Free Smart Girls Think Twice by Cathie Linz

athlete, but it wasn’t her place to reveal that information. And Jake chose not to, which didn’t surprise her. She was surprised by the way he managed to change the subject, getting her dad to talk about himself.
    “Uh-oh.” Her dad glanced at his watch half an hour later. “I’ve got to go pick up your mom.” He gave Emma a quick hug before hurrying out.
    Emma closed the door after him and returned to the futon to face Jake, who stayed behind.
    “I’m sorry for overreacting the way I did, screaming like that.”
    “Something happened to you, didn’t it?” he said quietly.
    “With my dad?” Emma shook her head vehemently. “No, no, nothing like that.”
    “You’re spooked.”
    “Not because of my dad.” There was a moment of silence before she admitted, “Look, something happened back in Boston a few months ago. I was mugged. I was walking home after dinner out one night when this guy with a knife came out of nowhere. I wasn’t raped or anything.” Although she might have been had a neighbor not shown up and scared the assailant away. “He shoved me to the ground and took off with my purse. I signed up for self-defense classes the next day.”
    “Which you clearly excelled at, judging by the way you handled Roy in the bar.”
    “I’m not proud of that moment. I shouldn’t have resorted to violence. It was just a knee-jerk response.”
    “Like you screaming when you saw your dad.”
    “I didn’t know who it was when I screamed. I just saw a figure coming at me out of the corner of my eye and again I had a knee-jerk reaction. Please don’t say anything about this to my family. I
    haven’t told them about the mugging.”
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t want them worrying about me off in the big city of Boston on my own. I’ve always been the reliable daughter. The one that doesn’t get in trouble.”
    He studied her for a moment. She wondered what he saw. Was he trying to read her mind or her soul? Could he tell how conflicted she was inside? How deeply she wanted him?
    Finally he spoke. “I won’t say anything.”
    “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
    “How much do you appreciate it?” His deep voice turned husky as he gently tugged her down onto the futon beside him. Cupping her cheek, he softly asked, “Are you afraid of me? Do I spook you?”
    How should she answer that? On one level he did spook her. Not that she was afraid he’d physically injure her or attack her. She was nervous about the powerful attraction he held for her.
    Yet he also had the strange ability to make her feel gloriously alive.
    Jake brushed his index finger over her bottom lip. “You’re safe with me.”
    “Am I?”
    “You don’t feel safe?” He lingered a mere inch from her mouth, waiting for her reaction.
    Emma wished he’d just kiss her and get it over with instead of tempting her this way, building the anticipation to unbearable heights until she leaned forward and placed her lips against his.
    Making the first move wasn’t like her, but she didn’t care. They were kissing and that’s all that mattered at the moment. She was consumed by the reality of his mouth on hers, of his tongue caressing hers as he took her face between his hands and kissed her fiercely.
    There was nothing safe about their kiss. Its intoxicating potency sent a tremor of excitement through her. His lips were warm and bold as he tested and tasted each corner of her mouth and the full softness in between.
    That first kiss on her fire escape hadn’t been a fluke. Jake wasn’t just an exceptional first kisser.
    He was a damn fine kisser, period. She’d never been convinced of the pleasures to be had from French kisses, but his expert tutelage made her a total convert.
    The ever-fluid interplay of his tongue against hers was wickedly blissful. He devoured her with a forceful need. His mouth slanted ravenously atop hers, consuming all that was within her parted lips.
    Bam, bam. It took Emma several moments to realize the sound