Free Replication by Jill Williamson Page B

twitched up in a grin. “Smart girl.”
    The voracious capacity of his eyes shot a nervous thrill through Abby’s limbs. She walked it off by going to her passenger door to unload her schoolbooks. Every sense was aware of his presence as she pulled the books into her arm, shut the door, and walked up the porch steps. They creaked behind her.
    She whirled around. He stood inches from her; the toes of his shoes bumped against hers. Before she could react he put one hand against the doorframe in his characteristic lean. Abby felt herself swimming until his aggressive cologne snapped her back to her senses.
    She slammed her books against his blue-and-white letter jacket. “Hold these, will you?”
    He leaned back to balance all the books in his arms, and she took advantage of his vulnerable state to lay down some offense. “Kylee will be here any minute. Try anything and I have a ten-pound flashlight that masquerades as a nightstick.”
    A smile flitted across his face, and she was suddenly aware that her lack of interest probably fed his persistence. Nothing like a challenge to interest a guy who could have anything—anyone—he wanted. She frowned, shoved her house key into the lock, and turned it.
    She might have to change strategies.
    JD shadowed her through the house. She upped the thermostatand settled into the armchair in the living room, leaving him to choose between the couch, the loveseat, or the barstools at the kitchen counter. JD dropped his stack of papers and Abby’s books on the counter then sat down on the couch and stared at her with hungry eyes.
    Einstein padded into the room and leapt onto her lap, and she ran her fingers through the cat’s fur to calm her nerves. Maybe she should have waited for Kylee outside, thirty below or not. How many episodes of
CSI
would it take to remind her that inviting a guy into your home when you were alone was S-T-U-P-I-D? Where was her brain?
    She tried to give off an air of nonchalance, as if the hunky predator in her home was no big deal. “Let’s see that brochure.”
    He didn’t move at first, then clambered to his feet and wandered to the kitchen counter. He brought the pile of papers to Abby’s chair, kneeled in front of her, and pulled out a brochure.
    When she reached for it, he pulled it back out of her grasp. She reached again, and he lifted his arm into the air.
    The doorbell rang.
    Abby pushed Einstein off her lap and jumped up. She snatched the pamphlet out of JD’s hand on her way to the door, thankful her reinforcement lived so close.
    Abby opened the door.
    “Study buddy to the rescue!” Kylee squeaked out. She held her calculus book in front of her face, but Abby could still hear her chomping her gum.
    “You. Are. My. Hero.” Abby shooed Kylee inside and secured the door. She led her friend into the living room. JD was no longer in sight.
    “Where is he?” Kylee’s voice was still not quite normal. And her eager expression made Abby smirk. Her new friend should make a more-than-willing distraction for JD Kane.
    “JD?” Abby tipped her head back to peer up the stairs. She didn’t see him.
Where did—
    Suddenly Abby was airborne and floating in JD’s arms. He’d scooped her up and was spinning her around and around.
    She screamed, “Put me down!” and clutched the front of his jacket. The room blurred around her, making her stomach lurch.
    JD laughed deep and long, and finally stopped spinning. He didn’t release her, though. The room still whirled as she tried to focus on Kylee’s face. JD’s right hand shifted too close to inappropriate, and Abby slapped him. He cursed and dropped her. Her tailbone bashed against the wooden floor and sent smarting pain up her spine.
    Kylee rushed to her side. “Are you okay?” She glared at JD. “I can’t believe you!”
    JD’s lips parted. “Me?” Shock and surprise were foreign expressions to his usual smugness, as was his whining tone. He rubbed his cheek. “That really hurt!”
    Kylee