Sharks Read Online Free Page B

his thumb on her wrists; sparks seemed to fly between them. At least he felt the flames and he wondered if she did too.
     
    She tossed him a sultry grin. "It's April fools day. And somehow I don't feel like a joke. But you do have a bit of ketchup on your--" she reached forward with her napkin, touching him on the side of his lips. "--right here."
     
    "You just wanted to touch me." Did he want her to touch him?
     
    "Nope, you really did."
     
    "I'm going back with you."
     
    ~ * ~
     
    "I didn't mean to scare her," Bentley said.
     
    Amanda sat on the couch in Bentley's apartment. "You didn't just scare her, you terrified her and ruined any hope that you two might be able to hook up."
     
    Bentley rested his head in his hands, scrubbing his unshaven face before he looked up, and wishing he could have a do-over. The night had begun with such possibilities. He'd watched Lilly from afar, waiting for just the right time to ask her out. He'd been so patient. He couldn't believe he'd screwed this one up.
     
    "I'm not going to give up. You don't think she will let me apologize?" he said determined to show Lilly he was really a nice guy and not a bumbling idiot.
     
    "No, she's thinking about dropping out." Amanda tossed her hair back then pulled the loose ends into a ponytail.
     
    "Because of what I did?" His gut churned and heaved. He'd never meant for any of that to happen. But it had and now he had to deal with it.
     
    "Oh, yeah…"
     
    "Geez, I'm not an arrogant SOB like everyone thinks." Bentley stared at the dust particles floating in the sunlight. "I have a heart. I don't want everyone to think all I care about is my daddy's money."
     
    "I know that and you know that, but Lilly doesn't and neither does her overprotective friend. And until a few months ago your daddy's money was all that concerned you. Well, and how to spend it."
     
    "You mean Jacob? Are they in love?" Bentley brought his attention back to Amanda. "It's not like you to be mean to me. What's up? Of all the women I've known, you have always been on my side."
     
    "Maybe they are in love, maybe they aren't. Look Bentley, I like you--a lot. But I understand, finally, that you will never fall in love with me. I'm jealous, all right and I don't like the idea of your pursuing my best friend, but I guess I'm going to have to get over it."
     
    "Then you will help me?" Good Lord but he felt like a love sick little school boy whose love had gone viral.
     
     

 
    Chapter Three
     
     
    April 1, 2010
     
    Lilly sat back in the overstuffed chair, closing her eyes and reminiscing.
     
    OMG, has it really been two years since I've seen Jacob? He played my knight in shining armor that year, threatening Bentley with what he understood most, money. Only man she knew who had more cash than the creep. And as things turned out, she was really glad Jacob had convinced her to return to school.
     
    Bentley had left me alone. In the few classes I had with him, he'd send me rude, snide glances, but he never said or tried to do anything.
     
    Later that night Jacob had kissed me. It was wonderful, sparks flying, but he received a call from his father and had to leave. He didn't say anything, but I found out later Jacob's dad had a heart attack. He died two days later in his sleep.
     
    I flew back for the funeral, but never had the chance to talk to him. Since then our lives zoomed by in two different directions.
     
    "Lilly, where on earth or outer space has your mind raced?" Amanda asked as she bent over the coffee table to straighten the magazines, lifting them then randomly shuffling them into a different pile.
     
    "Back in time. I wonder…" Lilly sat up rubbing her back and shoulder muscles. She was stiff and sore from her run the day before. From the top of her head to the tips of her toes, her body ached, but it was a good feeling, one she wanted to hang on to for a while.
     
    "When is Jacob going to buy that ticket?" Amanda asked stretching. "It seems he would