Page 57 of Second Time Around

Sixteen

Two long weeks had gone by since Beck and Jenna had made out in her kitchen, and he was going crazy with wanting her. How had he gone twelve years without kissing her, and now he couldn’t get her out of his head?

He felt like a lovesick teenager, and he’d been acting like one too. He’d started parking closer to where she did, hoping he would accidentally bump into her coming or going from work. So far, he’d had no such luck, but he’d stopped short of calling Lexie and asking for Jenna’s schedule.

He’d also considered booking another hair appointment, even though he didn’t need one and probably wouldn’t for a while. He’d racked his brain, trying to come up with another excuse to see her, but so far, he’d come up empty.

In the meantime, his mom had been bugging him to ask Jenna over for dinner again, but he’d refused. He’d already played that card, and while it had satisfied his parents, it hadn’t done anything to improve his and Jenna’s relationship.

He was driving home from the restaurant on a Friday night when it struck him. What was the one thing that had brought them together that night at her place? Food! Yes, he’d used it to lure her in before, but he wasn’t above trying it again. This time, though, he’d offer it up in a more private setting instead of the restaurant, his parent’s house, or her book club meeting. There was no guarantee she’d say yes, but it was worth a try.

As soon as he was inside and had kicked off his shoes, he took out his phone and called her.

“Hello?” she answered warily.

“Hey, it’s me.”

“Sorry, I don’t know anyone by that name.”

“Very funny. Are you busy?”

“Sort of.”

Then he heard a splashing sound, but he doubted she’d taken her phone to the pool. “Where are you?”

“In the tub.”

Do men get hot flashes? Because a surge of heat swept over him and almost knocked him off his feet. “Alone?”

“Yes, alone. Do you think I would have answered if I was with someone?”

He shook his head to clear the image of her naked in the tub. He had to get a grip if this was going to work.

“What do you want, Beck?”

You. I want you. “I was calling to ask you out to dinner.”

She sighed.

“Before you say no, hear me out.”

She went silent, so he took that as permission to continue.

“I want to cook for you. At my place.”

“Beck…”

“You like to eat, don’t you?”

“You already know the answer to that.”

“And you still hate to cook, right?”

“Right.”

“So, say yes.”

“No.”