Free The Storm Inside by Alexis Anne Page A

stuck into his own mouth, “Thank you. I was hoping you’d offer. I haven’t had dinner…”
    It just pissed me off more. Who did he think he was, waltzing into my house, asking for my pizza? “Well grab your stuff for Jennie and go get some.”
    He didn’t seem to like my choice of words. His eyes zeroed in on me in a way that took me back. It wasn’t a friendly look—it was a lustful look. “Are you driving your car down?”
    “Yes.” What did that mean? How else would I get to my parent’s house… wishful thinking?
    “I’m taking the Bronco…” he said looking down, then suddenly back up and into my eyes. “You are more than welcome to ride with me.”
    The idea locked my muscles in a death grip. I couldn’t think of a worse idea. “I think I’ll be fine in the car. With Jennie.” And her very, very safe conversation. There was no chance Jennie was going to try to sleep with me, or make me fall in love with her.
    He shrugged as if my refusal didn’t bother him, and finished off the pizza. “Hot pink toes?”
    His question annoyed me and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he was in my bedroom. “It’s summer, I thought it would be fun.”
    I watched as he looked around my room. When he’d lived here with me it had been one of four tiny identical upstairs rooms. When I renovated (and since I was single for the foreseeable future) I’d turned those four bedrooms into two: Jennie’s was directly in front of the stairwell, mine directly behind.
    I absolutely loved my bedroom. There was an enormous overstuffed chair in an alcove with a window that overlooked the backyard. A large bookcase held more of my favorite books and pictures. But my bed was my favorite. I’d spent a stupid amount of money on it. It was enormous considering I slept alone. A king-sized dark wood antique headboard, intricately carved with vines and filigree, and a dark-blue bedding set made of the softest fabric I could find. I don’t even remember how much it cost because I’d had to block out the total. Otherwise I wouldn’t have handed over my credit card. But it was worth it. I could get lost in my bed and I could sleep naked any time I wanted. It was like being held in the caress of a cloud.
    “I love what you’ve done with the house. It really looks incredible.”
    I swelled with content pride. “Thank you.”
    He continued his uninvited tour of my room and I let him. For some reason seeing him in my intimate space had me paralyzed. It was like the past and the present were colliding in front of my eyes. The new Jake in my new room. It was so different: the suit, the swagger, the confidence… and it wasn’t like I had cheap posters decorating my ratty walls anymore. He paused in front of a picture of all of us, the whole gang.
    “I’m kind of impressed you didn’t cut me out of this picture.”
    I smirked, “That’s the replacement. You should have seen what I did to the original.”
    He turned to look back at me, his hands back in his pockets, his eyes unmistakably seductive. “We’re all grown up now. What are your plans for your life?”
    His question confused me. I was living my life. But then again, it hadn’t taken me until this year to figure myself out. “What I’m doing right now. I work, hang out with the gang, visit my family… what else is there?”
    He was burning a hole right through me. “That’s not what I meant. No boyfriends? You planning on settling down with Mr. Right and having kids?” He was so different. He was demanding, almost angry. His questions seemed more like an accusation than anything else.
    Something flipped inside me. An anger erupted out of nowhere. “Jake that is none of your damn business.”
    He grimaced, “I think it is. Why aren’t you married, Eve? You are beautiful and smart. There are a million men lined up at your door… but you’re here alone. So, I’ll ask you again. What are your plans, Eve?”
    I stood up very slowly, attempting to