Spark by Brooke Cumberland Read Free Book Online Page A

and the beautiful blue sky. I expect him to release my hand now that we’ve reached the sidewalk, but he doesn’t. He clenches it tighter as if he’s sending me a message.
    “How did you know where to find me?” I ask, as we approach his car.
    “Carissa called me in a panic saying you were lost and that your phone lost connection. She begged me to get the whole fire department out here.” He chuckles as he recalls their conversation. “I told her I’d find you just fine.” He smiles, and opens the passenger car door for me. “And it looks like I did.”
    I smile back, getting in the car. I feel dumb… absolutely dumb. First, I get lost in the woods, and then he comes to my rescue… again. And now I’m so sexually frustrated, I can’t even make words come out. How is he doing this to me?
    “I think you get in trouble on purpose,” he snickers at me.
    “Yeah…totally planned this out,” I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes. He’s back to his southern sweet charm, making me wish I were still lost in the woods.
    “ I’m starting to think you just like me rescuing you.” He grins, wagging an eyebrow at me.
    “Your ego is on overdrive, ” I snarl back, grinning at his attempt to flirt. “I didn’t ask you to rescue me by the way. You are just always…there.”
    “What did you do before me?” he teases.
    “Hmmm…let’s see.” I pretend to ponder, giving him my best thinking face. “I was able to go for runs without knocking into you. I walked around my apartment naked without giving anyone a show. I was able to lock my door at night, knowing no one would get in.” He chuckles, facing the road again. “Oh, and I was able to go to work without having a ‘protective big brother’ to fight my battles.” The smile on his face disappears. He looks irritated… he’s no longer his fun, playful self. “What? I was just messing with you.” Shit, what did I say?
    “You think of me as a big brother?” He frowns.
    “Well, in the sense that you are always saving me, I guess. Is that bad?” I ask, trying to read his nonverbal cues. Damn, I wish Carissa were here to do this for me. I’m horrible at this stuff.
    “Sure. Whatever.” He grips the steering wheel harder, not even glancing over to me. My stomach is in knots, and my heart thumps out of my chest. I feel like I’ve just been kicked in t he gut and had the wind knocked out of me. I’ve upset him and now it feels awkward being in the same car with him.
    I ca n’t let him get close to me. It’s better this way, I think to myself over and over. As much as I try to convince myself of this, I know I want to fight it. Eric makes me feel things I haven’t ever felt. He’s different…but not necessarily in a bad way. He definitely has that southern charm to him, always helping me and caring for me.
    “Thank you,” I mumble, trying to break the tension.
    “No need to thank me, sweetheart.” His smile reappears, bringing relief over me. “Do you want me to walk you to your door?” he asks, pulling along side our apartment building.
    “You aren’t going home?” I ask.
    “No, I’m still on my shift. I snuck out to come find you.” Oh my god…if my life was a cartoon there would be floating hearts coming out of my chest right now.
    “Now, I feel horrible!” I mope, feeling bad he left his job once again to check on me.
    “No biggie. I guess that’s what big br others are for, right?” he retorts, slapping my words right back in my face.
    “Sure.” I smile and get out of the car. “Thanks again, Eric.” I slam the door shut, walk up to my apartment…alone and confused.
    Why is this so hard? Isn’t love supposed to come natural… easy? Not for me. It never will.
    “Where the hell have you been, Velaney?” Carissa screams at me the second I walk in the door.
    “I tried telling you. I went for a run and got lost.” She scoops me up in a big bear hug.
    “I was worried sick, Lane. Like seriously. I was pacing back and forth