Free Dead Between the Lines by Denise Swanson Page B

Jake wasn’t picking me up until seven, which should have left me with thirty minutes to get ready, but having nearly two hours made me crazy.
    I decided to shower, set my hair, put on makeup, and even give myself a manicure. Well, I would’ve given myself a manicure, but since I couldn’t find any polish that hadn’t solidified in the bottle, I had to settle for filing and buffing my nails.
    Still, my hands looked better than they had in months. In fact, I looked pretty good, which wouldn’t help me any when I told Jake that I couldn’t see him anymore. But was that what I was going to tell him? To say that I was torn would be an understatement of epic proportions.
    For years, I hadn’t been truly interested in any man. Now two of them made me tingle. And the truth of the matter was that I didn’t know if it was Jake or Noah that I really wanted. Which was beyond awkward. Complicating the situation was that neither guy was the type to accept a nonexclusive relationship—at least not for very long. My initial reaction had been to cut them both loose, but that wasn’t what I truly wanted to do.
    If I was completely honest with myself, what I wanted was a chance to see which man was right for me. I wanted a chance at love. I wanted a chance at the brass ring of happiness. Did that mean I had to choose one now and hope for the best, or could I convince both guys to give me a little time? I guess I’d find out in the next couple of days if I could have my man, and a second one, too.
    Finally, about quarter to seven, I wiggled into my dark jeans and slipped on a black camisole. I’d compromised with Gran. I sure wasn’t wearing a bustier—hell, I didn’t even own one—but since the cami was edged in lace and had a lower neckline, it was a little sexier than my original idea of a tank. As I adjusted the top, I checked my butt in the mirror. Had it gotten bigger? No. That was just nerves talking. If I’d really gained weight, my pants wouldn’t fit.
    After I put on the blush pink cropped jacket, I slid into my Jimmy Choos. I was squeezing out the last little bit of lip gloss from the old tube of Venom that I’d unearthed from the bottom of a purse when I heard a vehicle thundering down the lane. Scooping up my bag and taking a deep breath, I sprinted into the foyer and glanced out the side window.
    Even if I hadn’t been expecting him, I would have known it was Jake. The enormous Ford F250 reminded me of its owner—strong, tough, and determined, with just a whisper of sexiness and a dash of playfulness for good measure.
    As always, the pickup’s black paint gleamed as if it had just left the dealership. Since I knew that unlike a lot of men who drove gigantic vehicles, Jake actually used his on a working ranch, I wondered how he kept it so clean. Did he wash it every time he came to see me? While that was a nice idea, I kind of doubted he’d make that sort of gesture. Noah, yes; Jake, not so much.
    To avoid any awkwardness at the front door, I hurried outside. If I invited him in, we might never leave the house. I was determined to have a serious talk with him and not be swept away by our physical attraction. Of course, if he weren’t so damned sexy and gorgeous, concentrating on something other than getting busy with him would be a hell of a lot easier.
    As soon as I stepped off the porch, the truck’s passenger door popped open and Jake leaned out, grinning. “Where’s the fire?”
    “Uh.” My pulse doubled. This would be tougher than I’d thought. In the weeks since he’d been away, I’d managed to convince myself that the chemistry between us couldn’t be as strong as I’d remembered. “Huh? Oh, you mean me coming out of the house so fast? Gran’s resting, and I didn’t want the doorbell to disturb her.”
    “Really?” He raised a dark brow. “Uncle Tony said that your grandmother is away on a senior bus trip. Did he get the dates mixed up?”
    “Did I say Gran? I meant Gran’s cat.” I