Into the Deep 02 Out of the Shallows Read Free

with women. He oozed sex and charisma more than anyone I’d ever met in my life, but I knew there was more to him than the whole bad-boy thing he played up. I knew this because I’d seen how different he was around Claudia. He wanted to be devoted to her in a way he wouldn’t even admit to himself, which was probably why he was eye-fucking the brunette at the next table.
    Catching the look, Claudia downed her drink and turned away from the band. Rowena, our Scottish friend who we suspected was sleeping with the bassist, Denver, brushed her bright purple hair out of her eyes to exchange a worried glance with me.
    Claudia was erratic around Beck.
    I knew she was attracted to him, but I had my suspicion, as did every person in our group with the possible exception of Beck, that Claudia was in love. However, one minute she pretended to be fine about his manwhorish ways, and the next she looked like she wanted to find a corner to cry in.
    I nudged her arm and she looked up at me with sad, stunning green eyes. Did I mention she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever met in real life and one of the coolest, funniest, kindest girls to boot? Did I mention Beck was an idiot?
    “Do you want to go?”
    She glanced back at the stage, glowered (which, in all honesty, I preferred to the sad puppy-dog look), and turned to me. “Yeah, if you’re ready.”
    “You’re leaving?” Jake leaned into me again.
    “It’s either that or I kill your best friend.”
    Jake looked over at Beck and gave a slight shake of his head. “He needs to pull his head out of his ass.”
    “Yup. Before then, though, I’m going to head back to the apartment with Claud.”
    “Want me to come?”
    I heaved a shaky sigh. Time to admit what I was up to tonight. “I actually have a thing tonight. A telling-Mom-and-Dad-about-me-and-you thing…”
    Jake’s eyebrows rose. “Did I hear that right over the music?”
    I cupped his face in my hands, feeling the slight bristle prickle my skin. Playfully, I rubbed my nose against his, smirking. “You might want to watch what you say next. I’m feeling a little nervous right now. I might back out.”
    In answer, I felt the soft press of Jake’s mouth against mine. My lashes fluttered closed and my lips parted for his soft, sweet kiss. My mouth tingled as he drew back.
    “I’m also telling them about the academy.”
    For that, I got another kiss, but instead of drawing back afterward, Jake pulled me into a hug. I melted against his strong chest, my hands resting on the hard muscles of his back. He smelled great, and the strength in his arms as they held me to him made me feel safe.
    In that moment all my worries disappeared. I felt the traitorous compulsion to open my mouth and whisper those three little words.
    “You ready to go?” Claudia’s loud question stopped me in the nick of time.
    Pulling reluctantly out of Jake’s hold, I said, “Wish me luck.”
    “You don’t need it.” He brushed my cheek with his thumb. “Thanks for doing this for me. It means a lot.”
    My throat clogged with emotion so I flashed a cheeky grin to cover it. “I’m doing it for us .” I stood and shoved my laptop and notes into my backpack.
    Jake’s hand curled around my thigh and I glanced down to see him staring up at me, unable to hide the uncertainty in his eyes. “You’ll call me afterward?”
    “If it’s not too late.” I bent down and pressed a quick kiss to his mouth. “See you tomorrow.”
    I said goodbye to Rowena as Claudia moved through the busy room toward the barroom. When I turned back to wave goodbye to the guys, I got a chin nod from Lowe but nothing from Beck. He was too busy watching Claudia leave, a little furrow between his brows.
    She hadn’t bothered to say goodbye to him and at this point, I didn’t blame her.
    Outside the bar, Claudia wrapped her arms around herself, her long dark hair blowing wildly behind her. She had a remote expression on her face I didn’t like. Not one bit.