J. Lynn

“What?" she asked."You're beautiful."She rolled her eyes. "Flattery will get you laid.""I sure hope so.”

“I trust you.""Good." There was a flash of a quick smile and then he was out of the Jeep. I tracked him with my eyes, feeling a little dizzy. It was the truth. I did trust him and that was a big deal for me. I really hadn't trusted any guy since Jeremy, anyone except my brother. But I had trusted Jase from the moment I had met him.”

“You'll be bereft without me.”

“I started to kiss him back, slower and clumsy where his had been sure, practiced. I was worried I was doing it wrong, but then a deep sound came from him, almost a growl and instinctively Iknew it was a sound of approval.”

“Good God, you don’t give up.”“Nope.”I laughed, couldn’t help it, and hissmile spread in response to the sound.“I’m sure there are plenty of girls whowant to go out on a date with you.”“There are.”“Wow. Modest aren’t you?”“Why should I be?” he shot back.“And I want to go out on a date with you.Not them.”

“Time was a funny and fickle thing. Sometimes there was never enough of it, and other times it stretched out endlessly.”

“The silence was killing me.And that's all there ever was. Silence. It was all I knew. Keep quiet. Pretend nothing had happened, that nothing was wrong. And look how well that was turning out.”

“As long as the sun’s shining, shit can’t be that bad.”

“Want to know a secret?""Yeah!" His smile grew big and broad."I don't know how to saddle a horse either. And I've never even ridden on one before." His eyes grew wide as the moon. "Jase!" he bellowed, spinning toward his brother."She's never ridden a horse before!" Well, there went my secret.”

“His lips brushed my cheek, and I found it hard to concentrate."I lied earlier.""About what." His hands slid to my lower back."When I said you looked great? I wasn't completely honest." That was not what I expected. I turned my head the slightest and then bit back a gasp. Our mouths were centimeters apart and I thought about Brit's certainty that he would kiss me tonight. I forced my tongue to work."You don't think I look great?" "No,"he said, his expression serious as one hand followed the line of my spine, resting below the edges of my hair. He lowered his head so that his temple pressed against mine."You look beautiful tonight."My breath caught."Thank you.”

“Good, because if the guy isn't making you walk funny after sex, then probably isn't anything to write home to mom about.”

“Okay.” Chase paused for a beat. “But can I give you a word of advice?” “No.” Chase grinned and went on. “If you make Bridget unhappy, you’re gonna make Maddie unhappy. And that’s going to make me very unhappy.”

“We are your friends. It is the law of friendship that you tell us things you don’t want to tell us.”