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"Jake, come help Eva. I have to find Dan," Fancy ordered, already heading toward the large double doors that led to the offices of the First Presbyterian Church of Magnolia Bend. Jake had been slumped against the wall, tapping on his phone. He looked up, his forehead crinkling.
"She said to go help Eva," Abigail told him, returning her attention to tagging the kitchen items she'd commandeered from Jake.
Jake pocketed his phone and started toward Eva. He wore an old workout shirt that had a tear in one sleeve and a pair of athletic shorts that showed off his toned thighs. Still tanned from summer days on the lake, the dude looked absolutely yummy... as usual.
"I don't need help, so if you want, you can see if Matt needs some?" Eva said, rearranging the shoes on the rack below the table.
"Nah, it's hot out there." Jake grinned, picking up a pair of sensible flats. "Hey, Abi, I found you some new shoes. Think Mrs. Crofton donated these because they were too nerdy. Right up your alley."
Abigail looked up and rolled her eyes. "I'm oblivious to your taunts. Plus Leif likes me barefoot."
"I bet," Jake drawled, making Abigail shoot daggers at him with her pretty green eyes. He turned back to Eva. "What do you want me to do?"
“Start putting these out," Eva said, toeing a box of shoes his way.
Jake obeyed for a few seconds before reaching up to tug her ponytail. "So you're back to wearing your hair up."
"I told you, gets in the way otherwise," she said, smacking his hand back.
"I like it down," he said.
"You don't get a say-so."
He frowned. “I know what looks good."
Eva laughed. "I'm aware of that particular talent, but I'm more interested in keeping it out of my eyes. And why do you care? You've never cared before."
"I don't," he said, picking up some espadrilles and eyeing the ribbon ties. "These look uncomfortable."
"Women don't mind uncomfortable as long as it makes their legs look long and lifts their butt. You, of all men, ought to understand this."
"They'd look incredible on you. You already have great legs," he said matter-of-factly.
"What's wrong with you?" Eva said, her stomach feeling hoppy at his words. He sounded almost flirty in the way Marshall Mitchell had flirted with her in the seventh grade.Your binder is girly. Can I touch your hair? Let's just try kissing and see what it feels like.
"Nothing. Why? What's wrong with you?"
Everything.
"Nothing. You're just acting weird. Like flirting with me. You outta practice or something?" She snorted so he'd know she knew the idea was ludicrous.
"Why wouldn't I flirt with you? According to you, I sleep with every woman who has a pair of tits and no ring on her finger. You fit the criteria. Especially the first part." His eyes slid to her boobs, making something hot slither down her spine.
What the hell? Jake had never-
She put the kibosh on that notion. Jake wasn't into her. He'd never commented on her being a woman, beyond a little teasing here or there. As usual he was being outrageous, totally irreverent. Just Jake. But his comment made her realize she'd hurt his feelings last night when she'd told him to lay off Jenny. ''And here I was thinking the ring thing didn't matter."
His head jerked up, outrage in his eyes. "You know I don't mess with married women."
"I'm joking. You know what a joke is, right?" she said with a smart-ass smile, repeating the same phrase he'd used last night. "I've heard of honor among thieves. Is there honor among man whores, too?"
Jake threw a wadded-up nylon knee-high at her.
"Gross," Eva shrieked, pushing away the object he'd pulled out of the espadrille.
"You know I'm sensitive about being a man whore," he said, his blue eyes dancing, white teeth flashing.
Her heart squeezed at the sight of a laughing, sexy Jake. God Almighty, the man was gorgeous with that brown hair that sometimes glinted red, strong jaw, and hands she'd fork over her next paycheck just to have run over her naked shoulders and down her back. Eva swallowed, blocking out the irrational desire for a man who was her friend.
