Page 28 of Hyde and Seek

“Are you dating a biker?” James looked at me as if the idea was insane.

“No, James. Jake is a friend.”

One that is incredibly hot, makes me think some veryun-friend like things, and kisses me until I forget my own name.

James put the car in park and opened his door. He got out and hurried to my side.

Jake beat him to it, though, throwing open my door and grabbing my hand to haul me out. He kept hold of me as he closed the door with a bit more force than was probably required.

I turned to face James, but felt Jake close behind me.

James was all soft and safe niceness. Tall enough at five foot eleven, he had plain, sandy colored hair and brown eyes, though his weren’t quite as warm as Eli’s.

He was safe.

Nice.

Boring.

My mother was out of her damned mind to think that James was who I’d choose. That safe and boring was all I wanted in life. I’d had more than enough of that.

I wanted wild.

“Uh, James, this is my friend Jake. Jake, this is James.”

The men gave chin lifts to each other.

Alright, moving on.

“Thank you for tonight, James,” I said, lifting just slightly to give him a polite kiss on the cheek. It ended up as an air one when Jake used his hold on my hand to pull me back.

“You’re welcome,” James said. Hesitantly, he glanced at Jake, then back at me. “Would you like me to stay for coffee?”

If you don’t leave soon, I will literally push you into your car. Don’t test me!

“That’s okay. Thanks.”

“If you’re sure. Let me know if you need anything. And, please, think about what we talked about, alright?”

“Have a nice night, James.”

Jake turned and walked us to my front door without giving me the chance to wave James off.

When I grabbed my keys from my clutch, Jake took them from me, opening the door and pulling me in.

“What’s he want you to think about?” he asked when we got inside.

“Hi, Jake. How are you? How’s your evening going?”

“Cute. What’s he want?”

“Uhh, about the same as Rhys last night.”

“He wants time with you?”

“He didn’t word it like that, but that was the gist of it. Where are the guys?” I attempted to switch topics.

“Out at The Noise. Why?”

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