Free Rocked by an Angel by Sophia Hampton Page A

of violence between the two men. She figured there was probably more to the story, but at this point, all she wanted to do was get out of there. The last thing she needed was a complication like Jackson Kent. They had never seen eye-to-eye on the benefits of living in a small town.
     
    She turned back to cashier and gave her an apologetic smile. This was probably more drama than they'd seen in the whole year.
     
    "That'll be $4.50," the girl announced.
     
    "I've got this." She suppressed the shivers that went through her when he spoke up somewhere behind her. She ignored him, slapping down a five dollar bill and smiling again at the girl behind the register. "Keep the change."
     
    The girl gave Jackson a look, and then glanced down at the money, clearly unsure who's side she was supposed to be taking. Melody nudged her bill further ahead and thankfully the girl took it and put it in the register. She stepped off to the side to wait for her drink.
     
    Jackson followed her after ordering his coffee, puzzled. Why was the chick trying to be unfriendly? Or maybe she was just keeping her distance after the violence? He didn't even try to hide his stare while he looked her over for clues.
     
    She was wearing ballet flats and destroyed skinny jeans that hugged the curves of her calves and thighs. He could see a tiny strip of tanned skin through the ragged threads at her knee. She was tall. Not nearly as tall as he, but at least he wouldn't have to hunch over to talk to her, which was a welcome change. She had on a plain purple t-shirt with a scoop neck, just low enough that he could see the tops of her cleavage. A cross necklace was nestled between the two globes.
     
    He felt himself growing hard and was amazed that just the merest glimpse at this mystery woman's cleavage was enough to turn him into a randy schoolyard boy. He let his eyes wander over her slender neck and up to the golden-streaked hair that was upswept into a messy bun. Her face was turned away, but from the profile he could see she had unblemished sun kissed skin and full red lips. Her eyelashes were long and full and her bottom lip was caught between her teeth. He had a moment of déjà vu and struggled to place where he had seen someone do that before.
     
    The girl behind the counter called out a name that he didn't catch and the object of his musings stepped forward to take it. She smiled at the woman, took a sip, and then walked out of the shop. Just before she thrust the door open, she threw him back a glance. His whole world tipped and then righted itself. He knew that face. Instantly he realized where he recognized that look, those legs, her breasts. It was Melody.
     
    Back when they were young, kids really, they had something special. They were inseparable through high school. Over a decade ago, back when they had thought they would be together forever. Back when she had thought he was worth staying for. Until she didn't. And she left him behind, heartbroken and bitter.
     
    She hadn't even had the decency to write, or call, or come to the reunions. He knew she was big out on the West Coast, a rock star supposedly. He would always remember her tucked up against him, strumming her old acoustic guitar while he murmured sweet things into her ear and she giggled. She had been sweet, innocent, and loving. Then, her parents had died and she didn't want anything to do with this town, or with him.
     
    She had left, never looking back, never caring how she had stomped on his heart and made him unfit for any other woman. Sure, he dated, but every girl ended up either caring too much for him or thinking they had a future. They didn't, and they wouldn't. His heart still belonged to the girl who had grown into a full blown woman halfway across the country.
     
    Melody tried to shake off the tremors that coursed through her body since she walked out of the coffee shop. She didn't know why it unsettled her so when she saw that spark of recognition in his eyes, just