Which hadnt mattered because he hadnt looked at her in return. Hed been far too busy being both a football and a basketball star. Oh, and being popular. And going after every girl in school-except her.
Yeah, when it came to Jason, her teenage memories were all some variety of the same theme-humiliation and resignation. That wouldnt be the case for him. Hed been a restless student, far more into his sports than his studies, but it hadnt mattered. Not with his easygoing, laid-back charm. The teachers had fallen all over him, always making Lizzy help him catch up when he missed school for a game. That shed been so shy as to make that nearly impossible had amused him to no end. Hed spent endless hours entertaining himself at her expense, either making her repeat a lengthy explanation just to watch her trip over her tongue, or playing dumb until shed lose her patience with him.
And then hed lean back with all that athletic grace and gorgeousness, all stretched out and lazy as hell, and grin.
Shed hated him.
And shed loved him.
Horrifying and simple as that.
Itd ended when theyd graduated. Hed left immediately for the National Guard, and shed gone off to UCLA-except she hadnt. Nope, her dreams had been sidelined when her parents had gotten themselves killed flying over the Grand Canyon in a stunt plane-their anniversary gift to each other.
And shed given up her scholarships and stayed in town to raise her thirteen-year-old sister.
So, talk about a blast from the past, huh? he asked in that low, sort of gravelly voice that used to make her squirm in her seat.
Yes, but since that past, shed found her guts and courage, and now her tongue behaved, never tripping her up at the sight of a cute guy.
Married with kids? he asked.
No.
He smiled. Not feeling that big three-oh breathing down your neck?
No. For most of the time theyd ever spent together, shed either wanted to kill him or have his babies. Apparently that was still the case. God, shed been so young, and very naive, and she hated that reminder. If hed so much as quirked a smile in her direction, shed have done anything he wanted. Luckily, hed never known the power hed held, and she was no longer that girl. Nope, she was a twenty-nine-year-old woman, who absolutely did not want to think about his smile, and the way it still activated all her good parts.
Itd taken a long time, but painful experience by painful experience, shed toughened up, learned to speak up for what she wanted. Mostly, shed also learned that things worked out much better when both parties were enamored.
Not that that had happened in a while. After a series of missteps in the man department, mostly due to her own inability to fully connect to someone because when she was so busy with Cece, shed decided to try something new and had gone off men altogether. Cristina had joined her for a while, but then shed done the unthinkable and fallen in love with Dustin.
Leaving Lizzy alone on her penis embargo.
Well, not completely alone. Her sister had far more reasons than anyone to give up on men, as shed just about tried the entire male species, at least all the wild ones anyway. She looked at Jason. Definitely not feeling the big three-oh breathing down my neck. Her life was just beginning, actually. Do you know where Dustin is?
I dont. He stepped toward her, the light from the lamp bathing him in a soft glow that only emphasized the gorgeousness up close and personal. She tried not to stare at him and failed.
Are you okay? he asked.
The closer he got, the harder it was for her to breathe, so no. No, she wasnt okay.
Not by a long shot.
Her legs had turned to overcooked noodles at first sight of him and, despite her resolve, her brain had gone to mush. She could tell herself shed gotten over him a damn long time ago, but the truth was, if he so much as crooked his pinkie finger in her direction, she was going to regress to that pathetic teenager shed once been, and melt in a little puddle of longing at his feet.
Lord, this would be so much easier if hed put some clothes on-
The wind cracked, and with it came an ear splitting thunk that shook the house and removed her from her lustful reverie, causing her to jump nearly right out of her skin.
Just the trees along the side of the house, he murmured, turning his head to look out the window. Which should have been trimmed. He turned on another light, andand her brain stuttered to a halt as her eyes ate him up. It was like an opened bag of chips, she couldnt stop herself.
Its getting bad out there, he said, shifting back to her, his gaze searching her face. Are you okay? he repeated.
Oh, man. Man, oh, man. Hed changed, too. He was far quieter, far more intense.
And the most devastating-kind. When had that happened?
She came up to his shoulder. Which meant that her face was right at pec level, and now there was so much lightDont look, she ordered herself. Dont-
She looked. And when her gaze dropped, so did her IQ. She couldnt help it, he was just so perfectly made.
He put a finger under her chin and lifted it up. Right. Hed asked her a question. Was she okay? A question that brought her firmly back to the present. And the present was looking tricky. No Dustin meant no SUV, and no SUV meant shed have to go it alone, and that wasnt going to be easy. Im fine. Im just worried about Cece. Its probably nothing but I just want to go check on her.
Cece, he said. Your sister? Troublemaker Cece?
He remembered. Damn. He was hot and sharp, which just didnt seem like a fair distribution of gifts. She called me last night at work. She said she was fine, no contractions or anything, but now I cant get a hold of her, and-
His eyes widened. Shes pregnant?
Yes. And her cell phone is off. Im thinking she evacuated, that its okay, I just need to get a damn life, she said with a self-conscious laugh. Shes growing up and moving on, and I need to do the same, but I just cant go to higher ground and relax until Im sure. Because a very small part of her couldnt trust her sister to do it, even though she should be able to.
It was asinine. I cant get to Eastside in my car. I was hoping to borrow Dustins SUV.
Okay. Jason shoved his fingers through his hair and let out a breath, the movement of his arms stretching and flexing all sorts of muscles that pretty much made her mouth dry up. Wheres her husband?
There is no husband. The father of her baby ran so fast her head is still spinning. Id really hoped to find Dustin here.
Ill have to do.
In truth, he looked a lot like his much kinder, gentler brother. He had dark hair, cut military short. Like Dustin, he had light gray steely eyes that she knew could be warm and playful, or cut like steel.
But unlike Dustin, Jason had an edge, which had only sharpened over time, from his intense gaze to his physique, honed by the military.
I have a Jeep, he said. Ill take you to her.
You?
Yes.
Why?
He considered her a moment, bemused as he ran a hand down his stubbled jaw. Because you need a ride? At her obvious surprise he shook his head. Jesus, was I that big of an ass?
She didnt want to go there. No way. All I need is to borrow your Jeep.
Ah. So you dont need me. Duly noted. But the Jeep and I are a package deal. Take it or leave it. His smile was tight, and went tighter when her cell phone rang and she pounced on it rather than respond to him.
Hey, Cristina said. How goes it?
Im going to go check on Cece.
Not in this. We were all called in on emergency shifts its so bad out there.
I just want to make sure she got out.
Not by yourself.
Not exactly. Lizzy glanced at Jason, who was standing where shed left him, still gloriously half-naked, watching her. Ive got Jason.
He smiled grimly, and nodded his approval of her choice.
Dustins Jason? Cristina asked, letting out a low whistle. Nice. The guys a virtual search and rescue team all on his own. But
But what?
Heshad a rough few months.
He looks okay.
He arched a brow in her direction.
More than okay
Honey, he looks hot, Cristina corrected with characteristic bluntness and a laugh.
Feeling her face heat, Lizzy turned away from Jasons probing eyes. I dont see how thats pertinent.
Then you must have failed Chem 101. Its too bad you have that whole penis embargo going. You going to be able to resist?
Feeling her face heat, Lizzy turned away from Jasons probing eyes. I dont see how thats pertinent.
Then you must have failed Chem 101. Its too bad you have that whole penis embargo going. You going to be able to resist?
Lizzy risked a look over her shoulder. Jason had leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. Calm and steady.
Look at him, so absolutely at ease in his own skin. She grounded her back teeth together. Not a problem.
Cristina laughed softly. Yeah, good luck with that. Call me.
I will. She slipped her phone into her pocket.
Jason remained silent, his feelings carefully shielded. She had no doubt that hed be an incredible asset to her out there in the storm, but unfortunately, he was far too dangerous to her mental health. I want to thank you for offering to help. I appreciate it, but I can do this alone.
He shook his head, annoyance crossing his features. You always were stubborn as a-
Hey.
-mule, he finished sweetly. As if he was sweet!
You just got in town, she said, lifting her chin. I dont want to take up your time. Or hers, staring at his half-naked bod
He pushed away from the wall. All I was doing was sleeping. Youre going to need help, Lizzy.
Ill be fine.
Really? So you know how to drive in weather like this, or how to cross a flooded street? How to get into a flooded building? How to get a pregnant woman out of a flooded building?
Ill figure it out.
Im going with you.
This was such a bad idea. Jason-
The words are thank you.
Fine. Thank you.
See, that wasnt so hard. In the old days, he might have added a suggestive smile, a few teasing words, anything to make her blush or stammer or act like an idiot-which shed done more times than she cared to remember.
But there was none of that now. No mockery. No triumph.
Nothing.
You asked me if I was okay, she said slowly. But I feel like I should ask you. Are you-