Free My Body-Mine by Blakely Bennett Page A

flutter. I quickly circled around, folding my arms across my chest.
    “ This is my oldest friend, Chase. Chase, this is Jane,” Andre said, presenting the man with a sweeping gesture.
    “ Hi Jane,” he said, simply. His smile looked like he hid a secret there . I didn’t want to like him but I immediately did. At about six feet tall, he stood a few inches shorter than Andre and I guessed him to be around my age. Although both men had long, chiseled faces, Chase had a more pronounced brow and broader nose. Dark brown curls framed his angular face and his hazel eyes twinkled. I shook my head to break the spell.
    “ Hi Chase,” I said.
    “ It’s not a pleasure to meet me?” He chuckled and I couldn’t be sure if he laughed at me or respond ed in the same way my unruly body had reacted to him.
    “ That remains to be seen,” I said, trying to suppress my smile.
    “ Dinner, shall we?” Andre said, rescuing one of us but I couldn’t be sure whom.
    “ Gentlemen’s choice,” I said.
    We all removed our shoes and lowered ourselves around a sunken table with cushions to sit upon. After we ordered our food and another round of drinks, the conversation refocused on me.
    “ Parker was just telling us that you are trying to get published,” Andre said.
    I shot daggers at Parker and said, “Yes, a publisher has my manuscript and I’m waiting to hear back.”
    “ I thought you said—” Parker said.
    “ I did get an email but I haven’t opened it yet.”
    “ What are you waiting for?” Andre asked.
    Chase raised his eyebrow and said, “For the right moment, evidently.” I wanted to hug him for understanding until he asked his next question. “What’s it about?”
    “ Well, uh, um, I’d rather not talk about it. What about you?” I said, concentrating on my wine glass.
    “ I’ve done nothing as exciting as writing a book. That’s quite an accomplishment. I do imagine if it gets published you’ll have to talk about the subject matter? No?” Chase asked.
    “ That’s probably true but that’s not the same as talking to my best friend’s boyfriend and friend who seem to know more about me than I’m comfortable with . Far more than I know about them.”
    “ Knowledge doesn’t always imply judgment,” Chase said, reaching out to touch my arm, then thinking better of it.
    “ I guess you don’t know Parker all that well,” I said with a little laugh.
    “ Excuse me?” Parker said, pursing her lips. “I just want the best for you. If that’s judgment, then fine.”
    Andre reached for her hand and a glance passed between them.
    “ Judgment or not, she was smart enough to know that you and I could be friends,” Chase said.
    “ I prefer to pick my own friends,” I said, fiddling with the stem of the wine glass.
    “ Well then, I hope you pick me,” he said. He smiled warmly, exposing white, even teeth. My eyes settled on the messy curls that touched the edge of his collared shirt, contrasting with Andre’s short, perfectly moussed, spiky hair.
    I had a sudden urge to reach out and tug one of Chase’s locks, and the thought injected heat into my veins. Fondling the napkin in my lap, I tried to rationalize away my reaction to him. I had become a whore for overt admiration. Chase merely pressed the buttons that Marcello had already activated by our recent activities.
    After the food had been served, Andre stepped in and talked about Parker’s recent promotion at work. His obvious pride in her accomplishments made me happy for Parker. She seemed to have finally found her match in attractiveness, intelligence, and loyalty.
    My eyes drifted to the dark hairs on Chase’s forearm. His long fingers left me imagining how it might feel to be caressed by them. Flustered by my own train of thought, I glanced up to see all three of them staring at me. “What?” I said.
    “ Chase asked you a question,” Parker said, scrutinizing me.
    “ Oh, sorry,” I said, making eye contact with Chase. “I didn’t