Free Waking Up by Amanda Carpenter Page B

sinuous muscles rippling under sleek tanned skin. His hair was quite short as if he had just recently had it cut, and it hugged his well-shaped skull attractively.
    He winced exaggeratedly and then expostulated with some heat, “Do you have to sound so unflatteringly amazed? I, too, have been known to date occasionally.”
    “No, no, it’s not that,” she replied quickly. “It’s just that I hadn’t thought of you as a possibility. It’s pretty short notice. I hadn’t expected to find anyone to go with.”
    The sardonic look that had appeared at her first, surprised exclamation disappeared, and he assured her, “Well, as it happens, I’m free tonight if you want me to accompany you.”
    “Are you still seeing Linda?” The question slipped out before she knew it, and she could have bitten her tongue out.
    Only a quick lift of his brows and a flicker in those light gray eyes acknowledged any response to her question. “Off and on,” he said very casually. “She’s seeing quite a bit of Walsh lately.”
    “She tells you about it?” Robbie asked, somewhat taken aback, and he gave her a secretive smile.
    “Yes, she confides in me quite a bit,” he admitted while watching every nuance and change in her expression.
    She swallowed and said hollowly, “I see,” which of course she didn’t, and he made no effort to elaborate on the subject.
    “I came over to tell you that I’m on vacation for two weeks now,” Jason told her, leaning back and stretching out his long legs. They collided with hers, and she hastily drew away from the contact, disturbed by the sensation of his warm, silken-haired calf against hers.
    He was too observant, and to draw attention away from her sensitive reaction to his touch, she asked him, “So what are you going to do with yourself?”
    “I’m not sure yet. I thought that, if you’d like to, we could drive up to Sandusky and spend a day at Cedar Point.”
    She brightened at the thought. “That sounds fun.” It also brought back images of time past. When Jason had first obtained his driver’s license, they had spent months begging their respective parents to let them go up to the amusement park for the day. They’d had no apparent success until summer had arrived, and Herb along with Jason’s parents had sat them down for a long, stern lecture about safe driving and good conduct. At the end of it, Mr. Morrow had thrown Jason the keys of their second car, while Herb had given Robbie a few twenty-dollar bills for spending money. She and Jason had been wildly delirious with the unexpected freedom, and had spent the day on wild rides and laughter. When she had gone to bed late that evening, she had still been able to feel the motion of the roller coasters plunging up and down. It was a good memory.
    “We’ll plan on it, then,” he promised and rose to take his empty cup to the sink. “I’d better get busy. I’ve used all the towels and washcloths up at home, so I guess I’ll have to do some laundry,” he told her with a grin. As she laughed, he asked, “When does this party start?”
    “Three o’clock. They have a pool, so bring your swimming trunks and a change of clothes.” He passed behind her, and as he went towards the back door, she said softly, “Thanks, Jason.”
    He stopped, and she felt his lips press quickly against the top of her head. It sent a glow down to her toes. “You’re welcome, sweetheart.” As he left, she sat for some time, marveling at the affectionate, warm person he had become.
    She reluctantly cleaned out the refrigerator, as it was a chore she hated, and after giving the cubicle a good scouring on the inside, she plugged it back in and restocked it with the things she had stored in their deep freezer. Then, checking her wristwatch, she found that she had whiled away enough time to start getting ready for the party, so she ran upstairs quickly.
    She wore her bikini under her cherry-red shorts with a matching tank top, and she threw a