She was still wary of letting herself trust him again after the way he’d pushed her away that morning, but she couldn’t stand seeing him still looking so tense as he stood beside her. Ever since she’d threatened to end their seven days early, that muscle in his jaw had been jumping.
She tugged on his hand so that he’d look at her. “It’s been way too long since I’ve treated myself to a cable car ride.” She smiled at him. “Thank you.”
She was glad to see some of the tension fade in his shoulders. “Whenever I see one I always think of you.”
Surprise stole her breath at the same time that the cable car bumped over the road, tossing her straight into Jake’s arms. God, she loved being there, always felt so safe when he was holding onto her.
She looked up into his beautiful face. “How did you know I liked cable cars?”
“You’ve always been important to me, Sophie.”
His simple statement sent sparks of joy shooting through her system. Oh, it would be so easy to give in to them, but painful experience where Jake was concerned had her moving from the circle of his arms and saying, “Sometimes I forget you practically grew up with me, my brothers, and Lori.”
Rather than letting her go, Jake tugged her close again. “I spent a lot of time at your house. But don’t try to tell yourself I didn’t pay extra attention to you when I did.”
He had?
He cursed from out of the blue and released his hold on her so that cold air rushed between them, instantly chilling her. “I promised not to touch you.”
Sophie hated that promise. After so many years of not being able to touch Jake, then finally being allowed to give in to those powerful urges to be physically affectionate with him, it nearly killed her not to move back into his arms and kiss him the way she had over the past twenty-four hours.
But she knew why he’d made her that promise. It was too easy to get lost in the sensual sparks that always lit between them, so much easier than making sure they built a true connection, a real bond that would withstand the test of twins...and a possible life together as husband and wife.
Still, when he tried to let go of her hand, she refused to let him. She wouldn’t give that up, too. Not when it felt so right. Not when holding his hand was almost better than having sex with him.
Her body all but laughed at that thought, and she silently acknowledged that there was very little in life that was better than having sex with Jake McCann.
Just then, the conductor announced they were heading into Chinatown and her stomach immediately answered the news with a loud grumble that carried even over the sound of the cable car rattling down its tracks.
She grinned at Jake. “I think our kids like Chinese food.”
* * *Our kids.
The two little words reverberated through Jake’s chest, holding steady in the center where his heart was beating too fast.
He should have made sure she ate more for breakfast. But instead of putting her needs first, he’d been too busy roughly taking her on the kitchen stool, then pushing her away as soon as they were done.
When the cable car stopped at the next light, he jumped down and reached for her. It didn’t count as touching her if he had to make sure she got to the ground safely...even if he held on to her waist a few seconds longer than he needed to.
He was surprised when Sophie took his hand and started leading the way. “I know a place that has the best cha sui bao.”
“Chasu-what?”
He loved the sound of her laughter. “You’ll see.” She shot him a happy glance over her shoulder. “I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
Thank God she was back to her normal self, smiling and happy. Every time he did or said something to extinguish that joy in her eyes, he hated himself more and more. It was one of the reasons he’d stayed away from her as long as he had...because he’d known he would hurt her.
He hadn’t spent much time in this part of Chinatown, where the tourists were. The parts he knew were the back alleys where the gangs came together. He hadn’t rolled with that crowd since high school, but he still recognized the route through the narrow alleys. So when Sophie headed off the main street and started to turn down one of them, he had to stop her.
“There are plenty of places to eat on this street.”
“None as good as the one I’m taking you to,” she replied, clearly not understanding his concern.
Jake knew he’d spent too much of their time together dictating what she could and couldn’t do. And she clearly wanted to take him to one particular place. So he let her lead them down alleys and back roads, keeping especially close to her, even though he couldn’t understand how perfect little Sophie Sullivan knew her way around this part of the neighborhood.
Finally, she stopped in front of a bright red door and smiled at him. “We’re here.”
She pushed through the door and he saw that it was a bakery, more industrial than meant to serve customers.
A very thin, clearly exhausted middle-aged man looked up with a huge smile. “Miss Sophie!”
She let go of Jake’s hand to give the man a hug. “Mr. Chu, I hope you don’t mind us dropping by like this. Jake and I were in the neighborhood and I couldn’t focus on anything but eating one of your steamed pork buns.”
Jake knew exactly why the man looked so pleased. Sophie had always had that effect on people.
She looked over his shoulder at the kitchen behind him. “I hope we’re not too late. I know how early you sell out.”