Free Deep Blue by Jules Barnard Page A

but I don’t. “Well, this is—” I glance pointedly at my position atop him. “—interesting.”
    He squeezes me lightly.
    Jaeger is enormous compared to most guys, but I’ve never felt afraid with him. In fact, lying on top of his warm, utterly masculine body is amazing, and oddly comforting.
    I study the unguarded look in his eyes. He’s not as rumpled as Mason, but by my estimate, he’s three sheets to the wind. “How many beers does it take to topple a giant?”
    Jaeger squints and raises one hand. His fingers flick as if he’s counting. After an absurdly long time, in which I yawn and examine my nails while lying on my hot man-chaise, he finally says, “Twelve? No, fourteen—we downed two this morning.”
    “Fourteen! How are you even conscious?” I press my fingers to his neck, pretending to check for a pulse.
    His baseball glove–sized paw captures my hand and flattens it against his chest, his eyes closing contentedly. After a second of hesitation, I lay my head below his chin and consider how strange this moment is. I’m on Jaeger, in a loverlike pose, only he’s my friend . And yet, this is the only place I want to be. I won’t analyze that thought too closely.
    After a minute, Jaeger’s breathing changes.
    What the … He did not just fall asleep. We may be friends, but I’m still a woman , and, I like to think, fairly attractive.
    I squirm a little to test my theory. He doesn’t move. A light purr emanates from his throat, growing deep and steady.
    Goddammit, he did fall asleep!
    Great. Just great. What does it say when a guy passes out with a girl plastered on top of him? The hits to my ego just keep on coming.
    I press one ear to his wide chest, listening to him breathe. After a while, it grows creepy—on my part, not his—so I roll off my man-chaise and stand, collecting the remains of my dignity. I wouldn’t mind cuddling longer, but in Jaeger’s unconscious state, that would make it weird.
    Exiting the room quietly on a frustrated sigh, I close the door behind me. This party was just getting fun, hanging out alone with Jaeger.
    Down the hall another door opens. Gen walks out, followed by Mason. She sees me and relief washes over her face.
    What did Mason do? I spear him with a glare. He nods with barely a glance at me, and continues down the hall and around the corner.
    “Are you okay?” I ask Gen.
    “Yeah.” Her face is calm, so I relax a little. She glances after Mason. “I’ll explain in the car.”
    And she does. It turns out the party was a bust all around.
    Mason tried to kiss Gen in his bedroom and she dodged it. I tried to cuddle with Jaeger and he passed out. No one got lucky tonight. Not my goal, but still.
    My brilliant plan to help Gen is in a shambles and my own relationship drama battles hers for biggest disaster.

Chapter Nine
    “Yo, sis, what’s up? I was just thinking about you.”
    My slightly overprotective brother, Tyler, is a slob, but he’s a good brother and I could really use his company. “What do you think about coming for a visit?” I say over the phone.
    Tyler is a community college teacher with summers off, so he’s available. As long as I don’t tell him about Eric—he hates my ex—having Tyler around will help take my mind off things. There’s a small voice in the back of my head that wants to pump Tyler for information about his old high school buddy Jaeger, but I’m ignoring it.
    He chuckles into the line. “Funny you should ask, because I’m here.”
    “What? Where?”
    “With Mom. Came out to see her new digs.”
    My mom just bought her first house, in Carson City. She’s rented her entire life, so this is huge.
    “You should check it out. It’s not much, but she’s proud. It would mean a lot if you came.”
    Jesus, as hard as my mom worked at the casinos to put Tyler and me through college, I’m proud. She only recently relocated to Carson. She’s got a stable job with benefits there. It pays less than what she made in