Page 119 of Trip Through Your Wires

“About last night…” I start then stop, not sure how to explain to him about that dance. I want him to know I never did that for anyone else. That all those men saw while I worked there was me in a bikini, nothing more.

He tucks a wet strand of hair behind my ear and looks at me, eyes warm. “You were beautiful, Sparky. Nothing to talk about.”

“It didn’t make you sick?” I keep my eyes down. “Seeing me like that.”

“Hell no.” He tips my chin up and looks deep into my eyes. “Seeing you on that stage, knowing you were dancing for me…it was incredible. You are incredible.”

My cheeks warm with the compliment. “It was the first time I’d ever done that. All those weeks I was there, I tried to stay off the stage. But when he found out about you, he forced me up there.”

“Doesn’t matter if you did or didn’t dance,” he shakes his head. “You are mine, Jenica Dawn Miller, but that doesn’t mean I get to tell you what you can and cannot do. At least, not out of the bedroom.” He waggles his brows and I can’t help but let out a tiny laugh. “But in all seriousness,” he tightens his hold, “you could have turned around and shown off this beautiful, strong body, and it would have been your right. I am confident enough in us to know it doesn’t matter who looks because only I get to touch. So they saw your ass. Big deal. You’re beautiful and your dancing was beautiful. Nothing more to say about it.”

I throw my arms around his neck, holding on for dear life. “Thank you for saving me, again.”

He rubs his hands up and down my back, and when I pull back, he swallows. “I want you to come back to Highland with me.”

I shake my head, trying to keep up with the change in topic. “What?”

“Hear me out.” He grips the towel and clears his throat “I signed the deal with the Rockies. Cruz and I both did.”

“You what?” I grip his shoulders and squeeze. “When?”

“Night before last. That’s why I came down a day early. I wanted to tell you in person before the series started and also tell you that I figured out a way for us to be together.”

“I am so proud of you.” My chest swells with pride as I cup his face and squeeze. “Your dream is coming true.”

“It is,” he smiles. “Some of it. But if you come to Highland with me, all of it will come true, and yours as well.”

I drop my hands and push up from his lap. “Jake, you know I can’t afford Highland.

“I know,” he pushes up as well. “But you can afford community college. You can enroll in the one affiliated with Highland, which is the same cost as DCC. You can work up there if you want. Although, you don’t have to. I have enough money now, but I know you are determined to do this on your own, and I support that.”

“What?” I can’t help but laugh. “Follow you to Highland for a few months and then watch you head to Colorado with Cruz and Ellery next winter?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “Sparky, you are coming back with me to Highland because that’s where you belong. It’s as simple as that. And you are coming with me to Colorado, too. I will help you get there, but that is all I am going to do. Help. You will get the rest on your own.”

“What?” I tighten my towel. “Jake, you can’t Pretty Woman me.”

“Well thank God for that,” he laughs, “because I am no Richard Gere.”

“And I’m no Julia Roberts.”

“No,” he reaches for me, “you’re not. You are more. You are everything, and I cannot live without you. That’s why you’re coming back to Highland with me.”

“Jake,” I sigh. “Be real.”

“I am.” He moves his hands down to my ass and I place my hands on his chest. “Community college is the same price everywhere, Sparky. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before.” He’s talking fast and excited, his words tumbling over one another. “You can live with us. Ellery doesn’t charge any of us rent. It’s not charity. She doesn’t want the money because she’s going to rent the house and make it all back when she moves.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek, what he just said made sense, surprisingly. She said as much before when she said I should move up there, but I never considered it because I didn’t know if I could find a job and honestly, didn’t even think about whether Highland had a community college.

“Go on,” I nod slowly, wanting to hear more.

“Highland Community College is ten dollars per unit,” he explains. “If you take one class that’s thirty dollars, and if you take four classes that’s one hundred and twenty. Same as you would pay in Davenport. And living together saves on airfare.”

“Okay,” I nod, everything he said adding up so far. “And when you three head to Colorado, what do I do?”

“We don’t leave for Spring Training until February. Cruz and I will finish up our degrees over summer and fall, and when we leave, you and Ellery can transfer to whatever school you want up there. I am sure she’s already looking for a place for the four of us.”

“Jake,” I shake my head. “This is a little crazy. Move to Highland, take a semester, then move to Colorado, and enroll in community college there. Housing aside, I still need to work.”

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