Free Under My Skin (Shady Falls Series Book 2) by Shelly Davis Page B

couldn’t have changed that fast, could it?
                  “Just hangin’ out with some friends.” He only looked at me when he spoke. His eyes didn’t wander the room or my body. He didn’t make me feel like an object like other men did. “You look gorgeous, by the way. But you look kind of uncomfortable.”
                  “Thank you. I wanted to change, but Grant was insistent on pickin’ me up and goin’ out, he brought me here.”
                  Jake was quiet for a few moments as the piano at the end of the song quieted. The next song, the Foo Fighters, Come Alive, started and he didn’t let me go.
                  When he finally spoke, I was shocked into silence. “Since when do you let anyone tell you what to do?” he asked. “The Mia I knew didn’t take shit from no one.”
                  His observation of me was sincere and honest; I immediately stopped dancing and looked up, staring into the blue depths of his eyes. I didn’t think he’d paid any attention to me in a long time. Apparently I was wrong.
                  “What? What do you mean? I’m still the same Mia,” I insisted, allowing his to bring me back in to continue to dance.
                  Jake hummed, deep and rumbling in my ear. “No, you were independent and you went after what you wanted. You changed at some point. In my opinion, you need to figure out what happened to that girl and bring her back.”
                  “I’m still the same girl, Jake. It’s just sometimes you can’t have what you want, no matter how bad you want it. Besides, you can’t fight for something which no longer exists.”
                  The moment the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. Would he understand what I was talking about? Would he know it was him to which I referred? He couldn’t possibly know after all these years.
                  “Look, I can take you home. You shouldn’t be here with that asshole,” he said rather firmly.
                  “I’m fine. I can take care of myself, Jake. I’m not lookin’ for someone to take care of me,” I insisted.
                  “Well,” he said with a surprised but annoyed tone. He looked down, meeting my eyes. “It seems you can still be fierce, but apparently it’s just for me. Too bad you let a dickhead make you look like a fool with his cheatin’.”
                  “I know what I’m doin’, Jake. I don’t need you to take care of me. I’m fine.”
                  Pulling away slightly, he stared at me. “Yeah, you’re fine. He talked to every other woman in the gym, but you, when you brought him there. And here he is now already at the bar talkin’ up some blonde, but you’re fine.” My eyes snapped toward the bar to see Grant with his hands on the waitress from earlier.
                  Jake sighed and pulled away from me slowly, his hand glided from my back around ribs, then his hand fell to his side. He nodded his head. “See ya around, Mia.”
                  He stared at me for just a moment. Then he turned and walked away, disappearing through the crowd.
                  I had no idea he paid so much attention.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    Jake
    “I can’t stand when she comes in here,” I grumbled quietly. Ignoring my client, I watched Mia walk across the gym toward the set of elliptical machines. Seeing her every day but having only passing contact had me on edge. Since our argument at the bar, it took all my willpower to stay away. I’d forgotten what it felt like to hold her in my arms. It had been years, but no woman has ever felt as good in my arms as Mia, and all I’d done was hold her for a dance.
                  She used to be so audacious. She would light up the room when she walked into it. She was quiet and