Page 5 of Always Been You

He talked a big game, but he worshiped her mom and could never follow through on any derogatory statements about her, even as a joke—even though he did maintain she wasn’t perfect.

"Good, so I guess playing a game isn't too much to ask?"

"Jessa Nicole."

She knew she'd won when her dad used her first and middle name.

Figuring it was getting close to time to leave, she glanced over at the clock and gasped. She was late. "I gotta go. I'll call you tomorrow after I see the doctor."

"I can take you. I don't mind." He tried again.

"I'll call you tomorrow, Dad. I love you. Bye."

"I love you, baby girl."

The phone disconnected and she stood, downed the cocktail of prescriptions she'd be on for the rest of her life, rinsed out her cup, and grabbed her purse as she hustled out the door. As much as people liked to tease Jess because she was always late, it wasn't intentional. She tried to be on time, but somehow it never quite worked out that way.

Take this morning. She'd gotten up on time and had been right on schedule until she sat down to have her second cup of coffee. A couple of phone calls later and she was fifteen minutes late.

Thankfully, she was her own boss as co-owner of The Mane Attraction, so the only person that could fire her was her business partner Amelia, who was very aware that she was punctually-challenged before they decided to take over the salon.

Technically, the salon was supposed to be open from ten to six, but she never scheduled a client before ten-thirty because, like Ali and her cooking, Jess was well aware of her shortcomings. Thankfully, Amelia, was punctual, organized, and had a head for numbers. They were the perfect pair.

Even though she was in a hurry, she paused after opening her front door and did a quick scan down both sides of the street. The coast was clear.

She hurriedly stepped onto her porch, then shut and locked the door behind her. She hightailed it to her car, making sure to keep her head down until a magnet force caused it to raise, and she saw the one person she'd hoped to avoid.

Ethan Steele in his basketball shorts, tennis shoes, and no shirt. He ran with the grace of a cheetah and the power of a lion. The sunlight shone down on him, highlighting the thin sheen of sweat that covered his shoulders and torso. He looked like he belonged at a Men's Health cover shoot.

Jess cursed beneath her breath even as her mouth watered from the sight.

Damn. Now, she'd spend the rest of the day with visions of his muscular calves, rippled abs, and chiseled back popping up in her head like computer viruses.

He’d been running by her house several times a week for over a year now. And although she couldn't prove it, she was sure that Ethan was orchestrating his morning workout to coincide with the time she left for work to mess with her.

The most frustrating part about that was, it was working.

2

Ethan Steele made sure to keep his eyes focused straight ahead as he ran past Jess's house. When he'd turned the corner and seen her locking her door, he gave himself one moment to appreciate the curve of her backside that was on display in her form-fitting black pants. Her dark hair was pulled up exposing the smooth curve of her neck down to her shoulder. His eyes briefly traced the area that had always driven him crazy before swooping lower to the angel wing tattoo that lined her shoulder blade. But when he saw her start to turn he forced his gaze back on the sidewalk in front of him.

Jessa Myers dressed in a burlap sack would be difficult for him to ignore but it was near impossible when she was decked out in the pinup clothes that had been her signature style since she was a teenager. She was a flame, and he was a moth. She drew him in like nothing and no one else in his life and even though he was sure that he was going to end up getting burned, he couldn't resist the pull she had on him.

He did manage not to glance in her direction as he ran by, but only because he knew it drove her crazy when he ignored her on his runs. He knew that because he'd overheard her telling her best friend Ali that it did over a year ago when the two women were an aisle over at the grocery store.

"Why do you care if he runs by your house?"

Ali's question had caught Ethan's attention since he'd changed his running route to include a detour down Jess's street after she'd undergone a heart transplant. At the time he'd been worried and wanted to check on her, but since she wasn't the kind of woman that appreciated that kind of gesture, he'd known he needed an excuse to even be in the vicinity.

The first day he'd stopped by during his morning run, and her mom had answered the door. They'd chatted for a little bit, and she thanked him for checking in. The second day her dad came to the door, he'd been less talkative, but Ethan knew it was because he'd been worried about Jess. He could see the fear in the man's eyes. He recognized it because it was exactly what he’d been feeling at the time.

He hadn't gone up to the door again, but for some reason it made him feel better to run by her house. Just seeing it and knowing she was inside made him feel better. Sometimes he’d get lucky and pass by just as she was leaving for work.

So, when he'd heard them at Lakeside Market, he made sure to stay out of sight as he eavesdropped on their conversation.

"I care because I know he's doing it to piss me off," Jess spat back at Ali.

He'd grinned when he'd heard that, loving that Jess thought she had his number, and also loving that she couldn't prove it.

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