Dinner at Eight-epub by Jess Dee Read Free Book Online

hand. At least he wasn’t making her dance with him. “The restaurant’s not going anywhere.”
    “I haven’t had a decent steak since I left. I’d run there if I could.”
    “And leave me in your dust? Thanks very much.”
    “Can I help it if you have the shortest legs in Sydney?”
    “My stature has no bearing on my hatred for moving any faster than a gentle stroll.”
    “Oh, right. I forgot. Ava Torres, laziest woman in the world.”
    She snorted out loud.
    Ah, if Jared only knew. Once upon a time that had been the truth. But circumstances had changed. The Ava who had once deemed walking to the car cruel torture could now do a hundred push-ups without breaking a sweat. 
    “Puh-lease.” She stared down her nose at him—no easy feat when he stood a good foot taller than she did. “Choosing not to run ten kilometers every morning, like some people I know, come rain or shine, does not make me lazy.”
    “Yeah, but sitting on your couch all day eating Ben & Jerry’s does.”
    “Hey, I like my ice cream.”
    His lips tilted upward. “I might have noticed that.”
    “Did you also notice I now have muscles? Everywhere?” She lifted her free arm and flexed her bicep, showing it off.
    He looked at her speculatively. “It’s kind of hard to notice anything under that shirt.”
    “Oi. What’s wrong with my shirt?”
    “Not a thing.” His eyes glinted with evil intent. “If you’re planning on using it as a tent.”
    “Hah. Tease as much as you like. You’re just not used to my new style. Long and flowing is all the rage now.”
    “In the maternity department?” he deadpanned.
    She gasped. “Are you suggesting I look pregnant?”
    “A little. But don’t panic. It suits you. You look hot.”
    “Ava Torres. Pregnant and hot. Gee, sounds great. Thanks.”
    “Hey, you chose the shirt. Not me.”
    She waved her hand over her chest. “You’re just upset ’cause you don’t get to see the girls this way.”
    “Maybe a bit.” His grin was pure mischief. “They always were the part of you I loved the most.”
    “Oh, please,” Ava said, indignant. “You never, ever noticed them, and I showed them to you plenty.”
    He shook his head fervently. “Trust me, Torres. I noticed. Every single time I saw you.”
    “No,” Ava argued, tickled pink she could laugh about the subject. There wasn’t another man in the world she’d feel comfortable enough with to joke like this. “Last year of high school you didn’t. Seriously. I shoved them in your face just about every day in an effort to get you to notice them—and me—and you hardly blinked.” Lord help her, she’d had such a huge crush on her friend back then.
    “The last year of high school? Well, of course I didn’t notice them then. I was in lust.”
    “Yeah, yeah,” Ava huffed. “With Arlene Hemings. Don’t remind me.”
    “Remind me.” Jared emitted a blissful sigh. “That girl was the answer to every schoolboy wet dream. She taught me things— Wait . Was that…?” Jared stared at her in astonishment. “Was that jealousy I heard in your voice?”
    Ava stuck her nose in the air. “Why would I be jealous of Arlene?” So what if she’d had blond locks that bounced around her shoulders, long, tanned legs that went on forever, flirty blue eyes, a sultry smile…and Jared.
    “Fuck me. It is. You’re jealous of her.” Jared laughed out loud.
    “Shut up, Thurston.”
    “Why in God’s name would you be jealous of Arlene?”
    “As if you don’t know.”
    “Know what?”
    “The reason I shoved the girls in your line of sight every day that year.”
    He pointed to himself. “Clueless. Why don’t you fill me in?”
    “Oh, for God’s sake. I was only, like, head-over-heels in love with you.”
    Jared ground to an unexpected halt, jerking Ava to a stop in the process. “You were in love with me?”
    “Don’t play the innocent card. Of course I was. Greg knew all about it. The whole school knew. Even Arlene.” The slutty