Outrageously Yours, page 16
“Max, forget the duck,” Jason heard Claire say. “You have to try the bacon brownie.”
Jason grinned. He held back a chuckle when he heard Max’s haughty reply.
Claire wouldn’t be deterred. “You simply have to. It was named after me. Inspired by me, really.”
“Why would anyone create a brownie in your honor?” the other man asked.
“Because I made my mark this week as a wild party girl. In case you haven’t noticed, Max, I’m kind of a legend around here.”
12
IT WAS CLOSE to midnight when Claire got out of her car in the Mountain Creek Wine Cellar parking lot. She wasn’t sure what had prompted her to come back here after the party. Jason hadn’t invited her back. Instead he’d given her an intense look when she had left with Max.
Claire walked to the door as a couple of employees were leaving. “Is Jason in there?” she asked.
“Yes,” one of the waiters said as he held the door open for her. “He’s always the last one to leave. We just saw him in the tasting room.”
“Thanks.” She stepped into the bar and paused as the door closed behind her. She hadn’t been here when it was empty, and most of the lights were turned off. The bar’s typical casual ambiance was now replaced with a dark, mysterious mood.
Claire quietly went up the metal stairs and headed to the tasting room. She stopped in the doorway when she saw Jason. His white shirt almost glowed in the shadows. He was in the far corner, sitting in one of the dark wooden chairs and looking out the windows that faced the evergreen trees. His shoulders were slumped, his head bent and his legs sprawled out in front of him. A full wineglass dangled precariously from his fingertips.
It was as if all of the energy and optimism had been drained from him. She couldn’t remember seeing him like this before. His defeated stance pulled at her. She had the urgent need to take care of him and restore his easy smile.
“Jason?” she said softly.
She saw him tense and there was a shift in the atmosphere before he glanced up. His expression was fierce as his gaze ensnared hers. “What are you doing here, Claire? Did you forget something?”
“No, I came back for you,” she explained as she walked toward him.
“I thought you left with Max. Did he offer you the job?”
“Not yet. He got a little tipsy and I didn’t want him to drive.” She now stood before Jason. Claire ached for him to reach for her but he didn’t move.
Jason frowned. “He had only been here for a half an hour. I swore he didn’t have more than two glasses.”
“I think he had a few drinks before he came here. I drove him to his hotel and his rental car was still in the parking lot.”
“How did you get him to surrender his keys?” he asked with a small smile.
“I can be very persuasive.” Claire decided to go for broke and sat on his lap. It felt like an intimate gesture that girlfriends and wives did instead of casual lovers. Satisfaction trilled up her spine when he curled his arm around her waist. “Jason, what are you doing here sitting in the dark?”
“It’s hard to explain,” he said softly as he ducked his head. “The party went well but I felt empty afterward.”
“Why do you think that is?” Claire cupped his face with her hands.
“I’m not sure, but I’m feeling better already,” he decided.
“Do you sit in silence after every party? It doesn’t sound like you.” She was the one who needed to be alone to recharge. Jason was the kind of person who got energized when he was around crowds.
“First time,” he admitted as he absently stroked her bare back. She shifted as her skin tingled.
“You are usually a whirlwind of energy. You have ideas colliding with each other. Last month we were at an event right in this tasting room and you started telling me what you wanted to do at the next event.” She chuckled lightly. “I was ready to do an intervention.”
His hand paused at the small of her back. “This will be my last party for a while.”
“Why?” His serious tone gave her a moment of worry. “As far as I’m concerned, the party was a success.”
“It was, but I was thinking about what you said.” He leaned to the side to set down his wineglass. “I’ve been restless and bored. I kept creating events and projects to distract myself.”
He had kept himself overscheduled and directed his creativity to the wine bar so he wouldn’t feel the loss of not following his dream. But the emptiness crept in at moments like these. “Are you sure you want to take a break?”
“Sure. What’s the worst that could happen?”
The worst? The emptiness could consume him. He could lose his competitive edge over the tasting rooms that lined the street. “Well...”
He pressed his fingers against her lips. “Don’t tell me. Anyway, I’m going to need all that time when I go to culinary school.”
“That’s the spirit. What are you going to do until the next semester? Won’t the boredom get worse?”
He held her chin with his fingertips. “I don’t feel bored or restless anymore. You cured me.”
She pulled away in surprise. “I did? How?”
“Because of who you are,” he murmured as he rubbed her back with his other hand. The motions did little to soothe her. Instead it made her aware of the pulsating ache low in her belly. “You are a constant surprise. I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface.”
Claire bit her lip as she gazed into his eyes. She wanted to know if this meant he was ready to continue the fling. The way he spoke made it sound as if he wanted more. Something longer. Something permanent.
She realized she was getting ahead of herself, but the need to ask burned inside her. She parted her lips and stopped. He had seemed vulnerable a few moments ago. This was not the time to press him.
“I couldn’t stop looking at you tonight,” he confessed as he trailed his fingers down the curve of her throat. “I wanted to drag you to the bathroom and mess up your hair.”
She smiled as she remembered the night he’d done exactly that. “Go ahead.” Her voice was husky.
“Take down your hair for me, Claire.”
She reached up, her arms feeling heavy and awkward as she unpinned the knot. Claire dropped the pins on the floor, one by one. The sound of the metal hitting the wood floor was loud as her hair gradually fell past her shoulders.
Jason dragged his fingers through her blond tresses. She felt the weight of his hand as he smoothed her hair. His fingertips massaged her head before gliding down the back of her neck. She was ready for him to circle his fingers all over her body. Her chest and her nipples...her stomach and her clitoris... Claire closed her eyes as her core tightened with anticipation.
“You drove me crazy all night with that dress,” he whispered.
“This little thing?” she asked hoarsely. “What’s wrong with it?”
“I kept imagining what it would be like to take it off you.”
She had imagined just that when she bought the dress. Had waited throughout the night for him to make a mischievous move. Each time she’d been curled against his side, she had hoped he would brush his fingers along the side of her breast. But he had been a perfect gentleman.
Claire’s heart pounded as she reached up and unhooked the halter top. Jason watched as she allowed the purple silk to fall to her waist. “Is this better?”
“Much.” His voice sounded strangled as he palmed her naked breasts. She arched and swallowed a moan as he caressed her with the lightest of touches.
Claire watched his face as he played with her curves. He treated her with reverence, as if she was a piece of art. He leaned forward and captured her nipple with his mouth. Her gasp rang in the room as he teased her with his teeth and tongue.
Jason’s touch was unpredictable and she loved not knowing what would happen next. He was tender one moment and rough the next. He bit down on her nipple and then soothed it with the flat of his tongue. Claire hissed as the pleasure took a painful edge before exploding into an intense sensation.
Jason reluctantly pulled away. “We should leave.” He rubbed the pad of his thumb against her tight nipple. “Before we can’t stop.”
“What’s wrong with here?” Claire asked as he made her stand. She was surprisingly light-headed as her legs wobbled. Her muscles ached as the lust coiled tight in her pelvis. “No one is here. No one can see us.”
“I can’t hide you if anyone walks in.”
Claire smiled at his protective gesture. “They won’t. Sit back, Jason,” she ordered gently as she shimmied out of her dress. She felt his hot gaze on her as the silk pooled at her feet. She stood before him with just her heels on. The mesmerized look on Jason’s face made her feel a bit wicked and powerful.
She straddled his legs and linked her arms over his shoulders. Jason immediately clamped his hands on her hips. She rocked against his impressive erection and heard the groan rumble in his chest. Claire held the back of his head and gave him a deep kiss.
She couldn’t get enough of his mouth. The man could kiss her breathless. Her world narrowed to only him as he coaxed the pleasure from her with his hands. He knew when to caress her breast and when to squeeze her ass. One moment he would give a shallow thrust and the next he would hold her still as she rubbed against him.
When he finally had enough teasing, Jason slid his fingers along the wet folds of her sex before he dipped his fingers into her core. Her flesh gripped him tightly as he pumped inside her. Claire groaned as a climax rippled through her body.
Her hands were still shaking as she fumbled for his belt buckle. Her eagerness made her clumsy. Jason unzipped his pants carefully and lifted his hips. He pushed his clothes down and revealed his thick cock.
Claire grasped his erection with both hands and shivered at the touch. He was hot, strong and powerful. She licked her lips as she considered kneeling on the floor between his legs and taking him in her mouth. No, not this time. She needed to have Jason thrust deep inside her.
She was dimly aware of Jason hunting for his wallet as she stroked his cock. He was so responsive to her touch. Jason tossed his head back and groaned when she gave a light squeeze. His hands bumped against hers as she took the condom from him and slowly glided it onto his cock.
Claire stared at Jason as he held himself back from driving into her right then. He was the picture of masculine beauty. His eyes were shut and his chest rose and fell with each ragged breath. She lowered her gaze to his unbuttoned shirt exposing his lean, muscular chest. His thighs flexed under her as she guided his cock between her legs.
Jason’s hands gripped her thighs as she lowered herself onto him. She exhaled slowly as he stretched and filled her. Her skin was hot and tight, her heart pounding wildly, as she began to buck and swivel her hips.
She quickly found a relentless rhythm and moaned as the desire unfurled inside her. Claire dug her fingers into his shoulders, encouraging him to join her as they chased the pleasure. Her breath caught in her throat as Jason slid his hand between them and pressed against her slick clitoris.
Bright, wild colors stormed through her and she matched his hard thrusts. She felt Jason tense underneath her. He gave a long push inside her before he found his release. His guttural moan echoed in her ears as the white-hot climax ripped through her.
Claire tumbled forward and burrowed her head against his shoulder. As she gulped for air, inhaling his scent, she knew she didn’t want this fling to end. She hoped that this was just the beginning.
* * *
THE NEXT AFTERNOON one of the waiters found Jason in the kitchen at Mountain Creek Wine Cellars. “Jason, there’s a customer who wants to talk to you.”
He glanced up from his clipboard and looked at the younger man standing at the door. “Who is it, Ramon?”
The waiter shrugged. “Never seen him before.”
So it wasn’t a local or a frequent customer. “What does he want?”
“He didn’t say.” Ramon rolled his eyes. “But he’s delivered one sarcastic comment after another since I’ve served him.”
Jason stepped out of the kitchen and surveyed the wine bar. All of the tables and bar stools were occupied since it was a Saturday afternoon. “Which one is he?”
The waiter pointed at the small table in the corner. Jason saw the back of the man’s head and instantly recognized the blond curly hair. He twisted his lips with annoyance. It was Max Blair. What was he doing here?
“You know him?” Ramon asked as he watched Jason’s expression.
“Unfortunately,” he muttered as he set down his clipboard. “Nothing is good enough for this guy.”
“Okay, so it’s not just me.” The waiter gave a sigh of relief.
Jason grinned and gave Ramon a pat on his shoulder before he walked to Max’s table. He knew what the waiter had dealt with. Last night Max had been disparaging about almost everything he had seen. The wine, the tasting room and the party. Jason had no idea why Claire tolerated it. Did she want a glamorous job so much that she was willing to put up with Max as her boss?
“Jason!” Max smiled when he approached the table and raised his wineglass in salute. “I must compliment you on your appetizers. The tuna and caviar on a fried wonton is a revelation.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He took a step back, ready to leave.
“Please join me.” Max gestured at the chair across the table. “I have a meeting with Claire soon but I wanted to talk to you first.”
Jason knew he could come up with an excuse but he sensed that Max had something more to say. Was it about Claire? It would gnaw on him unless he found out immediately. Jason sat down and rested his forearms on the table. “What’s up?”
“You know, I didn’t expect to get food like this in the...” Max gestured at the evergreen trees outside the window “...wilderness. Where did you get this idea? France? Italy?”
A sushi food truck in Seattle. Jason had the sense that Max would not appreciate the truth, though, and he chose not to reveal his inspiration. “The chef and I get our influences everywhere.” Jason had been driven to create the flavors in an elegant appetizer, but no matter how much he had played with the idea, he couldn’t make it work. His lack of training and experience had held him back. Once he had asked for help from the chef, the two had created a perennial favorite for the wine bar.
Jason’s eyes narrowed when he studied the wineglass in Max’s hands. It was wider and shorter than the wineglass they usually used to serve the Riesling they paired with the tuna. “Are you drinking the chardonnay?”
“Yes, it’s good for a Washington wine. Your waiter had some other ideas but I knew the Chardonnay would be better with fish.” Max gave him a look of long-suffering. “It’s a classic pairing. Everyone should realize that.”
Jason clenched his teeth. Ramon was training to become a sommelier and was passionate about wine. He wanted to defend his employee but he doubted Max would listen to what he had to say. “We usually recommend the Riesling with that appetizer because the sweetness of the wine holds up well to the spicy Asian flavors. You should try it the next time you’re here.”
“Perhaps.” He patted his mouth with a napkin before he continued. “I’m not sure if I will return. It depends on Claire. What do you know about her? How would you describe her?”
Intense. Wild. Serious. Beautiful. Strong. Wonderful. Loving. Determined. Sexy. The list went on. He would sing Claire’s praises but there were many things he didn’t want to share with Max. Max would not appreciate her strengths and vulnerabilities. He would search for her flaws, real and unimagined.
“What is it you want to know?” Jason asked.
“She works on your social media.” Max said before he quaffed the wine. “What does that entail?”
“We had no social media presence until we hired Claire. She built our strategy.” Jason quickly ran down the list of Claire’s duties and realized it was a lot. Somehow Claire managed to put all of the pieces together and create excitement for his business.
“Have you seen any results?” Max asked as he leaned back in his chair. “I’m sure you can’t directly link it to Claire’s work.”
“What makes you so sure?” Claire was all about data and results but he couldn’t remember any of the hard numbers. She was very enthusiastic about targets and reach but Jason’s eyes usually glazed over and he would just watch her animated expressions and gestures.
“She’s told me about some of her projects and...well...” Max gave a shrug and turned his hands up, “She’s young. Raw. She needs a mentor to help shape her if she wants to get any big-name clients.”
“Mentors like who?” Though he already suspected just what Max wanted from Claire. “You?”
Max nodded. “I’m thinking about hiring her as my personal assistant.”
The guy made it sound as if he was doing Claire a huge favor. Jason was sure Max had no interest in developing Claire’s skills. He was looking for employees who would come up with the ideas and do the work while he wined and dined Hollywood.
“Why would she give up her business to work for you?” he asked as dread seeped into his bones.
“Why wouldn’t she choose a big city over this farm town?” Max gestured at the windows.
“She has a life here,” Jason reminded him.
Max chuckled at Jason’s statement. “I know women like Claire. She wants to experience the Hollywood lifestyle she’s always dreamed of. It’s always the quiet girl-next-door types.”
Jason shook his head. This guy hadn’t made any attempt to understand Claire. She might avoid the spotlight but she had a tight circle of friends and she had him. She fought hard to be a successful and independent businesswoman. Would she give up all of that for glitz and glamour? Would she walk away from him and what they had just created?
