Lovin' Blue Read Free Page B

finishing the last scoop of ice cream. “For the both of us, from what I understand.”
    â€œYeah, my marriage just sort of happened. But my divorce was well thought out.”
    Jansen placed Eden’s empty bowl on top of his and walked to the sink. Eden watched him, admiring his firm, round backside, broad shoulders, and narrow waist. She’d forgotten how nice Jansen could be when he wasn’t being a knucklehead. But she remembered other things as well. Like how much of a player he’d been during his teen years, and how many hearts he’d broken. Given his dark brown bedroom eyes and how he was wearing that sleeveless T-shirt, Eden imagined the pain hadn’t ended when he’d left Crenshaw High.
    â€œI’m up and out by six-thirty,” Jansen said as he washed out their bowls. “Hopefully, I won’t wake you.”
    â€œI’ll probably sleep like a log,” Eden replied, “and will be gone by the time you get home.”
    â€œSo your place is ready.”
    â€œNot for another week or so. But that’s okay, I’ll find a hotel.”
    â€œHa! Can’t stand the heat, can you? You know that if you stay here, you’ll try to seduce me.”
    Eden fixed Jansen with a look. “Me, try to seduce you? That will be the day.”
    â€œWell, why are you running then? If ”—Jansen ran a hand down his well-toned abs—“all this ain’t bothering you, save your money and hang out.”
    â€œWhatever, Jansen. Good night.”
    â€œYou just know you couldn’t handle staying here with me,” Jansen said to Eden’s retreating back. “You know you’ve always had a thing for me, girl. And now I know it, too.”
    These words stopped Eden in her tracks. True, she’d been among the goo-goo-eyed females who’d relished watching Jansen run up and down the basketball courts. He’d been a star senior, after all, a sports stand-out, and she’d been a lowly freshman, vying to make a statement amid fast, fly girls with their own various bags of talent. Eden was hardly an introvert, but she had been the more studious type. And there was only so much sexy that her mother had allowed. What was a fourteen-year-old to do but dream?
    But Jansen doesn’t know this. There’s no way he could know about the crush I had on him from the time I was in junior high. And there’s no way he’ll ever know. Eden came out of her musings to hear Jansen singing a famous Gap Band song about putting pedals to the metal and burning rubber. He ended the chorus with hearty laughter, obviously garnered at her expense. As tired as she was, Eden couldn’t get back into the kitchen fast enough.
    â€œYou might have it going on with all these other sistahs in LA, but you forget that I knew you when you stuttered, your knees were ashy, and your head was too big.”
    Jansen turned to face Eden fully. His brown, almost black eyes bore into hers. “So you’re not attracted to me?”
    â€œBoy, you’re almost my brother, and hardly my type.”
    â€œNot even a little bit?”
    Yes. “No.”
    â€œBecause you know . . . I’m not your brother.” Jansen wriggled his eyebrows.
    â€œJansen McKnight, I am not attracted to you in the least.”
    â€œThen prove it. Stay here until your place is ready. And I guarantee that before you leave, I will have seduced you. That is . . . if you don’t seduce me first.”
    â€œGet over yourself, Jansen. I’m not feeling you like that.” Eden’s smirk was not because of what she’d said, but that she’d successfully pushed that lie out of her mouth.
    â€œThen you have nothing to worry about.”
    â€œAnd unlike the other women you’ve obviously encountered, I don’t give in to soft touches and warm words.”
    â€œWhich makes the challenge all the more exciting. . . .”
    Eden spun on her heels and