A minute later, his cell buzzed with Christa’s cell phone number and a message from his mom telling him not to screw it up.After saving it to his contacts, he immediately called her.His call went straight to voice mail, indicating her phone was either off or she was out of range of the cell towers.With his frustration at epic levels, Jared climbed back into his Volante and sped away toward his condo.
Evening the Odds
Allie was cleaningup in the kitchen when she heard the bell jingle over the front door of the café.Since she’d locked it at closing, she knew it must be her friend.“Christa, is that you?”
“Yes, Allie, it’s just me,” she yelled back.
Allie grabbed a towel to dry her hands and continued talking, loudly, to Christa as she walked down the hall to the front of the café.“There was somehotguy here to see you earlier.I mean, he wasfucking hot, Christa.He asked for your cell, but I didn’t give it to him.If you’re not going to tap that, let me know.I’ll jump on him like he’s my own personal pogo stick.”
When Allie reached the end of the hallway, she saw a noticeably shocked, deeply red-faced Christa.Then her eyes lifted slightly to see a different extremely hot man standing behind Christa.She instantly recognized his expression—the gritted teeth, the muscles ticking in his jaw, and the way his chest rose and fell with each deep breath.He attempted to project a calm appearance, but Allie knew intuitively he felt anything but calm at that moment.
Unable to stifle her laugh, Allie chuckled lightly.“Oops, didn’t know we had company.Sorry about that.”
Christa tried to avoid talking about the obvious pink elephant sitting squarely in the middle of the small room.“I don’t know of anyone who’d be looking for me.Did he say what he wanted?”
“He just said he’s a friend of yours, and he acted like he really needed to talk to you.He left his name and number over there by the cash register,” Allie answered while still watching Aaron with amused curiosity.
His reaction to another man showing interest in Christa intrigued Allie.He seemed genuinely threatened.Not in a crazy, jealous way, but in an insecure, endearing way.As if he was afraid of losing Christa to another man.She watched his eyes dart nervously over toward the cash register, where the competition’s number waited for Christa to retrieve it.
As Christa picked up the paper, Allie watched Aaron take a deep breath and place his hands on his hips.Wondering how long he could hold his breath before he passed out, Allie broke the silence.“Well, do you know him?”Aaron’s eyes snapped to Allie’s, and she smiled when he finally released his breath.
“Oh, yeah, it’s just Jared,” Christa said casually.
“Yeah.That’s what he said his name was—I couldn’t remember,” Allie lied.She knew exactly what his name was, but she was enjoying this little show way too much to end it sooner.“So, how do you know him?”
“From school.We were friends forever before he went off to college.”
Christa laid the paper back down on the counter then walked back to Aaron’s side.Allie watched them both with her keen eyes, noting their closeness and their obvious comfort level with each other.Aaron snaked his arm around Christa and pulled her close to his side while Christa wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling in close to him.
“Oh, that’s sweet,” Allie said aloud.When Aaron and Christa looked at her questioningly, she quickly added, “That you’re still friends after all this time.You two must be pretty close.”
And Allie watched as Aaron tensed again.Interesting.
“I guess we were back then, but he’s been away for more than seven years.He just moved back here yesterday,” Christa explained.
And Aaron relaxed again.Yeah, the boy has it bad,Allie laughed inside.
“Well, I’m heading home now.Are you two just hanging out here or what?”Allie asked.
“I just wanted to check on you before Aaron takes me home,” Christa said with a nonchalant shrug, but Allie knew how to read between her lines.“Thanks for covering the shop again by yourself.We had a great day.”
“I’m fine.Everything here is done, so you two kids go on home.”
Christa knew Allie was onto her ploy to hide behind her friend and avoid what would come next.
Even in thecool San Francisco night air, Christa’s palms were sweating profusely as they approached her door.She pretended to adjust her sweater and wiped her palms dry.Then she dug into her extra-large purse, pretending to look for her keys, then checked her pants pockets, again wiping her palms.The nagging worry that Aaron would think she was some mutant with nasty, sweaty palms only made it worse.Truth be told, Christa knew exactly why she was so nervous and so…soggy.
She wanted to invite Aaron in because she wasn’t ready to end their time together.However, it had been a long time since she’d invited a man inside, and the last time didn’t go very well.When she wouldn’t have sex with him, the guy had stomped off, throwing less than flattering epithets over his shoulder as he stormed out.It wasn’t like she’d led him on—she’d been very upfront about it, but that didn’t change the outcome.
Christa already felt like she was getting way too attached to Aaron.Being with him was effortless—everything about his personality was laid-back, affable, and genuinely inviting.Their day together had been amazing.After the impromptu lunch make-out session, complete with whipped cream and chocolate cream pie, they spent the rest of the day exploring the park hand in hand.There was one specific moment that stole Christa’s breath, and very likely her heart, and she’d been reliving it over and over, making herself crazy.
At one point on the trail, they stopped to take in the panoramic views of the Sacramento River, and Aaron unexpectedly lifted Christa’s hands to his lips.His blue eyes turned a darker shade and never left hers as he slowly placed featherlight kisses on each knuckle, one hand at a time.Wordlessly, he pulled her closer to him until her breasts were pressed firmly against his torso, and he bent so her hands could reach around his neck.Slightly stooping, he wrapped his arms under her ass and lifted her off the ground, slowly sliding her body against his until they were finally eye to eye.
Her capacity for rational thought was nonexistent.His expressive blue eyes spoke volumes to her without saying a word.They told her how much he wanted her.They conveyed his innermost thoughts without restraint.The instant connection she felt to him gave her an unfamiliar full-body tingle and immense pull deep in her core.Christa was certain she’d been struck by lightning of the best kind.
She didn’t know how long he held her like that, flat against his body.His strong, muscular arms were flexed from holding her full weight, without the slightest hint of straining.Unable to resist his silent requests any longer, Christa pulled his face to hers and, at first, lightly kissed his lips.A dam suddenly released inside her, and she took what she wanted without asking.Her fingers fisted his hair, and she crushed herself to him even tighter.She licked his bottom lip and felt his groan rumble through his broad chest.
That was all she needed to hear to give her more courage than she knew she possessed.Her tongue darted into his mouth, caressing and sucking on his tongue.When she lightly pulled his bottom lip into her mouth, running her tongue over it seductively, she felt the moment when he lost his composure.Walking off the path, Aaron put her back on a massive tree and used his knee as a perch for her, freeing his hands to glide over her body.
