Free Pass (Free Will Book 1) (2 page)

Chapter Three

When the door opened, I tried to look casual. Staring down at the label on my beer, I didn't look up. I didn't want to look like I was out here waiting for them to emerge.
Even though I was...

"What the hell are you doing?"

I looked up at Austin's question. "Just sitting here. Got a little crowded out there for me. Thought I'd sit here on the stairs where it was a little quieter."

"Whatever, man. I know you just want to sniff around my girl." Austin glared at me. "Don't get any ideas. Laney is
my
girlfriend."

I held his gaze until he shook his head and walked away.
If he wants Laney so much, why was he all over what's-her-face?

Laney didn't follow him out. The door was cracked and I didn't hear anything. Should I go in there and check on her? No, I'd wait her out.

I sat back on the steps and thought about what I'd say when she finally did come out. Everything I thought of seemed desperate or just plain dumb. Talking to Laney was so damn hard.

I buried my face in my hands. What the fuck was I doing?

Chapter Four

I had a plan. Run upstairs, get my bag from Austin's room, and hide out at my parents' house for the evening. I'd have to convince them to take me back to campus after church tomorrow. Not for the first time tonight, I cursed myself for riding with Austin. I darted out of the study and pulled up short when I saw Jake sitting on the stairs with his head in his hands.

He'd come alone today, it seemed. I wondered what happened to his girlfriend... He looked up at me and I blurted out, "Hey, Jake."

God, I was so lame. I had barely talked to the guy in months beyond a bit of small talk and asking if he'd seen Austin and
"Hey Jake"
was all I could get out.
Shoot me.

"Hey yourself. How you been, Laney?"

Six words. Two sentences in that beautiful rumble. That's all it took for my tongue to tie itself in a giant knot. The kind a sailor would struggle to untie. When he smiled at me, I choked. I responded with something awesome, like
"um"
. Yeah. Real smooth there, Laney, real smooth.

I'd forgotten how fine Jake's voice was, nice and deep. He could read a cereal box, and I'd cling to every word just to feel the shivers that raced down my spine when he spoke.

"Trouble in Paradise?" His drawl reached my ears as he leaned back on the stair behind him. That husky voice of his sent those anticipated shudders down my spine.

Perfect.

Jake would get me thinking all sorts of dirty thoughts with no one to act them out with. Just what I needed today.

"You could say that." I finally remembered how to talk. "Austin is probably back out there dancing with his slutty redhead. He's ignored me pretty much all day."

I sank down on the stair next to Jake and sighed. I sounded jealous, but it wasn't that. More that Austin had humiliated me in front of half our hometown. And cheated on me... Moisture filled my eyes and I swiped at the tears, furious at myself for crying again. I'd cried too many tears for Austin already. I hated myself for being so weak. But, free pass or not, things were over between me and Austin.

Sliding until he pressed against my side, Jake wrapped his arms around me in a firm hug. I leaned into his embrace. He may not be talking much, but at least he wasn't ignoring me entirely. He held me tight to his chest and kissed the top of my head.

"My brother's a dick."

A giggle escaped before I could clamp my amusement down. I was not normally a giggler. Maybe it's the stress of the day, or the tone of his voice, but that statement struck me as amusing.

Jake grinned down at me and my sprinting heart skipped a beat. Or several.
Shit.
Why was he affecting me so much today? He'd always just been Austin's hot older brother. Someone to ogle at the pool, have a light-hearted conversation with just to hear that seductive voice, but never anything more. Today, Jake looked like all sorts of temptation.

I looked down and brushed a piece of lint from his shirt. He grunted and I couldn't help but glance back up at him. The look that flickered across his face piqued my interest. Did I see a spark of desire? Or did I hallucinate that? He clutched my waist. His light caress on my side warmed me. He shifted and moved closer. No, I was pretty darn sure Jake found me attractive. Wow. Hadn't seen that one coming...

I looked up into his wondrous eyes and the thick desire there took my breath away. The intensity in his gaze sent my pulse on a marathon run. Holy hell, why had I never noticed how long Jake's perfect eyelashes were? A groan vibrated the firm muscles beneath my hands and he bent his head toward me.

Austin came back and ruined the moment. "Not him, Laney. Anyone, but my brother. He. Is. Off. Limits."

At Austin's words, I was certain my face brightened up like a fresh summer tomato. It was not possible to turn inside out from embarrassment. Believe me, I would have done so if it were. Jake's name never made my list, if I'd ever really had a list. Hell, I hadn't even thought of the fling since I walked out of that study. My only recent thought, to be honest, was,
'Holy crap, would Jake taste as good as he looked?'

Jake's eyes flickered between Austin and me. His eyebrows raised in question, but he didn't ask. A shiver of desire passed over me when he slid his hand along the sliver of skin at the small of my back.

Jake stood up with a stretch. "I think maybe you guys need to work this out on your own." He winked at me and jogged up the stairs.

Oh dear God, that ass should be illegal.

Austin slapped his hand on the wall above me. I jumped at the sudden noise, pulling my gaze away from Jake's delectable behind. Eyes narrowed, Austin glared down at me. "Not. Jake." His teeth clenched and the audible grinding was like music to my ears. Poor Austin, he'd need dental work after this weekend. Wasn't that horrible?

I smiled sweetly up at him.
Austin Davidson, you don't scare me.

"One question, honey, did you let me pick for you?" I asked in the most syrupy tone I could manage. I ran my finger up the side of his arm like he hated. The flash of anger in his eyes told me that my arrow was a direct hit.

"Laney, damn it. Anyone but my brother. I just... Not him, okay?"

"Now is not the time for us to have this discussion. I'm going to spend the night at my parents' house. I just need to get my purse and I'll head out."

Chapter Five

When Laney stomped past my door alone, I ventured out to see what was up.

"I just needed to get my bag. I'm going to my parents' house."

I offered to walk her home. She bit her lip, looking like she couldn't decide if she'd let me walk with her or not, but finally nodded. I could have drove her, but it's only a couple blocks. She'd almost let me kiss her on the stairs and walking gave us more time to talk. Gave me more time for me to gauge if I had a shot with her.

I grabbed her bag out of Austin's room and we started toward her parents' house. This might be my only chance. But I didn't want to push her too far. Halfway down the block, I couldn't bite my tongue any longer. "What did Austin mean when he said not me?"

We walked past a few more houses and she still didn't answer.

I looked over, caught her eye, and raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"Okay, look. Your brother cheated on me over spring break. And I found out. Well, he told me he didn't want to break up. He wants me to pick someone to have a fling with, no strings or anything, like he had with Ms. Boobs-as-Big-as-my-Head."

"Shit. He cheated on you?"

She nodded. Brutal honesty it is then.
Ouch.

I shook my head. What the hell was wrong with Austin? Laney was everything a man could want. I stopped walking and grabbed her hand. "Did she really have boobs that big?"

"Oh, of course, that is what you stick on. The size of her boobs." She tried to pull her hand away.

My response annoyed her. I'd almost missed the flash of anger in the dim evening light.

How the hell could she ignore the sparks shooting up from where our hands were still joined? Surely she felt it too.

"I'm sorry, Laney. I'm not sure I've seen any quite that big." I smiled and tugged her closer. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I snuggled her up against my chest. "I've always been more of an ass man myself."

Your ass in particular.

My heart beat a thousand times in the seconds it took to bend my head toward hers. Dear God, she didn't pull away. A car turned the corner and I remembered where we were. Who it was I was about to kiss. I stepped back and released her hand.

Shit.

"So, I'm off limits then, huh? His rule or yours?" I shoved my hands in my jean pockets. If I didn't, I was gonna reach for her again. And it was too soon for that. She was finally showing a little bit of interest in me and I didn't want to screw that up by moving too soon.

"His."

I had to look away then. It would be all kinds of weird for us to have a relationship of any kind, fling or otherwise. But fuck, how would I ever get the thought out of my mind now?

We reached her house and I wanted to cuss. This isn't how I wanted tonight to end. I didn't want to push her too far and ruin things, but what if tomorrow things changed and I missed my only chance?

I handed her bag over without a word and watched her unlock the door. Her parents weren't home. They'd been dancing the night away at my parents' not long ago.

Laney waited for me to say something. Anything. But I didn't. She had me speechless. She gave me a moment before whispering a soft goodbye and turning to go inside.

No, not yet
.

I reached out and grabbed her by the waist. Spinning her into my arms, I drew her up against my chest. Once again, she didn't try to pull away, so I held her even closer.

She brought her hand up to rest on my chest. My heart beat thumped under the palm of her hand. It pounded so hard she must be able to feel it.

I lowered my head until the tips of our noses touched. Warm puffs of her breath brushed my lips. Her tongue poked out to moisten her lips and my gaze pulled away from her sparkling eyes to stare at her mouth.

Desire thickened my voice when I finally found the question I needed to ask. "And what about you, Laney? Am I off-limits to you?"

My grip tightened. My whole body strummed with anticipation. And, of course, her parents would decide to come home right fucking then. Their car turned into the drive, headlights illuminating us for a brief second. Best timing
ever
. I cursed. So damn close.

Stepping away from her, I rubbed her cheek with a gentle hand. "Bye, Laney."

I called a quick hello to her parents before jogging off.

I'd almost kissed my brother's girlfriend multiple times today. Guilt should be all over me. But my conscience's lips were sealed. That little bastard wanted Laney every bit as much as I did.

When I made it back home, my brother sat on the steps. Waiting for me no doubt...

Austin rose as I got near the stairs. "Dude, Laney's
my
girl. She's off-limits. Remember?"

He tried to intimidate me by towering over me, but I wouldn't be cowered. I didn't give one shit that my little brother stood several inches taller and a good fifty pounds heavier than me. Austin didn't scare me, never had. "Too bad you didn't remember she was yours over spring break, huh?"

Austin sank back down on the steps. "She told you about that?"

"Oh yeah. And the fling. Stupidest shit I ever heard, man. But just so you know, Laney doesn't seem to agree that I'm off limits." I smirked at Austin and walked inside.

If I could convince Laney to pick me for this fling, then maybe I might finally have a shot with the girl I'd been in love with for ages. I needed a plan.

Chapter Six

A firm hand on my shoulder roused me from the most amazing dream about Jake's lips. I groaned my displeasure at the interruption. His lips had finally covered mine and the kiss was glorious. Until someone shook me and the vision faded.

"Laney," Mom called my name from next to the bed.

"Hmm." I grumbled and rolled over, pulling the comforter over my head.

"Well, maybe I will just send your visitor away if you don't want to wake up and talk to him." Her annoyance got my attention.

I peeked an eye out. No one but her. Good, she didn't bring them upstairs. I mumbled something that must have sounded to her ears like
"Who is it?"
She fussed at me again about Jake.

Jake?
Wait, what? Awareness hit. Sitting straight up, I asked, "Who's downstairs?"

Mom glared at me. "Jake is bad news. You've been dating his brother. Whatever this flirtation you have going on with him is, knock it off. It's inappropriate."

"Jake is downstairs?"

With a glare that could set fires, my mom snapped, "You heard me. And you know damn well that you're playing with fire flirting with that man."

"I need to get dressed. I need to shower first." I jumped out of bed. Mom shook her head and spat out a repeat of last night's lecture almost word for word.

"Yeah, I know, Mom, but nothing's going on between us."

"If nothing's going on, why's he here so early? Why do you care what you look like before you see him? Laney, damn it. You are going to mess up your life. Austin is a good boy. His parents love you. Don't you screw that up."

Ugh, the way my mom was talking, you'd think Austin and I were engaged or something. Geez.

I threw on a pair of jean shorts and exchanged my sleep shirt for a T-shirt. I ran into the bathroom, mostly because I had to go, but partly so that I could run a brush through my hair. I took a quick moment to brush my teeth; I couldn't face a possibly kissable Jake with morning skunk breath.

I hurried down the stairs and looked around for Jake, baffled. The living room sat empty. "Mom? Where is he?"

"I left him on the porch. I don't want him in my house. You know, I don’t think Austin'd like knowing how his brother's hitting on his girlfriend." As I ran out the door, she yelled after me, "If he so much as touches you, I'll turn the hose on him."

That wasn't rude at all, was it? She hadn't seemed upset by Austin dancing with that slut yesterday.
Lovely double standard there, Mom.

Jake sat on a bench on the porch. He had clearly stopped by on his morning run. He wore basketball shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt. A drip of sweat ran down his jaw and I was jealous. Yes, of a bead of sweat.

Where did that thought come from? Crap, I blushed again. Dang it! Jumbled emotions vied for my attention. I'd shot down the idea of Austin's two best friends. So why did his brother make me wish for the chance to know him on a more intimate level?

Jake looked up when he heard the door open. His hot gaze lingered on my bare legs a second too long to be anything but interest. He brought his eyes up to mine, grinning when he saw I busted him. Sliding over to the edge of the bench, he patted the spot next to him.

The rapid thump in my chest increased. Mere inches would separate us on that small bench. I eased down next to him and tried to keep my hands from shaking. He reached toward me, but my mom came outside. She slammed the door with enough force it rattled in its frame. Jake withdrew his outstretched hand at the evil look she gave him.

"Don't make me hose you down, Romeo. Keep those grabby hands to yourself. I will be watching," she snapped at him and went to pull weeds from her planter beds close to the street. She sat down to work, situating herself to be able to keep us within her sight line.

"She would hose me down, wouldn't she?" he said with a little chuckle.

"Oh yeah. I got lectures both last night and this morning about you. Sorry 'bout my mom." I tucked one foot up under my leg to get comfortable and glanced over at my mom. She stabbed her spade into the ground with a scary ferocity. I didn't think she even liked Austin all that much, so why would she care if I dumped him for Jake? But she clearly did.

Jake's sigh drew my attention away from my mom. I looked over at him and his intense gaze made me shudder.

"What's happening here, Laney? I can't get you off my mind. I didn't sleep more than two hours last night. What are you doing to me?" He laid a hand between us on the bench. I dropped mine down next to his, and he ran his pinky against mine.

"I don't know. I never saw you like this either. You were just Austin's brother to me."

"And what am I now?" he asked as his warm hand slid over mine.

How could I answer that? I had no answers... Not at the moment. All I really had was more questions. Did I want to break up with Austin? What would their parents say? They liked me right now, but would they still like me if I broke up with Austin to date Jake? Austin cheating hurt more than I had ever imagined. I'd always thought if he cheated on me that I'd just move on. I never expected it to feel like I would be losing part of my family to dump him.

And why did the slightest touch of Jake's hand send my heart rate soaring? Why was he the man in my dreams last night?

Jake squeezed my hand, pulling me from my thoughts and reminding me that I hadn't answered. "I don't know. I can't stop thinking of you either. But I just don't see how we can make anything work. Do you?"

His thumb drug slowly across the palm of my hand. It kinda tickled, but I didn't want him to stop. I wanted him to touch more than my hand, a lot more than my hand. I wanted him to pull me into his arms again and not let anything keep our lips from meeting.

His sad smile tugged at my heart. Somehow Jake had become important to me overnight. But even if I broke up with Austin, what future could we have? I had dated his brother for three years...

He cleared his throat, but tightened his hold on my hand.

"Are you still a hockey fan?" He changed the subject abruptly. When I nodded, he mentioned a recent player trade.

"You like hockey?" There was a twinkle in his eyes when he spoke of seeing a game during playoffs. His interest was genuine, and not manufactured. How'd he know I was a hockey fan?

Icy cold water sprinkled over us and we both jumped. My mom stood, hose in hand, next to the porch. "I told you no touching. Holding hands is touching," she grumbled.

His chuckle surprised me, but I found myself laughing along with him. He brushed the wet hair out of my face and tempted my mom's limited patience.

"Do I need to get a bucket of ice water?"

Jake glanced at his watch and did a double take. "Shit. It's 9:30. My mom is going to shoot me if I don't get back in time for church. You heading back tonight?" He hopped up to leave, but waited for my answer before he turned away.

"Yeah, well, I have to get my parents to take me. I rode with Austin and you just know how much I want to ride three hours in a car with him right now."

"I'm heading back later. I can take you, if you want?"

Three hours alone with Jake?
Um...yes, please.

"That would be great!"

"So, I'll pick you up after lunch?"

I smiled at him. "I'll be ready."

He nodded and retreated, hands up, away from Mom and her garden hose. Braving a wave, he laughed when she sprayed water in his direction.

Where had the time gone? We'd talked for over an hour, and yet it felt like ten minutes? I shook my head, hoping to clear out the tangled webs of confusion. But no such luck. How could someone I'd known for years command such attention where they hadn't before? Why had I never noticed how the intensity in his eyes made my heart flutter? Or how he'd sent waves of desire crashing over me without so much as a kiss?

I ignored my mom's harrumphs of disapproval and watched Jake leave. Once he'd walked around the corner, I went inside to get ready for the day.