Free Worth It by Nicki DeStasi Page B

always like this together, but I feel like he’s putting on a show for me, and he’s seriously starting to piss me off.
     

     
    I have a good time the rest of the night. Shannon is funny, and the guys are cool, except for the little shit. He keeps pressing my buttons, and I feel like I’m gonna drop this asshole if he says one more thing.
    Then, Anna says, “We should get going.”
    Thank Christ.
    As I walk her to my truck, I start to get nervous. I need to backtrack from the stupid comment I made earlier, and I still haven’t gotten her number. I’m a determined motherfucker though, and I know I affect her, so I’m not too worried.
    Helping her climb back into the truck cab, I take the opportunity to appreciate the feel of her soft hips against my palms. Touching without really touching is such sweet torture. My dick wants to really touch, but my brain knows that’s not a good plan right now, so I stop myself from mauling her.
    Who says a guy can only think with the head below his waist?
    After I climb in, the combined smells of food from her workplace and her natural vanilla scent make the non-mauling thing—and my dick—hard. I start the car and follow the brief directions she gives to her parents’ house.
    “Anna, I’m sorry for what I said earlier about the quote and—”
    She cuts me off with a wave of her hand. “Seriously, Jed, it’s not a big deal. Like I said at Shannon’s, it’s been a tough day, and I took it too personally. Usually, I’d laugh that kind of thing off. I mean, it was a little forward, but I overreacted. I’m sorry.”
    She glances in my direction with that vulnerable look, and it makes me feel protective again.
    “Anna, you don’t have anything to apologize for, but I’m glad you know that I was just joking.” Well, half-joking, but I won’t tell her that. “ I have a habit of teasing a lot, so try not to take things I might say to heart. It’s all in good fun, okay?”
    She gives me a shy smile and a small nod.
    I smile back and say, “Good. So, when can I take you out?”

 
     
     
    “So, when can I take you out?” His words ping around inside my blank skull.
    My first instinct is to embrace the warm hope starting to creep into my heart while I squeal, Whenever you want , and then do a happy dance on the hood of his truck. I want to go out with him. I want that so bad. I want to go on a real date, to have someone in my life to show me what it’s like to be loved and cared for. I mentally roll my eyes at the love talk, but just a date would be great—at first. When my eyes flicker to his, I know there’s a good possibility that I could fall for someone like him. I’ve known him for only a few hours, but I know he’s sweet and funny and hot. Not to mention, Donnie encouraged me to get to know Jed, and I don’t think he’d steer me wrong.
    But the timing is just off. I’m not in the right place. After finally finding the strength to stand up for myself, to figure out how to survive without all the bullshit in my life, the last thing I need is to start something new. I’m much too fragile. The emotional strength to keep that wall up isn’t there. If I were to try with Jed and I failed again when I’m already so weak, I don’t know what would be left of me. As much as I want this sexy man, as much as we get along, the risk of relapsing scares the shit out of me.
    When I don’t answer immediately, his face falls, not by much but enough to notice.
    “I’m sorry, Jed. I think you’re a nice guy, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “Why not?”
    “I just don’t.”
    “I do.”
    My eyes widen. “What?”
    “You’re attracted to me, right?”
    I blush and duck my head. Seriously, who’s not attracted to him? “Well, yes, but—”
    “And we’ve gotten along so far, right?”
    “Yes, but—”
    “So, let me take you out.”
    “Why?”
    I’m startled by my question, and judging by his furrowed brow, he seems to have the same