Free Fight for Love by Jennah Scott Page A

deception. Her words were sharp, and her cheeks puffed out like an angry chipmunk.  
    “No, I didn’t know. I hoped.”
    The corners of Stacey’s lips turned upward creating a blanket of warmth around my chest. She was gorgeous. Her smile made her eyes brighten to electric blue.  
    “So, dinner?”
    Stacey tapped her earpiece and held up a finger, but she didn’t back away. “Yes, hold please.” She ran inside. Before I had a chance to follow her she was back out front with me. “Okay. But just friends.”
    “Sure. If you say so.”  
    Stacey crossed her arms. “Luke, I’m serious.”
    “Me too. When are you done here?”
    She flicked her wrist and the watch rotated around. “Five minutes. I’ve gotta turn over the phones and let Dr. Greenberg know I’m leaving. Wait here?”
    “Yep, I’ll wait.” I propped my foot against the brick wall.
    True to her word we met outside five minutes later. “Where are we going?”
    I pulled the strap of her dress back to her shoulder. She flinched at my touch, but when I didn’t linger she relaxed. “Let’s go up the street to the pizza place. Have you tried them?”
    “Not yet, but I’m always up for something new.”
    “Good.”
    Stacey tried to walk in front of me, so I pulled her back by her arm and wrapped my arm around her waist. She tensed. Since I was ready for it this time I snagged her closer rather than letting go and bent my head to her ear, “Only friends. You can relax.”
    “Luke, you’re treading a very thin line right now. I suggest you stop.”
    I chuckled, but pulled my arm away. It wasn’t that I wanted to irritate her, but the more she resisted the more exciting the chase was. I ached for the chase. Stacey was the first girl I’d actually become friends with first, and there wasn’t a chance in hell I’d let her off the hook that easy. Just friends…more like just an excuse.  
    At the restaurant Stacey chose a booth in the back. The brick building reminded me of an old warehouse, but it wasn’t confining like I expected. The décor was interesting to say the least. Then again with a name like The Mushroom I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Mushrooms hung from the ceiling, and a painted cow sat outside on the lawn. Just inside the door a child posed for a picture next to a wooden mushroom statue.  
    Stacey giggled. “She’s cute.”  
    “You like kids?”
    “Yeah, don’t you?”
    I nodded toward the little girl. “I don’t mind ‘em. Don’t plan on having any.”  
    She shook her head and made a clicking noise with her teeth. “Of course you don’t plan on having any. You’re a guy.”
    “It’s not really that. I… well, I wouldn’t want to risk a kid having to deal with the shit I’m dealing with. Unless someone can guarantee that my problem isn’t genetic, I don’t foresee kids in my future. Ever.”
    “That’s curious.”
    “What is?” I asked as we weaved around tables and sidestepped moving chairs when people scooted across the floor.  
    “Because you’re the first guy I’ve met that’s put any thought into having kids. And I’ve met a lot of guys. Besides, you’re still in high school. I wouldn’t expect you to have thought about that kind of stuff. Not that in depth anyway.” She tucked a piece of loose hair behind her ear.
    “Oh really?” I knew Stacey dated. None of the guys I knew would have missed an opportunity to spend time with her. But I didn’t want to think about it.  
    “Yeah. I’m the only girl in a family of six kids.”  
    I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. So her brothers and their friends were the guys. What the hell was this girl doing to me? I’d not only let my guard down numerous times, now she was singlehandedly making me an emotional wreck. “Ahh that would make sense then.”  
    Stacey threw her head back and laughed. “Well, well, well. It appears to me that Mr. Sullivan is jealous.” She rubbed her chin and tilted her eyes up to