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“Take me home, Officer.”
Jared turned the ignition and after he backed up, placed his hand over her knee. “Your home or…”
“You promised me a fire, eggnog, and a Christmas movie. I plan to collect.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She turned toward him and placed a hand on his chest. “Mmmm, I kind of like it when you call me ma’am.”
Jared scoffed. “If you’re referring to our run in at the market, you caught me off guard.”
“I figured, but it was still funny.”
“For you, maybe. I felt like an idiot.”
Anna Beth slid her hand down over his stomach. “I never thought you were an idiot.”
“Really?” he said, glancing down at her with one eyebrow arched. “Never?”
“Okay, maybe a time or two you tested my opinion.”
“That’s just a sweet way of calling me—shit!”
Jared swerved to avoid the massive bull elk on his side of the road. His heart thundered as he passed it in the left lane.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“I’m fine, but damn, that was close.” She retracted her nails from the front of his shirt. “Did I hurt you?”
“Nah, you’re fine,” Jared said. “That elk took ten years off my life.”
“Maybe I should keep my hands to myself until we get to your place.”
“Probably best. You are too distracting for your own good.”
Twenty-Six
Anna Beth stood in Jared’s bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror as her stomach fluttered nervously. The sequins on the sides of her dress had rubbed the under skin of her biceps nearly raw and she couldn’t wait to get out of it. A stack of Jared’s clothes were folded on the bathroom counter for her to change into for their movie night, but she needed him to unzip the dress. And once he unzipped it, he’d see the bustier she wore beneath it.
Which was the whole point in wearing it, but she hadn’t been with a man in over two years. What if she sucked in bed? She’d only ever been with Ian, while Jared had experience with multiple girls.
Stop freaking out. This is Jared. You want this. You are overthinking it and it’s making you anxious.
Jared knocked on his bedroom door. “Anna Beth? You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just thinking.”
“Can I come in?”
Anna Beth took a deep, shaky breath. “Yes, come in.”
The door opened with a creak and Jared came around the corner into the bathroom, looking completely at ease. He’d lost his jacket, shoes, socks, and tie the minute he walked in the door and, while Anna Beth liked fancy Jared, she preferred the relaxed, rumpled version.
“What’s up? Are you ready to watch the movie?”
Anna Beth swallowed. “Yes, but can you unzip me? I can’t reach it with these sleeves.”
Jared cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah. Sure.”
