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

footpath under a pool of light from a street lamp.
    “Just commenting on the workings of the universe.” He gave her a self-deprecating smile. “Karma’s a bitch, isn’t it?”
    “Y-you’re in love with me?” God, her brain wasn’t processing this. Not at all.
    “Head over heels.”
    “You mean, you were in love with me, as in a school-kid crush sort of thing? Like I was in love with you.”
    “Nothing like that.”
    Jared’s gaze was so intense, Ava struggled to breathe. “You’re joking, right?” He had to be.
    “Not even a little bit.”
    “But…” She swallowed, trying to organize her thoughts into a coherent pattern, but failed miserably. Her head was all over the place. “But you haven’t seen me in eighteen months.”
    “Crazy, I know. Time and distance didn’t change a damn thing.”
    “You can’t be in love with me. You were seeing Angela.”
    Angela. Arlene. Ava. What was it with him and A names?
    “I was. Then I wasn’t.” He shrugged. “She’s not the one.”
    The one. Jared had always had blind faith that one day he’d meet her.
    As perplexing as their conversation was, one thing she had no trouble understanding was the movement of his hand up her arm. Every cell in her body was aware of it inching higher and higher, up to her shoulder, slow enough that she could shrug it off at any time.
    It’s no threat. No threat at all.
    Jared’s hand would never be dangerous. If anything, it sent oddly pleasant shivers across her skin.
    Still, she focused on it, waiting, preparing in case the touch changed. “I have no idea what to say.”
    A smile broke over Jared’s face, playful enough Ava’s lips twitched in response. “Don’t say a thing. Just shove the girls in my line of sight, and we’ll take it from there.”
    She grinned, more comfortable with his teasing then his serious mood. “I tried that before. It never worked.”
    “Try it again.” He tried to joke, but his voice was gruff, and that gruffness did funny things to her belly. “It’ll work this time. I swear.”
    “I’m not showing you my breasts.”
    “Fine. Just press them against my chest.”
    “Jared!”
    “Hey, it was worth a try.” His hand crept higher, and the humor in his tone vanished. “There’s something you should know.” Slow and serious, he enunciated every syllable, as though making sure she heard him clearly.
    Nervous, she cleared her throat. “And that is?”
    There it was again, that intense gaze. “I’m going to kiss you.”
    “Wha—?”
    “Within the next minute. I’m going to lower my face, press my lips against yours, and kiss you.”
    “Y-you can’t.” Could he?
    “When I do, I’m going to move my hand up so I can weave it through your hair. Like…this.”
    His hand left her shoulder, grazing her neck as his fingers wound through her hair.
    Goose bumps broke out along her spine, and she closed her eyes, fear rearing its ugly head.
    Inhale. Exhale.
    “Look at me.” His warm breath washed over her cheek.
    Was that apprehension shooting the goose bumps down her arms—or something else altogether?
    He tugged gently on her hair, tipping her head back. “Open your eyes so you can see my face, understand my intent.”
    Helpless to resist, she did and found him staring at her. His face was close enough to jerk her heart into a jagged beat.
    His gaze trapped hers, his eyes filled with tenderness. “You’re safe with me,” he promised. “Always.”
    Ava couldn’t speak. Couldn’t remember how.
    She was safe with him. She knew it deep in her bones. So why was she trembling?
    “Trust me.” He inched closer, then closer still, until she had to squint to keep him in focus.
    The trembling turned to full-blown shivers.
    “Trust me?” This time it was a question, asked so close, his breath whispered over her lips.
    “Always.”
    With a low groan, Jared pressed his mouth to hers.
    Ava’s eyelids drooped. She couldn’t possibly keep them open under the onslaught of emotion