Twisted Up (Taking Chances #1) - Erin Nicholas Page 0,8

came first,” he said.

Avery actually gasped at that. And she wasn’t a gasper. But that was so . . . in your face. Even for Jake. Jake teased and flirted and insinuated, but he’d never come right out and talked about them having sex that night.

And at that simple mention, her entire body heated up and seemed to strain toward him, ready to do it all again, just like that.

Damn him.

“Getting me drunk on peach schnapps and out of my panties makes you a gentleman?” She tried to focus on the sarcasm rather than the memory of his hands slipping under her sundress, his big palms sliding over her thighs and up to her panties before tugging them back down her legs and tossing them over his shoulder with a glint of mischief and affection in his eyes.

She had to clear her throat after that particular memory reel played through her mind. “I don’t think that’s the typical definition,” she said when she was sure her voice would sound calm. “It’s sad that you’re still so hung up on that night.”

He chuckled, and the sound tickled over her like he was running his fingertips up her arm and down her back.

And she knew that he knew she was full of crap.

He wasn’t the one hung up on that night. That was her. That was all her.

But no one had ever affected her like Jake did. And she didn’t even like him.

Avery immediately took that back. She did like him. She just didn’t want to like him.

She wanted to be upset and angry at him for leaving. For not even telling her he was leaving. And she was. That had hurt. But she was most angry with herself. She’d looked up into his eyes when he’d asked her to prom and had immediately started thinking that it was the start to the future of her dreams. After prom they’d spent time together after school and on the weekends. He’d never called her his girlfriend or said they were dating, but it felt like dating to her. And she’d been giddy. Jake was an amazing guy—every girl wanted him—and he’d chosen her. But more than getting a great guy who treated her like a princess, being with Jake also meant that she would be a part of her dream family. Jake’s mom and dad were like second parents to her. She loved Jake’s mom with her whole heart. If she and Jake were together forever, she and Heidi and Wes would be together forever, too.

It had seemed so perfect. So right. Like destiny.

And after he left, clearly not head over heels and ready to walk down the aisle with her, she’d been humiliated and hurt. She’d finally confessed all of her mixed-up emotions in a letter. She’d apologized to him for getting wrapped up in the imaginary happily ever after and for assuming things she shouldn’t have.

She’d hoped that he would believe that her feelings had been all about his family. She hoped he’d believe that she wasn’t in love with him and she was moving on.

She’d hoped that she would believe those things, too.

But now, ten years later, she was still definitely hung up on that night.

“Don’t feel bad for me, Avery Jane,” Jake said. “The memories of that night kept me company for a good long time in basic training.” He leaned in closer and dropped his voice. “And because I know you’re clinging to that excuse for how you acted, I won’t point out that you weren’t all that drunk.”

She worked on breathing. It was so crazy, but even now, the idea that he’d been off with the Army National Guard, alone and homesick and thinking of her, was romantic and got to her.

For the five seconds it took her to remember that he’d left for the Guard mere hours after making love to her without a good-bye or an explanation and that once he was gone, he was really gone.

She turned suddenly, again catching him in the ribs with her elbow, hoping he’d step back and give her some space. “Taking me to prom and buying me a souvenir shot glass does not make up for the fact that a true gentleman would have told me he was leaving the next morning before my bra came off. And a true gentleman would refrain from bringing it up and kissing me every time he visits.”

Elbow in his ribs or not, Jake was right there, nearly on top of her,