“A bit young for prom.” He was looking at the picture Nana had taken of Joey, Colton Graves, Jazz and me.

“That was Joey’s prom. He invited Jazz and me. That’s his friend Colton Graves, Colt. They played football together.”

He nodded and moved along a bit. “Time frame?”

“The books? Eighth grade.”

He pulled out Book One of the Warriors of Erath series. “You read this way before the movies then ...” he mused, like that satisfied him for some reason. “A bit young for this weren’t you?”

“I read it in secret, at least from my mother,” I said with a sly grin.

“Really? How did you get away with that? A flashlight under the covers?” Jack left the shelves and started back toward me.

“I have a secret reading nook in the attic.”

“Really?” he asked, climbing onto the bed. “Can I see it sometime? Are boys allowed?”

“Sure.” I laughed. “It’s a bit dusty and overdue for a makeover though. I went up there yesterday afternoon. To think.”

He pressed me back and lay down by my side, his head propped on his hand. “What were you thinking?”

“That I’d never forget your kisses,” I said honestly.

“I’m afraid to ask, given your headache this morning, but do you remember last night?”

Heat bloomed in my cheeks. Looking at his expression, I realized he may think he had taken advantage of me. It was no secret I’d been a bit intoxicated when I made that phone call.

“Every single thing,” I whispered. My eyes flicked down to his lips as I thought about kissing him again. Then I remembered his original reason for coming over. “Do you regret last night?” I asked. Please, please say no.

“What? No. What makes you think that?”

“You came over to tell me it had been a mistake to get involved with me ... and then during the night...” I trailed off.

“No, that’s not what I meant by that... I mean it was, but not in the way you mean. I was trying to explain that I can’t stay away from you, no matter what all the reasons are or should be.”

I took a deep breath. “So don’t.”

“I can’t.” He ran a hand down the side of my face. My heart fluttered with hope.

Ugh, I was so easy.

I wanted to ask about Audrey. But I was too afraid of the answer. Jack had asked me to take a chance on him last night, and by my actions I had agreed to it. I needed to trust him. I would ask about her, I promised myself, but I didn’t want to do it just yet.

Then he said, “I told Audrey I’d met someone.”

I swallowed down the ridiculous wave of joy that had suddenly ballooned in my chest. “Really?” I managed as smoothly as I could.

“Really,” he whispered, leaning forward to kiss me. I was glad I had gone and brushed my teeth. His lips moved softly over mine. It felt good.

He pulled away and looked serious. “A couple more things we need to talk about. Firstly, your phone call last night.” He cocked an eyebrow at me.

Oh that. I covered my eyes in mortification. He gently peeled my hand off. “You asked me what it was all about. I didn’t mean to lead you on, I couldn’t help it, and it was two sided, wasn’t it?”

I nodded.

He went on, “And I would never do something for you in the hopes you would feel indebted to me and sleep with me. I felt sick when you said that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, I know you were mad and upset. I just ... I need you to know ... I find you sexy as hell.” He kissed my hand softly. “And while most of the time I am so turned on around you I literally can’t think of anything else apart from what it would feel like to be buried inside you—”

I gasped, but he went on as if he hadn’t just shocked the hell out of me. “I am not going to do it. I don’t want you to ever regret anything that happens between us.”

I had grown hot, achy, and slightly breathless at his bold words, and now he was saying it was never going to happen.

I squeezed my thighs together and squirmed under the comforter. “Ever?”

“Shit, Keri Ann, you’d test a saint. I’m trying here.”

“I just want to understand. You want to sleep with me, but you refuse to. Even if I decide that’s what I want.”

He nodded.

“Seriously?” I asked.

When he didn’t say anything, I continued skeptically, “Is this some kind of reverse psychology?”

“No.” He laughed. “I just know I’m going to have to leave here soon, and it’s going to be hard enough to do that already.” The reminder he was definitely leaving, no matter what happened between us, flipped my stomach over. And not in a good way.

But he was right, I had admitted to myself last night that taking that step with him would seal him in my heart and mind forever. For a moment I wished I had gotten my virginity out of the way years ago, in case he was worried about leaving a broken hearted girl behind. Did he think I was a walking cliché; that as soon as he took my virginity, I’d expect marriage and babies? No, this was about me wanting to be with Jack specifically. In a way I had never ever wanted to be with anyone else.

“Why are we talking about this?” I asked, irritated at the turn of my thoughts.

“I just don’t want you thinking that’s all I want from you. I never want you to look back and think you might have been pressured.”

“I’m a big girl, Jack. I think I can handle myself.”

“I’m sure you can,” he winked, ”and also, I plan on persuading you to accept my gift of getting the floors finished, and I don’t want you thinking I’m doing it for any other reason than if you refuse, I’m going to be left with this huge annoying credit at a flooring company, of all things, and nothing to spend it on.”

I snorted. “So it would be me doing you a favor? Nice try.” I rolled my eyes. “No. And I wouldn’t think that, I was just mad when I called you last night.”

“I wanted to do something for you. I don’t know why, I just did. Maybe it was that for a second I got really excited about the project, and I had the means to get it done, so I did it. Or maybe it was that I was looking forward to seeing your face when something you had wanted to get done for so long was finally achieved.”

This was quite persuasive, I had to admit.

“Or maybe it was because I imagined that when I saw your face light up, I wanted it to be me who made it happen.”

Damn, this guy was good.

“No,” I said again, but I sounded as shaken as I felt. I hadn’t realized flooring could be so romantic. “I should have told you my face lights up over a bag of Lindor truffles. You could have saved yourself a fortune.”

He got a wicked gleam in his eye and his lips descended to mine. “I did say I was going to persuade you.”

T W E N T Y – F I V E

The rain had broken the stifling humidity, and while it was still warm, it was finally that perfect time of year. The time anyone who lives in the South dreams about all summer long with its bright sun and long shadows and a slight chill in the breeze.

Jack and I, despite his persuasive kisses this morning, had reached an impasse on the floors. There was still no furniture and book club was at my house. Consequently, our meeting would be happening outside on the porch.