Pieces of Me by Rachel Ryan Read Free Book Online

and lives a fairly quiet life, not a whole lot of partying. Which suits me fine; I’ve never really been into the whole partying scene. I’d prefer to stay at home with good friends and a nice bottle of wine.
     
    Pulling into the staff parking lot at work, I grab my bag and folder and lock the car before making my way to the staff room. I greet my colleagues and tuck my bag into my locker before sitting down at the table to do a last minute check of the days teaching plans. Five minutes later I hear the School Principal, Louise Anderson, clear her voice and make an announcement. She is standing near the door and a group of teachers has gathered around blocking my view of her.
    “Ladies and Gentlemen, as you all know Mrs Gillis transferred to a school in Melbourne last week. I would like you all to meet our new music teacher Mr Jake Lewis.”
    What? It can’t be. Now my brain is hearing his name as well. I really need to snap out of it. There are murmured voices as my colleagues introduce themselves to the new music teacher and I hear a deep, masculine voice reply. My curiosity just shot up. Rising up slowly from my chair I try to peer over the heads of my colleagues. The new guy is facing the other way and all I can see from this angle is a head of shaggy dark brown hair that is slightly long and curls around his nicely tanned neck. As the other teachers go back to what they were doing before the interruption, my eyes trail down the back of his long body, noticing his black shirt and loose blue jeans that sit low on his hips. He kind of has that young surfer look. I wonder what his face looks like.
     
    I don’t have to wonder too long. He slowly turns around and my chin practically hits the table. Oh my God. He glances my way and his eyes widen in surprise. My hands start to sweat and I can feel my heart thumping in my chest. His big, beautiful brown eyes pierce mine as he slowly starts to walk toward me and I swallow nervously. It’s him. It’s Jake.
     
    My hands are shaking and my voice still won’t work. He is standing right in front of me, but I feel like I am dreaming as my eyes roam over his face. Cameron wasn’t kidding when she said he was fine. He seems taller than I remember and his body is a lot broader too. But his face…his face is still the same, square jaw, perfect nose and holy crap, those dimples. They were always my favourite feature of his and as he smiles down at me I feel lightheaded. I can’t believe my Jake is here, right in front of me.
    “Hey, Shorty.” God, I have missed hearing that nickname. His voice is so deep and masculine and…hot. He really has developed into a beautiful man. I always knew he would though.
    “Hey, Jake.” I don’t know what else to say, I am still in total shock. Wait a minute! Did Louise say he was the new music teacher? “Business?”
    Jake smiles as his eyebrows draw together in confusion. “What?”
    “I um…I thought you were going to study Business?”
    He chuckles softly and it’s the most hypnotising sound I’ve ever heard.
    “That was the plan, but I had a change of heart.” He always was passionate about music and it’s nice that he followed in his father’s footsteps.
    “What are you doing in Sydney though?”
    He shrugs “When I finished my degree, I applied for a whole bunch of jobs around the country…and I was offered this one.”
    Shaking my head I still can’t believe he is here.
    “How’s your mum? And Josh?”
    His eyes light up at the mention of his family. “They’re good. Mum remarried last year. She got a job as a secretary in a well-known law firm in Perth and ended up marrying her boss. He’s a nice guy, Josh likes him and Mum’s happy for the first time in a long time. What about your family? I actually ran into your sister on Friday night and she mentioned that you live together.”
    “Yeah, after I finished University she moved in with me.”
    He glances down at the floor “So, no husband?” His voice is