Page 39 of Hyde and Seek

That said, being with Jake took the night from awesome to seriously freakin’awesome. Especially since he wasn’t being a dick about what I was wearing or who I was talking to. Instead, he was casually affectionate with me in a way that cleared up any of the mixed signals he’d previously been sending my way.

When I finished drinking, Jake took the cup from me and set it on the window ledge. Pushing my hair to the side, he leaned down. “How drunk are you, sweets?” His mouth touched the skin behind my ear, sending goose bumps across my body.

“I’m not. A bit tipsy maybe. Why?”

“You ready to go?”

I was having a blast and knew the party was not even close to slowing down. Staying would mean playing hooky from classes tomorrow, which I was okay with. As long as I had copious amounts of caffeine, it would probably even be worth the rushing around I’d have to do to stay on schedule with my cakes.

However, I wasn’t stupid. Jake wasn’t asking because he wanted to get home and get some shut eye. I also seriously doubted he was asking with the intention of taking me home, giving me a chaste kiss on my porch, and then leaving.

I was willing to bet a dozen of my best cookies that if I said I wasn’t ready to go, Jake would be cool with that. He’d been focused on making sure I was having a good time the whole night. I’d never really had that before.

But, like I said, I wasn’t stupid.

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Jake’s grip tightened on my hips before he released me. He jerked his head towards the door at someone, but I couldn’t see over the crowd.

Using a hand at my back, we moved through the room, and once again Jake had no trouble maneuvering us around the crowd. We stopped in the entryway and I saw Jet coming our way.

“Taking off?” he asked when he reached us.

“Yeah.” Jake pounded his shoulder in a man hug. “Good luck, brother. Stay safe, yeah?”

Jet laughed as he returned the shoulder thump before stepping back. “Takes the fun out of being a rocker, but I’ll do what I can.”

“Good luck on tour, not that you’ll need it.” I ended on a yelp when Jet grabbed me, lifting me in a full hug.

“Holy shit, she smells like cake.”

“I know. Now put her down,” Jake said.

“But she’s so little.”

“I am not!” I huffed.

“Okay, you’re fun-sized.”

“That I’ll accept.”

“Great, we’re in agreement. Now put her down,” Jake ordered, his voice losing some of its amusement.

“Damn, Jacoby, cool your jets! Get it? Jets? I’m hilarious.”

“Yeah,Shamus,a laugh fuckin’ riot,” Jake grumbled sarcastically, clearly no longer enjoying the humor.

I, however, was amused enough for the both of us.

So, Jet’s real name is Shamus? Hot, and explains the giant Celtic knot. And Jacoby? Double hot.

“It was cool to meet you, Piper,” Jet said, ignoring Jake.

I grinned up at him when he set me down. “You, too.”

“I know, I’m awesome.”

After our goodbyes, Jake grabbed my hand and turned to leave.

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