Page 39 of Cinderella Screwed Me Over
“Busy. I kept hoping for someone to come in and make it more enjoyable, but she never showed. Mindy informed me I was being snubbed.”
I leaned against the wall and took a swig of my water bottle. “Snubbed by this person who never showed?”
Jake stuck his hand on the wall next to my head and locked eyes with me. “According to her, if you liked me at all, you would’ve come in, and I should just take a hint.”
“I dropped some rather big hints before, and in my experience, you’re not very good at taking them.” I smiled, so he’d know I was teasing him. With him leaning over me, my hyperawareness kicked in. I noticed the pulse beating at the base of his neck, a pale scar on the bottom of his chin, and how everything about him screamed strong and confident. My skin hummed from his closeness and I was tempted to reach out and run my hand down his chest.
I think he noticed my appraisal because a triumphant grin hit his lips. “I guess that’s why I’m going to ask what you’re doing later. I’ve got today off, and I think we should go out.”
Regardless of how much I was enjoying being this close to him again, it was time to be honest. With him and myself. I did like being around him, and Ihadsaid I wanted a decent, longish-term relationship. He lived in my building, but I supposed I could deal with bumping into him as long as we didn’t get too serious.
“I don’t know what you’re expecting the outcome of this to be, but I want to keep this—whatever we’ve got going—light. I don’t want to explore my past or yours, or get into all the big relationship drama.”
Jake didn’t skip a beat. “I’ll pick you up at six.”
…
At six on the dot, there was a knock on my door. I opened it and invited Jake in. “Just let me water my plants real quick, before I forget.” I filled a cup and walked across the room to my window.
“You got another one?” Jake asked as I poured water into the dark soil of my new plant.
“I won it at a bridal shower yesterday, since I knew the bride best.”
Jake came up behind me and put his arms around me. “And you didn’t think you should give it to someone who doesn’t kill plants?”
I elbowed him in the gut. “Hey, be nice. It tipped over and lost some dirt on the ride home, but I’m sure it’ll perk up soon.” I pointed at the larger plant that had been with me since I bought the place. “And look how good my one green blade is still doing.”
“I think you should just put them both out of their misery.” Jake kissed my neck, sending pleasant chills through my entire body.
I set my cup on the window ledge and twisted to face him, placing my hands on his arms. “Aren’t you supposed to be impressing me, not making fun of my lack of gardening skills?”
Jake grinned. “Let’s go, then, before you change your mind.” He grabbed my hand and walked me out of the building and into the parking garage. He led me to a Chevy Camaro Z28. Classic, most likely late sixties, painted black with white racing stripes on the hood—hanging with mostly guys in high school, I’d learned a lot about cars.
Drew and Devin would die to ride in one of these. Hell, I wanted to ride in it, too. But I couldn’t help thinking of Allen and his Dodge Viper, and how I had a rule about guys who were obsessed with their cars.
“Nice car,” I said, kind of wishing it wasn’t, but failing to be unimpressed.
“Thanks. I like her.” He opened the passenger door.
If I follow my rules, this is definitely strike three.Then again, he didn’t exactly soundobsessed, and the classic variety gave him a couple of bonus points, at least.So maybe, like, half a strike.
After a moment’s hesitation, I slid inside. The steering wheel was skinny, the windows were the roll-down kind, and there were gages on the middle console, along with a silver-knobbed shifter.
Jake got inside, filling the car with the scent of his familiar musky cologne. “I was thinking we might drive a bit. There’s a place in Boulder that’s—”
“I’d rather not go to Boulder,” I blurted out, a bad sense of déjà vu hitting me.
“In case you have to bail early? Like with that counselor guy?”
“Exactly,” I said, working at sounding casual about it. “Who knows when you’re going to say something that sends me running?”
“Okay. I know a place that’s closer to home.”
I was overreacting, but I couldn’t help it. Because of Allen, even the mention of Boulder for dinner struck a raw nerve. Especially combined with the fast car thing. I realized that I hadn’t seen Jake’s place yet and started to panic.
What’s he hiding?
I reached for my seat belt. My stomach was churning, so I took a deep breath to try to calm down and think about things rationally. Jake and I lived in the same building; he’d introduced me to his friend Tina; he kept insisting I go to Blue. Oh, and Virginia Hammond wanted to set us up. All things that suggested he wasn’t married.
