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I was sure there were a lot of things that Teresa probably couldn’t believe about h was audible "It’s great I have an awesome tan, and Jack really loves it here It’s the first time he’s been to the beach"

Jack was Jase’s little brother, whom he was superclose with

"And you should see the two of theet all happy than seeing a hot guy with a kid," she explained, and I grinned and then I pictured Jax with a kid, and there was a quiver so in a couple of days, but I swear, I think I could live at the beach"

I really needed to get s in the great state of Pennsylvania Is everything cool?"

"Well, yeah, things have beenthey’ve been great," I told her, glancing at the stairs "I’ve, uuy"

There was silence

And more silence

I frowned "You there?"

"Yes Yes! You just caught uy and I aiting for, you know, more detail" She all but shouted the last word "Like lots of detail"

With another glance at the stairwell, I told her about Jax and our date tonight I ended my impromptu confession with "So, yeah, I’m pretty sure he likes me"

"Well, duh Of course he does So the place is called Apollo’s? Hold on a sec," she said, and then her voice sounded farther away "Hey, Jase, look up Apollo’s outside of Philly What? Just do it"

OhWhy would you be surprised that he likes you? Brandon totally liked you, but you--"

"What?" I interrupted her "He did not"

"Oh, yes, he did It was cute You were all quiet when he first started co at you, but then you really didn’t pay any attention to hi and you weren’t into hi crack

"Do you like him?" she asked suddenly "Because Jase just looked up Apollo’s--and, by the way, Jase says hi"

"Hi," I mumbled back

"She says hi!" she yelled and then, "He says the place looks pretty classy Do you like him, Calla?"

I closed my eyes and nodded "Yeah, I like him I really do"

"Good I can’t wait to meet hiled when I laughed "I’, I then adot off the phone after ive her the details, and it hen I tucked my hair back behindalone

Oh no

Biting down onat the bottom of the stairwell, already dressed for our date Dark deniood

He was also grinning a sroaned, cheeks heating "Shut up"

Jax tipped back his head and laughed He was lucky he had such a great laugh

Lip gloss was al ready My tu appetites because I had a feeling I was going to gorge myself on food

I’d put loose waves in my hair and parted it on the side I’d skipped on the Derht look with s all my clothes with me, was cute and flirty It was a strappy dark blue sundress that was fitted through the breast and waist Maybe a little clingy around the hips, too, but then it flowed around, the skirt bouncy and ending just below h I paired it with a pair of sandals with a low heel The final touch was the baby blue cap-sleeve cardigan that ended just belowmyself out in the ood

I nodded atroo ready, Jax had puttered around the house and thenhis book

Studying his profile, with his chin dipped and his face masked in concentration, I had to say that he was hot But when he looked up and saw me he was even hotter

"I’o to dinner and eat"

Yep It was official I was an uberdork

His eyes darkened and heated In a second he was on his feet, and then he was in front of me One hand curled around the nape of my neck and the other landed on otcartwheels

"You look beautiful," he said

And I felt beautiful when he said that "Thank you You look beautiful, too"

A dark eyebrow rose

Ugh

"You look manly beautiful," I amended, but that sounded even more stupid "Okay That was du his lips over the curve of ain, and I tensed, but it was for a different reason than the norm, because his lips had skated to the space below my ear

"I’m hot and you like me," he murmured "It’s my lucky day"

"Shut up"

Another deep chuckle and then his mouth claimed mine I liked--no, I loved--the way Jax kissed It started off slow and then beca entirely different, definitely not slow, and very ainst his chest, sliding up to his shoulders

"Dinner" He kissed oing to be late"

My fingers dug into his shirt as I all but clung to hi ain, in a way I felt devoured

"Dinner," he repeated, and his lips brushedmy hands down his chest, I tipped my head back and opened htened around ruhed "Shut up," I said again

"It’s cute" His hands dropped to et very far