Page 12 of Look What You Made Me Do

The intrusion dragged Jake’s attention from Ella to the woman at her elbow. Dark hair, eyebrow piercing, blood-red lips. She looked at him as she asked, “This the owner?”

“Jake,” he said, holding out his hand, not waiting for Ella to do the honors.

“Rosie.” Her grip was firm, her tone polite. Then she glanced at Ella, speculation in her eyes. “Jake? The Jake?”

“The Jake?” He cocked an eyebrow at Ella.

“The Jake who made you come?—”

“Comes from Trently?” Ella interrupted quickly, her eyes bugging at her friend. “Yes, that’s right. The arrogant jock.”

Unperturbed, Jake chuckled. “Pleased to meet you, Rosie.”

“Likewise.” She grinned. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Well now, I’ll just bet you have. I was just explaining to Ella, I am gifted.”

“She was referring to your career,” Ella said acidly.

Jake didn’t believe that for a moment. Ella had never been a football groupie. In fact, when other girls had smiled and batted their eyelashes at him in his uniform, she’d always looked at him with disdain.

“Ah, well, I’m gifted there as well.”

“Hmm.” She glanced at Ella. “His ego’s healthy.”

“That’s one word for it,” she agreed.

“So Jake,” Rosie said, eyeing him frankly. “You’re going to be in the neighborhood a lot by the looks of it. You should drop by one day. We live just a few streets away.”

The hell no expression on Ella’s face was comical. Jake took a swig of his beer to hide his smile. “I may just do that, Miss Rosie.”

Rosie turned to Ella. “Have you asked him about this God-awful noise yet?”

She shook her head. “Haven’t gotten around to it.”

Rosie faced him. “I don’t know if this had escaped your attention but this music is utter crap.”

He laughed. “Yes, it is.”

“We can’t come to a place every Friday night to unwind from the week’s stresses and listen to synthesized whales on crack. You wouldn’t make us find somewhere else to ponder the meaning of life, would you?”

“No, ma’am. I’ll get a wider range of music put in first thing tomorrow. Will that be more to your liking, ladies?”

Rosie whooped and punched the air. “Damn straight.”

“Thank you, Jake,” Ella said politely. “Much appreciated.”

The words hit Jake like a sledgehammer. She’d said the same thing two years ago as she’d sauntered out of the apartment above The Rusty Nail.

Thank you, Jake, much appreciated.

Although they’d been said with a low, husky vibrato that day. Not cool and distant like now.

Had she remembered? Was her word choice deliberate?

“I aim to please,” he replied, just as he had back then.

Her eyes widened slightly before she turned away and Jake had his answer.

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