Tempt Me Twice 1 Read Free Page B

had been ours not knowing who was thinking of when he slept it now?
    The idea that another woman—or even women , plural—had been in that bed made me want to snarl.
    Or maybe it was men there now. How the hell was I supposed to know? And of course that thought brought to mind an image of Jax and Nick together, their lips pressed in a tentative kiss, Jax’s large hands threaded through Nick’s inky hair.
    My internal temperature shot up to a fever pitch, and I was grateful for the chill of the early evening air.
    “Stay... at the apartment?” My voice was thick, lust and nerves twined tightly together.
    Damn him, it was the only option I had.
    My mind raced frantically, trying to come up with some other course of action—any would do. I had no desire to go back to the apartment that I’d never really wanted to leave in the first place.
    I’d been the one to break up with Nick, because I hadn’t been able to handle his complete and total denial of his feelings for Jax, which were complicated by the fact that he also had feelings for me. I’d insisted that I be the one to move out, both because I couldn’t stay there any longer, and because I couldn’t afford it.
    Fuck my life.
    “All right,” I finally replied, and felt my heart pound against my rib cage in response. This was a bad idea. This had to be a bad idea.
    “Good.” Nick nodded briskly, though I caught the slight twitch in the muscles of his jaw that told me my answer had made him happy. “Dinner?”
    “I could eat.” I finally agreed. Truth was, though I was queasy from the upheaval of the last hour, I hadn’t eaten anything since a piece of toast that morning, and I was starving.
    I tried not to feel guilty that I wouldn’t be contributing to the meal. Nick had plenty of money.
    I, on the other hand, had fifty dollars in my checking account, a crumpled twenty in my purse, and a sliver of room on my credit card. Oh yeah, and no home. Though I had a car, so I guessed I should have been thankful for that.
    Fuck that. I wasn’t thankful for anything right at that moment. I wanted the nice life I’d had six months ago back.
    “Give me just a sec.”
    Nick waited silently while I withdrew the remaining cash from my account. The restaurant he’d made reservations at was just down the street, so I walked beside him, fighting the urge to lace my fingers in his again, to be comforted by the feel of skin against my own.
    Those times were over, had been over ever since Nick and I had both kissed his best friend.

Chapter Two
    T he restaurant Nick had chosen was a small Italian one called Due , which was Italian for Two . It was a newer edition to our small college town, and was so far out of my price range that I’d never even entertained a thought about going there.
    It was also unquestionably romantic, making me wonder at Nick’s motives all over again. Man, I was giving myself whiplash today, my mood all over the place.
    Regardless, as the hostess showed us to our table, which was tucked into a cozy corner, it was pretty clear to see that this was a date... of sorts. The cute little redheaded waitress seemed to think so too, and she clearly didn’t approve.
    I’d noticed her checking out Nick’s ass when we’d first come in. I was used to this—girls always looked at him. He was hot.
    I could have lived without the snooty look she gave me, though—I already felt ridiculously uncomfortable. I’d never been as well put together as Nick, but I’d always tried. Since Kevin the Asshat had dumped my clothes on the lawn, however, I hadn’t had a chance to change, and so I was wearing the old, faded sweater and jeans that were worn from age, not fashion that I’d pulled on at six that morning.
    I felt like a hobo from the bayou, not the girl who had once been on Nick’s arm. And I was pissed at myself for feeling that way.
    My mother was the kind of woman who needed to have a man around or she felt lost. Since it was hard finding one willing to