One Last Night Read Free Page B

in his pants growing. I love
that I still have that kind of power over him.
    “How about we forget the food,” he says,
grinding against me, running one hand up my thigh. “And go for
something quick.”
    I laugh and squeeze my thighs tighter. Nothing
with Jake is ever quick. “I don’t have time.”
    He utters a growling, guttural sound from his
throat. “You can’t tease me like that.”
    I push him away with both arms and look into
his eyes. “Better to leave you with something to look forward
to.”
    “I don’t think I can wait two whole days,” he
says, lunging for me, but I hop down onto the floor. As much as I’d
like to tumble into bed with him and spend the afternoon there, I
can’t afford to be late again.
    “Crap. I have to go,” I say, eyeing the clock
over the stove. My shift starts in fifteen minutes and the café is
at least a ten minute drive from here on the other side of
town.
    “Don’t go,” he says, keeping my hand in his.
“Quit your job and stay here with me. I’ll pay for
everything.”
    “Right,” I say, knowing that his football
scholarship barely leaves him enough money to eat some
days.
    “I mean it.” Jake keeps holding my hand and
looks seriously into my eyes. I can feel the moment shift between
us—what was fun banter a few seconds ago now has a weight to it
that I can’t deny.“I’m going to play pro ball next year and I’ll be
able to take care of us both.”
    I search his clear, blue eyes, feeling my
heart pound in my chest. “What are you saying?”
    Jake hesitates, then picks me up and buries
his face in my neck. “Just that I don’t want to lose
you.”
    I laugh, trying to lighten the moment. Jake
didn’t ask me to marry him, but every day it feels like we’re
getting closer and closer. “I’m only going to Grand Junction for
the weekend. You’re not going to lose me.”
    He sets me down, but his face is still
serious. “I mean that. I love you Jenna.”
    “I love you too.” My eyes flick to the
clock—now I only have ten minutes to drive to the cafe, stow my
stuff and wrap an apron around my waist. “But now I really have to
go.”
    “Are you coming back after work?” he asks,
following me out to the living room.
    “No.” I grab my backpack from beside the door.
“I’m already out on the highway, so I’m just going to go to Grand
Junction straight from work.”
    “Drive carefully.” Jake leans down and gives
me a tender, but heartfelt kiss, taking my bottom lip into his and
running his fingers through my hair. I don’t know what’s gotten
into him today, but I can’t say that I hate it.
    “I will,” I say, finally disentangling myself
from his hands.
    “Text me when you get there.”
    I grin as I open the door. He already sounds
like a nervous husband. “I will,” I say again, kissing him quickly
before shutting the door behind me.
    For a late summer afternoon, the café is
slammed when I get there and I spend the next several hours taking
orders and delivering food, even bussing tables when the guys get
too busy in the back.
    “Behind you!” Courtney yells, a tray of
desserts in her hands.
    “Thanks,” I call, swirling past her with my
plate of pancakes for table five. I glance at the clock and can’t
believe it’s almost six already. I look up and see that my
replacement is just walking through the door. After four hours of
non-stop movement, I’m going to be glad for the quiet of my car on
the long drive.I type the last check into the computer and feel the
exhaustion creep over me.
    “Jesus, that was crazy,” Courtney says,
brushing her blond hair back from her eyes. “I thought all of these
people were supposed to be at home enjoying their
summer.”
    “Yeah, but we made up for it in tips,” I say,
grabbing the box where we pool our tips for each shift.
    “Good thing,” Courtney says. “I just put a
deposit down on an apartment on Belle Street.” She glances at me
out of the corner of her eye. “It’s a