created for him.
But I was beginning to understand something else. He’d said he came up with his plans for Scarlett because he’d been bored at work. He needed a new challenge. And now with this extra morsel of information about leaving pro surfing…it seemed Jake had a restless soul. Either that, or a short attention span.
We opened our doors and stepped out.
“By the way,” I said as he set the keyless lock, “if anyone asks, what do I tell them I’m doing for you?”
He came around to stand beside me, hands in front pockets. “The truth. That we’re going over some of your designs for my shop and you’re giving me some personal fashion advice at the same time.”
“You don’t care if people know that?”
His forehead creased in a slight frown. “No, why would I?”
“No reason.” I didn’t know why I was surprised it didn’t bother him, but I was pleased anyway. I smiled at him.
When we walked through the door, I went straight over to give Barbara a hug. “It’s great to see you again.”
“You too, Annalise. Who’s your friend?” Barb looked over at Jake with an expression suspiciously like lustful admiration. The admiration itself didn’t seem strange—I’d certainly looked at him admiringly myself before—but my reaction was a little disturbing. I was assailed by a strong urge to walk over to him and wrap an arm around his waist. Perhaps even grab his arm and rest it on my shoulders. Proprietorial jealousy. This did not bode well for passing him over to Scarlett.
“Jake Maxwell,” I told her. “We’re looking for a couple of shirts and slacks for him.”
“Jake Maxwell?” she whispered, her eyes widening. “I didn’t know you were friends. Are you two…?”
“No!” Realizing I’d said it too adamantly, I clamped my jaw shut. Barb just smiled mysteriously and blended into the background.
Sighing, I walked over to where Jake was looking at clothes and mentally filed the jealousy issue away to obsess about later.
“What do you think?” He held up a burgundy shirt.
“Yep, that’s nice, try it on. And while you’re in there, I’ll get some other things together. If you like any, try them on and let me see.”
“Let you see me try them on?” He raised one eyebrow but kept a blank face.
My breath caught in my throat as images assaulted my brain. Jake pulling his T-shirt over his head, his abs taught from the action. Jake with a dress shirt hanging open as he pushed his arms through the sleeves. Jake grabbing my hand and pulling me into the changing room, then backing me against the wall as he closed the curtain.
Crap. How was I going to make it through the next half hour, let alone the rest of the day?
I straightened my shoulders. “Jake, you said you weren’t going to flirt.”
His face was a picture of angelic innocence. “That wasn’t flirting, that was an actual misunderstanding.”
“Do you remember we’re doing this for Scarlett? Don’t spoil my good image of you by flirting with me while you’re chasing someone else.”
“You have an image of me? What’s it like?” He lowered his voice and leaned close to my ear. “Am I wearing anything in this image?”
My knees wobbled. I was surrounded by the scent of soap and ocean spray.
“Jake…” I said, hoping my voice sounded stern, and not like the moan I suspected it was.
“All right, I’ll be in the changing room if you need me.” He started to walk off but turned to look back. “Just don’t say you weren’t invited.” Then he disappeared behind the curtain.
I felt a blush creep up my neck and turned back to the clothes racks to hide it. If I could just keep my hormones under control—a task Jake was making more difficult all the time—this makeover could be fun. Then, when it was over, I’d willingly hand him over to Scarlett. I knew I could do it. Of course I could.
Though, I passed the clothes to Barbara to take in to him, just in case I was wrong.
Jake emerged from the
But I was beginning to understand something else. He’d said he came up with his plans for Scarlett because he’d been bored at work. He needed a new challenge. And now with this extra morsel of information about leaving pro surfing…it seemed Jake had a restless soul. Either that, or a short attention span.
We opened our doors and stepped out.
“By the way,” I said as he set the keyless lock, “if anyone asks, what do I tell them I’m doing for you?”
He came around to stand beside me, hands in front pockets. “The truth. That we’re going over some of your designs for my shop and you’re giving me some personal fashion advice at the same time.”
“You don’t care if people know that?”
His forehead creased in a slight frown. “No, why would I?”
“No reason.” I didn’t know why I was surprised it didn’t bother him, but I was pleased anyway. I smiled at him.
When we walked through the door, I went straight over to give Barbara a hug. “It’s great to see you again.”
“You too, Annalise. Who’s your friend?” Barb looked over at Jake with an expression suspiciously like lustful admiration. The admiration itself didn’t seem strange—I’d certainly looked at him admiringly myself before—but my reaction was a little disturbing. I was assailed by a strong urge to walk over to him and wrap an arm around his waist. Perhaps even grab his arm and rest it on my shoulders. Proprietorial jealousy. This did not bode well for passing him over to Scarlett.
“Jake Maxwell,” I told her. “We’re looking for a couple of shirts and slacks for him.”
“Jake Maxwell?” she whispered, her eyes widening. “I didn’t know you were friends. Are you two…?”
“No!” Realizing I’d said it too adamantly, I clamped my jaw shut. Barb just smiled mysteriously and blended into the background.
Sighing, I walked over to where Jake was looking at clothes and mentally filed the jealousy issue away to obsess about later.
“What do you think?” He held up a burgundy shirt.
“Yep, that’s nice, try it on. And while you’re in there, I’ll get some other things together. If you like any, try them on and let me see.”
“Let you see me try them on?” He raised one eyebrow but kept a blank face.
My breath caught in my throat as images assaulted my brain. Jake pulling his T-shirt over his head, his abs taught from the action. Jake with a dress shirt hanging open as he pushed his arms through the sleeves. Jake grabbing my hand and pulling me into the changing room, then backing me against the wall as he closed the curtain.
Crap. How was I going to make it through the next half hour, let alone the rest of the day?
I straightened my shoulders. “Jake, you said you weren’t going to flirt.”
His face was a picture of angelic innocence. “That wasn’t flirting, that was an actual misunderstanding.”
“Do you remember we’re doing this for Scarlett? Don’t spoil my good image of you by flirting with me while you’re chasing someone else.”
“You have an image of me? What’s it like?” He lowered his voice and leaned close to my ear. “Am I wearing anything in this image?”
My knees wobbled. I was surrounded by the scent of soap and ocean spray.
“Jake…” I said, hoping my voice sounded stern, and not like the moan I suspected it was.
“All right, I’ll be in the changing room if you need me.” He started to walk off but turned to look back. “Just don’t say you weren’t invited.” Then he disappeared behind the curtain.
I felt a blush creep up my neck and turned back to the clothes racks to hide it. If I could just keep my hormones under control—a task Jake was making more difficult all the time—this makeover could be fun. Then, when it was over, I’d willingly hand him over to Scarlett. I knew I could do it. Of course I could.
Though, I passed the clothes to Barbara to take in to him, just in case I was wrong.
Jake emerged from the
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