Take Me All the Way by Toni Blake Read Free Book Online Page B

helping him sort the wood into various piles.
    It was a few minutes later when Jack’s cell phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to take a look. After which he raised his gaze to Fletcher and said, “I don’t want to blow your mind—or risk getting ahead of myself—but . . .”
    â€œBut?”
    â€œBut according to Christy, she thinks you’re cute, too.”
    J EREMY used a spade he found on the jobsite at the miniature golf course to begin moving a thick layer of dirt and sand that an overnight rainfall had washed onto the concrete for what he assumed would soon be Hole 1. He’d arrived early and this seemed like as good a thing to do as any. He liked how quiet and empty the area was this early in the day—less to keep an eye on, less uncertainty around him. He listened to Pearl Jam sing about sirens through a pair of earbuds.
    It occurred to him that for a guy who had nightmares about gunfire and sirens and bombs, maybe lighter music would be wise—but he didn’t like lightermusic. Despite himself, he still felt drawn to a certain darkness.
    That’s what you came here to get away from, get rid of.
    Well, regardless, at least he was doing something useful for a change. It felt good to use the muscles in his arms, shoulders, back—good to feel them stretch taut. One of the ways he’d spent his time at Lucky’s was lifting the weights Lucky kept in his shop. Using his muscles, experiencing that pull, had been one of the few things that had helped him keep feeling alive—and it still proved true now, but it was better to be doing something productive with them.
    As the song faded to its end, a voice, at once brash and feminine, cut into his solitude. “Hey!” it was saying. “ Hey! ” And it sounded damn impatient.
    He stopped shoveling and turned to see—oh, the princess. Figured. She seemed like a damn testy woman. And she looked downright put out—already, this early in the morning.
    Most people had no idea how good they had it, how tiny their problems were. The things they bitched and complained about were so small in the big picture. And whatever this chick’s problem was—it was small, too. So he simply leaned on the handle of his spade, reached up to remove his earbuds, and said, “Good morning.”
    And at this, she appeared even more annoyed. “ Good morning? ”
    He stood before her bewildered, but still unruffled. “Is that not a greeting you’re familiar with?”
    If it was possible, her green eyes sparkled with a bit more irritation. “Is answering someone when theyaddress you repeatedly something you’re not familiar with?”
    At this, Jeremy let his eyes widen slightly. Then he reached down and picked up an earbud that dangled from his jeans pocket now. “I was listening to music.”
    She blinked and looked a little embarrassed. But then she went right back to sounding snippy. “Well, I’m not a psychic—and I couldn’t see through all that hair that you had anything in your ears.”
    â€œWell, now that you know, maybe you can cut me a little slack, huh?”
    Uh oh—wrong thing to say. Now that sparkle in her eyes shifted toward being irate.
    And even though at 6’1” he was considerably taller than her, she took a step closer and stared pointedly up into his eyes. “Look, I just expect you to be on time, do what I say, and be respectful. We don’t have to like each other—but we have a job to do, so if you can follow those few simple rules, this will be much easier.”
    He just looked at her. This from the woman who had shown up fifteen minutes late—which was why he’d started shoveling the overflow of dirt and sand in the first place.
    â€œAre you hearing me?” she asked.
    Wow, she could be brusque for a little slip of a thing. Not that she was tiny actually. He supposed, now that he was really