Jack picked up his jacket off the bathroom floor and shook it. "You might actually wear me out."

"Is that a dare?"

Solana's hazel eyes sparkled, and he had to kiss her again. His lips teased hers, savouring the sweetness only she tasted of. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"I would." She stretched on her toes, capturing his bottom lip in her teeth. "Let's get some grub?"

"Grub?"

A pipe in one stall clanked. Her light laughter at his startled jump combined with the warmth of her hand, and his heart decelerated. "C'mon. Vinny makes the best fries, and for some reason, I'm starving."

Out in the bar area, she continued to hold his hand while ordering two burger specials. "You okay with beer?" He couldn't remember the last time he'd had a beer, another of his uncle's no-no's. Beer was cheap, beer was a poor man's drink. His uncle's voice echoed in his head now. "Never let them see you drink beer. They'll think you're one of them. Always keep your distance."

Jack shook his head, jostling the reprimand away. "Beer sounds good."

"Two bottles of Stella."

"Solana." They turned towards her name, a large man in height and girth weaving through the tables. "Alan told me you were in. It's been too long." Solana dropped his hand and Jack instantly missed the warmth of it. With her holding his hand, the world had colour to it, and he almost felt like he could fit in here. Without her touch, he felt alone, on an island, apart from everything.

To keep from reaching out, he itched the prickly stubble covering his chin. Not shaving was another thing throwing him out of sorts. That and the stiff jeans he wore.

"Vinny." Solana aimed her rays of sunshine at him. "I missed you last time. How are you?"

"You know, hanging in." The man caught Jack's eye. "You brought a guest?"

"Vinny, this is my friend, Jack."

A meaty hand extended forward, and Jack shook the firm grip. "Any friend of Solana's is a friend of mine." The man's grip was firm, but not dominating.

"Took Jack out for a spin." Solana brushed her shoulder against Jack's and he relished the re-established contact, his muscles relaxing. Used to being on his own, this uncontrollable need to touch her, hold her, set his world off kilter.

Vinny gave Jack the once over. "Looks more like he rides a dresser?"

"Jack, here's a natural." Solana took a swig from one of the two green bottles that had slid across the bar. "This was his first time on a bike."

"Bet you're addicted now."

Jack chuckled with the older man and looked at Solana. "You have no idea."

"Let's get a snap of you, Jack. For the wall." Vinny pointed a thick finger at the far wall, which was covered in framed photographs. The man took out his cell phone and aimed it at them.

"Oh." Solana put her hand on Vinny's arm. "Jack doesn't want his picture taken."

"What? Embarrassed to be seen with me?" He meant his words to be sarcastic, but they came out a little too forcefully.

"You bet. I mean, I have to think of my reputation." With a tug on his jacket, she requested he bend down. "Wouldn't want you to sully my record." Her fingers pressed into the nape of Jack's neck, dragging him to her lips. He fell forward with the momentum, lost in the taste of her, the feel of her, the ease of the moment, his arms circling her waist.

"Ahem."

He lost her lips but gained the warmth of Solana's forehead against his. The heat travelled down the back of his neck at her breathy voice. "Sorry Vinny."

Cheek to cheek, they turned, and the big man's phone clicked three times. "Got it. It'll be on the wall next time you come back, Jack."

Next time. Was this what life with Solana would be like? Black leather jackets and motorcycles one weekend, black ties, and charity events the next. Quiet dinners with Ximena and Luc on weekdays. Carbonated fizzes of warmth bubbled in his chest.

"Appreciate it." She stepped away, and Jack shook the man's hand again.

Vinny aimed his head at the other room. "I gotta go check on the newbie, but we'll catch up later, right?"

"You bet." Solana guided them to a table by the window. "It's official, Jack. You're part of this place."

***

The weight of Solana curled into him was better than his weighted blanket. Normally the only calming of his mind came after sex, those blissful moments when the sensations overtook his brain, the world exploded in a rainbow of colour, and his mind was clear. Yet, here, on his couch, with half of Solana using him as a pillow, that calm, that lack of noise in his head, covered him in a similar way, yet different. Instead of being half-way to blacking out, he was completely alert, aware of every sensation in the room.

The ending credits rolled up the screen, and Jack picked up the remote to turn off the TV.

Solana's leg nudged his knee. "Is the movie over?"

"Yup." The music cut off abruptly as the screen went black. "The good guys won, as always."

"Someone should make a movie where the not so good guys win as well."

"That's not how the world works, sweetheart." He tossed the remote away and returned his hand to her waist, not wanting to move just yet.

She seemed to agree, snuggling closer. "Let's change the world."

Jack liked the notion, a warmth spreading in his chest at the concept that Solana wanted the not so good guys to win and like the idea of changing the world with him. She shifted on his chest, where she'd been comfortably nested into him for the last two hours since returning to his penthouse.

"Do you have to go into the office tomorrow?" Her yawn cut off the last word. "Can't you play hookie?"

"Anderson is flying in from Cincinnati on Tuesday. Too much to do."

"So it's kiss some ass o'clock." She dragged a finger across his stomach, stirring fireworks.

Jack stilled her hand with his, holding it in place, and leaned to view her face. "You really do understand the corporate world."

"Hey, I've been in those big meetings. Granted, I was standing at the back serving coffee—" Her lips curled up "—but still, I was there. I know how things go down."

"I'll make you executive manager of conferences if you like." The easy smile on Solana's face froze, and the fireworks fizzled. He'd meant the suggestion as a joke, partly. "Of course you're capable of much more than organizing food service. I'd make you Vice President if you want the job."

She buried her nose in the T-shirt she'd managed to persuade him to wear again this morning. Today they'd spent the afternoon walking along the boardwalk in Venice Beach, and apparently a suit and tie wouldn't help him fit in. Even though he'd lived his whole life in Los Angeles, his corporate world and the beach didn't cross over often. However, he had to admit he'd had fun popping in and out of the eclectic shops and stands, rifling through the colourful clothes and artifacts in the area teeming with life on a sunny early spring day.

"Too much..." Solana yawned again. "... responsibility."

"Maybe we could find something else you'd like." Anything to get her out of that diner and away from Abraham.

When no response came, Jack jiggled her shoulder. "Solana?"

She stirred and mumbled. "What? What did you say?"

"You're half asleep, aren't you?"

"Mmm."

Jack scooped her up and walked down the hall, lights popping ahead of them, leading the way.

In his arms, she squirmed. "I should go home."

His body betrayed him, muscles tugging her closer. "You should stay here."

"Okay." Her forehead found the crook of his neck, and her body melted into his. The comfort of her letting him take care of her settled into the cracks of his heart.

The windows of his bedroom were dark, the city lights illuminating the path to his bed. He knelt and placed her on the soft sheets. "Let's get you out of these clothes."

With little help from her, Jack managed to undress her, successfully ignoring Little Jack's twitches as his hands glided along Solana's soft skin. He pulled back his covers and she climbed into his bed. He kissed her forehead and turned out the light. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart." He didn't want to let go of her, but he forced himself to. She was half asleep already and needed the rest.

Halfway out of the room, he heard her say, "Where are you going?"

"I... I thought I'd..." He wasn't sure what he was doing, only that it felt right giving her space.

Solana had a different perspective. "Get your ass in this bed right now, mister."

He couldn't help the jolt of his heart at her words. A little too eagerly, he stripped down to his boxers and climbed in beside her. She shuffled over to his side of the bed and nuzzled into him. "That's more like it."

Jack held her and marveled at the sensation of having a woman he cared about in his bed. A woman he wasn't going to have sex with tonight. Maybe tomorrow morning. But for tonight, he'd most likely just sleep with her in his arms. The thought thrilled and scared him. This was way too easy. He could get used to this. "Solana."

"Mmm"

"What are you doing for the rest of your life?"

There was no answer. Jack closed his eyes. This time he didn't have to count numbers or plan business strategies to fall asleep.