Free Something Sparked-nook by Mari Carr Page B

ready for phase two,” Luc declared.
    She frowned. “Phase two?”
    Luc winked at her. “We’re going to put Nervous Nettie to rest once and for all. Today, you’re Jeannette again.”
    “I’d like that. Does it involve more dancing or…kissing?”
    Diego looked at Luc. “I think we’ve created a monster.”
    Luc didn’t appear concerned and, for a moment, Jeannette thought she saw something pass between them, some unspoken desire.
    “Maybe we should go for broke,” Luc suggested.
    Diego didn’t respond immediately and when he did, Jeannette was certain he was answering a question she hadn’t heard. “Yeah. Maybe we should.”
    Diego didn’t give her a chance to ask what that meant. He bent his head and kissed her. This was no friendly, hey-how-you-doin’ kiss. It was a big one. Lips, teeth, tongue, hands in her hair. It was so delicious—Diego’s breath tasted like bacon and maple syrup—she didn’t have time to consider the fact that most of her family was there witnessing it.
    Finally, twelve years later, Diego released her. “I’m not sure that will hold me until Wednesday. Might have to stop in for a helping of that every day until then.”
    “I…” Jeannette couldn’t have formed another word if someone was offering her a million dollars for it.
    Diego rose from the booth and reached down to help her slide out. Luc was standing next to him. God, if he kissed her like that right now, she’d expire on the spot.
    Mercifully, he gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek. She’d thought herself spared, but Luc gripped the nape of her neck as he whispered in her ear, “I’ll be by later to collect mine when there are fewer people around.”
    She nodded her assent, unable to deny something she would spend the next few hours anxiously anticipating. “Okay.”
    Jeannette headed back to the kitchen, perfectly aware that everyone in the restaurant was looking at her. In the past, she would have hated every single step until she was out of view. Today, she simply threw her head back and forged straight ahead.
    Her confidence didn’t begin to waver until she reached the kitchen door.
    Billy was staring straight at her, his expression unreadable.
    She scowled at him, and then pushed through the swinging doors, refusing to think about him or what he thought. She wasn’t the girl she used to be. He’d made sure of that. So he sure as hell didn’t get to have an opinion about what she was doing to reinvent herself.
    Once she was safely tucked away in the kitchen, she released a long breath and closed her eyes. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so she couldn’t reasonably expect that she’d become someone new overnight.
    “You okay?” Sydney asked.
    She wasn’t. Not yet. But she was definitely getting there.
    “Yeah. I am.”
    And for the first time in years, that answer didn’t feel like a lie.
     
     

 

Chapter Four
     
    Jeannette glanced out the front window for the tenth time in as many minutes. Luc had called a couple hours earlier to say they would be late. There had been a car accident on Merryman’s Lane and they’d needed to respond.
    She had offered to reschedule, almost grateful for the reprieve. She’d had too much time to think about tonight and her nerves were completely frazzled.
    Luc had refused. Telling her they would be there as soon as they could.
    Jeannette had been dressed and ready to go when they’d called, even though it was an hour before they’d originally intended to arrive. She suspected Gia would have teased her for that if she’d been around. Only a nerd was ready for a date an hour ahead of time.
    She glanced down at her dress, hoping they liked it. She had walked around the department store for ages before picking it out. Prior to this week, she never would’ve worn a dress like this in a million years. It was red—the color reminding her of the guys’ truck—and short. The flared skirt ended a few inches above her knees. The top part had a deep vee, showing off