Inhale, Exhale by Sarah M. Ross Read Free Book Online

I love the beauty of this state, but sometimes the ignorance makes me want to run screaming.”
    Lord have mercy, this girl was going to ruin me. She was amazing. “I know exactly what you mean.”
    We stood, eye to eye, staring at each other for several moments. Neither of us spoke, or even breathed. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and I wondered if she could hear it. I’d not wanted to kiss someone more since the seventh grade with Brooke Sample. And she even gave me tongue.
    Jillian had a natural radiance that drew people to her, and her smile could light up a room. I only talked with her for a short while, and I was completely enamored. I loved the way she got flustered when I stood close to her. Knowing she was just as affected by me as I was by her and hearing the little hitch in her breath when I brushed against her made me need to adjust my pants. Again. The cute little brown-haired vixen had shaken my resolve and, as much as I knew I should, I couldn’t shake her out of my system.
    This wasn’t good. I had set my course, and I couldn’t be derailed by the sweet siren’s call. Yes, I was attracted to her. There was no use in denying it. But I couldn’t have her, and it was no use trying. I needed to stick to The Plan. No girls, work hard, get out of Georgia. Make a name for myself at Google. Be settled and far advanced in my career before I even began to think about dating. I could not end up like every other man in my family, especially my father. It wasn’t an option.
    “I have to go.” I took two long strides backward, needing to put distance between us. I finally allowed myself to take a breath, but still the air lingered with her sweet scent. I needed to get out of here. Now.
    I practically ran out of the cubicle. I’m sure it came off rude as hell, but I couldn’t worry about it now. I needed space to refocus my thoughts and refocus the blood that had all pooled to one region of my body.
    Throughout the day, I found myself attempting to make excuses to see her again. It was pathetic, junior high stuff that I knew was beneath me, and yet my body couldn’t seem to get on board with my mind. I successfully talked myself out of going back to her cubicle, but by five o’clock, I’d come to two conclusions. One—this girl was dangerous; and two, I would find a way to see her again.
    JT caught me on my way out the door. “Hey, man. Wanna go out for a drink tonight?”
    He’d asked me this question countless times while we’d worked together, and I’d never once taken him up on it. I liked the guy, but he was always solely focused on picking up girls instead of actually hanging out. I didn’t care if he wanted to hook up with all of Georgia, but sitting at the table by myself like a chump and watching while he did so was not my idea of a good time.
    This made it all the more surprising when the words “Sure, I’d love to” fell out of my mouth. JT did a double take, unsure he’d heard me correctly, and I sighed. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, right?
    We headed over to Breakers, a small bar across the street from the beach that served great wings. I could do dinner and a few beers with the guy. It would be fun.
    We hadn’t even made it to our table to order when JT started flirting with the bartender, who he’d apparently hooked up with a few times before. I ordered the summer pale ale and a dozen teriyaki wings while I waited for JT to return to the table.
    I was halfway through my second beer when he finally plopped down with a guilty grin plastered on his face. “Dude, Celeste is so hot, and totally into me. I’m so glad she was working tonight.”
    I nodded and bit into another wing. JT must have picked up on my annoyance and called me out. “What gives? You said you wanted to come out, and then you sit in the corner and sulk all night.”
    I rolled my eyes at his dramatics. “I’m not sulking.” I held up a wing. “I’m eating.”
    “No, you’ve been in a weird