The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella by Suzanne Sweeney Read Free Book Online Page B

feet.  At the end of our song, Derek gives a bow, I give a curtsey, and we receive a rousing round of applause from our customers.
    One of the head bartenders makes his way through the crowd and waves me over to him. “Juliette, right?”
    “Yes, that’s me.  I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name.”  I hope I’m not in trouble for getting carried away behind the bar.  I immediately panic and imagine the worst – Jack, the bar manager, is displeased with me and I’m in trouble.
    “That’s OK.  I don’t think we’ve met yet, actually.  I’m Marcus.  This was just delivered here for you and I wanted to try and find you.”  He hands me a large box imprinted with the name of a flower delivery service.  I thank Marcus, open the box, and tucked inside are a dozen bright orange Gerbera Daisies.  There’s a card with a short hand-written message.
    Sweet flowers alone can say what passion fears revealing. ~Evan
    I recognize the quote.  It’s from a poem by Thomas Hood that I read once in college.  In typical Evan form, it’s cryptic and requires me to read between the lines.  I thank Marcus and place the flowers beside the cash register for now.
    “All right, what are you not telling me?” Emmy asks.  She’s got her hands on her hips and she’s impatiently tapping her feet on the floor.  “I should have known something was up.  You’ve been grinning like a fool ever since you got here.  Tell me everything.”
    “Listen, Emmy, the bar’s packed.  Not now, I’ll explain later.”  I hope I can hold her off for a little longer.  At least until I can figure out exactly what that message means.
    Sooner than I had hoped, there’s a lull at the bar and Emmy is on me immediately.  “Well, are you going to tell me or do I have to beat it out of you?” she asks.
    “There’s nothing to tell, really.  I was jogging on the beach this morning and I twisted my ankle.  This really nice guy showed up, we hung out for a while, and he helped me to my car.  End of story.”  I can tell by the expression on Emmy’s face that she’s not as gullible as I had hoped.
    “Fine, if you don’t want to tell me, then don’t.”  I’ve hurt her feelings.  That’s not at all what I meant to do.  Emmy turns around and begins to walk away, sullen.
    “Emmy, wait.  There’s more.”
    “I knew it!”  She spins on her heels anxiously awaiting the rest of my tale.  “What really happened today, Jette?”
    “The guy who came to help me, well, he’s someone I’ve been running into for the past few days.  He’s got an incredible body and a million dollar smile.  Hot doesn’t even begin to describe him.  His name is Evan, and we spent a few hours together at his house on the beach.”
    “Hours?  Really?  I’d think you would have trouble walking after a marathon sex session.  Aren’t you sore?”  Her eyes twinkle and she looks like she’s remembering her own past escapades. 
    “Sorry, Em, it wasn’t like that.  He never touched me, at least not in that way.  It was all very innocent.  We flirted a little, but it was all just in fun.”  I shrug my shoulders.  “Besides, he’s way out of my league.”
    “Not possible.  Jette, you’re hot!  If I had a body like yours, I’d be putting it to good use.  You’ve got the legs and boobs that most of us would kill for!  Hell, you don’t even need any make-up to look gorgeous.  You’ve got that all-natural Cover Girl look.”
    “Whatever.  Besides, men like that can’t be trusted.  It’s better to find someone ... I don’t know ... more down-to-earth.”
    “If that’s your way of saying you want to find a dork, so be it.  But believe me, any man would be lucky to have you and that includes this Evan person.”  She flings her blonde and pink hair over her shoulder and rolls her eyes.  “Tell me again what the card said.”
    I read her the card and together we try to riddle its meaning.  “The message talks about