Kissing the Shy Guy - Stephanie Street Page 0,32

wants me to go to school, but I have other plans."

I rubbed my thumb over his knuckles. "Other plans like what?"

His hand that rested around my back and on my hip rose to smooth down my ponytail. "I'm not sure I can tell you that right now."

I hated that answer. I didn't want him to have secrets from me. But I didn't have any right to question him.

"So, what? If we win, you'll pretend to take it?" I still didn't understand.

Adam smiled. It was a soft, sweet smile. I liked it. "No. I won't pretend. I won't have to. If we win, I'll tell her it's my back up plan. That should be enough to set her mind at ease until I can prove myself."

I may not have entirely understood his motives, but that didn't really matter. All that mattered was that he was going to help me, right?

"So, you'll do it? You'll perform with me for the scholarship?" I asked, almost afraid to ask in case he changed his mind or I'd misunderstood. For the first time since Josh quit, I felt hope.

Adam nodded. "Yes, Jenna. I'll help you win. And you will help me keep my mom off my back about college. Deal?"

"Deal." I stuck out my hand to shake on it.

He took it, using it to pull me into his mouth.

Boy, could he kiss! My brain completely emptied of all conscious thought as it got down to the business of focusing on Adam's mouth devouring mine.

But then— "Wait." I braced my hands against his chest, pushing him back again.

"What?" he asked, leaning forward to capture my lips once more.

"No. Wait." I pushed him back. He stopped immediately and frowned.

"Jenna, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—," he began, but I put my hand over his mouth, stopping him.

"I want your help, and I'm perfectly willing to help you with your mom, but that can't have anything to do with this." I pointed between us.

Adam's eyes cleared. He inhaled a deep breath and lowered his forehead to mine. "Right. We just talked about that. I didn't mean to imply anything."

Good, because I couldn't have that be a thing, not after what happened with Josh.

Wait. What happened with Josh…I took a deep breath. If Adam was going to help me, we couldn't be kissing like this. One little argument on the relationship side of things, and I'd be right back to square one, wouldn't I?

Maybe, maybe not. But I couldn't take the risk. I couldn't lose another partner. And as much as I wanted to investigate this thing between Adam and me, I needed to win the DIVA scholarship. If this thing, this beginning between us, was real, it would still be there in six weeks when the competition had ended.

"But you will help me?" I asked, my heart filled with hope.

Adam didn't answer right away. My hope began to dwindle.

"Yes," he sighed deeply. "Yes, Jenna. I will help you."

13

Adam

What was I doing? What was I thinking? Contrary to what I’d told Jenna, I’d been thinking with parts of my body other than my brain when I agreed to help her. Still, there was that conversation with my mom about college. As much as she wanted to support my decisions, I knew she was worried. Helping Jenna win the scholarship would provide me with a backup plan.

All I had to do was fill out a few applications to schools with decent music programs. Then if things didn’t go my way after the tour—I’d think about going to school. That should put Mom’s mind at ease—at least for a while.

Then there was Laura. I felt guilty that someone in my family had been the cause of Jenna’s problems. I really was a sucker.

I’d agreed to help her, and I would, but what did that mean for us beyond the scholarship?

Deciding to worry about that later, I lowered my mouth and took possession of hers. I couldn’t get enough. She tasted like heaven. I could die a happy man with her curves pressed into my body.

Jenna’s fingers played with my hair, and I moaned. Deepening the kiss beyond any we’d already shared, I wanted to remember everything about this moment. Sooner than I wanted, I pulled away. Breathing hard, we collapsed against each other.

“We should go,” she murmured once she’d caught her breath.

Hand in hand, we walked back to my bike. I gave the smaller helmet to Jenna and waited for her to climb up behind me once I’d secured my own. She