Page 121 of Trip Through Your Wires

“Who says you have them?”

“Because I do. And I accept them, just as long as you do because your opinion is the only one that matters. I love you, no one else.”

I try to pull back but he tightens his hold. “You’re insane.”

“I am very sane. I assure you. But I will go crazy if you don’t admit you love me, too because I am already there. I’m crazy about you. I have been ever since the first moment I laid eyes on you. The way you gave us the business in the store when—”

“The store?” I look at him, confused. “Maybe you are crazy because we met at your party.”

“No,” he flashes me a big, beautiful smile. “You were at the store, and you were on the phone, and I saw you and I swear to God, Sparky, my heart stopped beating. I fell for you right then and there.”

A tear seeps out of my eye, rolling down my cheek.

“Please Jenica,” he breathes my name, wiping away the tear with his thumb. “We’re good together. You know we are. Just let yourself be happy. It’s time. You can bet on me.”

“I don’t need to bet on you.”

“Fine,” he counters. “Then bet on us.”

“You can’t start betting on shit, Hot Shot. You need to be better with your money.”

“You sure do talk a lot,” he laughs and my eyes narrow. “But I love that. I love your fire and wit and your fast ball. Shit I could crouch down behind home plate and watch you wind up forever. I love the way you love baseball but most of all, I love the way you love me.” He grabs my hands and pulls them to his chest. “And I know you do. So just admit it, and I will spend the rest of my life having your back.”

Jake has a way of making me believe anything is possible, even dreams that died and changed. “Why do you want to save me so badly?”

“Save you?” He laughs. “Hell baby, I need you to save me.”

He looks at me, eyes warm, and full of love. There is nothing to do but what my heart wants. Jake is all that is good in this world. He’s kind, and smart, and he cares about his friends. But he also has the heart of a lion. One who will tear the flesh off a man’s bones because like me, Jake was born with that need to protect what’s safe. His friends, his family, and now, me.

I said I wanted angst and fire, and shit, I got it in spades. The part of him…the part he has spent his whole life pushing down…he set it free with me, and I am his lion tamer. No one else. He is my future that I never dared to dream and I couldn’t say no to him, no matter how hard I tried.

“Okay, Hot Shot,” I say finally. “I will come to Highland with you.”

He drops his head back and exhales with relief. “Thank God.”

“And I will try out for the team in Colorado. But if I don’t make it…”

“You will,” he insists.

“Are we really going to do this? I mean really?”

“Hell yes.” He reaches for me, the heat in his eyes making me shiver. “Just as soon as I do this.”

He grabs my hips and spins me around, laying me down on the bed and nuzzling my neck. “I can’t promise it will be easy.”

“Good,” he pulls back. “If I wanted it easy I would have kept playing the field.”

“I am no walk in the park.”

“Enough already,” he laughs. “Stop fighting this. Stop denying us. Just let me love you.” He brings the back of his hand against my cheek, stroking it gently. “And if you don’t let me have you right now, I will pick you up and throw you over my shoulder, spanking that luscious ass of yours until it’s hot and red and you are wet as hell. We have this incredible room all to ourselves we need to fuck it up.”

“You mean live it up,” I laugh.

“No,” he grabs my ass. “I mean fuck it up.”

I laugh and he hugs me close, kissing my neck, chin, and lips. “Fuck, Sparky, you make me happy and I want to show you right now how much. But if you need time with all that happened….”

“Time,” I cup his neck. “I don’t need time. I know what I want.”

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