Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(87)
We leave Joe’s room and find Anna in the kitchen already preparing a bowl for Sadie.
“Good morning, Anna,” I offer, without questioning her actions.
I’m suddenly acutely aware of her amazing attention to detail. Anna has the exact proportions of food in the bowl for Sadie.
“Good morning, Ms. Emma.” She slides the bowl over to me. “Mr. Joseph,” Anna says suggestively.
I snicker at her words.
“Why are you working on a Sunday, Anna?” I inquire after signaling Sadie to eat.
“I like my job,” Anna returns, as if it is a rehearsed statement. After I give her a quizzical look, she adds, “And Mr. Joseph and Mr. Jimmy need me.”
“They’re big boys. I’m sure they can take care of themselves for one day.”
A chuckle sneaks out of her throat. She recovers quickly by coughing and then replies, “I’d like to get a leg up on this week's chores before Hawaii. I have a lot to do before I have to pack them and myself.”
Taking the glass of clay water Joe prepared for me, I verify her words, “She’s packing for you?”
Joe shrugs finishing his last two gulps of his own clay drink.
Muting a laugh, I say to Ann, “I hope they pay you really well.”
“Oh yes. The Covelli family takes very good care of me,” Anna delightfully insists.
“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” After chugging my clay, I investigate again. “So, you’re joining us in Hawaii?”
“Yes, Ms. Emma.”
“Anna loves Hawaii. Besides, she won’t really be working,” Joe adds.
“Hawaii is one of my favorite places,” Anna comments with a childlike smile.
Shaking my head in disbelief and amazement to Joe’s statement, I get to Sadie’s empty bowl before Anna this time. My line of questioning threw her off just enough. I’ll have to remember this in the future. What am I say? There will be none of this happening in the future.
After taking Sadie out for a good long walk, Joe and I have a smoothie. He insists on making it to prove that he knows how to use the blender and that he actually made the one we drank yesterday. He does pretty good, I have to say.
I purposefully keep my physical distance from Joe since we officially left the bedroom. Snooping a little in the living room, I check out more of the photos and the titles of the variety of books lining his bookshelf. I’ll need to figure out how to sneak into his office to explore the wall of books that reside in there.
It’s not long before Joe’s close behind me. “What are you looking for?” he requests.
“Nothing,” I reply putting a book back.
Enclosing my waist with his arms, he moans into my ear, “Liar.”
Tempted, I resist my urges and slip away. “Do you play?”
With a devious grin, Joe answers, “I love to play.” He takes a giant step towards me, drawing me into him.
“That,” I turn and point.
His eyes reluctantly follow mine to the piano. He growls into my neck like a lion stalking its prey. Pressing his lips to my earlobe, “Yes. Since I was five.”
“Will you play for me?”
“Now?”
I bite my lip and nod.
“I’ll wake everyone.”
“So,” I giggle.
“So . . . I’d rather stay right here.” Joe takes a few steps forward as I take a few steps back until my body is against a window.
“Just friends,” I mumble into his ear.
Ignoring me, he slides his mouth along my jaw. “Just one,” he pleas.
“No,” I whimper.
We both know that my body is saying yes and I’m desperately fighting to keep control over myself.
“I want to hear you play. Will you?”
“When you let me kiss you right here,” Joe announces in a devilish tone as he lightly grazes my lips with his finger.
“That’s not fair,” I scold.
“You’re not the only one who can have rules,” he baits.
“So that’s how you want to do this?” I declare.
“You started it, beautiful,” he shares.
Observing his expression, I try to determine what I want to say or do. I’m enjoying our game, but not when he pushes for another kiss — because, I foolishly want one. Knowing what a second kiss will do to me, I’ve got to be careful. I choose my safety net and peel away from his embrace and head to Jared’s and Nathan’s room.
Listening to make sure I don’t walk in on anything, I press my ear to the door. My eyes catch Joe leaning against a wall about fifteen feet away, watching what I’m doing. Turning the knob, I give Joe a wicked grin and enter the bedroom, closing the door behind me. Safe at last. God job, Emma.
Jared wakes before I turn around. “Everything okay, Kitten?”
“Yeah. I just miss you,” I say, buttering him up as I slip under the covers.
“Sleep okay?” He wraps his arms around me.
“Great,” I say, nuzzling into his chest.
As much as I fear relationships, especially the intimacy of relationships, my body craves physical contact. I’m a tactile kind of girl who loves stimulation. When I cuddle with Jared, I feel safe and secure. There are no other expectation or obligations. There are no chances or possibilities that could arise. No secrecy, no hidden desires. Just the feeling of being safe; the feeling of being home.