Worth It All(56)

But her mind went back to Jake and his velvety eyes and heart-stopping smile. Then it went to Casey and work and school and the job she wanted and the house. She groaned. “Look at me. I can’t even concentrate.”

She picked up the much larger stack of blank notecards beside the few she’d done. “I waited six years to get out of Dugger, to go to college and change Casey’s and my future, and now instead of studying for my first test—a key to that future—I can’t stop thinking about a man!” She dropped her head to the table, thunking her forehead.

Exactly why she didn’t have time to be distracted by a man. Though it felt like a whole lot more than a distraction. Like after just one night in Jake’s arms she’d been shown what was missing. She lifted her head and took a cookie.

“I can’t let myself want this. It’s a mistake, Jenny. How could it not be? Wanting something so badly I’m afraid I can’t say no.” She took a bite and had to make an effort to swallow it. “I’m running on empty as it is.”

Jenny moved closer and wrapped an arm around her. “Are you sure that’s it? Or maybe you’re scared you’re falling in love with him.”

Yes, she thought, and felt the sheer terror of it. Overwhelmed, she let herself lean against her cousin. “I’m not going to get anywhere like this.”

“I guess it depends where you’re trying to go,” Jenny said softly, then gave her shoulders another squeeze. “Okay. Stop thinking about him and start studying. I’m going to bed.”

She returned Jenny’s hug, determined to double up her efforts to ace her first college test. It was one thing to screw up your own life, making decisions that could screw up a child’s, her child’s…that was much, much bigger. Her chest felt tight and her stomach got that familiar falling feeling she hated. The one that said if she wasn’t careful, she was going to mess everything up.

And now on top of that, there was the very real fear of losing her heart.





Chapter 19


JT entered the Down Diner just after four in the afternoon. The bell dinged over his head and his eyes searched the room for Paige. Casey sat at the counter, one arm stretched out on the white surface and her head resting on it. He walked over and stopped beside her. “Hey there, Little Bit. Why so down?”

She groaned, or it was more like a growl. “I have to eat all this broccoli and it’s four more pieces and I already ate two.” She sighed and closed her eyes as if the broccoli situation had taken everything out of her. Or maybe she just didn’t want to look at it.

Jenny greeted him with a smile. “Paige is in the back. Unless of course you’re just here for the food,” she added, raising a brow at him.

No. He definitely wasn’t here for the food.

Casey lifted her head and pushed the offensive pieces of green to the edges of her plate. “And I met Mrs. Miller today and she used to have a pet but now she doesn’t and she has way too many apples on her door.”

“Hmm.” He knew Paige had been counting on the teacher meeting helping the situation.

Jenny grabbed two plates from the window. “Your mom said three more pieces, Case,” she said as she passed.

He wasn’t particularly hungry, not with his stomach in knots over seeing Paige, but he could help a girl out. He picked up a piece of broccoli and stuck it into his mouth. Casey grinned up at him with such gratefulness he took two more.

He’d just grabbed the third when Jenny stopped directly in front of him.

“You did not just eat her broccoli.”

“Guilty.” He winked at Casey and stood. “Be right back.” Mac turned and gave him a look that held a touch of protective warning. JT nodded to him as if to say I see your warning and it’s not stopping me.

Tense with anticipation, he made his way into the back. He needed a few minutes alone with her. He’d spent the past thirty-six hours replaying it all over and over. Paige’s body under his, her soft legs, the curve of her thighs, her cries when she came.

She didn’t see him as she stood on her tiptoes, reaching for something high on a metal rack. He took in the slender arms he’d kissed and stretched above her head, the legs he’d spent far too little time gliding his mouth over. A smile spread across his face and his chest felt like it was stretching, maybe to accommodate his heart.

He stepped in behind her, heard her draw in a startled breath as he easily retrieved the item for her, and placed it on a lower shelf. She turned in the cage of his arms.

His heart expanded with that first meeting of the eyes since she’d left his house two days ago. “Hi.”