you enjoyed being out tonight? Something tells me you don't often treat yourself."
Her gaze met his. "You're right, I don't treat myself often, and yes, I have enjoyed this evening, thank you. But..."
She reached for her purse. "It is getting late and I have work tomorrow."
He stood without releasing her hand. "And that's my cue to say it's time to go."
* * *
Back at the gym, Jordan walked her to her car. He waited until she had it unlocked and had turned back to tell him goodnight to kiss her.
It was much cooler out since the sun had gone down, and when he stepped close he felt her shiver, whether from the cooler night air or his nearness, he couldn't tell.
Watchful, in case she decided to balk, Jordan leaned in for the kiss. Casual at first, his lips brushed back and forth across hers.
Questioning.
Waiting.
Wanting, but not taking.
He felt her arms move around him, her hands swept up across his back before her fingers tangled in his dark hair. Leaning close, she opened her mouth on a sigh, and he took it for the answer he'd been waiting for.
Slanting his lips across hers, he deepened the kiss.
Slowly.
Tempting.
His tongue traced her lips before tasting her more fully.
Olivia moaned softly and pulled him closer, wanting more.
Long moments passed before she pulled back.
Jordan kept his eyes on hers, watching her reaction. His fingers skimmed the curve of her jaw, traced her lips, cupped her chin.
One more quick kiss, and he stepped away. "Goodnight, Olivia. I enjoyed tonight. Very much."
Walking backward, he moved toward his shiny black Ford Escape at the front of the building.
"I'll call you," he said, and then turned and walked away.
She stood there, dazed.
"Goodnight!" she called across the lot.
Jordan waved but waited, leaning casually against his own vehicle until she pulled onto the road, and then he grinned. "Definitely worth the wait."
* * *
He didn't call.
Feeling ridiculous, Olivia stopped pacing near the phone. If he were going to call, he'd have done it by now.
Last night, she had wondered if he would call early today. All through breakfast, she had expected the phone to ring, but it had remained silent through lunch and dinner as well.
Why hadn't he called?
Was he busy at the gym? She'd thought today was his day off, but maybe she had been mistaken.
"Oh good grief, Olivia. Stop acting like a teenaged girl and go see if he's at the gym," she muttered to herself, feeling like the uncertain teen she had
"So, you're not a virgin, obviously, with this ex in the background," he said, smiling to make sure she understood he was teasing. "Good. That makes two of us."
"You're divorced?"
Considering her question, he thought it might have been easier if he were.
"No, widowed."
Her expression warned of impending pity, so he hurried to explain. "My wife died in childbirth nine years ago."
At her expression of confused horror, he continued, "I know. Unheard of in this day and age, right? But there were complications, and she just didn't make it."
"I'm sorry."
He thought of his daughter, Ariel, and shook his head. "Don't be. It was a long time ago."
She pressed her lips together as though she were unsure what to say. "You still miss her?"
Gaze focused on the ice swirling in his glass, Jordan said, "Yes, I do. But I also realize I have to move on with my life. There's no going back, you know?"
"So, is that what this is all about?" She waved a hand, indicating the restaurant. "Starting over?"
"No. Not exactly. This," he nodded toward the other diners, "is about enjoying a nice dinner with a very lovely lady."
Leaning forward, he finished off his tea. He put the glass down and reached across the table to take her hand, sweeping his thumb across her knuckles in a back and forth motion.
"Have you enjoyed this, Olivia? Have you enjoyed being out tonight? Something tells me you don't often treat yourself."
Her gaze met his. "You're right, I don't treat myself often, and yes, I have enjoyed this evening, thank you. But..."
She reached for her purse. "It is getting late and I have work tomorrow."
He stood without releasing her hand. "And that's my cue to say it's time to go."
* * *
Back at the gym, Jordan walked her to her car. He waited until she had it unlocked and had turned back to tell him goodnight to kiss her.
It was much cooler out since the sun had gone down, and when he stepped close he felt her shiver, whether from the cooler night air or his nearness, he couldn't tell.
Watchful, in case she decided to balk, Jordan leaned in for the kiss. Casual at first, his lips brushed back and forth across hers.
Questioning.
Waiting.
Wanting, but not taking.
He felt her arms move around him, her hands swept up across his back before her fingers tangled in his dark hair. Leaning close, she opened her mouth on a sigh, and he took it for the answer he'd been waiting for.
Slanting his lips across hers, he deepened the kiss.
Slowly.
Tempting.
His tongue traced her lips before tasting her more fully.
Olivia moaned softly and pulled him closer, wanting more.
Long moments passed before she pulled back.
Jordan kept his eyes on hers, watching her reaction. His fingers skimmed the curve of her jaw, traced her lips, cupped her chin.
One more quick kiss, and he stepped away. "Goodnight, Olivia. I enjoyed tonight. Very much."
Walking backward, he moved toward his shiny black Ford Escape at the front of the building.
"I'll call you," he said, and then turned and walked away.
She stood there, dazed.
"Goodnight!" she called across the lot.
Jordan waved but waited, leaning casually against his own vehicle until she pulled onto the road, and then he grinned. "Definitely worth the wait."
* * *
He didn't call.
Feeling ridiculous, Olivia stopped pacing near the phone. If he were going to call, he'd have done it by now.
Last night, she had wondered if he would call early today. All through breakfast, she had expected the phone to ring, but it had remained silent through lunch and dinner as well.
Why hadn't he called?
Was he busy at the gym? She'd thought today was his day off, but maybe she had been mistaken.
"Oh good grief, Olivia. Stop acting like a teenaged girl and go see if he's at the gym," she muttered to herself, feeling like the uncertain teen she had
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