Some Like It Wild Read Online Free Page B

none of his business.”
    “I’m sure he wouldn’t be happy about it,” Dad says, ignoring my comment.
    “Lucky for me I don’t care. I don’t have to worry about what Shane does or doesn’t like anymore. Besides, I’m not doing anything wrong.”
    “No, but associating with people like the Theopolises . . .”
    “Mom was just talking about what good people they are.”
    “I said
Cris
was a good man,” she clarifies.
    “And his kids aren’t?”
    “You’re smart enough to know the answer to that, Laney,” my dad says. “You went to school with the youngest, Jenna.”
    “Yes, but I didn’t really
know
her.”
    Dad gives me “the look.” “No, but you know enough, young lady.”
    I slide my bar stool back. “So much for not being judgmental,” I snap, walking to the sink to rinse out my half-full mug.
    “Avoiding a bad element is not being judgmental. It’s being prudent.”
    I turn to face my father. I hold my head high, tired of a lifetime of cowering under his disapproval. “And how, exactly, do you determine who the ‘bad element’ is then, Daddy?”
    I walk out of the kitchen before he can respond. I’m sure he’ll have some valuable bit of wisdom for me. No doubt it’ll be true, too. But right now, at this point in my life, I’m not looking for wisdom. I’m not looking for prudent or safe or reasonable, any of the things I once attributed to Shane.
    In fact
, I think to myself as I head up the stairs,
I might just be looking for the exact opposite
.
    * * *
    Having cut short my morning at the house in order to avoid my parents, I arrive at the turn to the Theopolis orchard twenty minutes early. I figure I’ll just sit in the car and start on my paperwork before knocking, just in case Jake is still asleep.
    He seems like one of those up-all-night-partying-sleep-all-day-afterward types.
    The thought has barely had a chance to make it through my head when I see a lean, tan, shirtless jogger just up ahead. Even if the guy wasn’t running on the long, winding Theopolis driveway I’d have no trouble identifying him—Jake. His physique and dark good looks are unmistakable, even from behind.
    And my stomach reacts accordingly.
    I ease my foot onto the brake, debating what to do. Go forward, turn around, stop and wait? What’s the right thing here?
    Jake takes the decision out of my hands, however, when he slows to a stop and turns to look down the road at me. His eyes meet mine, and he smiles. Even from a distance, he makes me feel breathless.
    For one second, I get the feeling I should turn and run. But it’s gone almost as quickly as it came when Jake starts to jog in my direction.
    My foot presses harder on the brake as I watch him approach. His skin is slick with sweat and his muscles move and shift beneath it. He stops at my window and bends, laying his forearms along the opening, his face but a few inches from mine. He’s winded and his breath tickles my cheek.
    “You’re early.”
    “I know. I was going to do some paperwork before I woke you.”
    “Woke me? I’ve been up for hours. But if you’d prefer to wake me, I’m sure I can arrange to still be in bed when you get here.” His wink tells me that he means exactly what I think he means. I want to curse my light complexion when I feel my cheeks heat up at his insinuation.
    “I hardly think that will be necessary,” I reply, trying to sound unflustered, but likely doing a poor job of it. “Continue your run. I’ll just meet you at the house when you’re done. If you don’t mind me waiting there, that is.”
    “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather stumble upon when I’m hot and sweaty and headed for the shower.”
    Giving me his trademark cocky grin, Jake straightens and jogs off before I can respond. And it’s a good thing. I don’t even know what to say to that. For a few seconds, I watch the way his shorts cling to his tight butt as he moves. But he shakes me out of my dumbstruck state when he turns and jogs