Free Hard To Resist by Janelle Denison Page B

the arts, like poetry, photography, being president of the French and German clubs, and dreaming about exploring foreign cities outside the United States. It was no surprise that her classmates had voted her The Girl Most Likely to Travel the World— a prediction she'd more than fulfilled.
    She'd gotten her first taste of traveling abroad after graduation and she'd fallen in love with experiencing another country's cultures and customs. She'd explored many other places over the past ten years, like Japan, Ireland, Australia, and Germany, to name a few. Instead of going to college, she'd used her experience to start her own online based business as a travel agent for big corporations. She'd grown an impressive client base and made a good living, and the best part of her job was being able to travel whenever the whim struck.
    Lately, however, that “whim” was striking less and less. Over the past few months she'd become increasingly aware that her personal life was lacking. She'd never minded traveling solo, but at twenty-eight, she wanted more out of life than carefree adventures and brief affairs with the men she met along the way. While she didn't want to give up her traveling altogether, she longed for a relationship with a man that could lead to something more meaningful and long-term.
    For her, that someone had become Jake Copeland.
     “Ali and Renee, over here!”
    The two of them turned toward the woman who'd called their names. Leanne Barton, with her meticulously styled blond hair and hot pink dress, was waving them over to her little clique, which was comprised of all the popular girls who'd once been on the same cheer squad as Ali. The same ones who'd once ridiculed Ali for accepting a date with the class nerd.
    Beside Renee, Ali stiffened as they reluctantly moved toward the group. They'd had no choice—it would have been obviously rude to ignore Leanne's invitation.
    “And so it begins,” Ali murmured as she fabricated a cheerful smile. “If it wasn't for you being my best friend . . .”
    “I know, I know. You wouldn't be here,” Renee whispered back while giving Ali's hand a grateful squeeze. She appreciated her friend's support, but Renee hoped that Ali would take this opportunity to seek out Will and resolve what had happened between them ten years ago. It was the only way she was going to put that part of her past to rest.
    Renee smiled and nodded as she half listened to the conversations going on around her, mostly gossip about other classmates and what people had heard about them through social media sites. The women were still as catty as they were as teenagers, and Renee was far more interested in scanning the crowd for Jake. Thanks to their time on Skype, she knew what he looked like now—a hotter, much sexier version of the lanky boy she'd lost her virginity to.
    After a while, she finally caught sight of him talking to a few of his old high school buddies, and the thrill of seeing him in the flesh rejuvenated her excitement. He turned his head, met her gaze, and the dazzling smile that curved his mouth made her weak in the knees, as giddy as an infatuated school girl who'd just been noticed by her secret crush. She tingled from head to toe. She couldn't remember the last time any man had such an instantaneous, all-encompassing affect on her. That in itself said a lot for her crazy attraction to Jake Copeland.
    Doing her best to reign in her enthusiasm, she leaned toward Ali and spoke softly. “There he is,” she said, torn between going to Jake yet not wanting to ditch her friend. “Will you be okay if I leave?”
    Ali gave her a reassuring smile. “Go and have a good time.”
    Hearing the sincerity in her friend's voice, Renee only paused a fraction of a second before she started toward Jake, who was already on his way to meet her. Tall, dark-haired, and devastatingly gorgeous, he not only turned female heads but he exuded a confidence that was so freakin' hot it made her heart skip a