Jersey Six - Jewel E Ann Page 0,64

hands to his whiskery face. “You are so much uglier than I thought. This is just…” she covered her mouth “…so awkward.”

The technician giggled as Ian’s eyes narrowed at Jersey. She gave his left cheek a gentle pat before sauntering toward Chris.

“I see you, Mr. Ten.” She pinched the corner of her glasses and wiggled them on her nose.

“Well…” he stood, hiking up his jeans “…if he’s suddenly ugly, I must be flawless through those glasses.”

She snaked her arm around him and looked up at him with adoration. It wasn’t Chris’s scars that disgusted Ian, it was the way he seemed pissed off at Jersey all the time, yet she brushed off his attitude as a bad day. He didn’t trust him … for so many reasons.

Four days in L.A.

Four consecutive bad days for Chris.

Ian didn’t share Jersey’s disappointment over not being able to get Chris a passport. He wanted her to himself, even if it was selfish. And Ian hated that she was staying in his house with her needy male friend while Ian had to leave for the tour.

He hated that Chris had seen her naked.

He hated her blind trust in a stranger off the street.

“Meet you in the car, Coop.” Jersey glanced over her shoulder and winked at Ian.

Chris took the dogs for a walk as soon as they returned. Ian thought it was a fitting job for him since he found any excuse to nap or take a walk when Ian wanted to spend time with Jersey.

“Want to see something?” Ian smiled at Jersey’s reflection in the bathroom mirror as she admired her new glasses.

“I see everything now.” She turned leaning against the counter, arms crossed over her chest. “But what did you have in mind?”

“Follow me.” His grin swelled while his dark eyes held something playful and mischievous. As they headed down the stairs, he shrugged off his T-shirt, wearing only black jogging shorts and tennis shoes.

Jersey wasn’t too keen on the idea of swimming, but if he was stripping for sex, she wasn’t in the mood to argue.

Past his workout room, he opened a door around the corner she didn’t realize was there. He flipped on the lights to a gym with tall ceilings and a full basketball court. Jersey fought to balance her surprise. He liked basketball, just like Chris said. Every day she waited for Ian to prove Chris wrong. What was next? A black Charger in a hidden garage?

“Wow! Chris would love this. He played basketball in high school.”

“Yeah?” Ian mumbled, grabbing a basketball from a rolling cart filled with balls. “Interesting.” He dribbled it and shot from the three-point line, nothing but net.

“Why is that interesting?” Jersey grabbed a ball and shot it from the corner, nothing but net.

Ian’s lips parted for a few seconds before they pulled into a tentative smile. “You’ve played before.”

She shrugged. “Just enough to win a few bets, pay for a few meals. Before Marley let me train at the gym, I used several of the parks to exercise. Met some guys who liked to play. They taught me a few things.”

Ian made a few more long shots before palming a ball and dunking it.

Jersey froze, unable to blink or speak.

Ian grinned like he knew he was something pretty fucking special. And what could she say? Yeah, he could sing and play the guitar, write lyrics, kiss—man could he kiss—and he could dunk a basketball. Could they fit all of that onto a headstone? Jersey thought they could use small letters and both sides to accommodate his many talents.

“I’m thinking one-on-one or horse. What’s your game?”

“Horse, but no dunking.”

Ian nodded, passing her the ball.

“Are we wagering something?” she asked.

“What did you have in mind?”

“If I win, you tell me something about your past that you’ve never told anyone.”

Ian’s lips twisted to the side. A few seconds later, he nodded. “And if I win?”

She dribbled the ball between her legs several times. That made him smile even bigger. “What do you want, Coop?”

“You relinquish that thing you call a bag and let me get you a new one.”

“Wow … that’s a little harsh but whatever.” She tossed the ball up in the air, making the first basket.

After some impressive shots, evil banter, and a few stolen kisses, they were tied at HORS, Ian’s shot.

“Can’t wait to buy you a bubblegum pink travel bag, maybe something with rhinestones on it.” He winked, making a three-point shot … with one hand.

Jersey scowled at him, setting up for her