development, but we’ll look forward to working with her on our training needs as they arise.”
“Thank you,” Jenna said, holding up her drink as the others did and clinking glasses.
After taking a long sip, she watched Alec set his glass on the table. The group parted as he stepped forward, closing the distance. The anger that had been lingering in his expression was replaced with a fire she recognized, but could hardly believe he was showing his passion in front of all these people. It was probably just wishful thinking mixed with an alcohol-inspired haze.
Except when Alec reached her, he took her drink from her and placed it on the table. He stepped right up to her, leaving barely a breath between their bodies. One hand moved around her neck, settling at her nape and stroking lightly while the other gripped her hip. Before she could register what was happening, his mouth captured hers.
The kiss was far from subtle, his tongue pushing past her lips and plunging deep, seeking and claiming.
Jenna heard the cacophony of gasps, coughs, and laughs around them as her body melted against his, her arms wrapping around his shoulders and hanging on. She didn’t care that all of their colleagues were likely watching and shocked. All Jenna cared about was Alec’s lips on hers.
When he finally released her mouth, leaving her dizzy with desire, she saw the smile light up his entire face. It was rare for Alec to smile at all, but especially in front of his entire team.
“We’re not done,” he said, still stroking her nape and gripping her hip.
“No?” she asked, not even trying to hide the hope in her voice.
“No, Jenna. In fact, we’re just getting started.”
Epilogue
“I hope you’ll be comfortable in here,” Claire Winter said as she led the way into Alec’s childhood bedroom. “We haven’t changed it since Alec moved out. I guess I’m a bit sentimental.”
“This is great,” Jenna reassured her. The room was large, a queen sized bed in the center of the far well. A small desk occupied one corner and a couple dressers lined another wall.
“I suppose Alec was a bit spoiled, growing up with his own bathroom,” she said, pointing toward the open door next to sliding doors of the closet.
“I think you’ve shared enough stories of my childhood,” Alec said as he guided Jenna past his mother. “Jenna doesn’t need to hear about how spoiled I was, too.”
“You can tell me more tomorrow,” Jenna whispered to Alec’s mother.
“Goodnight,” Alec insisted, giving his mother a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Goodnight, honey. Goodnight, Jenna. I’m so glad you both are here.”
“Me too,” Jenna said. She’d seen a new side of Alec in the few hours they’d been at his parents’ house just outside Chicago. He was more relaxed than she’d ever seen him, though that transformation had started a few weeks ago after he’d kissed her in front of all their colleagues.
Since then, she’d moved into his cabin, and they’d made a day trip to Massachusetts so he could meet her mother. Jenna hadn’t been any less nervous about that meeting than she had about meeting his parents, but Alec took it in stride. He hadn’t even been horrified when Debra asked when he intended to marry Jenna and bless her with grandbabies. He’d simply said that wasn’t their plan right now.
After his very public kiss and a memorable night in the hotel, Alec had told Jenna about his parents and how he struggled with trust as a result. Jenna reassured him there was no other man she was interested in, especially his best friend. Like Alec, she wasn’t interested in multiple partners.
She’d been nervous about meeting his parents, especially knowing the secrets of their relationship. There were certain things she just didn’t want to know about other people, particularly the parents of the man she loved.
Not that she’d made that declaration yet.
Alec had assured her his parents acted perfectly normal in
“Thank you,” Jenna said, holding up her drink as the others did and clinking glasses.
After taking a long sip, she watched Alec set his glass on the table. The group parted as he stepped forward, closing the distance. The anger that had been lingering in his expression was replaced with a fire she recognized, but could hardly believe he was showing his passion in front of all these people. It was probably just wishful thinking mixed with an alcohol-inspired haze.
Except when Alec reached her, he took her drink from her and placed it on the table. He stepped right up to her, leaving barely a breath between their bodies. One hand moved around her neck, settling at her nape and stroking lightly while the other gripped her hip. Before she could register what was happening, his mouth captured hers.
The kiss was far from subtle, his tongue pushing past her lips and plunging deep, seeking and claiming.
Jenna heard the cacophony of gasps, coughs, and laughs around them as her body melted against his, her arms wrapping around his shoulders and hanging on. She didn’t care that all of their colleagues were likely watching and shocked. All Jenna cared about was Alec’s lips on hers.
When he finally released her mouth, leaving her dizzy with desire, she saw the smile light up his entire face. It was rare for Alec to smile at all, but especially in front of his entire team.
“We’re not done,” he said, still stroking her nape and gripping her hip.
“No?” she asked, not even trying to hide the hope in her voice.
“No, Jenna. In fact, we’re just getting started.”
Epilogue
“I hope you’ll be comfortable in here,” Claire Winter said as she led the way into Alec’s childhood bedroom. “We haven’t changed it since Alec moved out. I guess I’m a bit sentimental.”
“This is great,” Jenna reassured her. The room was large, a queen sized bed in the center of the far well. A small desk occupied one corner and a couple dressers lined another wall.
“I suppose Alec was a bit spoiled, growing up with his own bathroom,” she said, pointing toward the open door next to sliding doors of the closet.
“I think you’ve shared enough stories of my childhood,” Alec said as he guided Jenna past his mother. “Jenna doesn’t need to hear about how spoiled I was, too.”
“You can tell me more tomorrow,” Jenna whispered to Alec’s mother.
“Goodnight,” Alec insisted, giving his mother a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Goodnight, honey. Goodnight, Jenna. I’m so glad you both are here.”
“Me too,” Jenna said. She’d seen a new side of Alec in the few hours they’d been at his parents’ house just outside Chicago. He was more relaxed than she’d ever seen him, though that transformation had started a few weeks ago after he’d kissed her in front of all their colleagues.
Since then, she’d moved into his cabin, and they’d made a day trip to Massachusetts so he could meet her mother. Jenna hadn’t been any less nervous about that meeting than she had about meeting his parents, but Alec took it in stride. He hadn’t even been horrified when Debra asked when he intended to marry Jenna and bless her with grandbabies. He’d simply said that wasn’t their plan right now.
After his very public kiss and a memorable night in the hotel, Alec had told Jenna about his parents and how he struggled with trust as a result. Jenna reassured him there was no other man she was interested in, especially his best friend. Like Alec, she wasn’t interested in multiple partners.
She’d been nervous about meeting his parents, especially knowing the secrets of their relationship. There were certain things she just didn’t want to know about other people, particularly the parents of the man she loved.
Not that she’d made that declaration yet.
Alec had assured her his parents acted perfectly normal in
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