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My eyes traveled around the room until I saw Jack leaning against the counter by the coffee machine in his department-issued navy-blue shirt, blue cargo pants, and boots. I flushed to find his eyes on mine. I couldn’t get the feel of his hands or lips out of my head. He made no move to grab a donut, so I walked over to him. “Not hungry this morning?” I asked.

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“Oh, I’m always hungry,” he said, his eyes steady on mine as he took a sip of coffee.

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After that dream, I couldn’t help but take that comment literally. “You should eat an apple cider donut before they’re gone," I said, heart pounding. I turned to grab a plate to hide my flushed face, but Jack grabbed my hand pulling me back. “Don’t worry about it, I can get it myself,” he said.

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The movement knocked me off balance and I fell back onto his hard chest. His arm came around my middle to steady me. “Whoa there,” he whispered into my ear, as his body curled around mine. “I said I could get it myself. You’ve been on your feet all morning. Why don’t you sit down and rest?”

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I heard the guys joking around me, but couldn’t follow their conversation. The room seemed to melt away and all I could think about was turning in Jack’s arms and kissing him.

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“Samantha?” Jack’s voice caressed my ear again.

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“Yeah?” I asked, breathing in the smell of coffee, and leaning my head back a little to look up at him. His eyes crinkled in amusement and his lips tilted up into a smile.

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“Are you going to sit down?”

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His chest was warm on my back, and my hands instinctively gripped his bare forearms, which wrapped around my waist. I wanted to sink back into him even more, but I reluctantly moved out of his hold, immediately feeling the loss of warmth.