The Challenge by Megan Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

want one?”
    Katie shook her head. “No, I’m fine, thanks.”
    He touched her again as he passed. A hand on her shoulder, fingers curving and squeezing just momentarily. It was too much, the final straw, that casual touch that felt too good.
    She got up without thinking, without looking back, heading out of the coffee shop and down the street. The wind burned her eyes, not tears, she told herself as her heels click-clacked on the sidewalk.
    She was almost to the alley before he caught up to her.
    “Katie!” Jimmy hooked her elbow, turning her as she stiffened at the sound of her name. He didn’t let go. “Hey. Wait.”
    Katie opened her mouth to protest or maybe just to walk away without a word, she wasn’t sure and had no time to decide before Jimmy was kissing her. Openmouthed and hungry, his hands on her hips pulling her close up against him. He tasted better than she’d imagined, his kiss deeper, his body harder.
    He pulled away, shoulders rising and falling with his breath. His gaze searched hers. “I didn’t…was that…”
    Katie kissed him. Softer than he’d done, her tongue stroking his as her fingers wound in the hair at the back of his neck. She pulled a little as his hands gripped tighter on her hips. She felt the bulge of his crotch through denim against her belly, and she pulled away, her own breath coming fast and sharp.
    Jimmy smiled, his lips wet. “I should’ve done this a long time ago.”
    “Why didn’t you?”
    “I wasn’t sure you wanted something like this,” he said. “With me, I mean.”
    People passed them on the street, some giving them curious glances but most ignoring them. He stepped her backward into the relative privacy of the alley and leaned against the brick wall of the storefront without letting her go. Katie pressed against him, noticing he’d run out after her without a coat.
    “Why on earth not?” she cried, pushing at him with her fists but not too hard. “God, Jimmy. We’ve been talking for months. You know the color of my favorite panties and the name of my first dog!”
    “I know, I know, but…hell, I’m better on the phone than in person,” he said.
    Katie frowned and swiped her tongue over the taste of him lingering on her lips.
    “That sounds like a very bad excuse.”
    He sighed, looking serious. “I know. B-but…” Jimmy paused, drew a breath. “Well, I’ll tell you. Until I was about fifteen, I stuttered.”
    Katie raised a brow.
    “I grew out of it, or taught myself not to, whatever,” Jimmy said slowly. “But by then I’d already found out I was better on the phone than talking to someone face to face. On the phone I could take my time or something, I don’t know. It became a habit.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t care if you stutter. You could’ve told me.”
    Jimmy nudged her just a bit closer into the space between one cocked leg and the opposite thigh. “I liked you the first time I met you, Katie. But then we started talking…”
    “And you didn’t like me any more?”
    “No.” He laughed. “I liked you more. A lot more. I didn’t want to ruin it.”
    She made a disgruntled noise, already forgiving him because to do anything else would only spite herself. “You almost did.”
    “I know. I’m sorry.” Jimmy kissed her again, lingering this time. “Do you think we could start over?”
    “Hell no,” Katie told him, wrapping her arms around him and getting up on her toes to return the kiss. “Start at the beginning? No way. Let’s go straight to third base. Unless,” she paused meaningfully, “you really are better on the phone.”
    Jimmy grinned, eyes gleaming, and leaned in close to whisper in her ear. “Why don’t we go to my place and you can decide for yourself?”
    “That,” Katie said, “sounds like an excellent idea.”
     
    Dean had brought flowers.
    He didn’t even know if Jacob liked flowers.
    Dean liked flowers, purple and red and yellow, tied with a green ribbon. He liked them in vases