What Janie Wants Read Online Free PDF Page B

she was two seconds away from shooting out of her chair and kicking his ass.
    Either way, he’d spoken his truth. He stood. “I’ll let you have some time alone. I’ve got things to take care of this afternoon, but I’d like to have dinner with you. No pressure. No agenda beyond what you’re comfortable with. Do you want to join me, or would you rather be alone and discredit everything about you that’s amazing?”
    Her gaze jumped to his. “That’s harsh.”
    “ Also true.” He inched closer and cupped her face. Her sun-warmed skin kissed his thumb as he traced her cheekbone. “Whatever you’re here for, I’d like to help you find it.”

Janie strolled through the softly lit lobby toward the dining room and let out a slow, calming breath. It was dinner, not a mortal sin. She wished her heart would figure that out and stop its maniacal thumping. Fighting the heat was bad enough. Adding a pulse on overdrive into the mix was too much.
    A young couple meandered from the dining room, their fingers twined easily, both of them with carefree smiles. Young and in love. Nothing on the horizon but laughter and building a family.
    She remembered those days. Gerald hadn’t been able to get enough of her then. When faced with a choice for time with his friends or time with her, he’d always chosen her. When had that changed? Five? Ten years ago? She palmed her stomach, settled her hand on the tiny pooch below her belly button, and sucked in her gut. Damn, she hated when she did that. Like anyone here would notice a middle-aged woman out on her own.
    Zade noticed. And he called you sexy.
    She relaxed, pushed back her shoulders, and fiddled with the straps of her sundress. The sales lady had sworn the built in bra was sufficient for her full figure, but it sure felt like she was running around topless.
    Inside the bustling dining room, wrought iron chandeliers hung from tall ceilings, the tips of the faux candles turned to full brightness. The walls were painted a pale flamingo color that should have been atrocious, but mixed with the turquoise and gold accents, turned the large space into a cozy party. Tables and chairs were lined up tight on one end and three buffets with everything from salad to dessert filled the other.
    Zade stood behind two younger men seated at a round table, his hands anchored on their chair backs as he listened to their conversation. His blue button down with rolled up sleeves and khakis were a far cry from the rest of the men at the table, whose rumpled polos and long shorts were probably the only decent attire they’d packed.
    He looked up and stopped mid-sentence. His smile shifted from open, easy laughter, to somewhere between pride and sin. He clapped one of the men on the back, never breaking his stare, and left his friends behind.
    Catcalls and laughter rang out from table.
    Zade kept prowling, his lasered focus so intense she couldn’t decide whether to thank God she’d braved the invitation, or run like hell for her room. He crowded close and cupped the back of her neck. “You came.”
    The way he said it made her wonder if he’d somehow installed a camera in her room. She hadn’t surrendered to the need for release, still too hung up on relegating herself to Dirty Old Woman status, but every time she replayed the feel of his hands on her back, she’d come close.
    She couldn’t remember the last time Gerald had touched her that way. With so much feeling and intimacy it rattled every nerve ending.
    His heat filtered through her cotton sundress, and his light, citrusy cologne was one-hundred percent confident, unapologetic male. The kind that made her want to snuggle close and nestle her nose in the crook of his neck, the rest of the room be damned.
    “ Hungry?”
    A fission of pleasure started at her breastbone and radiated outward. God, did everything that came out of his mouth have to spark dirty thoughts? “Definitely.”
    He smiled, showcasing model-perfect teeth and steered