Free All In (Cedar Mountain University #2) by Ann Garner

more out of hand. I take a long drink of my latte as we
move across campus. Kelsey is keeping up a steady stream of chatter. Thankfully
she’s moved on from my non-relationship with Jacob, and is telling me all about
why she had argued with Bradley. Apparently he mentioned that another girl had
a nice ass. And then how he made it up to her – there was some jewelry
involved.
    I’m paying attention to her, or mostly paying attention to her, and
not to what’s going on around us so I nearly jump out of my skin when I feel
someone’s hand close around mine. Tiny sparks of awareness slip and slide up my
arm at the contact.
    With Grant there had always been a glowing warmth that had seeped
through my skin when he touched me. It had felt familiar and safe, sort of like
coming home. It had been a comfortable and pleasant feeling, and one that I
hadn’t at all been unhappy with.
    Jacob was a different story altogether.
    My body seems to come alive at the mere brush of his skin against
mine. Awareness hummed just under the surface even when he was standing next to
me with no contact between us whatsoever.
    I wasn’t entirely sure what to do with that.
    Nor was I entirely sure what to do with the knowing look that Kelsey
shoots me right before she says, “Hello, Jacob.”
    He nods his head in her direction, acknowledging her, but his eyes
are locked straight on me. “Kelsey. Can I steal Grace for a moment?”
    “Of course. I’ll see you in class, Grace.”
    I try to tug my hand out of Jacob’s because I seriously need to get
my freaking hormones under control and I obviously can’t do that while I’m
touching him. Or breathing in the heady woodsy scent that I’ve already come to
associate with him.
    Jesus, I need help.
    But Jacob doesn’t let my hand go, and instead tugs me slightly
closer against him.
    So not helping my situation.
    I arch a brow as I look up to him, doing my best to pretend
indifference to the entire situation. Tugging on my hand again he says, “So
I’ve been thinking.”
    “That always gets me in trouble.” That damn dimple flashes along
with a low laugh that escapes his lips. “Oh yeah?” He questions around the
laugh. “What kind of things have you been thinking, Pix?”
    I’m pretty freaking sure this is the first time I’ve ever blushed
in my entire life.   I have two older
brothers so innocence is not something I’ve ever really had an abundance of,
but holy hell the way he phrases that question lets me know exactly what he thinks
I’ve been thinking about.
    And damn if I’m not suddenly thinking it.
    Jacob Ross should come with a freaking warning label.
    “Never mind,” I mutter. “What were you thinking?”
    He smirks, “I’m thinking that this is a conversation that we are
going to get back to another day.”
    I tug on my hand again, trying to get him to let go. I need to put
some distance between the two of us or my resolve to not utilize Jacob as a
rebound is going to be shot. But he won’t let go, instead his fingers tighten
around mine and that smile kicks up another notch.
    “I think we should go on a date.”
    I’m still trying to figure out a way to stop picturing him naked
when he makes this announcement. I’m pretty sure I make some kind of weird
noise in my throat. A feeble attempt to try and formulate a coherent thought.
    Yeah, pretty sure that isn’t happening now.
    “You all right there, Grace?”
    “Why?” I lick my suddenly dry lips. “Why would we go on a date?”
    “Well,” Thankfully he drops my hand and I’m starting to think I
might be able to piece together a couple of coherent thoughts, and then his
hand reaches up and brushes back my hair, the tips of his fingers ghost softly
against my cheek before he tucks my hair back behind my ear and I’m pretty sure
I’ve forgotten how to talk all together. “It would keep you from having to set
everyone straight.”
    “You don’t have to do that, Jacob.”
    “I know I don’t have to do it,