Straight To You: A Novella (Taking Chances Series Book 1) Read Free

uh … let me go ahead and ring you up.” She busied herself with punching buttons on the register. “That’ll be $59.95.”
    “Well worth it,” he said, handing her his credit card. He flashed a wide grin in her direction. “I’m very glad I came in here today.”
    Ashlynn beamed as she completed the transaction. She held her head high and a burst of energy coursed through her body. Every sale she made boosted her confidence, but today’s exchange seemed even more rewarding. She handed Jeremy the receipt, her hand brushing his in the process. Her cheeks reddened at the tingle she felt in his warm touch. The butterflies in her stomach made her feel like a giddy junior high school girl again. “I really hope your mom likes the gift.”
    “I’m sure she will. Thanks, Ashlynn.”
    They broke their eye contact when the jingling bell of the door signaled another customer’s arrival. Jeremy started to speak but hesitated. “I’ll let you go. I’m glad we ran into each other today. Now I know where to find you.” He waved and exited the store.
    Zoe rushed up to Ashlynn from the other side of the store, her hands in the air. “Who was that? And how do you know him?!”
    Ashlynn felt the air returning to her lungs. She hadn’t realized how quickly her heart was beating. “His name is Jeremy. We grew up together in the same church, but his family moved away years ago. I can’t believe he’s back!” she exclaimed. “He was such a good guy, really friendly and accepting of everyone. Gosh, all the girls had a crush on him. You could say he was a major reason the youth group doubled in size while he was there.” She rolled her eyes in amusement.
    “You liked him too, didn’t you? I saw how he had you turning all shades of red.”
    “Oh my goodness, do you think he noticed?”
    “Girl, we could have put you outside on the street corner and you would’ve stopped traffic.”
    “How embarrassing,” she moaned. “Of course I liked him. He was the one guy I always hoped I’d marry whenever I played MASH. I didn’t even mind living in a shack with four kids as long as I ended up with him.”
    “That’s true love right there.”
    “Ha ha. It was such a silly crush. I mean, I was twelve and he was seventeen. There was no way anything would have happened.”
    “But you guys aren’t teenagers anymore,” she said with a cunning look in her eyes. “So, did you give him your number?”
    “What? No, he didn’t ask for it.” She sighed as she remembered his comment about her teenage appearance. He had to bring up the braces and glasses, didn’t he?
    “Girl, you should’ve just given it to him.” Zoe shook her head incredulously at Ashlynn’s lack of initiative. “I would have asked him out on the spot!”
    “I was having a hard enough time remembering to breathe. Guys like Jeremy never pay attention to me, much less smile at me.” And what an amazing smile he had. The memory of his upturned lips sent a warm feeling throughout her body. She turned to Zoe with wide eyes. “What if I never see him again?”
    “Don’t worry,” she replied with a wink. “I could practically see the molecules and atoms bouncing around all the way from the other side of the room.”
    “The what?”
    “The chemistry between you two.”
    “Uh, I’m pretty sure that was due to the extra blood flow in my cheeks.”
    “Very funny.” Zoe had the smug look of a Cheshire cat. “Trust me, he’ll be back.”
    “I hope so...” Ashlynn doubted he saw her as anything more than an awkward adolescent girl. But a glimmer of hope buoyed her heart, lifting her out of the self-pity that consumed her earlier.
    Surprisingly, for the first time that day, Derrick was the furthest thing on her mind. Seeing Jeremy again had her thinking that maybe not all guys were bad. Who said knights in shining armor didn’t exist anymore?

TWO
    “Hey man, did you eat lunch yet?”
    The baritone voice behind Jeremy woke him from his daydreaming. He