“Wanna turn gay?” I joke, shoveling a piece of pasta in my mouth.
“I love The D too much. And from the sounds of it, you do too!”
I howl with laughter, and it feels so good.
“What’s so funny? Talk to Mamma Mara.” The older waitress pulls up a chair and sits down.
“Van’s dating one of the hotties that came into the diner yesterday.”
“Well, blow me down with a feather, Missy.” Mara tweaks my cheeks. “I didn’t pin you for such a fast worker, but I’m damn proud.”
My cheeks flare up. “Oh my God, stop it. We only went on one date, and he probably won’t even call for a second.”
“Which of them was it?” she asks, leaning in, her eyes glinting with excitement. “Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome or the sinful blond with the gorgeous smile and Heartbreak City stamped on his brow?”
“Which one do you think?” I say, quirking a brow. Mara’s assessment is dead on. There’s no denying Sawyer Hunt is a much surer bet, but we have zero chemistry, and he’s as much of a commitment-phobe as Jackson is. Plus, he’s bi, and I can’t ever see Sawyer ending up in a traditional relationship. Not that there is anything wrong with that. You should be free to love who you love and live your life however the hell you want, but he’s not the man for me is all I’m saying.
Not that Jackson is either, but … Ugh. I’m getting carried away, and these two idiots are feeding my insanity.
“I’d be all over that blond hottie like a rash,” Mara says. “And I want deets. How big is his cock? I bet he knows how to use it too.”
“Calm the jets. We went on one date, and it wasn’t like that. He was a perfect gentleman.” I was upset for a split second when he turned me down, but after he explained, I floated through my door on a cloud. And don’t get me started on that kiss that almost knocked me flat on my ass.
I’ve never been kissed like that. I didn’t realize kisses were an even better high than hardcore drugs. I already feel a new addiction forming, and that terrifies me.
“The man clearly knows a good thing when he sees it,” Mara loyally replies. “You’re a knockout, honey, and you’ve the biggest heart. You deserve to be treated like a princess, and any man is lucky to date you.”
Chloe juts out her chin, folding her arms across her chest and sending me an “I told ya” look.
“Is it normal to be scared?” I ask, because this new Jackson Lauder scares the crap out of me.
“Totally,” Chloe agrees. “When I first dated Jon, I was terrified. Like bona fide scared shitless. He made me feel things I’d never felt before, and that’s the scariest fucking feeling. But it’s also the absolute best feeling once you get over yourself and learn to take a risk.”
“What if he breaks my heart?” I voice my real fear.
“Every girl experiences heartbreak, at least once, before she finds true love,” Mara says.
“That sounds like something you’d read in a fortune cookie,” Chloe jokes.
“Doesn’t make it any less true,” Mara says, looking a little wistful, and I wonder what her story is. “Or the fact all a woman may know is heartbreak, but that doesn’t mean it’s something one should shy away from. If that’s all a woman gets to experience, then, I say grab that with both hands, and tell your fear to take a running leap off a tall cliff, because having loved and lost is heaps better than having never loved at all.”
_______________
“Enjoy your day off, bitch,” Chloe says as we pull down the blinds and lock the diner up after another busy day.
“Don’t work too hard,” I singsong. I’m in a great mood because I get to sleep late in the morning and I have a full day off to myself.
A throat clearing interrupts our banter. “Is this a good or bad time?” Jackson asks, and the rich undertones in his voice send shivers dancing up my spine.
“Oh, this is a good time,” Chloe answers for me, and I spot a devilish glint in her eye. “A very good time.” She thrusts her hand out. “I’m Chloe. Van’s best friend. You must be Jackson.”
I glare at her. Okay, I’ve got zero game, but that doesn’t mean Chloe has to rub it in.
“You told your bestie about me.” He smirks, and I can’t decide which one of them I want to punch more.
“Didn’t you tell Sawyer?” I ask.
“Guilty. Guess that makes us even.” He flashes me that panty-melting smile, and my lace thong evaporates from my body. Like poof, and it’s gone.
“Oh fuck,” Chloe murmurs, totally getting it now.
“Yep,” I reply, not removing my eyes from Jackson.
“You’re fucked, girl,” she adds, her eyes shamelessly raking over every inch of Jackson’s semi-naked torso. He’s in shorts and sneakers again, and damn, if that isn’t such a good look on him.
“Not yet she isn’t,” Jackson purrs, “but if she keeps looking at me like that, I’ll have my cock buried balls deep inside her before we’ve even gotten upstairs.”
I fan my face while Chloe looks like she might faint. “I’m trying to work out if that’s a threat or a promise,” Chloe admits.
“It’s a promise,” Jackson says, winking at me. “I don’t do threats.”
“He’s a keeper,” Chloe decides, tugging on my arm. “And I’m detouring to Jon’s place because I need his dick now.”
I fight a smile.
“Tell him he’s welcome,” Jackson calls out, chuckling, as she rushes off.
“Let me guess,” I say. “You were in the neighborhood?”
He steps closer, and I work hard to remain upright. “Something like that.”
“How often do you run?”
“Usually once a day. Sometimes more.” He lifts his hand, tracing the tip of his finger along my jawline. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“You can’t?” I’m sure he hears the disbelief in my tone.
He shakes his head. “Is this normal? I’ve no idea, and Hunt is fuck all help.”
I laugh. “Don’t ask me. I’m zero help too.”
We smile at one another, and it’s as if the ground is swaying under my feet.
Is this what it feels like when you’re falling? And can it happen this fast?
“Please tell me you have no plans.”
“For when?” I ask, licking my lips as his eyes suck me deeper into his orbit.
“The rest of your life,” he whispers, sliding his hand to my neck. His thumb skates back and forth across my throbbing pulse, and I’m putty in his hands.
“Jackson.” His name comes out in a whisper.
“I’m scaring you.” He removes his hand and steps back. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. I have no experience with all this, and it’s just you’ve come out of nowhere.”
“I’m a lot to handle,” he agrees, nodding. “How about takeout at our place later? I can come back for you.”
“Will Sawyer be there?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know his plans.”